Night had fallen over the continent, but no one had slept that night.
A cold wind passed through the plains, mountains, forests, and holy cities; a heavy wind that seemed itself aware that the thousand-year balance of the world was on the verge of breaking.
In the north of the continent, inside an old tavern near the border of the frozen lands, the sound of laughter and music had long gone silent.
The yellow light of candles fell on the rough faces of adventurers, and everyone was staring at the communication crystal in the middle of the hall; a crystal showing a blurred image of the desolate ruin and that red sky.
"They say the entire Sky Knights Guard has been deployed..." A young man’s voice trembled.
"Just to kill one person..."
No one answered. Because even saying that sentence seemed unreal.
The Sky Knights Guard was a legend to ordinary people, a legend they didn’t even know was real or not.
How long had it been since this guard was last deployed for a mission? So long that few from that time were still alive.
And now rumors say the legendary Sky Knights Guard has been deployed to kill just one person!
How could people believe such a thing?
In a dark corner of the tavern, an old man with decayed armor and one blind eye quietly lowered his cup.
Old scars on his face were visible under the flickering candlelight.
"I saw the Northern War..." His voice was hoarse and heavy.
"I saw the Demon Uprising... I saw the fall of three kingdoms..." He said quietly.
He paused, his gaze fixed on the forest image.
"But I never saw dragons, elves, and the Holy Empire stand together to kill one person."
A heavy silence fell over the tavern. Even breathing had become difficult.
Because everyone knew that if a being had been able to form such an impossible alliance, then it could no longer be called just a monster.
Even when the beasts of corruption conquered the border kingdoms, and when three great kingdoms fell to the beasts of corruption at the continent’s borders, even then, such an alliance had not formed.
Deep in the western forests, where elven cities were built among the massive branches of ancient trees, nature’s usual peaceful atmosphere was broken.
Leaves were restless, ancient roots trembled underground.
And the sacred trees that had remained silent for thousands of years were now releasing disturbed mana.
Aged elves looked at the sky with worry. The trees were crying and wailing, and such a thing was unprecedented in history.
It had only happened two other times, and each time, a continent had fallen, and billions of beings had been killed.
And now nature was afraid again.
Was another disaster about to happen?
"Mom... why are the trees crying?" A young elf girl quietly took her mother’s hand.
The woman had no answer. She only held her daughter tighter and stared into the distance; toward the direction of the desolate ruin.
In the dragon realm, the sky had darkened under the shadow of hundreds of flying dragons.
The massive mountain caves had emptied, leaving only young dragons behind; beings not yet allowed to participate in battle.
But even they were not calm. On one of the peaks, three young dragons stared at blue flames.
"Maybe he really is a harbinger of destruction." One of them said quietly.
"Or maybe just a powerful survivor from one of the destroyed continents?" Another sneered, but there was doubt in his voice.
And for a few seconds, none of them spoke, because even among the proud dragon race, Daniel’s name was no longer just an enemy’s name.
Rather, it had become a dark legend spreading faster than fire across the continent.
Walterk was one of the few humans known and respected among dragons, because of his unparalleled physical strength that matched the mightiest dragons.
And in the world’s shadows, cults had awakened.
In the basement of a forgotten temple, dozens of people in black robes knelt around a strange symbol; a symbol resembling the twisted roots of a massive tree.
Dark candles burned around them, and the sound of quiet whispers filled the basement.
"He killed an Eternal Warrior..."
"He devoured death..."
"He stands beyond the law..."
Some of them were afraid, but others had come to believe.
Because in a world where power determines truth, a being who destroys an Eternal Warrior was, to some, no longer just a monster.
Rather, a sign of the emergence of something greater. Daniel was no longer just a military threat; he was slowly becoming a concept, and for many, he was becoming an idol and a living saint.
A concept that the continent itself did not yet know whether to fear or kneel before.
In the highest part of the Holy Palace, far above the clouds, a heavy silence reigned.
A massive room with white walls and golden columns, at the center of which floated a giant celestial array.
Hundreds of magic circles spun in the air, showing a live image of the desolate ruin.
Daniel stood under the tree, behind him, the golden fruit pulsed quietly.
And each time its light spread, an unpleasant feeling formed in the hearts of those present, even inside the Holy Palace.
The Holy Emperor stared at the image in silence. The Grand Minister stood by the table, several scrolls open before him.
The Grand Knight stood with arms crossed, a deep frown on his face.
And Serius just watched quietly.
The Grand Minister broke the silence.
"Convincing the elves wasn’t easy." His voice was tired.
"Their leader only agreed to send forces when he heard we were willing to give them not just one, but two Life Crystals."
"Those elves always pretend to be free of everything with their hypocrisy, but in the end, they’re just a bunch of greedy bastards." The Grand Knight said mockingly.
Two Life Crystals were worth almost as much as the entire imperial treasury, and they had been forced to give such a valuable object to the elves.
"And the dragons... they only came for honor." The Grand Minister nodded quietly.
The image of Varkas could be seen in the array; a monster standing between sky and flame.
"Of course, some dragon tribes believe that if they kill that being, they can take his power." Although he didn’t name those tribes, everyone present knew which dragons he meant.
Dragons who are hated even among dragons, yet had been willing to send forces for this battle.
Everyone could see their true goal.
But no one said anything. The more reinforcements, the higher the chance of success.
A brief silence formed, because everyone knew that was the truth. Not everyone was there to save the world.
Some had come out of fear, some for honor, some out of hatred for that monster, and some out of greed.
"How was your meeting with the Divine Prophet?" Serius looked at the Holy Emperor and asked.
"The Divine Prophet did not object." The Holy Emperor suddenly said quietly.
The room’s atmosphere grew heavier. Even the Grand Knight raised his gaze.
Because that sentence itself was terrifying. It meant the Divine Prophet also saw that being as a threat.
"She didn’t directly order an attack." The Emperor didn’t take his gaze off the image.
"She just said... if you don’t stop him now, he won’t be stopped later."
The sound of spinning magical arrays in the room grew louder. That single sentence was enough for the Sky Knights Guard to be deployed.
But what still wouldn’t leave the Emperor’s mind was her silence when he had asked about the tree. The Divine Prophet had given no answer.
And that silence was more troubling than any warning.
"He still hasn’t attacked." The Grand Minister changed the subject upon seeing the Emperor’s gaze.
He had spent enough time with the Emperor and served him enough to know the Emperor was troubled by something.
"It seems that monster is scared, haha." The Grand Knight also said mockingly.
"I don’t see fear. He’s still just thinking." Serius countered and added.
The Grand Knight stifled his laugh and lowered his head in humiliation.
A being who, at that level of power, had still maintained the ability to think, analyze, and be patient, was more dangerous than any mad monster.
They were facing a monster who, aside from his power, seemed clearly very intelligent.
And that made them all sigh. What kind of disaster had descended upon them at this time?
They hoped today’s attack would succeed.
The Holy Emperor stared at the fruit. Its golden light pulsed like a living heart in the darkness.
And for the first time, a trace of true fear appeared in his eyes.
"What if that fruit completes?"
No one answered.
"With this force... we shouldn’t lose." The Grand Knight said with a heavy voice.
But even he didn’t seem sure.
"We are fighting against a being who has broken the concept of power." The Grand Minister answered quietly.
"The fact that we had to gather such an army... means we were already afraid." Then he continued in a quieter voice.
No one objected, because everyone understood the truth: even before the battle began, fear had entered the continent’s heart.
Suddenly, the array image trembled. The mana winds in the ruin intensified.
The sky suddenly cracked.
And then the four commanders simultaneously released their mana. The entire image turned white for a moment.
Even inside the Holy Palace, the pressure of that power was felt. The Holy Emperor quietly rose from his seat.
The Grand Minister held his breath. The Grand Knight pressed his hand on the table.
And Serius just looked quietly at Daniel’s image.
"Finally... their battle has begun." Then, with narrowed eyes, he said very quietly.
A battle that, regardless of its outcome, would be recorded in history.