Three months had passed since the mysterious letter was found in the ruins of the Demon Palace.
Kael sat on Frost's back, gazing toward the west—to where the sun set each day, to the edge of the world he had only ever heard about in legends. Below him stretched rolling grasslands, and at the far end, a faint black line could be seen—a steep cliff said to be the boundary between the human world and the wild.
Beside him, Lily rode a white horse gifted by the Azure Cloud Sect, her face shielded by a thin veil from the dust. Ling Yun and Lina followed behind, carrying supplies for the long journey. Frost moved steadily, its breathing even despite having traveled since dawn.
Their journey west had lasted two weeks. From Yunlan Village, they passed through the Trade City, crossed the southern plains, and were now entering a region even caravan merchants rarely visited. The last village they passed three days ago had no clear map of the lands ahead.
"Kael," Ling Yun called from behind. "Lyra said she would wait for us in the Black Dragon Valley, but that's still two weeks away. We have time to look for clues about the Dark Dragon in the small villages around here."
Kael nodded without turning. "I know. But I want to see that cliff edge myself before deciding."
"What cliff?" Lina asked, guiding her horse closer.
"The one they call the Final Peak. The villagers said from there you can see an endless ocean, and beyond it… only legends."
Lily shivered. "I don't like unclear legends."
They continued in silence. The sun began to tilt westward, their shadows stretching across the dry grass. Frost suddenly stopped, its ears perked, nose sniffing the air.
"There's… a strange scent…" its voice echoed in Kael's mind.
Kael raised his hand, signaling a halt. He activated Weakness Sight—a skill that had now reached level 5 after a year of training. The world shifted: the green grasslands turned gray, with faint blue qi flickering in the air. And in the distance, about 500 meters ahead, red dots scattered.
Many. Dozens, maybe hundreds.
"What is it?" Ling Yun whispered, his hand already on his sword.
"Creatures ahead. A lot." Kael closed his eyes briefly, focusing. "But they're not moving. Like… they're waiting."
"A trap?" Lina drew her dagger.
"Or a warning." Kael slid off Frost's back and stepped forward slowly. "Wait here. I'll check."
"Kael—" Lily started to protest, but he had already moved on.
He walked alone across the grasslands, which gradually turned barren. Green grass gave way to dry reeds, then cracked earth. As he got closer, he could see the source of the red dots.
Small creatures, about the size of cats, pitch black with glowing red eyes. They gathered around something—a large stone, perhaps an ancient monument. They didn't move, only stared at Kael with unblinking eyes.
"Lesser demons," Aldric whispered in his mind. "Low-level. Not dangerous alone, but in numbers like this… strange."
Kael approached. When he was within 10 meters, the creatures scattered, disappearing into cracks in the ground. Now only the large stone remained before him—three meters tall, shaped like a pillar, with carvings worn down by time.
He reached out and touched it. The surface was cold despite the burning sun. The carvings—he traced them with his fingers—formed an image. A dragon. Not an ordinary dragon with wings and fire, but one with a pitch-black body, pupil-less eyes, coiling around a globe.
"The Dark Dragon," Aldric murmured. "An ancient symbol. Older than Valdris."
Kael stroked the carving, and when his fingers touched the dragon's eye, the monument trembled. Red light flared from the carvings, flowing into his hand, up his arm, into his entire body.
He heard a voice. Not words, but vibrations—like a language older than sound itself. And within those vibrations, he understood:
"Kael, bearer of united blades… I have been waiting for you… at the edge of the world… between waves and ash… find me… before my brothers find you…"
The light faded. Kael opened his eyes—he didn't remember closing them—and found himself kneeling before the monument. Around him, the black creatures had returned, but now they were no longer still. They stood in formation, forming a circle, like guardians making way.
"Kael!" Ling Yun shouted from afar, running toward him.
Kael stood, his knees weak but steady. He glanced at the monument one last time, then turned.
"We have our clue," he said. "The Dark Dragon is at the edge of the world. Beyond the ocean."
Lina frowned. "Beyond the ocean? There's no map that shows land beyond it."
"Maybe there isn't. Or maybe our maps aren't old enough." Kael mounted Frost again. "We need to reach Black Dragon Valley. Lyra might know more."
They set off once more, leaving the stone monument behind. When Kael glanced back one last time, he saw the black creatures still standing in a circle, as if waiting.
Waiting for something.
Waiting for him.