6 Years Later
"Velian! Velian!!"
A voice rang out—sharp, desperate—piercing through the pounding in his skull.
Velian's golden eyes snapped open.
Blood ran down the side of his forehead, soaking into the strands of his white hair. His back was pressed against the cold stone wall of a cavern, his breath shallow. His body ached. His vision spun. The metallic taste of iron lingered on his tongue.
"Get your butt up and support us with your Talker abilities!"
That voice again—loud, familiar, annoyed.
He groaned, pushing himself off the jagged wall. His legs trembled beneath him, but he forced himself to stand. He blinked, clearing the haze from his vision. He remembered.
The mission. The dungeon. The Lycerg Beasts.
Ahead, chaos exploded.
Three of his guildmates were surrounded by monstrous Lycerg creatures—tall, muscular beasts with claws soaked in slime, and glowing red eyes full of rage. Their screeches echoed through the cavern.
Kael and Dren fought back-to-back. Swords clashed. Sparks flew.
Aera stood farther back, staff in hand, but frozen in fear. Her hands shook. Her eyes darted.
Velian stepped forward.
"C to D-rank Lycerg beasts," he muttered. "Fast… pack-hunting… weak to light. If they flank us—we're finished."
A golden circle flared beneath his boots. Then two more beneath Kael and Dren. Lines of glowing light flowed between them, vibrating with sound.
He opened his mouth.
"Buffer Spell: Burn louder than silence!"
A golden shockwave rippled outward.
Kael's blade ignited in flames.
Dren's body became a blur of speed.
They charged in, weapons like flashes of lightning. Lycergs screamed as steel and fire ripped through fur and flesh.
Kael laughed. "Now we're talking!"
But Velian turned back.
Behind him, Aera had collapsed to her knees, her staff slipping from her fingers.
"I—I'm just… I'm too slow…" she whispered. "I'll mess it up..."
Velian walked over, his boots crunching over broken stone. He stopped in front of her.
"Buffer Spell: Stand tall, even if your knees beg you not to."
Light pulsed from his hand, wrapping around her like a protective aura. Her body stilled. Her fingers gripped the staff again. Her eyes lit up with courage.
She stood. "I've got you. Cover fire incoming!"
Her staff lit with radiant magic. A beam of light shot forward, piercing a Lycerg mid-jump. It dropped, writhing, before vanishing in a burst of smoke.
Kael grinned. "There you go, Aera!"
Velian just watched.
"...That's it," he whispered. "That's your strength."
Their team moved as one. Sword, flame, light, and word.
But then—
The ground rumbled.
Then again.
Cracks spread across the cave ceiling.
A low growl echoed through the cavern.
Everything froze.
Even the Lycerg beasts.
"Why did they stop?" Dren asked, eyes narrowing.
"It's not an earthquake…" Aera murmured.
Velian's expression darkened. "They're not afraid… They're making way."
BOOM.
BOOM.
A massive figure lumbered out from the darkness.
The Lycerg King.
Bigger than any of them had imagined. Towering with muscles like mountains, claws like blades. Red eyes burned like fire. Its roar shook the cavern.
"That's not C-rank," Kael whispered.
"We're not surviving this," Dren muttered.
Aera trembled. "What do we do?"
Velian's breath shook. "I'm… out of mana."
"WHAT!?" Dren shouted.
The Lycerg King slammed its chest. A thunderous roar filled the chamber. Stones cracked. Dozens more Lycergs poured into the space.
Kael's eyes widened. "RUN!"
They turned and sprinted through narrow tunnels.
Aera stumbled.
THWACK!
Velian kicked a Lycerg away and grabbed her wrist.
"Move!"
They dashed on.
A claw slashed into Velian's leg.
He fell. Groaned. Blood poured out.
"Velian!" Dren turned back and lifted him with Kael's help. They ran.
Eventually, they reached a small chamber and collapsed inside.
Aera breathed hard. "Why do they keep finding us?"
Dren looked at the trail.
"…They're tracking us. Through Velian's blood."
Silence.
Riven's eyes narrowed. "We have to split up."
"But Velian's hurt!" Aera yelled.
"If we stay together, we die," Dren said.
Velian nodded. "It's fine. I agree."
Dren handed Aera a small pouch. "Take this. Don't use it unless it's needed."
Aera nodded.
They split.
---
Later
Velian limped, leaning on Aera.
His body gave in. They both crashed to the floor.
"Sorry," Velian said.
Aera blinked. "Why?"
"You're stuck with a burden like me."
She pinched his cheek. "Where's that coming from? We're friends. Remember?"
Velian nodded. "Yeah… sorry."
Aera smiled faintly. "Besides… I just wanted to be close to you."
She leaned forward.
Her face inches from his.
Her lips almost touched his—
Velian turned away and stood up.
"We should get going."
Aera stared at his back. "Why do you always walk away?"
Velian didn't answer.
She followed. "Why do you run from your emotions, Velian?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Aera ran ahead, blocking his path. "Then tell me now!"
Velian snapped. "Now's not the time! Let's survive this dungeon first!"
She stayed quiet.
Velian sighed. "Sorry for yelling…"
"It's fine," she said quietly. "Let's survive first. Then we'll talk."
They walked on.
The growls of beasts grew louder behind them.
They reached a cliff edge.
Aera stepped forward. "I got this. Remember what Riven gave us?"
Velian looked uncertain. "But—"
"I'll be right back."
She stepped into the open and pulled out the pouch.
Her hand touched something soft.
She opened it.
Raw meat.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
"What's wrong?" Velian asked, walking forward.
He saw the meat.
"…A trap," he said.
A shadow dropped from above.
Aera pushed Velian aside.
BOOM.
The beast slammed her across the cliff.
Velian hit the ground. Dust rose.
He looked up. Blood coated half his face.
Aera's body twitched in the distance.
She smiled at him. "This… feels right. I'm glad I died before you…"
Velian shook. "Why…"
Aera chuckled weakly. "Now I know you'll miss me. Stop crying, it doesn't suit you…"
"It's all my fault…"
Aera looked peaceful. "My only wish was to spend my last moments… with the one I love…"
She coughed blood.
"…I wanted to die in your arms… but this… is okay."
Beasts leapt at her.
Tearing. Ripping.
Her body was torn apart.
Her head flew through the air—still smiling.
"…Live…" her last word echoed.
Velian's breath hitched.
His fists hit the ground.
"WHY!?"
He stood.
More beasts charged toward him.
He turned—back to the cliff.
And jumped.
Dozens of Lycergs followed him—falling.
Freefall.
Blood trailed in the air.
He remembered Ban's words.
The warmth.
"Old man Ban… you were wrong."
"Friendship is just another ticket to betrayal."
"The most important thing… is survival."
His eyes flared open mid-air.
"I can't die now."
He hit the ground—
BOOOOOOOM!
A shockwave exploded.
Beasts were hurled into walls, crushed, shredded.
Velian floated.
His hair glowed white.
His eyes burned red—like dying stars.
Power exploded around him.
The dungeon cracked. Stone shattered.
He looked down at the remaining beasts.
He raised one finger.
Voice calm. Cold.
"…Die."
Everything stopped.
The beasts froze mid-motion. The ground cracked violently. Stone from the ceiling fell like meteors. One by one, every monster collapsed, lifeless. The entire dungeon rumbled.
---
Somewhere else in the dungeon.
Kael and Dren were laughing, walking slowly.
"By now," Dren chuckled, "they must be dead."
Kael scoffed. "Should never have brought both of them. Slowed us down too much."
Dren sighs. "At least they served as bait."
Suddenly.
CRACK.
The earth beneath them split apart.
RUMBLE.
A massive stone boulder slammed into Dren. Blood splashed across the wall. Her eye rolled out from her crushed skull.
Kael screamed.
He turned to run but was met with a rock the size of a wagon smashing into his head. Brain matter splattered. Silence returned.
---
Back with Velian.
A glowing panel appeared before him.
---
[Lexomancer System — Command Protocol Activated]
— Command Word: "Die"
— Intent: Total Annihilation
— Targets Eliminated: 38 Confirmed
---
— Lexical Surge: 246%
— Warning: Surge Limit Exceeded
— Used Command Level: Tier III – Divine Decree
---
— System Overload Imminent
— Soul Load: 91%
— Neural Strain: Critical
— Emergency Recovery Protocol Engaged
— Host will enter forced unconsciousness in:
3… 2… 1…
--
[System Offline]