Far within the dominion of the Kaian Empire—an empire renowned for its unwavering justice and overwhelming power—stood a flourishing city built of stone and order.
Kuan City.
Unlike the wooden villages scattered across the outer lands, Kuan was a place of brick and discipline. Streets were aligned with precision, houses stood firm and sturdy, and the people lived under the protection of trained knights and seasoned warriors.
And on one quiet night, within one such home, a new life began.
"It's a boy!" Fayum Yakizo's voice trembled with joy. "He's so adorable… and look at those eyes—just like yours."
Yalin Yakizo gently took the child into her arms, her expression soft, her gaze filled with warmth as if the world itself had narrowed down to that single fragile being.
"What shall we name him?" Fayum asked.
Yalin lowered her head slightly, her lips near the baby's ear.
"…Nork."
Fayum smiled.
"Welcome, Nork… to our family."
Five Years Later
Evening descended upon Kuan City in a cascade of gold and orange. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between buildings, painting the streets in a warm glow.
Inside the Yakizo household—
"Dad! Dad!"
A small figure dashed across the living room, his tiny feet thumping rapidly against the floor as he grabbed his father's arm.
Fayum blinked, nearly spilling his tea. "Woah—slow down, little one. What is it?"
Nork's eyes sparkled. "I want to learn swordsmanship! I want to slay demons like you!"
Fayum raised a brow. "A swordsman, huh?"
"Yes!"
Fayum sighed. "No. You're too young. Wait until you're eight."
Nork frowned. "Why?"
Yalin stepped into the room, her voice calm but firm. "Because your core is too fragile right now."
"What about magic then?"
"Nope."
"Why??"
"If you start now," she said flatly, "your core will explode."
Nork tilted his head. "And?"
"Rest in peace."
"…?"
Fayum chuckled dryly. "It means you'll die."
"Oh…"
Silence fell for a moment—before Nork tried again.
"But swordsmanship doesn't need Astral energy, right?"
"True," Fayum admitted. "But if your body hardens too early, your core won't grow properly."
Nork frowned deeper. "Why?"
Fayum leaned forward slightly, his tone more serious now.
"Because your body and your core must develop in balance. If your body becomes too strong too early, it resists Astral flow. That means your core stays small… and you'll never reach your full potential."
That seemed to land.
"…Oh."
Yalin suddenly smiled. "So tell me, Nork. What do you want to become? A mage?"
Fayum snorted. "He'll be a swordsman. Obviously."
"No, he'll be a mage."
"Swordsman."
"Mage."
They glared at each other.
Then both turned toward Nork.
"What do you want to be?"
Nork grinned.
"Both!!"
Silence.
Yalin blinked.
Fayum blinked.
"…You can't be both," Yalin said gently.
"But I want to."
"It takes years to master even one path," Fayum added. "Only a few ever manage both."
Nork's grin widened.
"What if I'm one of those few?"
For a moment—
Neither parent answered seriously.
Then Yalin chuckled. "Maybe you are."
Fayum laughed. "Yeah… maybe."
"So can I start now?"
"…Nope."
"Ahhh…"
Nork dropped onto the floor dramatically before lifting his fingers.
"One… two… three… three years…"
He sighed loudly. "Fine. I'll read books instead."
"Good boy," Yalin said. "And don't forget—tomorrow, we visit the priest."
"To check your Astral core," Fayum added.
Nork nodded. "Okay, Dad."
That night, under dim candlelight—
Yalin tucked Nork into bed and began telling him a story.
"The six heroes stood against the Demon Lord…"
Her voice softened as the tale unfolded—battles, sacrifices, and legends.
"And in the end, Wilson sacrificed his soul fragments… turning them into Astral energy to save everyone."
Nork's eyes shone.
"Hero Wilson is so kind…"
"Yes," Yalin whispered. "Be like him."
"I will!" Nork said proudly. "Kind like Wilson, strong like Silvana, fast like Lui Shang—I'll save everyone!"
Yalin smiled, brushing his hair aside.
"You will… my little hero."
Within minutes—
He was asleep.
Back in the living room—
"Is he asleep?" Fayum asked.
Yalin nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "Yes."
A quiet moment passed.
"…Will he choose the right path?" Fayum murmured.
"He will."
"…You sound certain."
"I am."
Fayum stood up dramatically and saluted. "Yes, ma'am."
Yalin burst out laughing. "What is wrong with you?"
Fayum laughed too.
And then—
DANG!!! DANG!!! DANG!!!
The bell rang.
Not once.
Not twice.
But continuously.
A signal no one mistook.
Demon invasion.
The laughter vanished.
Fayum's expression hardened instantly as he grabbed the sword mounted on the wall.
"Lock the doors. Stay with Nork."
Yalin's voice dropped. "…Do they know?"
Fayum paused.
"…Maybe."
Then, with a cold edge in his voice—
"But it doesn't matter."
"I'll kill those demons… and come back."
Chaos consumed Kuan City.
People ran through the streets as demons tore through houses, smashing wood and stone alike, searching—relentless, focused.
Knights rushed to intercept.
Steel clashed against claw.
Blood painted the streets.
"This is weird!" one knight shouted mid-battle. "These are C-rank—some even B-rank! We usually get D or E at most!"
"Shut the fuck up!" his comrade roared. "We're in the middle of a battle to the death!"
More demons poured in.
They were surrounded.
One demon stepped forward, its lips curling into a twisted grin.
"You humans… are going to die here."
Despair crept in.
Until—
A figure cut through the battlefield.
A single slash.
Then another.
Heads fell.
Bodies dropped.
Fayum Yakizo stood at the center.
"Sir Yakizo!!"
Relief surged through the knights.
Fayum didn't waste time.
"Fall back. Protect the civilians. Guard Block C—evacuate everyone there."
"What about you, sir?"
Fayum's grin was sharp.
"I'll handle these disgusting creatures."
The demon sneered. "Alone?"
Fayum's eyes gleamed.
"Hell yeah."
The demon snarled. "Kill him!"
They rushed.
Too slow.
Too weak.
Fayum moved like a storm—precise, controlled, unstoppable.
Then—
"Doom Slasher."
A single technique.
A massacre.
He reached the grinning demon.
Its smile… disappeared.
"What happened?" Fayum tilted his head. "Where's your lovely smile?"
A flash.
Arms—gone.
Legs—gone.
A final thrust—
Straight through the heart.
The demon collapsed.
Silence lasted only a second.
Because more were coming.
Fayum lifted his blade… and looked forward.
Far beyond the battlefield—
On a distant rooftop—
A dark figure stood.
Watching.
Waiting.
While Fayum continued to cut down demons across the battlefield, his blade moving with precision and deadly force, a far more dangerous presence observed him from a distance.
High above the chaos, standing atop a broken structure, a massive demon watched in silence. His body was enormous, his skin rough and thick, and his face resembled that of a grotesque pig. In his hand rested a giant axe, heavy and stained with blood. A slow grin stretched across his face as his eyes followed Fayum's every movement.
A demon with a single horn approached and knelt before him.
"General Karzo… the child has been found, but—"
Karzo's voice came out deep and heavy, carrying an oppressive weight.
"But?"
The demon lowered his head further. "We cannot proceed. That human… he is blocking the way."
Karzo's grin widened slightly as he glanced toward Fayum.
"The child…" he muttered. "Lord Vond will be pleased to see him."
He lifted his axe and rested it on his shoulder.
"Go. Bring the child to me."
The demon hesitated. "General Karzo… we cannot go ahead. He is blocking the path."
For a brief moment, silence lingered.
Then Karzo stepped forward.
"…Leave him to me."
His grin stretched wider.
"I will take care of that tiny human myself."
Inside the Yakizo household, Yalin knelt quietly, her hands clasped together as she prayed for her husband's safety. Her voice was soft, almost inaudible, yet filled with desperation.
"…Please… come back safely."
As she finished, she turned her head slightly.
Nork stood nearby, his small body trembling, his eyes filled with fear.
"Mom… are the demons going to kill us all?"
Yalin immediately pulled him into her arms, hugging him tightly.
"No," she said gently. "Don't worry."
She covered his ears as the distant sounds of screaming and demonic roars echoed through the city.
"Your father is the strongest in this city. Those demons are no match for him."
Her voice remained calm, but her heart trembled.
"He will protect us all… and come back soon."
Deep inside, however, a strange unease grew stronger. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she held onto her belief.
He will come back.
Back on the battlefield, Fayum stood surrounded by the bodies of fallen demons. His breathing had grown heavier, yet his grip on his sword remained steady.
"Come at once," he muttered. "I'll kill you all faster that way."
The demons suddenly stopped.
A strange silence spread across the battlefield.
Then, slowly, they began to part, forming a clear path.
Fayum narrowed his eyes as he looked ahead.
A massive figure approached, each step cracking the ground beneath it. The pressure it emitted was overwhelming, suffocating.
Fayum felt it instantly.
Astral energy… far beyond his own.
The demon stopped before him.
"Are you their lord?" Fayum asked.
The demon let out a low laugh.
"No."
He rested the axe on his shoulder.
"I am General Karzo."
His gaze locked onto Fayum.
"And you are?"
"…Fayum Yakizo."
Karzo smiled.
"Such a nice name… for a dead man."
The surrounding demons burst into laughter.
Fayum grinned.
"So the ugly pig can see the future?"
The laughter stopped.
Karzo's smile vanished.
"Stay back," he ordered coldly. "He is mine."
Fayum chuckled. "Oh? Sounds romantic."
Karzo moved first.
The giant axe swung down with terrifying force. Fayum dodged the strike, but the sheer power behind it sent him sliding backward.
He steadied himself, his expression turning serious.
S-rank…
Karzo stepped forward, calm and confident.
"Now do you understand the gap between us?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Kneel, and I will grant you a painless death."
Fayum spat onto the ground.
"Keep dreaming, ugly."
He surged forward.
"Doom Slasher!"
His blade flashed toward Karzo, but the demon blocked it effortlessly. The impact echoed loudly, yet Karzo remained unmoved.
He laughed.
"So weak."
Fayum's grip tightened.
He understood now.
He couldn't win.
But that didn't matter.
If I die… I'll take you with me.
Astral energy burst out from his body, wild and intense. His sword began to glow, turning into a radiant crimson blade.
"Whispering Astral Manifestation…"
The air trembled.
"Crimson Blade of Chaos."
Fayum exhaled slowly.
"Shall we begin?"
Karzo smirked.
"Let's."
Their clash shattered everything around them.
Karzo's axe descended again and again, each strike carrying immense destructive force. Fayum dodged and countered with precision, his blade moving faster, sharper.
He struck—
Karzo shifted, but not completely.
A cut appeared on his shoulder.
Small.
But real.
Karzo glanced at it and smirked.
"…Impressive."
Their weapons collided once more, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Roads cracked, houses shattered, and debris flew in every direction.
Fayum attacked relentlessly, pouring all his strength into each strike.
Karzo blocked them all.
"Come on," Karzo laughed. "Use everything you have if you want to survive!"
With a roar, he swung his axe.
"Axe of Despair!"
The impact slammed into Fayum's blade and sent him crashing into a house. He hit the ground hard, blood spilling from his mouth and nose.
Karzo approached slowly.
"Already dying?"
Fayum forced himself to stand.
Pain surged through his body, but his thoughts remained fixed.
Yalin.
Nork.
"I'm not… going down easily."
He gathered every last bit of Astral energy within him. The surroundings began to glow red as power surged violently into his sword.
"Excalibur of Death!"
He swung.
A massive wave of destruction erupted outward, engulfing everything in crimson light. Demons were torn apart, buildings collapsed, and the ground itself split under the force.
When it ended, silence remained.
Dust filled the air.
Fayum stood there, barely able to breathe.
Bodies lay scattered—burned, cut in half, completely destroyed.
For a moment, he thought it was over.
Then—
A laugh echoed through the dust.
Karzo stepped forward.
Half his body was burned. Half his face was gone, exposing bone.
Yet he was still alive.
"You're strong… for an A-rank."
Fayum's heart sank.
His Astral energy was gone.
Completely empty.
Karzo raised his axe.
"You will be remembered… warrior."
The blade fell.
As darkness consumed Fayum, his lips moved faintly.
"…Yalin…"
At that same moment, inside the house, Yalin froze.
Her breath stopped.
"…No…"
Tears streamed down her face.
Nork looked up at her, worried. "Mom?"
She forced herself to remain calm.
"It's nothing."
Her hands trembled as she cast a spell, gently putting Nork to sleep. She lifted him into her arms and walked toward the door.
Her face was pale.
Silent.
She stepped outside, heading toward the forest.
She needed to hide.
But suddenly—
A shadow appeared before her.
Karzo stood there.
Burned. Broken. Smiling.
"Beautiful lady…" he said slowly.
"May I take your child?"
Yalin's eyes filled with rage.
"You killed my husband… didn't you?"
Karzo tilted his head.
"Oh… I see. That warrior was your husband?"
The sky suddenly roared.
Lightning crackled around Yalin as Astral energy surged violently from her body.
Her gentle expression was gone.
Only rage remained.
Karzo's grin widened.
"…So not only the husband, but the wife is also an A-rank mage."
He chuckled darkly.
"Now that's a dangerous family."
Yalin's surroundings began to distort as raw Astral energy surged from her body, forming a crackling field of lightning that spread in all directions. Her eyes glowed with a fierce electric light, no longer gentle but filled with pure rage and killing intent. Karzo immediately sensed the danger; this woman was no less threatening than her husband. Without hesitation, he charged forward, raising his giant axe to strike her down, but before his attack could land, Yalin's voice cut through the air, calm yet filled with power. "Astral Manifestation… Dragon's Wrath." For a brief moment, everything seemed to slow. Karzo's body froze mid-strike, his instincts screaming too late. Then, from Yalin's body, lightning erupted—not a simple discharge, but something alive, something massive. A dragon formed from pure lightning burst forth, roaring as it surged forward and struck Karzo directly. His eyes widened in shock as if he had just seen death itself. The impact was catastrophic. The ground shattered, buildings collapsed, and everything within a two-hundred-meter radius was consumed by blinding light and destruction.
Far from the battlefield, deep within the forest near Kuan City, a mysterious figure moved silently through the darkness. The figure suddenly stopped, sensing something unnatural. In the distance, a massive dragon made of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by an explosion that tore through half the city. The brightness forced even the figure to close its eyes briefly. "…Who is that mage?" the figure wondered quietly, before continuing forward.
When the light faded and the destruction settled into silence, Yalin stood alone amidst the ruins, Nork still asleep in her arms under the effect of her spell. Tears streamed down her face as she gently rubbed his cheek, her hands trembling. She slowly lifted her gaze toward the sky, her voice breaking as she cried out, "Why did you choose us? Why?!" Her knees gave out as she collapsed onto the ground, her body shaking. "I didn't ask for this…" she whispered, broken.
Then—movement.
From beneath the shattered rubble, a hand emerged.
Yalin's eyes widened in shock.
Karzo.
He rose slowly from the debris, his body heavily damaged, one arm completely destroyed, blood pouring from his mouth. His face twisted with fury as he stepped forward.
"Why don't you just die?!" Yalin screamed.
Karzo didn't answer. He simply picked up his axe with his remaining arm and pointed it toward her.
Yalin forced herself up, summoning the last of her strength. Lightning gathered at her feet as she activated her movement technique and fled at full speed. She had already lost her husband—she could not lose her child. Her body moved like a flash, reaching the edge of the city within moments, the forest just ahead.
But Karzo was faster.
He appeared behind her and swung his axe.
Yalin barely dodged, but the attack still struck her back, leaving a deep, brutal wound. She fell to the ground, her body refusing to respond. Nork slipped from her arms and landed nearby.
"No…" she whispered, reaching out.
She began crawling toward him, dragging her broken body forward. Nork slowly opened his eyes, confused and frightened.
Karzo showed no mercy.
With a single strike, he severed one of Yalin's arms.
Her scream echoed through the ruins, filled with unbearable pain, yet she continued crawling, using her remaining arm to reach her child.
Nork, now fully awake, stumbled toward her. "Mom… Mom!" His small hands tried to lift her, his body trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.
He turned toward Karzo, fear clear in his eyes, yet he shouted, "Stay away from my mom! How dare you attack her?!"
Karzo laughed, his voice cold and mocking.
"You want me to spare your mother?"
Nork's voice shook. "My dad will kill you!"
Yalin, lying in her own blood, tried to speak, but her voice was too weak.
Karzo laughed louder.
"Your dad?"
He reached behind him and pulled out a blood-soaked sack. Slowly, he opened it.
Inside—
Fayum's severed head.
Nork froze, his eyes wide with disbelief and terror.
Yalin's heart shattered. With the last of her strength, she forced herself up slightly and cast a spell, putting Nork back to sleep before he could fully comprehend the horror. With trembling hands, she placed her necklace into his pocket.
Her gaze lifted toward Karzo, filled with hatred.
"You…!"
Karzo smirked. "Your husband was a worthy opponent. That's why I kept his head as a trophy. Don't worry—I'll take yours too and place it beside his."
Rage surged through Yalin one last time.
She raised her hand and unleashed her attack.
"Lightning Cuts!"
Hundreds of sharp streaks of lightning shot forward, slicing through the air and striking Karzo repeatedly.
But when the light faded—
He was still standing.
"…Your Astral Manifestation was strong," Karzo said coldly. "But the rest? Weak. You still don't understand the difference between us."
Yalin's strength finally gave out. She collapsed to her knees, her vision fading as blood continued to pour from her wounds. Her Astral energy was nearly gone. Death was approaching.
Yet—
She still moved.
For Nork.
Karzo lifted his axe high, ready to end her life.
But before the strike could fall—
A shadow moved.
A flash.
Something faster than the eye could follow passed behind Karzo.
In the next instant, a figure appeared beside Yalin, a dagger in hand.
Karzo froze.
Then—
His body fell apart.
Piece by piece.
Blood spilled across the ground as his severed parts collapsed lifelessly.
Yalin, barely conscious, tried to focus her vision. Through the blood covering her eye, she saw the mysterious figure standing beside her.
The figure lifted her gently, examining her wounds.
"…No chance," the figure muttered softly.
His gaze shifted to Nork.
"So… he's the one."
Yalin's voice trembled. "How… do you know?"
There was no time for answers.
With fading strength, Yalin spoke again.
"…Take him… raise him well…"
Her voice grew weaker.
"…I won't survive…"
She reached out, taking Nork into her arms one final time. Leaning down, she kissed his forehead gently.
Tears fell freely as she whispered softly into his ear,
"Nork… your papa and mama are leaving you alone… but stay strong… don't ever think you are alone… make friends… make allies… find someone who will love you even more than me… so you won't feel alone…"
Her voice trembled.
"…But even then… remember… we are watching you… as you grow…"
Her final breath wavered.
"…And remember your promise… to protect everyone…"
A faint smile formed on her lips.
Then—
Her body went still.
Cold.
Silent.
The mysterious figure stood there for a moment, saying nothing. Then he gently took Nork into his arms. After burying Yalin, he turned toward the dark forest.
Without another word, he stepped into the shadows.
And disappeared into the night.
The night of death.