Without realizing it, twelve months had passed, and it was time for Ray to return to Milty.
The morning sun had just risen as Ray stood before the gates of the city, with Hifung beside him.
Hifung: You're really leaving already, huh? Time flies.
Ray: Yeah. You'll be heading back to Milty yourself in another year.
Hifung: Yeah...
The two of them looked up at the sky with gentle smiles.
Ray: Well then, I'll be off. Take care of yourself—and don't push too hard by constantly taking missions.
Hifung: Got it.
Ray: See you.
Ray waved at Hifung and began walking away.
Hifung watched him go with a small smile, then turned and walked back into the city.
---
Ray eventually arrived at the front of Milty's royal castle.
He entered the kingdom, now visibly more developed than before, and looked at the buildings with a faint smile on his face.
As he walked toward the castle grounds, he spotted Micyl in the training field, practicing her fire sword techniques.
Ray: Micyl!
Micyl stopped and looked around, startled when she saw Ray.
She ran over to him, waving her hand.
Micyl: Ray!
(She gave him a quick glance from head to toe.)
Micyl: You've gotten taller.
Ray: Haha, yeah… a little. What are you doing here?
Micyl: Training.
Ray: Oh.
Micyl: There's going to be a huge war in another year, so all of the kingdom's troops are training. The king gave me permission to train with them.
Ray: Oh...
Micyl: By the way, where did you guys go on your journey?
Ray: Hm? Hifung and I found a small town.
Ray: We stayed there for a while, taking on minor jobs to earn money and survive.
Micyl: Ohh...
Ray: By the way, where's the king?
Micyl: Hm? He's in his chamber.
Ray: Is he busy?
Micyl: I don't think so.
Ray: Alright. I want to see him first. Want to come along?
Micyl: Sure.
Ray: Let's go.
The two of them headed toward the king's chamber.
When they arrived, they knocked on the door and entered.
The king was seated, and Darius was sitting in front of him.
Ray: Excuse me.
(The king turned around, looking a little surprised to see Ray.)
King: Oh! You've returned already.
Ray: Yeah.
King: You came back early?
Ray: I don't think so?
King: Huh? Then that means...
Darius: It's been a year since Ray and Hifung left.
King: Huh? It's already been a year!?
(The king let out a small laugh.)
Ray and Micyl looked slightly confused.
(Darius scratched the back of his head briefly.)
Darius: So, how have you and Hifung been?
Ray: We're both doing fine.
King: That's good to hear, then.
---
Meanwhile, in another place, Hifung was relaxing in a small restaurant.
He sat at a table by himself, until suddenly he heard murmured conversations from nearby.
Man 1: Hey, I saw something weird in a cave earlier.
Man 2: Weird how?
Man 1: The cave gave off a green aura... but only for a second.
Man 2: Seriously?
Man 3: Probably just your imagination.
Man 1: No, I swear I saw it—green aura.
(Hifung, intrigued by what he overheard, glanced over his shoulder at them.)
Man 1: Come on, follow me.
Man 3: Alright, let's go.
They got up and left. Hifung quietly followed them from behind.
Once they reached the forest, they stood before an ordinary-looking cave.
Man 2: You sure this is the place?
Man 1: Positive. Let's go in.
Man 3: Yeah, let's.
(Hifung watched from atop a tree.)
Hifung (in his thoughts): "I don't sense anything unusual… could that guy have been lying?"
Suddenly, the sound of screaming echoed from inside the cave.
Man 1: WUAA!
Man 2: WUAA!
Man 3: WUAA!
Startled, Hifung jumped down from the tree and rushed into the cave.
Hifung (in his thoughts): "What the hell happened!?"
He ran deeper until he reached a large open space—and there, he saw a giant spider.
Its body was green, with eight long legs. Beside it lay the corpses of the three men from earlier.
The spider turned its gaze toward Hifung and instantly went berserk. Hifung panicked.
Hifung: This isn't an ordinary spider!
(The spider activated fire magic through two of its legs and launched it at Hifung.)
Startled, Hifung quickly dodged the attack.
Hifung (in his thoughts): "It can use magic!?"
He conjured a burst of orange fire magic.
Hifung: SuperFire!
(The spell shot toward the spider, but it blocked the attack with a water spell using its other legs.)
Hifung (in his thoughts): "Looks like this won't end easily."
Hifung summoned a lightning sword in his right hand and dashed at the spider.
He slashed, but the spider blocked it with one leg—bare-handed.
Hifung: Impossible!!
(The spider counterattacked with another leg, but Hifung leapt back just in time.)
Hifung: Damn, you're a real pain.
(The spider conjured two fire spells with its legs again.)
Gritting his teeth, Hifung coated his sword in aura.
(The spider unleashed both fire spells at him, but Hifung slashed them away and charged forward.)
He hurled his sword at the spider—but it blocked the blade using two of its legs.
Then, Hifung summoned magma magic and launched it at the creature.
But the spider blocked the attack using its third and fourth legs, layered with aura—leaving Hifung shocked.
Hifung: Tch! How many legs do you need to stand!?
(His lightning sword and magma spell both shattered.)
The spider flew into a frenzy and charged at him.
Hifung: Are you kidding me!?
Hifung ran around the chamber, the spider in hot pursuit.
He stopped suddenly and released a barrage of lightning bolts from his right hand.
Hifung: Take this!
(The spider halted and blocked the lightning with four of its legs.)
Hifung: Die already!
(The spider roared, coating all four of its legs with a thick aura.)
It slowly began to approach Hifung.
Hifung: You've got to be kidding me!
He tried to cast a massive magma spell with his right hand.
But before he could finish, the spider grabbed his right arm. Its other legs were too occupied holding his arm back to catch his left.
The spider glared at Hifung, bringing its sharp fangs closer—ready to devour him alive.
Hifung: Damn it! Let me go!!
(The spider pinned down his legs, keeping him from moving. His right arm was restrained.)
Its mouth drew closer—fangs gleaming—ready to tear Hifung apart.