"I can't believe you got an Emerald Plate on your very first day!"
"That stuff doesn't matter to me. I only want to become the greatest Holy Knight!… And I will!"
It was the first time Arisa had seen someone with this much excitement and absolute certainty.
Zeno shouted with powerful energy:
"Forward to the hunt!!"
Arisa smiled, and the two of them headed toward the Forbidden Forest…
"I have to reach the capital as soon as possible and report this!"
The western commander of the Blood Iron Empire was galloping nonstop toward the capital, crossing a stone-filled desert.
"I doubt this news will be pleasant for an emperor who has just returned after losing a war…"
Suddenly, balance was lost. The horse fell to the ground, and the commander was thrown back, slamming his spine against a huge rock.
With difficulty, he stood up, clutching his injured back. His eyes suddenly widened—the horse's legs had been severed.
"Eld!!"
He rushed to his horse, but its breathing grew slower with every second.
"Eld, hold on, boy!"
But the breathing stopped. The horse died with its eyes still open.
The commander began trembling and tightly clenched the horse's mane in his fists…
Footsteps echoed. Rex stopped.
"It's been a long time, Great Western Commander—Rex the Merciless!"
Rex Kurokan (Rex the Black Crown), from the Senkan Clan (the War Crown), one of the Emperor's dragon slayers.
A man who, at the age of twenty, fought an Imperial Ice-Breath Dragon alone with nothing but a sword. He lost one eye, but in exchange brought the dragon's power to the Blood Iron Emperor. He was one of the strongest.
When Rex heard the voice, he stood up with silent fury. His head was lowered, but his remaining eye burned with rage. He slowly, yet angrily, drew his sword.
"You'll pay for killing Eld!"
"You'll pay for massacring my clan, you bastard Rex!"
Both charged at each other with deadly swords.
Tiiing…
13 years ago – Blood Iron Capital:
"Hey kid, if you want to live, get out of this empire. Otherwise, I won't spare you next time!"
The trembling child ran out of a house that had turned into a blood-soaked graveyard.
"Mom… Dad… I promise you—when I grow strong, I'll take revenge! I swear it!"
Shiiink…
"Ughhh!!"
Rex was thrown back, his mouth full of blood, but he stood up again.
"So you're that cowardly kid? Didn't I tell you to leave the empire?!"
"Leave?!… Hahahahaha! Hyaaaaaah!
Unless my corpse leaves this place, I will never leave!"
"Then I'll personally carry your corpse out of here!… Mikey."
"If you can… come at me!
Crystal Simorgh, 50% power!"
After Mikey shouted, pure yellow flames engulfed his entire body. His hair burned in two colors—red and yellow. His eyes were crimson, boiling with fire. Flames erupted and coiled around him, like a fiery Simorgh spreading its wings.
"With this power you see… do you still want to fight me, Rex?!"
Rex smiled, switched his sword from his left hand to his right, and widened his stance.
"Imperial Dragon, 50% power!"
His hair turned icy white, floating as if underwater. His left eye glowed blue, each breath releasing icy mist. Armor slowly froze over, turning white.
Mikey, who moments ago was boasting, froze in shock, eyes wide. Rex stood before him like a dragon—white glowing eye, floating hair.
"This power… this is the Imperial Dragon's power!… Damn you, Rex, you trickster!"
Forbidden Forest, southern region of the Shamrock Empire:
"So where are these Fang Wolves?"
"Stay calm. They move in packs. If we're lucky, we might find one separated from the group."
Suddenly, Zeno's ears twitched. His eyes widened. He grabbed Arisa, lifted her, and pulled her into his arms.
Arisa's cheeks turned red, her eyes wide.
"W-what… what are you doing?!"
But Zeno was smiling. He stepped his right foot back, tensed his muscles, and burst forward with explosive force.
As he ran, fallen trees and torn earth were left behind him, as if the ground itself had been excavated.
After running for a while, he stopped—but instead of joy, his eyes widened and his body trembled.
"Hana?!"
By coincidence, he had found Bartos's location. Hana was chained to a wooden post, her clothes torn apart.
Zeno clenched his teeth. Arisa stepped forward, saw the scene, covered her mouth tightly, trembling with wide eyes.
"Hana-san!"
Chrrrk…
Arisa reached out, but hit an electric barrier. Her hand burned.
One of Bartos's men heard the spark.
"Boss! Two people found us!"
Bartos stood up, sweating and shaking.
"Did Soma come?!"
"No, boss. It's that blonde girl and a small boy."
Bartos angrily punched the man in the face.
"Then why are you telling me?! Go kill them yourself, idiot!"
Bartos took a deep breath—but it didn't last long…
Shqqq… Ughhh!!
Hearing the sound, Bartos sent two more men.
"What was that sound?! You two—go check!"
Shqqqqqq…
The sound of flesh being cut echoed again. Bartos looked that way—and what he saw made his body tremble. He quickly stood up, raised his kanabo, and sent the last three men he had.
As they approached, their heads were astonishingly severed from their bodies in an instant.
"What's going on?! Where… where is he?!"
Chrrrk…
The barrier deactivated.
"Why is this happening?! Where did the barrier go?!"
When Bartos turned around, he froze. His eyes filled with terror. The kanabo slipped from his hand.
"You… you… you're that monster I saw in Hanta Kyoka! Don't come closer!"
Zeno approached, covered in thick black mist, with only his red eyes visible. His sword no longer had its former shape.
Bartos screamed in fear:
"Attack him!!!"
Thousands of Fang Wolves charged toward Zeno—but before reaching him, they all stopped, trembling, and bowed.
"What are you doing?! I said attack, you useless animals!!!"
Behind Zeno stood the Spirit of the Forest, with piercing, glowing eyes. The wolves stopped because he was their king—the king of the Fang Wolves and the most powerful spirit of the forest.
Bartos collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat.
"Don't come closer!… Monster!!!"
Zeno stood before Bartos like a king, towering over him.
Bartos threw himself at Zeno's feet, begging:
"Please don't kill me!! I'll do anything!! I'll even become your slave! I'll prove my worth to you!"
Zeno raised his sword and spoke with a terrifying, unnatural voice:
"Death is the only thing you deserve!!!"
GRAAAAAAOOOOM!!!…
GRRRRRKH...
BOOOOOOM!!!!