Note: Starting from this chapter, there will be many template characters appearing—around 20, I think? Some you might recognize, and others you probably won't know. If you want, you can look them up on Google or wait for me to upload their photos at the end of the chapter.
There are also several characters suggested by readers, but their appearances might come sooner or later. I'm estimating around chapter 50 or beyond. Too long? Well, what do you expect from a beginner writer like me? I can't be like other writers who manage to update every day.
Finally, if you notice any words or sentences that don't seem quite right, please comment on that paragraph so I can make the necessary corrections. Thank you for your attention and happy reading!
***
𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆… One of the most famous cities on the human continent.
While other great cities had to make do with three or four Rank S Hunters as protectors, Master Swordsman City stood proudly with two legendary Rank SSS figures ready to crush anyone who dared threaten its peace.
But the city's main strength lay not only in its protectors.
True to its name, Master Swordsman City was a paradise for swordsmen.
Nearly every corner of the city was filled with Hunters whose Talents were related to the art of the sword.
Magnificent buildings with unique architecture, designed specifically for sword training, towered in various districts.
Even the air of the city seemed to vibrate with the clang of metal striking metal from training facilities that were never empty of visitors.
In the midst of the bustling city market, filled with weapon merchants, a young man gazed in admiration at a city life so different from where he came from.
"This city... is nothing like I imagined," Chen Ye whispered in awe.
The young man with glossy, bluish-black hair stood frozen, his sea-blue eyes sweeping over the whole scene with gasps of wonder.
A black sword was neatly sheathed at his right hip, contrasting with his gray traveling clothes, which looked shabby after weeks on the road.
But what drew the most attention was the glowing blue crystal necklace around his neck.
'As a disciple of the great Sword King, you truly embarrass me,' hissed a formless voice behind him.
'Stop acting like a country bumpkin seeing a big city for the first time.'
The translucent shadow of an old man in white robes with a long beard floated behind Chen Ye, his face showing irritation.
"How could I not be amazed?" Chen Ye retorted, his lips twitching.
"Look around you, Master. Almost every Hunter here is at least Rank C or B. I haven't even seen a single Rank D wandering around!"
Chen Ye sighed long.
With his Rank SS Talent, Emperor of Sword, he could face a Rank A+ Hunter in a real fight.
But in pure swordsmanship, he still lagged far behind the experienced swordsmen of this city.
'Huh! Isn't that exactly why you came here?' snapped the Old Spirit.
'To forge your swordsmanship! So stop wasting time and start looking for a decent training place!'
The Sword King snorted in annoyance.
He had good reason to be impatient—hundreds of legendary techniques were stored in his memory, ready to be passed down to his only disciple.
Unfortunately, Chen Ye's foundation was still too weak to learn high-level techniques!
"Isn't this your fault, Master?" Chen Ye complained, rolling his eyes. "You have a wealth of knowledge about swords, but the truth is you're terrible at teaching."
"..."
Although in life he had been called the "Sword King"—one of the strongest figures on the continent—the old spirit truly was bad at transferring his knowledge.
His life as a hermit who rarely interacted with other humans had left him awkward at communicating, let alone teaching.
Chen Ye continued along the cobbled road, his eyes occasionally searching for the figure who had so captivated him a few months ago.
That girl... where was she?
The image of a petite girl in a white-and-red kimono, her eyes always closed, surfaced in his mind.
That brief encounter a few months ago was still clearly etched in his memory—how the mysterious girl had moved at a speed impossible for such a small body, how her sword swung without being seen.
"Are you sure that girl isn't a spy sent by your enemies, Master?" Chen Ye asked, his voice lowering to a whisper.
'No, although that girl is rather strange, I can guarantee one hundred percent that she's not a spy.' The Sword King answered without hesitation.
'She's too weak for that. Her sword aura is pure, without the taint of darkness that the Black Mamba always carry.'
Chen Ye swallowed at the mention of that name.
Black Mamba… The demonic sword group that had hunted down and destroyed the Sword King's body.
The same organization that was now chasing him, hoping to find the Sword King's soul, which they believed was still alive.
They had faced each other three times, and three times Chen Ye had nearly lost his life.
Somehow, they always managed to track him down, as if an invisible marker had been planted in him.
"Whatever happens, I hope I don't run into any members of that group."
Chen Ye sighed long, his hand unconsciously touching the scar on his abdomen—a gift from their last encounter.
Truly, he was starting to grow tired of living on the run.
'That's precisely why you must grow strong quickly!' the Sword King exclaimed. His voice was filled with a spirit unbefitting his aged appearance.
'The stronger you become, the sooner we can rebuild this master's body! When that day comes, the world will once again hear the name of the mighty Sword King!'
"Yes, yes..." Chen Ye replied lazily.
Sometimes he felt like a babysitter for a small child trapped in an old man's body.
Chen Ye's steps halted suddenly.
Something had caught his attention… not sight or hearing, but a deeper intuition.
"Hm?"
'What is it, boy?' asked the Sword King, noticing his disciple's change in demeanor.
Chen Ye stared straight at a building at the end of the street.
A spacious traditional wooden residence, surrounded by high walls with an intricately carved wooden gate.
Unlike the modern buildings around it… this residence was like a piece of the past trapped in time.
His Talent—Emperor of Sword—resonated with that place, as if whispering that what he sought might be inside.
Like a powerful magnet pulling him, Chen Ye stepped forward unconsciously.
"My advice is that you shouldn't try to train in that place," a voice stopped his steps.
Chen Ye turned and found a Rank C Hunter with a sword slung on his back looking at him with a serious expression.
"Excuse me?" Chen Ye frowned.
"You're new here, aren't you?" The Hunter looked Chen Ye up and down. "No wonder. If you had lived here long, you'd surely know about the Yozakura."
"Yozakura?"
"Yes, the Yozakura Family." The Hunter pointed toward the wooden residence. "One of the three founding families of Master Swordsman City, though almost no one knows them now."
"Founders of the city?" Chen Ye was surprised.
The information felt unfamiliar yet strangely also familiar, as if the knowledge had always been in his mind.
"No wonder you're confused," the Rank C Hunter smiled faintly. "Compared to the other two families led by Rank SSS Hunters, the Yozakura Family has been nearly forgotten by history. Their outdated residence is proof of their decline. What's more concerning, their descendants are now just a handful."
Chen Ye was still puzzled by the warning.
"Then why are you telling me not to train here?"
"Because—"
𝘽𝘼𝙉𝙂!!
"ARGHH!!"
The Hunter's words were cut off by a loud explosion.
The wooden gate of the Yozakura residence flew open and a young man was hurled out, his body covered in wounds, landing hard against the wall across the street and losing consciousness.
"..." Chen Ye fell silent at the sight.
"..." The Rank C Hunter went mute as well.
"As you can see," the Hunter continued, trembling.
"Unlike the structured training methods of the Shikai Family or the Resonance Family, the Yozakura Family's training is notoriously brutal and merciless. Just for an entrance test, you'd end up nearly dead like that poor young man."
The Rank C Hunter thought his warning would bring Chen Ye to his senses.
But unexpectedly, the young man instead approached the gate with shining eyes.
"H-hey! Didn't you hear my words?!" he cried in panic. "Find some other, more humane training place!"
"Sorry," Chen Ye smiled broadly, his blue eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
"But I think this place is the best fit for me!"
Without hesitation, Chen Ye dashed in just before the heavy gate closed completely!
"WAIT! DON'T BE STUPID!" the Hunter's shout vanished behind the now tightly shut gate.
Chen Ye had only a fraction of a second to realize the danger threatening him.
Dozens of arrows and throwing knives shot toward him from every angle!
'Oh no—'
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙈!
Deep red flames with a dark aura suddenly erupted from Chen Ye's body, forming a shield that burned every projectile approaching him.
Sparks of fire fell to the ground, leaving scorched marks.
"Master," Chen Ye wiped the sweat from his brow, "you could have warned me about this trap earlier."
'Fool!' snapped the Sword King irritably. 'You're the one who suddenly barged in without thinking! What if this place really were as dangerous as that Hunter said?'
"My intuition says this is the best place to train," Chen Ye replied confidently. "Emperor of Sword has never been wrong about this."
'Tsk, if that's really the effect of your Talent, we must follow it to the end.' The Sword King clicked his tongue in displeasure. 'Stay alert.'
Chen Ye walked carefully through the spacious courtyard filled with old cherry blossom trees.
Strangely, although he was clearly an intruder, no one appeared to stop him.
"Isn't this strange, Master?" Chen Ye whispered. "I've broken in, but no guards have stopped me."
'This place... is surrounded by a powerful barrier,' the Sword King answered, frowning. 'I can't sense anyone's presence even though I've spread out my perception.'
Chen Ye continued exploring the vast residential complex.
Several traps appeared along the way, but thanks to his sharp instincts and the Sword King's warnings, he managed to avoid them all.
Until at last, in a room that looked like the main hall…
His gaze fell on a large painting on the wall.
A portrait of a petite girl with hypnotic beauty.
Long snow-white hair with strands of sea-blue on her left side. Pristine white clothes wrapped her small body gracefully.
But most captivating of all were her eyes… Pink irises with cherry blossom patterns that radiated mysterious power.
'Is she the last descendant of the Yozakura?' Chen Ye thought unconsciously.
"Perhaps..." he murmured softly, unable to suppress a sense of pity at imagining a girl so young living alone in this vast, empty residence.
"Another visitor?"
"?!!"
The cold voice startled Chen Ye.
Before he could turn around, the Sword King shouted loudly in his mind.
'LOOK OUT!'
A flash of sword light streaked like lightning, forming a series of deadly slashes aimed straight at Chen Ye's body!
𝙎𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙃!! 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙈!
"Hm?" The attacker narrowed his eyes. "...Not bad."
"Is this how you welcome guests?" Chen Ye hissed, his sword having managed to block the sudden attack, though the vibration still lingered in his arm.
Before him stood a young man of similar age with short blue-green hair.
His narrow eyes radiated the sharpness of a hunting eagle, without a speck of emotion.
He wore a black coat layered with gray that looked formal yet practical for fighting. A beaded earring on his left ear glinted in the light.
'He moves without a sound,' Chen Ye thought warily. 'His strength might be equal to a Rank B+ or A Hunter...'
"Are you the one who will test my abilities?" Chen Ye asked, trying to provoke a reaction.
"If it's just you, this will be an easy practice."
The young man looked at him expressionlessly. "It seems you misunderstand."
"Misunderstand?"
"Yes." His tone remained flat. "I'm not here to test you, but..." His gaze sharpened like a knife, "...to kill you."
In the blink of an eye, the young man vanished like a ghost.
𝙒𝙊𝙎𝙃!
'He's coming!'
"I know, Master!"
Chen Ye drew his sword on reflex!
𝙎𝙇𝘼𝙎𝙃! 𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂!!
Two blades clashed hard, creating sparks in the air.
Unlike Chen Ye's normal sword, his opponent used a Shirasaya—a katana with a straight blade and no curve, kept in a plain wooden sheath.
Though it looked simple, the weapon was able to withstand the pressure of Chen Ye's rare sword without a scratch!
𝙆𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙂!!
The sound of metal clashing echoed in the room.
Chen Ye, with the stronger physique, began to push his opponent back.
But suddenly—
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙈!
Unexpectedly, the mysterious young man spun and kicked Chen Ye squarely in the chest.
Before Chen Ye could recover his balance, his opponent had already flickered into view behind him, launching a barrage of precise slashes that tore through Chen Ye's clothes and skin!
'DAMN IT! He's faster than I thought!'
Chen Ye swung his sword in a wide arc.
Blackish-red flames enveloped his blade, forming a fire slash that shot straight toward his opponent!
"<<𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐛𝐲𝐬𝐬>>!"
Facing the deadly attack that could have leveled steel, the young man remained calm.
He took a low stance, his grip on the sword shifting.
"<<𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐤𝐮-𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞... 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦>>"
𝙎𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝! 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈!
Chen Ye's dense fire slash split in two!
A tremendous explosion occurred to the left and right of the young man, burning the walls and wooden floor, while he himself stood unmoved amid the devastation!
Chen Ye's eyes widened in disbelief.
'What the—?! He split the Flame of Abyss with an ordinary slash?!'
Chen Ye's Rank SS Talent, Flame of Abyss, was famous as a dark fire whose power multiplied many times over when facing living creatures.
If the attack had been blocked with a [mana] technique or some other supernatural power, Chen Ye might still have accepted it.
But the young man before him had used no special energy at all—there wasn't even a trace of [mana] in his attack!
This was purely swordsmanship and physical strength!
Even the Sword King seemed impressed.
'Is it a passive Talent related to the body? Or... special training that exceeds the limits of a normal human...'
But the more important question was… what kind of training could make someone this strong with physical ability alone?
'Look carefully, Fool,' the Sword King nudged Chen Ye's mind.
'He managed to cut it, but he's also suffering.'
Chen Ye followed his master's attention and saw the truth in his words.
Although he had accomplished the nearly impossible by splitting the Flame of Abyss, the young man had also suffered serious damage.
His katana blade had partly melted, while both sleeves of his clothes were scorched, revealing blistered skin beneath.
Traces of flame still licked at his body like hungry creatures.
But most astonishing of all, the young man still stood upright with a calm expression, as if those injuries meant nothing to him.
Chen Ye took a deep breath and said, "You're strong, but I suggest you stop. If you continue, you will surely die."
The young man ignored the warning. "I don't know whether you're naive or foolish. You had the chance to kill me outright..."
His eyes stared straight at Chen Ye. "...Or are you afraid?"
His words carried no particular emotion, yet for some reason they felt as if sarcasm was being directed at him!
"W-what did you say?!" Chen Ye took the bait. "Damn, and I was being kind to you!"
"Pointless mercy," the young man answered flatly.
"Being kind to someone who wants to kill you? How naive."
"Bastard! Then I'll grant your wish personally!"
Rage took hold of Chen Ye and the Flame of Abyss surged out of his body more strongly.
The fire was no longer a mere thin cloak, but a fierce tornado swirling around him, raising the room's temperature until the metal ornaments began to melt!
His sword changed drastically, now looking like a blade of solid fire twice as long as its original.
His sea-blue eyes turned glowing red, radiating fury and killing intent.
Seeing this transformation, even the Sword King's expression turned anxious.
'Fool, if you use your fire at this level, you'll truly kill him! And this room won't survive!'
But the warning fell on deaf ears.
Chen Ye had been completely consumed by anger, something rare for this usually calm young man.
On the other side, the young man in the black coat did not sit idle either.
He took up a low stance, his damaged katana raised high before his face.
A thin cyan aura began to envelop him, cooling the air around him until vapor began to form.
Just as the two prepared for the final strike—
"Stop."
A soft yet melodious voice sounded, echoing in the nearly destroyed room.
At the same moment, greenish roots suddenly emerged from the floor, instantly locking Chen Ye's movements!
"?!!"
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈....!!
The Flame of Abyss exploded wildly, trying to burn the barrier restraining him.
The fire grew bigger and hotter, sensing the strong life energy in those roots—its primitive instinct wanting to devour that energy.
Strangely, though, the roots did not burn.
Instead of destroying them, the flames slowly receded, as if suppressed by a force even greater.
"Damn it! What are these roots!" Chen Ye struggled to free himself. "Master, do something!"
'... ' The Sword King did not reply.
"Master! Why are you just standing there?!" Chen Ye shouted in frustration.
'Quiet, fool! Can't you see I'm thinking?!' snapped the Sword King, his voice full of tension.
"Huh?"
Chen Ye was surprised to see his master's usually arrogant expression now looking wary.
"I never expected that one day... this shabby residence would receive such a remarkable figure."
The soft voice sounded again, closer this time.
Her presence brought a strange calm, as if neutralizing the tense atmosphere that had dominated before.
Chen Ye looked up and for a moment, the world around him seemed to vanish.
Standing gracefully before him was a petite girl with a beauty that seemed almost not of this world.
Her skin was as white as porcelain with a faint cherry-blossom flush on her cheeks. Her long snow-white hair, touched with sea-blue, shimmered in the light, falling softly to her waist.
Her eyes—a pair of pink irises with cherry blossom patterns—gazed gently yet calculatingly. A faint smile adorned her perfect face…
"You..." Chen Ye stammered. "Aren't you the one in the painting? But..."
His attention fell on something that was not in the painting.
From the girl's body, especially on her right side, small cherry tree branches could be seen piercing her skin and clothing.
The branches moved subtly as if alive, with a few cherry blossom petals blooming beautifully here and there.
"Why... are cherry blossom branches growing from your side?..."
The question slipped out before he could stop it, making the Sword King want to smack his head for the rudeness.
Wasn't this like asking about a physical defect of someone you had just met?
But the girl merely smiled gently, as if accustomed to similar reactions.
"It's only part of my power," she answered in a melodious voice. "Remember? Great power never comes without a certain price."
She tilted her head slightly, the cherry blossom petals on the branches of her body moving with her.
"Besides... you must be the one Tsukuyo introduced?"
"H-huh? Tsukuyo?" Chen Ye blinked in confusion.
"A petite girl, white hair in twin ponytails, short-sleeved red-and-white kimono. Inaba Tsukuyo, a member of the Yozakura Family."
The short but detailed explanation came from the young man in the black coat.
Although his appearance now looked rather pitiful with burned clothes and a broken sword, he still stood upright beside the girl like a loyal guard.
"Oh!" Chen Ye's eyes widened in understanding. "The girl in the kimono with her eyes closed?! She's part of this family?"
The description perfectly matched the mysterious girl Chen Ye had met a few months ago… The same girl who had suggested he come to Master Swordsman City.
"Then... who are you two?" Chen Ye asked cautiously.
"Ah, forgive his rudeness." The girl bowed slightly, a graceful motion that reminded Chen Ye of ancient aristocrats.
"I am the founder and last member of the Yozakura Family, Yozakura Tsubomi. And he..."
"One of the members of the Yozakura Family and personal guard of the head of the Yozakura family, Aoi Sui," the young man finished in a monotone.
The introduction succeeded in leaving Chen Ye speechless...
***
"Hah... hah... hah..."
In the depths of a foreboding forest, a little girl ran stumbling through the darkness of night.
Her breath came in gasps, each intake of air feeling like a sharp blade slicing her lungs.
Her tangled golden hair glimmered faintly through gaps in the trees lit by the full moon, while her wide blue eyes radiated a blend of terror and burning determination.
The girl—perhaps only six years old—was wrapped in a gown that must once have been very luxurious, with gold and small jewel decorations still remaining in places.
But now… the gown was tattered, torn by thorny bushes and soaked in the damp mud of the forest.
Every detail of her clothing—the fine silk, the intricate embroidery, and the beautiful jewelry—screamed that she was no ordinary child. She came from a noble family, perhaps even a royal one.
But that high status had now become a curse for her.
'I have to run! No matter what happens, I can't be caught!' she thought in desperation, while her small legs kept forcing themselves forward.
She knew with certainty the fate awaiting her if she was caught—a slow and painful death.
How could she be so sure?
Because in her previous life, the girl had already experienced it.
Memories of her past life—of torture, betrayal, and finally a horrifying death at the hands of her own family—were still vividly recorded in her mind.
Those memories were what drove her to flee regardless of what risks awaited.
This wilderness stretched along the border of the territory.
If she managed to get through it, she would enter the territory of the notoriously cruel Duke Family—an option almost as dreadful.
But at least, it offered new hope. With the knowledge from her previous life stored in her head, she was sure she could offer something to negotiate her survival.
'A little more... I have to hold on a little more...'
But fate seemed to want to toy with her.
Her tired little foot caught on a tree root jutting out of the ground, sending her sprawling hard.
"Kyaaa!"
Her body hit the rocky ground with a painful thud.
Pain spread through her whole body.
As she tried to rise, horror seeped into every cell of her body—her limbs refused to move, as if frozen.
Three hours of running without rest had pushed her small body beyond its limits.
Cold sweat ran down her temples as her ears caught the rumble of footsteps and the flapping of wings in the distance.
A heavy, cold commander's voice echoed among the trees:
"Spread out! That girl can't be far from here! Find her alive!"
The girl's heart pounded until it hurt. Panic gripped her heart like invisible hands of ice.
'No... not again... I don't want to go back to that hell...'
With the last of her strength, she tried to force her body to move, even just a few centimeters.
Her eyes began to blur, her vision darkening at the edges, and hot tears began to flow uncontrollably.
"I... will not... go back..." she whispered in a broken, trembling voice.
Her body swayed, about to fall to the ground.
But instead of feeling the cold surface of the earth, she bumped into something—more precisely, someone—standing upright before her.
With blurred vision, the girl slowly looked up.
A towering figure stood before her, wrapped in a marvelous cloak.
The cloak was no mere garment—it seemed alive and part of the wearer's own body, moving with a will of its own.
A blend of earthen brown, golden yellow glowing like the rising sun, and white as clear as the first snow created a captivating sight.
Both of the figure's arms were adorned with intricate, meaningful patterns—ancient symbols shimmering gold like glowing sacred writings, seeming to dance in the moonlight.
The face was hidden beneath the cloak's hood, but the girl could clearly see a pair of brilliant yellow eyes like crystal staring sharply into her soul… Eyes that had been through many experiences in life.
The figure was not human—no human could have such a dominating presence, one that made the air around it seem to vibrate.
With trembling lips and a hoarse, barely audible voice, the girl begged…
"Please... save me... I don't want to go back to that place..."
The mysterious figure tilted its head slightly, as if studying the fragile being before it.
When it spoke, its voice was deep and calm. "Is this a contract?"
"Yes..." the girl answered without the slightest hesitation, though she did not fully understand the meaning of the question.
"But you must have an equal exchange," the figure continued.
"What do you have to offer me?"
A piercing question for a small fugitive who had lost everything.
But with courage born of desperation, she lifted her face and answered:
"My life... you can have my life entirely." Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. "So please..." her sobs broke, "...save me from them."
The figure was silent for a moment, then said, "That is an unequal exchange, so—"
Suddenly, a dazzling golden light burst from the mysterious figure's body, enveloping them both in a blinding dome of light.
A warmth unlike anything the girl had ever felt before seeped into her bones, soothing and healing.
It felt like bathing in gentle morning sunlight, like the embrace of a mother she had never had.
"—As the God of Contract, I will change the exchange," the figure continued, its voice now echoing with a sharp aura.
"In addition to guaranteeing your safety from all danger, I will also train you until you are able to protect yourself. In return, during that time..."
His golden eyes gleamed with astonishing intensity, producing sparks of golden light.
"...you must assist me and obey all of my commands."
Mysteriously, the girl felt her soul being drawn to and bound with the figure before her—a bond deeper than a verbal promise.
Her life was now tied to an entity whose name might be too sacred or too terrible for mortal tongues to utter.
But that didn't matter.
For the sake of the second chance given to her, she was willing to make a pact with anyone—even if it were a God... or even a Devil.
With that thought, her heavy eyelids slowly closed, her consciousness fading into the warmth of the God's embrace.
For the first time since being reborn… she felt safe.
The last sight her closing eyes caught was the mysterious figure standing tall and noble, wrapped in a dazzling golden aura like an ancient god of war, while in the distance, flying troops drew near—like helpless little ants running toward him.
***
The figure—who called himself the "God of Contract"—looked at the little girl in his arms with an unreadable expression.
Without turning, he sensed the presence of a threat behind him.
"I don't know who you are, stranger," a cold and authoritative voice sounded from behind.
"But you'd better hand over the girl in your arms at once. Or..." there was a threatening pause, "...I cannot guarantee the safety of you and that girl."
The "God of Contract" merely glanced over his shoulder.
In the air, elite troops riding Wyverns—Rank B Magical Beasts with gleaming scales, wide wings, and venomous sharp fangs—surrounded him from every direction.
Their leader, a sturdy man with gray hair and cold blue eyes, radiated strength equal to Rank S—a level enough to be the supreme commander in any kingdom.
This aerial force, with dozens of Wyverns and trained soldiers, could flatten villages and even small towns within hours.
Their threat was real and deadly—to ordinary beings.
But they did not know that the figure they faced was known not only as the God of Contract.
He also bore another name, namely...
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱.
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈...!!
Suddenly, a tremendous rumble shook the entire forest.
The ground trembled as if struck by an earthquake of extraordinary magnitude.
Giant trees swayed wildly, some toppling with deafening sounds.
The soldiers cried out in panic, their wyverns roaring in fear and beginning to fly erratically, hard to control!
"W-what's happening?!"
"A-an earthquake?! Where did it come from?! There can't be an earthquake this big!"
Unlike his panicking subordinates, the commander remained calm, though cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
His instincts as a seasoned warrior spoke—this phenomenon was not natural.
"You're not human, are you?" the commander challenged, tense but controlled.
"Who or what are you, really?"
"I often ask myself that too," the mysterious figure answered in a calm tone that contrasted with the destruction around them. "But the answer will soon reveal itself."
Before the commander could respond, a terrified scream came from one of his soldiers:
"C-Commander! The sky! LOOK AT THE SKY!"
All eyes turned upward…
Their breath caught at once at a sight that defied logic.
The night sky, once starry, now seemed split apart.
The clouds opened wide like a giant curtain torn by invisible hands, revealing a scene of catastrophe…
Colossal meteors in a perfect, unique cubic shape, wrapped in dazzling golden light, streaked toward the earth at terrifying speed.
Not one.
Not two.
Fifteen giant meteors fell together, each large enough to flatten a big village!
The commander's face paled instantly.
When his eyes caught the golden patterns on the mysterious figure's body—identical to the light enveloping the falling meteors—he finally understood the situation he faced.
"...This is truly absurd."
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈!! 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈!! 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈!!
There was no meaningful resistance.
The elite soldiers, with all their combat experience, were no different from ants trying to fight a storm.
Some tried to flee at their wyverns' maximum speed, but the shockwave from the first meteor's impact easily swept them away like dust.
A few brave soldiers activated their strongest Talents—giant fireballs, ice spears, even annihilating black magic—but all of it vanished without a trace on contact with the meteors' golden aura.
Their efforts were like blowing to extinguish a forest fire.
The commander, with all his skill and Rank S power, did not escape destruction either.
With one last desperate attack, he launched his strongest technique—an energy sword a hundred meters long that could split a mountain—but even that only cut away a large part of a meteor's surface before vanishing along with the commander.
Because these meteors were not ordinary space rocks.
Each meteor was a manifestation of the power of a being who had witnessed wars of the gods, who had slaughtered various gods with his own hands.
The golden light enveloping them was not merely a color, it was the light that served as the symbol of his element.
Amid the spectacular destruction that turned the forest into a sea of fire and dust, the tall figure floated in the heavens, the little girl still sleeping safely in his arms.
His white cloak fluttered in the shockwave, his brown locks, shimmering gold, dancing gently in the air.
Behind the hood of his cloak, the golden eyes mused in thought.
"To think I would meet a Son of Destiny in a place like this... truly an interesting fate."
The majestic figure—Lux—sighed softly as he looked at the girl in his arms with a meaningful gaze.
Then the system's voice, audible only to him, echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Extraordinary achievement! Becoming the one who changed the fate of the Son of Destiny! Obtained 100,000,000 Achievement Points!]
[𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲『𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘅』𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬%!]
[𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗴! '𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻' 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱!]
[𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱...]
[𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹!]
[𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 「𝗬𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆」 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹!]
[𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:『𝗬𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗧𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗶』,『𝗜𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗮 𝗧𝘀𝘂𝗸𝘂𝘆𝗼』,『𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗼𝗸𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝘆𝘂』,『𝗔𝗼𝗶 𝗦𝘂𝗶』, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲...]
[𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻! 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 '𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗻' 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲...]
[𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:『𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗶/𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗻』𝗮𝗻𝗱『𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘅』]
[𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁]