CHAPTER 28: THE JOURNEY BEGINS
The battlefield had finally become silent.
The massive Arcane Serpent lay motionless on the ruined ground.
Its enormous body slowly dissolved into countless particles of dark energy before disappearing completely.
A cold wind swept across the battlefield.
Shen sat on a broken stone slab while breathing heavily.
His clothes were torn.
His arms ached.
His entire body felt exhausted.
But what hurt most was his pride.
He had challenged Ryulga.
And lost.
Not after a long battle.
Not after forcing Ryulga to use his full power.
No.
He lost in less than three seconds.
Three seconds.
Shen stared at the sky.
"...How strong are you exactly?"
Ryulga stood nearby with both hands inside his pockets.
"Strong enough."
Shen frowned.
"That doesn't answer anything."
"It wasn't supposed to."
Shen sighed.
For the first time in a long while, he truly understood how weak he still was.
He had gained power.
He had learned new skills.
He had survived impossible battles.
Yet Ryulga defeated him like it was nothing.
Several minutes passed.
Then Ryulga turned around.
"Come."
Shen blinked.
"Where?"
"The airport."
"The what?"
"The airport."
Ryulga repeated calmly.
"The place where airplanes fly."
"I know what an airport is."
"Then stop asking."
Shen's eyebrow twitched.
"You seriously expect me to leave just like that?"
"You signed the contract."
"You tricked me."
"You still signed it."
Shen wanted to punch him.
Unfortunately, he remembered how their fight ended.
So he decided against it.
A wise decision.
Several hours later...
The two finally arrived at a massive airport.
Shen stopped walking.
His eyes widened.
Huge airplanes stood outside.
Bright lights illuminated the entire area.
Thousands of people moved around carrying luggage.
The place looked completely different from anything he had ever seen.
"So this is an airport..."
Ryulga glanced at him.
"You've never been to one?"
"No."
"Interesting."
"Don't say it like I'm some rare animal."
Ryulga ignored him and continued walking.
Shen followed while dragging an oversized backpack.
A few moments later he opened it.
Then immediately froze.
"...Ryulga."
"What?"
"Why are there bricks inside my bag?"
"Training."
"There are chains too."
"Training."
"There are giant iron weights."
"Training."
"There is literally a tree branch inside."
"Training."
Shen slowly closed the bag.
"I hate you."
"Many people do."
Eventually they boarded the airplane.
The moment Shen entered, he rushed toward the window seat.
His eyes sparkled.
"This is my first time flying."
Ryulga sat beside him.
"Try not to embarrass me."
"I always embarrass you."
"Unfortunately."
The airplane slowly moved forward.
Faster.
Faster.
Even faster.
Then—
WHOOSH!
The aircraft left the ground.
Shen immediately pressed his face against the window.
"We're flying!"
Ryulga sighed.
"Congratulations. You discovered gravity."
Shen ignored him.
The world below became smaller and smaller.
Mountains looked tiny.
Cities became distant dots.
Clouds surrounded the airplane.
For the first time in weeks...
Shen felt peaceful.
Then his expression slowly became serious.
America.
A new country.
A new training ground.
A new future.
And possibly...
New enemies.
Ryulga noticed.
"Nervous?"
"A little."
"Good."
"What do you mean good?"
"Fear keeps people alive."
Shen laughed.
"I thought strength kept people alive."
Ryulga shook his head.
"Strength helps people survive battles."
His eyes narrowed.
"But fear helps people survive wars."
For once...
Shen couldn't argue.
Meanwhile...
Far away from America.
Inside the Kingdom of Althuria.
A young prince stood on the balcony of a magnificent royal palace.
Golden hair moved gently with the wind.
Golden eyes shone beneath the moonlight.
Prince Nolan.
The heir to the Althurian Kingdom.
The youngest Golden Mage in centuries.
Countless golden magic circles floated around him.
Each circle contained ancient runes.
Each rune contained fragments of future possibilities.
Nolan slowly raised his hand.
Golden energy flowed through the air.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
Every magic circle shattered at once.
The prince's eyes widened.
"What?"
Golden energy exploded around him.
The palace guards immediately stepped back.
The royal mages looked shocked.
This had never happened before.
Nolan quickly closed his eyes.
A vision appeared.
Darkness.
Shadows.
A young boy wearing black armor.
Crimson eyes glowing in the darkness.
Shen.
The vision disappeared instantly.
Nolan opened his eyes.
His heart was beating faster.
"Who was that?"
An old royal mage slowly approached.
"Your Highness."
Nolan turned around.
The old mage bowed respectfully.
"Did you see something?"
Several seconds passed.
Then Nolan nodded.
"Someone important."
The old mage frowned.
"A future enemy?"
Nolan looked toward the distant horizon.
"No."
Golden energy danced around his fingertips.
"I don't know why."
"But I feel that person will change the world."
The old mage looked surprised.
Someone capable of shaking the future itself?
That was no ordinary individual.
Far away...
Above the Atlantic Ocean...
Shen suddenly sneezed.
Ryulga glanced at him.
"Getting sick?"
"No."
Neither of them knew.
At this very moment...
The paths of the Dark Mage and the Golden Mage had already begun moving toward each other.
And when they finally met...
The world itself would change.
TO BE CONTINUED...