In a land painted in a deep, morbid purple, a lone figure knelt amidst a sea of corpses. The desolate ground, a testament to the world's demise by the Fiend's energy, was littered with the remains of all creatures. Yet, where the man knelt, a small, untouched circle of clean earth remained—an island of purity in an ocean of carnage.
He was a striking figure with silver-white hair that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow, contrasting sharply with the bleak surroundings. Dressed in a pristine white suit and a long jacket, with flawless white gloves covering his hands, his presence was almost heavenly. The very grass seemed to yearn for his touch, and his suit remained immaculate despite the gruesome scene. But the man, Levi, was anything but serene.
"Fuck it all!" Levi cursed, his peaceful outing violently interrupted by an ambush of Dark Slaves—horrific creatures serving the Fiend. But the ambush wasn't his primary concern.
"Where is it? Where is it?" he muttered, his crystal-blue eyes snapping open and darting around in a frantic search.
"A-ha," he whispered, a triumphant smile spreading across his face as his gaze landed on a corpse not too far from him.
He stood and walked toward the fallen Dark Slave. Squatting, he pushed the grotesque body aside to reveal a gold ring, stained with purple blood. With a wave of his hand, the blood instantly vanished, leaving the ring pristine and gleaming. He picked it up, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"Gotcha."
As the current Sword Hero, Levi had been sent on a mission to retrieve this very ring. At first, he'd been confused, wondering why he had to venture into a black zone beyond the kingdom's borders for what seemed like an ordinary piece of jewelry. But now, holding it, he understood. The ring felt powerful, its simple elegance a sharp contrast to the desolate wasteland. He rose, turning to leave.
He shoved the ring into his pocket for safekeeping and went to find his steed. The humble black horse lay on the ground, its body marred by scratches and cuts, a deep gash in its neck. Levi looked at it for a moment and sighed.
"Couldn't you have died when I was at home, you stupid horse? I always knew you hated me," Levi cursed, turning and continuing his journey on foot.
Years had passed since the Fiend's release. The world had been irrevocably changed. The four continents that once stood proudly were now reduced to a mere one. The forests and lands outside the kingdom's borders were now known as black zones due to the overwhelming presence of Dark Slaves. After its release, the Fiend had sought out its old companions, and together, they had wreaked havoc. The heroes fought the Fiend and its army for years, a bloody conflict that led to the destruction of three continents. Eventually, the heroes focused their defenses on the Eastern Continent, the last human stronghold, with its twenty-one remaining kingdoms. Each hero was assigned to a kingdom to serve its ruler and protect its people.
As the hero labeled the "weakest," Levi was stationed in a kingdom that sent him on trivial missions: showing guests around, finding a missing horse, planning a wedding, and now, the worst of all—retrieving a useless but strangely elegant ring from a black zone.
Frustration gnawed at him. When the massive gates of the Eagle Kingdom came into view, his vexation only grew.
The soldiers at the gates greeted him with respect, but he simply waved them off, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. He proceeded into the capital, which, at this time of year, was bustling with activity in anticipation of the upcoming tournament. An old woman and her children decorated the streets, bulky men carried luggage, and carriages passed by.
As the people saw him, their eyes burned with a mixture of respect, longing, and pride. Used to the constant scrutiny, Levi didn't spare them a glance, his leather white shoes tapping softly on the cobblestone streets as he made his way to the center of the kingdom to report to the king. But it wasn't easy. Every few steps, someone would approach him.
"I want to be a hero like you one day," a young boy said, his eyes full of admiration.
"Don't worry, I'll be rooting for you! You can do it!" Levi forced a smile.
"Thank you for protecting us, mister."
"No need to thank me," Levi replied, his voice strained. "It's my duty."
"Can you heal my mother?" a man pleaded, his voice thick with desperation.
"I'm not a healer," Levi said, his patience wearing thin.
With each encounter, he had to conjure a "righteous" answer to maintain his image as a hero. He often wondered if they did it just to pester him. If so, they needed to be told it wasn't funny.
When he reached the capital's center, a massive castle stood before him, a breathtaking sight. It was built from pristine white stone, with gleaming spires that reached into the clouds. At its very peak sat an enormous eagle, giving the kingdom its name.
The beauty wasn't limited to the exterior. The castle was surrounded by lush, well-manicured gardens and a massive courtyard filled with servants and knights. Inside, the halls were vast and airy, lit by glowing crystals instead of torches. The floors were polished marble, and the walls were adorned with intricate golden carvings depicting historical events and majestic portraits of past kings and queens.
No matter how much Levi hated this kingdom, he couldn't deny its beauty. Each time he saw it, it felt as though a god had personally constructed the magnificent building.
He walked deeper into the corridors, towards the main chamber where the throne room was located. As he passed, servants and knights paused their duties to greet him with respectful nods. He simply returned the gesture, his mind already on the king.
Ahead, a wide, arched door came into view. Its surface was a canvas of golden carvings, depicting a majestic eagle showering its light upon the people below—the very symbol of the kingdom.
Levi reached the door, placed a hand on its polished surface, and took a deep breath before pushing it open and stepping inside.
"Levi," a voice called out as he entered.