Chapter 89 — The Road to No Man's Land
The dawn spilled across the mountains of northern Mavaria, streaking the sky with soft gold and violet. The land was quiet, raw, and untouched — far from the chaos of cities, far from the watchful eyes of any authority.
Moro and his squad had been traveling for days since their escape from Whalebelly. The road was rough and silent, yet every step carried a deep, shared resolve. The further they went, the closer they felt to something unknown… something waiting in the north.
Kiro walked beside Moro, his sword slung across his shoulder. His eyes wandered from the rugged path to the distant snowcaps. Behind them, Yaya and Kaya chatted lightly, while Steven followed a few steps behind, calm and thoughtful, his white hair reflecting the morning light like frost.
They were wanted men and women now — fugitives — yet none of them looked defeated. The flame in Moro's eyes burned brighter than ever.
The forest around them shimmered with life. Trees whispered softly with the wind, and patches of strange blue mushrooms glowed faintly in the shade. Everything seemed alive in its own rhythm.
Kiro broke the silence first.
"You know… this place reminds me of when I came to Mavaria years ago," he said, his voice carrying through the morning air. "JJ brought me here during the Grand Festival. Streets full of fireworks, people in masks, everyone dancing. He was unstoppable back then."
Moro smiled faintly, not breaking stride. "That's him. Dad always carried that kind of light."
"He really did," Kiro chuckled. "He joined a tournament with a wooden stick and beat half the fighters before buying them all dinner afterward."
Yaya laughed softly. "Sounds like something you'd do, Moro."
Moro shrugged, eyes forward. "If it's to make people smile again… maybe."
Then his tone shifted — steady, serious.
"I'll find him. No matter how far I have to go. No matter who or what stands in the way."
Steven, quiet as ever, watched Moro closely. The boy's determination pulsed like a visible aura — the kind that made others believe without question.
This boy, Steven thought, his will is something I haven't seen in ages.
The hours rolled by, the sunlight shifting from warm to pale as the group trekked further north. They crossed meadows where shimmering mist hovered above the grass and rivers that hummed softly, as though singing.
By afternoon, they reached the edge of a vast ridge — and from it, the view was breathtaking.
There, towering over the horizon, stood the colossal Kusa Volcano — a mountain so high it pierced the clouds, its crown wreathed in smoke and red firelight.
"The Kusa Volcano," Yaya whispered. "The largest one on Earth. They say it's been active since the world's first dawn."
Kiro shielded his eyes. "Looks like the gateway to the gods."
Moro exhaled slowly. "Or the warning they left behind."
They began their trek along the base of the volcano. The ground beneath them grew warmer, the air heavy with the scent of sulfur. Streams of molten rock flowed deep within the cracks, glowing faintly in the dark crevices.
But their awe was short-lived.
A rumbling noise shook the earth — deep and ancient. Then came a hiss, sharp as steel scraping glass.
"Everyone, stop," Moro warned.
From the steaming fissures ahead, something emerged — a massive serpent, its scales black as burnt iron, its eyes burning crimson. Its body coiled around boulders, glistening with heat.
Yaya gasped. "That… that's a Lavascale Serpent!"
"Everyone, stay sharp!" Moro commanded.
The serpent lunged with terrifying speed. Moro dodged and countered with a clean slash, sparks flying as his blade met its scales. Kiro followed with a flurry of strikes, but the monster's hide was too thick. Kaya extended her hand, summoning torrents of freezing water, forming shards of ice that struck its eyes.
The serpent roared, thrashing violently.
Steven stepped forward. His yellow eyes glowed as the ground's heat began to fade. "Enough."
He raised his hand — and the air plummeted in temperature. Frost crawled across the volcanic stone, spreading outward until the serpent's body began to stiffen.
"Now!" Moro shouted.
Just then, a massive shadow swept past them. The air rippled as something landed with a thunderous BOOM!
A gigantic fox — Carol, their companion — landed between them and the beast. Her fur shimmered gold and white, and her eyes burned with fierce loyalty. She snarled, baring her gleaming fangs.
"Carol!" Moro shouted in relief.
The giant fox let out a low growl that echoed through the canyon. The Lavascale Serpent turned its fury toward her, lunging again.
Carol darted aside with impossible speed for her size, then leapt onto the serpent's back, sinking her claws deep into its molten hide. The ground quaked under their battle — ancient, wild, untamed.
"Let's finish this!" Moro roared, rushing forward.
He charged beneath Carol's shadow, slashing through the serpent's underbelly with all his strength. Kiro joined in, his blade glowing from the heat. Kaya froze its tail in solid ice, and Yaya directed gusts of wind to throw it off balance.
Carol lifted her head high and released a deafening roar, unleashing a wave of energy that shattered the serpent's resistance.
With a final, earth-splitting strike, Moro plunged his sword into its skull. The serpent shuddered, let out one last echoing hiss — and fell silent.
The valley grew still again.
Steam drifted into the sky as the group caught their breath. Carol lowered her head beside Moro, nuzzling him gently.
"You did well, girl," Moro said, patting her fur.
Kiro dropped onto a rock, exhausted. "Remind me never to mess with anything near a volcano again."
Steven looked over the frozen carcass of the beast. "Something's not right. These creatures… they're not attacking by instinct. They're being drawn to something."
Yaya frowned. "Drawn to what?"
He didn't answer — just stared toward the northern horizon.
There, stretching endlessly beyond the fiery mountains, was a land unlike any they had seen before.
It was barren. Lifeless. The soil was gray, the air still. No birds, no trees — just silence and dust under a pale sun.
Steven's voice dropped. "No Man's Land."
The words carried weight. The others stared at the distant expanse, their hearts tightening.
"That's it, huh?" Kiro muttered. "The place we've been heading toward."
Moro nodded, eyes steady. "That's where the truth lies. That's where we'll find answers… about JJ. About everything."
Carol let out a low growl — not in fear, but warning. Even she could sense the desolation ahead.
But Moro stepped forward, the wind pulling at his cloak. "This is where it begins for real."
Behind him, the squad stood ready.
The volcano rumbled one last time, as if giving a final warning to those who dared cross its shadow.
And so, the six — Moro, Kiro, Yaya, Kaya, Steven,Herbet — and their mighty companion, Carol the Fox, began their march into the silent wasteland.
Their next destination: No Man's Land.
A place where history had ended… and destiny would begin again.