The moment my palm pressed against the glowing rune, a sharp sting lanced through my arm. I gritted my teeth, but within seconds, the searing pain subsided, replaced by a strange warmth. When I looked down, I saw the symbol of the Astallon family—an intricate emblem of a lion with majestic wings—etched onto my forearm like a shimmering tattoo, pulsing faintly with golden light.
"With this, you are officially under our protection," Griass Astallon said, his voice formal but grateful. "No other noble family shall dare meddle with you without consequence. And once again, Angel… thank you. Escorting my daughter to the academy was no small task. I've marked the quest document as complete."
"It was an honor to assist the esteemed Astallon family," I replied with a respectful nod. "I shall take my leave now."
Without another word, I turned and left the Astallon estate. The skies were clear, the air crisp with morning breeze. I headed straight to the adventurers' guild, my boots echoing against the cobbled streets of Luminos.
Inside the guild hall, familiar voices filled the air—mercenaries boasting of their kills, clerks scribbling updates, and swords clashing during sparring. I approached the front desk with purpose.
"Diana! I'm here to report the completion of the escort quest," I said, holding out the stamped document.
The clerk, Diana, looked up with a smile. "Sir Angel, welcome back! I'll update your record right away. Just five more completed quests and you'll be eligible to rank up to B-class."
"I see. Then I'd like a quest with a bit more… difficulty."
"Challenging work, is it?" she asked, flipping through a stack of parchment. Her fingers stopped on one. "This might interest you. A dwarf-led mining guild is requesting help—an earth dragon has taken residence in their mines."
"An earth dragon?" My brows rose in interest. "Where exactly is this mine?"
"RockDragon Mountain," she said. "It's far west of here, beyond the Luminos Kingdom's border. The mountain is famous for its blacksmithing dwarves—and for being one of the locations where a 'Heaven' was reportedly discovered."
"Heaven?" I asked. "What are they?"
"You haven't heard?" Diana blinked. "They're mysterious beings who appeared suddenly across the continent. Their power was so awe-inspiring, someone dubbed them 'Heavenly Beings,' and the name stuck. No one knows their origins or purpose."
"I see… interesting." I tucked the quest paper away. "I'll head out now."
"Wait—let me get you a map—!"
But I was already gone.
---
As I stepped under the canopy of gnarled trees, a heavy mist settled around me. The air grew cold, and the sunlight faded as if swallowed. My vision blurred beyond a few meters. Then came the sound—soft weeping, a woman's voice.
"This is… unsettling," I muttered. "I entered with confidence, but this chill…"
The crying grew louder. I spun around, scanning the fog. There was nothing.
Then—bam!—someone collided with me.
"Ow! Watch where you're going!" I exclaimed.
"I-I'm sorry!" the girl stammered, sobbing. "I was being chased by dark hounds! And then I heard… that crying…"
"Dark hounds?"
The shadows shifted around us. Glowing red eyes emerged from the fog—several black-furred beasts, their fangs dripping with saliva.
"So these are your pursuers." I narrowed my eyes. "They look hungry."
"Be careful! They're fast—and deadly!"
"I'll be fine," I said calmly. "[Shadow Arts: Doppelganger]."
A shadowy replica of myself emerged beside me, composed entirely of darkness, its form rippling with energy.
"W-What is that?" the girl asked, stepping back.
"My shadow. It only holds a tenth of my power, but that's enough for these mutts."
"You're insane! These things can kill entire parties!"
"Not mine. Kill them."
The shadow moved instantly, its arm morphing into a blackened blade. With speed too fast for the eye, it slashed through the dark hounds. One after another, the beasts fell, dismembered and dissolving into mist. Moments later, the shadow dissipated.
"Now," I said, eyes narrowing, "who are you really?"
The girl stopped sobbing. Her lips curled into a grin.
"Hehe… to think I'd be exposed so easily."
"No one enters this forest alone unless they know its secrets," I said. "You're behind the disappearances, aren't you?"
"They made excellent sacrifices," she said, voice changing—darker, malicious. "Just one more, and I can summon the Plague God to this world! You adventurers are the reason we fell!"
"I see. Then I'll end this quickly. I've got a mountain to reach."
"You won't make it out alive!" she screamed, casting her arms wide. "Poison Mist! This spell has killed even poison-resistant monsters!"
A cloud of noxious green vapor enveloped the area. I took a deep breath… and exhaled calmly.
"This? It's mild, honestly."
"W-What!? How?!"
"[Arts Switch: Cobra]," I said. "It grants me poison resistance and cobra traits."
"Then take this!" she screamed. "My strongest poison—lethal enough to kill a wyvern!"
"[Cobra Arts: Cobra Bind]."
A massive spectral cobra burst from the ground, wrapping itself around her.
"And now—[Cobra Arts: Venom Pit]."
Three enormous cobras erupted around her, striking with synchronized fangs. The girl convulsed, green foam forming at her mouth.
"W-What is this… why can I feel… pain!?" she cried.
"Don't worry," I said coldly. "It'll be over soon."
As her body slumped to the ground, I turned away, stepping out of the mist and into the clearing. The trees behind me faded into shadows.
"[Arts Switch: Original]."
I felt the cobra instincts fade. My body returned to its usual state. Each time I switched bloodlines, I felt different—more than just physically. Arts Switch, my unique ability, was what allowed me to defeat even my most skilled former allies when we were strangers. It grants me access to diverse powers and martial arts from other beings I've conquered.
---
"So this is the mountain," I whispered. "It really lives up to the name."
Then, just as I prepared to ascend, a loud thud echoed above. I looked up just in time to see something—or someone—plummeting from the peak.
"Wait… is that a person?!"
The body fell rapidly, a blur of motion and flailing limbs. Whoever it was, they were falling straight toward me.
And that's when everything began to change once again.