After finding an inn to stay the night, Ren headed alone toward a quiet corner of Tohl.
There, standing in the shadowed plaza, was the statue of the Hero of the South.
Though part of its cloak had broken away, the figure's imposing presence remained unmistakable—still radiating the dignity of the strongest hero of his age.
Ren stepped forward and placed his palm against the cold stone.
Buzz.
A familiar resonance surged through his body.
[Detected "Hero of the South" statue. Authority resonance… synchronizing…]
[Synchronization complete.]
[Future Sight has been greatly enhanced!]
[Prediction window expanded to 10 seconds!]
[New Trait Acquired: Curse-Breaking Body.]
[Effect: All curses and instant-death magic are nullified or greatly weakened.]
[Current synchronization rate: 20%]
—
"Curse-breaking body…" Ren murmured.
A powerful ability.
Until he could freely wield long-range future sight, this trait alone made him a natural counter to the Seven Sages of Destruction—especially Macht.
Just as he was about to pull his hand away—
The world warped.
A vision unfolded.
...
Casey Village. Reduced to ruins.
Bodies littered the ground.
Wirbel knelt in the dirt, his body pierced through by countless black spears. Blood foamed from his mouth as he tried to shout something—only crimson bubbles escaped.
Behind him, Nero was impaled against a beam, a massive spiraling lance through her chest.
And above them—
A tall demon hovered in the air.
Two horns curved from his head.
Hundreds of black magic spears floated behind him like a storm of death.
He smiled calmly.
...
The vision shattered.
Ren clenched his fist.
"That future… will happen if I don't interfere."
He exhaled slowly.
"Better bring Kraft along. Having an ancient hero nearby raises the survival odds."
Turning sharply, he headed back toward the inn.
---
Casey Village.
Dust filled the air.
Wirbel wiped blood from his face, staring up at the figure floating above him.
"Damn it… we can't escape…"
Suspended in the air, clad in an elegant black suit, the demon gazed down with polite interest.
Behind him hovered hundreds of black spears.
Demon General, Thousand-Spear Retolas.
"Human mage," Retoias said gently.
"Your struggle is… quite entertaining."
"Entertaining my ass!"
Wirbel fired a beam of magic straight at him.
The attack shattered harmlessly against an invisible barrier.
"I've heard of you," Retolas continued calmly.
"The Northern Magic Corps' captain. But in the end… you're nothing special."
With a flick of his finger...
A black spear shot forward.
Wirbel barely twisted aside—
Thrust!
The spear punched through his shoulder and pinned him to the wall.
"Captain!"
Nero screamed, rushing forward.
"Don't come any closer!" Wirbel roared, wrenching the spear free as blood sprayed.
"This thing… every attack carries a curse!"
The wound burned like acid.
Curses layered on curses, draining strength, preventing healing.
"Hoh?" Retolas tilted his head. "You're still standing?"
He raised his hand again.
This time—
Ten spears formed.
Blocking every escape route.
"Then how about this?"
Wirbel clenched his teeth.
He knew what he had to do.
Spell of Binding: Sorganeil.
A forbidden spell that immobilized its target completely, but only while maintaining unbroken eye contact.
And once activated, the caster became defenseless.
A suicidal technique.
But he had no choice anyways.
"Now, Nero!" he shouted.
"Kill him!"
Retolas froze.
"…Interesting."
Nero gathered every drop of mana she had left.
A beam of annihilating magic erupted toward the demon's chest.
But at the last instant,
A black blur flashed across the battlefield.
Retolas vanished.
The beam missed.
A female demon previously hiding had pulled him clear.
The moment Wirbel lost sight of his target, the binding shattered.
Hundreds of spears reoriented instantly.
All aimed at Nero.
"RUN!!" Wirbel screamed.
Nero stood frozen.
Is this the end…?
Then—
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
A storm of metal rang through the air.
A figure burst into the battlefield, twin blades spinning into a wall of silver light.
Every cursed spear shattered on contact.
One by one.
When the final spear fell, the figure straightened.
"Made it in time."
Ren glanced over his shoulder at the stunned girl.
"Can you still move?"
Nero stared blankly, words failing her.
Behind them, Wirbel laughed hoarsely.
"Figures… You show up now."
Above, Retolas's expression darkened.
"You… what are you?"
Ren crossed his swords calmly.
"A dead man doesn't need to know."
For the first time, fear flickered through the demon's eyes.
Behind Ren's silhouette...
He saw it.
The phantom image burned into every demon's memory.
The man who once slaughtered the northern demons.
The Hero of the South.
"…So that's it," Retolas murmured.
"The remnant of that monster."
He raised both hands.
Thousands of spears formed in the air.
"Then show me—how much of his power you've inherited!"
They fell like a black rainstorm.
"Kraft. Left side!"
Ren launched forward like an arrow.
"On it!"
Kraft erupted from cover, his fists shattering stone as he struck from the flank.
The battlefield exploded into motion.
Wirbel, watching the two figures tear through the storm of spears, laughed breathlessly.
"So this… is what real warriors look like."
And behind him, another demon died silently beneath his blade.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
250 Powerstones/Bonus Chapter
500 Powerstones /Bonus Chapter
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