Chapter 1: The Boy With No Magic
The Kingdom of Aramah was known throughout the world as one of the most peaceful kingdoms in existence.
Its capital, Vatika, was filled with beautiful streets, lively markets, colorful gardens, and endless fields stretching beyond the city walls. Every morning, the smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the streets, drawing people toward the many bakeries scattered throughout the capital.
One of those bakeries was run by a woman named Mary.
And one morning, a loud scream came from the small bedroom above it.
"SAM!"
From the other side of the room came a sleepy groan.
"Relax, Leo… the sun just came up."
Leo quickly sat upright and rubbed his eyes. The room was small but comfortable, with two beds positioned beside a window. Golden sunlight slowly filled the room while the sounds of merchants opening their shops and people beginning their daily routines echoed through the streets.
Then Mary's voice thundered from downstairs.
"If you two don't come and help me soon, the customers will buy all the bread, and you'll have to starve until I make more!"
Leo smiled.
"That's Mom for you."
Sam climbed out of bed and stretched.
"Well, yeah. She owns the bakery."
He grinned.
"And apparently, she owns us too."
The two boys hurried downstairs.
Mary stood behind the counter holding a tray of freshly baked bread. Her hair was slightly messy from working since dawn, but she still wore the same warm smile she always had.
"There you are," she said. "Sleeping like logs while I do all the work."
Leo scratched his head.
"Sorry."
Mary placed the tray on the counter and crossed her arms.
"You've been saying that for three years."
Three years.
That was how long Leo had lived with Mary.
Three years earlier, Mary had found him unconscious near the shore outside the kingdom. His body had been badly injured, and he had barely survived.
When Leo finally woke up, he couldn't remember anything.
Not his name.
Not his family.
Not where he came from.
He had no memories of his past at all.
Mary had decided to take him in out of pity, but over the years, Leo became much more than a boy she had rescued.
To Mary, he was no different from Sam.
He was her son.
"Someone has to look after unlucky kids like you," she had told him when they first met.
From that day forward, Leo became part of Mary's family.
Over time, Leo and Sam grew closer than ordinary friends.
They became brothers.
Leo picked up a broom and began cleaning the bakery floor while Sam carried sacks of flour from the storage room.
Within minutes, the bakery was filled with customers.
"Two loaves, please!"
"I'll take three!"
Mary moved around the shop quickly while Leo handed bread to customers.
For a while, everything felt peaceful.
But Leo's attention kept drifting toward the street.
Across the road marched a group of soldiers wearing shining black armor.
They were members of the Elite Army.
More specifically, they belonged to the kingdom's strongest and most feared military order—the Knights of Chaos, commonly known as the Sarps, meaning "snakes" in their native language.
Leo watched them carefully.
Sam noticed.
"You're thinking about the examination again, aren't you?"
Leo nodded.
"Of course."
Every year, the kingdom held an examination to recruit new members into the Elite Army.
Only ten people were selected.
Thousands attempted the examination.
Most failed.
Sam wiped flour from his hands and leaned against the counter.
"You know what your biggest problem is, right?"
Leo sighed.
"I know."
"Magic."
Every soldier in the Elite Army possessed powerful magic.
Leo did not.
Not even a little.
Sam lowered his voice.
"Maybe you should try something else."
Leo immediately shook his head.
"No."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"You're really stubborn."
Leo looked back toward the soldiers outside.
"When I hold a sword…"
He paused.
"It feels natural."
Sam crossed his arms.
"You're good with a sword. I'll give you that."
"But without magic—"
"I'll still try."
Leo interrupted him.
Sam stared at him for several seconds before laughing.
"You really won't give up, will you?"
"No."
Mary suddenly joined the conversation.
"If you two are planning to become famous warriors, you should probably finish helping me first."
Both boys froze.
Mary smiled.
"Dreams are important."
She pointed toward the shelves.
"But bread comes first."
The three of them laughed.
Outside the bakery, the soldiers continued marching through the streets.
Leo watched them disappear into the distance.
Something deep inside him stirred.
A strange feeling.
Almost like a memory he could reach but never quite grasp.
He tried to focus on it.
But once again…
Nothing.
Leo quietly clenched his fist.
One day, he would become a warrior.
Even if the entire world believed he couldn't.
And somewhere far beyond the peaceful borders of Aramah, something ancient had already begun to awaken.
But Leo didn't know that yet.
Chapter 2: The Examination
Vatika had never been this crowded.
Thousands of people had gathered around the massive colosseum in the center of the capital. Nobles occupied the higher stands while ordinary citizens filled every remaining seat.
Today was the day of the Sarp Army Examination.
For many young warriors, it was the most important day of their lives.
Only ten people would be chosen.
Hundreds would fail.
Leo stood among the candidates near the arena entrance.
Most of them looked confident.
Some wore expensive armor.
Others carried enchanted weapons.
Many had trained for years under famous masters.
Leo looked down at the simple sword hanging from his waist.
Beside him, Sam casually stretched his shoulders.
"Relax," Sam said.
"You look like you're about to fight a dragon."
Leo sighed.
"With the way everyone here looks, that might actually be easier."
Sam laughed.
"You'll be fine."
Leo shook his head.
"Easy for you to say. You actually have magic."
Sam placed a hand on Leo's shoulder.
"You're the best swordsman I know."
"That counts for something."
Before Leo could respond, a loud horn echoed throughout the arena.
The entire crowd fell silent.
A tall soldier wearing the armor of the Elite Army stepped onto the central platform.
He activated a sound-amplification spell known as Uttal, causing his voice to boom across the entire colosseum.
"Welcome to the 155th Sarp Examination. Today, you will prove whether you are worthy of becoming a Fang."
The candidates immediately straightened.
The commander raised three fingers.
"The examination will consist of three stages."
"First—physical ability."
He slammed his foot into the ground, cracking the stone beneath him.
"Second—magical capability."
A massive flame erupted from his hand and towered toward the sky.
"Third—combat."
He drew his sword and effortlessly sliced through three enchanted suits of armor.
A wave of tension spread through the candidates.
"Anyone who fails a stage will be eliminated immediately."
The commander paused.
"And remember…"
His gaze swept across the candidates.
"Only ten of you will succeed."
He raised his hand.
"May His hand be upon you."
The first stage began shortly afterward.
The candidates were tested on speed, strength, and endurance.
Leo performed exceptionally well.
He climbed the stone wall faster than most competitors.
He completed the endurance course without slowing down.
By the end of the first stage, even the examiners seemed impressed.
"Pass."
Leo quietly stepped aside.
Stage One was complete.
Then came the stage he had feared the most.
Magic.
Each candidate stepped forward and placed a hand on a large mana crystal.
The crystal would glow with a color corresponding to the strength and nature of the candidate's magical energy.
One by one, the candidates approached.
"Mark—Blue."
"Deon—Green."
Then Sam stepped forward.
He placed his hand against the crystal.
A brilliant golden light erupted from it.
The crowd gasped.
"Sam—Golden!"
The examiner stared at the crystal in disbelief.
"One in every ten million people possesses a Golden Aura. Congratulations."
The arena erupted into cheers.
Leo couldn't help smiling.
He was genuinely happy for his brother.
The known aura colors ranged from:
Blue.
Green.
Red.
White.
Golden.
Then it was Leo's turn.
He calmly approached the crystal.
He placed his hand against its cold surface.
One second passed.
Then another.
Nothing happened.
Leo focused harder.
Still nothing.
The crystal remained completely dark.
The examiner stared at it.
Then at Leo.
"No mana detected."
The words echoed through the arena.
"You have failed the second stage."
Leo felt the weight of those words.
But he didn't argue.
He had expected this.
He simply nodded and walked away.
Behind him, the examination continued.
Later that evening, the arena finally emptied.
The sun had begun to set.
Leo sat beside a river just outside the city, staring at the slowly flowing water.
He picked up a small stone and skipped it across the surface.
"So that's it."
He watched the ripples disappear.
"Maybe some dreams just aren't meant for people like me."
Footsteps approached from behind.
Leo turned.
A young woman stood there.
She wore elegant clothing decorated with royal symbols.
Leo immediately recognized her.
Princess Lily.
He quickly stood and bowed.
"My apologies, Princess."
Lily stared at him.
Something about his face seemed familiar.
She couldn't explain why.
Leo raised his head.
The moment their eyes met—
His left eye suddenly began to water.
Leo blinked.
"What…?"
He quickly wiped his eye.
He had no idea why it had happened.
Lily noticed it too.
Her expression changed slightly.
"Why are you sitting here alone?" she asked.
Leo hesitated.
"I failed the examination."
Lily nodded slowly.
But she continued studying his face.
That strange feeling inside her refused to disappear.
Leo shifted uncomfortably.
"Princess?"
She shook her head.
"It's nothing."
Lily turned and began walking away.
After taking several steps, she stopped.
She looked back at Leo.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then she continued walking.
Leo watched her disappear into the distance.
He still didn't understand why seeing her had caused such a strange reaction.
Eventually, he returned to the city.
Later that night, inside the royal gardens, Princess Lily stood before a small grave.
Moonlight illuminated the stone.
In her hand was a silver ring.
Beside her stood a small child, no older than three years old, quietly holding onto her dress.
Lily stared at the grave for a long time.
Then she whispered,
"He looks like you…"
Her fingers tightened around the ring.
"No…"
She slowly shook her head.
"That's impossible."
"You died four years ago."
A gentle wind moved through the garden.
The child looked up at her.
Lily closed her eyes.
"It couldn't be him."
But deep inside her heart…
The doubt had already begun.
Chapter 3: The Examination of Chaos
Two months passed after the Elite Army examination.
For Leo, those months were far from easy.
Although he tried to remain positive, the memory of the mana crystal staying completely dark continued to haunt him.
Every morning, he trained with Sam.
Sword practice.
Reflex drills.
Combat exercises.
Again and again, Sam told him the same thing.
"You're already better than most people."
But Leo always finished the thought himself.
"Without magic, it doesn't matter."
Still, he refused to give up.
The Strategist Division Examination was approaching.
Unlike the Elite Army examination, this test focused on intelligence, awareness, tactical thinking, and decision-making.
For the first time, Leo believed he might actually have a chance.
The day of the examination finally arrived.
Leo walked toward the capital hall where the test was being held.
The building was smaller than the colosseum used for the Elite Army examination, but the atmosphere inside was far more tense.
Around eighty candidates had already gathered.
Some looked confident.
Others were visibly nervous.
Everyone knew one thing.
The examination could only be taken once.
Leo entered the hall and took a seat.
A boy sitting nearby appeared extremely focused. He was writing calculations in a small notebook.
Leo glanced at him.
"You seem pretty serious about this."
The boy looked up.
"I'm trying to predict what kind of test they might give us."
Leo smiled slightly.
"I'm Leo."
"Elias," the boy replied.
Before they could continue talking, the invigilator stepped onto the stage.
The entire hall fell silent.
He calmly looked across the room.
"Welcome to the Strategist Division Examination."
"Many of you believe strategy is about solving problems."
He paused.
"But real strategy…"
His expression hardened.
"…is about survival."
Several candidates exchanged confused looks.
The invigilator continued.
"There are no rules in this examination."
The room immediately filled with murmurs.
"You will fight until only thirty people remain."
Shock spread throughout the hall.
"And remember…"
"You only get one chance."
"If you fail today, you will never be allowed to take this examination again."
The moment the invigilator stepped away from the stage—
Chaos erupted.
Candidates immediately attacked one another.
Magic spells filled the air.
Tables were overturned.
Weapons were drawn.
People screamed as the entire hall descended into violence.
Elias stared in disbelief.
"This is madness!"
Leo remained calm.
"Relax."
"Relax?!" Elias shouted.
Leo pointed toward the center of the hall.
"Look."
The candidates in the middle were attacking each other without any strategy.
"They're panicking," Leo said.
"They'll eliminate each other first."
Elias looked again.
Leo was right.
Most of the candidates were wasting their strength by fighting recklessly.
Suddenly, a man rushed toward them with his sword raised.
Leo reacted instantly.
He dodged the attack and struck the man's weapon aside before delivering a precise blow that knocked him unconscious.
Elias stared.
"You're fast."
Leo shrugged.
"Just reflexes."
But then—
The atmosphere changed.
A powerful presence filled the hall.
Everyone turned toward the center.
A massive warrior stood there holding an enormous sword.
Several candidates were already lying unconscious around him.
Every movement he made sent another opponent crashing to the ground.
Elias whispered,
"That guy is insane."
Leo watched him carefully.
Then he noticed something.
"Look at his legs."
Elias narrowed his eyes.
A faint glow surrounded the warrior's legs.
Elias suddenly recognized it.
"The Aegis Stone."
Leo looked at him.
"What's that?"
"It's an ancient artifact," Elias explained.
"It enhances the user's physical abilities—strength, speed, durability… everything."
Leo nodded.
"That explains why no one can fight him."
The warrior suddenly charged toward them.
His enormous sword came crashing down.
Leo barely managed to dodge.
The impact cracked the stone floor.
Leo immediately realized the truth.
He couldn't defeat this man through brute force.
Then—
A shadow appeared behind the warrior.
Before anyone could react, a sword flashed.
The warrior's head fell to the ground.
The entire hall froze.
Standing behind the body was another man.
Leo stared at him.
The mysterious warrior looked at Leo and laughed.
"Hmm… you look interesting."
Leo frowned.
"What?"
The man laughed again.
"You remind me of someone I knew in the past."
"But you're not him."
Leo stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
The man shook his head.
"Don't worry."
"That person is already dead."
He turned and walked away.
Leo remained frozen.
What the hell just happened?
Moments later, the examiner returned to the stage.
Only thirty participants remained.
"Congratulations," he announced.
"From this moment forward, you are members of the Elite Army Strategist Division."
Relief spread throughout the hall.
Elias let out a long breath.
"We survived."
Leo nodded.
But his thoughts remained fixed on the mysterious warrior.
The man who had killed the warrior with the Aegis Stone.
There was something about him.
Something important.
But Leo didn't yet understand what it was.
End of Chapter 3
Chapter 4: The Legendary Incident Begins
Before Leo could ask anything else, the mysterious warrior turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Leo stood there, staring after him.
"What the hell just happened…?" he muttered.
Before he could think any further, a loud voice echoed throughout the hall.
"All remaining candidates, assemble at the stage immediately!"
The thirty survivors gathered in front of the platform.
Moments later, the Commander of the Elite Army stepped forward.
His presence alone was enough to silence the entire hall.
He looked over the candidates with sharp, evaluating eyes.
"Congratulations."
"You have survived one of the most brutal examinations in the history of this kingdom."
He paused.
"From today onward…"
"You are members of the Elite Army Strategist Division."
Cheers erupted throughout the hall.
Years of hard work had finally paid off.
The commander raised his hand, and the room gradually fell silent.
"Never forget this."
"From this moment forward, thousands of lives will depend on your decisions."
"If you fail…"
"People die."
"So become worthy of the title you now carry."
Searching for the Mysterious Warrior
As the new strategists began leaving the hall, Leo's eyes moved across the crowd.
He was searching for one person.
The mysterious warrior who had killed the wielder of the Aegis Stone.
Leo walked through the hall, carefully examining every face.
But the man was gone.
Leo stepped outside the academy building and looked across the courtyard.
Soldiers were talking.
New recruits were celebrating.
But the mysterious warrior was nowhere to be seen.
Leo checked the training yard.
Then the entrance gate.
Then the side corridors.
Nothing.
It was as though the man had disappeared into thin air.
Elias eventually caught up with him.
"What are you doing?" Elias asked.
Leo hesitated.
"I'm looking for that guy."
"The one who killed the warrior?"
Elias shook his head.
"I haven't seen him since the examination ended."
Leo looked around one last time.
The courtyard was almost empty.
He sighed.
"Strange…"
Someone that powerful shouldn't be able to disappear so easily.
But there was no trace of him.
For now, Leo had no choice but to let it go.
The New Team
Later that day, the newly appointed strategists were assigned their rooms.
Leo ended up sharing one with three other recruits:
Elias.
Alison.
Carl.
All four were bruised and exhausted from the examination, yet they couldn't stop smiling.
They had survived something that most people couldn't.
For them, that alone was a victory.
The Walk Home
That evening, Leo left the academy to return home and tell Mary and Sam the good news.
The sunset painted Vatika in warm orange light as he walked through the streets.
His heart was filled with excitement.
Then suddenly—
He stopped.
A few meters ahead stood someone familiar.
Rose.
The girl Leo had known since childhood.
The girl he had secretly loved for years.
But she wasn't alone.
Standing beside her was a tall Elite Warrior.
They were laughing together.
Their hands were tightly intertwined.
Leo froze.
For a moment, the entire world seemed to go silent.
Memories began flooding into his mind.
He remembered the day he first met Rose.
It had been years earlier, shortly after Mary had taken him in.
Leo had been helping Mary deliver bread through the market when he accidentally tripped and dropped the basket.
Loaves of bread rolled across the street.
Leo panicked.
But instead of becoming angry, the girl he had bumped into simply laughed and helped him gather the bread.
"My name is Rose," she had said with a warm smile.
From that day onward, the two slowly became close friends.
Rose sometimes helped Mary at the bakery.
She watched Leo and Sam train.
They talked about their dreams.
Their futures.
Their lives.
And somewhere along the way…
Leo had fallen in love with her.
But he had never told her.
And now—
She was smiling at someone else.
The Elite Warrior gently placed an arm around her shoulder.
Leo looked away.
"So that's how it is…"
He lowered his head and continued walking.
Brothers
Leo eventually arrived at Mary's bakery.
He pushed open the door.
"Mary! Sam! I passed!"
Mary nearly dropped the tray in her hands.
"You passed?!"
Sam rushed toward him.
Leo nodded proudly.
"I'm officially part of the Elite Army Strategist Division."
Mary immediately pulled him into a hug.
"I knew you could do it!"
Sam laughed and punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"You did it, little brother!"
Later that night, after the celebration had quieted down, Sam found Leo sitting outside the bakery.
"You should be celebrating," Sam said as he sat beside him.
Leo remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"I saw Rose today."
Sam didn't interrupt.
"She was holding hands with an Elite Warrior."
Leo stared at the ground.
"I guess I was stupid for thinking…"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
Sam placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're not stupid."
"You just loved someone."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of."
Leo let out a quiet laugh.
"You always know what to say."
Sam grinned.
"That's what brothers are for."
The Celebration
Later that night, the bakery was filled with laughter.
Mary had prepared a huge dinner.
Sam had invited several of their friends.
Rose.
Wilson.
Chester.
And others from the neighborhood.
Everyone congratulated Leo.
Even Rose approached him with a warm smile.
"Congratulations, Leo."
"I knew you would pass."
Leo smiled politely.
"Thanks."
Despite what he had seen earlier, he didn't want to ruin the celebration.
Later that night, Leo stepped outside and looked toward the sky.
Thousands of stars filled the darkness.
A quiet thought crossed his mind.
Have I ever been this happy before?
But no matter how hard he tried…
He couldn't remember anything from before the day Mary had found him near the sea.
Four Years Later
Four years passed.
Leo and his team trained relentlessly.
Leo became known as a monster on the battlefield.
Even without magic, his swordsmanship had become terrifying.
And when it came to strategy…
Leo, Elias, Alison, and Carl led Aramah to victory in countless battles against rival nations.
Eventually, Leo and Elias were promoted to Senior Strategists.
But peace never lasts forever.
Deep within Aramah lay a mysterious place.
God Valley.
Legends claimed that it was connected to the realm of the gods.
To protect this sacred place, an elite order had been established.
Warriors whose strength was said to rival divine beings.
They were known as the Divine Wardens.
Each Warden possessed abilities believed to have been blessed by the gods themselves.
Aramah had become one of the protectors of God Valley for one reason.
Princess Lily.
From childhood, Lily had possessed extraordinary abilities.
She could control poison, nature, and water.
With a single gesture, she could summon poisonous vines from the earth.
Her water magic could manipulate rivers and unleash devastating storms.
Her toxic abilities were powerful enough to paralyze entire armies.
Because of her overwhelming strength, Aramah had earned its position among the kingdoms entrusted with protecting God Valley.
But one morning…
Peace was shattered.
An emergency message arrived at the Strategist Headquarters.
A powerful rival nation had launched an invasion.
An empire feared across countless lands.
The Obsidian Dominion.
Their objective was clear.
They intended to seize the secrets of God Valley.
The king immediately ordered reinforcements.
Leo's strategist unit was chosen to lead the mission.
Leo.
Elias.
Alison.
Carl.
The four strategists would command the operation.
Alongside them would be:
10 Elite Warriors.
And 30,000 soldiers.
Even Princess Lily had received no warning of the coming attack.
The entire kingdom prepared for war.
Leo stood over a massive battlefield map.
His eyes slowly moved across the marked territories until they stopped at one location.
God Valley.
The place where legends had been born.
The place where ancient powers were hidden.
And now…
The battlefield where the next great war would begin.