The morning mist had yet to lift. On the scorched edge of the battlefield, ashes still rolled faintly, smoke and blood weaving a cruel canvas not yet dry.
Human (Warrior) · Gerhard stood atop a pile of goblin corpses. A chunk of his left shoulder armor had shattered, but the new dark-golden patterned heavy armor he wore still gleamed. His breath was heavy but steady. His greatsword pierced the ground, still steaming faintly.
Human (Illusionist) · Celia approached swiftly, swinging her staff to form a barrier, shielding them from lingering waves of magical energy.
"Warrior Gerhard, are you all right?"
Gerhard patted his chest armor. "I can hold on. This armor's sturdier than I expected."
Meanwhile, on a cliff farther away, three Merkhedia generals silently observed the battlefield.
Akkan (Sharpshooter) · Velox squinted at the goblin tracks below. The footprints were unnaturally orderly — unlike what one would expect from wild beasts.
Akkan (Shadowstalker) · Viona knelt slowly, touching a bit of still-burning ash.
"There's blood. Not just goblin blood… there's human blood too."
Akkan (Warrior) · Hebrion clenched his fists and muttered, "These monsters… they were led by someone."
Velox replied softly, "But by whom — we still don't know."
Their gazes, without agreement, turned toward the distant gathering of human troops.
---
During the aftermath cleanup and deployment, the alliance between humans and Akkan remained outwardly harmonious.
Human (Mage) · Elant knelt before a goblin corpse. He pried open the creature's chest, revealing an embedded archaic rune.
His eyes narrowed. "This isn't a goblin spell…"
Nearby in a trench, soldiers moved the wounded.
Human (Bishop) · Calvis held his holy emblem high, offering words of comfort. Divine light shimmered across the foreheads of the injured.
"You fought for the Divine Land — may the gods shelter your souls."
Silence followed.
On the other side, the Akkan scouting team remained quiet. They huddled together, murmuring in their native tongue, inaudible to outsiders.
A young Akkan soldier looked at the scorched woods. "This land… wasn't supposed to be like this."
Hebrion scanned the surroundings and whispered to Velox,
"We shouldn't trust the humans too quickly."
Velox gave no response.
---
That night, the camp after battle was heavy with tension. Humans and Akkan occupied separate sectors — officially in peace, unofficially in suspicion.
In the royal war tent, Mage Elant reported the battle and anomalies to the kingdom's secret envoy.
In another tent, Velox reported via glyph mirror to the Akkan Elders.
Both sides mentioned the goblins' unnatural behavior, yet neither blamed the other — at least, not openly.
The moon rose. The wind swept the plains, dispersing the smoke but not the growing cloud of doubt.
---
Eastern Divine Land
When the smoke cleared, the investigation teams returned separately, each bearing the weight of war and unanswered questions. The human squad returned first to the capital's royal citadel — a towering structure of white stone, symbolizing the honor of human civilization.
On the throne sat the revered ruler — King Elrant. Draped in new armor adorned with solar-gold patterns, he exuded solemn dignity.
Below him, Mage Gallios and Bishop Heram stood with customary grace — but harbored their own thoughts.
"So the monster attacks weren't random?" Elrant's voice was stern, gaze locked onto Gallios.
"Your Majesty," Gallios presented a shattered magic core. "Its structure is abnormal, suggesting artificial interference. These weren't just beasts."
"You're implying someone orchestrated this?"
Heram interjected, "Perhaps fallen cultists. Or… the Akkans."
A pause. The hall grew silent. Elrant rose slowly, his golden-lined armor glinting in the firelight.
"The Akkans… were once allies. Yet their recent actions are increasingly difficult to predict."
"Which is why we must remain vigilant," Gallios murmured.
Elrant stepped to the window, gazing toward the thunder-lit horizon. "Then watch them closely. Deploy spies. Any anomalies — from any faction — must be reported."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
---
Merkhedia Domain · Duskrock Sanctum
The Akkan squad returned to their bloodstone hall. Velox, Hebrion, and Mikara entered the tribal throne chamber.
Seated on a bone-carved throne, King Turansol watched them with calm, crimson eyes.
"You've returned," he rumbled. "What have you found?"
Velox knelt. "The monsters were cunning. The humans deployed elite squads."
Hebrion stayed silent, his eyes locked on the king.
Mikara leaned in and whispered something only the king heard — words like "the king is not to be trusted," and "Night of the Hunt."
Turansol's eyes flashed but he betrayed no emotion. He waved them away.
"What is coming… will come," he muttered to no one.
That night, he stood alone before the ancient altar. He let a drop of blood fall onto the center. Flames erupted in response.
"If war returns… can we protect what remains?"
---
Southern Frontier · A Village at Night
A gentle breeze, a barking dog, a patrolling guard pulling his cloak tighter — then a rumble.
"…An earthquake?"
Suddenly, a massive shadow burst from the woods, jaws wide with bloodlust. The village was swallowed by terror.
---
Next Morning
Human cavalry arrived, only to find a massacre — blood-drenched earth, broken bodies, and claw marks. Among the dead were soldiers in royal armor.
"…They're not villagers," the captain whispered. "They were ours."
All eyes turned north — toward Akkan territory.
The suspicion had begun.
---
Royal Hall · Secret Chamber
Gallios, Heram, and King Elrant sat at the council table.
"Why were our troops in that village?" Heram asked.
"Still under investigation," Gallios replied. "But signs point to them tracking something."
"Or someone," Elrant said sharply. "Seal this incident."
"You mean…"
"If the Akkans learn of our border breach, tensions will rise. We must act first."
"Shall we preemptively respond?"
Elrant's gaze turned cold. "Send emissaries. Propose cooperation. Meanwhile, gather intel on every anomaly they show."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Divine Land seemed calm — but under the surface, war drums quietly stirred. Beasts reappeared. The Akkans watched. The humans schemed. All was a game of shadows, but no one yet knew who moved the first piece.