A night that should have been peaceful had turned into a battlefield. The dark-robed man in front of me raised one hand. Pale blue mana began gathering in his palm. The air temperature plummeted. Within seconds, frost began forming on the ground. I immediately sensed danger. A mage. And judging by the amount of mana gathering... He wasn't an ordinary mage.
"Looks like you know we’re here." The man smiled. "I’m curious..." He aimed his palm at me.
"...just how strong you really are." A magic circle formed. I immediately lowered my body. "Aeternum Glacialis!" WHOOOOOM!
An explosion of mana swept across the entire area. The air suddenly froze. The ground beneath my feet turned into a sheet of ice in an instant. I tried to move. But—CRACK! Ice froze my legs up to the calves. "Damn it!" The ice spread faster and faster. The cold pierced my bones. I slammed my hand against the icy surface. CRASH! Cracks appeared. But before I could break free— the man had already raised his hand again. "Glacial Larnak!" FWOOSH! Ice exploded from the ground. In an instant, my body was trapped inside a massive block of ice. KRAAAK! I didn't even have time to dodge. The world around me turned white. I couldn't move. Breathing felt difficult. The cold pierced all the way to my bones. I stared at the man through the layer of ice. Damn... I hadn't even had a chance to attack. Then I heard the man's voice.
"Hey!" He turned toward his troops. "Attack with everything you've got!"
The attackers immediately moved.
"We don't have time before reinforcements get here!"
They began attacking our ship. BOOM! BOOM! Magic explosions slammed into the ship's shield. WHOOOM! The shield shook violently. I could see cracks of light beginning to appear across its surface. They really intended to destroy the ship. You bastards. I clenched my fists. If the ship was destroyed... Erhan and all the caravan's cargo were inside. I couldn't let that happen. I took a deep breath. My body began gathering strength. The ice trapping me started to tremble. "Ughhh..." I pressed both hands against it. "Ughhhhhhh!" KRAAAK! Cracks spread across the entire block of ice. The dark-robed man turned.
"What?"
BOOOOOOM!
The block of ice exploded. Shards flew in every direction. I walked out of the shattered ice. I dusted off my shoulders. "Ah..."
I rolled my neck. "It's been a while since I warmed up."
The man stared at me in disbelief.
I smiled. "Nice trick, asshole."
I planted my foot on the ground. DUUM! The earth cracked. My body shot forward. BOOM! In an instant, I was in front of his face. I swung my fist.
"Damn..." The mage raised his hand and created an ice magic shield.
"Those are some impressive reflexes for a mage like you." DOOOOM! My fist collided with the ice shield. A shock wave exploded between us. The man's body was blown backward, but he managed to stay on his feet. I was pushed back several yards as well. But my feet remained planted on the ground. I clenched my fists again.
"Try stopping this..." I launched myself forward.
"Íss Gungnir!" SHING! SHING! SHING! Ice spears appeared in the air. Dozens of them. Then dozens more. Every one of them pointed at me.
"Seriously?" I struck his ice shield with all my strength. BRAAAAAK! The shield cracked. But at the same time— SHRAK! An ice spear pierced my shoulder. SHRAK! Two more struck my side. I was sent flying. BOOM! My body slammed into the ground. Dust billowed into the air. I lifted my head. Several cuts appeared across my body. Thin streams of blood ran down my skin. But I could still stand. I pulled the shard of ice from my shoulder.
"That's all you've got?"
The man ground his teeth.
"Monster..."
I smiled. "No." I immediately struck back with greater force until his shield shattered and he was sent flying. I turned around. "Your turn." I shot toward his men, who were attacking the ship. BOOM! I slammed into one of them. His body went flying. CRASH! My punch caught a second attacker, sending him rolling across the ground. I was just about to attack the third when— GROOOOOM! A rumbling sound came from the direction of the ship.
"Big brother Zen, duck!" I immediately ducked. FWOOSH! A whirlwind shot directly over my head. BOOOOM! All three attackers were swept up by the wind and hurled far away. They slammed into the station wall, and some fell toward the side where there was a drop-off. I turned toward the ship. Erhan stood on the deck. Both his hands were raised as he prepared wind magic. His yellow hair fluttered in the wind he had created. His face was pale. But his eyes were filled with determination.
"Erhan!" I shouted. "Don't get involved!"
I pointed toward the ship. "There are too many of them!" "Get back inside!"
Erhan shook his head. "I can't just stand by while you're being attacked!" He clenched his fists. "If they're attacking you..."
Wind began swirling around his body. "...then they're my enemies too!"
"Erhan!" I growled. "Stay inside the ship's shield!"
"I can help!" He thrust both palms into the air. "Ventus Ruptura!" WHOOOOOOOSH! The wind spun faster and faster. Within seconds, a massive whirlwind formed around the ship. Then— BOOOOOM! The whirlwind blasted forward like a giant hammer. The attackers' formation immediately scattered. Some lost their balance. Others were forced to drive their weapons into the ground to keep from being dragged away. I looked at Erhan. This kid... He really was stubborn. But this time... I couldn't deny it. He was helping.
One of the attackers managed to get back up. "Wind magic from the ship?" Another stared at Erhan. "That kid can't be allowed to live!" "Take him out first!" They changed direction.
Several men began running toward the ship. I moved immediately. "Don't touch him!" BOOM! I charged into them. But before I could reach the formation— CRACK! Ice rose from the ground. The dark-robed man was standing in front of me again. His ice shield was damaged. His robe was covered in dust. But the look in his eyes had grown even colder.
"You've been too busy protecting others."
He smiled faintly. "That's your weakness."
I raised my fist. "If protecting my friends is a weakness..."
I stared at him. "...then I guess I'll stay weak? What kind of stupid logic is that?!"
The man raised his hand toward the sky. "All of you!" The attackers stopped.
"Combine your mana with my spell!" Blue light began appearing around their bodies. "We'll finish that kid in a single attack!" The mages quickly gathered behind him. One by one, their mana flowed into the mage's body. FWOOM... The air turned cold. FWOOM... The ground began to freeze over. FWOOM... My breath turned into white mist. A gigantic magic circle began forming in the air. I stared at it with a faint smile.
"This... looks dangerous."
This was clearly no ordinary spell. A massive ice spear slowly formed in the center of the circle. It was even larger than my body. Its tip pointed directly at me. Behind me... was the ship. Erhan was inside it. Along with all the caravan's important cargo. I couldn't retreat. On the ship, Erhan raised both hands. Wind began forming a barrier around my body.
"Erhan!" I turned toward him. "Stop!" "Don't push yourself!"
Erhan ground his teeth. "If I stop..." The wind around me grew stronger. "...their attack will hit you!" "I'M FINE!" I shouted. "Save your strength!" I looked at him. "You know what my strength is, right?" "But..." "Trust me!" I turned back toward the enemy. "Don't be the one who goes down." Erhan fell silent.
The dark-robed man raised his hand. "Too late." The mages behind him shouted in unison. "NIFLHEIMR GALDR!" BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! An ice storm exploded. Hundreds of ice shards shot toward me like a rain of death. Behind them, the massive ice spear launched forward. The ground split apart. The surrounding buildings trembled. I clenched both fists and planted my feet on the ground. DUUM! I felt the full force of the attack pressing against my body. From the front. From the sides. From above. From every direction. For the first time since the battle began... I wasn't sure. Could my body really withstand this attack?
"Big brother Zen!!!" Erhan's voice rang out.
I looked at the ship behind me. Erhan was still standing there. The caravan's cargo was inside. If I retreated... it would all be destroyed. I gritted my teeth. Damn... Why weren't the Captain and Rin here at a critical moment like this? I drew a breath. This was all the Captain's fault. I almost laughed in the middle of a situation like this. Later, I'd make him buy me some special Dragonfolk rendang. I stared at the approaching ice storm. I couldn't retreat.
"If you're combining your strength..." I clenched both fists. "...then I'll give it everything I've got too!" I slammed both fists into the ground.
DOOOOOOM!
A shock wave exploded from beneath my feet. Cracks spread across the ground. Rocks rose into the air. Dust billowed everywhere. The shock wave slammed into the ice storm.
BOOOOOOM!
Hundreds of ice shards spun through the air. For a moment... both forces came to a standstill. The ice storm fought against my wave of power. The sound of their collision was like the sky splitting apart.
KRAAAAAAAK!
"What is he doing?!" one of the attackers shouted in panic. The mage ground his teeth. "Don't stop!"
He raised his hand. "Add your mana!" The blue light grew brighter.
My body began to slide backward. The ground beneath my feet eroded. One step. I shifted back. Two steps. My shoes began sinking into the ground. I growled.
"Ughhh..."
It was heavy... Then suddenly—Erhan saw something. An opening. Between the ice storm and the wind barrier surrounding me. His eyes widened.
"I'll open a path, big brother!!!" I immediately turned toward him.
"Don't—!" Erhan thrust both hands forward.
WHOOOOOSH!
Wind burst out at full force. But his body staggered with it. Blood began dripping from his nose.
"Erhan!" He gritted his teeth. "Trust..." The wind grew stronger. "...me!"
BOOOOOOM!
The whirlwind pierced through the ice storm. The storm that had seemed nearly impossible to penetrate... split in two. For a moment... I could see the mage behind the swirling snow. The distance between us was open. Only a few yards. I smiled. Damn stubborn kid. I pulled one foot back.
"Good job, Erhan."
I clenched my fist.
"Now it's my turn."
BOOM!
I shot forward. The mage flinched. "What?!" He raised both hands. "Gryo...!"
KRAAAK!
An ice shield formed. But it was too late. I was already in front of him.
"This..." I drew my fist back. "...is for everyone you've hurt!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
My fist slammed into the shield. Cracks appeared. One. Two. Dozens.
CRACK! CRACK! KRAAAAAK!
The shield shattered. My punch struck his body.
DOOOOOOM!
The explosion shook the entire street. The blue light from the magic circle shattered. The mages connected to their leader's mana were thrown away one after another.
CRASH! CRASH! BOOM!
Their bodies slammed into the ground and the rubble. The ice storm vanished. Silence filled the street for a moment. I stood in the middle of the smoke. My breathing was heavy. Several wounds and cuts covered my body. But I was still standing. The mage lay among the debris. He tried to rise. His hand trembled. He looked at me. For the first time... I saw fear in his eyes.
"That power..." He coughed. "...doesn't belong to a Human."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He didn't answer. His body collapsed again.
I was about to approach him—But suddenly, I heard a voice.
"Big brother..."
I turned around.
Erhan nearly collapsed on the deck. I immediately ran toward the ship.
"Erhan!" He sat there weakly. His face was pale.
"Are you all right?" I shouted anxiously.
Erhan gave me a thumbs-up. A weak smile appeared on his face. "I told you..." He drew a breath. "...I could help."
I fell silent. Then I smiled faintly. "You stubborn kid." But before I could say anything else— WIIIIIIIIU! The sound of sirens came from the distance. Red lights swept across the street, which was filled with smoke and ice. I turned around. Several vehicles sped toward our location. And at the front of them—Captain Kaynan and Rin came running. Their faces looked extremely worried. Behind them... Commander Veyra arrived with her troops. They were ready to attack. I let out a sigh.
"Good."
I looked at the mage we'd defeated. But suddenly— CRACK. He moved. I immediately turned around.
"He's still alive?"
The mage struggled to his feet. His body was covered in wounds. Yet he was still able to smile.
"You..." He looked at us. "This isn't over."
I clenched my fists. "What are you really after?" He chuckled softly. "You have something..."
His eyes sharpened. "...that you were never supposed to take."
I immediately remembered something. The cloth. The cloth bearing the words Terra Vitae. Before I could move— FWOOSH! An icy mist poured from his body. In an instant, the entire street was covered in white fog.
"Don't run!" I charged forward. But my vision was blocked. I could see only his silhouette. I kept running. One step. Two steps. Three steps. My hand almost reached his robe—
But all that remained was cold air. I stopped.
"Damn it..."
I looked around. He had already escaped. The fog slowly faded. There was no trace of him. I clenched my fists. He had managed to get away. I looked toward Captain Kaynan. Then toward Rin. Then I thought about his words again.
"You have something that you were never supposed to take."
I sighed. Now everything was starting to make sense. This attack wasn't a coincidence. They weren't just terrorists attacking the overseer's office. They were looking for something. Something connected to the cloth the Captain had found. Something important enough to make the High Authority of the Racial Alliance intervene personally. And Captain Kaynan... With his habit of always picking up strange things off the street... this time, he had truly picked up something dangerous. I glared at the Captain in annoyance.
Ugh... My stupid Captain. Why does this guy always pick up things that aren't important? I rubbed my face. But this time... I wasn't sure whether that thing really was unimportant or so important that terrorists were willing to hunt it down. Because one name kept echoing in my mind.
Terra Vitae.
The same name as the planet in history. The same name as the dream that had always haunted me. And now... there were people willing to attack us to get it back. I looked up at the night sky over Ozgur. For the first time, I began to wonder—
What exactly has been hidden from us all this time?