As the first rays of dawn broke across the horizon, the group reached the crest of a hill. Below them stretched a grand settlement, its spires gleaming faintly in the morning light.
Shekiah unfolded the worn map and traced their location with her finger. "This is it—the Kingdom of Dawn. The heart of trade in this country. Merchants from every corner come here."
Raizo narrowed his crimson eyes at the distant city walls. "So this is the most popular kingdom, huh? Doesn't feel right."
Akari tilted her head. "What do you mean by that?"
"I don't know," Raizo muttered, his voice low, "but something's off. Silvia—use your Eagle Eye. See what's really there."
Silvia nodded. Her irises glowed faintly as she invoked her skill. "Eagle Eye—activate." She blinked, scanning the distant city. "…Looks fine to me."
Fenra smirked. "See, Raizo? You're just imagining things."
But Raizo shook his head firmly. "No. If that's really the center of trade… why are there no wagons leaving? No horses, no merchants on the road."
The four girls exchanged uneasy glances, realization dawning on them.
Akari stepped forward, lifting her staff. "Let me try something." She drew in a deep breath, mana swirling at her fingertips.
Illusion Magic: Cancelarium!
The air rippled like shattered glass. The peaceful vision of Dawn warped and tore away—revealing the truth.
Smoke. Screams. Burning houses. Streets littered with corpses. Adventurers lay lifeless, their weapons broken at their sides. The once-proud gates of Dawn were smeared with blood.
Silvia gasped, eyes wide as her Eagle Eye sharpened the sight. "By the gods… it's all destroyed."
Raizo's jaw tightened. "Everyone—Boost!"
Without hesitation, the four girls raised their hands.
Wind Magic: Boost!
A burst of mana surged through them, and their speed tripled. They charged down the hill in a blur, arriving at the shattered gates of Dawn.
Raizo unsheathed Voidbringer, the dark blade gleaming ominously.
Fenra flexed her claws, a feral light burning in her eyes.
Shekiah drew her longsword, the steel catching the glow of fire.
Silvia raised her bow, nocking an arrow.
Akari held her staff tightly, trembling but determined.
"Akari," Raizo ordered, his tone sharp, "stay here. Heal the survivors."
Akari nodded. "Got it!" She rushed to the wounded, her staff glowing faintly.
"Fenra, Shekiah—get the injured to her."
"Yes!" the two answered in unison, dashing off.
"Silvia—you're with me."
Silvia tightened her grip on her bow and nodded. "I'll cover you."
The battlefield came alive with chaos. Fenra hauled bodies from the rubble, her sharp claws cutting through debris. Shekiah knelt, channeling her mana.
Healing Magic: Cure!
Meanwhile, Akari lifted her staff skyward, light radiating from its tip.
Holy Magic: Heavenly Heal!
Wounded villagers' breathing steadied, though blood still stained their clothes.
Suddenly—CRASH!
A building collapsed nearby. Debris rained down. Silvia winced and covered her eyes.
But Raizo stepped forward, Voidbringer shifting into its shield form.
Void Shape: Barrier!
A shimmering wall of darkness expanded, repelling the falling rubble. The stones bounced harmlessly away.
"Go!" Raizo barked.
Silvia rushed forward, pulling a man out from under the wreckage. His body was mangled, soaked in blood.
"W-what happened!?" Silvia cried.
The man coughed, eyes wide with terror. "…De… demons…"
Raizo's expression hardened. "Silvia, get him to safety. I'll deal with the rest."
Her eyes widened. "Alone? You can't—"
Raizo gave a thumbs up, forcing a smile. "Don't worry. I'll survive. Promise."
Reluctantly, Silvia nodded. "…You better keep that promise." She hoisted the wounded man onto her back and sprinted away.
Raizo leapt onto the rooftop of a ruined building, Voidbringer gleaming once more in its blade form. His crimson eyes burned as memories of the Brightstar Party's deaths and the fall of Galia flashed before him.
His grip tightened on the hilt. Rage simmered in his veins.
A snarl tore through the air as a demon lunged at him from the shadows. Raizo pivoted and cleaved it in half with a single strike. Blood sprayed across the scorched wall.
More came. Snarling. Clawing.
Raizo charged into them, his blade singing as he cut through one after another. His crimson eyes glowed brighter, fury pushing his movements beyond human speed.
Then—he felt it.
A presence.
His instincts screamed. He froze, scanning the burning horizon.
Above him, descending slowly from the smoke-filled sky—
A demon.
Grey hair flowing like ash in the wind. Golden-red eyes gleaming with malevolent hunger. A pair of vast bat-like wings spread wide. A tail lashed behind it, ending in a razor-sharp point. Its claws shimmered like obsidian blades.
It landed atop the broken spire of a church, gazing down at Raizo.
The world seemed to grow silent.
Raizo lifted Voidbringer. His crimson eyes locked onto the demon's golden-red stare.
Neither moved.
The battlefield held its breath as man and demon stared into each other's souls.
The dust finally settled, and Raizo narrowed his eyes.
"Where did he—?"
Before he could finish, a crushing force slammed into his gut. His breath was torn from him as he was hurled through the air, crashing into the ruins of a broken wall. Stone crumbled around him, dust choking his lungs.
Raizo coughed, wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his lips, and glared at the looming demon.
The creature grinned, raising a clawed hand. At that signal, every demon that had been laying waste to the Kingdom of Dawn suddenly turned toward Raizo, rushing him with terrifying speed.
"Tch…" Raizo muttered, gripping his weapon. His sword pulsed, shifting into a massive hammer.
"Earth Magic: Tantrampt!"
The ground convulsed, splitting open beneath the charging demons. Jagged stone pillars erupted, impaling dozens, while others were shaken off their feet. But some—faster, deadlier—leapt aside, crawling across walls and ruins like a swarm of predators.
Raizo's eyes darted upward—his heart dropped. The skies themselves darkened as more demons poured down from above like a living tide.
He quickly willed his hammer into a great shield. The weapon shimmered, expanding into a broad wall of steel. A protective barrier spread outward, locking him in a cocoon of shimmering light.
The demons screeched, hurling themselves against the barrier, claws scraping, fangs gnashing. Spells burst like fireworks against the shield—flames, lightning, black orbs of cursed energy.
"Hold…" Raizo growled through his teeth as cracks began to form.
Then— BOOM!
A massive fireball slammed into the shield, spiderwebbing cracks across its surface. Raizo's eyes widened.
"No good!"
The barrier shattered in a flash of sparks. Raizo instantly transformed his shield back into a blade, thrusting it skyward.
"Fire Magic: Fire Thrust!"
Flames ignited along the blade, and he lunged upward, piercing through the swarm. Demons above him shrieked as their bodies burst into fire, their wings crisping to ash. Raizo landed on the roof of a crumbling building, sword glowing red-hot.
But a shadow loomed behind him.
CRACK!
A clawed hand gripped his head, slamming his skull into a wooden door before hurling him through the air like a ragdoll. He smashed through another wall, debris and smoke swallowing him.
The demon's maw opened, spewing a barrage of fireballs at the ruins. The building ignited, roaring with flames.
Through the fire, Raizo's figure rose. His cloak smoldered, ash raining down. He lifted his sword defiantly.
"Wind Magic: Fly!"
Wings of green light erupted at his back, launching him skyward.
The demon chuckled. "Not bad for a human."
Raizo leveled his blade at him. "Tell me… are you one of them? The Four Generals of the Demon King?"
The demon clapped mockingly, a wicked grin splitting his face. "Kehahaha! At last, you understand. Yes… I am Gladion, one of the Four Generals."
"Gladion…" Raizo's grip tightened on his sword.
Gladion smirked, licking his fangs. "And you… Raizo, was it? So you're the human that found the hidden cave in Asteria. Hah. How amusing."
Raizo's eyes narrowed. Memories of the king's warning—and of Fenra, Shekiah, and Silvia teasing him about that cursed guard—flashed in his mind.
"So what if I am?" he said coldly.
Gladion's grin widened. "Then this will be delightful. You'll make the perfect present for Lord Xorax. I must capture you alive."
Raizo raised his sword. "You think capturing me will be easy?"
Gladion's burning eyes flared. "Then shall I torture you first?"
WHOOSH!
Gladion lunged, his claws wrapped in compressed wind. His speed blurred the air. Raizo twisted aside, sparks flying as blade and claw clashed. The two fought midair, colliding again and again—each impact shaking the ruins below.
BAM! Gladion suddenly vanished, reappearing above Raizo.
"Too slow!"
He drove a brutal kick into Raizo's chest. The force hurled Raizo down like a meteor. He crashed into the road, the cobblestones shattering beneath him.
"Urgh…" Raizo groaned, forcing himself to his feet.
The moment he rose, hordes of lesser demons swarmed from every direction. Snarling, clawing, casting curses. Raizo swung his blade, slashing through their ranks, but the numbers overwhelmed him. Claws raked his armor, teeth sank into his shoulder.
"Damn it… too many!"
Then— FWOOSH!
A massive fireball consumed the demons attacking him, their screams echoing as they burned to cinders.
THUD! A figure landed behind Raizo, kicking five demons away in one strike.
TWANG! Arrows whistled past, piercing demon skulls.
SWOOSH! A sword carved through another wave, bisecting their bodies cleanly.
Raizo turned—and his chest lightened.
"Fenra… Akari… Silvia… Shekiah…"
His companions stood before him, weapons raised, flames of determination burning in their eyes.
Raizo exhaled in relief. "Thanks for the help."
The four girls nodded in unison. "No problem."
Fenra stepped forward, her tail bristling as her ears perked. She locked eyes with Raizo, her voice steady.
"Leave the small fry to us. Go. Face that monster."
Raizo gave a sharp nod, spreading his wings of wind once again. He shot into the sky, sword gleaming.
Gladion was waiting.
The Demon General smirked, licking blood from his claw. "Come, human. Show me your hunger."
Raizo's eyes burned. "Gladion… you won't leave here alive."
And the battle between man and general truly began.