[A strange gate opening on the seaside near the village]
The crackling sound disturbs the animals in the nearby forest. A fisherman alone heading toward the seashore witnesses the opening of the gate. In desperation he runs back to the village, terrified.
He is shouting outside....
Everyone, a monster attack!!!!!! The forest has been contaminated....
[A strong roar of the monster echoed in the entire forest.]
It's an attack; a countless army of skeleton-like animals is spreading in the forest.
The black fog is a toxin....
We need the village chief....
[The village chief was alerted by the strange air around the forest.]
Don't panic. Secure the children and women. Take them out of the forest, hide, and what ever you heard, don't look back; keep running.
[In the Inn]
Three people wearing cloaks are calmly drinking. One of them smirked and said,
Those pests are getting smarter by the day. Strange, how long has it been since we witnessed the scattered opening of the gates?
[A woman next to him answered.]
It was not the first time, but this time it is more dangerous than before.
Did you discover what is happening? (The second man questioned)
In the past it was formless, but it is different this time.
"The gate develops a core."
They are already heading towards the village. It looks like we won't have a wink of sleep tonight.
Haahahhhah..... (He laughed loudly inside the inn.)
I will have some fun tonight...
He went outside carrying "Ashglaive of the Hollow Flame." The Twin-bladed Glaive of the Ember Ascendant.
Sigh... His temper hasn't changed a little bit.
Looks like you're getting older.... Let him be; I haven't seen him dance for a while.
You seem restless for an old man.
"Thunderbound Exile."
Hmmm. I haven't heard that name for a long time, "Silent Bastion."
Are you sure your mirror's still working?
Hahahaha.... They're working sharper than before.
[They then head out to fight the monsters who attack the village. ]
Kae, who happens to hear all of the information, stayed inside the inn.
I didn't expect that the three of them would happen to be in here. The mighty wielder of the hallowed flame. He was ranked fourth out of the twelve elites that conquered the great ruin.
He wields the two swords. Burns with silent fire that devours souls, not bodies. He was known as the reaper himself. They said the Great Ruined cannot scream in his presence. The sword can only be seen in the shadow of a reflection.
The only woman is "Glaezeth, Mirror of the Dead Sky." She was known as the ruined Silent Bastion. Who wields the dual-edged mirror shield? Ranked seventh out of twelve elites. The eyes of time is what they call her. Those who look too long into it see their end. Your sins and regrets are her weapons, turning them into blades of frozen time.
That man she called "Thunderbound Exile" must be Thonir's Divide. The Splintering Lightning Javelin of the Red Moon. The empire's deadliest vow. Each throw splits into storms that manifest ancestral warriors to aid in combat. His speed is on a different level, ranked three. It was known that his javelin must be thrown with a vow—the stronger the vow, the deadlier the strike.
I must see with my own eyes how they fought in battles.
[A loud crash happens in the distance.]
The fight already started...
What are those? A new type of contamination.
It was different from the one slain in the ruins. The aura in their surroundings is much stronger than last time.
That red-haired guy in the front line must be Ashglaive. The twin blade of red flame cut so sharp.
She was just watching them from a distance. Waiting for his prey to take the bait.
I can't follow his moves; they're so fast. In front of them, those monsters are nothing but small prey they can step on.
Oy!!! Ashglaive, you sure are having fun (she said).
My dear Betty, do you want me to burn them into ashes?
Ash!!!! I told you not to call me by that pet name... Burn them, or you are going to freeze until daybreak.
He smirked and said
Watch me dance and let your mirror see it again.
[A red flame is flowing in his body, and everything around it burns. His blade cuts through, and the sound of bones shattering clashing from his sword makes a melody. A sound for a flame of dance
Bastion!!! There you go again making him do all the work.
Hmph... He always wants a spotlight; let that old cat alone.
Bastion, it is so strange; those things are not disappearing, and I already checked the seashore. It is empty; there is no sign of a door opening.
I told you it is developing a core. It checks which part it can grow its power, and also I noticed a strange movement in the ruin back then.
You're saying that the great ruin was not really the real one. You have already started studying them, but for the past years you haven't seen any clue.
That is right, but right now it is already starting to make sense. You already have noticed it, haven't you? He disappeared and was nowhere to be found. We all know what he is capable of, but he left us with only one note. We can't rest until our last breath, he says.
Kyaaa… (A large explosion happens.)
What is happening?
Ash!!!!! What are you doing?
Ahh… Maybe a little assistant would do, you two?
Are you really leaving me alone to fight this thing?
Look at them eating each other and growing rapidly. Ahahaha... This thing is not normal, is it?
Ash!!! Behind you!!!
Bastion, save the villager and don't let them near this place. (He shouted.)
(She then carries everyone out of the place and takes them to a much safer place.)
You big guy... (She pointed at the village chief.)
Take care of your people.
We want to join your fight.
She looked at them and said coldly,
You won't be much help; you will be a hindrance, so shut your mouth and do what I say.
[She then lifted and joined the two of them to fight the contaminated monster.]
Kae, on the other hand, dared not to interfere; he was just watching them fight in the distance. He saw it all—how fast and skilled they were at the face of the unknown force of the dark fog in the forest. It lasted for two hours after the three of them broke through the black fog.
She froze the black fog like a mist of the forest. His thunder-like attack and his fast combat shattered the monster like mud.
The two of them fight the monsters head-on while letting Ash rest for a while and prepare for the combat. At exactly dawn, the three of them were still fighting the contamination. They can't break through. There is only one thing that I discovered.
That thing has no core from the beginning, but along the way it develops a core. And the three of them did not budge about it. It feels like they already anticipated it happening.
Upon completion of developing its core. Ash cut through it, and the contamination and the black fog were finally gone in the forest.