The air in the demi-human village of Lurtra wasn't just dusty from the journey; it was choked with suspicion.
Sahara Kurnov and her Hero companions hadn't even finished dismounting when the first barrage struck.
Clack. Clatter. THWACK!
A rain of sharp stones erupted from the shadows. "Get down!" Sahara roared, shoving her allies toward the crumbling stone walls.
"We want nothing to do with you Heroes! The only thing you bring is chaos!" A gruff voice boomed from the hidden crowd.
A terrible start to a diplomatic mission, Sahara thought, taking a deep, steadying breath. "Please, just listen to me! I mean you no harm!" she shouted, infusing her voice with genuine sincerity.
The rock-throwing stopped. Taking the risk, Sahara pushed away from the wall, straightened, and dropped her ornate, hero-issue sword.
"My name is Sahara Kurnov," she declared, palms open. "I have no intention of fighting."
An old demi-human with ram-like horns and deeply wrinkled skin emerged, fixing her with an ancient, weary gaze. "One of your friends—another Hero—came through here. He claimed to be hunting our Messiah, the White Plague. When no one told him anything, he beat some of our people, then left."
A cold knot tightened in Sahara's stomach. "Jet-black hair and brown eyes," the elder described.
Kylie. That idiot is hunting Leornars? Vengeance is one thing, but running into that monster without a plan is just suicidal!
A Betrayal Written in Blood
Before Sahara could apologize, Jennifer, a cold-faced Hero, stepped out. With sharp, predatory movements, she drew her sword.
"Listen up, you disgusting species," Jennifer sneered, pointing the blade at the old man. "Tell me what you know of Leornars, or I'll kill you!"
The silence shattered. The demi-humans instantly drew their own weapons. As they charged, Jennifer's face split into a chilling, bloodthirsty smirk, and her sword became a flashing blur of silver, carving through the front line.
"Noooo!" Sahara screamed, tackling Jennifer to the ground. She began pummeling her former ally with furious fists, reaching for her dagger to end the madness.
SHNNK. An icy, searing chill pierced her back.
Sahara gasped, staring in disbelief at the black-hilted blade sticking through her stomach. She was violently flung aside.
Jennifer, panting but triumphant, scrambled up and delivered a vicious kick to Sahara's ribs. "You piece of trash! Who were you trying to kill, huh?" she spat, following with another brutal kick.
WHOOSH. An arrow whistled past Jennifer's ear. She twisted, dodging the volley, and flipped back to the remaining Heroes. The demi-humans had instantly regrouped.
"Fall back!" Jennifer commanded.
Only one, the gentle mage Sasha, hesitated, looking down at the grievously injured Sahara before staying put.
"Fine, die with that loser," Jennifer sneered, spitting on the ground before retreating.
Sahara groaned, the pain a searing agony. She focused her remaining mana and cast a simple [Healing] spell. Sasha stood ready, staff glowing faintly.
"No, don't," Sahara whispered, a dark, chilling smile spreading across her lips. "Let them go. They're so eager to fight Leornars... let them fight him first."
The Princess's Treachery
In the royal capital of Durmount, the economy was collapsing. King Selamendra sat on his obsidian throne, a portrait of seething rage. He snatched a wine cup from a trembling servant and smashed it over her head.
"Get out, you disgusting abomination!" he bellowed.
Unseen, Princess Selrose watched from a crack in the door, a knowing smirk on her face. She glanced down at a letter from Leornars.
> Plan for Durmount's Ruin: ...The economy of Durmount will plummet in a month or less... I need you to kill the Royal Advisor and his wise men. Leave him no one to consult but yourself... Durmount falls, a new leader elected, and you take the throne.
>
"Plan A is complete," she murmured, her smile turning evil. "Next is eliminating the Royal Advisor."
Her Chief Knight, Harribel, pulled her back. "Lady Selrose, you need to control your composure."
"With the Heroes gone, a lot of our major problems are eliminated," Selrose noted.
"Why not just kill the King?" Harribel asked.
"Leornars thought of that. If my idiot brother takes the throne, it's another problem. Slow ruin is more permanent than sudden chaos."
The Monster of Vurnam
In the neutral territory of Vurnam, Leornars sat with his three retainers, observing a visiting contingent of knights.
"I can certainly use them," he smiled.
"Lord Leornars, we haven't met the Lord of the manor in three days," said Stacian, his stoic strategist.
"Indeed." Leornars summoned Bellian, his shadow entity. "Go fetch Shullah."
"Lord Leornars, why the rush to build the nation?" asked Zaryter, the enthusiastic commander.
"We need a defended nation against threats like Durmount or Seraphim," Stacian answered. "We need allies, a stable economy, and citizens."
Leornars rose, a dark look in his eyes. "Don't trust anyone too much. Remember, even your own shadow leaves you in the dark."
"Let's resume sparring."
Leornars and Stacian faced each other on the lawn. Zhyier, the barrier mage, created a reinforced magical dome, his face straining.
Leornars's mana surged. "Hellish, Amp Maximum," he whispered, amplifying his power three times.
I have to end this now, Stacian thought, adopting a serious stance.
Leornars vanished. He used [Shadow Movement] to teleport, throwing a kick. Stacian dodged, but the air turbulence scratched her cheek. She countered, sending Leornars skidding across the ceiling of the barrier.
Zhyelena, the frail speed-sensor, opened her eyes wide in terror. "He's moving at Mach 180! He has gone far beyond human limits!"
Leornars dropped, throwing rapid kicks. Stacian dodged, grabbed his foot, and flung him. As she moved to pin him, he used "Gravel" to instantly shrink, darting up, re-enlarging, and throwing a punch.
Stacian used [Glorious Chamber], a light barrier, to neutralize the impact. She teleported above him, throwing a punch. He caught her hand, flinging her away. She landed, fired a light beam, but Leornars countered with "King's Cross," negating 72\% of the damage.
He charged, teleporting mid-run. She punched, knocking him, but he hit the barrier and melted. "Phantom Illusion," Zhyelena whispered.
Stacian dodged the sudden burst of [Purgatory Flames]. He rushed her. "Gale Wind!" he yelled, cracking the barrier. Zhyier groaned.
Stacian rushed him. "Chambers of Augabrine!" she declared, dark roots grabbing him. He burnt them, but she kicked him on the face.
"Hellish Amp Overload!" he roared. A violent red aura engulfed him, and mana steam hissed from his mouth.
"M... m... Mach 540!" Zhyelena screamed, shaking uncontrollably.
Stacian, seeing the change, rushed him. "Still, slow. I can see you," she said, teleporting and kicking him twice, then using "Sound Cavern" to blast him into the wall. She followed with fireballs, then slammed him to the floor.
"Merciful Mother!" she cast, unleashing blinding light. As he dodged, she rushed him.
"Carved Chronicles!" she shouted, firing exploding notes that blew him up. He fell hard as hundreds more were thrown.
"Dark Heal," Leornars murmured, his wounds closing in a black fog. "Dark Aria." Both cast a black void light. It collided and exploded, throwing them both to the wall.
"Any impact on those spells is not only fatal but instant kill," the knight Lloyd reported, his eyes glowing from his scan.
"Eye of Shalba," Stacian cast to perceive his weakness. She created several teleporting afterimages.
Tap. She reappeared behind him. "Carved Chronicles!" she blasted. He got up.
"Threads of Abstract!" he shouted, firing slicing threads. She instantly healed, grabbed a thread, and pulled him in for a punch.
He smirked. "Explosion," he said, detonating a miniature blast. She got up, casting "Light Lineage," pinning him down with light. She descended with a double-knee strike. He got up, rushed, and used "Chainling Absurdity." She broke the chain and kicked him in the face.
"She's matching his speed," a female knight noted.
"No, look! She's faster, but he is adapting while she is too!" Zhyelena corrected.
Stacian drew her sword, throwing it up. She punched him twice, then front-flipped, kicking the sword toward him. Leornars instantly melted it.
"The God's Palm!" she declared, as a massive white hand manifested and instantly smashed Leornars to the wall.
She followed with the seven-spell combo: Fire, Ice, Air, Water, Earth, Blue Flame, and Chamber of Augabrine. Leornars instantly used [Bubble], melting the [Chamber of Augabrine] and blocking the others. He used [Gravel] to shrink and resize. She countered with a black flame.
He was faster. "Water Cannon!" he roared, blasting her down.
"Gauge output off," Stacian said. Her mana manifested in a golden color. Her dryiad horns and wings reappeared, glowing; her eyes shone a bright blue.
"She amped herself! She is Mach 650!" Zhyelena shouted.
Leornars smirked. "Hellish Critical Output Off!" he declared, unleashing his skill's full power. His aura turned black, his arms darkened, and his eyes glowed deep crimson.
They both smirked evilly.
"They are both... Mach 679!" Zhyelena screamed.
"I... I don't think I can hold this barrier for long," Zhyier muttered.
Stacian instantly appeared in front of him, casting "Light of the Goddess"—a divine light that neutralizes magic. Leornars countered with "Dark Magic: Hell Blaze"—a dark hellfire that burns mana.
The two ultimate attacks were about to collide when a gentle cough echoed from inside the manor. Both Stacian and Leornars froze, their attacks dissipating, and looked toward the source.
"Father?!" Rachael Suvallina cried out, running inside.
"Father?!" Stacian repeated, her face a mask of utter confusion.
The magical barrier surrounding them cracked, and Zhyier, exhausted, collapsed and instantly descended into Leornars's shadow.
"Rest up, Zhyier," Leornars said calmly.
The remaining knights were utterly shell-shocked.
"What... what are they?" Lloyd whispered.
"Monsters," Nepheline concluded, fearfully clenching her fists.