[YUELIN CITY - MAIN TEMPLE]
TING... TING... TING...
The temple bells rang softly in the evening breeze. At the top of Yuelin City's tallest pagoda, a man sat cross-legged in meditation. The evening sunlight streaming through dragon-carved windows created golden patterns on the cold stone floor.
His jet-black hair had a bluish sheen at the tips, shoulder-length, half-tied back so it wouldn't cover his mature and elegant face. His jawline was firm yet refined, thin lips that rarely truly smiled. Most striking were his eyes—deep golden-black that in daily life appeared like ordinary human eyes.
But when he was serious, his pupils changed to vertical slits, resembling dragon eyes glowing from within darkness.
He wore long robes of dark black with subtle golden accents, flowing to his ankles. The robe's fabric held faint patterns of water waves and dragon scales, visible only when light struck at certain angles. On his hands, thin gloves covered part of his fingers, giving a simple yet graceful impression.
Yuanli. Leader of Yuelin City.
But that wasn't his real name. That wasn't his true form.
WHOOSH...
Mountain wind blew through the window, moving the hem of his robes. His golden-black eyes opened slowly, gazing at the evening sky beginning to redden.
"Three thousand years already..." he thought with a tone deep and full of memories.
---
[FLASHBACK - 3000 YEARS AGO]
Chaos. Destruction. Fear.
After the departure of the Hero who had defeated the Demon King, the world was indeed saved. However, the people in Yuelin City no longer felt safe. Without the presence of that legendary figure, they felt vulnerable to new threats that might come.
"We need protection!" cried one of the city leaders in panic.
"What if another Demon King appears? What if there's an even greater threat?"
"That Hero has returned to his original world. We're alone now!"
In desperation, the city leaders made a decision that would change Yuelin's fate forever.
They made a contract with a god.
Lóngyú—the Sun Dragon God who also controlled water and sea abilities. A being with extraordinary power, capable of protecting the entire city from any threat.
"O God Lóngyú," the leaders knelt at the sacred altar. "Protect our city. Give us the strength to survive."
A voice echoing from the heavens answered with deep, resonant tones: "I will protect you. However, there is a condition—I must disguise myself as a human and live among you. My identity as a god must not be known by anyone."
"We agree!"
And the contract was sealed.
Several years later, one by one the leaders who knew this secret died of old age. The secret of God Lóngyú's existence was buried with them.
All that remained was a "human" named Yuanli who suddenly appeared and led Yuelin City with extraordinary wisdom...
---
[BACK TO THE PRESENT]
Yuanli—or more precisely, God Lóngyú—sighed deeply. For three thousand years, he had led this city in disguise. No one knew his true identity.
Meanwhile, in Zaruneth.
---
[MORNING - AZARIEL'S PALACE]
cock-a-doodle-doo!
The rooster's crow awakened the trio of adventurers from their peaceful sleep. Morning sunlight filtered through silk curtains, creating golden patterns on the marble floor.
"Hmmm... soft bed..." Kai muttered while stretching, for the first time appearing... satisfied?
BANG BANG BANG!
"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! BATTLE DAY HAS ARRIVED!" Ren's voice shouted from the corridor while pounding on doors.
Azariel emerged from his room yawning. "That girl... where does she get all that energy so early in the morning..."
CRASH!
Kai's bedroom door burst open and Ren's head popped in with sparkling eyes. "KAI! WAKE UP! WE HAVE TO GET READY TO FIGHT THE GIANT SCORPION!"
"Zarakhesh," Azariel corrected with a sweatdrop.
"Yeah, that too!" Ren didn't care about the name correction.
Kai sat on the edge of the bed rubbing his eyes. "How big exactly is this creature?"
Before Azariel could answer...
RUMBLE... RUMBLE... RUMBLE...
The ground began to shake. Glasses on tables rattled, and dust started falling from the ceiling.
"It seems," Azariel said seriously, "you're about to find out the answer."
---
[TO BE CONTINUED...]