《The Great Wizard's otherworldly disciple》 The Great Theondia Today, the sky is clear and beautiful. Under the vast, expansive blue sky lies a small town called Limart, where adventurers reside. The town has a rustic charm. On a small hill to the east of Limart, in an old house, lives an elderly man named Thomas. "The weather is nice today. It''s a good day for hunting," I muttered to myself, looking up at the sky. Then, I went inside and took the knife hanging on the wall. After that, I added a poison potion, useful for dealing with monsters, into my usual hunting bag. As always, I had to go out to make a living. Though I sometimes reminisce about the days when I was an honourable knight, now I''m just an old hunter in my 50s, retired and living a simple life. Putting aside my thoughts, I followed my usual path and headed into town. "Hey, Grandpa Thomas, are you going into the woods today?" "Yeah, I''m tired of just eating potatoes." "Alright, be careful. I''ve heard from adventurers that the monsters have been quite aggressive lately." Jabin, the tavern owner, called out to me with a concerned tone from the entrance of his tavern. Jabin is one of my valuable customers. I smiled and nodded at him. Then, I had to quickly head towards my goal for the day¡ªthe Great Therondia Forest. The reason for my haste was that dark clouds were suddenly rolling in from the west, where the Great Therondia Forest lies. The small town I live in is nothing special, just situated near the magnificent Great Therondia Forest. Similarly, this town is a small, remote settlement on the edge of the kingdom of Alandra, a land frequented by adventurers. Since it''s quite far from the kingdom''s third defence unit, the town''s protectors are also the adventurers themselves. Even though the rain was coming, I couldn''t afford to rest. The reason? I''ve been living off potatoes for quite some time now. I don''t hate potatoes, but as is human nature, I''ve grown tired of them after eating them for so long. As a human, it''s natural to get bored of something over time. When I was a knight, I used to be satisfied with good food. After all, it was a life-risking job, so I thought it was only fair to eat well before possibly meeting my end. But now, as an old man, I can''t afford to be picky. I think even my ego as a knight has faded away. When I reached the edge of the Great Therondia Forest, I glanced up at the sky. It was completely dark, with occasional flashes of lightning, which made me a bit anxious. The once clear blue sky now seemed irrelevant. Then, as per the hunter''s routine, I had to start searching for prey. I cautiously entered the forest, step by step, heeding Jabin''s warning. Was I scared? Not at all. As a former knight, I''ve killed many monsters and been on numerous raid missions. The world I live in is relatively peaceful. The continent of Anata, the only continent on this planet, has four great nations, but there are no wars. Our kingdom, Alandra, is located in the southern part of Anata and is ruled by the benevolent Queen Ema Froststin. To the north lies Balahan, a kingdom with good relations with ours. The third northern kingdom is Ohnmat, an industrial nation ruled by the Dwarf King Thorin Bylrielle, home to the Dwarves. Ohnmat is the easternmost kingdom, bordering Alandra, Balahan, and the Land of Flowers. The northernmost kingdom on the continent is the Land of Flowers, a secluded nation that has remained isolated for a long time. Except for the Dwarf kingdom Ohnmat, all other kingdoms border the Great Therondia Forest. The Great Therondia Forest is the largest feature of the Anata continent. It''s so vast that it borders all kingdoms except Ohnmat and is larger than the combined territories of three kingdoms. To this day, no living human has ever reached the end of the forest. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The Great Therondia Forest is so vast and mysterious that it forms the backbone of countless stories and is even a subject of poetry. However, its immense size also makes it a home to many monsters, and the deeper you go, the more dangerous it becomes. So, I proceeded cautiously into the forest. As I ventured deeper, I finally found what I was hoping for¡ªboar tracks. My eyes must have lit up at the sight. I followed the tracks, which gradually led me towards the Fairy Pond. The Fairy Pond is a name given by adventurers to an ordinary pond where animals often come to drink. It seemed the boar had come to drink. When I reached the pond, I hid behind a tree and took my position. The heavy dark clouds made the world so dark that it made hiding easier. After positioning myself, I glanced towards the pond. Suddenly, my hopes dimmed a little. What I saw was a harpy preparing to feast on a dead boar. This harpy monster is a B-rank creature capable of using magic, making it quite dangerous. I observed the harpy closely. Luck seemed to be on my side because this harpy was red. Red harpies can use fire magic, making them extremely dangerous, but they are significantly weakened in heavy rain, and their fire magic is useless in such conditions. I looked up at the sky. Feeling the raindrops, I turned my attention back to the harpy. It seemed to be feeling the rain too, shaking its feathers in frustration as it prepared to carry the boar away. However, I couldn''t let this monster go so easily. I quickly took out a poison potion and threw it at the harpy. Sssssss... The poison potion made contact, and I saw the harpy''s flesh sizzle and smoke. I immediately emerged from behind the tree and charged at the monster with my knife. The harpy, initially confused by what had happened, quickly retreated after taking a hit from my blade. Then, it looked at me and lunged to pounce. "Earth Magic - Earth Wall!" A wall emerged from the ground, intercepting the harpy''s attack. The monster collided with the wall, lost its balance, and fell to the ground. I jumped and stabbed the harpy''s head with my knife. The harpy struggled, trying to claw at me with its talons. Ting... A silver light enveloped my body, and I saw the harpy''s talons unable to pierce through. "Thank you, my silver ring relic." The harpy struggled fiercely one last time before finally going still, exhaling its last breath. "Phew, it was quite tenacious. Even with a head injury, it fought so hard." The rain grew heavier, and it became darker, so I quickly placed the harpy''s corpse and the dead boar into my basket. My basket, marked with a dark circle, can hold up to five animals. Normally, I''d hunt until the basket was full and then rest for about a week, but today, with the heavy rain and darkness, I decided to call it a day and head back. Monster corpses, like animal carcasses, are versatile. Clothes, weapons, and tools made from monster cores and dead bodies are more potent than those made from ordinary materials. Getting both a harpy and a boar today made me feel incredibly lucky. However, I didn''t dare push my luck further and quickly headed back to Limart. As evening approached and it grew darker, I realized I had been in the forest for quite some time. Not wanting to face any more dangers, I hurried to exit the forest. The rain gradually stopped, and soon I reached the edge of the forest. "Phew... that was close." The huge lump of anxiety in my chest finally seemed to dissipate. From the edge of the forest, I could see the town I live in, and I paused to admire the evening scenery. Zzzzzzz... Suddenly, I saw something I had never seen before in my life, and I stood frozen, staring. A size that big like a hill where I live, I saw large green magical circles. "What... what''s happening? What is that?" Driven by a knight''s instinct, I immediately ran towards the magical circles. Someone capable of using such powerful magic could be a threat to Limart. "I need to buy as much time as possible." As I approached the area, the magical circles disappeared. It seemed the unknown spellcaster had finished their work. "...I''m sorry, my dear son..." I faintly heard a woman''s voice, sending chills down my spine. Gripping my knife tightly, I looked towards where the magic had been used. "Huh..." A child. In a brown basket, I saw a crying baby. The baby was wrapped in a green silk blanket, with a name embroidered on it. "Arthur Rowan." Seeing the child, I felt a bit relieved. However, I carefully checked the area for traps. Although there was a dense concentration of mana in the vicinity, I found no traps. Similarly, I couldn''t find the person who had used such powerful magic. "Haa... Today has been both lucky and strange," I thought. Though finding a child in the forest was unusual, I couldn''t bring myself to leave the baby there. I picked up the child and took a closer look. The baby had fair skin and dark hair. He would grow up to be quite a handsome man. As night fell and the child was in danger, I quickly carried him towards Limart. The Tale Begins "It''s already nighttime. Grandpa hasn''t arrived yet?" Jabin looked outside and sighed. Although Grandpa Thomas was not related to him by blood, he would truly feel sad if the old man passed away. Grandpa Thomas had moved to this town about two years ago. However, because of his good nature, not only adventurers but also the townspeople of Limart knew and respected him. Feeling worried, Jabin returned to his shop and sat at the counter. "Grandpa Thomas still hasn''t come back, huh, boss?" The person who appeared in front of Jabin was Marglas. Marglas was also an adventurer and someone who deeply respected Grandpa Thomas. "Yeah, Marglas. I haven''t seen him yet. Normally, he wouldn''t be this late." "Should I go look for him? I''ll take Kobe and Nax and check the forest outskirts." Kobe and Nax were Marglas'' party members and, like him, were adventurers. "No need for that. You''d just be adding more trouble. You know Grandpa was once a war veteran, right?" Hearing Jabin''s words, Marglas listened, nodded, and emptied his glass. Then, suddenly, Marglas laughed. Jabin, not expecting this, was confused and angrily said, "Hey! Are you messing with me? What did I say wrong?" "No, it''s not that. I just suddenly thought... We''re just ordinary adventurers, but we''re worrying about an old war veteran who''s spent years defeating monsters. If others heard this, they''d laugh so hard they''d die." Hearing Marglas'' words, Jabin also started to think and then smiled. If someone who wasn''t even an adventurer was worried about Grandpa Thomas, people would definitely laugh, just like Marglas said. At that moment, "Even ordinary people can worry too, can''t they? I didn''t know you all cared about me this much." A voice came from outside the shop. When Jabin and Marglas heard the voice and looked toward it, they saw Grandpa Thomas, and they felt relieved. Marglas immediately asked, "Grandpa, why are you so late? What happened?" "I ran into a Harpy. Got quite a haul today. I went to the adventurer''s guild first, that''s why I got late. And, Jabin, I also got some wild boar meat for you. I''ll bring it over in the morning." "Hahahaha... That''s fine, Grandpa. Take your time." Jabin laughed and said. Marglas, looking curious, asked, "A Harpy? Was it a whole group? Grandpa, you''re really reckless! Did you get any injuries? If we ran into a Harpy group, I can''t even imagine." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "Luckily, it was just one, a Red Harpy. Since it was raining, you can imagine how powerless A red harpy was in the rain. I was fortunate. By the way, did you two see a powerful spell being cast near the forest?" Marglas looked at Thomas with a frown and said, "Grandpa, what are you talking about? We didn''t see anything... Seems like you''re seeing delusions because of your old age. Hahahaha... Ouchh!" Thomas knocked Marglas on the head and said, "So, you really didn''t notice anything... hmmm..." At that moment, a thought flashed through Thomas'' mind. When casting a spell, whether or not there is sound depends on the spell itself. Thomas remembered reading in a book during his younger days that destructive magic spells are loud, while non-destructive spells are much quieter. "Seems like it was a non-destructive spell¡­ A buff spell, maybe?" Just then, Jabin asked, "Grandpa, who is the child in your arms?" Thomas stopped thinking and replied, "Oh, this child? I found him in the forest and brought him here." "What?! You just took a child from the forest? Grandpa, is this a monster or what? " "It''s not a monster. I''ve already confirmed it." Thomas then explained everything to Marglas and Jabin. "That''s really strange... Leaving a child in the forest like that is really inhumane. And the cloth wrapped around him is silk. Could he be a noble''s child?" Marglas said, "Jabin, are you too seeing delusions like Grandpa? Even the kingdom''s army wouldn''t bother coming this far. What noble would be here?" "Yeah... You might be right. But still, this is too strange. Should we take him to a church and have him checked?" "Are you seriously thinking this cute little child could be a monster? The cloth has a name embroidered on it¡ªArthur Rowan." Jabin sighed and said, "You are right, Grandpa." And then Marglas, looking at the child, commented, "Hmm... That name really suits him." Jabin then asked, "So, Grandpa, what are you going to do with him?" "I''ve decided to adopt him. I''m getting old¡­ and also sometimes I feel lonely." Marglas smiled and said, "Grandpa, don''t say you''re lonely. You have us." "Thank you, Marglas¡­ You guys must be tired from waiting for me too. Come on, let''s eat something. It''s my treat. Tonight, let''s celebrate for little Arthur." "Here we go, Grandpa¡­ Come on, Jabin, you too." Under the vast sky, amidst the moonlight''s glow, lively sounds filled the night as the Maple Tavern brought the town of Limart to life. --- In another place, the golden sunlight shone upon a field of colourful flowers, casting its warm glow alongside large white clouds. In the middle of this vibrant scenery, a tall white tower exists. Inside, the walls were a deep brown, lined with countless bookshelves packed with an uncountable number of books. Some books were scattered, and even a few ladders hovered in midair, making it seem like gravity did not exist within this library. At the centre, a floating table and chair rested, where a young man sat, his head tilted to the side as he read a book. He had a slender figure and wore a white silk shirt. His most striking features were his pale skin and silver hair, giving him a unique appearance. However, his expression showed boredom. "This is so dull¡­ Just one magic theory after another..." With a sigh, he closed the book, stood up, and stretched. "Whew¡­ That''s enough. Time to sleep¡­ Transfo¡ª" He abruptly stopped speaking. His eyes widened, and his face showed a mix of excitement and shock. "Haa¡­ This is a truly ancient spell¡­ One of the most powerful in history. Let''s take a look¡­" "...Cofnodion am byth¡­" As he extended both hands, a thick book, glowing with a blend of silver and violet light, appeared before him. "Alright¡­ Let''s see..." He flipped through the pages carefully. "Hmm¡­ So that''s how it works¡­ And then¡­ Oh, I see¡­" Suddenly, he stopped turning the pages. His expression, which had been filled with excitement, now carried a trace of surprise. "What?¡­ That girl was truly reckless¡­ She really went through with something this dangerous¡­ I''m impressed¡­ Hmm, let''s check the name¡­ Arthur Rowan¡­ Oh, interesting. You''ve caught my attention, kid. You better thank your parents¡­ Because I''ll be watching you. Show me something exciting in the future¡­ Whew, I''m getting sleepy¡­ I''ll continue reading tomorrow... Time for some sleep¡­ Transformation¡ª" As he spoke, the scene outside changed instantly. The once-shiny sky transformed into a clear night filled with bright stars. --- As dawn broke, the golden sun emerged from the east, pushing back the darkness. On a small hill near Limart, a young boy stood beneath an old tree, training intensely with his sword. Sweat dripped from his brow as he swung the blade with all his might. His dark hair, pale skin, and golden eyes gave him a striking presence. As the sunlight gradually reached his figure, he paused his training, resting his sword on his shoulder while gazing at the vast Great Therondia forest in the distance. "Whew¡­ This view is the best." At that moment, an elderly man stepped out of the house nearby and called out. "Son, if you''re done training, come and eat breakfast." "Got it, Grandpa. I''ll be there soon." "Alright, don''t take too long. The food will get cold." The boy stopped admiring the scenery, walked over to the old tree, and grabbed a cloth he had set aside. Wiping his sweat, he headed toward the house and placed his sword on a corner of the door before stepping inside. This marked the beginning of the journey of a boy destined to bring light into the age of darkness¡ªthe disciple of the great wizard Merlin the Gray, and the one who would claim the hero role in the legends of the future¡­ Arthur Rowan. The Forgotten Memories The night sky shone brightly, clear and majestic, accompanied by the grandeur of the moon. Beneath the magnificent full moon, the vast Great Therondia forest lay in serene silence, possessing a beauty of its own. The moonlight cast shadows upon the Great Therondia forest, causing a certain area to emerge from the mist-like a figure stepping onto a stage. Half-buried broken walls and shattered white pillars stood as remnants of once-glorious structures, now aged for centuries yet still retaining their grandeur. With no human presence in sight, this place remained a hidden mystery of Great Therondia. Near a collapsed building, amidst the grass, a broken piece of iron wire glimmers under the moonlight, as if mourning the battles of the past. The still-standing white ruins hint that this place must have once been magnificent. Amidst the pale, dignified ruins, a dark, ominous presence blended into the mist. The shadow of the past wandered, seeking something unknown. Cloaked in tattered armour, this entity gripped a dull, chipped sword, moving as if searching for prey. * For the first time in centuries, war reaches the great continent of Anata. It all began two years ago when the Emperor of the Land of Flowers declared an unprovoked war against all other nations. The emperor''s army was divided into three battalions, launching an attack on Balahan, a bordering nation, with two battalions, while the small nation of Ohnmat faced an invasion by the third. Although Alandra, located opposite The Land of Flowers, had yet to face confrontation, it was evident that if Balahan fell, Alandra would be the next target. Foreseeing this, Queen Ema Froststin of Alandra made a crucial decision. She dispatched military aid to Balahan, sending: Alandra''s Defense Unit 1, led by the Holy Saint Alandra''s Defense Unit 2, led by Sir Severus Argus Alandra''s Defense Unit 4, led by Sir Norman Green Alongside with 300 mages Under the command of Sir Clayman White aka White Phoenix. Meanwhile, Queen Ema, along with the Third and Fifth Defense Units and Alandra''s famed "War Maiden," Ancel Lilian, remained behind to safeguard the homeland. * An unfamiliar place¡­ A grand palace adorned in white and gold¡­ A tea room surrounded by vibrant flowers¡­ Inside the tea room, a young girl with white hair, fair skin, and a mature expression sat on a small chair. Beside her stood a tall man with a strong physique, long hair tied neatly behind him, smiling gently at the girl. In her small hands, she held a newborn child with golden eyes, a moment of pure familial warmth. "¡­ I''m sorry, my dear child¡­" Abruptly, I woke up. My heart clenched as if gripped by an invisible force, suffocating me with an overwhelming sensation. As I became aware of the tears trailing down my face, I wiped them away with my hand. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "What a strange dream." Feeling the sunlight touch my face, I stood up and gazed out the window. "It''s already evening. Grandpa hasn''t returned yet?" Earlier, Grandpa Thomas had told me that he would meet Big Brother Marglas around 2 PM. I walked to the dining room, drank some water, and tried to shake off the lingering drowsiness and recall my dream. "Such a lovely family¡­ But why do I feel so sad about this dream?" I wanted to recall more details, but only fragments remained, filling my thoughts with unanswered questions. Frustrated, I stopped trying to remember. "I need to train¡ªto become a Knight like Grandpa!" I grabbed the sword that was placed on a corner of the door and stepped outside. Under the shade of the old tree, I prepared myself, recalling the swordsmanship techniques Grandfather had taught me. There are three Power Sources in this world: Aura, Magic, and Relics. Both Aura and Magic required Mana to use, divided into two categories: Mages and Non-Mages. Mages used Mana to cast spells, while non-magic warriors¡ªsuch as swordsmen, archers, and tanks¡ªused Aura to cover weapons for combat. Technically, anyone with sufficient Mana could become an Aura Knight, but becoming a Mage required far more Mana. Some people, despite having enough Mana to be Mages, chose to become Aura Knights because they preferred close combat. Relics, unlike Magic, possessed unique, powerful abilities without requiring Mana. The mystery behind the relics'' abilities is still unsolved. Many Relics were discovered within the ruins of The Great Theondia Forest, and some believed their abilities were akin to ancient powers. My grandfather, Thomas, had once been a Knight and owned a Moonstone Ring Relic. Though exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, he lacked Mana, preventing him from becoming an Aura Knight. Despite his natural limitations, he had trained tirelessly to push his limits. Knowing this, I felt sorrow for my grandfather and frustration at the unjust nature of the world. Lost in thought, I continued training for 45 minutes before finally resting under the old tree. "Hah¡­ I''m exhausted. The sun is already setting." I wiped my sweat with a cloth and gazed toward the path where Grandfather was supposed to return from. The time was already 5:37 PM, and the sun was halfway below the horizon. As I watched, I spotted Grandfather Thomas approaching. "Grandpa, you''re a bit late today¡­ It''s already getting dark." "Ah, my son¡­ I was discussing something with Marglas and the others. We''re heading into the forest in two days." "Really? Uncle Marglas and the others are coming too?" "Yes. They recently discovered a ruin and suspect there might be Relics inside, so they invited me to join them." "Really, Grandpa? Can I go too?" Grandpa looked at me carefully, seemingly deep in thought without saying anything. Then he said, "Of course¡­ You''re about to turn 15 years old soon..." "Yay¡­! Thank you, Grandpa!" I cheered in excitement. Then Grandpa continued, "Son¡­ You have talent in swordsmanship. I can feel it. I''ve also noticed your progress. The only thing you''re lacking now is real experience. But I don''t really want to take you into Theondia Forest as much as I can avoid it. Gaining real experience in Theondia Forest is extremely dangerous. That''s why, when you''re in the forest, always stay alert and listen to what I say." "Yes, Grandpa." "Alright, come on, son. Let''s have dinner together¡­" I followed Grandpa into the house. I couldn''t wait for the next two days. Why? Because I was finally going to set foot in Theondia Forest for the first time¡ªthe place I''d always seen every morning during my sword training. Theondia Forest was very important to me. It was also the place where Grandpa found me. Ever since I was young, I have read many stories about Theondia Forest and admired the heroes within them. This felt like my first adventure. With that thought in mind, I glanced out the window. The evening had arrived. The town of Limart was coming alive with glowing lights from houses and streets, while music, cheers, and laughter of adventurers resonated from the taverns. --- "Clang¡­" Amidst the silent surroundings, the sound of two swords clashing echoed through the air. In the darkness, two figures were engaged in an intense battle. The first warrior, dressed in samurai-style armour, wielded a black katana and fought fiercely. The second warrior, wearing white armour, held two white daggers and clashed against the first with equal determination. "There are only a few people who can fight me this well¡­ You should be proud, Clayman." "Tsh¡­ I don''t feel good about this. My mind feels heavy. Even though Lilian is still in Alandra, I''m worried about my Queen. I must kill you, Arakawa Kuzuryu, and return to Alandra as soon as possible." "Even while fighting me, your mind is somewhere else¡­ Looks like I have to take this seriously, [Warrior]." The samurai warrior swiftly adjusted his stance and delivered a Vertical Slash toward his opponent in white. Suddenly, multiple katanas erupted from the ground like towering mountains, all targeting the white-armour warrior in a diagonal attack. "...Flicker." Tiny white feathers scattered into the air as the white armour warrior vanished in an instant. The feathers transformed into magical particles that faded as they touched the ground. In the blink of an eye, the white armour warrior reappeared in midair and then hurled one of his daggers directly at the samurai warrior. Just before the sword could hit its target, the white-robed warrior disappeared again¡ªonly to reappear where the dagger was. "I''ve been waiting for this move, White Phoenix¡­ [Defender]..." said the samurai warrior. Immediately, countless sword slashes materialized within a ten-foot radius around the samurai warrior. The battle was growing fiercer. The Unexpected Guest Today, I woke up very early because I was extremely excited. The reason is that today is the day we promised to explore the ruins that Marglas and the others found in The Great Theondia forest together. When I opened my eyes, it was still quite dark, so I checked the time. 4:47 AM. "Huh... I woke up so early today." I was so excited and filled with joyful emotions that my heart was pounding loudly. I pressed my hand against my chest to calm it down. Then, to ease my overwhelming excitement, I went to the dining area and drank some water. It seemed like the effect of drinking water helped. My excited mind calmed down a bit, and the drowsiness disappeared, leaving me feeling refreshed. After that, I grabbed the sword I had placed by the door corner and stepped outside. I saw the bright sun slowly rising from the east. I prepared my body for training and swung the sword vertically. 45 minutes later. I started to feel tired, so I took a break from my sword practice. Then, I went under a tree and took off my shirt. I was drenched in sweat. As I took a deep breath, I gazed at Limart, the small town with The Great Theondia Forest in the background. Adventurers heading to the Adventure Guild early in the morning to secure good quests, vendors preparing to sell breakfast, soldiers returning home after a night shift, and people going to the temple for morning prayers¡ªall of them made Limart''s morning lively and vibrant. In Limart, where I live, there are town guards, but their numbers are small, and they aren''t very strong. That''s why, as my grandfather once said, the lifeblood of Limart lies in its adventurers. "Arthur... are you practising your sword skills?" I heard my grandfather calling from the doorway. "Yes, Grandpa. I woke up early today and couldn''t go back to sleep, so I decided to practice my sword skills." "Alright, don''t overwork yourself. When you''re done, come inside. I''ve prepared breakfast." "Okay, Grandpa." I picked up the shirt I had taken off earlier and went inside. I placed the sword in its usual spot by the corner of the doorway and hung the shirt in the bathroom to dry. Then, I changed into a fresh shirt and went to the dining area. "Come on, Arthur. After eating, let''s get ready to go." I replied, "Yes, Grandpa," and ate my breakfast. Today''s breakfast consisted of fried eggs, bread, milk, and roasted tomatoes. After eating, I went to my room and put on the leather armour my grandfather had bought for me. Then, I looked in the mirror. I saw a young boy with slightly long, dark hair that reached his eyes, sun-tanned skin, and golden eyes. I''m not trying to boast, but I think I''m one of the good-looking guys. After that, since my grandfather was waiting outside, I grabbed my sword and went out. "You look so happy... your smile is about to reach your ears, Arthur." My grandfather was waiting under a tree. He was over 60 years old, with white hair tied back and a moustache. Like me, he was wearing leather armour. My grandfather never used to wear armour, always preferring to hunt without it, so I had to insist until he finally agreed to wear at least leather armour. He carried a bag with a magic circle drawn on it and had his sword hooked at his waist. Even though he had retired long ago, I could still feel the aura of a knight emanating from him. "Let''s go, boy." "Yes, Grandpa." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I followed my grandfather as we headed into town to meet Marglas and the others. "Yo! Old man, you''re late!" "We''re just a little late, Marglas. After all, today is Arthur''s first time joining us." Marglas greeted us first. He had short hair, a tall and sturdy build, and wore armour made of a mix of steel and leather. He carried a shield in one hand and had his sword strapped to his back. Behind Marglas, I saw two others. One was Kobe, who had fair skin and wore bronze armour, with his sword hooked at his waist like my grandfather. The other was Nax, who had golden hair and wore leather armour, carrying a bow. Nax was the fastest in Marglas''s party, so he had a magic circle bag tied around his waist. Marglas''s entire party had recently been promoted to B rank. "Wow, Arthur... you''re almost an adult now, huh?" "It''s my first time joining you, so I''ll be counting on you, Uncle Marglas..." "Uncle... Uncle Marglas... Come on, Arthur, I''m not that old yet!" I teased Marglas. "Arthur''s right... you''re over 30 now, so you''re practically an uncle, Marglas." Nax backed me up from behind, and Kobe nodded in agreement with what Nax said. "You little brats... Ouch!" My grandfather smacked Marglas on the head. "Brat Marglas... stop talking nonsense. We''re already late, let''s go." "Old man, why did you hit me..." "Yes, Grandpa." "Yes, Grandpa Thomas." After that, we left the small town of Limart and headed toward The Great Theondia forest. * Amidst the mist, old buildings and broken walls, On top of one of the ruined structures, we spotted two people. "20 million, huh... Betraying your own country isn''t good, but you guys didn''t provide enough funding for research... That''s your fault... Anyway, I''ve never seen such a powerful ghoul before. This is truly the best..." The person dressed in a black robe spoke to the ghoul in armour beside him. However, the ghoul didn''t respond. "Hmm... no matter how powerful it is, it''s still just a ghoul... Anyway, my masterpiece will be complete soon. Hehehehe..." Then, the person in the black robe stood up. "Dark Magic - Summoning." Immediately, a large black magic circle appeared behind him. * We gradually reached the edge of The Great Theondia forest. "Arthur, Grandpa told you to be careful, right?" "Grandpa Thomas, we''re here too," Nax added. Then, Nax took out a piece of paper from his magic circle bag and tore it. As soon as the paper was torn, a small blue magic circle appeared, and a thread-like line suddenly pointed toward the location of the ruins. Following the blue thread, we continued forward, led by Marglas. At that moment, I remembered my grandfather''s words to always stay alert, so I gripped my sword tightly and focused. "There are skeletons ahead. Get ready." As soon as Marglas warned us, we saw the skeletons. It seemed like the skeletons had sensed us. They started moving toward us, step by step. "Fight!" Suddenly, an arrow shot past me and struck one of the skeletons in the head. It was Nax''s arrow. Then, the others also began attacking the skeletons. I immediately ran toward one of the skeletons and slashed its neck with my sword. After its head fell, I stabbed it with my sword and crushed it under my foot. Then, I attacked the other skeletons. It didn''t take long before all the skeletons were defeated. There were 22 skeletons in total. My grandfather took down 8, Marglas took down 6, Kobe and Nax took down 5 each, and I managed to kill 3. Skeletons are different from other monsters because their remains can''t be used for anything, and their bones aren''t suitable for making weapons. That''s why quickly destroying them is the most effective way to save time. "Phew... Thanks to you, Grandpa, things got much easier." "Skeletons are easy. They''re only D rank..." "And Arthur, good job." I nodded at Marglas. "Alright, let''s keep going. We''ll probably encounter skeletons three more times ahead, so stay alert." After listening to Marglas''s warning, we continued forward. 15 minutes later. Just as Marglas predicted, we encountered three more groups of skeletons before finally reaching the ruins. The ruins were massive. Amidst the mist, I saw broken walls and white structures for the first time, and I was amazed. ''Is this what ruins look like?'' I thought to myself. This place must have been inhabited by many people in the past. I even wondered if it was the palace of ancient kings because of its grandeur. At that moment, Marglas said, "Let''s rest for about 5 minutes." We took a break to catch our breath after all the fighting. Everything around me was fascinating since I had never seen anything like it before. Just then, I noticed something on top of one of the structures. As I was looking, a magic circle appeared in front of it. What I saw next made me freeze in place. "Grandpa, Marglas, Kobe, Nax... enemies..." Suddenly, two black lightning bolts shot toward us and exploded. The explosion filled the area with dust, obscuring our surroundings. "Grandpa... Marglas... are you all safe?" I stood up amidst the dust and looked around. Gradually, the dust cleared, and I saw my grandfather. Seeing that he was unharmed, I felt relieved. Just then, I noticed someone not far from my grandfather preparing to strike him with a sword. "Grandpa..." Clang... I felt my body being flung into the air along with the sword''s impact. It seemed like the sword broke from the force as I tried to block the attack aimed at my grandfather. Then, I crashed into a tree. I quickly tried to get up and looked toward where my grandfather was. In front of me, I saw the person who had been about to strike my grandfather now engaged in combat with him. ''I need to help Grandpa... but... Marglas and the others... are they safe?'' Blood started flowing from my mouth. My vision began to blur, and I tried to stand up, but my body refused to cooperate. ''Ugh... I want to help Grandpa, but... I don''t even have a sword anymore....'' Then, I collapsed back onto the ground. ''I can''t... my vision is getting blurry...'' As I was thinking this, I noticed a piece of broken chain in front of my eyes. With the last of my strength, I tried to grab the chain, but my vision darkened, and the world seemed to fade away. ''I''m done for... I''m losing consciousness...'' Just then, I felt as if someone was saying to me, "Do you want strength?" "I want it... please... give me strength...." The unknown Place "Grandpa, Marglas, Kobe, Nax¡­ enemies..." Just as I suddenly heard Arthur¡¯s shout, I saw someone attacking us with two black lightning bolts. "Marglas¡­! Use your relic¡­!" I immediately shouted at Marglas. As soon as he heard me, Marglas¡¯s shield began to glow, and a massive barrier of air formed in front of our group. "Boom..." The clash between the air-formed barrier and the black lightning caused an explosion, filling the surroundings with dust. The lightning that struck us just now must have been dark magic. Even the relic embedded in Marglas¡¯ shield couldn''t fully block it. My relic, the Moon Ring, protected me, but Marglas had to stand at the front and use his shield to absorb the remaining damage for the others. Afterwards, Marglas kneeled on one knee, panting in anger, while Kobe and Nax seemed to have only suffered minor scratches. I quickly took a healing potion from my bag and tossed it to Marglas. "Thanks, old man... Who the hell ambushed us like this? Cowards... No guts to fight face-to-face, huh?" Marglas was visibly enraged. I turned to check on Arthur, making sure he was okay. Seeing that he was unharmed, I felt relieved. Just as I was about to call him over, his expression suddenly changed, filled with worry, and he sprinted toward me. "Grandpa¡­!" Clang¡­ A loud clash of swords rang out. I saw Arthur being blown away from behind me, crashing into a tree. "Arthur...!" The sight of his bloodied body sent my blood boiling. Without hesitation, I swung my sword at the person who had attacked him. My strike was blocked instantly, so I grabbed the attacker''s head with my free hand, forced him down, and kneed him in the face. Caught off guard, the man staggered backwards, and without missing the opportunity, I followed up with a spinning kick, sending him flying. For a moment, everything froze. Marglas and the others stared at me and the enemy in shock. Then, snapping back to reality, Marglas stepped forward with his large shield while Kobe and Nax flanked me. I turned back toward Arthur, concerned. He was unconscious near a tree. "Marglas¡­ Nax¡­ are you guys okay?" "Is that bastard who attacked us? Grandpa¡­ I¡¯m gonna rip him apart!" "Calm down, Marglas¡­ And Nax, are you alright?" "I''m fine, Grandpa Thomas..." "Good. Go check on Arthur. He¡¯s unconscious by that tree. Use a healing potion on him." "Understood, Grandpa Thomas¡­ Buff Magic ¨C Invisible." With that, Nax vanished from sight, likely using his invisibility magic. I readied myself again and turned to face the enemy who had attacked us earlier. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "What...?" The man we were fighting was no ordinary foe¡ªhe was a High Ghoul, an A-rank monster. What was even more surprising was that it was daytime. High Ghouls were supposed to be terrified of sunlight and only found deep within dungeons. "Who¡¯s behind this? The one who attacked us with dark magic earlier?" I wondered. Just then, a loud voice echoed through the ruins. "Hah¡­I thought you were all dead. You little fucking cockroaches¡­ Even after I powered up this damn High Ghoul, it was still useless. Well, I guess I¡¯ll have to step in myself¡­" "So it was you who hit us with that lightning, huh? You fucking rat¡­!" Marglas interrupted the mysterious man wearing a black cloak before he could finish speaking. The cloaked man narrowed his eyes in irritation. "Hey, you shield-wielding gorilla¡­ Who taught you to interrupt when a noble is speaking, you damn savages?" "A noble? Ha! More like a criminal¡­ I¡¯ll kill you, you dog!" "Marglas, focus! He¡¯s not alone." I cut in, warning him. The cloaked man then examined me closely. "Hmph¡­ A retired knight, huh? You damn meddlesome knights¡­ Well, since you¡¯ve seen too much, I¡¯ll just have to kill all of you." "Buff Magic ¨C Flying." With that, the black-cloaked figure lifted into the air, looking down at us from above. He spun his staff, forming a magic circle. Within moments, the battle had begun. --- ¡®Where¡­ am I¡­? What¡­?¡¯ I thought I had lost consciousness, but now I found myself in an unfamiliar place. "Am I dreaming? Haha¡­ Looks like I must have passed out and started hallucinating, hahaha¡­" The environment around me was so surreal that it felt like a dream. Within a green void, I saw ancient ruins, shattered white-and-gold buildings and debris floating around, all suspended in midair. There was also a strange, buzzing "Gzzzz" sound. "Ugh¡­ What is this place¡­?" I instinctively slapped my cheek. "Ow¡­ That hurt. So this isn¡¯t a dream¡­" That meant this place was real. Hmm¡­ I tried to think carefully. Everything I had experienced today felt too realistic to be a dream. The feeling of powerlessness I had just gone through¡ªI would never forget that sensation. I tried to recall what had happened before I lost consciousness. Five minutes passed. My head was burning. I couldn¡¯t think clearly. Then, a terrifying possibility crossed my mind. "Wait¡­ Am I dead¡­?" I suddenly felt a deep sadness. "Damn it¡­ I never even got to thank Grandpa¡­ I wanted to become a knight like him¡­ Damn it¡­" The sorrow weighed heavily on my chest, and a sharp pain pierced through my heart. I feel like I got flashbacks. Starting my life after the adoption from Grandpa, lived in the Beautiful town called Limart, saw landscapes of the Great Theondia forest every day, and met with a lot of friends such as Marglas, Kobe and Nax, especially I could protect My grandpa. Now I think about it, I think I''m satisfied. And also there was nothing I could do about it, so I finally calmed down. "If this is the afterlife, then let¡¯s take a look around. Maybe I¡¯ll find other souls and ask them about this place." I decided to move forward. But then, I noticed something strange. "Huh¡­ My body isn¡¯t moving?" No, my body wasn¡¯t moving¡ªI was floating, just like the ruins around me. "Oh¡­ So this is what happens when you die, huh? Hmph¡­ Then how do I even move around? Is it by thought?" As soon as I considered it, my body shifted. "Ah¡­ So it is controlled by thought." I decided to test it for five minutes, flying around to get used to it. "Alright, I get it now¡­" The buzzing "Gzzzz" sound continued, irritating me. "Even in death, there¡¯s noise? Damn it¡­" I listened carefully to that sound. The sound seemed to be coming from the northwest. Maybe it was another soul? I became curious and decided to follow it. As I moved, I passed by more floating ruins, broken buildings, and shattered stone pillars. The sound grew louder. Soon, I arrived at a colossal golden structure, completely intact. It was a circular building, with large openings on its upper levels and a massive wooden door slightly ajar. In the centre of the door was a carved emblem of a sword. As I observed the structure closely, I realized I had heard about this place before. "This looks like¡­ a colosseum?" As I stepped inside, I found a vast arena surrounded by tiered seating, like a stadium. At the very center stood a man, leaning on a sword, as if waiting for me. He looked to be in his thirties, with middle-part style black hair that hung down to his eyes. He wore silver armour, and his sword was made like pure silver. He slowly raised his head and locked eyes with me. "Hey, you there.... are you also in a similar situation? When did you die? How long have you been here?" There were so many things I wanted to know that I quickly bombarded him with questions. At that moment, the man stared at me with his piercing eyes. Then, without warning, he threw his sword toward me. "Pick it up... I''ll give you three seconds. If you can defeat me, I''ll tell you everything you want to know." His sudden and strange words left me completely speechless. "Uhm¡­ brother or uncle¡­? I don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re trying to say¡­" As I was still speaking, a mysterious chain suddenly emerged from the man''s hand. Before I could react, it wrapped around my leg. "Huh¡­?" In an instant, I was yanked forward and flung toward the spectator stands. "Ugh¡­!" I crashed against the wall before falling onto the stone floor below. I was in complete shock, unable to process what had just happened. ¡®Am I really in the realm of the dead¡­? I hit the wall and fell to the ground, yet I didn¡¯t feel any pain¡­¡¯ "I''ll let that one slide, old man... Ha..." Before I could fully recover, multiple chains shot toward me once more. Without hesitation, I swung the sword in my hand and sliced through them. "Hey, listen¡­ Since we¡¯re both souls, can¡¯t we just talk this through properly? Or do you want to fight? Fine, you bastard... I accept your challenge! Come to me" As soon as I said that, I noticed something¡ªjust for a brief moment, the man smirked slightly. Then, he casually waved one hand, and once again, countless chains surged toward me like serpents. "Ah¡­ This damn old man¡­!" The limitless potential Numerous chains came at me like waves. Instantly, I grabbed the sword with my left hand and carefully observed the chains. At that moment, I focused entirely on my surroundings. The buzzing sound, the floating debris in the air, the chains coming at me like waves, the person behind those chains wearing silver armour, the massive Colosseum around me, the green background¡ªI focused on everything using all my senses: hearing, sight, and smell. Suddenly, I felt as if the entire environment had slowed down. Since I was a child, my grandfather had always emphasized training my focus over swordsmanship or magic skills. I hated practising focus because it was so boring. However, every time I complained, my grandfather would say that the ability to analyze one¡¯s surroundings in a split second increases survival rates more than any sword technique or magic. "Grandpa, I finally understand your foresight," I thought. Now, it seems I¡¯ve improved even more than when I was alive. I don''t even know if I''m lucky or unlucky anymore. Then, I leapt toward the chains with all my strength. As I got closer, the sharp tip of the chain nearly touched my eye. In slow motion, I slashed at each chain one by one. "Clang..." The chains that had troubled me earlier now seemed as easy to cut through as slicing butter with a knife. In an instant, countless broken chains scattered around me, falling slowly to the ground. My vision, which had been filled with chains, gradually cleared, and I saw the person behind them. Like everything else, his movements were slow. With a swift, wind-like slash, I cut at him. "Swish..." Blood flowed from his cheek, and as I saw the look of surprise on his face, I moved behind him. Without hesitation, I thrust my sword toward his heart from behind. "Urgh..." In pain, he staggered backwards and collapsed to the ground. "Alright, old man... Since I¡¯ve stabbed your heart, you¡¯ll die soon. So, before you die, it¡¯d be good to tell me everything you know..." I pointed my sword at him and spoke. In my mind, I thought, "Hurry up and say it before you die." At that moment... "...You have a potential, kid... But do you really think you¡¯ve killed me?" I heard his voice from behind me. I turned around and saw the man I had just stabbed standing with no wound, looking at me. "Huh... So, earlier..." I realized something was wrong and turned back to the man on the ground, only to see him transform into chains. The chains rushed toward me at incredible speed. By the time I realized it, it was too late. I tried to dodge, but... "Swish..." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Blood flowed from my right arm. "You managed to avoid the trap... Not bad, kid. Many have died in that trap..." I looked at him, and he seemed to be analyzing me, one hand behind his back, staring at me. Then, he smiled slightly. "You can¡¯t kill me, but since you avoided my trap, I¡¯ll tell you a few things you might want to know... First, this isn¡¯t a place where the dead come. Second, you didn¡¯t die and come here¡ªonly your soul arrived. If you die here, you¡¯ll die in the real world too... Lastly, and most importantly information I will tell U because I¡¯m interested in your potential. There are no limits here..." The information he gave me made me feel a sense of relief. "So, I¡¯m not really dead... That means I¡¯ll see Grandpa again..." I felt happy at the thought of reuniting with my grandfather. But then, I remembered another crucial point: if I die here, I¡¯ll die in the real world too. It felt like the weight of the world was crushing me. However, I didn¡¯t understand the last part. "Um... I don¡¯t get it. What do you mean there are no limits here?" He looked at me impatiently. "Huh... You still don¡¯t understand? Fine... I¡¯ll explain again. There are no limits here. What I mean is that you can achieve what you desire. You¡¯ve already noticed, haven¡¯t you? Your ability to focus here is beyond what you had in the real world. Your speed earlier¡ªthat happened because you thought of it, and it became real here..." As he explained, I finally understood. What I desire... What I want to become... Suddenly, a memory I had long forgotten resurfaced. When I was young, I once saw my grandfather practising swordsmanship outside. His movements, his posture¡ªeverything was perfect. His swordsmanship was so beautiful it took my breath away. At that moment, a dream came to me. I wanted to become a knight like him... A knight in shining armour. Suddenly, light emanated from my body. The leather armour I was wearing gradually transformed into a mix of white and silver armour. The sword in my hand also changed into a golden blade with a white edge. "Huh... This kid¡¯s not so dull after all... So, this is the form you desire..." I pointed my sword at him and asked, "Your name...?" "...Luthan." Thinking I needed to finish this quickly and return to my grandfather, I swiftly charged at Luthan with my sword. "Clang..." My sword strike was blocked by a chain that appeared out of nowhere. At the same time, chains emerged from the ground near my feet, threatening to trap me. I quickly cut through them. But then, a powerful uppercut came from below, sending me flying into the air. While airborne, I kicked Luthan with my right foot. As my kick connected, I twisted my body and slashed at his neck with my sword. Another chain appeared to block my strike. Suddenly, the chain wrapped around my sword and flung me toward a wall. Before I could recover, Luthan was already in front of me, surrounded by chains. "Ah... Fuck." I kicked off the wall, jumped and dodged his attack, landing behind him. Without hesitation, I unleashed a barrage of sword strikes, forcing him against the wall. As I slashed, my sword began to glow, and my strikes became noticeably stronger. One of my strikes managed to cut through the chains and graze Luthan¡¯s chest. "Ugh..." At that moment, the chains formed a circular barrier around Luthan, protecting him. Chains also emerged from the ground behind me, forcing me to defend. While I was busy with the chains, Luthan retreated to a safe distance. "Tch... He got away..." I glared at Luthan. "...So, this is your full power? Impressive. You¡¯ve cornered me with a good strategy... I acknowledge you. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll fight you with my full power too... If you can last 5 minutes, I¡¯ll consider it your victory..." Instantly, Luthan¡¯s silver armour darkened, turning into black armour. His eyes turned red, and a black sword appeared in his hand out of nowhere. Luthan looked like a red moon on a dark night. The transformation shocked me, and my instincts screamed danger. I gripped my sword tightly with both hands and stared at him. But then, I realized I couldn¡¯t move. Looking down, I saw chains wrapping around me, binding me tightly. "You didn¡¯t even notice this, did you? You¡¯re really naive... Well, now it¡¯s time to send you to the real afterlife..." With an incredibly fast slash, Luthan aimed for my neck. Blood sprayed everywhere, staining the ground. "It was interesting... But that¡¯s it... Rest in peace, kid..." Luthan looked at the young man, now bound and lifeless. At that moment, a sword grazed his cheek and embedded itself into the wall behind him. 1 Minute Earlier I used all my strength to move my neck slightly, avoiding the fatal blow. Instead of killing me, the sword only grazed me. With the last of my strength, I threw my sword at Luthan. However, bound by the chains, my aim was off, and the sword only grazed his cheek. "...Huh... You¡¯re still not dead kid... You just keep surprising me..."