That morning, sunlight pierced through the gaps of the simple wooden curtains.
A fair-skinned young man slowly opened his eyes—or at least tried to. His disheveled long black hair covered both his eyes. He rose from the thin mattress.
"Time to go to work, huh..."
He stretched his stiff body, then walked toward the small window. The morning air in Okakushi Village was always cold—even in spring. This village was located far behind the mountains, hidden from maps and the memories of most people. Only a few knew of its existence.
The young man's name was Noah.
Nineteen years old. For nineteen years, he had spent his life in this remote village without ever leaving, not even once.
Both his parents had long passed away. Since then, he had lived alone in that wooden house—a simple building.
After a brief wash at the well behind the house, Noah put on his everyday clothes. Without much thought, he stepped outside, closed the door gently, then walked toward the forest.
Tall trees towered above, large roots protruded from the ground, and bird calls could occasionally be heard faintly. For most people, this forest was frightening—especially because strange creatures that attacked visitors often appeared.
But for Noah?
This was just an ordinary path.
His steps were relaxed, even seeming lazy. His eyes—covered by his hair—gazed straight ahead.
Despite his black hair covering his view, Noah could see clearly.
"Hmm?"
His steps halted.
Before him stood a giant black tiger with a body as large as an adult cow. Its fur gleamed like metal, its claws were long and sharp, colored pitch black. Its glowing red eyes stared at Noah with fury.
Noah furrowed his brow.
"You?"
His voice was flat, almost emotionless.
"Wait... didn't I kill you ten days ago?"
The tiger roared loudly—a thunderous sound that made birds fly away in fear. But Noah just stood still, not even moving slightly.
"How are you still alive...?" he muttered softly, more to himself than asking the tiger.
GRAAAAAAH!
The tiger leaped with incredible speed—so fast it was almost invisible to the naked eye. Its long, sharp claws moved like giant razor blades, ready to tear Noah's body to pieces.
But—
CLANG!
The claws stopped just a few centimeters from Noah's face.
As if there was an invisible wall blocking it.
The tiger was shocked. Its eyes widened. It tried to attack again—repeatedly—but the result was the same. Not a single attack managed to touch Noah's body.
"Hoo..."
Noah let out a long sigh.
"Unfortunately, you're too weak."
His voice was cold. Emotionless.
He raised his right hand—slowly, without hurry—then moved his index finger toward a small rock near his feet.
WHOOSH!
The rock lifted into the air by itself, spun for a moment, then—
SYUUUUUT!
—shot forward with insane speed.
THWACK!
The rock pierced through the giant tiger's skull perfectly, leaving a round hole in its head. Thick black blood spurted out, the large body staggered, then collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Silence.
Noah stared at the corpse with a flat expression.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... there really are many creatures like this, huh?"
He walked closer, then with one hand, he easily lifted the tiger's body weighing several hundred kilograms.
"Alright, let's go sell its body."
About an hour later, Noah arrived at the neighboring village—Haruka Village.
The people here were already used to seeing Noah arrive carrying corpses of strange creatures.
He walked toward the rare materials buyer shop—an old building with a worn wooden board in front that read: Gin's Rare Materials Shop.
Inside, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache was sitting behind a wooden table. His name was Gin, the owner of this shop.
Gin's eyes immediately widened when he saw Noah casually throw the giant black tiger's corpse onto the floor.
"H-hey, hey! Wait a moment!"
Gin immediately stood up from his chair, ran closer, then knelt down to examine the corpse with a shocked expression.
"W-where did you get this creature's body?!"
"Obviously I killed it, right?" Noah answered in a lazy tone. "Can't you see the hole in its head?"
"That's not the problem!"
Gin wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"This... this is a Black Tiger of The Abyss! A very rarely appearing powerful creature! How could you possibly kill it?!"
Noah yawned.
"Powerful? You call a weak creature like this powerful?"
He scratched his head lazily.
"I didn't even need to move my body much to kill it. Anyway, are you going to buy it or not? If not, I'll turn it into meat for my meals."
Gin was stunned.
*This kid... really doesn't understand how dangerous the creature he just killed was.*
"O-of course I'll buy it! This is a rare item!"
Gin immediately counted money hastily, then handed a pouch full of gold coins to Noah.
Noah stared at the pouch with slight surprise.
"Wow... I didn't expect to be paid this much."
He smiled faintly.
"If it's like this, I should have sold the other one too, huh... Haa, what can you do."
Casually, he put the money into a small bag at his waist, then turned to leave.
"See you later, Gin."
"W-wait! If you get more, bring them here, okay?!"
But Noah had already disappeared behind the door.
A few minutes later, Noah arrived at his workplace.
An old blacksmith shop with a worn sign: Takeru's Blacksmith.
The building looked almost collapsed—its walls cracked, its roof had holes, and its wooden door was already tilted. But inside...
Noah entered through the back door.
Inside, an old man with white hair was sleeping in a wooden chair with his mouth slightly open and soft snoring.
His name was Takeru, the owner of this blacksmith shop.
Noah let out a long sigh.
"Heyyyy! Wake up!"
His shout was loud—piercing—making Takeru jolt awake from his chair.
"U-uwaaaah?! W-what?! Is there an earthquake?!"
"Not an earthquake, old man. I've arrived."
Takeru rubbed his still drowsy eyes, then looked at Noah with a half-conscious expression.
"Oh... it's you. I thought you weren't coming in today."
"If it weren't for me, this old shop would have closed long ago, you know."
Noah folded his arms in front of his chest with a smug expression.
"You're very lucky to have a talented kid like me, tsk, tsk, tsk."
Takeru let out a long sigh.
*When will this kid's arrogant attitude disappear...*
Nevertheless, he couldn't deny it. What Noah said was true. Without Noah's extraordinary skill in making weapons, this shop would have gone bankrupt long ago.
"Yeah, yeah... whatever you say."
Takeru got up from his chair, then took a sheet of paper from the table—a sword sketch with intricate details.
"Listen carefully, Noah. Today we have an important guest."
His tone was serious.
"This is the sword they want. Make sure you make it properly. If the result doesn't meet expectations... this shop could lose customers forever!"
Noah took the sketch casually, then looked at it briefly.
"Yeah, yeah... relax."
He patted Takeru's shoulder with a cool attitude.
"Leave it to me, old man. You, get out of here. I don't like having other people around when I work."
"Tch... you treat this shop like it's your own."
Despite grumbling, Takeru still went out and walked to the front room.
Noah began working. He lit the large furnace in the corner of the room, then heated a black metal rod. The furnace fire blazed dazzling red, scorching heat filled the room—but Noah wasn't even sweating.
His hands moved quickly and precisely.
The large hammer in his hand struck the metal with perfect rhythm—CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!—each strike shaping the sword with incredible detail.
Two hours later.
"Done."
Noah looked at his work with a satisfied smile.
A long sword with a beautifully curved blade, dragon carvings on its hilt.
"As usual... works I perfect are always perfect."
He nodded satisfied, then brought the sword to the front room.
In the front room, Takeru was standing nervously before several women in blue robes.
They were all beautiful—very beautiful—with an elegant and powerful aura emanating from their bodies. One of them, a woman with long silver hair and sharp eyes, stood at the front.
She was Amelia.
Takeru bowed respectfully as Noah handed the sword to him.
"T-this... the sword you ordered, Miss Amelia."
Amelia accepted the sword carefully, then examined it thoroughly—her eyes swept over every detail, every carving, every curve of the blade.
"Very good."
Her voice was cold but full of admiration.
"Very similar to what I requested. Even better than my expectations."
She looked at Takeru with a sharp gaze.
"I heard this place used to make many failed swords... but it seems something has changed."
Takeru smiled awkwardly.
"A-ah, that's... thanks to my talented apprentice."
*Since when did I become his apprentice?*
Amelia turned back—looking at Noah who was standing casually.
For a moment, their gazes met.
Noah didn't move. Didn't even blink.
Amelia was slightly stunned.
*This kid...*
There was something strange about him.
But she didn't comment.
"Alright. I want to see its durability."
Amelia signaled to one of the women behind her—a woman with short black hair.
The woman stepped forward, drew her own sword—a long sword with a thin, sharp blade—then without warning—
CLAAAANG!
—swung it with full force at Noah's sword.
The sound of metal clashing was deafening.
The woman's sword was forcefully thrown back, while Noah's sword wasn't even scratched.
Everyone fell silent.
Amelia smiled faintly.
"Hoo... very good."
She nodded satisfied, then looked at Takeru.
"I'll buy it."
She threw a large pouch containing gold coins onto the table.
THUD!
"Thank you for your hard work."
With that, Amelia and her entourage turned and left the shop.
After they left, Takeru immediately sat limply in his chair with a relieved breath.
"Thank goodness everything went smoothly..."
Noah appeared behind him with a bored expression.
"Who exactly were they? Why did you look so scared like that?"
Takeru looked at him in wonder.
"Don't you know who they are?"
"Because I don't know, that's why I'm asking. You're really stupid, huh?"
Takeru let out a long sigh.
"Be quiet. They're from Avera Academy."
"Avera Academy? What kind of place is that?"
Takeru looked at Noah with an incredulous stare.
"You... really don't know anything about the outside world, huh?"
He took a deep breath, then began to tell the story.
"Avera Academy," Takeru began with a serious tone.
"A place created to birth a new generation of the strong—a generation capable of protecting the world from threats."
Noah listened with a flat expression, but there was a bit of interest in his eyes.
"Fifty years ago," Takeru continued, "a mysterious figure appeared who was very powerful—so powerful that not a single strongest martial arts school of that era could defeat him."
"Even the combination of the ten strongest masters couldn't hurt him."
"He was known as The One—an invincible being."
Noah furrowed his brow.
"The One?"
"Yes. No one knows who he really was. What's certain is that both his eyes were always covered with black cloth. No one ever saw his face."
Takeru continued.
"His power exceeded the limits of reason. It's said that in one battle, he could destroy an entire mountain range with just one swing of his hand."
"He could disappear and appear at will. No one could predict his movements."
"Many tried to defeat him—whether for justice, revenge, or just to become famous. But all ended in utter defeat. Some never even returned."
Noah thought for a moment.
"So... what happened to him?"
Takeru shook his head.
"No one knows. Suddenly, The One disappeared without a trace. No message, no trail, no signs whatsoever."
"Since then, no one has seen him again."
He let out a long sigh.
"Until now, no one knows where he went. Some say he's dead. Others say he's just hiding..."
Takeru looked at Noah seriously.
"Since that incident, Avera Academy was established—a special academy to forge a new strong generation."
"Its purpose is simple: so that if a similar threat appears someday, this world will have people capable of facing it."
Takeru paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Oh yeah... if I'm not mistaken, tomorrow is the registration day for new students at Avera Academy."
He looked at Noah.
"Aren't you interested in going there?"
Noah looked at him with a flat expression.
"What for?"
Takeru almost fell from his chair.
"What for?! Obviously to learn new things!"
He pointed at Noah with his index finger.
"You... how long are you going to just stay in this remote village?! You're already nineteen years old! It's only natural for you to go there and see the outside world!"
Takeru grinned.
"Besides... there are lots of beautiful women there, you know."
He chuckled.
"Well, although I doubt any woman would want a kid like you, though."
Noah looked at him with a sharp gaze.
"Can you not talk while grinning like a pervert like that?"
He folded his arms in front of his chest.
"And what do you mean no woman would want me?! If they saw a handsome face like mine, they'd be head over heels!"
Takeru laughed heartily.
"Yeah, yeah... whatever you say, arrogant-mouthed kid."
He stopped laughing, then looked at Noah seriously.
"But seriously, Noah. You'd better go there. Especially..."
Takeru let out a long sigh.
"This is the last day this shop will be open."
Noah fell silent.
"Last day?"
"Yes."
Takeru smiled gently.
"I'm old, Noah. I have a child and a wife. I want to spend the rest of my life with both of them."
"That's why... I've decided to close this shop."
He looked at Noah with a sincere gaze.
"Starting tomorrow, you won't work here anymore. So... you'd better go to Avera City. Who knows, that place might suit you."
Noah was silent for a moment.
"Avera City, huh..."
He smiled faintly.
"Alright. Since I don't know what else to do... I'll go."
"I hope that place isn't boring."
◇ ◇ ◇
At the peak of Mount Suji,
A magnificent house stood firmly on spacious land with a beautiful garden. The building was made of the finest teak wood, its roof was covered with red tiles, and around it was a large koi pond with clear water.
On the second floor, a young woman stood near a large window.
Her long black hair flowed beautifully, her skin was pure white.
The woman gazed into the distance with a faint smile on her face.
"Hmm..."
"What's this about?"
Another voice was heard from behind her—a beautiful woman with black hair.
The woman was one year older, but they had known each other since childhood. Because of that, their relationship was already like biological sisters.
"Sister..."
The young woman smiled gently.
"Sister, do you know... why I suddenly feel happy like this?"
Her sister furrowed her brow.
"Happy? What do you mean?"
"I don't know..."
The young woman looked back toward the window.
"I don't know myself. But... it feels like something is about to happen."
Her sister smiled faintly.
"Maybe because tomorrow we're going to Avera?"
"Maybe..."
The young woman still gazed out the window with her small smile.
A gentle breeze brushed against her face.
And somehow—
Her heart was beating fast.