The atmosphere outside Rosa's house felt heavier than usual. Raizen and Aeris walked in silence while the bustle of the town continued around them… though to them, everything sounded distant.
Raizen: …
Aeris kept her gaze forward.
Aeris: No matter how much you get used to it… it never stops hurting.
Raizen lowered his head slightly.
Raizen: Yeah…
A few seconds of silence passed before Raizen took a deep breath.
Raizen: But that's also why we keep moving forward, right? So those deaths aren't in vain.
Aeris glanced at him from the corner of her eye, watching him for a few seconds before nodding softly.
Aeris: Let's go back to the guild.
As they entered again, the atmosphere was just as lively as before, but something had changed. A small group of adventurers had gathered in front of the mission board, murmuring among themselves.
Adventurer 1: They say no one's been able to get close…
Adventurer 2: It's surrounded by those things…
Adventurer 3: It's not worth risking your life for a chest.
Raizen frowned slightly.
Raizen: What's going on?
One of the adventurers looked at them.
Unknown Adventurer: A new mission was posted.
He pointed at the board.
Unknown Adventurer: A treasure chest appeared in the northern ruins, but it's surrounded by monsters.
Aeris stepped closer and quickly read it.
Aeris: "Ruins of Velkar… high danger classification."
Raizen smiled slightly.
Raizen: Sounds interesting.
Aeris looked at him seriously.
Aeris: This isn't a game. If no one has been able to get close, it means it's truly dangerous.
Raizen: I know… but it also means no one has completed it.
Their gazes met. Aeris sighed.
Aeris: …Alright. Let's go.
Once they arrived, a dark and eerily silent cave stood before them. At the entrance, a worn-out sign swayed gently in the wind: "Ruins of Velkar."
Raizen narrowed his eyes.
Raizen: Mmh… if I'm not mistaken, the map says this is the place.
Aeris crossed her arms, staring into the darkness.
Aeris: I think so too…
The silence became uncomfortable until a sharp sound echoed from within.
CRACK…
Like bones breaking. Like something dragging itself through the darkness.
Aeris tensed, and Raizen placed his hand on his weapon. The air grew heavy.
Suddenly, hands appeared from behind and covered their mouths.
Aeris: Mmf—!
Raizen reacted instantly but stopped when he heard a low voice.
Kael (whispering): What are you doing here?
Aeris frowned.
Aeris: I could ask you the same.
Raizen turned his head slightly.
Raizen: Take your hand off my mouth.
Kael released them, and both turned quickly. He stood there calmly, as if he had been watching them the entire time.
Kael: I'm here because no one has been able to complete this mission. I informed the guild I'd come alone, but I saw some low-rank adventurers had accepted it… so I wanted to see who you were.
Raizen smirked slightly.
Raizen: We're the ones you helped with the wolf.
Kael nodded faintly.
Kael: Ah… I remember. Then you should leave. This isn't a place for you.
Raizen let out a small laugh.
Raizen: Tch… and let you take all the credit? No way.
Aeris looked at him, worried.
Aeris: But, honey…
Raizen looked at her firmly.
Raizen: I'll be fine… actually, we'll be fine.
Without waiting, he took her hand and walked into the cave. Aeris hesitated for a second but didn't let go. Kael watched them and sighed.
Kael: Idiots…
Still, he followed.
As they descended deeper, the darkness grew thicker. The walls were covered in marks, as if something had clawed at the stone. The air felt ancient and heavy.
Eventually, they reached the deepest part of the ruins. In the center of the room stood a solitary chest, glowing with a white light mixed with gold.
Raizen stepped forward.
Raizen: So that's…
Kael reacted instantly.
Kael: Don't get close!
He moved quickly, stepping in front of him.
Kael: It's a trap.
At that moment, a deep growl echoed through the chamber. The ground trembled, and from the shadows, monsters began to emerge. One after another. Dozens. Completely surrounding them.
Aeris tightened her grip on her weapon.
Raizen clicked his tongue.
Raizen: …great.
There were too many. Far more than expected. But Kael stepped forward, and his presence changed completely.
Kael: Don't move.
The monsters lunged at them, and in an instant, Kael vanished. He reappeared in front of the first one and destroyed it with a single blow.
The battle had begun.
Kael ran a hand through his hair calmly.
Kael: Taking them down is pretty easy… I'm a Class A adventurer.
At that moment, everything changed. The entire horde suddenly stopped. One by one, the monsters bowed, as if showing respect. The atmosphere became suffocating.
From the shadows, a figure slowly emerged.
Velkar: I am Velkar…
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Kael: The ruins are named after an ancient sage… could it be you?
Velkar didn't answer. Instead, he let out a massive roar that shook the entire cave. The ground rose violently, and a powerful gust of wind forced Raizen and Aeris back.
Aeris: Raizen!
Raizen covered himself.
Raizen: What the hell is this?!
Kael didn't move.
Kael: Hah… didn't know insects could scream.
In an instant, Velkar appeared before him and punched him straight in the face, cracking the ground and raising a massive cloud of dust.
Velkar: That easy? Humans are so weak…
The dust cleared, revealing Kael still standing. He spat some blood.
Kael: Tch… that stung a bit.
He immediately counterattacked, striking Velkar's face. From there, they exchanged blows at insane speed, their fists colliding as pressure filled the room.
Raizen: This… isn't normal…
Aeris: They're on another level…
The fight intensified until Kael dodged, countered, and sent Velkar flying. Velkar returned instantly, clashing fists with him, creating a shockwave.
Kael: NNNGH…
He ducked and struck again, but Velkar responded by casting a dark spell that paralyzed him.
Velkar: You miserable human…
Kael: Tch…
Velkar raised his fist for the final blow, but at the last second, Kael's eyes glowed bright blue. A surge of energy broke the paralysis. He stopped the punch with one hand.
CRACK.
Velkar's arm shattered.
Kael struck him and sent him crashing into the ceiling.
Silence fell.
Kael, eyes glowing blue, looked at Raizen and Aeris, then back at Velkar. That alone enraged him. Wings burst from Velkar's back, his eyes turned red, and a flaming katana appeared.
Velkar: You're dead, human.
Kael raised his hand, summoning a lightning katana.
In an instant, he vanished.
They clashed mid-air, their blades colliding rapidly, sparks of fire and lightning filling the space. They fought across the ceiling, ignoring gravity, tearing apart the ruins.
They landed again, facing each other.
Kael: Absolute Domain… Sanctuary of the Thunder God.
The entire area transformed. Lightning obeyed him.
Velkar: Impossible… how can a human use Absolute Domain?!
Kael: I'm one of the best in Class A… of course I can.
Lightning struck repeatedly, overwhelming Velkar until he was completely burned.
The domain vanished.
The monsters fled.
Raizen: Dude… that was…
Kael: Keep the reward. I'm already rich.
He left, silently watching from afar to ensure their safety.
They opened the chest, found a key-shaped gem, and unlocked a hidden room full of coins. The cave began collapsing.
Raizen: Aeris, grab what you can!
They escaped, Raizen grabbing a purple gem.
Back in town, they reported everything. The reward increased: 200 silver, 10 gold, and a year in a luxury hotel.
Raizen checked their loot—50 gold coins stored with magic.
Aeris smiled.
Aeris: Not bad for one mission.
Raizen smiled.
Raizen: And that's not all…
They returned to the hotel, exhausted… and finally enjoyed a peaceful night together.