The Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Flowers had never felt so tense.
Inside the grand war chamber, the king had called an emergency meeting.
But the people gathered were not ordinary nobles or generals.
They were the Divine Wardens.
Royal rulers and heirs from different powerful nations. Each one represented a kingdom stronger than the Kingdom of Flowers itself. Their power was feared across the world, and together they maintained the fragile balance between nations.
One by one they entered the chamber.
Some arrived with royal guards.
Others came alone.
But every single one carried an overwhelming presence.
The King of the Kingdom of Flowers stood at the center of the room.
"What I'm about to say concerns all of us," he said.
"If this information spreads carelessly… every nation in this room could face destruction."
The wardens listened silently.
Then the king spoke a name.
"…Zen."
Several of them froze immediately.
Others narrowed their eyes.
One of the wardens scoffed.
"That's impossible."
"He died nine years ago."
The king shook his head slowly.
"No body was ever found."
"He was seen in God Valley."
Silence filled the chamber.
Then the strongest Divine Wardens stood up.
A cruel smile appeared on his face.
"…So he's alive."
"Good."
"This time I will kill him myself."
"And when I do…"
"I will take his eyes out and eat them in front of him."
Some wardens laughed quietly.
Others remained silent.
Because everyone present understood the same terrifying possibility.
If Zen had truly returned…
the world itself might soon face chaos.
Deep Beneath God Valley
Far below God Valley, inside a hidden cavern deep within the massive ravine, two figures stood facing each other.
One of them was Zen.
The other leaned casually against the cave wall.
"…Hello again," the man said.
Zen looked at him calmly.
"Hi."
"Old friend."
The man smiled.
"God of mischief ."
God of mischief aka Vikruti
one of the strongest gods alive.
vikruti studied Zen carefully.
"So you remember everything now?"
Zen nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"I remember everything."
vikruti crossed his arms.
"So tell me."
"What about your revenge?"
"Are you finally going for it?"
Zen's purple eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Yes."
"But the timing has to be right."
"When the time comes…"
"I will kill every single one of them."
"And make them pay for what they did."
vikruti laughed.
"You know something funny?"
"When I saw you during the exam, I had a feeling."
"I thought…"
"That guy looks like Zen."
"So I joined the exam just to confirm it."
Zen looked at him.
"So you didn't join the strategist team?"
vikruti shrugged.
"Of course not."
"I'm stronger than you anyway."
Zen smirked slightly.
"Want to test that?"
vikruti waved his hand.
"Nah."
Then he stepped aside.
Behind him stood a massive creature.
Zen froze.
Standing there was a dragon.
Not a baby.
A full-grown dragon nearly ten years old.
Lightning flickered faintly across its scales.
Zen slowly stepped forward.
"…You found him."
vikruti nodded.
"You used to own him, remember?"
"An Ancient Thunder Dragon."
"A creature blessed by the God of Thunder."
The dragon lowered its head.
Zen placed his hand gently on its scales.
For a moment neither of them moved.
They had finally reunited.
vikruti stretched his arms.
"Well."
"I did what you asked."
"My job here is done."
"I'm not helping you anymore."
He turned and walked deeper into the cave.
"Good luck with your revenge."
Zen nodded quietly.
"…Thanks."
vikruti disappeared into the darkness.
Zen sat beside the dragon.
And slowly…
memories returned.
The Fall
When Zen jumped into the ravine earlier, he believed he was going to die.
The fall was endless.
Wind roared around him.
Then suddenly a voice echoed inside his mind.
Change your eyes.
Zen didn't understand.
Think about the color.
Zen focused.
His pupils turned yellow.
Power exploded inside him.
Massive wings burst from his back.
Zen slowed his fall and glided into the hidden cave.
There he spoke with the Demon inside the sword.
And from that moment…
everything began to change.
The Memories of Seonaa Village
Zen closed his eyes.
"My name is Zen."
"I used to live in a small village called Seonaa Village."
"My family…"
"…was everything to me."
His mother cooking rice.
His father working outside.
His older brother talking happily with his wife.
And his little niece.
It was a peaceful life.
Until the day everything changed.
One afternoon Zen and his niece went into the forest to play.
On the road they saw a strange witch walking toward the village.
They greeted her politely.
Then continued into the forest.
They played for hours.
But when the sun began to set, Zen noticed something strange.
Smoke.
Coming from the direction of the village.
His heart began racing.
Zen ran.
As fast as he could.
When he reached the village…
his entire world collapsed.
The witch stood in the center of the village.
Pointing toward Zen's house.
"These people are cursed!" she shouted.
Zen looked up.
His parents.
His brother.
His brother's wife.
They were hanging from wooden poles.
The villagers were burning their bodies.
Zen fell to his knees.
His mother looked at him weakly.
Her final words were soft.
"Please… take care of my granddaughter…"
"My peace lover…"
"Please don't think about revenge…"
Her head slowly fell.
Zen screamed.
Then he heard another voice.
His sister-in-law.
With the last strength left in her body she screamed:
"RUN!"
Then her voice disappeared.
Zen grabbed his niece's hand.
And ran.
Behind him…
only the screams of the villagers echoed through the night.
"I was only ten years old back then."
Zen slowly opened his eyes.
His voice was calm.
But filled with hatred.
"…Back then I was a fool."
"If it happened now…"
"I could make that entire village run for their lives."
The dragon beside him growled softly.
Zen stared into the darkness of the cave.
The revenge he had promised…
was finally beginning.
End of Chapter 8
Next Chapter — Memories of the Dead