Under the influence of "Elder Dragon Energy," Hun's physical capabilities grew stronger by the day. In just half a month, his constitution had surpassed his peers. Just as he was wrestling with his future, news reached the village.
"The camps outside Schrade all witnessed a 'star' fall from the sky. It was red at first, then turned blue as it hit the city. The commander sent a suicide squad; they found the city occupied by a powerful monster. It's said everyone who entered came back deathly ill..."
Though Hun hadn't revealed his full combat prowess to the village, the weapons and armor he crafted from monster parts became hot commodities. Using the same materials as others, he somehow imbued the gear with the monster's latent abilities. These pieces were no weaker than the "Relics" found in ruins. This earned him a high status, and the village chief invited him to the meeting.
Unlike the villagers who gasped in horror, Hun found "anomalies" in the report.
First, if the monster was as powerful and eerie as described, the squad shouldn't have survived. Second, the "star falling from the sky" immediately made him think of Lancer.
Based on the timeline, that man would have reached Schrade just then. And if he was there, the "monster" would have been subjugated by him!
He trusted Lancer that much. To Hun, the man was as mysterious and powerful as the "Sapphire Star" of ancient myth.
Sensing something was off, he decided to investigate. But unlike before, he had seen the true terror of these beasts during his time trailing Lancer. He decided to hone his skills first.
The man didn't reappear, but Hun believed he had "left" as he said he would. But he must have left something behind!
One day, donning the armor and weapons made from the Elder Dragon materials Lancer gave him, Hun left the village.
When he slipped into Castle Schrade, he noticed the city's strangeness. Usually, such deserted places are overgrown with weeds or become nests for small monsters. But this city felt "dead." No plants, no monsters.
Grasping a Great Sword made from Teostra materials, he crept toward the central castle. According to the scouts, the "monster" lived in the ruins.
Yet, when he entered, there was no monster, nor the "suffocating atmosphere" others described. Instead, he found a strange "mark." Detecting a familiar aura from it, he knew this was what Lancer had left for him.
Touching it caused the floor to collapse, revealing a hidden chamber. Inside, Hun found a dragon horn pulsating with evil energy and black scales. Beside them was a letter with his name on it.
Seeing his name, he was overwhelmed with emotion before opening it.
The letter was short, but every word made Hun's expression grow more solemn.
Lancer told him the "Evil Dragon" had been slain. The horn was from its own head, but because it was an evil dragon, the part was cursed. Ordinary people couldn't handle it; one had to wait for time to dull the curse or have "Elder Dragon Energy" to wield it.
Furthermore, he explained the origin of the "Evil Dragon." It wasn't born naturally; it manifested when the number of dragons killed by humans hit a certain threshold, fueled by their collective grudges. According to the letter, this dragon might appear again someday.
Hun's feelings were complex. The horn was practically made for him, yet he chose to leave it there. He wasn't sure if turning it into gear would endanger those around him.
Returning to the village, he spoke to no one of the letter or the truth of Schrade. Lancer had warned that the malice in the city would corrupt any living thing without protection, leading to self-destruction or madness.
He realized that if he wanted to save the land when the "Evil Dragon" returned, he needed to work much harder.
After leaving behind "Methods for Weapon and Armor Crafting," "Medicine Recipes," and "Beast Soul Attunement," he left the village for good.
This time, he would save his home with his own strength.
In ancient legends, the world was created by Five Dragons. But at some point, the legend gained a new sequel...
A curious youth, guided by the Sapphire Star, set out to find the truth of the legends. No one believed he could solve the riddle, until one day, he returned.
He remained silent about the legend itself but claimed to have found five fragments. He said these were found under the guidance of the Sapphire Star, and as long as they existed, any cruel future could be reversed.
When he left, the people looked at the four fragments he handed them, confused. They asked, "Where is the fifth fragment?"
He only smiled and did not explain.
Later, the young man vanished from sight, but the remaining people used the four fragments to expand their world. Later, many claimed to have seen the fifth fragment...
The fall of Castle Schrade signaled the end of a powerful kingdom, but a nation doesn't die with its capital. Two new nations, East and West, rose from the ashes.
During this era, a powerful and mysterious organization was born————the Hunter's Guild.
The Guild possessed the secret to turning monster parts into powerful weapons and armor. Strangely, they had no interest in the politics of the two kingdoms. Instead, they focused on hunting monsters and————protecting them.
Yes, they also protected monsters—or rather, they banned meaningless mass slaughter.
Unjustified killing of monsters would result in punishment by the Guild. While both commoners and kings resented this high-handedness, after a mysterious man in red had secret talks with the two kings, both nations tacitly accepted the Guild's authority.
Beyond royal support, the Guild's own strength was unquestionable, boasting four legendary hunters. One was a massive Wyverian, nearly 10 meters tall.
He brandished a massive black Great Sword, subjugating countless threats. Once, while chasing an Ukanlos after defeating an Akantor, he settled in a snowy mountain range. When asked why, he said he had to ensure the beast would never threaten people again. Under his protection, a small village began to grow at the foot of the mountains.
Because of the giant Wyverian's vigil, no monsters ever descended to attack travelers. Sadly, until his death, he never met his fated enemy, the "Ukanlos," again. His massive black sword was sealed within the village, its exact location known to no one.
Hundreds of years passed...
A small Wyverian woman sat by a campfire, leafing through a strange book, when————
"Grandma! I finished my training! Tell me a story!"
A girl with short silver hair appeared by the fire with a bell-like laugh. The elderly woman, who had seemed dozing, gave a kind smile.
"Finished your training? Alright then. As promised, shall I tell you the story of how our Pokke Village was founded?"
The girl pouted at the kind smile.
"Grandma! You told that one already!"
"Then... the story of the 'Sapphire Star'?"
The grandmother patted her granddaughter's head as she pouted. The girl shook her head.
"I've heard that too! And the part about the 'Sapphire Star' turning from a dragon into a human is just too ridiculous! Everyone else says that part isn't in the stories. Grandma, you must have told it so many times you're getting things mixed up!"
The Wyverian girl shook her grandmother's hand insistently, but the old woman only let out a raspy chuckle, as if seeing right through her.
"Hehe~ Then what story do you want to hear?"
The girl's eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.
"I want to know about the legendary weapon hidden in the village!"
Ignoring the girl's cunning look, the old woman patted her head gently.
"That won't do~ You're not yet qualified to go there."
With that, the old woman fell silent, as if lost in a distant memory...