CHAPTER II
The Heroes
Kaizo woke from his sleep to see Eliana sitting beside him, combing her still-damp hair.
"You woke up first and didn't wake me?" Kaizo said as he tried to gather back his soul.
"I just wanted to see your sleeping face a little longer," Eliana replied with her gentle smile.
Kaizo got off the bed, took off his pajamas, and prepared to clean himself when he suddenly asked something.
"Eliana, about the tattoo on your shoulder… it's cool, but did you make it yourself?"
"This one?" Eliana said as she slightly opened her clothes, revealing the tattoo in question. "I didn't make it. Last night, I met your teacher in my dream, and when I woke up, this tattoo had appeared on its own."
Hearing that, Kaizo froze slightly, swallowed hard, then shook his head.
"I see… well then, I'll go first. As a former homeless guy, my body must stink."
Eliana laughed softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"If it's already like this, no matter how bad it smells, it doesn't even cross my mind anymore."
"Blablablablaah, I'm going," Kaizo said as he closed the door from the outside.
Not long after, the door was flung open again. Someone rushed in—a royal servant.
"Lord Desmond? What makes you so rushed?" Eliana asked.
"Your Majesty! In the city, in front of the city hall, there is… Lord Orion!" Desmond shouted while panting. His hair and beard were a mess, a clear sign that he had run from the city center to the top floor of the palace.
"What?! You must be joking!" Eliana said in panic as she immediately grabbed her royal cloak and put it on while walking.
---
Eliana arrived at the city center. It was clearly visible that someone in a neat suit was sitting on the steps at the entrance of the city hall. Behind him, several soldiers were pointing their spears at him with hesitation and fear.
"Lord Orion! Is there anything we can help you with?" Eliana said as she tried to approach him.
Orion suddenly leaped up from where he sat and stood in an overly dramatic pose. His arrogant, confident gaze clearly showed that he was fully aware that he was the strongest in this world.
"Ahem… is there… something you can help me with?" Eliana asked again, slightly awkward after seeing his behavior.
"Haah, Eliana, huh? I've waited for you with great patience for quite some time. You finally came!" Orion's exaggerated deep voice boomed, pounding against everyone's ears.
"So, is there anything we can help you with?" Eliana asked once more.
"What you plant is what you reap," Orion said with his back turned to her.
Then, slowly, he turned around to face Eliana again. Even his expression looked overly dramatic.
"But you surely already know what that means," he continued.
Hearing that, Eliana grew uneasy. How could she not? Standing directly in front of Orion gave an enormous mental pressure. Anyone who confronted Orion head-on would inevitably feel fear.
"Anyone who toys with my personal property must bear the consequences."
Kaizo appeared from behind Eliana.
"And who might you be?" Orion boomed loudly, feeling offended.
Kaizo walked slowly, circling slightly around Eliana, gently stroking her head with his right hand, then stepped closer to Orion until their breaths collided.
"I am the one who will defeat you," Kaizo said.
The smiles on Kaizo's and Orion's faces could not lie—each of them clearly believed that he himself was the strongest.
Everyone around heard those words. They were all shocked. Some feared that a battle might erupt right here in the city, especially Eliana. If they were to fight, no one knew who was stronger—but Eliana was in the greatest danger, given how close she stood to both of them.
Their eyes locked. Razor-sharp gazes. Powerful auras collided, making the atmosphere around them feel unbearably heavy. A meeting that should never have happened in the heart of a city, between two men who both believed themselves to be the strongest.
Orion grinned widely, showing all his teeth as his eyes narrowed. Kaizo also grinned widely. Then, startled by Orion's expression, Kaizo accidentally burst into laughter and tried to hold it back, causing a bit of mucus to slip from his right nostril.
"BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Both of them burst into wild laughter. Only they were happy, while everyone else around them grew even more terrified. Their laughter was horrifying, as if it shook the dimensions themselves.
Orion stopped laughing and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Very well, Kaizo. I like you. Whenever you want, you may come to my island. I'll always be ready to fight you."
Orion turned his back, thrust his hand into the air, and shockingly, the air—or space itself—tore apart. He pulled the tear open as if ripping paper, creating a shortcut back to his domain.
Kaizo turned around and saw Eliana immediately hugging him. All the citizens around them burst into thunderous applause—not because Kaizo had driven Orion away, but because at last they could see their beloved queen finding her own happiness. The morning atmosphere in the center of Notton was truly beautiful—and even more shocking when, without warning, Eliana suddenly lifted Kaizo in front of everyone. The cheers of the citizens grew even louder. Some laughed, and some men—clearly Eliana's admirers—smiled while quietly nursing their broken hearts.
RAAAAAAAAAARWR!
A dragon's roar echoed from the southern end of the city. Kaizo, who was still shy, immediately ran off to face it.
Eliana instantly sensed the danger, licked her lips, and issued an evacuation order.
A black dragon was rampaging in the southern sector of the capital of Notton. Citizens began fleeing in every direction to avoid whatever attack it might unleash.
Eliana, who was moving together with the rescue captain, immediately asked,
"What caused the dragon to come here?"
With firm, steady steps, the captain replied,
"Most likely, Orion's presence enraged it, and now it's trying to hunt him down. We all know Orion often disrupts the lives of local species. It's no surprise this happened."
"So our priority now is rescuing victims from possible rubble caused by the dragon and driving it out of the city. Go now and prepare the archer units!" Eliana commanded.
"Yes, ma'am!" the captain replied before turning and sprinting as fast as he could toward the military barracks.
The dragon's terrifying appearance made it a horrifying nightmare for the citizens. Some tried to attack using their abilities—flying pebbles, exploding fireballs, streaks of lightning—but nothing worked. Even though everyone in this world had "power," true combat-worthy power was possessed only by those of noble blood. Ordinary citizens simply did not have strong enough abilities for battle.
---
The dragon roared again in fury. This time, its maw glowed yellow-orange—it was about to unleash its fire breath. Everyone ran for their lives.
The fire burst forth, slamming into a two-story building. Instantly, the upper part shifted and began to collapse. Panic erupted when people saw a small child standing directly beneath the falling structure.
"He's going to be crushed!!!" a citizen screamed.
Hearing that, Eliana charged forward like a galloping horse, pushing through the crowd without hesitation and leaping straight toward the child, wrapping him in her arms. But escape was impossible—the building had already fallen and was coming down directly on top of them.
Eliana apologized softly to the child and held him tightly.
BOOOOM!
The building collapsed on top of them. Dust exploded into the air, accompanied by the panicked screams of the citizens.
But suddenly, a portal appeared and spat the two of them out.
Eliana, not believing they had survived, slowly opened her eyes and saw the child pointing toward the rubble buried beneath thick dust.
Sunlight pierced through the haze, illuminating something beyond it. Atop the ruins, someone stood. His cloak fluttered in the wind, and his silhouette gradually became clear.
"Fatih…?"
Eliana whispered in disbelief.
As if an orchestra of hope had begun to play, Fatih Yirtighiloglu—the crown prince of the Oruman Sultanate—had arrived, bringing joy with him. His face was filled with a sincere smile. Everyone knew he was the kindest soul to have ever lived. His body was clad in leather armor adorned with the ornaments of the Sultanate, and on his back fluttered a red cloak that symbolized the Sultanate's dream: the "Red Apple" (to spread smiles to the ends of the world).
"It's been a long time, Eliana!" Fatih said as he landed.
Eliana smiled back. "What brought you here? Looking for me? Sorry, I'm already taken! Haha!"
Fatih laughed and shook his head. "Not that. I'm actually happy you finally found the right person. Now, there's something I want to do—and I plan to invite him to join us in forming a team of five."
"Five people? What about the other three?" Eliana asked.
"They'll be here soon," Fatih replied.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers shouted from the southern outer gate,
"The undead army is coming! The undead army is coming!!!"
Eliana immediately grew tense, but Fatih quickly reassured her.
"What perfect timing. We arrive today, and your city is already swarming with threats," Fatih said.
Still confused, Eliana then heard the same soldier shout again,
"There's another movement—something is coming!"
One of the undead skeletons fired a flaming arrow. It streaked toward a gate guard. He raised his shield to block it—only to realize that a green-glowing magic barrier had already appeared in front of him, stopping the arrow cold.
Someone descended slowly from the air. Wearing a green magic cloak, a green wizard's hat, blond hair, and a mask painted with a smiling face—he was Kirito Azrylean, the famous healer from the Elf Kingdom.
"Sorry, sir. Your heroes are busy, but you've got substitutes," Kirito said.
A barbaric roar erupted from behind the undead ranks. Someone leapt in with a massive strike, smashing through the undead horde with his axe. The shockwave reached all the way to the gate. It was Bones Fractura, son of the leader of the barbarian nomads of Sulus.
Beside him, dozens of flashes of light burst out as undead bones scattered everywhere. A swordsman who relied on speed—a man who always flaunted his handsome face—Zen Northon, son of the northern nomad tribe. Zen stood amid the trembling undead, casually running his hand through his long hair. Women screamed from the gate, some fainting on the spot.
Kirito took a piece of gum from his pocket and walked calmly toward the undead horde. Dozens, then hundreds of undead rushed at him like a swarm, yet he kept walking toward Zen while tapping his magic staff against the ground several times. This was the power of "All Magi." Kirito could create any kind of magic—even those that had never existed—without chanting at all. Every time the undead approached, countless attacks manifested: skeletal hands, laser beams, heavenly swords. And still, Kirito walked as if nothing were happening.
At the gate, Eliana and Fatih watched everything unfold.
"They're amazing. No wonder they disappeared—so this is what you've all been doing," Eliana said.
"We've gathered for one purpose. We want to defeat Lord Orion," Fatih explained.
Fatih and Eliana then turned toward the back, wanting to look at Kaizo. Meanwhile, Kaizo was running along the city walls, drawing the dragon's attention and giving the archers a chance to fire. Hundreds of arrows pierced into the dragon's body, driving it into absolute rage. The dragon retaliated by hurling dozens of fireballs. Panic spread everywhere—but Kaizo stepped in, planted his stance, and began deflecting every fireball, even though their trajectories were chaotic and none were actually aimed at him.
"So that's his strength? That's incredible—he'll be extremely useful!" Fatih praised.
Eliana nodded softly in agreement.
"That is not his true power. I have forbidden him from using that power without my permission," Vernizel suddenly appeared beside Fatih and Eliana.
"Excuse me… who are you?" Fatih asked in confusion.
"He is the person Kaizo considers his teacher," Eliana explained before Vernizel could speak.
"Wow, so Kaizo's teacher is a radiant, shining angel!" Fatih exclaimed.
"An angel?! What do you mean? Don't you see this strange man in a black cloak?" Eliana protested.
"A black cloak? No, he is clearly a being wrapped in light," Fatih replied.
"It's only natural you two see him differently. I myself see my teacher as a very beautiful and seductive adult woman," Kaizo said as he arrived, carrying the dragon's severed head.
"Haha, you noticed. I do look different in every eye, because I am shaped by the preconceived notions of my creations," Vernizel explained.
Fatih looked intrigued, while Eliana ignored it and turned to Kaizo.
"Kaizo, is it true that you still haven't used your power?"
"Since I returned to this world, no. My teacher hasn't allowed it yet. The deflecting ability comes from something else," Kaizo replied.
"Then what exactly is your power?" Eliana asked.
"Creative," Kaizo answered shortly.
"What does that mean? Does it mean you're good at thinking of many ways to win?" Fatih asked curiously.
"No, it's not like th—"
"Fatih, have you met the guy yet?" Bones called from afar while carrying his axe.
Zen, Bones, and Kirito approached as several citizens tried to get close, hoping to talk to them. But what the people truly wanted was Zen—everyone knew how handsome he was.
"Hey, you're the ones who saved our city! Thank you!" Kaizo said with a broad smile.
"You're welcome. I really do enjoy helping others," Bones said proudly.
"Alright, now that we're all here… yes, that means we can begin our journey right away," Kirito said in a weary tone.
"What journey?" Kaizo asked.
"Ah, I forgot to mention it. We want to invite you to join our adventure to defeat Lord Orion," Fatih explained.
"Really?! I can join?!" Kaizo said excitedly, his eyes sparkling.
"We need one more person. After hearing about and seeing your abilities firsthand, we're interested," Zen said as he tried to slip away from the crowd.
Behind them, Eliana's face darkened. She spoke firmly,
"They look exhausted. How about you all rest here tonight? I'll arrange the best inn in town."
Eliana pulled Kaizo away, leaving Zen, Fatih, Kirito, and Bones standing there in stunned confusion.
From a distance, Fatih watched Eliana with a troubled, worried gaze.
---
Back at the palace, Kaizo kept asking questions until he was dragged into the room, thrown onto the bed, and immediately straddled by Eliana.
"You are not allowed to go!" Eliana shouted angrily.
"Hey! What the heck? Why can't I go?" Kaizo protested.
Eliana hesitated, then said slowly,
"You… still need me… maybe for support…"
"Support for what? What's wrong with you? Isn't everything already over?" Kaizo snapped.
Eliana lowered her head, feeling guilty, and slowly moved off him. Kaizo stood up and faced the window.
"You know… maybe I need to think about things," were Kaizo's last words before he left to clear his head.
Eliana remained silent—then suddenly felt a pleasant sensation, a familiar feeling. She hurried to look out the window.
The citizens were cheering joyfully—not because of the heroes, but because of something even greater.
The city gate opened. Three figures on horseback rode in.
At the front was Este, the king of the elves. Behind him rode Zen's father—Zato Northon, the Northern Sword. At the very back was the most revered human in the world today. Even Lord Orion himself was reluctant to speak to this man.
He was Sehzade Aydir—known by the people as the "Great Teacher."
Eliana's heart overflowed with happiness upon seeing Aydir, the old man with thick white beard and the kindest, most sincere smile imaginable. His gaze was gentle, his eyes calm, and his morality unmatched. Though he was the Sultan of the strongest nation of the era, he never wore royal armor. He only wore a royal turban that once belonged to Fatih and a long robe that looked even cleaner and neater than his original clothes as a humble potter.
Eliana leapt out to greet the man who had once played the greatest role in raising her. As a child, her mother often entrusted Eliana to Aydir to protect her from the cruelty of the former king of Notton—Eliana's own biological father. That was how Eliana and Fatih became close friends.
---
The procession continued along the main road toward the palace. The three kings rode proudly on horseback, while Fatih, Zen, Kirito, and Bones walked behind them on foot as escorts.
Este and Zato summoned palace guards to provide steps for them to dismount, while Aydir was helped down by Fatih, given his frail condition.
At the lowest step, Eliana had already been waiting for them.
Eliana invited everyone to gather at the city hall. Aydir was the first to agree, and the others followed. Without a large military escort, they walked together, accompanied by the citizens.
---
Inside the city hall, everyone took their seats at a prepared conference table. At the far end of the room, on the largest chair, Eliana sat calmly.
"First of all, on behalf of the people of Notton, I, Eliana Notton, extend my deepest gratitude for your visit. To His Majesty Aydir of the Oruman Sultanate, to His Majesty Este of the Sacred Forest Elf Kingdom, and to His Majesty Zato of the Northern Fang Tribe. And also my highest respect and thanks to the four brave warriors who saved this city—Sir Fatih, Sir Kirito, Sir Bones, and Sir Zen," Eliana opened the meeting.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, but it would be better if we spoke informally. This is not an official meeting, and we merely wish to interact peacefully with you, Your Majesty Eliana," Zato said respectfully.
"That's fine, Sir Zato. In matters like these, I'm quite experienced. In that case, to be more comfortable, I ask everyone to kindly stand for a moment so we may rearrange the room."
Eliana clapped once. Instantly, dozens of soldiers entered, lifting the large table and chairs that had been used earlier. A second group brought in smaller, simpler—but still clean, elegant, and luxurious—tables and chairs, narrowing the distance between everyone and allowing for closer interaction. Eliana invited everyone to sit. She herself took her seat gracefully after everyone had settled.
---
Meanwhile, on Orion's island—deep within the darkness, upon barren land eternally illuminated by a dark purple sky—stood a massive tower, grim and terrifying. Storms and thunder ceaselessly ravaged this cursed place, as if rejected by the earth and despised by nature itself.
A voice echoed from within the darkness, hoarse and wet.
"So… Zamboss is dead?"
"Yes. I heard he was defeated by a single person unknown to anyone in the city," another rough voice replied.
"This is humiliating, but we must not act recklessly," a third voice, deep and authoritative, responded.
"Has Lord Orion already chosen a replacement?" the rough voice asked.
"He has. The successor is already on her way," the authoritative voice answered.
A thunderclap exploded as fierce winds rushed into the dark chamber. Someone stood at the entrance, their body cloaked in darkness. A hand emerged, slowly removing the cloak—revealing the figure beneath.
"A woman?! What does she want here?!" the hoarse voice exclaimed.
"She is Zamboss's replacement—one of our strongest cadres," the authoritative voice replied.
The woman appeared to be in her thirties. Her shoulder-length hair was parted down the middle. Her eyes were a reddish purple, her skin smooth and gleaming. Her body was slender with perfect curves, and a small beauty mark rested near the left side of her lips.
In a soft, coquettish voice, she said,
"So… you're the ones everyone fears so much, huh~?"
---
Elsewhere, Vernizel stood atop the highest mountain in Notton. Before him stood a massive man, his muscles perfectly proportioned to his nearly two-and-a-half-meter height. His hairstyle was identical to Vernizel's—long black hair with bangs covering his right eye. His eyes were pitch black without pupils. He wore a wide white haori, oversized gray athletic pants, and a tight black shirt. A long black scarf wrapped around his neck, and the lower half of his face was concealed by a black mask.
This "being" was Calabras—the absolute god of death. If the world had ever spoken of someone who could decide who lived and who died without lifting a finger, then Calabras was far more terrifying than that. Upon the pages of destiny created by Vernizel, Calabras was forged to create absolute fate—far more certain, far more inevitable, undeniable, and unchangeable. This was not certainty, because certainty could become uncertainty. This was not law, because law could be rewritten. This was simply so—because that was how it was.
Calabras spoke, "What made you call me here?"
Vernizel replied, "Nothing. I just wanted to have some fun with you. Honestly, you look absolutely miserable."
"How could I not be?" Calabras said. "You assigned me to work with the weakest member of Bedrock Creappear—the goddess of life. I know she can't be defeated by the low-class absolutes of the higher dimensions, but still… every time I work, I end up hurting her. I feel bad for her, but you—you don't seem to care at all."
"What do you mean I don't care? Come on, you really don't notice, do you? To be honest, I hate to say it, but she's just trying to get closer to you. You're too quiet to pick up on her signals. Hah… seriously," Vernizel said irritably.
Calabras's face flushed red. He turned away and left without another word.
"Calabras?! Hey, Calabras?! Why are you leaving?! Calabraaaaaaaas!"
Vernizel's shout echoed across the mountain peak.
…..