[These humans have evolved so much…] The Great Writer's black eyes fixed upon that enchanting world, shining with a captivating glow as if his gaze had met the essence of beauty itself.
He exhaled from his majestic lungs, releasing a gust like a hurricane into the world.
*******
And in that secret laboratory, which had become Aldric's grave after once being his fortress—
"Damn it, what happened?" A fist slammed onto the steel table, scattering all the coffee cups.
"How did Aldric die? How did the plan fail… and where is the Hero himself?"
Questions surged in the man's mind without any answers. His eyes met the massive screen in the middle of the room, and as he moved closer, the scene revealed thirty terrified scientists scattered across the area.
"Replay it," he commanded. As the footage began, it showed Aldric's perspective during the events of the Abyss… yet unlike reality, the figure standing there was only Libby.
Even though their reactions seemed as if I were present, the camera portrayed me as nothing but a ghost appearing only in their eyes.
"Vice Commander Chris, forget the past now. We need to find a plan."
Chris slammed the table, shouting, "How can we win? We've lost and don't even know how!"
The man wiped the blood from his face. "I'm not saying we must win… the king is dead, Aldric is gone, and all the transformed humans have returned to their natural state… our only chance of survival is to flee."
"That's treason! Are you trying to get us all executed?!"
He grabbed the teleportation device. "Not if we leave for somewhere far away… somewhere outside this world."
"…" Thoughts clashed in Chris's mind like wild beasts.
"Chris, will you come with us… or stay here to meet your death?"
"With you?" Chris turned to find all the scientists holding the device, prompting him to accept the offer.
"Fine, give me one."
As the man threw the device, a sudden chill swept through the air.
"Why did it suddenly get so cold?"
"It doesn't matter. Press the button together on my signal… now."
All the scientists pressed their buttons, but… "Huh? Why isn't it working?"
They continued pressing, but the device refused to respond.
When Chris opened his device, all the internal wires and mechanisms were missing.
"What is this? Who sabotaged our device? It was working just minutes ago!"
"And this one is broken too!" All the other devices were the same.
"Wait, everyone calm down. We built these devices ourselves, so we can repair them or make new ones, and we still have enough resources to make a hundred more… right, Vice Commander Chris?"
"...Wait… does anyone even remember how we made these devices?"
Following the scene, a voice of a great being murmured, [Humans are truly greedy creatures. Not satisfied with the land they own, they strive to invade the Abyss…]
[But can we blame them? Even worlds expand due to their greed, and the Abyss expands to accommodate that greed.]
********
Elsewhere, a black cloak fluttered around a muscular body, and his lion-like eyes scanned the massive army before him.
"Kalid, you're here! Where are you going?" Ronald stepped forward in his battle uniform.
"I was heading to support the Hero, but he asked me to come and fight alongside you."
"The Hero is with Reinhard, right?"
Kalid felt a pang of guilt… though he was the bravest and strongest, he weakened whenever burdened with the news of sorrow.
"Reinhard has killed Wolfgar, King of Arkanthia, and the Hero killed Aldric and got rid of the transformed humans… so who remains in Arkanthia's forces?"
Ronald's eyes flashed. "That's wonderful; victory will be ours, but…"
The glow faded as he recalled his father's mission, and his breathing faltered. "Wait, Ronald, don't worry. They won't use their weapon on us on this path."
"...I hope so."
"Enough greetings. Let's continue before night falls," Rafael interrupted, reorganizing the army and moving to Ronald's right side. "There's a point we must reach before dawn. Hurry."
"Rafael, you're not supposed to be a fighter… what are you doing here?"
"Ah, this is you, Lucy… I'm just leading the army due to my older brother's incompetence."
Rafael rode the carriage with Ronald beside him, while Kalid and Lucy flanked the carriage on horseback.
"So, as I asked before, who do we have left to face?"
Rafael answered on Ronald's behalf. "Only the mercenaries and the kingdom's soldiers… but due to funding cuts, probably only half remain."
A smile appeared on Lucy's face. "Things are going smoothly, better than expected."
"I hope so too… but nothing ever goes according to plan."
"Kalid, you're pess–"
Before she could finish, a beam struck her eyes, but Kalid's hand intercepted it, burning his skin.
"They were watching us." Kalid dismounted, drawing his sword in the empty square.
"There's nothing there."
"You won't see it with your eyes, Rafael. You need to use your power to reveal them."
Ronald drew his sword and with a single dark swing tore the space that separated them from their enemies.
"Hello, Altherion Army…" one of the soldiers stepped forward, nearly a hundred in total. "My name is Argona of the Moon Mercenaries."
"Before you continue, I want to propose something… and I hope you won't refuse like those before you."
"What is it?"
"I want a blood duel. It will be a one-on-one battle between me and one of you. The loser withdraws their army."
Argona's eyes widened in shock. "You want a blood duel?" He swept his gaze across the massive army of 100,000 seasoned soldiers.
"We were supposed to request that, and we were about to… but why are you the one proposing it?"
"Good. Then we have an agreement. Who will face me?"
"I will, but with one condition… if we win, you let us leave and continue on our way."
Kalid's face showed surprise, and Argona interrupted his thoughts. "Don't stare at me like that. Arkanthia has already fallen, and there's no reason for mercenaries like us to continue a losing war."
"What about that attack?"
"It came from one of Arkanthia's soldiers who were with us… don't worry, we've dealt with it."
"…Fine, I agree." Kalid stepped forward, placing his left hand behind his back while brandishing his sword.
"May I ask another question? Why are you facing me? Every individual in that army is stronger than you… except those you stood beside."
"I am a leader, and you are a leader, so our ranks are equal. I won't answer more than that."
The latter charged at Argona, but what met his attack was an explosion from nowhere, scattering Kalid's assault.
Shards of rock erupted from the ground, piercing half of Kalid's body as he continued the attack. Yet every swing and strike was met with a small explosion pushing him back.
Kalid thought, A power that creates explosions must have limits… but will Sanjwa reach them?
Kalid pressed on using only his right hand, which Argona noticed.
"...You've earned my respect, Kalid!" Argona grasped his left arm, which shattered into a handful of dirt.
"I'm not doing this for you… I have tainted this pure Aether several times and don't want to repeat it."
Kalid opened his mouth, releasing Aether like a beam through Argona's shoulder, who barely diverted it from his heart at the last moment.
Explosions erupted around Kalid again, and with a slash he pushed away all the shards.
"I don't have much time to waste, so I'll finish this now."
Kalid leapt high, saturating his body with Aether until he shone like a star in the night sky.
Argona leapt as well, trying to stop Kalid's attack… but it was too late.
A massive energy, like a beast, surged into Argona's body.
He unleashed a huge explosion to push the Aether away, and the collision shook the square like an earthquake, releasing black smoke from the point of impact.
Moments later, everything calmed. As the smoke cleared, Kalid stood, burying Argona's body.
"I was planning to save my strength, but you were truly strong… rest in peace now."
"Too sentimental even for you, Kalid."
"What do you think, Lucy? A heartless fighter—facing him with honor, I will do the same, even after death."
*******
At that moment, the scene shifted to a carriage carrying three people—and a fourth, me.
"How much longer until we arrive?"
The driver replied, "About 20,000 light-years, which equals roughly ten hours on horseback. So be patient, little one."
"Hero, do you know where Kalid and Lucy are?"
"I asked them to join the main army, so no need to worry."
"Ah, that's a relief."
"Libby! Guess in which hand I hid the ice shard."
Boredom had killed Nier to the point he forgot we were in the middle of a war… yet he was still a child, and that's their nature. So Libby decided to play along.
This scene was enough to melt my heart and bring a smile, despite my worry…
I glanced at that illusionary wall, and in a moment of distraction, I touched it, staring at what lay beyond.
Suddenly, an unbearable pain surged through my body, like thousands of knives stabbing me while simultaneously electrocuting me, coupled with the sensation of war and drowning…
This pain was not from seeing reality, but from the being who trapped the world in fantasy and imprisoned us within it.
I chuckled softly, a muffled sound. "No real comments… pathetic."
Don't describe my novel that way; I'm still in the beginning… if my memory weren't weak, I would have relied on it instead of turning you into fantasy.
"What's wrong, Hero?"
"Nothing… is there a place for me to play?"
*******
Meanwhile, among the group of scientists—
"Are you sure, Chris? The only ones capable of controlling it were the king, Wolfgar, and Commander Aldric."
"We'll die anyway, so we must gamble… It's time to awaken Solarin, The sun Calamity"