ã€ŠLost Shattered Fateã€‹


 Chapter 1 : The Third Falls

    It all began with a simple thing: sitting, talking, eating, grabbing phones¡ªeverything we did while the teacher was gone or during rest time. Everything was fine. We laughed, we sang, we played.

    All that happiness was suddenly taken away.

    A blue light emerged below us, like a spell glowing under our feet. One by one, our classmates started to disappear.

    Including... me.

    That¡¯s when we were teleported into another world. When I woke up, I found myself in a bed, the rest of the others still sleeping. The room was dimly lit with candles, and my head felt dizzy and hurt for a while. Eventually, the pain faded away.

    At first, I thought, This must be a dream. But dreams aren¡¯t supposed to last this long.

    When we all finally woke up, a person wearing a medieval-era suit guided us to a place where we met someone with a crown on their head¡ªprobably a king. We were told we had been transported to save their world. To become heroes of this world. To save both the human race and the kingdom itself.

    At first, we laughed, not believing it, and started joking around.

    But that¡¯s when things got serious.

    The king threatened us. The knights began unsheathing their swords, pointing them at us. We were terrified. And the king... he forced us to do what he expected of us.

    But that wasn¡¯t what bothered me the most.

    Almost all of my friends had been teleported... except for one person. An energetic, crazy, and weird person. But also kind. A friend who loved us more than himself was missing among us. I wanted to ask about him, but something held me back from saying anything.

    From that moment on, we were forced to train. Magic, swordsmanship, and more¡ªall to prepare us to fight the demon king.

    After two years of training, we were introduced to the citizens of the kingdom. They cheered for us, smiling and happy. But we... we faked our smiles because we were being forced into this.

    The day we were deployed, we were separated into ten groups, scattered all over the place in hopes of pushing back the demon invasion.

    I write this book just in case someone like us finds it. I don¡¯t know what kind of fate awaits, but I hope your fate might end up better than ours.

    From, Angel. one of the heroes

    As she closed the book after writing, Angel stared at it with a pale and sad expression. Riding a horse alongside four of her friends, she placed the diary in her backpack and grabbed the reins.

    All of them were silent as they rode, their eyes fixed forward. From the back, Aldir, one of her friends, broke the silence. His tone was calm but laced with hopelessness.

    ¡°Gel, with two years of preparation, do you think we can kill the demon lord?¡±

    Angel sighed before responding, her voice carrying little hope.

    ¡°If it comes to numbers, I don¡¯t think we can kill the demon king himself... even if all of our friends combined their strength. There¡¯s... no hope for us.¡±

    Hearing this, Aldir fell silent, unable to find the words to respond.

    Angel reached for her backpack, opened it, and searched inside. She pulled out a map and spread it open, studying it for a moment.

    ¡°Our next destination is a city taken by a demon lord¡¯s army. Hopefully, this will be easy,¡± she said in a calm yet weak tone.

    Everyone glanced back at Angel, nodded in agreement, and then turned their gaze forward, continuing their journey toward the city.

    Hours of journey passed, and they finally saw smoke rising from the city in the distance. They dismounted their horses and stood watching from afar. The sound of battle echoed from within the city walls, filling Angel with unease.

    Angel shared her thoughts, her tone cautious.

    ¡°There¡¯s something wrong. From the information we received, the city was overrun by demons. I didn¡¯t expect to hear the sounds of battle.¡±

    Aldir quickly responded, urgency in his voice as he ran toward his horse.

    ¡°Then that means there¡¯s a rebellion inside the city! We should hurry and advance to help them!¡±

    Angel, shocked, shouted after him.

    ¡°WAIT!¡±

    But Aldir didn¡¯t listen. He rushed past her, heading straight toward the city.

    Andreas then said with annoyed tone " HMPH, Indeed Aldir, INDEED " followed by Nana saying with dissapointed and annoyed tone " Here we go again " Before then Angel, Nana, Dewi, and Andreas quickly rushing to followed, jumping onto their horses and riding hard to catch up with him.

    As they approached the city, a blaster shot into the sky, its piercing sound loud enough to shock them all.

    Seeing the blaster as a potential threat, Angel snapped the reins of her horse, urging it to run faster. The others followed closely behind her, their urgency mounting as they raced toward the city.

    As soon as they reached the city, the sounds of blasters, explosions, and clashing weapons abruptly ceased. Only the crackling echoes of burning fire remained, haunting the atmosphere.

    Aldir rushed into the city, the others following closely behind him. He looked around at the remnants of the city. No people were in sight; it was eerily desolate. Only a dead demon scattering around the place with most of them having their body blasted by something.

    Suddenly, he halted his horse as he sensed something above. Without warning, a massive amount of water fell from the sky, drenching the city¡ªand him¡ªcompletely.

    ¡°Fantastic,¡± he muttered in an annoyed tone, dripping wet. His armor, clothes, backpack, and even his horse were soaked. At least the water extinguished the fires that had engulfed the city moments before.

    Cautious and alert, Aldir urged his horse forward, slowly scanning his surroundings, trying to piece together what had just happened.

    The sound of rushing hooves from behind made him turn his head. Andreas, now in front, approached with his fist ready. Without warning, he punched Aldir¡¯s shoulder, causing him to wince in pain, before sharply pulling the reins of his horse to stop.

    Andreas shouted, his voice a mix of irritation and calm,

    ¡°You should¡¯ve waited for us before charging in! We don¡¯t even know¡­ what happened here!¡±

    Before Aldir could reply, Angel, Nana, and Dewi arrived, their expressions mirroring the unease that hung in the air. Angel approach aldir in anger, before she can saying anything directly to him.

    A sound of people cheering echoed loudly in front of them, filling the air with happiness and joy. The celebration could be heard throughout the city.

    Curious, the group exchanged glances before deciding to approach the source of the sound.

    As they arrived, they saw a person standing amidst the crowd. He wore a brown robe that covered his entire body, leaving only his head exposed. His hair was striking¡ªdyed blue at the top and red below, blending into a purple hue in the middle. His ears stood upright, sharp and alert.

    Behind him were three tails, each ending in a dragon-like head. The tails moved joyfully, their expressions almost mirroring the smiling faces of the townspeople.

    The person stood calmly while the crowd celebrated their victory. Noticing the group of heroes, he turned around to face them, speaking in a calm yet cheerful tone,

    "Sorry, you were too late."

    Confused, Aldir stepped forward and asked,

    "What happened here?"

    The person tilted his head slightly, his mismatched eyes¡ªone blue and one orange¡ªfixating on Aldir with a friendly expression. His pale white skin added to his otherworldly appearance.

    "Oh, this? Well, all of us combined our powers to defeat the demons invading this place. Nothing special, really," he said nonchalantly.

    Before anyone could respond, a woman from the crowd suddenly shouted, her voice sharp and filled with disbelief.

    "LIAR!"

    The shout startled him, his body momentarily jolting in shock. The group and the mysterious person turned to face the woman as she stepped forward.

    "We¡¯re not the ones who played the biggest part in this battle! Without your help, we wouldn¡¯t have won," she said firmly, her tone softening into calm sincerity. "If you hadn¡¯t been here, none of us would have survived."

    Then, her voice rose again, filled with gratitude and emotion.

    "SO DON¡¯T SAY SOMETHING LIKE IT WAS NOTHING SPECIAL YOU DID HERE!"

    The group of heroes turned their attention back to the mysterious person, who now stood silent. He raised his hand, holding a mug of some drink, and sipped it slowly, his expression unreadable as he stared at the woman who had spoken.

    He then turned his head toward the heroes, who already suspected him. He then took two steps back from the heroes before telling them in a playful tone,

    "Fine, you got me, ay? I am the only one here different from the others, so it shouldn¡¯t be my fault you heroes didn¡¯t realize."

    He drank again, raising his head up as he drank every last bit of water inside. Suddenly, someone shouted in anger, causing him to spit out the water in panic.

    "YOU HEROES ARE USELESS," the unknown man said from afar, hidden in the crowd.

    Everyone who heard it quickly turned their gaze onto the man who said it. The man then raised his hand, pointing it at the heroes.

    "WHY YOU HEROES COME NOW, HUH!? WHY LATE!?"

    The cheerful crowd suddenly went silent after hearing this, turning their gaze toward the heroes with disappointed faces.

    The group of heroes, seeing how angry and disappointed the people of the city were, remained silent as the crowd started complaining in anger, shouting at them. One of the people yelled with hatred,

    "Why were you late? You''re supposed to protect us!"

    Others followed, shouting,

    "What the hell have you guys been doing on your way here, HUH!?"

    As the people continued to shout in anger, sadness, and hatred, they started throwing their food at the heroes, who lowered their heads and accepted it without resisting.

    Angel watched as the crowd''s faces, once filled with happiness and joy, now turned into expressions of hate and anger. The people continued to throw whatever they could grab.

    The man, witnessing the scene, sighed as he watched the crowd throw their food at the heroes. Suddenly, a barrier made of ice rose up, protecting the heroes from the people¡¯s wrath. The crowd went silent upon seeing it.

    He stepped in, his tails swaying as he stood between the heroes and the crowd. Staring at the people, he said in calm and serious face

    "Ay, do you think I gave you food for you guys could throwibg it....at them?"

    He turned his gaze to the man who had first shouted at the heroes from afar and continued,

    "Tell me, what happens if the heroes had gotten here before me?"

    The crowd fell silent, slowly lowering their hands from throwing anything. Marvell stated,

    "All of you should be grateful they still came to save all of you. What do you think would¡¯ve happened if neither I nor the heroes had come to this city, ay?"

    Hearing his words, the people began to feel guilty and gradually lowered their hands.

    "You guys shouldn¡¯t waste your food. Enjoy what you¡¯ve been given. Don¡¯t hate others who couldn¡¯t be here because they were busy," Marvell said, his tone serious.

    The crowd slowly started to calm down, turning their focus back to their meals and looking away from the heroes.

    The barrier that once protected the heroes from the crowd''s hatred melted in an instant, leaving them exposed to the heavy silence that followed. The heroes, still shaken, turned their eyes to the mysterious man, who quickly faced them with an apologetic expression.Stolen story; please report.

    "Sorry about that, uh¡­ this," he said, gesturing vaguely toward the crowd. "Well, I didn¡¯t expect how ungrateful they¡¯d be."

    Angel, still atop her horse, slowly rode forward toward the man. Her voice carried a tone of gratitude as she spoke, "Thank you for defending us. You didn¡¯t have to do that."

    Hearing her words, the man chuckled briefly, his laugh light but puzzling to those around him. He extended his hand toward Angel and, with a playful tone, introduced himself. "Name¡¯s Marvell. Just a traveler with no sense of direction."

    At the mention of his name, Angel''s eyes widened in shock. Her reaction was mirrored by some of the others, except for Aldir and Andreas, who seemed more composed. Marvell noticed their sudden change in demeanor and tilted his head, curious.

    "Hm, that¡¯s interesting," he said, his brow slightly raised. "Does my name mean something? Like an enemy I should know about?"

    Aldir stepped in, his voice steady as he clarified, "No, Marvell was¡­ once our friend. A good person."

    "Hm," Marvell mused, rubbing his chin with mild interest. "Sounds like something tragic happened to him."

    Andreas, catching onto the topic''s weight, replied quickly, "Yeah, better not speak about it, though."

    Marvell glanced at Andreas, his curiosity piqued, but before he could press further, Andreas subtly motioned with his eyes toward Angel. Marvell followed the gesture, turning his gaze to Angel, who had noticed the exchange. Realizing the attention was on her, she reacted quickly, punching Andreas lightly on the shoulder.

    Andreas winced, his hand shooting up to the spot she struck. "Ow!"

    "Forget about it," Angel said firmly, her tone leaving no room for debate. "Don¡¯t talk about it."

    Marvell raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay," he said casually before adding, "You guys must be hungry and tired. Follow me¡ªI happen to know a place where you can rest."

    Without waiting for a response, Marvell began walking ahead, his tails swaying slightly as they moved. Angel, Andreas, and Aldir exchanged uncertain glances before a voice broke through their hesitation.

    "Guys, come on!" Nana called out as she urged her horse forward, passing the group to follow Marvell.

    The remaining heroes snapped out of their thoughts, guiding their horses to catch up, and soon found themselves trailing behind Marvell.

    As they followed Marvell, he spoke in a calm and caring tone while walking ahead of the group. "Judging by your look, I can tell you guys didn¡¯t sleep on the way here. You¡¯re really putting in a lot of effort to save innocent lives. I wonder¡­ did you meet a lot of challenges on the way? Can I hear my heroes¡¯ heroic stories?"

    The heroes went silent for a moment. Angel, hearing his words, began to open her mouth, seemingly ready to respond. Before she could, Marvell spoke again. "Or never mind. My heroes need rest, not wasting their time on small fry like me."

    Aldir, annoyed by the remark, asked, "Small fry? We never said anything about you."

    Marvell turned around as he continued walking backward, facing Aldir with a playful expression. "Oops, sorry. My bad habit of insulting myself. Don¡¯t bother hearing it."

    Still confused, Aldir pressed further. "Why do you insult yourself?"

    Marvell shrugged, giving a lighthearted reply. "Well, I used to do this to¡­ well, nothing special nor fun. Trust me."

    Remaining puzzled, Aldir asked the same question again. "Why?"

    Marvell sighed, his tone casual but slightly reflective. "I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s because I used to say it ever since I was a kid."

    Aldir, still unsatisfied, persisted. "Yeah, why?"

    Marvell fell silent, his face showing clear confusion as though he couldn¡¯t answer the question. Andreas, noticing the awkwardness, intervened. "Stop it, Dir. Look at Marvell; he even looks confused."

    Suddenly, one of Marvell¡¯s tails snapped forward and bit his arm, yanking it to the side to pull him away from colliding with a passerby he hadn¡¯t noticed.

    "Ow," Marvell muttered, wincing at the pain from the bite.

    Angel quickly asked in concern, "Are you okay?"

    Marvell replied casually, "Meh, don¡¯t worry, ay. It¡¯s just a little bite, even though it¡¯s bleeding." He glanced at his tail, which grinned at him mischievously, its dragon-like head opening its mouth and letting its tongue loll out like a dog. It then began licking the wound with its frozen tongue.

    Angel cast a spell, the green glow of her magic illuminating Marvell¡¯s hand. The tail stopped licking, tilting its head in confusion, soon joined by the other two tails, which quickly appeared and stared curiously at the magic.

    Marvell inspected the now-healed wound and smiled at Angel. "Thanks. It feels amazing having my bitten arm healed in an instant so I don¡¯t need to feel the pain," he said gratefully.

    Turning back to the front, he added, "You guys really need a five-star place to rest. I guess I can do that as a form of gratitude."

    Angel smiled back at him. "Thanks," she replied, followed by the others, who also expressed their thanks with smiles.

    At that moment, Marvell¡¯s tails stretched out in three different directions, surprising the group. The heroes watched in amazement as the tails returned, each carrying a plate with food on top. They handed the plates to the heroes, who took them with awe and thanked the tails for their gesture.

    Angel patted one of the tails, which purred like a cat, its dragon-like head clearly satisfied by the attention.

    Marvell, hearing the joyful interaction, could only smile and chuckle softly as he continued walking forward.

    The group was having fun along the way with Marvell tail who played with them, followed by the sun starting to move down and night rising in return

    "We¡¯re here. You guys remember where all of you put the horses, and this is the best place I can think of for my heroes to rest," Marvell said in a calm yet playful tone.

    The heroes, no longer riding their horses, glanced at the large, fancy medieval building before them. It looked grand and inviting, clearly a place meant for comfort.

    Confused, Dewi turned to Marvell, her voice tinged with curiosity and suspicion. "Why is this building¡­ well, untouched? No scratches, no fire damage, unlike everything else."

    Her question drew the attention of the others, who now stared at Marvell with questioning looks. Suspicion began to grow in their minds. Marvell remained silent for a moment, his usual playful demeanor momentarily subdued.

    Finally, he broke the silence, flashing a smile. "Well, looks like I got caught, huh? Sharp eyes you¡¯ve got there."

    Even his tails turned to look at him, their dragon-like faces wearing expressions of confusion. The heroes, sensing something was off, instinctively placed their hands on their weapons, readying themselves.

    But before tensions could rise further, Marvell turned around suddenly, his smile broadening. "Simple," he said, raising a hand and pointing a finger at himself. "Because I protected it."

    "Protected it?" Dewi echoed, her confusion deepening.

    Aldir frowned, skeptical. "Is that even logical? How could you protect it without leaving a single scratch?"

    Marvell chuckled softly, clearly entertained by the question. "Everything¡¯s possible if you try hard enough," he replied, his tone playful but calm. "But since you¡¯re curious, let me properly introduce myself."

    He bowed slightly, his gesture theatrical. "The name¡¯s Marvell. Like I said, I¡¯m an adventurer¡ªa wanderer without any sense of direction. Plus¡­" He straightened up, his mismatched eyes gleaming with mischief. "...I¡¯m a wizard. Or, as you¡¯d call it here, a mage."

    The revelation made the group pause. Angel tilted her head, intrigued, while Andreas and Aldir exchanged wary glances.

    Marvell continued, "I happen to know a lot of spells. So, let¡¯s just say there¡¯s one spell out of the many I know that protects the structure of a building, leaving it unharmed. Does that answer satisfy my heroes?"

    He spoke in his usual playful tone, but there was an undercurrent of pride in his voice. The heroes slowly lowered their guard, the tension in the front restplace now settle down.

    Marvell¡¯s tails, sensing the atmosphere had cooled, happy with the situation right now.

    Marvell then open the door and tell his heroes " I be inside waiting, don''t made wait to long my heroes " Without waiting, he entered the building. Seeing this, the heroes hurried to follow, opening the door and stepping inside. The warmth of the place greeted them instantly, a stark contrast to the chill they¡¯d felt outside.

    Their eyes scanned the interior, taking in the cozy ambiance. Nearby, they saw Marvell at the reception desk, speaking casually to the receptionist.

    While everyone was in awe of the building¡¯s interior, Angel looked around, visibly amazed. Suddenly, she felt a tug on her arm. Nana, brimming with excitement, exclaimed, "Gel, come here!"

    Without hesitation, Angel followed Nana to a beautifully ornate mirror standing in one corner of the room. Nana stood before the mirror, admiring her reflection with a wide grin. Angel joined her, glancing at her own reflection. The two smiled and chuckled softly as they looked at themselves, sharing a brief moment of joy amidst everything that had happened.

    Meanwhile, as the others busied themselves, Dewi stood still, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. A puzzled and curious expression crossed her face, as though something was bothering her.

    "AY!"

    The shout drew the heroes¡¯ attention to Marvell, who was striding toward them with six keys in his hands. His tail swayed lazily behind him, though the dragon heads at its ends seemed to be watching the group intently.

    Stopping in front of Aldir, Marvell tossed the keys at him in a swift motion. Aldir caught them deftly, glancing at the numbers engraved on each one. "1B, 2, 3, 4, 5," he read aloud.

    "Those are for my heroes," Marvell said with a grin. "Rooms with the best, most comfortable beds on the second floor. Trust me, they¡¯re so comfortable you might just forget the world outside."

    He gave a playful wink before adding, "As for me, I¡¯ll be heading back to my own room. Have fun, my saviors."

    Marvell turned around to leave, his tails swiveling to glance at the heroes. The dragon-like faces wore exaggerated looks of disappointment, as if lamenting their temporary departure from the group¡¯s company.

    "Thank you, Marvell!" the heroes called out in unison.

    Marvell waved a hand dismissively over his shoulder. "No problem. Consider it a present for my heroes."

    As he disappeared down the hallway, Angel, Nana, Andreas, and Dewi gathered around Aldir, eyeing the keys in his hands.

    "Marvell said the rooms are on the second floor, right?" Dewi asked, her voice eager. "What are we waiting for?"

    The group nodded in agreement, each taking one of the keys. Together, they climbed the stairs to the second floor, the warmth of the building and the promise of rest beckoning them forward. Reaching the top, they each located their assigned rooms and disappeared inside, eager to finally relax after their long journey.

    Angel closed the door to her room quietly, shutting out the warmth of the hallway. The room was cozy and inviting, with soft candlelight casting flickering shadows on the walls. She moved slowly, burdened not only by her armor but by the weight of her thoughts.

    With a sigh, she removed her robe and armor, placing them carefully on the floor. For the first time in what felt like days, her body felt lighter. Yet, her heart felt just as heavy.

    Her eyes fell on a mirror with a simple wooden chair in front of it. She walked over, sitting down and gazing at her reflection. The face staring back at her was tired, her eyes betraying the exhaustion and sorrow she had been hiding.

    Angel closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. When she opened them again, she tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling.

    "I wish I could go home," she murmured, her voice soft and filled with longing. "I wish... when all of this is over, all of us can go home safely."

    Lowering her gaze, she bowed her head, clasping her hands together in silent prayer.

    "Dear God," she whispered, her voice trembling, "if you''re hearing this, please bless us with your strength so we can bear the pain and suffering we have to go through."

    For a moment, the room was still, her prayer hanging in the air like a fragile thread. Then, she opened her eyes and leaned back, resting her arm on her forehead.

    "I just don''t know what to do," she admitted, her voice barely audible, as though speaking to the quiet emptiness around her.

    The weight of her words seemed to linger as she stood up and walked to the bed. Pulling the blanket over herself, she closed her eyes, seeking solace in sleep.

    But even as her breathing slowed, tears began to fall, trailing silently down her cheeks. In the stillness of the room, her sadness was unspoken, yet undeniable. For now, all she could do was hope for strength to face another day.

    ...

    " I give them a present, yet i wonder why i didn''t give them a key to open it.....i shouldn''t have even lock the present from the start "

    Angel wakes up, blinking as a bright light shines in front of her.

    "Why does it feel so cold?" she says, her breath trembling from the chill.

    She opens her eyes wide, realizing she and the others are frozen in place with their mouths sealed by ice. She stretches her hand forward, noticing that while her hand is free, it¡¯s bound by shackles she didn''t suprised to see it as if it was her putting it on.

    "Well, I must say, you guys really, really are easy to manipulate. I mean, I didn¡¯t expect you guys to, well, follow me to a place none of you know."

    Marvell steps out of the shadows with a calm smile on his face.

    Angel, feeling betrayed, shouts, "What¡ªwhat do you think you¡¯re doing!?"

    Marvell answers in a playful, joyful tone, "A kid-napped! But I am not here to nap you and the rest. I am here to kill all of you."

    Hearing this, Angel is shocked, her face pale.

    Marvell continues with a smile, "I can¡¯t believe you fell for a demon trap. Let me introduce myself properly. I am one of the Demon Lord¡¯s generals. I already told you my name, so you don¡¯t have to hear my long, stupid introduction."

    Everyone is shocked, feeling death looming over them, staring them in the face. Angel¡¯s tears start flowing as she bows her head.

    Seeing this, Marvell approaches her out of curiosity and asks, "What are you crying for?"

    He touches her hair, lifting her head. Seeing her tear-streaked face, Marvell is visibly annoyed.

    "Can you stop crying? Jeez, you look like a baby doing this, and it¡¯s embarrassing," he says.

    Angel continues to cry, ignoring his words. Marvell grows more and more annoyed, watching her.

    The others, trapped and panicked, want to scream, but the frozen ice sealing their mouths prevents them from making a sound.

    He sighs. "Well, this is disappointing. I thought heroes don¡¯t cry. I thought they¡¯d be angry or, like, hate me for some reason. Maybe I read too many books," he says, scratching his head with a calm expression.

    Turning around, he mutters, "Well, now I don¡¯t feel like continuing."

    Disappointment weighs on his shoulders as he stands there in silence.

    Angel, with a soft, calm, yet weak voice, says, "Do it... just do it... already..." Her tone is filled with hopelessness.

    Hearing this, Marvell turns back, his eyes on Angel¡¯s face, devoid of hope. A smile spreads across his lips. "Now that¡¯s the spirit."

    He steps closer to Angel, his face filled with joy as he speaks in a happy tone. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make it quick, and I promise you the freedom you¡¯re asking for."

    Marvell takes a step back from her, raising his hand and pointing it directly at her. "Goodbye."

    Angel closes her eyes, ready for whatever is about to happen, watched by the others, who remain powerless as the ice around them feels unbreakable.

    Suddenly, multiple skeletal dragons made of ice appear in the air, floating with their mouths open, staring down at them.

    The heroes watch in horror as the dragons begin gathering energy in their mouths. Blue energy balls form, aimed directly at them.

    The skeletal dragons unleash their blasts, the energy hurtling toward the frozen heroes.

    ...

    "My king, the third group that was deployed has been defeated by a demon general," the mage reported, standing still beside the king''s throne.

    The king, seated on his throne and reading a book, responded with an uninterested look. "I see. That¡¯s a disappointment."

    He closed the book with a soft thud. "Well, at least they didn¡¯t bring their weapons with them; otherwise, it would have been a real waste of resources," he remarked, his eyes shifting to the weapons displayed in the throne room like decorations.

    Hundreds of weapons adorned the walls, some sticking into them, while others rested on the ground, leaning against the walls.

    The king stood from his throne, the book still in his hand, and began walking toward the exit of the throne room.

    ...

    He reached a library, his steps echoing in the quiet room. Carefully, he placed the book he had been carrying into an empty slot on the shelf. The king turned around, his gaze calm yet filled with intrigue.

    "It''s only a matter of time," he said softly.

    He approached a book sealed inside a glass case. The book emanated a divine aura, its cover adorned with angelic designs. At its center was the eye of an angel, staring back at the king with visible anger and defiance.

    The king continued, his voice steady, "It''s only a matter of time before I find that demon and figure out how to use you as I wish."

    He stared at the book, a small smile playing on his lips as the angelic eye glared at him in silent fury.

 Chapter 2 : A New Freedom

    Everything went silent. She slowly opened her eyes, finding herself staring into a blank white world. Nothing but endless white surrounded her. Her once sad expression shifted into a calm yet confused look.

    "Is this... am I dead?" she asked herself softly.

    The ice that had frozen her began to melt away. She looked down and saw the shackles that once bound her, placed by the king, now gone.

    "Am I... free?" she asked again, staring at her hands.

    One by one, parts of her body became free from the ice, allowing her to move. She stared at her hands, feeling comfortable for the first time after two years of suffering. She looked around and raised her head, suddenly shocked.

    Marvell''s blaster was still firing directly at her, its energy continuous and unyielding. What she thought had been her death was merely a deception.

    Anger surged through her veins, and revenge consumed her. She charged forward, breaking free from the beam of Marvell''s blaster.

    ---

    Meanwhile:

    Marvell stood, holding the shackles he had removed from the heroes. He examined them with interest while his skeleton dragons continued their relentless blasts.

    "This will make me rich," he muttered with a sly grin. "Can''t wait to sell it."

    He stretched his body, the sound of cracking bones echoing.

    "Ughhhh, it feels amazing whenever I stretch¡ªlike every part of my body is coming alive again," he said to himself, before turning to face the horizon.

    "Now for the fun part," he added with a gleeful tone, excitement brimming in his voice.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, he was ambushed from behind, caught completely off guard.

    Angel, her eyes burning with fury, tackled him with unrelenting anger. Marvell, shocked and unprepared, barely managed to utter, "Wait¡ª"

    But it was no use. Angel¡¯s fist collided with his face, blow after blow, her rage unstoppable.

    His tail emerged, wrapping itself around Angel to pull her away from him. But Angel retaliated, placing her hand on the tail''s body.

    A red magic circle flared in her palm, glowing with intense heat. The tail froze, shock evident in its expression, before crimson flames erupted, burning its body.

    The fire scorched the tail, yet Angel remained untouched by the inferno.

    Marvell''s tail released Angel, screaming in agony as the crimson flames reached its base, the pain searing through its body. Angel stood up, her eyes burning with rage, as Marvell wiped the pitch-dark blood dripping from his nose. He glanced at the blood on his hand, his expression shifting to shock and worry.

    Suddenly, Angel summoned a glowing yellow spell, its radiance illuminating the dark surroundings. She aimed it directly at Marvell, her voice trembling with fury as she shouted, "DIE!" As She prepared to launch the spell in fury.

    But before the spell could strike, a sudden freeze crept up from below, encasing Angel entirely in ice. Her spell shattered like fragile glass, the light vanishing in an instant.

    Marvell stood, visibly tired and weak, staring at the frozen Angel. "Jeez, woman," he muttered, coughing and wiping his mouth. "You really made my nose bleed." Looking at her while injured.

    Angel struggled to move but couldn''t budge an inch. She watched in shock as the blasters that had been firing at the heroes ceased, dissolving into fine dust. To her surprise, the other heroes opened their eyes within the ice, unharmed but still trapped in the frozen prison.

    Marvell exhaled deeply, his body swaying slightly. "For a moment, I thought I¡¯d be celebrating with you guys." He coughed again, dark blood splattering from his mouth. "But now..."

    His voice trailed off as he motioned weakly with his hand. "Turn on the lights, please."

    At his command, the torches in the room flickered to life, revealing a large, luxurious banquet hall. The atmosphere shifted abruptly as warmth filled the room. The heroes stared in disbelief at the long table, which was now adorned with a lavish spread of delicious, perfectly prepared food.

    Angel''s gaze darted from the food to Marvell, confusion clouding her mind. She watched as Marvell grasped the tail still engulfed in flames. With a sharp motion, he severed it, freezing the severed tail instantly, its skeletal dragon head left laying on the floor freeze in place with the cold extuinguish the crimson flame, encased in ice.

    Marvell looked drained but composed as he addressed the group. "Can you guys eat without me? I... I need to rest for a moment. I''ll explain everything later."

    He turned and began walking away, his two remaining tails trailing behind him. The tails glanced back at the scene, their expressions filled with fear and unease.

    The heroes were left stunned, trying to process the sudden shift in the scenario. The room, once a battleground of despair, now seemed almost inviting. Angel, still frozen, remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and unanswered questions.

    ---

    Angel suddenly felt a realization, her hand lighter than before. She quickly checked her wrist, only to discover that the shackles were gone. Looking around, she noticed her friends'' wrists were also free of their restraints.

    Aldir helped Andreas to his feet, with Dewi supporting him as well. Meanwhile, Nana rushed to Angel, checking if she was okay. Angel, overwhelmed with guilt, fell to her knees, feeling weak and hollow.

    Turning her gaze, she saw the corpse of Marvell''s severed dragon tail, frozen solid in ice. The sight of it made her stomach churn. She leaned forward and threw up, sorrow overtaking her.

    Seeing this, Nana wrapped her arms around Angel, trying to comfort her. "It''s alright," Nana said softly. "Everything is going to be alright." Tears streamed down Angel''s face as she buried her head in Nana''s embrace.

    Dewi quickly sprang into action. Spotting a red, fancy cloth hanging as a wall decoration, she ripped it off and gently covered the frozen corpse of Marvell''s tail. She then looked over at Angel, who clung tightly to Nana, trying to hide her tears.

    ---

    A few minutes later, they all sat around the table, drained and silent. Though the table was filled with well-prepared food, none of them could bring themselves to eat.

    Angel''s eyes wandered back to the cloth-covered corpse of the tail. The guilt weighed heavily on her, as her mind painfully replayed the moment Marvell had to cut his own tail.

    The sound of footsteps echoed from outside the exit door. Slowly, it creaked open to reveal Marvell, his wounds fully healed. As his eyes fell on the untouched food still laid out on the table, his face filled with visible disappointment.

    "Awh, come on!" he exclaimed with a sigh, stepping inside the room. "I wasted a lot of money on that! I put so much effort into it!" Continue his walk toward the table

    His tails stayed hidden behind the door, out of sight. Angel, noticing him enter, raised her drained and guilt-ridden eyes to meet his.

    She bit her lip, gathering the courage to speak.

    "Marv...?"

    Marvell paused, his disappointed gaze shifting to her. He tilted his head, intrigued by her tone.

    "I..." Angel began, her voice trembling. "I¡¯m so sorry for what just happened. I didn¡¯t mean to burn him... and for you to have to end his suffering by cutting your own tail."

    She bowed her head, the weight of guilt evident in her posture. Marvell stared at her for a moment before letting out a sudden chuckle, startling everyone in the room.

    Angel blinked in shock, as did the others. Confusion swept over them as Marvell''s chuckling grew louder, seemingly amused by the entire situation.

    Turning his head toward the door, he called out playfully, "Come on, you guys. It was just a misunderstanding! Of course, it all went like that."

    The three tails, hidden behind the door, slowly emerged, including the one that had been severed. To everyone''s astonishment, the severed tail now had a newly grown head¡ªsharp-mouthed like an eagle, with two horns protruding from its sides.

    Gasps filled the room. Marvell glanced at their reactions and smiled mischievously. "Heh, don¡¯t worry about them. Their heads? Yeah, they''ve been cut off plenty of times before. What, ten? Maybe eight times? Lets just say the original was cutoff long long time ago, trust me on this one " He scratched his head in mock thought before continuing, "Let¡¯s just say we had to replace them with ice-magic heads whenever that happens. They grow back after a while."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    A wave of relief washed over the group. Angel, in particular, felt her burden lift as the realization settled in.

    Despite Marvell''s reassurance, his tails stayed cautious, keeping their distance from the heroes. Marvell noticed and frowned. Without hesitation, he grabbed the three of them and yanked it forward, dragging it closer.

    "Come on," he muttered, annoyed at their hesitance.

    The tails trembled in fear, their once-proud demeanor replaced with apprehension. Their expressions resembled frightened animals, completely out of place compared to their earlier terrifying presence.

    Marvell kept pulling the tails as everyone watched in silence, and eventually, they were forced closer to the table. Seeing no other option, the three of them reluctantly laid their heads on the table. Marvell smiled happily and walked over to sit near them.

    "Now that everything is finally calm, I should explain what I just did, shouldn''t I...?" he said, looking at everyone.

    The group remained silent, watching him intently.

    "Name¡¯s Marvell. Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m a hero before you¡ªa hero that was teleported from another world. I¡¯d say it¡¯s been a really, really long... long... time ago since me and my friends were brought here with my brother," he explained with a friendly and cheerful tone, lightening the room¡¯s tension.

    "As the hero before you, of course, I know a lot of stuff and have lived long enough, including how to remove those shackles," he added, raising his hands to reveal the shackles he now held.

    Everyone was silent, shocked at seeing the shackles that had once bound them.

    "To be honest with you all," Marvell continued, "I received an information about your arrival, so of course, I prepared all of this. Wondering why I bothered myself helping all of you?"

    The question lingered, and Dewi was the first to respond. "Why?" she asked seriously.

    Marvell smiled. "Simple. The shackles that bound you hold a really great value in the black market. These shackles were used by royalty to put on their slaves, allowing them to hear their slaves¡¯ conversations, track whatever they¡¯re doing, and even kill them instantly if they wanted to. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here."

    He placed the shackles on the table.

    "The first reason was to get both of us a benefit. I release you from the shackles in exchange for your freedom, so it¡¯s a win-win situation for both of us," he explained.

    "Like I said, the owner of the shackles can hear what their slaves are doing, so that¡¯s what I was doing¡ªI faked your deaths to ensure the king didn¡¯t kill you instantly. I mean, hearing it was a demon general and his ability... that''s really, really valuable information. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t kill all of you and chose to listen." His arm pointing at the heroes that were left stunned and silent.

    He smiled again, his friendly demeanor disarming some of the tension. The heroes stayed silent, processing his explanation.

    Angel broke the silence, her curiosity piqued. "If there was a first reason, isn¡¯t there a second reason why you did this?" she asked, staring at Marvell.

    He responded with interest, "Now that¡¯s where things get interesting. As a former old hero... I¡¯m signing and joining your group."

    Everyone was shocked, hearing what Marvell just said.

    He continued, "I see this world suffering. Even though we killed the Demon King, there¡¯s always been another to rise up from the ground to replace him. That¡¯s why I¡¯m joining the party."

    Marvell stood up from his seat with a bright smile, arms opening wide as he declared, "So..." He placed his hands firmly on the table and leaned forward. "I know it was so sudden, but this is an offer that you will regret refusing."

    His eyes suddenly darkened, turning hollow as if they contained nothing but pure, impenetrable darkness.

    The room fell silent under the weight of his seriousness. Andreas, trying to remain composed despite the tension, asked, "What do you mean... by regretting that?"

    Marvell¡¯s gaze shifted to Andreas, and he replied with a calm smile, "Then the chance of you getting home is becoming lower."

    The gravity of his words left everyone silent. Marvell continued, "This is about survival. The higher chance you live depends on your decision. And the chance of you getting home depends a lot on this decision, so make it wisely."

    Then, his eyes shifted back to normal, and his face lit up with a joyful tone as he added, "Since I wish, so please, my heroes." His expression now held a mixture of hope and care as he looked around at the group.

    Marvell¡¯s tails observed the heroes closely, gauging their reactions. Most of them appeared to take his words seriously. However, Dewi¡¯s attention was caught by one of Marvell¡¯s tails near her. It seemed nervous, trembling slightly.

    Dewi extended her hand toward the tail¡¯s head. The tail flinched at first, shutting its eyes as though bracing for something unpleasant. But as her warm hand rested gently on its head, it slowly opened its eyes and looked at her.

    Dewi smiled warmly, her genuine kindness shining through. The tail, feeling the comforting warmth of her touch, began to relax. Its fear melted away, and it leaned into her hand, closing its eyes with calm acceptance.

    The heroes began discussing among themselves whether or not to allow Marvell to join their group. As they deliberated, Marvell casually removed the robe he was wearing, revealing wolf-like ears growing atop his head. Stretching slightly, he sighed in a relaxed tone, ¡°Hah, fresh air for my ears,¡± clearly enjoying the moment, though none of the heroes seemed to notice his actions.

    With his heightened hearing, Marvell quietly listened to their conversation. Suddenly, Angel appeared struck by a thought and turned to him with curiosity. "Wait, you defeated a Demon Lord before. Why are you still here?" she asked, genuinely wondering.

    Marvell smiled at her question, his expression calm and reflective. ¡°Hmph, I have nothing left in my world,¡± he replied, resting his head on his hands, which were propped up like pillars. ¡°I was an orphan, and let¡¯s just say life was cruel to me there. But here... I¡¯ve gained achievements I could never dream of back in my world. Plus, I know about the cycles of the Demon Lord, so I figured the king would attempt to teleport someone like you guys eventually. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here¡ªto help you all.¡±

    His gaze met Angel¡¯s directly, his sincerity evident in his tone. Angel, considering his words, slowly began to accept his explanation.

    Their discussion carried on for a while longer. Marvell, growing weary of waiting, yawned, his eyes threatening to close as fatigue set in. Determined to stay awake, he conjured a small piece of ice in his hand and pressed it against his cheek, the cold sensation helping him maintain his focus as he awaited their decision.

    Dewi, who hadn¡¯t been part of the discussion, noticed Marvell¡¯s behavior, which reminded her of someone. She reached out to pat one of Marvell¡¯s tails, which grew comfortable under her warm touch. ¡°Your behavior is just like our Marvell¡ªsleepy and playful,¡± she remarked with a soft smile.

    Hearing this, Marvell¡¯s eyes lit up with interest. He looked at the table first and replied, ¡°Oh really? I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong when I got interested in hearing about another Marvell.¡± Then he turned his gaze to Dewi. ¡°Can you tell me more about him?¡±

    Dewi looked back at Marvell, noticing two of his tails rising above his head and staring at her. She continued patting the dragon head of another tail, smiled, and then said, ¡°Sure, why not,¡± before starting a conversation with him.

    While a conversation was taking place between Marvell and Dewi, the group of heroes continued their discussion. Occasionally, they glanced at Marvell, who smiled faintly, before turning back to their deliberation.

    ¡°Lek, aku ngak sampe kepikiran itu ide yang bagus  " his gaze lookting at Marvell for a moment that silent him, before then continue " untuk memasukkannya ke tim kita.....Jangan lupa apa yang dia perbuat pada kita. Apanya kalian pikirkan, kalian pikir itu ide yang bagus?¡± Aldir said in a serious tone, staring at Andreas.

    Andreas responded calmly but firmly, ¡°Iya, lek tahu aku, tapi kau lihat dulu sekarang gimana. Tanpa dia, nggak mungkin kita bisa membebaskan diri. Kau lihat tangan kita, Dir. Bebas, Dir, bebas.¡± He showed his unshackled wrists, emphasizing their newfound freedom, his tone low but resolute. Aldir fell silent for a moment, thinking deeply about his decision.

    Nana broke the silence with her own input. ¡°Aku setuju sama Aldir. Kalian lihatlah baik-baik tadi gimana kejadiannya. Antara dia punya rencana atau... niat tersembunyilah... di balik senyumnya itu.¡±

    Andreas listened quietly, his expression serious. Angel then spoke, weighing in on the debate. ¡°I agree, karena pada dasarnya yakan guy kita nggak tahu dia orangnya gimana. Tapi di satu sisi, dia menawarkan apa yang raja tidak tawarkan kepada kita.¡±

    Andreas said in agreement while remaining serious, ¡°Itulah, Gel. Antara kita melewatkan kesempatan emas dan membuangnya, atau mengambilnya baru kitanya dapat keuntungannya,¡± staring at Angel with a firm expression.

    Nana responded to Andreas'' statement, her tone heavy yet serious. ¡°Kalaulah kita membiarkan dia masuk dan mempercayainya, bisa kau jamin dia tidak akan mengulangi hal yang sama, Ndre?¡±

    Her words carried weight, making the tension in the room grow thicker. ¡°Nyawa kita sama kebebasan kita dipertaruhkan, paham aku. Tapi... susah aja sih gimana bikin keputusannya,¡± she added, her voice reflecting the struggle of their situation.

    Everyone fell silent, the gravity of the decision leaving them unsure of what to do next.

    "Hm, itu menarik."

    The sudden change of voice caught their attention. Turning around, they saw Marvell speaking in Indonesian. "Kalian tidak perlu mempercayaiku. Jujur, aku tidak dapat menjamin hal yang sama akan terulang lagi."

    Hearing this, Aldir stood up, his anger visible despite his calm demeanor. He stared at Marvell, his voice tense. "Jadi apa? Kau mau ulangi hal yang sama lagi?"

    Marvell, unfazed, looked at Aldir with a relaxed expression, clearly not taking things too seriously.Marvell then responded, "Mungkin, itu kenapa aku tidak menyuruh kalian untuk mempercayaiku," he said in a calm tone. He then stood up. "But, if you guys don''t believe me, I can understand, which is led me to the next solution." His eyes turned into hollow, empty eyes, creating a heavy seriousness in the room. "Do you guys knows about Bloodhound Decay?"

    Hearing this, everyone went silent as they did not know what it was. Marvell smiled as he noticed everyone''s lack of recognition, then explained, "It¡¯s a spell where a user can make a contract in exchange for something. To make it simple: you guys make a contract with me. I do what you want in exchange for something. I also can do the same if I were a victim. But there¡¯s one thing dangerous about this spell..."

    The atmosphere turned heavy as everyone stared at Marvell''s seriousness. "If the contract or the victim doesn''t do exactly what one of them wanted, the one who didn''t follow the rules has their body decay, giving them a painful death before eventually making the soul roam the earth like a ghost for eternity."

    Hearing this, Aldir then asked, "Jadi... kau mau bikin kontrak dengan kami?" while hesitation swallowed him.

    Marvell replied, "Yes. This way not only you guys can trust me now, but my life depends on it so much. Are you guys ready?"

    Hearing this, Angel responded, "But... is there something we need to give in exchange of that?"

    Marvell replied, "Yes, just one gold is enough. I don''t want to risk everyone''s life here to make this contract."

    Everyone hesitated with that. Angel, understanding the cost, extended her hand. Aldir grabbed Angel''s hand and lowered it down. "Gel, apanya isi otakmu sekarang?" followed by Andreas worrying, "Iya, Gel, percayanya kau dulu kita bisa mempercayainya."

    Angel then said, "Apakah aku punya pilihan lain? Aku percaya kita dapat bertahan hidup dengan adanya dia. Jika kalian ngak mau membuat kontrak dengannya, maka biarkan aku, lagi pula kita akan berakhir mati juganya."

    She extended her hand again. Seeing this, everyone went silent and let Angel proceed. Marvell was shocked and then chuckled for a moment before extending his own hand. Suddenly, the room''s color filled with a brown hue, followed by Marvell starting the spell, causing everyone to be shocked.

    Marvell then said, "I fight for your life, dying for everyone''s life around here no matter what. I make the kontrak where I make everyone''s life here is safe in exchange for one single gold coin. Do you, Heroes of the Third Group, Angel, accept my offer?"

    Angel then said, with seriousness in her face and tone, "Deal," before reaching Marvell''s hand and shaking it. From the handshake, red crimson-like veins grew from both Marvell''s and Angel''s hands.

    Angel was shocked, while Marvell remained calm, letting it happen. Seeing there was no pain, Angel accepted it while closing her eyes. Everyone was worried and shocked, seeing the crimson-red veins growing from their hands. After fully covering the whole body of both the contract maker and the signer, the veins vanished in an instant, and the room turned back to normal, as if nothing had happened.

    Marvell quickly pulled back his hands at the same time Angel pulled hers. Marvell''s eyes turned back to normal, and smiling, he looked at the red crimson vein growing in his palm, marking the contract. Suddenly, a coin was tossed to him, causing him to panic at the sudden throw and the way it bounced.

    Angel, breathing heavily from the shock of what she had just witnessed, said, "That''s the golden coin."

    Marvell caught it and replied, "You''re welcome. I guess now my life depends on everyone around here''s life." He then placed the coin in his small backpack.

    Aldir, remaining curious, questioned Marvell¡¯s actions, "Kenapa kau lakukan ini, sampai harus bertaruh nyawa?"

    Hearing this, Marvell smiled. "If I said saving you was the point, that wouldn¡¯t be enough, would it?" He stood up, shaking his head and cracking his neck. "Too bad, kid. I don¡¯t have any reason nor any intention. That¡¯s my only reason." He then looked down. "And maybe it¡¯s what my friends would¡¯ve wanted."

    Seeing his expression, everyone began to feel sad. But Marvell¡¯s tone and expression suddenly changed to one of joy. "Aside from that, now you¡¯re all free. What were you all thinking of doing with your newfound freedom?"

    Hearing this, they went silent, unsure of their next move. Marvell then sat back down in his chair, looking at his hand marked by the contract. One of his tails showed up, looking at his hand with concern. Marvell chuckled at the tail¡¯s reaction before closing his hand into a fist.

    He raised his head, observing the heroes as they discussed what to do with their freedom, with Dewi joining the discussion. Marvell smiled, seeing them talk with a mix of concern and joy. Then he called out to Angel, "If I¡¯m right, Angel," taking everyone¡¯s attention.

    Marvell then asked calmly, "Can I see your hand for a moment? Show it to everyone."

    Curious, Angel looked at her hand, which appeared clean and soft. She asked, "What¡¯s... wrong with my hand?"

    Marvell raised his hand, showing everyone the red crimson vein remaining on his palm, surprising everyone.

    "This is the contract," Marvell explained. "You¡¯ve already fulfilled yours, and I¡¯m still working on fulfilling mine. Just a reminder for everyone: this contract will lead to my death if one of you dies." He said this with a smile.

    Everyone exchanged looks, their expressions shifting to understanding. Angel, the one who made the contract, bowed across the table. "Thank you, for freeing us and risking your life just to earn our trust."

    She was soon followed by the others, who expressed their gratitude for their freedom.

    Marvell laughed a little, happy

    to see their reactions. "You''re welcome, my heroes."

 Chapter 3 : Dog Toy

    An explosion suddenly occurred outside the building, shaking the place where the heroes and Marvell, along with his tail, were gathered. Everyone was shocked by the sudden event, except for Marvell, who calmly looked up after the explosion.

    Dewi, startled, asked, "What is that!?"

    Marvell''s tail looked at the ceiling, seemingly staring at something beyond the walls. Its mouth opened wide in excitement, mirroring Marvell¡¯s subtle smile as he glanced at his tail.

    Confused, everyone asked at the same time, "What!?"

    Marvell closed his eyes, while his tail continued to stare at the heroes.

    Suddenly, in an instant, they were all transported to the center of the city. The time was in the middle of the night, The ground shook beneath their feet as they took in the scene: chaos everywhere. Fire spreading as the a barrage of altilerry and flaming arrow piercing through, Citizens were panicking, running in all directions to avoid the danger as they could.

    Marvell, now seated on the ground in the midst of the chaos, appeared completely unbothered. He casually stood up, stretching his body. Without hesitation, he raised his hand toward the sky, pointing to the source of the attack.

    Out of nowhere, white snow began forming in midair. The snow expanded rapidly before hurling itself into the sky without Marvell moving his hand. More snow formations appeared, creating a barrage of snow-like artillery aimed at the invaders.

    Angel, confused and worried, asked, "Why snow?"

    Marvell smiled, replying calmly, "Just see it for yourself. I don¡¯t want to spill the tea."

    Confused but determined, Angel ran toward the direction where the snow was being thrown, followed by the others who were equally perplexed.

    Marvell stayed behind, relaxed but focused, continuing to unleash snow artillery at random directions in front of him. The seemingly innocent snowballs streaked through the air, their purpose yet to be revealed.

    As soon as they reach the destroyed wall, they can''t see nothing because the dark that covering the whole place, Nana Cast a spell to everyone eyes creating a vision to see in the night, they were shock seeing thousan of skeleton struggling inside the snow create by Marvell, the torch they was holding wad extinguish by the snow, and dark environmen in the night causing them to can''t see in the night.

    while they were stunned to see it, Marvell''s tail suddenly passed through, extending its neck like a serpent at high speed, launching itself into a battlefield full of skeletons. Seeing the danger and unwilling to be left behind, the group quickly charged in, starting to fight without further thought, joining the battle alongside Marvell''s tail.

    Dewi, wielding a giant shield on her arm, bashed her way through the horde of skeletons, followed by Andreas leaping behind her. With his sword igniting in flames mid-air, he slashed downward, creating a fiery arc that flew through the enemies and destroyed them.

    The skeletons, unwilling to give up, began to attack, starting with Andreas as he landed on the ground. Suddenly, Marvell''s tail appeared and started biting the skulls of the skeletons one by one.

    Other skeletons, seeing the tail''s neck, prepared their weapons with the intent of cutting it down. Suddenly, something caught their attention as multiple purple magic missiles launched into the sky and began striking the skeletons one by one.

    With her staff raised, Angel cast a purple spell aimed at the sky while directly facing the skeletons charging toward her. The missiles rained down in a barrage against the enemies she targeted, all while she remained focused on Marvell''s dragon-like tail, which continued biting and consuming the enemies.

    Nana came beside Angel, her expression confused as she voiced her curiosity. "Where do you think all these skeletons came from!?" she asked, swinging her staff and casting a spell that pierced through the enemy line.

    Hearing this, Angel, sharing the same curiosity, replied, "I don''t know... it was too sudden," while keeping her focus on aiming her staff toward the sky.

    A massive explosion suddenly erupted at the center of the enemy line, causing dust to blow everywhere, including toward Nana and Angel.

    In the center of the battlefield stood Aldir, wielding both a spear and a sword in his hands. Beside him was Andreas, whose flaming sword was melting yet remained intact, with molten parts dripping to the ground like shedding skin.

    Skeletons began rising from the ground, one of them grabbing Andreas'' foot. Without hesitation, Andreas quickly raised his flaming sword and stabbed the skeleton to the ground. Aldir, noticing this, turned around, his face filled with panic as he saw Andreas¡¯ sword embedded in the earth.

    "JANGAN NDRE!?" Aldir shouted in alarm.

    Andreas, however, turned to Aldir with a calm yet cold expression. "Sorry, Dir, it¡¯s too late," he replied.

    Suddenly, the ground beneath Andreas started glowing and cracking, resembling an erupting volcano. Aldir''s face turned to panic as he glanced around at the ominous signs.

    An explosion erupted from beneath them, launching Aldir through the air toward Dewi, who was shielding Marvell''s tail from getting chopped. With her shield, she continued bashing through the enemies surrounding them.

    She glanced at Aldir, who landed nearby, and asked with concern while staying on guard, "Aldir!? You okay?"

    Aldir, lying on the ground, groaned before pushing himself up. His face twisted in anger and frustration as he stood. "Memang anjinglah," he muttered, his expression full of fury.

    Without hesitation, Aldir gripped his weapon tightly and charged into the skeleton army, his anger fueling his attacks. He slashed and destroyed every skeleton near him, cutting through the horde as he ran directly toward the flaming fire in the middle of the battlefield. The fire lit up the area, illuminating the chaos within the skeleton army.

    As the battle raged on, far from the chaos, a mage clad in a dark robe stood atop a hill, watching the heroes obliterate her army of skeletons. Her face turned pale, her hands trembling as fear consumed her.

    "What the fuck is this¡­?" she muttered, her voice shaking.

    Her wide eyes suddenly filled with terror as flashes of a gruesome memory overtook her. In her vision, she saw a man approaching her, his sword glinting menacingly. He raised the blade and swung, severing her head. From the ground, she saw her own lifeless body as the man walked away, leaving her to be engulfed by encroaching flames.

    Snapping back to reality, she gasped, sweat dripping down her face. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! No, no, no, no¡ªthis can¡¯t be happening!" Her voice rose in panic. "I need to get the fuck out of here!"

    Clutching her staff tightly, she turned and fled from the battlefield, abandoning her skeletal army to its fate.

    Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Aldir noticed something odd. The once relentless wave of undead seemed to be thinning. Glancing at the ground, he realized there were no more skeletons rising to join the fray. He called out to Andreas, who was fighting nearby.

    "NDRE!?"

    Hearing Aldir, Andreas turned his head slightly while deflecting an incoming attack with his flaming sword. "Kenapa, Lek?" he replied, dodging another swing.

    Aldir pointed at the ground as he shouted, "Kau lihat tanah itu? Ngak ada lagi tengkorak-tengkorak bangkit lagi. Kau tahu kan artinya apa?"

    Andreas quickly realized what Aldir meant, his eyes lighting up with understanding. He nodded and yelled back, "Iya!"

    "Bagus," Aldir continued, "Bilang sama mereka! Artinya kita tinggal basmi aja semua yang ada di sini!" While continue slaying the enemy infront of him

    Acknowledging the command, Andreas immediately moved into action. He swung his sword with fiery precision, cutting down any skeletons in his way as he sprinted toward Angel¡¯s position. Angel was relentlessly casting magic missiles into the sky, her focus unwavering and her stamina seemingly endless.

    Far away from the battlefield, Marvell stopped firing the snow and began walking toward the destroyed wall of the city. Rubble scattered across the ground as he moved, his attention caught by the explosion on the enemy''s side. He followed the direction where his tail''s extended neck led him.

    Reaching the wall, he looked over to see his tail enjoying itself and the heroes fighting fiercely against the monsters.

    "Ahh, such a beautiful scene to be seen from afar," Marvell said in a calm and happy tone. "Too bad I never invented a spell to take a picture of it." as he watch the hero shine in the dark of the battle

    He stroked his tail, which was lying atop the rubble of the wall, and added, "Hmph...judging by the enemy''s number, the caster must be fleeing, seeing such chaos, I suppose. Too bad you can''t crack any bones or... skulls."

    Turning his gaze toward the heroes, he remarked, "Just as I expected, they are indeed capable," watching as the battle slowly turned in favor of the heroes and his dragon tail.

    As time passed, the battle raged until morning. The sun rose, revealing the aftermath of the fierce fight. The heroes returned, unhurt but exhausted, while Marvell¡¯s tail continued to bite and eat the bones of the fallen skeletons. The heroes, worn from the battle, stood silently, reflecting on the carnage around them.

    Angel, also exhausted, collapsed to the ground where she stood, sitting down and gazing at the defeated army of the dead. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, finding a moment of calm after a long night of battle. Nana, her friend, approached and sat beside her, chuckling.

    "I can''t believe we finally showed the result of our training," Nana said, then playfully punched Angel. "How are you, Gel? You alright?"

    Angel smiled and replied, "Yeah, those training sessions really paid off after all," as she gazed at the rising sun.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Meanwhile, Aldir and Andreas stood up, looking at the sun with their weapons in hand. They stabbed their weapons into the ground, both of them taking a moment to appreciate the beautiful view of the new day.

    Meanwhile, Dewi was busy gathering the weapons scattered across the battlefield, dropped by the skeletons. She placed each weapon into a magical medium bag that seemed to hold more than its size suggested, with no change in weight or size, no matter how much she put inside it. As she continued gathering, her attention was drawn to the scattered bones on the ground. Picking one up, she noticed Marvell¡¯s tail eating a leftover bone. Without hesitation, she placed the bone into the bag, continuing her task of collecting weapons while collecting bone scattering in the battlefield as fast as she could.

    Marvell arrived, walking with a group of horses trailing behind him, their reins held firmly in his hands. As he walked through the battlefield, his gaze swept across the motionless army of the dead scattered across the ground. He stopped suddenly, his eyes catching sight of a particular bone¡ªa pristine, white, and clean fragment lying among the carnage. Marvell bent down, picked up the bone, and smiled as he studied it. Without a word, he tucked it inside his robe and continued forward, approaching the heroes who were visibly exhausted from their ordeal.

    When he reached the group, Marvell stopped behind Angel and Nana, who were sitting on the ground recovering. Lowering his body slightly, he bowed gracefully before extending his hands, offering each of them a glass of cold water. Angel looked up at him and shook her head gently.

    "Sorry, it¡¯s not good to drink something cold in the morning, so I¡¯ll have to refuse," she said kindly, her tone polite but firm.

    Nana echoed her sentiment. "Same here. Sorry for the trouble," she added with a small smile.

    Before Marvell could respond, Aldir and Andreas appeared, their expressions lighting up at the sight of the water. Without hesitation, they each grabbed a glass. "Thanks, Marv," they said in unison, grateful for the gesture.

    As they drank the water, a wave of relaxation and vitality washed over them. The exhaustion that had weighed them down moments before seemed to evaporate entirely. Aldir noticed this remarkable effect and turned to Marvell with a curious expression.

    "Vell, apa aja yang kau masukkan ke dalam minuman ini? Langsung segar dan semangat lagi ini tubuhku " Aldir asked, his voice brimming with newfound energy.

    Marvell smiled warmly at the question and replied, "Please speak English. I¡¯m more comfortable explaining it that way. And yes, let¡¯s just say I added a bit of magic to the drink. It helps you feel relaxed and refreshed. I mean, I know what it¡¯s like to be so tired, so of course, I had a solution to that."

    Aldir laughed, nodding in understanding. "Thank you lah, Vel. I¡¯ll try my best to speak in English." While having another sip of the cold water in his hands.

    Marvell chuckled and responded, "Thanks for understanding my situation," clearly pleased with Aldir¡¯s effort. The exchange lightened the mood as the group savored the brief respite after their hard-fought battle.

    Marvell watched Dewi with amusement as she held a bone in her hand, shaking it playfully. His dragon tail, behaving much like an excited dog, wagged and quivered with anticipation. Dewi grinned and threw the bone far into the distance. Without hesitation, the tail darted after it, chasing the bone eagerly. Marvell chuckled, finding the sight of his own tail enjoying the game rather entertaining.

    Aldir approached Marvell, tapping his shoulder. "What were you doing with our horses? Are we leaving this city?" he asked, his tone curious but serious.

    Marvell turned to him and replied, "Unfortunately, yes. Judging by the behavior of the city¡¯s citizens, it¡¯s best for all of us to move as soon as possible." His voice carried a calm yet concerned tone. "I¡¯ve already paid the bill for our room. The city is safe now, but we need to find another place to live and start preparing for..." He trailed off, pausing briefly before continuing, "Not my move¡ªwhat you and the rest of the group here want to do. I¡¯ll just follow." His gaze shifted to the sunrise, the golden hues painting the battlefield in light.

    Andreas, who overheard the conversation, nodded in agreement. "I agree. We should move to another city and find a place to rest."

    Marvell turned back to the group, except Dewi, who was still busy collecting weapons and bones. "I know of a city nearby. It wouldn¡¯t take us long to get there." His eyes then landed on Dewi. "But I think we should help her gather all those weapons."

    Aldir, noticing Dewi¡¯s meticulous efforts, questioned her. "Dwi, what are you doing collecting all those weapons?" His voice was a mix of curiosity and surprise.

    Dewi, without breaking her focus, replied in a calm tone, "To sell them. I want to sell all these weapons to the blacksmith. I think it¡¯s worth our time gathering them."

    Marvell stepped forward, passing the group. "What she said makes sense. I suppose we should help her. After all, money doesn¡¯t duplicate itself in our pockets." He moved quickly toward Dewi, picking up scattered weapons and bones nearby and handing them to her. She promptly placed them into her magical bag.

    Aldir and Andreas followed Marvell''s lead, joining in to help Dewi with her task, while Angel and Nana remained seated, still recovering from the battle¡¯s exhaustion. Angel glanced at the glass of cold water sitting on the ground beside her, its surface glistening in the morning light. Finally, she picked it up and took a sip, feeling the relaxation spread through her body.

    Nana noticed and turned to her friend. "Can you pick up the glass for me?" she asked, her voice tinged with fatigue.

    Angel nodded, picking up the glass and handing it to Nana. "Nah," she said simply. Nana grabbed the glass and drank deeply, savoring the refreshing sensation. "Minum yang banyak, panjang perjalanan kita inih," she remarked, looking out at the beautiful sunrise.

    Meanwhile, Marvell, Aldir, Andreas, and Dewi continued scouring the battlefield, diligently collecting bones and weapons to ensure nothing was left behind, preparing for the journey ahead.

    [10.30, 13/1/2025] Marv :D: ...

    Hours after fleeing the battlefield in the dead of night, the unknown mage found herself deep within a forest. Her legs burned, her lungs heaved, and her heart raced as if the fear she was escaping was still nipping at her heels. Finally, she stopped beneath the moonlight filtering through the canopy above. Exhausted, she collapsed against a tree, her body sliding down its rough bark.

    "Finally... I am free... huff..." she gasped, her voice trembling as she tried to catch her breath. She tilted her head upward, gazing at the full moon shining down on her, its pale light bathing her tear-streaked face.

    "I..." she began, her voice breaking. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. "I am finally... free." The words escaped her lips in a whisper, as if she hardly believed them herself.

    Her body trembled as the pent-up fear, pain, and despair of the battle overwhelmed her. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them tightly, and buried her face into the crook of her arms. Sobs wracked her slender frame, the sound echoing through the stillness of the forest.

    Unnoticed at first, skeletons began to rise from the ground around her. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight as they stood motionless, encircling the girl. They did not move closer nor make a sound, their eyeless sockets fixed on her as if waiting for her command¡ªor perhaps simply drawn to her sorrow.

    But the mage did not care. She cried louder, letting out all the emotions she had suppressed for so long. Surrounded by her silent, unfeeling guards, she wept openly, her cries mingling with the distant rustle of the forest. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, bathed in the light of the moon that seemed to offer her a shred of solace in her pain.

    The quiet forest echoed with the distant rustling of leaves under the moon''s pale light. The mage girl, her tears now dried, glanced at the skeletons surrounding her. Their hollow eyes stared back, unblinking and unmoving. Slowly, a faint smile crept across her face as she reached out, wiping away the remnants of sadness from her cheeks.

    One of the skeletons extended its bony hand toward her, an offer of support. She hesitated for a moment but then placed her hand in its cold, rigid grasp. The skeleton pulled her to her feet, steadying her. She smiled softly, the weight of despair that had crushed her beginning to lift.

    For a fleeting moment, it felt as though she might find solace in the company of the dead.

    But then, the air shifted. A chilling, deep voice emerged from the darkness of the forest, freezing the girl and the skeletons in place.

    "I don¡¯t think I can let you go yet," the voice said, its tone calm but laced with menace.

    The girl¡¯s blood ran cold as the skeletons turned, their hollow eyes locking on the source of the voice. She recognized it instantly, a voice that struck terror deep into her heart.

    The unseen figure continued, his words smooth and calculated. "To be honest, you gave the best performance in that fight. It got me thinking... I could use someone like you in the future."

    Fear surged within her. She instinctively stepped back, the skeletons moving protectively around her, forming a barrier of bone. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, her earlier sadness now replaced by raw terror. "Please, I am begging you! Please just let us go... just let my mother go already!"

    From the shadows, a figure stepped forward¡ªa man clad in a dark robe, his face obscured by a white mask. In his hands, he held a picture frame. Within it, her mother¡¯s image thrashed, slamming her fists against the glass, her mouth open in a soundless scream.

    "Right," the man said, tilting his head slightly. "Unfortunately for you, there¡¯s still one more thing I need. Just a little something to spice things up, you know? Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of splitting myself across the world if I don¡¯t make it worthwhile?"

    The picture trembled violently in his hands, the trapped woman continuing her futile struggle. The man¡¯s glowing blue left eye narrowed as he glanced at the image. "You just won¡¯t shut up, will you?" he said coldly, his voice devoid of empathy.

    Desperation overcame the girl as she stepped forward, her hands trembling. "Let my mother go! I¡¯ll do anything, please!"

    The man chuckled softly, the sound chilling her to her core. His head turned toward her, his glowing eye piercing through the shadows. "Anything, you say?" he repeated, his voice both amused and threatening.

    The girl froze, realizing the weight of her words as his gaze bore into her. Slowly, he held up the picture, her mother¡¯s tear-streaked face visible within.

    "Let¡¯s hear what she has to say," the man said, his tone eerily composed, as he stared at the image, the tension in the air suffocating.

    "Uh..." A hesitant voice emerged from the picture, trembling with fear and disbelief.

    The mage girl''s eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat. "Mom!? MOM!" she cried out, tears streaming down her face as she reached helplessly toward the picture.

    The woman trapped within the frame saw her daughter''s anguish and began to cry as well. Her voice cracked with desperation. "Why are you doing this to us? Please, release my daughter from this torment!"

    The mysterious man turned his glowing blue eye toward the image, his tone cold and unyielding. " Slave, intresting isn''t, just like you once told me," he said, his anger simmering beneath his calm facade. The glow in his eye intensified. "If they have a use, you keep them alive. As long as you can."

    The woman¡¯s eyes widened in horror as he continued, his voice carrying the weight of malice. "So you can use them as much as you need."

    Suddenly, the man extended his hand toward the mage girl, his movement too fast for the eye to follow. The skeletons around her sprang into action, trying to intercept him, but before they could take a single step, their bodies crumbled to dust, their hollow eyes extinguished.

    The girl screamed in terror, attempting to run, but a powerful force pulled her toward the man¡¯s hand. She was lifted off her feet, her body suspended in the air as an overwhelming energy engulfed her. Her cries turned into wails of despair as her form was slowly crystallized, her body turning into a shimmering gem in the man''s palm.

    "NOOO!" her mother screamed from within the picture, pounding helplessly against the glass. The man, unfazed, lifted the picture to his face and spoke with chilling composure.

    "Don¡¯t worry," he said, slipping the crystalized girl into his robe. "She¡¯ll become one of the most important pieces in my chess game."

    The mother continued to scream and slam against the confines of the picture, but her cries were silent, absorbed into the cursed frame.

    The man lowered the picture, his focus shifting as he extended his other hand. A flame ignited in his palm, its small, controlled flicker reflecting in the eerie glow of his mask. He brought his face close to the fire and blew gently on it.

    What started as a small breath erupted into a massive explosion of fire, roaring outward and consuming everything in its path. Trees and foliage turned to ash in an instant, the once-lush forest reduced to a hellscape of flame.

    The man stood amidst the chaos, watching the inferno with an almost artistic appreciation. "Such beauty," he murmured, his tone carrying a twisted sense of satisfaction.

    But just as quickly as the fire had begun, a cold, icy mist emanated from the man himself. The frost spread with an unnatural speed, smothering the flames and freezing the charred remains of the forest. In moments, the blaze was extinguished, leaving only a barren, dead landscape in its wake.

    The man observed his handiwork, the desolate silence amplifying his presence. "Now," he said, his voice low and deliberate, "for the next step."

    Without another word he put the picture back to his robe, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving the deadland.

 Chapter 4 : Meeting An Old Friend

    In the bustling city of Sheldora, the lively tavern hummed with the chatter of patrons, but at one particular table, the mood was tense and contemplative. The party of heroes and Marvell were deep in discussion.

    "Hm, that wasn unexpected information," Marvell said, his tone serious as his sharp gaze rested on Aldir. His demeanor caused Aldir to frown in confusion.

    "What''s... what''s the matter?" Aldir asked, his curiosity piqued by Marvell''s cryptic remark.

    Marvell leaned back in his chair, his expression stern yet thoughtful. "Usually, uh... teleportation magic used by the high mage in the kingdom is a special and yeah... kinda unique one. Not only does it transport a person from another world into this one, but it also changes their appearance. But..." He paused, tilting his head slightly and cracking his neck. The silence lingered as everyone watched him, waiting for his next words. Finally, he continued, "Hmph. But that depends on how you see yourself."

    His statement hung in the air for a moment, sparking intrigue among the group. "If you just see yourself as you normally do, your appearance won''t change. But if you view yourself through the lens of... how do I put this... your imagination, then your appearance will reflect that. For example," he gestured vaguely to himself, "me looking like this."

    Angel leaned forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, so Marv, if we see ourselves differently, then our appearance also changes here?"

    Marvell nodded confidently. "Yep. Just like me¡ªblue hair mixed with red, blue and orange coloring on each side, and furry ears, which I still don''t fully understand myself if it means I''m a furry or not¡ªand pale white skin. That¡¯s how I¡¯ve always seen myself before being teleported to this world." His tone shifted, growing heavier with an undertone of sadness. "But something bothers me the most, something that¡¯s changed my view of the king... sadly."

    The weight of his words settled over the group, drawing their undivided attention. The noise of the tavern around them faded into the background as Marvell''s expression darkened.

    "What bothers me the most," he continued, his voice grave, "is the fact that the high mage died performing this... teleportation magic. Did the king ever tell you anything related to that?" His eyes flicked toward Angel as he posed the question.

    Angel furrowed her brow, searching her memory before responding. "If I remember right, the king said their mage died during an attack by demons in the teleportation chamber."

    Marvell¡¯s sharp features hardened as he absorbed her words. The table fell silent, and the hum of the tavern returned, a stark contrast to the heavy mood among the group. Marvell leaned back slightly, his eyes fixed on the ceiling above as if trying to piece together a puzzle.

    Andreas finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with concern. "Uhm, is there something wrong?" He studied Marvell''s distant expression, unsure of what thoughts were running through his mind.

    Marvell''s eyes lowered, his gaze sharp and contemplative. "A demon attacking the castle doesn¡¯t make any sense to me," he said finally, his tone quiet yet firm.

    The group exchanged uneasy glances, their curiosity growing. Marvell raised a hand slightly, signaling them to pause. "Okay, can we hold it for a moment and let me just..." He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair as though trying to connect the dots in his mind. The others waited, the weight of his words leaving a tense silence between them.

    "You guys teleported to this world naked, alright? Then a high mage died during this teleportation magic because of a demon, and your friend went missing and isn''t here..." Marvell''s calm voice carried a weight that caused the table to fall silent. His words hung in the air as if piecing together an unseen puzzle.

    Everyone watched him intently as he continued, his tone methodical, "The first thing that bothers me is that you guys teleported naked. What''s the point of teleporting a hero without a weapon? When a hero is teleported to this world, they usually arrive fully equipped with their clothes, their appearance intact, and their weapon. This means... the king did something to all of you." His voice bring doubt to all the heroes who hear it.

    Shock rippled across the group. Aldir, his voice shaking with restrained anger, asked, "So are you saying that he...?" His fists clenched, but he remained seated, his eyes betraying the sense of betrayal coursing through him.

    Marvell nodded slightly. "Well, maybe. That¡¯s the most plausible explanation. It¡¯s the only spell the high mage knew, and I was close to him once. The possibility that the king manipulated it is high." He said while looking at aldir with worrying in his eyes, Aldir clenched his fist as his hand lay on a table.

    A tense silence settled over them as Marvell¡¯s words began to sink in. He leaned forward slightly, his voice unwavering. "The second thing is that the high mage supposedly died because of a demon." He sigh " I find that impossible. The teleportation chamber and the castle are highly guarded by THE holy knights. The entire area is infused with holy magic. " With his magic he created a small demonic figure as an example he continue " Any demon entering that space would feel sick and, eventually, disintegrate." As the snow melt from Marvell hands replicating what the demon will faced as he enter the holy domain.

    His eyes gleamed with a faint angelic glow as he continued, his tone sharpening. "Add to that the fact that your friend went missing during the teleportation, and it¡¯s clear something unusual happened. Something that not only led to the high mage''s death but also caused your friend to vanish."

    Angel¡¯s face grew serious as she asked, "Are you certain about this, Marvell?" staring at Marvell who seems understand and starting to looks like serious.

    Marvell suddenly leaned back in his chair, giving a half-shrug. "Meh, I¡¯m not sure about it," he replied, glancing sideways with an air of casual indifference.

    Angel frowned, disbelief etched across her features. "Are you serious right now?" As she express her shock toward the answer

    "I¡¯m not sure if what I said is true or false," Marvell admitted before taking a sip from his drink. He set the cup down and turned his gaze back to the group, his tone shifting to something more resolute. "But if the first part is true, then the rest could end up being the same."

    Without warning, Marvell grabbed a piece of meat from the table and tossed it toward the ceiling. It didn¡¯t reach but instead fell back toward him. His three dragon tails shot up, catching the meat midair and tearing into it simultaneously. The bizarre sight made the group recoil slightly, especially as the tails tugged the meat toward themselves in a chaotic struggle.

    Marvell sighed, his tone turning serious again. "I''ll tell you this: dealing with the demon lords won¡¯t be worth your time for now. They''re still recovering from the attacks my party launched against them a long time ago." He leaned in closer, gesturing for everyone to do the same. When the group complied, he lowered his voice to a near whisper, his tone grave.

    "Dealing with the king should be your priority right now," Marvell said softly yet firmly. "We don¡¯t know what he¡¯s planning behind that fancy throne. Trust me on this one." While staring at the heroes, giving them a doubt about the king.

    Angel, curious and doubtful, shifted slightly in her seat. "I have a question, Marvell?" Staring at Marvell with a serious look.

    Marvell cut in gently. "Please, just call me Marv. My friends usually called me that name, and it¡¯s comfortable to hear." With a bit of joy in his voice

    Angel nodded quickly. "Yes, Marv. Do you have any idea what the king is planning on? As the oldest and the hero before us?" She asked with seriousness, staring at Marvell.

    Marvell fell silent for a moment, thinking deeply. Then, he shared his thoughts while everyone listened quietly. "That remains a mystery." He said with less doubt on his face, he took a moment and sigh " From my perspektif, the king stoled the weapon that originally your and force you to do what he expecting, which giving me thought about him wanted to use uh.....your weapon, for his own benefit..." As his closed his eyes while thinking about something.

    Aldir interrupted serious about the conversation they having, his voice tinged with disbelief and frustration. "How do you know the king''s intention? I know this is a stupid question, but knowing this, why you and your friends never did something about it? Is it because the collar on your hands that force you to?" Hearing this Marvell open his eyes staring directly at Aldir.

    Marvell chuckled for a moment creating confusion among the heroes, he replied calmly. "Well, actually, I didn¡¯t really know him well. And in that time that collar never even existed " answering aldir question

    Aldir was visibly shocked, his voice rising slightly. "Hah!?" As he stared at Marvell.

    Marvell continued, his voice steady as he began to explain. "Well, the reason I have doubt on him, because one my friends.....uhm......I forgot his name, but let¡¯s just say he told me about the king that looks abit strange and suspicious." He paused briefly before continuing. "At first I quite believe it since I see it myself, but I didn¡¯t think much about it and ignored it. That¡¯s when I heard about the heroes that were deployed. You see...I was curious, and then I come to see it myself. All I see is a looks like a dead person walking around with the horse, like there¡¯s something wrong, which I quickly investigated. Upon knowing the truth, I quickly moving and then meet you guys, which is unexpected for me."

    The table remained silent as Marvell shared his story, his calm tone filling the air. After a moment, he broke the silence with a firm but steady voice. "But it¡¯s just a possibility. The only way to know it¡¯s real is by knowing if it was true or not."

    His face filled with a sadness he try to contain, as he looked at everyone worrying about them. "Still, you guys need to remain aware by the possibility, or the consequences will be lethal¡ªnot with you, but all of your friends." As he felt cares to the heroes

    Dewi hesitated as she glanced at her friends, curiosity filling her expression. "So..." She paused for a moment, unsure, before finally expressing her thoughts. "What are we going to do now, knowing..." Her gaze shifted to Marvell as she continued, "all of this information?" Her voice carried her curiosity, and her eyes wandered to her friends, who wore equally confused expressions.

    Nana then spoke up, her voice soft but thoughtful. "Even if we knew all of this, what step do we take?" She looked down at the table, her uncertainty evident.

    Aldir nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Benar apa yang dikatakan Nana, nggak mungkin kita datang ke gerbang begitu saja tanpa persiapan yang matang," he said, echoing Nana''s concerns.

    Andreas, seated beside him, let out a slight sigh, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Nggak benar lagi sih ini Dir. Meskipun apa yang dikatakan sih Marv ini ada betulnya, kita pun juga nggak tahu apa yang kita harus lakukan selanjutnya..." He trailed off, his gaze fixed on Aldir, who looked back at him with a mixture of confusion and contemplation.

    As the discussion continued, Angel suddenly tried to interject. "Guys," she called, but her words went unheard as her friends kept talking, paying her no attention. Frustrated, she punched Nana lightly on the shoulder, drawing her friend''s attention.

    Nana turned to her. "We!" she called out, directing everyone''s focus. "Angel wants to say something." Her words immediately quieted the group, and all eyes shifted to Angel with curiosity.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Angel gave Nana a small, grateful nod. "Thank you," she said before turning back to her friends. Her voice grew more determined as she spoke. "Hearing the information we got from him..." She glanced at Marvell, who was holding a giant piece of meat while his three tails struggled to wrest it from his grasp. Marvell chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the group''s serious expressions, until he finally noticed their intense stares.

    "Oh..." he muttered, awkwardly lowering the meat as the group continued to watch him with solemn faces.

    Angel continued, her gaze unwavering as she addressed Marvell. "I am pretty sure rescuing us was not your only plan. You gathered us here for something, and I want to know what it is." Her tone was firm, and her expression held a mix of seriousness and concern as she waited for his response.

    Marvell looked at the heroes, an awkward smile crossing his face as his eyes lit up with amusement. "Now this is getting interesting. I didn¡¯t even say anything yet, but you... my heroes, have already figured out that I seek something," he said, attempting to lighten the tension at the table.

    With an unserious expression, he continued, "So, if you¡¯re asking what I seek, it¡¯s something that sounds suspicious, but it entirely depends on your decision. Either your decision can bring me a benefit for the next step or... bring me nothing, which I¡¯m actually expecting."

    The heroes exchanged confused glances, trying to make sense of his words. Angel, her curiosity mixed with concern, finally spoke up. "Then... what is it?" she asked, her tone cautious.

    Marvell, his expression still playful, raised a hand to stop her. "Please, before I say it, hear my explanation first. Because, let¡¯s face it, every time I try to explain something, I get interrupted before I can finish."

    The group fell silent, their focus entirely on him. Marvell took a moment before speaking. "It¡¯s quite simple. All I need is information about your friends¡ªwhat group they belong to, what kind of powers they possess, and what sort of threats they pose. That¡¯s all I need."

    His words left everyone stunned, their silence speaking volumes. Marvell, noticing their lack of response, leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased. "Finally, I can explain in peace," he said with a chuckle.

    Settling into a more comfortable position, he continued. "The reason I need this information is because I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to save your friends¡ªnot you. And why, you may ask? Because I need all of you to stay dead. If the king finds out what I¡¯m planning by saving each one of you, then it¡¯s over. He¡¯ll kill all the heroes in an instant."

    Marvell¡¯s tone shifted slightly, though he still wore an unserious expression. "But if I keep spreading my name as a hero hunter, the king will send all his forces¡ªwell, the heroes¡ªto kill me, trying to prevent any damage to his military power. He wouldn¡¯t dare send his soldiers, knowing their value. They¡¯re far more experienced than the heroes themselves. So yeah, that¡¯s why I need this from you."

    As his words sank in, the group exchanged hesitant looks, unsure how to respond. Marvell, unconcerned by their silence, reached for his drink. "But," he added casually, "it¡¯s up to you. It¡¯s just a request. I¡¯m not forcing you to do it. You can refuse if you want. " His voice filled with hestitant " but... it¡¯ll make my job... to save your friends much harder... , well since I need to make them look... dead......" As he say it toward the heroes who understand what Marv talking.

    He sight, his face turn relaxed as he sipped his drink, his tone completely calm despite the weight of his words.

    "Like I said, that depends on all of you to decide¡ªto trust or not," Marvell stated, his tone turning firm as his expression grew serious. His once lively eyes became hollow, void of any emotion. "But I warn you, even though this is for the sake of you and your friends, be careful with what you choose. Trust me, I¡¯m saying this because I want all of you to be cautious¡ªeven in front of me¡ªwhen making decisions. Each choice can either guide you to a better future or become your worst mistake."

    He stood up abruptly, his presence commanding attention and bringing a heavy weight to the table where the heroes sat. For a moment, the silence in the room was palpable. Suddenly, something seemed to snap within him. His hollow eyes regained their usual light, and his expression softened as his dragon tails shifted, their focus turning toward the exit door.

    Marvell followed their gaze, turning toward the door himself. A smile spread across his face, one filled with warmth and joy, as he glanced back at the heroes. "I have someone to introduce," he said cheerfully. "Meet me and my friends outside. But don¡¯t rush; you need to finish the food I¡¯ve offered and RESSUPLY your ENERGY." With a fun tone as he try to lighten up the weight of what he just did.

    He chuckled softly, his lighthearted demeanor starkly contrasting his earlier seriousness. Without waiting for a response, he walked away from the table, his dragon tails watching the heroes curiously as they followed him toward the exit. Marvell waved his hand in farewell before lowering it and stepping outside, leaving the group in stunned silence.

    The heroes exchanged glances, their expressions filled with confusion and disbelief at what had just transpired. For half an hour, they remained in the tavern, silently finishing their meals and preparing themselves.

    When they finally stepped outside, the cool air greeted them as they scanned their surroundings. Dewi looked around with a frown, her curiosity evident. "Where the heck is Marv? I don¡¯t see him," she said, her tone laced with frustration.

    Angel¡¯s sharp eyes caught something in the distance. "There he is," she called out, pointing toward a figure nearby. The group turned their heads and moved closer to see what Angel had noticed.

    As they approached, they saw Marvell engaged in conversation with someone unfamiliar. The man standing before him wore high, shining armor adorned with a prominent holy mark. A blue cape flowed behind him, and a sturdy bag strapped to his back carried something within. His appearance was striking¡ªhandsome and exuding a friendly aura.

    The two seemed at ease, sharing laughter as Marvell smiled, clearly enjoying their exchange. The heroes stopped a short distance away, watching the scene unfold.

    The heroes approached the conversation cautiously, their steps slow as they tried to discern the nature of the exchange. One of Marvell¡¯s dragon tails, noticing their presence, turned toward them and promptly bit into Marv¡¯s hair, yanking it sharply to get his attention.

    ¡°Ow!¡± Marvell winced, his gaze snapping toward the group as he rubbed his head where the tail had tugged. The tail, satisfied with its success, released its grip and opened its mouth wide before retreating behind Marvell. Despite the sudden pain, Marvell¡¯s expression quickly shifted, his face lighting up with joy as he called out to the approaching heroes.

    "My heroes! Good to see all of you," he said warmly, his voice carrying both excitement and relief.

    The man standing beside Marvell, clad in his gleaming armor and blue cape, turned his attention to the group as well. Though he remained silent, he offered them a gentle smile, observing them with a calm demeanor.

    Marvell gestured toward the man with enthusiasm, addressing the heroes with pride. "Now, like I said, these are the heroes I¡¯ve been talking about." He extended a finger toward each of them, introducing them one by one by name.

    Hearing the introductions, the man finally spoke up, his voice steady and kind. "Hi, my name is Drake," he began, inclining his head slightly in greeting. "Like Marv here, I¡¯m also a hero who was teleported alongside him."

    Drake took a step forward and bowed deeply, his unexpected gesture startling the young heroes. Rising back up, he continued, his tone shifting to one of empathy. "I received a distress signal from Marv, so I came rushing to this place. Hearing about your struggles, I¡­ I feel deeply sorry for everything you¡¯ve been through," he said, his voice carrying a heartfelt sadness as he addressed the group.

    Marvell, sensing the tension, tried to lighten the atmosphere with a casual tone. "Now, let¡¯s talk about our next course. To defeat a ki¡ª"

    Before he could finish, Angel quickly stepped forward, raising a hand to signal him to stop. Her expression was tense, her movements deliberate as she motioned for silence. Marvell stopped mid-sentence, blinking in confusion as he looked at her.

    Angel leaned closer, lowering her voice to barely a whisper. "Shouldn¡¯t we talk in a place more¡­" She glanced around the bustling streets, where people moved about, seemingly indifferent to their presence. Turning her gaze back to Marvell, she finished, "¡­private? What makes you think it¡¯s a good idea to talk about defeating the king of this land out here?"

    Marvell tilted his head slightly, his face blank with pure confusion, clearly not understanding the issue. Before he could respond, Drake chuckled, his laughter catching everyone¡¯s attention.

    "Didn¡¯t Marvell tell you this is his territory?" Drake asked, his voice filled with amusement as his laughter slowly faded.

    Angel¡¯s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Marv, what now?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

    Drake, still smiling, continued to explain. "This place is Marvell¡¯s territory. Let¡¯s just say everyone here has a bad history with the king. Wasn¡¯t it obvious already? Look around." He gestured toward the posters on the walls, featuring crude drawings of the king¡¯s face, all defaced with bright colors and mocking details. "Redrawn?" Drake added with another chuckle.

    The heroes glanced around, finally noticing the defaced posters and realizing what Drake meant. Marvell, who had been quietly observing, shifted his gaze from Drake to the heroes. "Well," he began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I didn¡¯t think it was worth mentioning, but Drake¡¯s right. Anyway, Drake might be tired, so we should find a proper place to rest while we discuss our next plan."

    The group murmured their agreement, Drake nodding with a smile. Marvell motioned for them to follow as he began walking toward a specific direction. "Follow me," he said confidently.

    As they walked, Marvell raised a hand mid-step and glanced back at the group. His voice carried a hint of regret as he spoke. "Sorry for not telling you this was my territory earlier. I probably should have mentioned it sooner." He lowered his hand and added, "Let¡¯s keep going."

    The group followed behind, their footsteps echoing softly against the cobbled streets. Marvell¡¯s dragon tails playfully swayed at the back, occasionally nudging the heroes or curling around Drake¡¯s bag, causing laughter to ripple through the group. Meanwhile, Marvell looked up at the evening sky as night began to settle in, his gaze turning thoughtful before focusing ahead. He knew exactly where they were going¡ªa place where they could rest and plan in peace.

    As night fell, the group was inside a large resting place, the dimly lit room casting long shadows on the walls. They sat in a circle, facing one another, the weight of the day¡¯s events heavy in the air as they began discussing their next course of action.

    Drake broke the silence first, his tone laced with doubt. "I always had my doubts about him, but I never expected this would happen," he said, his gaze shifting to Marvell, who lay comfortably on a bed. Marvell''s tail swayed lazily behind him, seemingly playing on its own.

    Marvell, noticing Drake¡¯s troubled expression, replied with his usual calm demeanor. "That¡¯s the most plausible possibility I could think of. The answer remains a mystery, just as I said, Drake. But still, combined with Aidris¡¯s suspicious behavior, the chances of it happening are higher."

    Drake absorbed Marvell¡¯s words in silence, his face betraying a hint of frustration. The room grew quiet, the only sound the occasional creak of the wooden floor beneath them. Breaking the stillness, Dewi¡¯s worried voice rose, filled with concern. "Is there something we can do to free our friends?" she asked, her eyes shifting between Drake and Marvell, searching for a glimmer of hope.

    Drake furrowed his brow, deep in thought as he considered her question. The room held its collective breath, waiting for his response. Then, suddenly, an idea flickered across his mind. "I have an idea... but..." he began, his voice hesitant.

    Angel leaned forward, her curiosity piqued by his pause. "But... is there something wrong?" she asked, her tone serious yet tinged with hesitation.

    Drake let out a heavy sigh before continuing, his voice laden with reluctance. "But this will not include any of you. It¡¯ll be just me, him"¡ªhe gestured toward Marvell, still lounging on the bed¡ª"and our friends out there. We can gather them in a matter of days. But I have no idea what you all can do to support us."

    His words left the room in silence once more, the weight of his statement settling over everyone. Aldir, his expression thoughtful, finally broke the tension. "It¡¯s alright. Marvell already told us there¡¯s nothing we can do. Still, we wish to find any way possible to support you," he said earnestly.

    Drake hesitated, visibly torn as though something was holding him back from speaking further. Marvell, ever composed, broke the silence with a blunt remark. "Unfortunately, what I said earlier about information is the only thing you can do for us."

    Drake¡¯s composure cracked. "MARV!" he shouted, his frustration boiling over as he delivered a sharp punch to Marvell¡¯s shoulder.

    Marvell winced, exaggerating his reaction with a dramatic "Ow." He rubbed his shoulder, a faint grin playing on his lips. "Fair enough. I deserved that one," he admitted with a chuckle.

    Drake, his anger fading into regret, apologized to the group. "Sorry for Marvell¡¯s behavior. Sometimes he says things that... logically, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s right," he said, his voice heavy with conflicted emotions.

    The heroes exchanged glances, their expressions firm with resolve. Angel spoke up, her tone serious and unwavering. "It¡¯s alright, Drake. We agree with this idea. It seems we have no other choice."

    Drake¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, the unexpected acceptance leaving him momentarily speechless. He finally lowered his gaze, sorrow and regret evident in his voice. "I¡¯m sorry if this is all we can ask of you."

    Marvell clapped his hands together, his voice breaking the heavy mood. "Great! I guess we¡¯re all in agreement, then. Let¡¯s get some sleep. But before we do, I¡¯ll need you all to write down each of your friends¡¯ information. Drake here..."¡ªhe shot a mischievous glance at Drake¡ª"has dementia, I¡¯m afraid."

    "Quit it," Drake cut in sharply, his annoyance evident.

    Marvell raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin unrelenting. "Alright, as you wish," he said lightly, watching Drake¡¯s expression settle into silence.

    The group, though tense, silently agreed to prepare for what lay ahead. The night stretched on, and they go to their own room to rest for the night.

 Chapter 5 : The Love Letter

    In the daytime, a serene forest buzzed with life. A boar, frantic and terrified, sprinted through the dense underbrush, its hooves pounding against the earth. Something was pursuing it¡ªsomething relentless.

    Behind it, a girl cloaked in a dark green robe wove through the forest with unwavering determination. She moved effortlessly, leaping over fallen logs and ducking under low-hanging branches, her focus unshakable as she pursued the desperate creature.

    The boar, sensing its end, pushed itself harder, its breaths coming in ragged gasps. Suddenly, an arrow sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, striking the boar squarely in the forehead. The beast collapsed instantly, its lifeless body skidding to a halt on the forest floor.

    The girl chasing the boar stopped just short of it, her breathing steady despite the intense chase. Before she could react further, another figure emerged from above.

    A second girl, clad in a similar dark green robe, dropped gracefully from the branches of a nearby tree, landing with practiced ease. She smiled warmly and extended her hand to the first girl, who wordlessly accepted it. Then, like a wisp of smoke, the first girl dissolved into a fine dust, vanishing completely.

    The remaining girl turned her attention to the fallen boar. With a calm expression, she knelt beside the creature and placed a gentle hand on its head. "I¡¯m sorry it had to be this way," she murmured, her voice soft and reverent.

    With practiced precision, she removed the arrow lodged in the boar¡¯s skull and examined the kill. Without hesitation, she hoisted the heavy carcass onto her shoulder, her movements fluid and effortless despite the weight.

    Then, with a sudden burst of speed, she darted away from the scene, her form a blur as she disappeared into the depths of the forest.

    A few minutes after disappearing into the forest, the girl arrived at a secluded spot nestled within the greenery. A small fire crackled steadily, casting warm, dancing shadows on the surrounding trees. Above the fire, skewered pieces of boar meat sizzled on a stick, their juices dripping onto the flames and producing an enticing aroma.

    Nearby, the boar''s stripped skin was pinned to a tree, drying in the soft breeze. Scattered bones lay beneath it, a testament to the methodical work that had already been done.

    The girl knelt beside the fire, a wooden board resting on her thighs. Her hands moved with care and precision, slicing the meat into even portions. The gentle crackle of the fire and the rhythmic sound of her blade created a peaceful, almost meditative atmosphere.

    Once she had finished cutting, she set the board down carefully beside her. Standing up, she stretched her arms overhead, her body arching slightly as she let out a contented sigh. "Hah... another fresh day and fresh air," she murmured, her voice tinged with satisfaction.

    She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply, savoring the crisp scent of the forest mingled with the savory aroma of cooking meat. A soft smile spread across her face as she exhaled slowly.

    Relaxed, she lowered herself back down, leaning against a sturdy tree trunk. Her gaze fell on the fire, its flames dancing hypnotically as they worked to cook the meal. She watched quietly, the calm ambiance of the forest wrapping around her like a warm blanket.

    As she closed her eyes, basking in the tranquility surrounding her, a sudden thud broke her peace. A scroll materialized out of nowhere, dropping directly onto her head. Startled, she silently picked it up, her once-relaxed expression now replaced with mild annoyance.

    Unrolling the scroll, she read its contents aloud in a low, unimpressed voice:

    "From Marv, let''s just say we''re gathering at the castle where a meeting will take place. A serious DISCUSSION will be discussed there, so I hope you don''t miss it. Also, disobeying this order will lead to a tragic end."

    Finishing the message, she rolled her eyes and muttered in irritation, "Tragic end, he says, as if he doesn¡¯t already know I can¡¯t disobey orders." annoyed by what she just read.

    With a sigh, she stood up, her gaze shifting to the half-cooked meat over the fire. Disappointment flickered across her face as she muttered under her breath, "Guess this meal won''t get the time it deserves."

    Turning toward her tent, she approached the massive backpack lying inside. Carefully, she began packing her belongings, organizing them with practiced efficiency. Once everything was secured inside, she dismantled the tent, folded it neatly, and strapped it onto her pack.

    With her gear prepared, she returned to the fire and saw the meat had cooled. Letting out a resigned sigh, she grabbed the pieces barehanded, nibbling on them one by one as she began walking toward the direction of her summons.

    Each bite, though tasty, seemed to carry the weight of her begrudging compliance as she trudged forward into the unknown.

    ...

    Inside the city of Eldermor, where a massive tree loomed over half the city, its sprawling leaves casting a dim shade that blocked the sunlight, a lively bar bustled with noise and activity. The air was filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking mugs, and the occasional crash of chairs.

    In the center of it all stood a towering man clad in heavy green armor, a giant shield strapped to his back. His muscular frame and boisterous demeanor made him the undeniable life of the party. Beside him, a mix of humans, elves, and even a towering giant brawled and laughed together, their roughhousing more celebratory than combative.

    The man raised a mug from the table beside him, his face flushed with joy as he shouted above the clamor, "MATES, ALL DRINKS ARE ON ME! KEEP DRINKING AND HAVE FUN, YOU SMALL-HEADED DRONKOS!"

    A thunderous cheer erupted in response. "YAH!!" the patrons shouted in unison, raising their mugs high before downing their drinks with enthusiasm. The bar erupted into an even louder celebration, with jokes flying, mugs smashing, and revelers stumbling into one another in drunken merriment.

    Amid the chaos, the man beamed with pride, his laughter booming as he reveled in the joy of the moment. But suddenly, a scroll materialized above him, dropping unceremoniously onto his head.

    The man blinked in confusion, his hand instinctively reaching up to grab the parchment. "Huh, me don''t see that coming," he muttered, his deep voice laced with curiosity.

    He glanced upward at the ceiling, as if expecting to see the source of the mysterious scroll. Then, his gaze returned to the parchment in his hand. Again, he looked up, then back at the scroll, repeating the motion several times in puzzled wonder before shaking his head in resignation.

    "Alright, alright, let''s see what ya got," he muttered, tearing the seal and unrolling the scroll. As his eyes scanned the message, they widened in surprise, the drunken haze on his face briefly replaced by a flash of seriousness.

    He screamed out, his voice booming across the bar, "I AM THE WANKER ALL ALONG!" The sudden outburst silenced the room, all eyes turning to him as he panicked and dashed to the bartender.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    From his side, he pulled out a magical sack, flipping it upside down with urgency. In an instant, an avalanche of gold coins poured out, burying the bartender under the shimmering pile. The bartender, now only partially visible, simply smiled and remained silent as the coins continued to rain down.

    When the flow finally ceased, leaving the bartender entirely covered, the man shouted hurriedly, "TAKE IT ALL! GIVE THEM AS MUCH DRINK AS THEY WANT! I HAVE TO GO!"

    The bartender, muffled under the gold but calm, asked, "What''s with the rush?"

    Without missing a beat, the man responded in a frantic tone, "HAVE NO TIME!" He turned and bolted toward the door, smashing it into splinters with his massive frame as he exited.

    Before disappearing, he yelled back into the bar, "HAVE FUN IN THERE, AY! THERE WAS A CALL...EHH, I NEED TO ANSWER! RIGHT I NEED TO ANSWER IT" staring at the chaos who still ongoing inside it.

    The patrons erupted into cheers, raising their mugs once more and roaring, "YAH!!!" before diving back into their revelry, unbothered by the sudden chaos.

    Meanwhile, outside, the man¡ªGargan¡ªran through the streets in a panic, his massive frame shaking the ground with each hurried step. In his haste, the scroll slipped from his grasp, fluttering to the ground.

    As it settled in the dust, the message on it was clearly visible:

    "Hey Gargan, you better hurry back to the castle. There is an emergency, you gigantic idiot."

    The discarded scroll lay there as Gargan''s booming footsteps echoed, growing fainter as he barreled toward the city gates in a hurry.

    ...

    In the middle of the vast ocean, under a sky filled with scattered clouds, a man gripped the wheel of a massive ship. His attire, while proper, bore a pirate''s ruggedness, and his black hair blew slightly in the ocean breeze. In his hand was a scroll, the source of the struggle evident in his voice as he muttered, "I never wanted... any of this..." His face, however, betrayed no emotion, remaining stoic despite the turmoil inside him.

    From the stairs leading below deck, a figure emerged¡ªa girl with striking features. Blue dragon-like horns adorned her head, and her tail, covered in a similar blue dragon skin, swayed gently as she walked. Her skin carried faint traces of scales, giving her a mystical appearance without overwhelming her natural beauty. She approached her husband with concern, noticing the weight of his struggle as he stared at the scroll.

    "What is it, my love?" she asked gently, her curiosity evident as she tried to peek at the scroll.

    The man quickly rolled it up and tucked it away, his voice heavy with disappointment. "I¡¯m sorry, my love. It¡¯s... a call I need to answer," he said, lowering his gaze.

    The girl¡¯s expression softened, worry filling her eyes. She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace from behind. With a calm smile and closed eyes, she whispered, "It¡¯s okay, Rogy. You can answer the call if it¡¯s important."

    Rog remained silent, the conflict in his heart reflected in his eyes. The girl released her embrace and moved to stand in front of him, her smile unwavering. Standing confidently in front of the ship¡¯s wheel, she declared loudly, "Besides, me and the crew can take care of the ship while you¡¯re gone!"

    Turning to face the deck, she raised her voice even more, shouting with excitement, "ISN¡¯T THAT RIGHT, EVERYONE?!"

    Her words echoed across the ship, rallying the crew¡ªa mix of various species¡ªwho responded in unison with cheers and raised hands, their enthusiasm palpable.

    As Rog watched the scene, his grip tightened on the scroll, his face still clouded with doubt. The girl turned back to him, her cheerful demeanor undeterred.

    Rog sighed deeply, gathering his thoughts before addressing the crew with a firm and commanding tone. "Listen up, everyone! I have a meeting to attend. While I¡¯m gone, I want her,"¡ªhe gestured to the ship¡ª"to remain clean and... " he paused for a moment silently thinking about something for short time, he continue with low and silently unease " safe. " bowing his head for a moment before then raising up to see his crew.

    He sigh for a moment, scanning the faces of his loyal crew before continuing with conviction. "Got it?".

    "AYE, CAPTAIN!" the crew roared back in agreement, their trust in their captain and each other evident.

    Rog adjusted the wheel, setting the ship on its new course. Just then, a harpy girl descended gracefully from above, landing softly on the deck. With a curious expression, she hurried over to Rog.

    "What¡¯s wrong?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, unaware of the gravity of the situation weighing on her captain.

    "Nothing special," Rog replied calmly, his tone masking the internal struggle.

    The harpy, still confused, perched herself on the ship¡¯s railing, her legs swinging gently as she observed him in silence.

    Rog closed his eyes for a moment, thoughts swirling in his mind. This is unexpected... I didn¡¯t even think it would come to this, he thought. Opening his eyes with a deep sigh, he resigned himself to the situation. I have no choice, he admitted internally, I wish we sailed to more safer place in the future.

    With resolve, he turned his attention forward, ready to set out on his journey, leaving the rest in the capable hands of his crew as they sailed into the unknown.

    ...

    Under the shadow of a dense forest, a scream echoed from within a dark cave. Moments later, a lone goblin burst out, its face twisted in terror as it sprinted to escape whatever horror lay within. Its desperate attempt at freedom was abruptly cut short when a red, gleaming spear shot from the cave with incredible speed, impaling the goblin¡¯s head. The sheer force of the throw sent the creature flying deep into the forest, leaving a trail of dust and broken branches in its wake.

    From the cave¡¯s dark entrance, a figure emerged¡ªa man clad in blood-streaked armor, still revealing his dark armor color. His helm obscured his face, but the red cloth draped over the top added to his fearsome appearance. In one hand, he held a massive, blood-soaked bag, dragging it with ease despite its size. In the other, he clutched a crumpled scroll, his grip so tight it crinkled further under the pressure.

    With an air of simmering anger, the man stopped at the edge of the forest. He cast the scroll to the ground with disgust, his movements sharp and deliberate. His hand glowed with a crimson light as he summoned another spear, its surface pulsating with magical energy. Without hesitation, he hurled it with immense force at the scroll, the impact sending a fiery shockwave that scorched the earth around it.

    Not sparing a second glance at the obliterated scroll, the man adjusted his grip on the bloodied bag and began to walk away. His heavy footsteps left an eerie silence in their wake, broken only by the faint dragging sound of the bag trailing behind him. Without hesitation or remorse, he disappeared into the depths of the forest, leaving behind a scene of carnage and a lingering sense of dread.

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    In the quiet outskirts of a small village, the knight stood alone amidst rows of graves, each marked by simple wooden crosses planted firmly in the soil. The weight of the recent tragedy hung heavy in the air as he gazed down at the freshly dug earth, his blood-streaked armor reflecting the fading light of the day.

    From behind, an elderly man approached, his steps slow but steady. The elder came to stand beside the knight, his weathered face somber as he looked over the graves. ¡°I want to say thank you for everything you¡¯ve done here,¡± the old man said, his voice soft but filled with gratitude.

    The knight remained silent, his head lowered in quiet contemplation.

    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you,¡± the elder continued, ¡°this village wouldn¡¯t exist anymore. You¡¯ve given us a chance to rebuild.¡±

    The knight finally spoke, his voice subdued and laced with regret. ¡°If I¡¯d known about this sooner¡­ if I¡¯d acted faster¡­ the men, the women, the children¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t have been sacrificed to whatever those goblins worshipped.¡± His fists clenched tightly at his sides. ¡°If I¡¯d been just a little faster, they wouldn¡¯t have to lie here beneath this ground. They could still be alive, laughing, living.¡±

    The elder placed a reassuring hand on the knight¡¯s armored shoulder, his expression one of understanding. ¡°We can¡¯t rewind time or undo what¡¯s been done. All we can do now is hope that they¡¯ve found peace. And because of you, we can honor their memory by carrying on.¡±

    The knight fell silent, letting the old man¡¯s words sink in. Slowly, the anger in his posture softened, replaced by a deep, aching calm. Inside his helmet, his red eyes closed as tears trickled silently down his cheeks. When he opened them again, there was resolve.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s all we can do.¡±

    After a moment, the knight turned to the elder, his voice steady but tinged with sorrow. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I can¡¯t stay here any longer.¡± He shifted his gaze forward, his path clear in his mind. ¡°There¡¯s a call I need to answer.¡±

    Without waiting for a response, the knight began to walk away, his footsteps heavy but purposeful. The elder watched him go, a mix of gratitude and sorrow in his eyes, before turning back toward the graves. He bowed his head in silent prayer, the faint echo of the knight¡¯s retreating steps fading into the stillness

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 Chapter 6 : The Meeting

    Inside a massive ice castle located on top of a mountain covered in snow, Dewi stood near Marvell, her curiosity evident as she asked,

    "I always forget to ask about your tail names ever since we met. Can I know each one of them?"

    Marvell, standing not far from the table, turned his gaze toward his tails, which were happily devouring the food served to them. "Hmph..." he muttered thoughtfully.

    Nearby, a girl in a green robe, her golden hair shimmering and her blue eyes bright, brought another tray of food to the table. She smiled warmly as she placed the dishes near the dragon heads.

    "Another one for you three," she said excitedly, her voice full of cheer.

    The tails'' eyes glowed brightly with delight, and they eagerly dug into the fresh food. Watching this scene, Marvell turned to face Dewi.

    "Well, this is a problem," he remarked, his tone thoughtful.

    Dewi tilted her head slightly in confusion. "What''s wrong?" she asked.

    Marvell remained silent for a moment, lost in thought, before an idea sparked in his mind. He raised his hand and pointed toward his own tails. In response, a subtle transformation began: one tail sprouted a single horn, the second grew two horns, and the third grew three.

    A satisfied smile crossed Marvell¡¯s face as he said, "Now this will make it easier for you to tell the difference."

    Dewi''s eyes widened in surprise as she processed what had just happened. Marvell continued, introducing his tails one by one.

    "The one with one horn is named Dorn, the one with two horns is Del, and the last one with three horns is Drako," he explained calmly.

    Dewi nodded in understanding, though the surprise still lingered on her face.

    Just then, Andreas joined the scene, holding a glass in his hand and pretending to be drunk. His antics drew laughter from everyone present, filling the castle hall with joy and lightheartedness as they enjoyed the moment together.

    Suddenly, the sound of shattering ice echoed through the massive hall as someone burst through a giant sheet of ice with a single powerful kick. The man extended his arm high into the air, his voice booming with excitement,

    "GUYS, GOOD NEWS!"

    Pointing confidently to himself, he loudly proclaimed,

    "BORG HAS RETURNED!"

    A wide grin stretched across his face, but the room fell silent, everyone frozen in place as they stared at him. Borg stood there, confused by the unexpected reaction.

    Breaking the silence, Marvell stepped forward with a warm and welcoming tone, his voice cutting through the tension,

    "That¡¯s fantastic news!"

    With a quick motion, Marvell raised one of his hands, and in an instant, a cup brimming with beer materialized.

    "Let¡¯s CELEBRATE!" he declared enthusiastically.

    Borg¡¯s confusion melted into excitement as he clapped his hands together and exclaimed,

    "YES, YES! NOW THAT¡¯S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE!"

    The once-silent room erupted into cheers, the crowd welcoming Borg with warmth and joy. His face lit up as he soaked in the moment he had hoped for. Borg strode toward Marvell with speed, grabbing the beer from his outstretched hand. Marvell smiled, watching his friend relish the attention and atmosphere.

    Borg tilted the cup back, savoring every drop of the beer. With a satisfied sigh, he exhaled loudly,

    "HAH!"

    Lowering the empty cup, he looked down at Marvell, who stood calmly in front of him. With a curious expression, Borg leaned in closer and asked in a quieter voice,

    "So, my friend..." he paused, lowering his tone even further, "When I received that message... what were we actually doing again?"

    Marvell smirked knowingly, replying casually,

    "Oh, I didn¡¯t write anything in the scroll, trust me. I¡¯ll explain everything once everyone¡¯s here to listen to my big mouth."

    Borg groaned in mock disappointment, throwing his head back dramatically.

    "Ugh, again with the wise words. They always make me fall asleep!"

    Marvell chuckled, his voice calm but teasing,

    "Don¡¯t worry, my friend. This time, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s more enjoyable to hear."

    Borg hesitated, rethinking his initial reaction before nodding in agreement.

    "Ok then, you¡¯re in charge," he said, bowing slightly to acknowledge Marvell¡¯s lead.

    "Nice, thank you," Marvell replied with a smile, his gratitude genuine as the room buzzed with energy and laughter around them.

    Borg let out a hearty laugh, his joy evident as he appreciated Marvell''s gratitude. The warm atmosphere, however, was abruptly interrupted when a sudden crash reverberated through the massive ice castle. The ground shook violently, sending ripples of concern through everyone present.

    Marvell¡¯s expression shifted, his usual calm replaced by immediate awareness. Turning quickly to Borg, he asked,

    "Uh, Borg, who was outside?"

    Borg paused mid-drink, lowering the cup with a casual smile.

    "Oh, you mean Roger? Yeah, he was outside waiting for Isaac," he replied nonchalantly.

    Hearing the name, Marvell¡¯s face darkened with worry.

    "Oh no," he muttered under his breath, a sense of urgency taking over. Without hesitation, he bolted toward the gate.

    While running, he called back to everyone in the hall, his voice firm but reassuring,

    "Everyone stay here! Let me take care of this problem."

    With that, he pushed the door open, the sound of the hall¡¯s commotion fading as he stepped outside. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving the rest of the group inside to wait in tense anticipation.

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    <div>

    Outside the Ice Castle...

    A fierce battle raged between Roger and the unknown knight, tearing apart everything around them. Snowstorms swirled violently, and the icy ground cracked under the weight of their devastating powers. Roger, wielding his dark magic staff and long sword, clashed head-on with the knight, who gripped a red spear glowing ominously in his hands.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The two charged, their weapons colliding with explosive force. Sparks and shards of ice flew as their strength pushed against one another. The unknown knight glared at Roger, his voice cutting through the storm with anger and disappointment.

    "Tell me, puppy, do you really think your wife will be happy once she discovers what you¡¯ve done?"

    Roger remained calm, his voice steady and emotionless.

    "I don¡¯t know. But I did what had to be done."

    The knight''s frustration boiled over.

    "BULLSHIT!" he roared, swinging his spear with overwhelming strength. The blow sent Roger hurtling into the sky like a comet.

    As he soared through the freezing winds, Roger kept his composure. Without uttering a word, he raised his staff. A hundred dark magical missiles erupted from its tip, streaking toward the knight below.

    The knight stood tall, unfazed. In an instant, dozens of crimson spears materialized around him, shooting up to meet Roger¡¯s missiles mid-air. The spears pierced the projectiles, shattering them in a flurry of explosions. Roger, anticipating this, unsheathed his sword and blocked several spears aimed directly at him.

    Hovering in the blizzard, Roger muttered a silent spell. His body glowed briefly with dark energy before he launched himself downward, cutting through the icy storm like a meteor. The knight leaped back as Roger crashed into the ground, shattering the frozen earth with a thunderous impact.

    Snow blanketed the battlefield as silence briefly fell. The knight scanned the stormy haze, gripping his spear tightly. Then, with deliberate force, he drove his weapon into the ground. The earth trembled as a fiery rift tore open beneath him, spewing molten lava. The knight quickly leaped aside, avoiding the eruption.

    From within the inferno, Roger emerged, levitating calmly with four dark orbs swirling around him in a perfect formation¡ªone above, one below, and two to his sides. His cold gaze pierced through the storm.

    "I know this is wrong," Roger said quietly, his tone devoid of emotion. "But what choice do I have?"

    The knight¡¯s anger ignited further.

    "You always have a choice!" he bellowed, charging at Roger with his spear poised to strike.

    Roger reacted instantly, darting forward with his staff and sword, both glowing with dark energy. The staff''s design inverted into a sharp point, forming an ¡°X¡± with his sword. The dark orbs followed his movements, crackling with unstable magic.

    The knight''s spear multiplied, appearing beside him and in his hands, ready to strike Roger from every angle. Just as their weapons were about to clash in a catastrophic explosion of power¡ª

    Marvell appeared.

    Calm and composed, Marvell casually walked into the chaos, seemingly unbothered by the impending collision. He raised one hand, and a freezing wave of magic radiated outward.

    Both Roger and the knight froze mid-attack, encased in solid ice, their weapons mere inches from each other. The battlefield fell silent once again, save for the crackling ice.

    Marvell sighed, brushing snow from his coat.

    "Jeez, you two... Do you have any idea how much trouble I¡¯d be in if you destroyed this place?" He smiled playfully, his tone light.

    He glanced at their frozen forms, scratching the back of his head.

    "Right... Isaac. You really are a troublemaker." closing his eyes and then sigh

    <hr>

    Back in the Ice Castle...

    <div>

    <div>

    <div>

    A meeting was held in a large hall. On the left sat the new heroes, their expressions a mix of nervousness and anticipation. On the right sat the old heroes, their demeanor calm and steady, a testament to their experience. Quiet murmurs filled the room as the two groups exchanged conversations, but Isaac remained silent in his chair, his face void of emotion.

    Suddenly, Marvell appeared behind Isaac¡¯s chair, startling the new heroes once again with his seamless magical entrance. His dragon tail emerged moments later, the head of the tail resting beside Dewi. Her face lit up with excitement as she reached out to pat it, the tail responding by leaning into her touch. Marvell, carrying a weary expression, spoke with a heavy tone, ¡°Hah... sorry for taking too long. I had to repair the damage caused by their battle, or else this whole place would already be destroyed.¡± He pulled out his chair and sat down, his exhaustion evident as he glanced around the room.

    Marvell turned his gaze toward the old heroes, addressing them directly. ¡°Now, like I said in the message, there¡¯s something we need to discuss, which all of you already know, and I don¡¯t need to explain any further.¡± As he spoke, Borg, one of the old heroes, took a sip of his drink and suddenly choked, drawing the room¡¯s attention.

    Everyone stared at Borg in confusion, while Marvell sighed in disappointment, clearly knowing what was coming. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to explain that,¡± he muttered, looking down at the table. Borg, now panicking, waved his hands defensively and blurted out, ¡°WELL, hold on, let me remember! Ayhhhh... if I remember right... now HOLD ON FOR A SECOND.¡± He pressed his fingers to his temples, visibly straining to recall something. After a tense pause, his face brightened. ¡°NOW I REMEMBER! WE¡¯RE HERE TO DISCUSS ABOUT KICKING THE KING¡¯S ASS, RIGHT?¡±

    The room went silent, all eyes turning to Marvell. He rested his chin on his hand, his tone half-resigned. ¡°Well...¡± There was a brief pause. ¡°It¡¯s like half the point of the discussion... but at least he¡¯s right, since in the end, we¡¯re going to kick his ass.¡± His faint smile betrayed a flicker of amusement at Borg¡¯s enthusiasm. Borg, now triumphant, quietly muttered a victorious ¡°YES¡± to himself, though no one else seemed to hear it.

    Marvell let out another sigh and refocused on the meeting. ¡°So, we¡¯re here to capture... no... we¡¯re here to save all 52 heroes. Since I already saved five, they can lead each of us to hero groups scattered across the Silver Kingdom. Now, before we get into this any deeper, any thoughts or questions you guys want to ask?¡±

    The room fell into an awkward silence. Borg glanced at his companions, who remained equally quiet. On the new heroes¡¯ side, Dewi, Angel, Nana, Andreas, and Aldir sat in their chairs, none offering questions or comments. Marvell surveyed the silent room, disappointment briefly flashing in his eyes. He adjusted his posture, keeping a faint smile as he tried to maintain composure. ¡°Well, I suppose we can get into what I wanted to say.¡± He exhaled softly, as if gathering his thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ll split the group into five. Each team will handle two groups of heroes and send them here. Each group will have two people¡ªone new hero and one old hero. How does that sound?¡±

    Again, there was silence, the members looking at one another uncertainly. Marvell¡¯s eyes betrayed his growing frustration, though he kept his tone light. ¡°Well, I guess we can just make the groups already,¡± he murmured under his breath, his gaze drifting to the table. ¡°I should¡¯ve kept it less detailed,¡± he whispered to himself before looking back up with a warm smile.

    Breaking the quiet, Borg raised his hand, setting his drink on the table. ¡°So, like... me facing two groups and then taking them here? How about my companion?¡± he asked, his tone casual.

    Angel shot Borg a sharp look, leaning forward. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious thinking we¡¯re just going to stand there and watch. We might find a way to help, okay?¡± Her voice was firm.

    Marvell turned his gaze to Angel, his expression serious but tinged with concern. ¡°Angel, I¡¯m sorry to tell you this, but what I want is for you guys to show your friends, not get into the fight. If the king sees you, sooner or later, he¡¯ll figure out our plan with his big brain, you know?¡± he gaze turn into the old hero " Still, the reason it has to be split up its because we need proceed faster, the longer we take. something bad might happen to either your friend.....or something related to the king himself...." With worrying face closing his eyes and sigh for a moment " Like it or not, you have to accept it "

    An elf among Marvell¡¯s old allies stood up, her face serious as she asked, ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re preparing a disguise for all of us?¡± Marvell blinked, clearly not hearing her at first. ¡°Come again?¡±

    The elf repeated her question, mimicking his earlier phrasing, ¡°¡®If the king sees you.¡¯ That means the king knows us, so you¡¯ve prepared disguises for all of us but want to remain cautious in case something happens, right?¡± Her voice carried a sharp edge as she pressed him.

    Marvell nodded, his tone calm. ¡°Yep, you got that one right. Thank goodness I didn¡¯t go into detail about that earlier. Yes, we¡¯ll all have disguises. I¡¯ve prepared them¡ªdisguises as demon generals.¡±

    The elf tilted her head, confused. ¡°Demon generals?¡±

    Marvell smiled faintly. ¡°Yep, you didn¡¯t hear that wrong. Demon generals tasked with killing heroes to gain the upper hand on the battlefield against the kingdom.¡± His tone lightened with a touch of joy. The elf nodded in understanding and returned to her seat without further comment.

    Aldir stood up, his expression determined. ¡°Is there any possible thing we can do other than pointing out our friends?¡± he asked, clearly wanting a larger role.

    Marvell¡¯s expression hardened slightly as he replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s up to them. You guys are just going to support my friends. We don¡¯t want to risk revealing that you¡¯re still alive, not to mention the collars¡¯ capabilities.¡± His tone carried a note of warning. Aldir sat back down, quiet but visibly deep in thought.

    The room grew still again, the weight of the discussion settling over everyone. Marvell broke the silence. ¡°Is there any question you guys want to ask? I¡¯ll welcome it with open arms,¡± he said, standing as if to encourage engagement.

    The silence persisted. Some members appeared lost in thought, while others seemed distracted. Marvell sighed, clearly disappointed. ¡°This is disappointing,¡± he muttered to himself before loudly announcing, ¡°Well, I suppose we can proceed to split the teams.¡± He reached under the table, pulling out a folded paper. ¡°I¡¯ve already made the groups, so please, like it or not, this is better for all of us.¡± His tone was firm but composed as he unfolded the paper.

    Drake leaned back in his chair, his calm voice breaking the tension. ¡°I have no problem with it. When it comes to strategy, we always rely on you. You¡¯re always calculating things before executing your plans.¡±

    Marvell chuckled lightly, his smile softening. ¡°Heh, that¡¯s nice,¡± he replied before opening the paper fully and beginning to explain the team arrangements to the group.

    he then put his hand down and pulled out a paper, putting it on the table and then looking at the new heroes with smile face " So, lets proceed everyone "

    </article>

 Chapter 7 : Not a Great START

    Walking down the road, Marvell and Angel followed the winding trail. Marvell silently enjoyed the view ahead, while the three dragon heads on his tail opened their mouths, inhaling the fresh air. Behind him, Angel rode her horse, gripping her staff, lost in thought. She gazed at the vast blue-lit sky before lowering her head, her eyes settling on Marvell¡¯s tail. The dragon heads continued to open their mouths, and curiosity stirred within her.

    "I was wondering..." Angel leaned slightly to the side, trying to get a better look at Marvell, who remained silent as he walked. "Once we reach the city I mentioned, what is your... plan? On capturing my... friends?"

    Marvell didn¡¯t respond. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as if he hadn¡¯t heard her.

    Angel furrowed her brows. "Marv?" she called, her voice tinged with curiosity.

    Before she could say anything more, the middle dragon head abruptly turned back, facing her. Angel¡¯s breath hitched in surprise.

    "I have a lot of plans, so don¡¯t worry about it," the dragon spoke¡ªMarvell¡¯s voice coming directly from its mouth.

    Angel stared, wide-eyed. "What the... Am I talking to Marvell right now?"

    The dragon head let out a small huff. "Surprised? Of course, it¡¯s me. I don¡¯t like talking without facing the person I¡¯m speaking to¡ªit feels... disrespectful."

    Angel remained silent, still processing what had just happened. Marvell, using the dragon head, continued, "You don¡¯t have to worry about things like this. Besides, the dragon I¡¯m using right now has temporarily replaced my head and is controlling my entire body. My real head is also open at the moment."

    Angel instinctively lifted her gaze. Sure enough, Marvell¡¯s real head was also open-mouthed, a faint smile stretched across his lips. His golden eyes shifted toward her.

    "Believe it or not, we do this because the air is fresh. It¡¯s a habit of ours. But if it makes you uncomfortable, we can stop."

    Angel quickly shook her head. "No, it doesn¡¯t bother me at all. You¡¯re free to do what you want."

    Marvell¡¯s dragon head smiled as well, his voice carrying a note of amusement. "Thanks for understanding. You should get some sleep. The journey to the city is long and... honestly, boring from here on out."

    Angel frowned. The past flickered in her mind, and her grip on the reins tightened slightly.

    "No. I¡¯m already traumatized by what you did three or four days ago. If this is one of your tricks, I¡¯m not falling for it."

    Marvell blinked in confusion. His real head tilted slightly, his gaze shifting upward as he tried to recall what she meant. Then, realization dawned on him.

    "Ah... right." He let out a small sigh. "Sorry about that. But what else was I supposed to do? If I hadn¡¯t done that, you wouldn¡¯t be here now." His voice softened, regret flickering in his eyes. He lowered his head slightly, looking at the horse before continuing. "But trust me on this one. Besides..." He hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, "I already made a contract with you. And it would cost me... my life."

    He lifted his gaze again, looking at her¡ªalmost like a guilty puppy.

    Angel sighed, shaking her head. "I can¡¯t deny that you saved us all... but let me feel tired in peace. My eyes are already getting heavy."

    Marvell didn¡¯t respond. His dragon head simply turned back forward, its mouth still wide open.

    Angel, on the other hand, reached into a bag strapped to the horse and pulled out a cloth. She draped it over the horse¡¯s neck before resting her head against it. What can I do to stay awake? she wondered.

    But no answer came to mind. Eventually, without realizing it, her thoughts faded, and she drifted off to sleep.

    Marvell, noticing this, let out a small breath. His real head finally closed its mouth, and he rolled his shoulders, a soft cracking sound breaking the silence.

    "Haaahhh... That feels much better."

    And with that, he continued his steady journey forward.

    <hr>

    In the Golden City of Glory

    Angel woke up, her eyes stinging slightly from the brightness. She blinked several times, rubbing them gently before her vision cleared. What lay before her stole her breath¡ªa city of unparalleled beauty, its architecture standing tall and majestic. The structures gleamed under the golden light, an awe-inspiring sight.

    One of Marvell¡¯s dragon heads noticed her awakening and quickly pulled his hair to notify him.

    "Ow!" Marvell winced, rubbing the sore spot before turning around. He saw Angel staring in amazement at the city and smirked slightly.

    "Finally awake. How does it feel to be back in the world of the living?" he teased.

    Angel, still entranced by the city, barely glanced at him. "Yeah..." she murmured absently.

    Marvell chuckled. "Well, I suppose it¡¯s time for us to start looking for what we came here for."

    At his words, Angel snapped back to reality. Her mission returned to the forefront of her mind, and she quickly glanced down at her arm. Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out a small mirror and examined her reflection. What she saw made her eyes widen.

    The person staring back at her wasn¡¯t her. Different face, different hair, different eyes¡ªeverything about her appearance had changed. The disguise Marvell had placed on her was flawless. Her haiir now purple, with eyes glowing yellow bright, and long hair.

    "I... I look completely different. And... new," she whispered in shock, running a hand through her altered hair. She turned to Marvell, astonishment in her voice. "No wonder they call you the best."

    Marvell, clearly pleased with the compliment, smiled. "Awh, it¡¯s nothing special. Just a basic spell I learned a long time ago."

    His three dragon heads stared at Angel, fascinated by her transformed look. Marvell, sensing their curiosity behind him, turned his attention back to her.

    "Let¡¯s take a look around and see what we can find," he said calmly. "If we find one of your friends, then it¡¯s a jackpot. If we don¡¯t, we get nothing." He paused, then looked over his shoulder at her. "So, what do you prefer? Should we split up or search together?"

    Angel tilted her head slightly, deep in thought. Her gaze drifted to the sky as she weighed the options. After a few moments, she finally answered.

    "We split," she decided. "Like you said in the meeting¡ªthe faster we do this, the faster we reach our goal." she said with serious face

    Marvell nodded in agreement. He stopped walking and raised his hand. From his palm, a shard of ice formed, glowing faintly in the light.

    "Take this with you," he said, stepping toward Angel.

    She took it from his hand, inspecting the smooth, cold surface. Before she could ask, Marvell spoke again.

    "Just break the ice if you find them."

    Angel looked up at him, but before she could respond¡ªhe was gone.

    Her eyes widened as she glanced around, searching for any sign of him. There was nothing. No trace of where he had gone, no sound of footsteps¡ªjust the city stretching out before her.

    Where did he go? she wondered, slightly unsettled.

    Realizing he had already moved ahead, she exhaled softly and dismounted from her horse. Taking the reins in hand, she began walking through the city, leading the horse forward. Though her gaze wandered over the breathtaking scenery, her mind remained focused on her mission.

    Walking down the street, Angel silently led her horse by the reins. Her gaze swept across the bustling city, searching for any sign of her friends or something of interest along the road. Despite the golden splendor surrounding her, her mind was elsewhere.

    She raised her arm, her eyes lingering on the spot where the contract with Marvell had been sealed. Her hand looked normal¡ªuntouched, unchanged. But she knew that Marvell¡¯s arm, the one he had used to shake on their deal, remained marked by the contract.

    As she continued walking, something about Marvell surfaced in her thoughts, a memory that refused to fade.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    <hr>

    The Journey to the Castle

    Marvell was fast asleep in a wheeled chair made of ice, being pulled by a horse. A glass-like visor of unmelting ice covered his eyes, dimly reflecting the surrounding light. Meanwhile, in the front, Drake and Angel walked side by side, deep in conversation.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t trust him,¡± Drake said bluntly.

    Angel blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected response.

    Drake continued, his voice steady. ¡°Trusting him or not¡ªthat¡¯s for you to decide, not me. He might seem like someone who¡¯s always hiding something behind that smile, but believe me, my new friend¡­¡± His gaze flickered back toward Marvell, who remained asleep, oblivious to his dragon tail mischievously using ink to draw a mustache on his face.

    ¡°When he¡¯s serious, his intentions are pure. You¡¯ll know it when you see it¡ªhis eyes turn hollow, like an empty shell. Creepy, almost demonic.¡± Drake paused for a moment before adding, ¡°But if you ask me¡­ I think it reminds him of when he lost his brother.¡±

    A heavy silence followed.

    Angel, sensing the weight of the moment, spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t have to tell us if it¡¯s too painful.¡±

    Drake shook his head. ¡°No. If you really want to understand Marvell, it¡¯s better that you know.¡±

    He exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. ¡°His little brother¡­ he was full of energy. We all loved him. Until the accident.¡±

    Angel¡¯s expression hardened as she listened.

    Drake continued, his tone quieter now. ¡°Marvell had a plan. But when things didn¡¯t go the way he expected, everything fell apart. His brother made a sacrifice¡­ it ended the Demon General but left Marvell wounded for life.¡±

    Drake lowered his head slightly. ¡°Many of our friends died that day. Everyone grieved¡­ except Marv.¡±

    Angel¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°He¡­ didn¡¯t grieve?¡±

    Drake let out a faint chuckle, though there was no humor in it. ¡°No. He laughed.¡±

    Angel¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°He¡­ laughed?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He laughed while crying,¡± Drake confirmed. ¡°Maybe the wound in his heart still hurts when he looks at you. Maybe that¡¯s why he chose to save you all.¡±

    His voice held a quiet sadness, but he remained composed. After a deep breath, he steadied himself, letting the emotions settle. ¡°The past is the past, but the wounds it leaves behind never truly fade.¡±

    Angel listened intently as Drake turned his gaze skyward. ¡°You don¡¯t have to trust him. He¡¯ll probably make choices that make you uncomfortable. But know this¡ª¡±

    Drake met her eyes. ¡°Once he makes a promise, he holds it in honor of his fallen brother.¡±

    A faint breeze passed through as he finished. ¡°Because for him, doing what his brother would have wanted¡­ is something he¡¯ll do, no matter the cost.¡±

    <hr>

    Back to the Present

    Remembering Drake¡¯s words, Angel remained silent, as if there was nothing left to question. Her thoughts swirled, but she kept them to herself.

    She glanced around and noticed a group of guards patrolling nearby. If I ask about the heroes without a good reason, they might get suspicious¡­ What should I do?

    She stood still in the middle of the road, lost in thought. But within moments, an idea formed in her mind. Wasting no time, she stepped forward and approached the patrolling guards.

    ¡°Uhm, excuse me, sir?¡± she asked, lowering her voice politely.

    The guards immediately noticed her, and one of them responded, ¡°Yes? Is there anything we can help you with?¡± His tone carried a hint of curiosity.

    Seeing she had their attention, Angel asked, ¡°Did the heroes sent by the king arrive in this city?¡±

    The guard furrowed his brow, clearly wondering about her request. ¡°Hm¡­ Heroes, you say? I¡¯m sorry, miss, but what exactly do you want with them?¡±

    The three other guards remained silent, watching the exchange.

    Angel took a deep breath before responding, her voice laced with guilt and sadness. ¡°Far away from here¡­ my home village was burned down by powerful demons. I had no choice but to escape¡­¡±

    The guard¡¯s expression shifted, sympathy evident in his eyes. Without hesitation, he answered, ¡°My men and I aren¡¯t sure if the heroes are here. We were only deployed this morning, but they might be at the castle. I heard the lord of this land is holding a party.¡±

    Another guard from the back spoke up, ¡°If you can¡¯t find the heroes in the city, there¡¯s an adventurer¡¯s guild not far from here. Just head straight past us and turn right. You¡¯ll see a sign that says ¡®Adventurer.¡¯ They might be able to help you.¡±

    With her questions answered, Angel bowed slightly. ¡°Thank you for your help. I¡¯m sorry for bothering you.¡±

    One of the guards waved off her concern with a reassuring tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, miss. It¡¯s our duty to help the citizens of this city, whether they¡¯re from here or not.¡±

    Angel lifted her head, offering them a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way, then. Thanks for everything.¡±

    Without wasting another moment, she turned and walked quickly down the road. Behind her, the guards resumed their patrol, content with having done their duty.

    Angel glanced back, but the guards were already out of sight. She let out a small sigh, slowing her pace to a normal walk.

    Now armed with new information, her thoughts raced. If there¡¯s a chance my friends are attending this party¡­ that means I need to find a way into the castle.

    Her gaze lifted toward the towering fortress at the heart of the city. The massive structure loomed over everything, an imposing presence that solidified her resolve.

    Should I¡­ tell him about this? she wondered, uncertainty flickering across her face.

    She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small shard of ice¡ªMarv¡¯s signal. He had told her to break it if she needed to call him.

    For a brief moment, hesitation crept in. Memories of their first encounter surfaced, stirring emotions she wasn¡¯t sure how to handle. She clenched her teeth and shook her head, forcing herself to push the past aside.

    No. There¡¯s no time for that now.

    With renewed determination, she tightened her grip on the ice and raised her hand. Without a second thought, she hurled it to the ground. The shard shattered into countless fragments, scattering across the street.

    A few passersby glanced in her direction, momentarily curious about her actions, but soon lost interest and continued on their way.

    Angel stood firm, her expression unwavering. She had made her decision.

    Now, all that was left was to wait for Marvell¡¯s arrival.

    <div>

    She waited. And waited.

    With each passing minute, her patience thinned.

    Angel¡¯s eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of him. Yet, Marvell was nowhere to be seen. A sigh escaped her lips as she shifted uncomfortably, the weight of standing in the middle of the street growing tiresome.

    Eventually, she made her way to the side of a nearby building, leaning her back against the wall. Maybe I should¡¯ve expected this¡­ she thought, closing her eyes briefly.

    Time dragged on.

    Minutes turned into hours.

    Frustration gnawed at her, but she forced herself to stay put. Where is he? she wondered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Despite her growing exhaustion, she refused to leave.

    Still, Marvell didn¡¯t come.

    <hr>

    Meanwhile

    A few hours ago, inside the bustling Adventurer¡¯s Guild, the air was filled with voices¡ªsome laughing, some deep in discussion, and others simply exchanging stories. Adventurers of various species, armed with weapons strapped to their backs or clutched in their hands, moved about the hall.

    Marvell stood in front of the quest board, his three draconic tails shifting slightly as he scanned the postings with a neutral expression. His eyes landed on a particular quest, and he muttered in confusion, "Hmph, I never expected this quest would remain on the board." He plucked the paper from the board and examined it.

    The quest was marked S+ Difficulty¡ªan assignment to defeat Demon Lord Sirius, a being roaming the earth. The description detailed his dark skin and five glowing eyes¡ªthree yellow and two red. Marvell narrowed his eyes at the paper. "I better make a note about this. What do you guys think?" he asked, turning slightly to glance at his draconic tails.

    The middle head responded, its voice echoing in his mind, "Yeah, I agree."

    The left and right heads nodded in unison. Marvell smirked slightly at their agreement, then placed the quest back onto the board, taking a moment to stare at it.

    Suddenly, a voice caught his attention.

    One of the guards from earlier, the same one who had spoken with Angel, entered the guild and approached the receptionist with a concerned look. Marvell, intrigued, stepped closer, unable to hear clearly over the noise of the guild. Subtly, he cast a spell on his furry ears, enhancing his hearing.

    "There¡¯s a girl¡ªpurple hair, glowing eyes, and wearing glasses¡ªwho told me her village was attacked by a demon army. Could you send at least one or two groups to investigate?" the guard requested, his tone steady and polite.

    Marvell froze.

    "Oh no, what now...?" he muttered under his breath.

    His tails also went silent, though their lack of facial expressions did little to hide their surprise.

    The receptionist, her expression serious, nodded. "A demon army, you say? That¡¯s a tough mission. I¡¯ll inform those available for deployment."

    The guard bowed slightly. "Thank you. I shall take my leave and return to my duties." He then turned and walked out of the guild.

    Marvell remained rooted in place, disbelief washing over him. No, no, no¡­ it couldn¡¯t be her. Why would she go to such lengths, lying about a demon attack? His mind raced, searching for possibilities.

    Should I ask the guard? No¡­ they saw me with her earlier. That would be too suspicious.

    The left dragon head sighed through their mental link. "We¡­ we have no choice."

    Marvell¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "You couldn¡¯t possibly mean¡ª"

    The left head nodded. "Yes. What choice do we have?"

    A tense silence settled between them.

    The middle head tried to remain hopeful. "We¡¯re going to be in so much trouble right now. Come on, guys, it might not be her." Convincing himself this wans''t her friend doing

    The right head responded bluntly. "Yeah¡­ sorry to disappoint you. There¡¯s no other girl in this city with purple hair, glowing eyes, and glasses. We¡¯re basically doomed." remain hopeless about the whole situation they are facing

    The middle head fell silent, unable to argue about it.

    Without another word, Marvell turned and walked toward the exit, his tails following in uncharacteristic quiet.

    Stepping outside, he gazed up at the sky, exhaling sharply.

    In his mind, a single thought echoed:

    "NNNOOOOOO........."

    Suddenly, a strange sensation struck him. His entire body tensed as an overwhelming feeling settled in his mind. His eyes dulled, turning into hollow emptiness as he processed the situation.

    "Nope," he muttered flatly.

    His voice, laced with exhaustion and annoyance but devoid of anger, carried an undeniable finality.

    "I am not gonna answer until I finish washing the problems you just created for me."

    His tails remained silent with dissapointed face.

    </article>

 Chapter 8 : The Demon General

    In a small village far away from the Glorious City

    Marvell sat on the grass, the warm afternoon breeze brushing against him as he gazed at the village in the distance. The sun was slowly descending, casting an orange glow over the horizon. His hollowed eyes fixated on the settlement, while his three draconic tails stared alongside him, their faces marked with worry.

    He closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting out a slow breath before reopening them, his gaze returning to normal.

    "To be honest, I didn¡¯t like this idea. I never even signed up for this," he muttered, his voice laced with quiet frustration.

    The middle tail sighed, its thoughts echoing into Marvell¡¯s mind. "Same, I hate this. I wish there was another way."

    "Yeah, it¡¯s unfortunate we don¡¯t have another way," the left one agreed, resignation clear in its tone.

    "I knnooowwww¡­" the middle tail groaned, still in disbelief.

    Marvell remained silent for a moment before addressing the left one. "Just¡­ make sure nobody gets killed. We burn down the village while sparing the villagers, and we¡¯re done."

    The right tail, listening carefully, spoke with a tone filled with confidence. "Huh¡­ that sounds easy. Just¡­ spreading¡­ fire? That¡¯s basically what we¡¯re capable of."

    Marvell exhaled, his expression calm but his tone laced with unease. "Yeah, easy, you say. But what happens if the village fights back? We all saw what happened during that time, right?"

    The three tails fell silent. The weight of past mistakes pressed down on them as they recalled an incident from long ago¡ªone they had no desire to repeat.

    <hr>

    In the Past Long Time Ago

    Marvell stood alongside his three draconic tails and Drake, watching as the village chief and the rest of the villagers stood their ground against the demon army. Despite being outmatched, the villagers fought fiercely, refusing to back down. In the midst of the battle, younglings were being evacuated to safety, shielded by those who stayed behind to fight.

    Marvell remained awkwardly silent, his gaze fixed on the scene. Beside him, Drake''s eyes widened in shock at the sheer resistance before them. The village chief, leading the charge, moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, his every strike calculated, his stance unwavering as he protected his people.

    Marvell let out a sigh, drawing confused glances from his tails before he finally spoke. "Come on, let¡¯s help them."

    Drake snapped out of his daze, shaking his head multiple times before quickly following Marvell onto the battlefield.

    <hr>

    Back To The Present

    Marvell and his three tails lowered their heads, lost in thought. A heavy silence hung between them as they glanced at one another, exchanging unspoken concerns. After a moment, they sighed in unison.

    "I hope we can get this done easily¡­ without that happening," Marvell muttered, his voice laced with unease. The memory of what could happen¡ªwhat had happened before¡ªsent a chill through him. His three tails quickly nodded in agreement, sharing his apprehension.

    Shaking off the tension, Marvell stood up and began walking toward the village. As he moved, a faint fire flickered across his body, shifting his form. His dragonic features faded, replaced by the guise of a human traveler, his figure wrapped in a simple brown cloak.

    The middle tail let its jaw drop to the ground before resting its head atop Marvell¡¯s, as if this transformation was nothing new. Soon, the other two tails followed, their heads settling on his left and right shoulders like decorative accessories. Then, in an instant, all three tails vanished without a trace, leaving Marvell appearing as nothing more than an ordinary wanderer.

    With his disguise complete, he continued toward the village, his eyes set on whatever awaited him ahead.

    <hr>

    In A Village, As The Sun Already Goes Down

    Marvell entered the village in silence, his head lowered, the hood of his robe casting a shadow over his face. His steps were steady, deliberate, as he walked toward the village center. The villagers glanced at him with fleeting curiosity, but none paid him much mind, soon returning to their daily tasks.

    As he moved forward, he slowly lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the bustling scene before him¡ªpeople working, tending to their routines, unaware of the weight he carried.

    "Ugh..." A quiet, regretful sigh escaped him. Then, in a barely audible whisper, laced with sorrow, he murmured, "Please forgive me."

    Raising one hand, he scanned his surroundings with careful precision, his eyes absorbing every detail of the village.

    A fire emerged from Marvell''s hand as he pointed his palm at the ground, staring down at it. The villagers who witnessed the sudden act were confused.

    In mere seconds, a burst of flames erupted from his palm, spreading rapidly. Panic surged through the crowd as the unexpected attack sent people scrambling, their shocked cries filling the air.

    Marvell, watching them flee, closed his eyes.

    He slowly unwrapped the hood covering his head, revealing his red, draconic, demonic face¡ªfive burning eyes scanning his surroundings. Beneath him, fire surged upward, lifting him effortlessly into the sky. From above, he could see the entire village.

    Raising his hand, he conjured a fireball above his head, his sharp gaze analyzing the landscape. He focused only on empty areas. The flames in his hand lashed out one by one, striking precisely where no villagers stood.

    Explosions tore through the empty spaces. Houses ignited instantly, flames devouring the structures without mercy.

    The villagers, now gripped by fear, abandoned their homes, fleeing in desperation.

    "As long as I attack only the empty places¡­ there will be no dead," he murmured, his five eyes tracking each target with precision.

    As he continued his assault, one of the dragon tails resting on his head stirred. Its hollowed skull shifted, an eye emerging from the empty cavity, staring intently at something.

    Sharing the same vision, Marvell frowned.

    "Hmph?"

    His demonic eyes followed the tail¡¯s gaze¡ªspotting a White Knight in the distance. An armored warrior, draped in a flowing white cape, rescuing villagers.

    Seeing this, a smile crept across Marvell¡¯s face.

    But before he could react¡ª

    An arrow struck him from behind.

    The impact sent a shock through his body, making him lose control of the fierce tornado of fire beneath him. The flames flickered and collapsed, his footing vanishing beneath him.

    Eyes narrowing, he reached behind and yanked the arrow free with ease, his gaze snapping toward the source.

    A group of adventurers had arrived¡ªswift and prepared. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

    "Well, I¡¯d better take my leave," he muttered to himself.

    Hearing his words, the three dragon heads resting on his shoulders suddenly sprang to life.

    His tails reappeared, towering over him. Then, from their gaping jaws, a wave of frost erupted.

    The advancing adventurers froze in place as an icy mist swallowed the battlefield. The freezing fog thickened, obscuring their view.

    A massive wall of ice formed between Marvell and his pursuers, blocking their path completely.

    Taking advantage of the moment, Marvell pressed his palm to the ground. Beneath him, a brilliant blue magic circle flared to life, its arcane symbols glowing ominously.

    As he lifted his head, he saw the White Knight standing far away, watching him in silence.

    Marvell met the knight¡¯s gaze. Then¡ª

    Marv vanished from the place.

    <hr>

    Outside Of The Village, Far Away From It

    Marvell suddenly appeared in midair, his teleportation complete¡ªonly to immediately plummet to the ground.

    "Ow," he muttered after impact.

    Meanwhile, his tails cheered in celebration, their expressions filled with excitement over yet another successful mission.

    Marvell, however, remained lying in the grass, exhausted. He slowly turned over, now lying flat on his back. His sudden movement caught the tails off guard for a moment.

    Feeling relieved but drained, he let out a tired sigh.

    "Finally¡­ onto step two," he murmured, breathing heavily.

    The left tail, struck by a sudden thought, quickly turned to the middle, right, and Marvell with a question.

    "I wonder how they got there so fast?"

    Hearing this, Marvell glanced at him with a disappointed expression.

    The left tail flinched in shock.

    Still staring at the starry night sky, Marvell sighed before answering.

    "Yeah, teleporters suck. They just make things more problematic for us," he muttered, still exhausted.

    He continued with a drawn-out groan.

    "Aaaahhhhhh¡­ I wish I could just go to bed after this," he said lazily, sleep creeping into his voice.

    His five eyes remained fixed on the beautiful night sky, lost in its vastness.

    But before he could drift off¡ª

    His tails suddenly appeared in front of his face¡­ and bit him all at once.

    With a sharp tug, they yanked him upright.

    Marvell groaned, trying to resist.

    "Nooo, just let me stay here for at least five more minutes," he pleaded, struggling against them.

    But his tails were restless, refusing to let him rest. They kept pulling him up, their grip firm.

    Feeling the pain intensify, Marvell finally gave in.

    "Fine," he grumbled.

    With a sigh, he forced himself to stand, rolling his shoulders. He cracked his neck left and right, then rotated his body, his bones popping with each motion.

    After a while, he stretched his body upward, then finally lowered his arms.

    Feeling refreshed, he smirked.

    "Act two¡­ The General Interferes," he declared.

    <hr>

    At the Castle, Where the Royal Party Was Held

    At the grand party hosted by the lord of the city, Angel leaned back, dressed in elegant, royal attire, a complete change from her usual look. In her hand, she held a drink, but disappointment was carved into her face as she slowly swirled the liquid, staring at the lively celebration.

    "I infiltrated this place¡­ only to realize I got nothing I wanted," she thought, watching the nobles dance gracefully.

    She sighed in frustration before finally taking a sip of her drink.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The moment the liquid touched her tongue, she froze. Her expression twisted in disgust.

    "Ugh¡­ I thought this world didn¡¯t have wine. Turns out they do," she muttered, glaring at the drink with pure dislike.

    Still frowning, she scanned the room and spotted a table full of food, glasses, and more wine. Without hesitation, she made her way toward it, intending to place the unwanted drink down and free herself of the burden.

    But just as she was about to reach the table¡ª

    A teenager, dressed in royal attire, suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path. His clothing suggested he belonged to a noble family.

    With a charming smile, he greeted her.

    "Hello, young lady."

    Angel blinked, momentarily confused, but responded with a polite nod.

    "Hi? May I help you?" she asked, uncertain.

    The young noble extended his hand toward her.

    "You looked so lonely over there. I would love to have a dance with you," he said smoothly.

    Hearing this, Angel politely declined as she took a small step back.

    "I¡¯m sorry, but I already have someone," she said firmly.

    At her refusal, the noble¡¯s expression darkened.

    Without warning, he grabbed her wrist¡ªtightly.

    Angel flinched as pain shot through her hand.

    "Who said I was asking?" he sneered.

    Before she could react, he snatched the wine from her hand.

    Without hesitation, he tried to force the glass to her lips, attempting to pour the drink into her mouth.

    Angel resisted, keeping her mouth tightly shut.

    "Shit¡­ Is he trying to get me drunk?" she thought, struggling against his grip.

    People nearby noticed the scene, some even glancing in her direction.

    But despite the clear tension, no one stepped in.

    Instead, they turned their eyes away and continued their conversations and dances, unwilling to interfere.

    Angel, unwilling to let this escalate any further, remained persistent in her resistance. The noble, growing frustrated, tightened his grip and continued to force her.

    As things grew more and more uncomfortable, Marv watched from the window in the middle of the night, his presence unnoticed. His eyes remained fixed on the scene below, his tails watching alongside him.

    "Hmph, getting any ideas for a cool demonic form?" Marv asked, his voice calm and steady.

    The middle tail, still staring at the same scene, sighed. "Sorry, I can''t come up with anything special."

    The left tail, however, voiced a different thought. "You know, that noble seems cruel, don''t you think?"

    The middle tail smiled in agreement. "You know, we could put him to good use for something."

    The left tail''s mouth opened slightly as he fixated on the noble. "Hungry," he muttered, his head slowly inching toward the window.

    Noticing this, Marv, the right tail, and the middle tail quickly dragged him back, pinning him down. Helpless and unable to resist, the left tail remained still.

    For a moment, they all exchanged glances before shifting their focus to the right tail. The right tail, seeing Marv and the middle tail staring at him, groaned in annoyance.

    "Ugh, fine... but I get to eat him," the right tail grumbled.

    Hearing this, the left tail let out a desperate whine. "Aww, but I was the one who thought of it first!" he complained, still pinned down and clearly disappointed.

    Feeling increasingly uncomfortable and having had enough, Angel shoved the noble away and slapped him across the face. She breathed heavily, exhaustion creeping in as fear began to freeze her skin, sending a chilling shiver down her spine.

    The noble stood in stunned silence, his face twisted in shock. His teeth clenched in rage, and he raised his hand, intent on striking her back. But before he could land the blow, a red magic circle suddenly appeared beneath him. Flames erupted from it, sending a wave of heat through the room and throwing the gathering into panic.

    The noble stumbled backward, fear overtaking his expression, while Angel, shocked, collapsed to the ground, helpless.

    A monstrous figure emerged from the flames¡ªa towering demonic entity wreathed in fire, its form massive, with three draconic heads sprouting from its neck.

    The right dragon head wasted no time. Its mouth opened wide, and in an instant, it lunged at the noble. The man let out a terrified scream, but he was powerless¡ªhis small frame was swallowed whole in one swift bite.

    The left head turned its gaze toward Angel, observing her for a brief moment before sighing. Without hesitation, it opened its jaws and consumed her in an instant.

    Gasps and horrified screams filled the hall as the guests, paralyzed by fear, scrambled toward the exits. But before anyone could escape, walls of fire erupted at every doorway, trapping them inside. The windows, too, were engulfed in flames, leaving no way out.

    Then, the demon spoke.

    "I am the great Flamendous, the loyal servant of the Demon King. I have come here only to deliver a message."

    The remaining nobles cowered in terror, their eyes locked on the towering entity.

    Flamendous continued, his voice calm yet laced with menace.

    "We, the army of Hell, declare war on humanity. Though we once fell in battle long ago, we have risen from the depths of death itself to avenge our defeat and conquer this world. Take this warning and spread it, for we desire this war to be a game worth playing."

    A wicked grin spread across the demon¡¯s face as he loomed over the trembling nobles.

    Then, without warning, the magic circle beneath him erupted in a final explosion of flames, sending another wave of screams echoing through the grand hall.

    As the terrified survivors opened their eyes, they found the palace engulfed in fire, the heat licking at the walls, consuming everything in sight. But the demon¡ªFlamendous¡ªwas nowhere to be found.

    Everyone inside the palace was in a state of panic. The flames blocking the exit had vanished, and the moment the doors were freed, the nobles wasted no time in rushing outside, desperate to escape before the fire consumed them.

    The explosion had been loud enough to alert the guards patrolling outside the castle. Without hesitation, they stormed in, working quickly to extinguish the flames while aiding the injured nobles. The sight of the guards rushing toward the castle sent a wave of unease through the streets. Onlookers murmured anxiously among themselves, trying to piece together what had happened.

    Adventurers who had heard the explosion were just as alarmed. They immediately abandoned whatever they were doing and rushed out, their eyes fixed on the thick smoke rising from within the castle. Without a second thought, they sprinted toward the scene, urgency driving their every step.

    As the commotion spread, the entire city began to spiral into chaos. Fear gripped the people, and in mere moments, the streets were filled with frantic voices and hurried footsteps, the city descending into disorder.

    As the city erupted into chaos, in an alley shrouded in thick darkness while everyone was busy, Angel woke up in the middle of it. Her eyes slowly opened, confused and dizzy from what had happened earlier. She scanned her surroundings, but all she could see was darkness covering her vision in a middle of the night, moon was covered by the cloud making the sky darker.

    "Waking up already? As expected from the hero who not only creates problems for me... but offers a new set of course for the plan to succed" a familiar voice echoed from the shadows.

    At first, Angel remained confused until she recognized the voice¡ªit was Marvell speaking. She called out while stretching her hand forward, trying to feel her surroundings, her heads move left and right looking aroung like a blind creature.

    "Marvell, are you there?" she asked, calling out his name.

    There was silence for a moment. Remaining confused, she called his name again.

    "Marv?" with low voice and wondering tone

    Hearing it a second time Marv sigh for a moment after hearing it, a small flame erupted, its sudden brightness stinging her eyes. She instinctively raised her hand to shield herself before lowering it, adjusting to the light.

    Marvell''s draconic tails appeared, their mouths open, each creating a flame that flickered within their mouth, casting a warm glow in the darkness. Their fire kept the cold at bay. Marvell sat in the middle of his tails, his eyes hollow and empty, staring directly at Angel with a serious expression, creating unease in the place.

    Angel noticed this and fell silent, unsettled by his gaze. Marvell slowly closed his eyes, then reopened them, returning them to normal before speaking in a disappointed tone.

    his eyes was half closed staring at her "I know you''re the one who lied about a demon attack in a nearby village. The fact that I had to make it happen just so everyone in this city would believe it..." remain serious tone

    Angel remained confused, tilting her head slightly.

    "Wha¡ªwhat do you mean?" she asked, still not understanding the situation she was in.

    Marvell let out a calm sigh and explained.

    "You told a guard that a demon was attacking a village, and they believed you. They sent scouts to see it for themselves. And guess who was the only girl with purple hair?" His eyes locked onto Angel with seriousness.

    Realizing what she had done, she remained silent in guilt. She sighed and then asked calmly,

    "Oh... I thought they wouldn¡¯t bother to do so. I... I am sorry," she said, looking down.

    Marvell sighed before expressing his thoughts.

    as he look down on the ground "To be honest, on my way here, I was thinking of calling you a dumb person who brings problems to my doorstep. But then I realized... you''re not dumb. None of you are. You''re just new and have never known anything beyond the castle," he said calmly, looking at Angel with worrying face. He sighed again, closing his eyes in regret after saying what he wanted to say to her.

    Angel, hearing Marvell''s thoughts about what had happened, apologized while bowing her head.

    "I am sorry," she said.

    Marvell then told her, with his eyes appearing slowly back to normal yet feelings guilty on his expression.

    "No need to apologize. It''s already done, though."

    Hearing this, Angel went silent, unsure of what to say. Marvell remained still, his gaze lowered to the ground. Something came to her mind, and she asked,

    "So... what did you do after knowing the guards sent their scouts?" she asked calmly.

    Marvell slowly raised his head, revealing hollow, empty eyes staring at her as he answered.

    "I BURNED down a village," he said, his tone serious, his expression eerie.

    Hearing this, Angel was shocked.

    "Wha¡ªWhat?" confused.

    Marvell closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them, his gaze returning to normal. Then, with a smile, he reassured her.

    "Without killing people, of course. I''m not a murderer." while looking sideways and close one of his eyes.

    His lighthearted tone shifted the mood slightly. Angel let out a breath of relief after hearing it.

    "Phew... I thought my actions had cost someone their life," she said, feeling reassured.

    Marvell then responded with a casual yet almost cheerful tone.

    "Nah, don''t worry. Actually, your actions did kill someone."

    Angel''s expression shifted instantly to shock.

    "My actions... killed someone...?" she asked.

    "Yep," Marvell replied with a happy smile. Then, continuing in a calm yet proud voice, he added,

    "A noble¡ªthe one who was forcing you. I made good use of him."

    Angel, feeling no concern over the noble''s death, asked,

    "What did you do to him?"

    Marvell replied simply,

    "Simple. Our right friend here¡ª" he pointed at the right tail, its mouth wide open, flames still bursting inside to light the room¡ª

    "¡ªate him."

    He said it casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

    Hearing this, Angel didn¡¯t seem to mind and told Marvell,

    "Yeah, I feel like he deserved it," she said, showing no concern at all.

    Marvell let out a short laugh, realizing they shared the same view on the matter.

    "My brother would be bothered by it and would ask me why I did that. Guess I was wrong about you," he said as his laughter slowly faded, while angel have something in her mind as she look down.

    "Anyway, on my way here, something got me thinking. But before that, I want to ask you something."

    Angel¡¯s eyes lifted in curiosity.

    "Now that you mention it, I¡¯m curious. Why?" she asked.

    Seeing her attention fixed on him brought a smile to Marvell¡¯s face. He quickly answered with enthusiasm,

    "Well, aside from rescuing you, your actions gave me an idea. This idea will ensure your friends¡¯ safety, but... you better hope it works."

    He spoke calmly, leaving Angel intrigued. She remained silent, waiting to hear what Marvell had to say.

    Marvell then continued,

    "Given the fact that this city''s safety is now threatened because of the report about demons attacking a nearby village, the so-called king would probably think of sending the heroes to guard this place. Because, when you think about it... the king wants all of you dead rather than having you return safely."

    Angel¡¯s expression shifted as she listened, frozen in silence.

    "Considering the demon lord was defeated by an unnamed hero a year ago, and the fact that the king knows this... my assumptions only grow stronger and stronger. Not only would he want demons outside his walls eliminated, but sending all of you to your deaths could easily be his second priority," Marvell said calmly, his eyes locked onto Angel.

    Angel remained still, completely silent as she processed Marvell¡¯s words, his suspicions weighing heavily on her mind.

    "But unfortunately, that remains just an assumption. It could be wrong, and staying here might be a waste of time," Marvell said calmly, making it clear he wasn¡¯t entirely sure of his own theory.

    Hearing this, Angel was confused and asked curiously,

    "What makes you think you might be wrong?"

    From the palm of Marvell¡¯s hand, an ice stick formed. He took a bite, savoring it for a moment before answering her curiosity.

    "This city holds value for being important¡ªit produces things like runes and other magical stuff. For example, the teleportation devices I mentioned earlier. There''s a huge mine under this city."

    He took another bite, then pointed the ice stick at Angel.

    "If he knows this city is threatened¡­ well, there are a lot of possibilities. I¡¯m too lazy to list them all, but sending your group of friends here isn¡¯t the only option."

    Lowering his hand, he took yet another bite.

    Hearing this, a question struck Angel¡¯s mind. Without hesitation, she quickly asked,

    "Why didn¡¯t you think of this plan earlier? Why now?"

    Marvell looked up and casually replied,

    "Simple. What does every creature always do?" angel curiosity was risen up as he hears what Marv said to her.

    Then, lifting his hand to his shoulder, he answered jokingly,

    "Because we always forget things, okay?" with eyes looking sideways

    Hearing his response, Angel could only sit in awkward silence before replying with mild understanding,

    "¡­Okay." simple word

    After eating the ice stick, he stood up and shook his body from left to right, cracking the bones in his back. Felt fresh he then, he told Angel in a calm tone,

    "For now, we take a rest. In this hard time, people will not rest in peace knowing their city was under attack for a moment. I already signed a place to rest, it was near, so you don¡¯t have to worry about it." he closed his eyes with a smile for a moment before then reopening his eyes.

    He then started walking past Angel, who immediately stood up. As the light from the tails illuminated the darkness, it revealed that ice had been blocking the alley path for a long time.

    Marvell placed his palm against the ice and closed his eyes for a moment. Angel tilted her head to the right, watching his actions. One by one, his tails started closing their mouths, extinguishing the flames they had been producing, making the entire place dark again.

    Marvell opened his eyes, and slowly, the ice he touched melted into the ground. As soon as the path was clear, he walked out of the alley, where the place was now empty¡ªno people, just the two of them. Angel followed closely behind.

    Marvell glanced back at her, suddenly remembering something.

    "Oh yeah, your stuff and staff. Heheheh." He pointed at the alley with his finger, and then his hand upward.

    Angel¡¯s belongings had been placed inside a giant sack, and her staff was floating toward her. She quickly grabbed it and looked at Marvell with gratitude, Marvell lower his hand.

    "Thank you." bowing down before then stand up again.

    Marvell stand for a moment telling angel.

    "Come on, we need to rest, not stand here and realize how much a waste of time that is." before then walk away forward.

    Angel, struggling with the heavy sack, adjusted her grip. Noticing this, Marvell raised his hand, and almost instantly, the giant sack became lighter, making it easier for her to carry. " thanks Marv for your help " Thanking Marvell again for his assitance.

    She then followed Marvell from behind while opening the sack and looking inside, wanting to make sure everything was there in the middle of the quiet night, While Marvell tails looking at her closely as they walking together in the middle of the night.

 Chapter 9 : A Rest For The Old Man

    Outside the City

    An evacuation was underway as villagers packed their belongings and headed away from the city. A commander, clad in armor and riding a horse, led the evacuation while the guards prepared themselves, forming a group moving forward as the villagers moved in the opposite direction.

    "Oh dear..." a voice of struggling on her way.

    An elderly woman, frail and struggling under the weight of a heavy package on her back, walked slowly. Her two grandchildren supported her, trying to help as best as they could. Suddenly, from behind, a man in armor placed his hand gently on the old woman¡¯s shoulder, patting it.

    The grandmother turned to look at the adventurer as he spoke.

    "Old women shouldn''t carry that much weight on themselves. Where are these kids'' parents anyway?" the advantures said looking around wondering about the kids that closed with the old lady.

    Hearing his question, the grandmother¡¯s head, which had been turned toward the adventurer, slowly shifted away. She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice filled with sadness.

    "Their father was a knight in this city, while their mother..." looking on the side with sadfull eyes.

    She fell silent.

    Realizing the painful truth, the adventurer lowered his head slightly in regret of what he ask, shaking it before trying to refocus on what he was task for. He then spoke again, determinedly.

    "There¡¯s a carriage behind. You can¡¯t see it, but right now, it¡¯s on its way. So please, don¡¯t burden yourself¡ªlet me help you." while extending his hand offering his help for the old woman.

    The old woman looked surprised before letting out a small chuckle after what he witnessing infront of her eyes.

    "You¡¯re too kind, dear," she said, while smiling removing a sad eyes.

    The adventurer, seeing how much she was struggling, wasted no time and walk closer to the old lady.

    "Here, let me carry it for you. You look tired," he offered, while extending his hand toward the bag.

    He carefully lifted the heavy bag off her back, relieving her of its burden. However, as soon as he took the weight, he nearly buckled under its surprising heaviness. Even so, he fought to keep his composure, refusing to show any signs of struggling. He placed the bag on the ground with as much grace as he could muster, though he was already drained of energy.

    "Now we wait," he said with a forced smile, but tired.

    Inside his mind, however, he was thinking, Damn, old woman... why is this so heavy? What in the world are you carrying...? he wonder while remain smile ensuring theres nothing wrong right now.

    As time passed, the awaited carriage finally arrived. The old woman gasped in surprise, while her grandchildren looked on in amazement. The adventurer turned to see another adventurer pulling the carriage, along with a group of other people assisting from behind.

    Seeing this, the adventurer standing beside the grandmother asked in disbelief,

    "WHAT!? Where is the horse?" confuse and looking around, dissapointed.

    His friend, who was pulling the carriage, laughed while scratching the back of his head, doesn''t know how to reply about it.

    "Well, there were no horses when I arrived, so yeah... if I can¡¯t get a horse, I become the horse. It¡¯s part of the training, you know," he said with a grin, while looking side ways.

    The adventurer near the old woman snapped back to reality, immediately picking up the heavy bag again with great effort.

    "Come on, let¡¯s not waste any more time," he said, carrying it toward the carriage, with all of his strength but remain struggle to do it, he lifted the bag up to the carriage, exhausted after doing it.

    The people inside the carriage quickly reached out to help, pulling the bag inside, he smile seeing the help he get from the people sitting in the carriage right now. The grandmother had no trouble climbing aboard, and as for her grandchildren, the adventurer lifted them with his own hands, placing them safely inside.

    "Thank you!" the children said gratefully.

    As the adventurers continued helping those struggling, a sudden disturbance rippled through the crowd. People began making way as a royal carriage, drawn by well-bred horses, rushed toward the city gates, completely ignoring everyone in its path. Seven nobles fled the city in a hurry, leaving the people in shock¡ªthough not surprised by such an act.

    Marvell sat atop a rooftop, his three draconic tails lazily chewing on chunks of meat. Beside him, an angel sat in silence, regret visible on her face as she watched the scene unfold. Sensing her mood, Marvell, looking exhausted, spoke in an attempt to cheer her up.

    "Ay, we don¡¯t know if there was an attack, okay? It was unexpected, so quit it. It would¡¯ve happened anyway, whether I did it or not," he said.

    Angel remained silent, sighing as she observed the people coming together to help each other.

    Suddenly, an adventurer appeared behind Marvell¡ªan assassin-class fighter, cloaked in shadows.

    "Senior, everything is moving smoothly now. We can proceed to the outer gate to protect them," he reported with calm respect.

    Marvell stood up, stretching his body, cracking his back, neck, and fingers.

    "There¡¯s one more thing I need to do before we can say this went smoothly," he said, gazing down at the people below. His eyes then shifted to Angel.

    "Your staff, please," he requested calmly.

    Angel sighed but quickly handed it over. Marvell took it gently, raising it as he cast a spell.

    "Nullburden."

    Stretching his hand toward the crowd, a soft white glow enveloped all the burdens they carried. The massive loads adventurers had been struggling to pull suddenly felt weightless.

    "What...?" one of the adventurers muttered in confusion as the weight was lifted.

    In an instant, everyone felt lighter. The people, now relieved from their burdens, turned their gazes toward Marvell, who looked completely unfazed. Grateful murmurs spread among them as they expressed their thanks.

    Marvell chuckled at their reactions.

    Suddenly, his name was called in an annoyed tone.

    "SENIOR!?"

    Hearing this, Marvell walked to the edge of the roof and looked down at the adventurer pulling the carriage.

    "What¡¯s your name again? I forgot..." he asked politely.

    The adventurer, clearly irritated, replied, "IT¡¯S BREAK!" Then, with a scowl, he demanded, "NOW DISPEL THE SPELL YOU PUT ON MY CARRIAGE!"

    Marvell, amused, pointed his finger, lifting the spell from the carriage and all inside it. Break instantly felt the weight return and, with a deep breath, started pulling again.

    "Thank you," he muttered before continuing on his way.

    The assassin beside Marvell let out a sigh, placing a hand over his face.

    "God, forgive my friend¡¯s attitude, Senior," he said in disbelief.

    Marvell replied calmly, "It¡¯s alright," his gaze following Break as he struggled with the load.

    Then, with a smirk, Marvell pointed at the carriage once more.

    Suddenly, the weight increased again, making the challenge even harder. Break immediately noticed, but instead of complaining, he grinned.

    "THANK YOU, SENIOR!" he shouted, pulling with all his strength.

    Marvell, satisfied, turned to the assassin-class adventurer.

    "Now our work here is done. Go join the others at the gate¡ªI¡¯ll be there soon," he said with a smile.

    Understanding, the assassin gave a quick bow before vanishing in an instant.

    Angel walked toward the edge of the roof, stopping beside Marvell. Meanwhile, his three draconic tails, still chewing on meat like children, stared down at Break, their eyes reflecting their silent laughter at his struggle. Marvell then give the staff back to angel who grab it slowly while her eyes was staring straight frozen as if she was thinking about something.

    Angel''s eyes looked at Marvell as her mind recalled the moment the evacuation began.

    <hr>

    Near The Center Of The City, Mins Before The Evacuation Began

    As the evacuation began , Marvell raised his hand, revealing a diamond-ranked adventurer¡¯s badge. The moment he displayed it, the surrounding adventurers were struck with awe, recognizing it as the highest rank among them.

    "So... still think I¡¯m a liar?" Marvell asked with a playful smile, though his eyes remained serious. "If you still don¡¯t believe me, we can head to the adventurers'' guild and check whether this badge is fake orrrr the real deal."

    The adventurers stood in stunned silence, unable to take their eyes off the badge. One of them, after a moment of hesitation, finally spoke up and bowed in apology.

    "No, sorry, Senior. It¡¯s just... it¡¯s rare to even see a diamond badge. To earn one, you have to dominate at least one dungeon alone. So hearing someone claim it without proof... well, it was just hard to believe."

    The weight of his words sank in, and the others reacted in shock at the sheer requirement for the rank. One adventurer, who had been bowing moments ago, stood up abruptly, his face filled with disbelief.

    "THAT''S insane! So that means I¡¯d have to complete a dungeon alone just to even qualify for that rank?!" His gaze turned to Marvell, admiration filling his eyes. "Sir, you¡¯re amazing! But why haven¡¯t I heard about you until now? This kind of information would shake the entire adventurers'' guild!"

    Marvell smiled, his expression remaining calm.

    "And that¡¯s exactly why I keep it a secret. There are a lot of good reasons to stay unknown. If you become famous in the future, you¡¯ll understand what I¡¯m trying to avoid," he said, looking down as he tucked the badge back into his pocket beneath his robe.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Angel stood silently beside him, confused, uncertain of what to say at that moment.

    Suddenly, someone grabbed Marvell¡¯s robe and yanked it open.

    For a moment, everyone stared, confused by the sight of Marvell¡¯s actual clothing¡ªbeneath the robe, he wore a blue jacket over a white shirt, dark long pants, a red scarf around his neck, and a small bag slung over his left side.

    Before the adventurer could react, one of Marvell¡¯s draconic tails snapped forward and bit down on their hand. The adventurer flinched in pain and quickly let go, hastily covering Marvell¡¯s robe again.

    At that moment, Break appeared, looking both confused and slightly amused.

    "Yoh, Senior¡­ you really wear some weird clothes. Are you okay? You¡¯re not hot in that?" he asked, eyeing Marvell¡¯s outfit.

    Marvell, still calm, stepped closer and grabbed Break¡¯s hand.

    Immediately, Break felt a wave of cold, like he was touching solid snow.

    Marvell met his eyes and asked, "Now you know?" before letting go.

    Break stared at his own hand, shocked.

    </article>

    One of the adventurers let out a tired sigh, rubbing his back in exhaustion.

    "I really wish I could go to sleep after this... A demon attacking two villages? Give us a break," he muttered, disbelief and discomfort weighing on him.

    Angel, confused, turned to him. "Two villages?" she asked, her brows furrowing.

    Her gaze shifted toward Marvell, who remained calm, smiling in silence.

    The adventurer nodded, still slouching from fatigue. "Can you believe it? The knights are dealing with fire demons and some kind of necromancer. From what I heard, a necromancer attacked one of the villages not far from here."

    His voice carried exhaustion, and the moment he finished speaking, the air grew heavy. Everyone around him fell silent, processing the information.

    Angel¡¯s expression stiffened at the word necromancer. Her mind drifted back to the past¡ªan attack on a city, skeletons swarming the streets.

    Could it be the same necromancer who attacked that city? she thought, lowering her gaze in deep contemplation.

    Marvell, noticing the tension, spoke up, effortlessly drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    "Well, the past is the past. Let¡¯s focus on what we can do right now, since we have time to spare."

    His words broke the silence, and the others quickly nodded in agreement.

    Yet, Angel remained quiet, lost in thought, still wondering what was truly happening.

    <hr>

    Back To Present

    Marvell leaped off the roof, landing on the ground with ease. Seeing this, Angel quickly followed, silently casting a spell on herself to slow her descent, allowing her to land smoothly.

    Marvell reached the ground first, standing up without hesitation. Angel followed, her landing graceful.

    ¡°There¡¯s something I want to check at the gate we¡¯re heading to,¡± Marvell said calmly before turning slightly. His expression shifted as he hesitated for a moment.

    ¡°Could you do me a favor? Sorry if it bothers you.¡± His smile was there, but the discomfort in his voice was clear.

    Angel, curious, tilted her head. ¡°Yes? Sure, why not?¡±

    Marvell glanced away briefly before continuing, as if reluctant to ask. ¡°It¡¯s simple. First, I don¡¯t actually know our exact destination. You might want to ask someone since I forgot to while I was at the city¡¯s back gate. Second, if I remember right, I left our horses near the exit gate. I can¡¯t go get them myself, since people tend to call me for all sorts of help¡­ which can be pretty annoying, but i can''t blame them for their weakness, its about helping those who need help from the stronger ¡± with a proud smile.

    Hearing his request, Angel saw no issue with it and nodded. ¡°I guess I can do that.¡±

    As she lowered her head in thought, Marvell quickly caught on and asked, his expression shifting into curiosity.

    ¡°Hmph¡­ is something bothering you, my friend?¡±

    Angel sighed, gripping her staff tightly before answering. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ do you know anything about the attack on the other village?¡± She looked at him, concern written on her face.

    Marvell fell silent for a moment before closing his eyes and replying with a hint of regret. ¡°Unfortunately, I have no clue¡­ sorry about that.¡±

    Angel, seeing his sincerity, quickly reassured him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say sorry. You¡¯re just as confused as I am.¡±

    Marvell sighed and gave a slight nod. ¡°I¡¯m going now. Please take care of my request.¡±

    Before Angel could respond, he turned away and suddenly vanished like dust.

    Angel stood alone in the midst of the bustling crowd, surrounded by people hurriedly evacuating. She quickly glanced around before letting out a sigh.

    ¡°He really loves to vanish like that, huh¡­¡± she muttered, disappointment clear in her voice after witnessing it firsthand.

    Shaking her head, she turned toward the direction the crowd was moving. With no more questions lingering in her mind, she pressed forward, blending into the flow of evacuees.

    <hr>

    At the Back Exit Gate of the City

    A group of adventurers gathered near the gate, watching the steady stream of evacuees making their way down the road toward safety. The atmosphere was tense, yet filled with quiet determination.

    Suddenly, Marvell appeared out of thin air, startling the nearby adventurers.

    One of them immediately recognized him and called out, ¡°Senior, you arrived early.¡±

    The others, unfamiliar with him, exchanged confused glances. ¡°Senior?¡± they murmured, shifting their gazes toward the newly arrived figure.

    Marvell ignored those who didn¡¯t recognize him and instead focused on the adventurer who had spoken. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve already done my part, Erzen. I deserve at least a break¡­¡± he said calmly, his eyes trailing toward the evacuating crowd.

    One of the adventurers stepped closer to Erzen, leaning in with curiosity and whispering near his ear, ¡°Hey, Erzen. Who is he?¡±

    Erzen chuckled before replying, ¡°Oh, I thought you knew him already since he showed up in the center of the city.¡± He then gestured toward Marvell with both hands. ¡°This is Marvell. He¡¯s a Diamond Rank Adventurer.¡±

    The revelation stunned the group, their expressions shifting to shock as they processed the weight of that title.

    Marvell sighed, dismissing their reactions with a tired wave of his hand. ¡°Yeah¡­ I really don¡¯t feel like talking about that right now. My magic is drained.¡±

    With that, he leaned back against the wall, letting out a slow breath. His gaze drifted back to the evacuating people, a flicker of sadness crossing his face. Then, shifting his eyes toward Erzen, who was busy handling the crowd and answering the growing questions around him, Marvell allowed himself a moment of peace.

    Time to rest¡­ he thought. A well-deserved rest for a well-deserved man.

    His tails stretched out, their dragon heads resting lazily on the grass beneath them as he closed his eyes, letting the moment of calm settle around him.

    Such fresh air... The thought passed through his mind.

    Then, something surfaced¡ªa song.

    one he hadn¡¯t sung in a long time. Softly, barely above a whisper, he let the words escape his lips:

    "Cruel... and cold... like winds on the sea...

    Will you ever return to me...?"

    His voice carried in the wind, lost amidst the murmurs of the passing crowd. His gaze lowered, the weight of exhaustion settling in.

    "Hear my voice... sing with the tide..."

    For a moment, he closed his eyes, letting the melody linger. His tail¡¯s dragon head shifted slightly, listening in silence.

    "Our love... will never die..."

    <hr>

    Caeloria Kingdom ¨C Inside the Castle, The Throne Room

    A princess in a stunning pink dress paced anxiously around the grand throne room, her golden hair flowing with each step. Her bright blue eyes held a troubled glint as she clutched a scroll tightly in her hands. Her lips pressed together, her teeth biting down as she continued circling, lost in deep thought.

    The enormous doors of the throne room suddenly groaned as they were pushed open by two guards, straining against their sheer weight. Light spilled into the room as a group of heroes stood at the entrance, their expressions calm. An old commander, carrying his helmet under his arm, accompanied them. They stepped forward as the doors creaked wider.

    The princess¡¯s face, previously clouded with worry, brightened with hope at the sight of them. ¡°You finally arrived, just like he said. My guards didn¡¯t trouble you on the way here, did they?¡± she asked, relief in her voice.

    The group¡¯s leader, Difo wearing a red cape and giant sword on his back, bowed deeply, his companions following suit. His voice was steady and respectful as he answered, ¡°No, Princess, we had no trouble at all.¡±

    Hearing this, the princess smiled. ¡°Good to know.¡± However, as her gaze shifted to the old commander, suspicion flickered in her eyes. The commander, sensing it, quickly averted his gaze, pretending to examine the ceiling.

    She sighed before addressing the heroes again, turning toward her throne. ¡°I¡¯m glad you all made it here safely. It must have been a tiring journey.¡± She placed the scroll gently on the throne before turning back with a warm smile. ¡°You should get some rest. I ordered the knights earlier to prepare rooms for you.¡±

    She gestured with a graceful hand. ¡°You may stand now. My knight will take you there.¡±

    The heroes stood as a knight stepped forward and bowed. ¡°This way,¡± he said, his tone respectful as he led them from the room.

    Now alone with the princess, the old commander studied her carefully. Noticing this, she quickly retrieved the scroll from the throne and sat down with a relieved sigh. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve handled visitors¡­ I just hope they can rest well,¡± she murmured, resting the scroll against her stomach, still holding onto it.

    The commander, noticing the scroll, hesitated before asking, ¡°Forgive me, Princess Selena, but¡­ what are you holding?¡±

    Still staring at the ceiling, she exhaled tiredly. ¡°It¡¯s a quest scroll¡­ I wanted to give it to them, but¡­¡± She trailed off before shifting her gaze to the commander. ¡°It feels cruel to ask them for anything while they¡¯re exhausted.¡± Her voice grew serious. ¡°You didn¡¯t bother them, did you?¡± Her sharp eyes bore into him, filled with disappointment.

    The commander quickly straightened. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, I swear,¡± he assured her, his expression firm, hoping to regain her trust.

    After a moment, Selena sighed, her suspicion fading. ¡°You can go now,¡± she said, raising the scroll and looking at it thoughtfully. ¡°I just want to be alone for a moment.¡±

    The commander hesitated but nodded, casting her a final glance before exiting the room and closing the doors behind him.

    Now alone, the princess lay back against the throne, the scroll still resting on her stomach. She inhaled deeply, then released a slow breath, her mind swirling with thoughts as she stared at the ceiling in silent contemplation.

    <div>

    On the other side of the door, the commander stood still, his back turned to the throne room. His gaze was cast downward, his thoughts uneasy.

    Something¡¯s not right¡­

    The way the princess clutched that scroll, the hesitation in her voice¡ªit didn¡¯t feel like an ordinary request. His brow furrowed as suspicion crept into his mind.

    Slowly, he turned his head toward the massive doors, staring at them as if he could see through to the troubled princess beyond.

    What kind of quest could trouble her this much?

    His face hardened. He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head. Whatever it was, it wasn¡¯t his place to question.

    Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

    Suddenly, a guard rushed toward the throne room. Seeing his commander, he quickly shouted, "COMMANDER!!!" His voice was strained, and sweat dripped from his face.

    The commander, confused, froze in place. As soon as the guard reached him, he bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily as he struggled to stay upright.

    Worried, the commander placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, pulling the soldier up to stand again.

    The guard remained exhausted but managed to catch his breath after a few moments. Taking one last deep inhale, he exhaled and finally spoke. "We have news from the city of... uh..." He paused, trying to remember. Then, as if recalling it suddenly, he straightened. "Ah! Yes, here, take this, Commander!" Bowing slightly, he handed over a scroll.

    The commander took it and quickly scanned the contents. As he read, his expression darkened, his grip tightening on the parchment. The more he read, the more shock filled his eyes.

    After a brief silence, he closed the scroll and spoke firmly. "Prepare the place for the refugees. I''m going somewhere."

    Before he could take a step, the soldier hurriedly moved to block his path.

    "Shouldn''t we tell the princess about this?" the guard asked, concern in his voice.

    The commander remained calm, his tone steady. "I will, but not right now. She is not in a good condition. I''ll tell her when the timing is right."

    The soldier nodded in understanding. "I shall take my leave." With that, he turned and rushed off in a hurry.

    The commander raised a hand slightly, as if considering stopping him, but the soldier was already gone.

    Ugh¡­ kids these days.

    Annoyed but resigned, he sighed and turned around for a moment before leaving the place, walking away from the throne room¡ªfor now.

    <hr>

    On The Other Side of the Castle

    "You only met a princess in there? That was unexpected. I want that throne empty¡ªthat''s all I ask."

    A mysterious voice, filled with disappointment, echoed through the room. Then, after a brief pause, the tone softened, now calm and almost reassuring.

    "Once you¡¯ve done what I ask, more will await you. Freedom may seem far from your grasp, but be patient, my loyal servant... You will be free."

    Alone in his room where his sword was lay on the ground and the places was dark, alone, Difo listened in silence. His stance remained still, unwavering, as he responded, "Understood. We will finish what you ask."

    The presence vanished, the voice no longer heard. Lowering his hand, the cold weight of the shackles on his wrists remained¡ªa quiet reminder of his reality. His face showed no emotion, yet beneath his eyes lay a silent torment.

    He stared at the ceiling, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "God, I wish... " he said calmly opening his eyes " I wish all of this was a dream..."

    Closing his eyes for a moment, he let the thought linger before exhaling. Then, with renewed resolve, he straightened his posture, his gaze turning forward¡ªserious, determined.

    </article>

    </article>

    </article>

    </article>

 Chapter 10 : A Dark Scary Underground

    In the Morning , Outside of the Ceoloria Kingdom, Road to Tinchtora. Two Days After Receving The Quest

    Difo the Warrior, Damiel the Mage, Lita the Summoner, Dwi the Druid, and Xahra the Enchanter walked steadily, accompanied by knights. Behind them, twelve knights followed in formation¡ªtwo groups of six, moving in unison with the heroes.

    Difo carefully read the scroll given to him by the princess, his eyes scanning every word. Damiel, unable to contain his curiosity, slowly leaned in from the side, sneaking a peek.

    "What''s the quest, lek?" he asked, tilting his head toward Difo.

    Difo turned his gaze to his friend, his expression neutral. "It says here we''re retrieving an item... a special one. It was supposed to be delivered by the dwarves, but it never made it back to Ceoloria. No one knows why." He then returned his attention to the scroll.

    Damiel sighed, looking up at the sky. "Hmph. The dwarves, huh... So, we''re just searching for something? Hopefully, this goes smoothly," he said, his tone filled with hope.

    Xahra quickened her pace, moving forward to align with them. "Yeah, let¡¯s just hope nothing unexpected happens," she added playfully with a grin.

    Damiel smirked. "Eh, trust us. Things will go smoothly. Remember what Kanjay said?"

    Difo, already anticipating the line, joined in at the same time as Damiel. "The boys never tell a story."

    Damiel grinned proudly, while Difo chuckled, enjoying the familiar phrase. Xahra raised an eyebrow at them, listening to their exchange with mild confusion before nodding. "Okay... I get it." She nodded again a few more times before stretching her arms and turning to Lita, who had been quiet, holding her staff.

    Curious, Xahra asked, "You¡¯re not tired of holding that staff, Lit?"

    Lita noticed Xahra¡¯s gaze before Xahra pointed at the staff on her own back. "Just do what I do¡ªcarry it on your back. You''re just tiring your hands for no reason," she said with a lighthearted smile.

    Lita stood firm. "Nope. I''ll keep holding my staff." She spoke with pride.

    Xahra¡¯s face fell into disappointment. "Well... do whatever you want then," she muttered, looking back at the road with an unamused pout.

    As they continued walking, Difo, leading the group, turned to Damiel to start another conversation. "Dam, aren¡¯t you surprised that there aren¡¯t any horses in this kingdom?"

    Damiel, still gazing at the sky, responded casually. "Kinda¡­ We¡¯ve been through so many cities and villages, so yeah. But you know what surprises me more?"

    He then turned to Difo with an uneasy expression, forcing an awkward smile. "The fact that they all ride dragons. And I absolutely refuse to get on one. I¡¯d rather walk until I get used to the air in this world."

    Difo nodded in understanding. "Fair enough. Even I''m not used to this kind of air," he said, lifting the scroll slightly as he continued looking at it.

    "If Marvell were here, I bet he¡¯d still be laughing and smiling, even in the darkest times," Damiel said, gazing at the sky with a soft smile. "I wonder... what do you think he would do if he were here?" He turned to Difo, curiosity shining in his eyes, his smile never fading.

    Difo let out a small "Hmph...", glancing at the sky before lowering his gaze in thought. "Why are you bringing him up?" he asked, his tone neutral yet contemplative.

    Damiel quickly responded, "Ih, you don¡¯t miss him after all this time? Lek, lek, only a few of us still remember him right now. So even in moments like these, we have to hold on to the good times... even if we¡¯re dying." His words carried a certain warmth, a bittersweet beauty.

    Difo sighed, then finally answered Damiel¡¯s earlier question, his expression calm. "I believe he¡¯d be listening and doing his best right now to carry out whatever he was ordered to do. After all, he¡¯s the type who always gives his all in a group, doing whatever he can at any moment." His gaze remained fixed ahead.

    Damiel chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "That¡¯s true. Can¡¯t deny that in our group, when we called everyone to gather, he was always the first one there before the rest of us."

    Difo simply nodded. "Yeah." He had nothing more to say, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

    After a long walk, the group continued surveying their surroundings, glancing around and even lifting their gazes toward the sky. Damiel, who had been lifted into the air, scanned the area from above. His eyes caught sight of a large crack in the earth, and near it, something that resembled the remnants of a giant air balloon¡ªa tattered envelope of fabric lying on the ground as if it had crashed.

    "Guys, lower me! I think I found something interesting!" Damiel called down, his eyes fixed on the scene below.

    Xahra, standing below with her staff raised, responded loudly, "OK, JUST HOLD ON!" hoping Damiel could hear her. The sudden volume startled both Dwi and Lita, who flinched slightly. Xahra then lowered her staff, gently bringing Damiel down. He landed smoothly before turning to Difo.

    "I found the remains of an air balloon. Is this what we¡¯re looking for?" he asked, his gaze shifting toward one of the guards with curiosity.

    One of the guards in the front stepped forward, his tone calm yet polite. "Yes, that¡¯s exactly what we¡¯re looking for."

    Hearing this, Xahra grinned and turned to Damiel. "Welp, DAM, you know what to do!" she said proudly, resting her staff on her shoulder.

    Damiel sighed, understanding what was coming next. "Yeah." He turned around, bracing himself.

    Xahra pointed her staff at him once more. "Fly!"

    Damiel was lifted into the air again as Xahra guided him, keeping her focus. However, as he ascended higher than expected, Damiel quickly called out, "STOP! THIS IS ALREADY ENOUGH!"

    From his vantage point, he got a clearer view of the balloon wreckage. He pointed toward it, directing the group toward their destination. The team quickly marched forward while Xahra remained focused, ensuring she gave Damiel safety, while everyone giving her an enough space to maneuver without crashing into anyone or any objects while maintaining her spell.

    Everyone rushed to the scene where the air balloon had crashed. The remnants lay scattered across the ground, while the rest had been swallowed by a massive crack in the earth, as if it had been shot down by something. The knights who had accompanied them earlier were already searching through the wreckage, opening crates and gathering them in one place, carefully organizing the scattered cargo.

    Meanwhile, Damiel and Difo stood at the edge of the crack, peering down into the abyss where the air balloon had vanished. Damiel stared into the darkness for a moment before shifting his gaze upward toward the sky. He turned slightly and asked Difo, "Is there a possibility that this was an attack?" His eyes remained fixed on the sky, his expression filled with curiosity and concern.

    Difo shook his head. "No. If it were an attack, the remains would have already been taken by now. But look¡ªthese boxes are still intact, untouched. Whatever happened to that air balloon, it wasn¡¯t an external attack." He crouched down, resting his hands on his knees while gazing into the deep chasm below.

    Damiel approached and crouched beside him. "Well, if you say so¡­ but still, how does a giant air balloon just destroy itself without something¡ªor someone¡ªcausing it from the inside?" His tone was filled with uncertainty.

    Difo sighed and shook his head. "I don¡¯t know." His voice carried the weight of confusion and unease.

    Before they could dwell on the mystery any longer, a knight approached them. Just as he got close enough, a deep rumble shook the ground beneath them. Cracks splintered outward without warning, sending a violent jolt through the earth.

    "What the¡ª?!" The knight barely had time to react before the ground beneath them gave way.

    The earth crumbled apart, and in an instant, Damiel, Difo, and the knight plummeted into the gaping abyss. Their terrified screams echoed through the air, fading as they fell deeper and deeper into the unknown.

    The rest of the group rushed to the edge, eyes wide with shock and horror. No one knew what to do.

    Xahra stood frozen, staring into the dark abyss. For once, she was completely silent.

    As the three of them fell deeper and deeper, Damiel quickly acted, casting a spell on Difo and the knight falling alongside him. Their bodies began to glow with a soft blue light, surprising them as they felt their descent slowing.

    Damiel clenched his staff tightly, closing his eyes in concentration. Just before they would crash into the ground, their bodies gently floated down, their fall gradually softening until they landed safely and unharmed.

    As soon as they touched the ground, Damiel let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, that was close." He took a moment to gather himself before scanning their surroundings, but the overwhelming darkness made it impossible to see anything.

    Suddenly, a bright flame ignited, forcing Damiel to squint as his eyes adjusted. Difo had extended his palm toward a wooden stick coated in oil, setting it alight. The torch''s glow wasn¡¯t enough to reveal the full extent of their surroundings, but it was sufficient to make out each other¡¯s faces.

    Regrouping around the flickering light, they tried to take in their surroundings.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    "This is deeper than I thought," Difo muttered as he looked around, taking in the strange, empty space.

    Damiel¡¯s gaze shifted downward, his eyes widening slightly. "Dif, would you look at that¡­" he said, pointing toward the ground.

    Difo followed his line of sight and was immediately taken aback. There, on the stone floor, was a splatter of blood. But no bodies.

    Difo¡¯s expression darkened as he looked up. "They fell, yes¡­ but their bodies disappeared. This is weird." His voice carried a hint of unease.

    Damiel felt a cold shiver crawl up his back. "Yeah¡­ something happened here." He tightened his grip on his staff, glancing around cautiously.

    The knight, his face hidden beneath his helmet, remained calm despite the situation. "What should we do?" he asked, his voice polite but firm.

    Damiel hesitated before admitting, "I don¡¯t know." There was no clear path forward in the eerie darkness.

    Difo, unwilling to stay in uncertainty, turned to Damiel. "Dam, try using a spell to light up the area. We need a better view."

    Damiel nodded. "Sure, lek."

    Raising one hand while keeping a firm grip on his staff with the other, he focused. A small spark of light formed within his closed palm. Slowly, it grew brighter. As he opened his hand, the glowing orb floated upward, casting its light across the cavern.

    The once-impenetrable darkness now revealed a vast space around them. The rocky ground stretched in all directions, disappearing into the distance. Though they still couldn¡¯t see everything, the newfound light gave them a better sense of the place they had fallen into.

    But the more they saw, the more questions arose.

    A trail of blood stretched beneath their feet, leading deeper into the cave¡¯s darkness. Seeing this, Damiel sighed, gripping his staff tightly.

    "Hopefully, it''s not a killer," he muttered, pointing his staff forward.

    Difo, walking ahead, responded dryly, "Yeah, hopefully."

    Behind them, the knight followed, silently assessing the situation. With a cautious hand, he drew his sword, eyes scanning their surroundings, prepared for an ambush. The soft glow of Damiel¡¯s floating orb illuminated their path, casting flickering shadows against the cave walls.

    Not long after, they arrived at a vast cavern, where a dark purple liquid, thick like oil, rippled ominously in an underground lake. The blood trail ended here, vanishing beneath the mysterious water.

    Confused, Damiel glanced at the surface before turning to Difo. "Could it be a fish?" he asked, scanning the area for any movement.

    Difo furrowed his brow, resting his hand on his chin. "I don¡¯t know. This is the first time we¡¯ve seen anything like this."

    Damiel searched the surroundings but saw nothing unusual. Meanwhile, Difo cautiously approached the lake¡¯s edge, keeping a safe distance as he observed the water.

    "Damiel, can you brighten the light?" he asked without taking his eyes off the surface.

    With a nod, Damiel raised his staff, and the orb¡¯s glow intensified, illuminating the cavern in radiant light. The knight instinctively turned his body away, shielding his eyes from the sudden brightness.

    Difo crouched, scrutinizing the liquid carefully. Yet, despite the increased light, the water remained unchanged¡ªno glow, no distortion, just a stagnant pool of darkness.

    After a moment, he exhaled. "Damiel, I¡¯m done."

    Understanding the cue, Damiel dimmed the orb.

    Difo stood up, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Just as he was about to speak, a voice echoed through the cavern.

    "Hey! Over here!"

    They all turned toward the knight, who stood at the mouth of another tunnel. His stance was tense, his voice urgent.

    "There¡¯s something you need to see!" he called out, his words reverberating off the cave walls.

    Difo exchanged glances with Damiel before calling back, "Hold on, we¡¯re coming!"

    They hurried over to where the knight stood. As they reached him, their eyes fell upon a scattered set of mining tools and a bag, abandoned on the ground.

    The knight crouched, inspecting the bag, while Damiel studied the scene. Difo picked up a pickaxe, noting its small size.

    "Judging by the tools, I¡¯d say dwarves were mining here," he mused.

    Damiel frowned. "Why would they do that?" His voice carried both curiosity and concern.

    Difo stood, eyes fixed ahead. "To find a way out, I suppose¡­"

    As he spoke, the flame of his torch suddenly flared, casting an intense light forward. He adjusted his grip and cautiously moved ahead, extending the torch in front of him.

    Damiel followed closely, his glowing orb hovering at his side, while the knight trailed behind, sword at the ready. Every few steps, he glanced over his shoulder, wary of anything lurking in the darkness.

    As they ventured deeper, an eerie dread crept into the knight¡¯s spine, setting him on high alert. Damiel, however, remained calm, his staff ready for any sudden threat.

    Difo stole a quick glance at his companions before returning his focus ahead. Then, without warning, a heavy stench filled the air¡ªthick, metallic, unmistakable.

    Blood.

    It coated the walls and pooled on the ground, splattered in chaotic patterns, as if something had tried desperately to escape.

    And whatever had caused it¡­ might still be here, he thought while moving forward.

    Difo, fully aware of the situation, pressed forward, drawing his sword in preparation for whatever might come. As they advanced, they reached a dead end¡ªa vast cavern stretching before them, its edges swallowed by the same ominous, oil-like liquid they had seen earlier. Seeing no other way forward, Difo scanned the area.

    Suddenly, a hand patted his shoulder. He turned to see Damiel, who silently raised a hand, signaling him to be quiet. Difo followed the direction of Damiel¡¯s pointed finger, his gaze shifting carefully.

    The knight tightened his grip on his sword, his spine tingling with unease. Yet, he remained steady.

    Difo¡¯s eyes widened. A massive creature loomed ahead, its body covered in jagged dark crystals, its form wreathed in shadow. The thing was hunched over something, chewing with sickening crunches. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the cavern.

    They held their breath.

    Difo slowly raised his hand, signaling his companions to retreat. They stepped back cautiously, keeping their eyes locked on the monstrous figure.

    Then, the creature lifted its head.

    Its grotesque, humanoid face emerged from the darkness, its maw gnawing on the remains of a dwarf¡ªhalf-eaten, the skull barely intact.

    The monster shrieked.

    Difo and the others bolted.

    Before turning to flee, Damiel unleashed his spell. A white arrow of magic shot toward the creature, striking it with force and sending it toppling into the lake.

    But as they ran, the monster surged back up from the abyss, half-submerged, fury burning in its twisted gaze.

    "What the hell was that thing?!" Damiel panted, struggling to keep pace.

    "I have no idea," Difo replied, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "But right now, we need to get out of here!"

    The knight, glancing back, grimly agreed. "I second that."

    Then, just as they neared the entrance they had come through earlier, another sound erupted¡ªscreams.

    Not just one. Many.

    Something was happening ahead.

    A deafening series of crashes and impacts followed, as if a battle was raging. Difo, driven by both fear and curiosity, sprinted toward the source.

    What they saw stopped them in their tracks.

    A colossal golem, its rocky form different from any they had seen before, was locked in combat with the monstrous being. More golems, varying in shape and design, burst from the cavern walls, charging toward the lake and striking down the lurking horrors.

    The three of them exchanged bewildered glances, their minds racing to comprehend the chaos unfolding before them.

    Then, a voice rang out from the distance¡ªloud, desperate.

    "NOW¡¯S YOUR CHANCE! RUN!!! I¡¯LL HOLD THESE BEASTS OFF!"

    The words echoed through the cavern.

    Difo¡¯s heart pounded. "WHERE ARE YOU?! WE¡¯RE HERE TO SAVE YOU!" he shouted, scanning the shadows.

    A strained, exhausted reply came, filled with finality.

    "JUST GO. THIS IS MY END. JUST¡­"

    The voice faltered.

    And then¡ª

    A monstrous, bone-rattling shriek tore through the cavern, shaking the ground beneath their feet.

    Far above, Xahra, peering into the depths of a rift in the earth, gasped. The scream sent a shudder through her, forcing her to stumble back several steps, fear gripping her chest.

    Difo stood frozen, his mind racing. The voice, now ragged and filled with anger, called out one last time.

    "THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR YOU HERE!" followed by breathing heavly echoing. Before then Silence followed.

    Difo clenched his jaw.

    "Let¡¯s go," he said, turning to his companions.

    The knight and Damiel exchanged a grim nod.

    And then they ran¡ªtoward the exit, toward whatever lay beyond this cursed place.

    As more golems emerged to restrain the monster, dark ripples spread across the pitch-black lake. Then, one by one, more monstrous figures surfaced, their grotesque forms rising from the abyss. Their sheer numbers quickly overwhelmed the golems, forcing them back toward the shore. The creatures lashed out with unnatural strength, smashing the stone constructs to pieces. Shattered limbs and broken bodies littered the ground, while the golems still standing fought desperately to hold the tide at bay.

    Meanwhile, Difo¡¯s group arrived at the spot where they had first fallen. Despite being deep within the cave, the mysterious light from the sky still shone brightly above them. Damiel wasted no time. Extending his hand, he closed his eyes and concentrated, channeling his magic. Difo, recognizing what was happening, grabbed the knight¡¯s hand and positioned him accordingly. Together, they formed a triangle, each standing in place.

    Slowly, they began to ascend. The knight, caught off guard, widened his eyes in disbelief. Yet Damiel remained still, his focus unshaken. Then, in an instant, they shot into the sky with immense speed, launching themselves upward like a comet. The wind roared past them as the ground below shrank rapidly. Just before they reached the uppermost edge of the crack, Difo took one last glance down. The sounds of battle faded in his ears, the chaotic clash between golems and monsters growing distant.

    On the surface, Xahra lay on the grass alongside her friends, catching her breath. But the moment she looked up, her eyes widened in shock.

    Difo, Damiel, and the knight were soaring through the air¡ªlike rockets streaking toward the heavens. Then, just as suddenly as they rose, they began to descend. But this time, instead of falling uncontrollably, they drifted downward, their landing soft and precise.

    Damiel exhaled in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow. The knight, on the other hand, dropped onto the ground in stunned silence, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. But Difo wasted no time.

    With a commanding voice, he declared, "We need to get out of here as soon as possible." He marched forward, his eyes locking onto the knight. "Search for what we came here for¡ªfaster."

    As he scanned the surroundings, another knight approached him from the left, stopping just in front of him.

    "Sorry to interrupt, my savior," the knight said in a calm yet respectful tone. "I have news."

    Difo turned to him, intrigued. "What news?" looking at the knigth who stood behind him earlier.

    The knight took a breath before explaining. "While you were trapped inside, we sent a signal. A carrier has been dispatched to retrieve us and take us back to the kingdom. The other search parties are already on their way back." standing up with eyes focusing on difo.

    Difo fell into thought for a moment before quickly asking, "How long until the carrier arrives?" His expression was sharp, filled with urgency.

    Before the knight could answer, the air was split by the deep, resonating roar of a dragon. The knights turned their heads skyward as the sound echoed across the landscape.

    With a smirk, the knight gestured toward the sky. "Well... that¡¯s our ride."

    All around them, the other knights had already begun gathering supplies, lifting crates and securing their cargo. Difo, momentarily mesmerized by the sight of the dragon, suddenly remembered something¡ªsomething crucial.

    His eyes darted toward Damiel, who was resting nearby. "DAM!?" he shouted.

    Damiel, startled, turned his head toward Difo, who was already sprinting toward the crack in the ground.

    "THE CRACK¡ªPUT A BARRIER ON IT!?"

    Damiel¡¯s eyes widened as he processed the command. Realizing the urgency, he sprang to his feet and rushed into action. Closing the distance in mere moments, he extended his hands over the fissure. With a sharp breath, he summoned his magic, weaving a powerful barrier. A shimmering light engulfed the crack, sealing the passage.

    Glancing at his companions, Damiel called out, "You three, stay behind us."

    Xahra and the others exchanged a look before nodding firmly. Weapons in hand, they prepared themselves for whatever might come next.

    Then, a sound came from beneath them.

    A deep, unnatural hum vibrated through the ground. It wasn¡¯t the sound of the creatures¡ªthis was different. A sudden pulse of energy echoed through the cave below, followed by the distinct whine of a magical blaster.

    Without warning, the crack beneath them began to shift.

    The earth trembled as the crevice slowly closed in on itself. Difo, caught off guard, stumbled backward, landing hard on the ground. The others instinctively stepped away, eyes fixed on the unnatural phenomenon.

    The crack continued to close, piece by piece, until it was no more.

    Silence followed.

    Difo remained on the ground, staring at the now-sealed surface in stunned confusion. What just happened? He had no answer. No one did.

    But whatever had caused the crack to shut on its own... had just sealed the monsters inside.

    For now.