1

Gloom blanketed the sky, shrouded in murky clouds. A light drizzle fell over a landscape twisted by devastation. Buildings once standing proud now lay in ruins; the terrain itself bore scars of unfathomable violence. Amidst this destruction stood what remained of a house—his benefactor’s home, the very reason he still lived. Now it was nothing but rubble and echoes of the past.

A man clad in a heavy, weather-beaten cloak trudged solemnly through the wreckage. His boots crushed glass, scorched wood, and cracked tiles beneath them. His gaze lifted toward the jagged horizon, where distant mountains bore signs of having been violently torn and reshaped by the chaos of battle.

“Seems… the memories of the past are carved into me more deeply than I realized,” he murmured to himself.

As he turned his head, flashes of memory overwhelmed him. He saw himself—a child, frightened and alone—being pulled from certain death by a noble household. That house… this house… now a skeleton of its former glory. His steps carried him deeper into the remnants of that once-grand estate. The visions continued.

He saw a crimson-armored man, face obscured, standing silently amidst ruin. Flames licked the air, smoke curled from broken timbers, and the armored figure held something—someone—in his arms. A memory, distant yet vivid.

“Hm?”

The images dissipated like smoke in wind, pulled away by something more immediate. The man paused and looked sharply over his shoulder as a ripple of foreign energy passed through the air like static across skin.

“Come out. I know you're there. Show yourself.”

No sooner had the words left his lips than a red mist spiraled into existence, curling around the shattered walls like tendrils of intent. As though beckoned by command, the mist thickened before beginning to clear. From within stepped a cloaked figure, dropping to one knee.

“Report,” said the man.

“Captain, the dragons approach. Their numbers are uncertain, but their direction is deliberate.”

“...It’s about time.”

As the last word left his mouth, a fierce gust of wind howled through the ruins. The cloak wrapped around him flared violently, revealing beneath it a gleaming suit of **crimson red armor**—an armor eerily reminiscent of the one in his fragmented memories. Raising his arm, palm upward, a helmet of the same blood-red hue appeared in a swirl of essence, settling into place with a cold click.

The atmosphere darkened. Sunlight, already sparse, was nearly extinguished by the immense silhouette that now hovered in the heavens above. A massive shadow draped itself over the valley, vast enough to blot out an entire mountain range. As the form above ceased its movement and loomed in place, the winds became erratic, growing heavier by the second.

The man removed his helmet once again, revealing a face partially obscured by shadows and strands of dark, wind-blown hair. His eyes—striking crimson with blood-ringed pupils—betrayed no flicker of desire, ambition, or fear. Just cold, unwavering stillness.

The massive creature overhead watched, but the crimson captain did not flinch.

“Tell all swords and daggers: maintain a perimeter. No one is to come within 700 meters of me.”

He waited for acknowledgment… but received silence.

Looking back, he found his kneeling subordinate paralyzed—his breath shallow, limbs locked. The creature’s overwhelming **presence** had rooted him in place.

‘Tch... this pressure. An elder...’ the captain thought grimly. A surge of mana far beyond standard magnitude saturated the valley, making even air feel thick and oppressive.

The captain’s voice sliced through the density with unnatural clarity.

“ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ, ᴍʏ ᴅᴀɢɢᴇʀ.”

The words were gentle—whispered almost—but they echoed like a thunderclap, rebounding through every broken wall and twisted beam. The subordinate gasped as if surfacing from drowning, eyes wide with revelation.

“O-our blade holder!? Wh— HAHHH—my lungs—!”

“Reissue the command. No one is to come within two miles.”

“Two miles!? That’s—Is the target truly an elder?” His voice wavered until he met the captain’s glare. Just one look answered every doubt.

“I understand. I shall offer prayers for your triumph… for the glory of great Lyma.”

He stood, bowed, and took several steps back. A rush of red mist engulfed him—and in moments, he was gone.

"AREN’T YOU TOO KIND?"

A voice, haughty and sharp, rang out from above. The captain turned his gaze toward the mountain slope, not even flinching.

"Please, don’t compare me to yourself."

Mountains at such altitudes were often wrapped in thin mist that made breathing difficult, and yet the oppressive force lingering in the air made it tenfold worse.

"YOU’RE STILL A MONSTER LIKE US!"

The shout faded, now barely louder than a normal human’s voice.

"Yes... in this world, those of us who reach the summit are called monsters," the captain replied. "But it is not your right to determine the fate of those at the base."

‘This pressure... It’s nearly indistinguishable from that of an elder. But there’s something more refined... something sharper,’ he thought.

A new figure stepped out from the fog. He was small compared to the shadow above, but the mist parted willingly around him, as if fearing to touch his form.

A youthful man—stunningly handsome—draped in gold and green, as though styled by gods themselves, grinned down at the captain.

“Will you let me leave?”

“I’m afraid I cannot.”

The captain turned slightly, revealing the sword sheathed at his waist.

The dragonoid’s eyes widened upon recognizing it. Then, laughter burst from him—sharp and manic. It built into a roar that echoed through the valley.

“To think! A mere human, bearing the Sword of Self-Evisceration—the blade that slays divine beings at the cost of its wielder. What did you sacrifice!?”

“I owe you no answer,” the captain said with a deadened gaze. “You lack the qualifications to understand… even if I had made one.”

Still laughing, the dragonoid finally halted his forward steps.

“Even we monsters have honor. We ascend the ladder lined with a thousand nails, one at a time.”

The captain offered a curt nod. “Indeed. Even as foes, I will not mock your creed. It stands unshaken across the eons.”

“Then I shall give you my name: **Crycus Lakmas**, son of Crimus Lakmas. I challenge you, unknown crimson captain of the Alliance, to a duel to the death!”

‘Crimus Lakmas… an elder of the Dragonoid Clan. That makes this one high-blooded… perhaps he seeks to gauge me.’

The captain unsheathed his weapon—a double-edged, black-bladed sword of unorthodox design. The blade pulsed slightly, as if alive. He pointed it at Crycus.

“You’ve heard of the massacre in the Grand Maze? That was me. Still not backing down?”

“If I turn tail, I am unworthy of my name.”

“I cannot disclose my identity… but I shall wager my honor as the bearer of this armor.”

He lowered the sword, stabbing it into the earth, and stood tall behind it.

“I am honored.”

Their eyes locked across the distance. Crycus grinned

"Then I shall make the first strike," the dragonoid declared, his voice steady but filled with the weight of impending destruction. His arm stretched wide, as if summoning the power of the heavens themselves. The wind began to swirl around his hand, gathering force until it became tangible, almost visible. The very air seemed to ripple as a colossal spear materialized before him. Its shaft, carved with intricate designs, was wrapped in swirling winds and flickering flames, the two elements dancing around it like serpents of destruction.

"Play with us, KAIBOLG!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the atmosphere. The air around him trembled in response, vibrating with such force that every object within range began to shift. It was not enough to move the heavier objects, but the very essence of the environment seemed to bend to his will.

'A champion? Hah...~'

Crycus’ lips curled into a sneer, unfazed by the display. He opened his mouth, the familiar, primal flame swirling in his throat. His body pulsed with heat as fire poured forth, but instead of unleashing it all at once, he compressed the flames, forcing them into a single concentrated mass. With a deft motion, he placed the spear in front of his face. Flames licked up the length of the weapon, circling it like an inferno around a pillar. The fire pulsed with intense energy, and when he was ready, he aimed it directly at the crimson-armored captain.

"Gᖇᗩᑎᗪ ᗷOᒪG."

The attack surged forward, moving with such speed that even the enhanced eyes of an elite warrior would struggle to follow. The flames left a trail of heat and destruction in their wake, racing toward the captain with a fury that could not be denied. The moment it reached its target, it exploded with the force of a volcanic eruption, obliterating everything in its path. The shockwave that followed shattered the ground and sent debris flying, creating a crater of unimaginable size.

The dragonoid, unaffected by the destruction he had caused, flexed his back muscles with a casual grace, summoning his wings with a single motion. With a powerful beat, he soared into the air, leaving the wreckage behind. But he did not venture too close to the explosion’s epicenter. He swung his spear again, sending a gust of wind so strong it blew the smoke and dust from the battle’s heart, revealing the ruined terrain below.

'The sword’s presence has vanished.' The dragonoid’s keen senses detected the absence of his opponent, his eyes scanning the surroundings with the focus of a hunter. He felt the shift in the air, the subtle change that preceded an attack. Without warning, a deadly slash appeared, aiming for his neck. With a swift, fluid movement, he dodged by veering to the right, narrowly avoiding the strike. The captain’s blade sliced through the air with terrifying precision, cutting the atmosphere itself as it passed.

'Tch, he dodged that…'

'As expected, he survived. But I couldn’t sense the sword. How!?'

The captain’s form faded once again, but the dragonoid did not panic. His enhanced senses allowed him to track every movement in the environment, feel the changes in the air, and perceive the flow of mana around him. With a calm focus, he knew he only had to wait for the perfect moment to strike or defend.

"We’re in the air, YOU CAN’T ESCAPE OR DODGE ME!" the dragonoid shouted, his voice a challenge that echoed in the heavens.

"Who says I plan to dodge?" came the captain’s cold reply.

The captain’s sword came down in a vicious arc, aimed straight for the dragonoid’s abdomen. But Crycus, with the speed of a seasoned warrior, flew backward, narrowly avoiding the blade. As he pulled away, he countered with a thrust of his spear, the motion as fast as lightning. The captain, however, was ready. He parried the blow with ease, using the recoil to propel himself into a sideways spin, his movements fluid and calculated.

For a moment, the two warriors found themselves locked in a silent battle of wills, their eyes meeting through the slits of their helmets. Their weapons, for the briefest of moments, were not in each other’s faces, both warriors adjusting to the recoil from their respective strikes. The captain, using the momentum, brought his sword overhead, preparing to strike again.

The dragonoid was ready. He blocked the captain’s strike with the shaft of his spear, bracing against the immense pressure. The captain, using his weight and strength, pushed the dragonoid down toward the ground, trying to overpower him with sheer force.

"Shall we descend together?" the captain said, a grim smile tugging at his lips.

With a deafening crash, both warriors collided with the earth below, the ground shattering beneath their weight. The captain’s sword pressed against the dragonoid’s spear shaft, forcing him further into the soil. But Crycus was not about to yield. He gripped the spear tightly, refusing to let the sword break through.

The captain, sensing a rise in temperature in front of his face, lifted his right eye brows

'ah shit...'

He tilted his head just in time to avoid a devastating blast of dragonfire. Crycus had opened his mouth, unleashing a torrent of flame with unrelenting fury. The flames roared through the air, but the captain dodged with practiced ease, just narrowly escaping the attack.

With the opening, the captain kicked Crycus in the abdomen, sending him flying through the air, spinning as the force of the blow ripped through him. Crycus gritted his teeth, but there was no time to recover. He was already on the move, he flexes his wings to its fullest charging at super speed, the captain narrowly blocks the attack by parrying it to the left

*clang*

As the two weapon meet and clash, A erie sound of steel echoed loudly, Crycus plants his foot, Thrusting his spear at speed that cannot be seen by eyes of norms, As the captain sees his plan he shifts his center of gravity, with his fast reflex he dodge's his foes attack, an attack to the neck, to the shoulder, knee, thigh, chest.

"HAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

"Eug...!"

The captain was sent reeling by the sheer force of the blow, his body spinning uncontrollably as he fought to regain his balance. When his feet finally hit the ground, he pushed himself back to his feet, a grin stretching across his face.

"Enough foreplay. Let’s truly take each other’s lives."

"I agree," Crycus responded, his tone low and filled with promise.

Both warriors, now fully aware of each other’s strength, tensed their bodies. They lowered their centers of gravity, preparing for the final clash. Without warning, they dashed toward one another, their movements so fast that the air itself seemed to shatter in their wake. It was a blur, a collision of titanic forces that would decide the fate of the battlefield.

✦

Far away, a cloaked figure dashed through the dense forest, his every footstep leaving the ground behind in a flurry of motion. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He was almost at the camp, almost to safety—until a chill ran down his spine. It was as if the world itself had shifted, as if something monumental was about to happen. His hair stood on end, and his limbs froze, as if the very air was charged with impending doom.

Then, an explosion erupted from the distance. A sound so deafening, it felt like the world was coming apart. A dragon’s breath, fierce and untamable, had turned a mountain into nothing but a smoldering ruin. The explosion annihilated the earth, leaving a crater in its wake.

"Th-thats not the power of an elder... IT'S SOMETHING MORE," the cloaked man whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the distant destruction. He stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the event pressing down on him. But fear quickly took hold. He turned and fled, running with all his speed, using the shadows to cover his movements.

✦

Back in the heart of the destruction, the captain darted through the wreckage, moving at incredible speed. Fiery bombs of flame hurtled toward him, exploding with ferocious intensity, sending shockwaves that could have flattened a lesser man. But the captain was no ordinary man. His movements were precise, calculated, as he dodged the deadly projectiles with ease. The flames exploded around him, but he was already moving again, closing the distance between himself and his objective.

"This dragonoid..." the captain muttered under his breath, his voice a mixture of awe and calculation. "His presence is unlike that of an elder, yet the quantity and quality of his essence surpasses the average warrior by far."

As he took a breath, preparing for the next stage of the battle, a ball of flame hurtled toward his head. His eyes snapped upward, and with a swift tilt of his head, he narrowly avoided the attack. The flame passed so close it singed the edge of his helmet, but it missed. The fireball struck a nearby tree, not with the expected explosion, but with a violent force that burned a hole three times the size of the fireball itself.

"Compressed heat," the captain muttered, his eyes narrowing. "It looks like he’s giving up on explosive attacks, its about time he shifted tactics"

His gaze turned toward the direction the flame had come from. He adjusted his stance, putting his weight on his front foot and tilting his body forward. In a flash, he swung his sword.

"𝙱𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚣."

The air split apart as the captain’s sword sliced through everything in its path—trees, stone, and even the air itself. The sound of the slash was deafening, and before the dragonoid could react, the wind itself seemed to answer the call.

From a distance, the dragonoid’s voice rang out, clear and confident.

"Hey... You should come out. I know you have superior cognition. I know how you killed my kin at the gathering. But honestly, I don’t give a damn about them."

He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his mana and releasing seven pulses that reverberated across the terrain. His senses were sharpened, his awareness expanded. He could feel every living thing and every inanimate object around him, the pulse of the earth beneath him, the movement of the wind. He lowered his body, preparing for the captain’s next move.

Suddenly, a large stone split in two, cut vertically by the force of the captain’s slash. The lower half of the stone was pushed downward, while the upper half flew into the air, heading straight for Crycus.

"Tsk."

The dragonoid’s eyes narrowed as he coated his spear with an unknown force, sharpening and strengthening its durability. He lowered his center of gravity and charged forward, his spear aimed directly at the incoming stone.

"Castle Spear, 2nd form: Advancing Dragon."

With a single fluid motion, he plunged the spear into the stone, shattering it into pieces as if it were nothing more than dust. In the next instant, a figure appeared, stopping him mid-strike. The captain’s sword, now horizontal, blocked the dragonoid’s path. The two were locked in a stalemate, their weapons pressed against one another, neither willing to give an inch.

"Not bad," the captain said with a smirk, his tone filled with a rare respect.

But then, something shifted. The dragonoid’s spear began to hum, its energy fluctuating with greater intensity. The captain, seeing the change, slid his left hand along the sword, gripping it tighter. With a swift motion, he released the weapon and shifted his stance.

"Dragon God series: Advancing Flow."

The captain’s hands, a fist... now positioned firmly on the sword, harnessed the immense energy within. The ground beneath them trembled as if anticipating the outcome. The dragonoid’s spear, a weapon forged to withstand any blow, was being met with the force of something truly ancient however.

'This stance...It can't be.

As he noticed the upcoming motion he was late to move, unable to detach the connection of the spear and the sword, a great force from within the captain flowed.

For a brief moment, time seemed to slow. Then, with a deafening roar, the captain activated the technique.

"ALTERNATIVE BURST!!"

The ground erupted beneath their feet, the shockwave shattering the earth. The dragonoid was thrown backward, his arms torn to pieces by the force. His bones, muscle tissue, and flesh were destroyed in an instant. The captain’s power had transcended mortal limits.

It was not just a fatal strike—it was obliteration.