Apostle

Three hundred years ago, the Ansi Valley was the ignition point of the great war between humans and elves a brutal conflict that turned this once-heavenly garden into a forsaken no man’s land.

In the distant past, the valley had been the heart of the Temple Garden, where the elves performed sacred rites and sang magical hymns to the goddess Althiel. But after the war, the elves withdrew, and humankind never succeeded in claiming the land.

In the void left behind, the ogres came—giant beasts from the western mountains.
They swarmed the valley, destroying the elves’ sacred remnants, burning spirit trees, and building nests from bones and ruins.
And from this chaos, one name rose to power a name that would come to symbolize their brutal dominion:

Chubaka the Ogre King, uniter of the bloodthirsty clans staked his rule in this cursed valley.
But now, there were no war cries. No thunderous steps of ogres.
All that remained… was silence and the stench of blood.

The soft crunch of dried leaves accompanied Sean’s careful steps.
He passed withered trees, their trunks blackened and rotting under the weight of miasma. Around him lay the corpses of ogres—mutilated beyond recognition: necks snapped, guts spilled, lifeless eyes still wide open.

“…What could’ve done this?” he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing.

Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed from behind.
Shu, who had lagged behind, finally caught up.

“Sean! Hey! I saw something from the ridge, so I—”
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the grotesque scene before him.

Dozens of ogres guardians of Ansi Valley were slaughtered.

“Th-They were… massacred? All of them? By who?!”

Sean didn’t answer immediately. His eyes scanned the ground drag marks, massive footprints, and deep claw scratches all leading in one direction.

“They were… killed by one of their own,” he finally said.

Shu gulped. “What do you mean? You're saying they fought each other?”

“No. One creature. Stronger than the rest. One that has… changed.”

They followed the trail, slowly moving through the cracked stone path overtaken by rotting roots. The fog grew thicker, and the metallic scent of blood filled the air.

At the end of the valley, they saw it.

A colossal nest—woven from uprooted trees, scorched stone, and ogre bones—rose like an open wound in the earth.
And at its center, sitting proudly on a throne of bones…

Chubaka. The Ogre King’s massive body was now cloaked in jet-black scales, not yet fully grown across his hardened flesh. His muscles throbbed unnaturally. His eyes glowed a deep crimson, like coals that had never cooled. And from his skin, miasma leaked, poisoning the air.

“Th-That’s… that’s their king?” Shu whispered.

Sean nodded slowly.

“And now… he’s become something far worse…”

“…Contaminated.”

Shu took a step back. “Are we… are we seriously going to fight him?”

Sean answered by unwrapping the black cloth around his sword. As the blade was revealed, a faint bluish-purple glow lit up, like a restless spirit stirred from slumber.

“I’ll fight him. You stay back.”

Shu clenched his teeth but nodded. He knew this was far beyond his level. All he could do was hide behind a nearby boulder and watch.

Sean’s eyes locked forward. The wind from the valley howled, thick with scorched blood.

“Chubaka… you slaughtered your own kind. You’ve lost all honor as a king.
So let me be the one… to end this.”

The ogre raised his head. His crimson eyes ignited.
A guttural roar tore from his throat, shaking the valley and making the ground tremble.

“ROAAAAAARRRR!!!”

Without warning, Chubaka leapt from his throne. When he crashed into the earth, a shockwave shattered the ground. Trees fell. Rocks cracked.
He ripped a massive tree from the ground and swung it like a club toward Sean.

But Sean was already gone reappearing midair, launching off the swinging tree like an arrow aimed at the beast’s skull.

“Crescent Slash!”

A blue crescent of energy sliced across Chubaka’s head but only barely scratched the surface of his obsidian scales.
The ogre roared in fury and swept his massive fist. Sean was flung back, but landed smoothly.

“That armor… it’s too thick. I have to break through it first.”

Chubaka charged again—unnaturally fast for something of his size.
Sean ducked low, then blurred into motion, forming a spiraling blue afterimage around the king’s body.

“Phantom Sword Array!”

Blades of light slashed in a perfect ring. Strike after strike lit up the air. Black blood burst out.
Cracks formed along Chubaka’s scales.

“GRRAARGHH!!”

The Ogre King howled but his knees began to falter.

Sean surged forward, footsteps almost silent leaving behind only a streak of shadow.

“This last strike… will end it.”

His voice echoed in the still air, quiet, but brimming with finality.
A deep blue light surged from his sword as if every cursed ounce of energy gathered during the fight focused into a single point.

“Twilight Thrust!!”

A beam of blue energy sliced through the air, a vertical flash like divine lightning.
The sword plunged from Chubaka’s crown down through his chest, leaving a glowing fissure that looked like a tear in space itself.
The sound of steel cracking and flesh tearing rang out in unison, shaking the battlefield. The earth beneath their feet split.

Chubaka froze. His glowing red eyes widened. His body trembled… And then began to crack splitting down the middle from chest to waist along the path of Sean’s thrust.

“Gugh… GRAAA…!”

The ogre’s final, distorted groan echoed through the valley.
In an instant, his massive form split in two.

Black blood dripped—but before it could touch the ground…
The body began to evaporate.

“…What…?” Sean whispered.

He watched intently.
From the wound, black mist seeped out not blood or flesh, but something unnatural.
The mist rose into the air, swirling slowly, until the entire body disintegrated in a spiral of darkness.

All that remained… was a symbol.

Etched faintly into the scorched ground where Chubaka had fallen, a strange sigil revealed itself:

Seven swords encircling a single eye.

Sean narrowed his gaze.
“…This symbol.”

He had never seen it before.

But something about it… made his chest tighten.
As if the symbol itself… was staring back at him.

The air grew cold.

Sean gripped his sword tightly.
A dark thought stirred within him whispers of something far greater… far darker than mere contamination.

“…This isn’t normal contamination anymore.”

✦✦✦

“Hah… another pain in the ass dealt with,” Sean muttered under his breath as he sheathed his sword. His eyes swept across the battlefield now silent, scarred only by clawed dirt and lingering traces of black mist that faded along with Chubaka’s monstrous body.

Shu came jogging up with bright eyes and barely contained excitement.

“Whoa, you actually beat him! That was insane seriously! That technique, what was it ‘Twilight Thrust’? That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”

Sean gave him a sidelong glance, then looked away.

“…Right. Forgot this kid was here.”

He let out a sigh internally.
The battle was over... but peace hadn’t returned.
Something still gnawed at his thoughts the strange symbol carved into the earth, and the eerie mist that had poured out of the ogre’s remains.

“Hey, maybe we should take a look around? Who knows there might be loot, or clues!” Shu suggested, eyes gleaming like a kid on his first dungeon crawl.

Sean raised an eyebrow. “...Hmm. You might be right.”

Shu zipped off toward the scattered debris like he was on a treasure hunt. Sean, however, lingered turning away and walking slowly from the battleground.
Something wasn’t right here.
Not just the mutated ogre.
Something deeper.

A cold breeze rolled across the valley. Shu’s voice faded into the distance.
Sean looked up at the sky as gray clouds gathered.

I need to know… who’s really behind all this.
And that symbol…

His gaze shifted toward the ancient gate of the ruined temple. He stepped forward, leaving Shu behind, who was still happily scavenging ogre bones for treasure. Slowly, the mist began to creep back into the valley.

✦✦✦

The heavy mist clung low to the ruins of the Temple Garden, like a silent curtain veiling something wrong beneath it. The ancient trees stood tall and leafless, as if bearing witness to the chaos that had just unfolded.

Sean stood still at the foot of the temple gate, breath uneven, muscles worn from the fight with the corrupted ogre. His body was exhausted, but his mind stayed sharp.

Something was off.

The mist wasn’t clearing. In fact, it was getting thicker its cold fingers creeping under his skin. As he stepped onto the cracked stones of the gate path, a voice echoed from the fog.

“I thought you’d be more broken after fighting that thing.”

It was a man’s voice—calm, but laced with mockery.

The mist parted slowly. From behind a half-shattered stone pillar, a figure emerged, lounging casually atop the archway ruins. One leg dangling, the other propped up. A ragged purple cloak draped over him, bearing a bold symbol across his chest:

Seven swords circling a single eye.

The man looked young. His blood red eyes radiated a quiet malice. Silver hair flowed past his shoulders, swaying in the wind. His gaze was uninterested, yet undeniably alert.

Sean’s eyes narrowed. His hand instinctively slid toward the hilt of his blade.

“Who are you?” he asked sharply. “Another contaminated survivor?”

The man smirked, still seated. “Ah, no. Just passing through... though I didn’t expect to meet the infamous Black Sword Knight in person. A bit dramatic for someone who looks dead tired.”

“If you came here to fight, don’t waste my time.”

“Easy there,” the man said, rising to his feet and raising both hands in a show of peace. “Name’s Asteria von Velmond. You don’t know me, but I know you, Sean Akihito.”

Sean’s gaze hardened.
If someone knew his name before introductions... it was never a good sign.

Velmond offered a slight bow, then raised one palm outward.

“Let’s call this a formal greeting.”

ZRRMMMMM!

A glowing red sigil a single eye encircled by runes flared beneath his feet. The mist spiraled inward, sucked into the magic circle, and then 

BOOM!
A shockwave blasted outward as Velmond launched forward like a bullet.

Sean barely dodged, stepping aside just as razor-sharp wind sliced through the stone where he'd stood. That wasn’t an illusion. It was real. And fast.

“Phantom Step!” Sean activated his own rapid movement technique. His body vanished, reappearing several meters away, sword now drawn and glowing with dense blue energy.

“If that’s your greeting…”
“Then this is my reply!”

“PHANTOM DESTRUCTION!”

He leapt into the air and swung his massive sword downward, channeling all his force. A flash of bright blue erupted like a crashing wave.

BOOOOOOMMMM!!

The ground split apart. The temple gate cracked. Mist scattered in all directions.

But from the smoke—
A silhouette emerged.

Velmond stood tall, a shimmering multi-layered shield glowing in his outstretched hand. His left foot slid slightly back from the impact, but that was all. His tattered cloak billowed as his crimson eyes gleamed softly.

“Strong... for a common adventurer,” he said casually. “But raw power alone won’t help you against an Apostle.”

Sean’s eyes narrowed. “Apostle…?”

Velmond gave a crooked smile. “Don’t worry. It’s not time for you to understand just yet.”

Sean didn’t wait. He dashed in again
“ECLIPSE SLASH!”

A razor-sharp horizontal strike tore through the air like a crescent moon of death.

Velmond moved
No magic. No shield.

Just a flick of his arm
A thin crimson blade of arcane energy appeared, like glass forged from blood.

CLANG!
Sparks burst as steel met magic.

Sean leapt back, readying another strike.

“Your form’s precise,” Velmond said, voice like a teacher correcting a failed student. “But your footwork is wide open.”

Before Sean could counter, a new force crashed into the field.

ZZZZAAAAMMMM!!
A blinding light descended from the sky an explosion thundered between them.

DOOOOOOM!!

Sean was blasted backward, skidding across the dirt before catching himself on one knee. Dust and wind roared around him.

From the smoke, another voice emerged—this one dry and disinterested.

“I told you not to linger in places like this, Velmond.”

A second figure appeared.
Tall. Lean. Short crimson hair.
Cold blue eyes and a lazy smirk.
He walked over to Velmond, hands in his pockets like he didn’t care Sean was even there.

Sean glared. “And who the hell are you?”

The man gave a careless shrug. “Name’s Flaske. If you’re still breathing after this, consider yourself lucky.”

Velmond looked over his shoulder. “The Chairman sent you?”

Flaske nodded lazily. “Yep. He wants you back. Mission’s over.”

Velmond exhaled quietly, then turned to Sean once more this time with a curious glint in his eyes.

“We’ll meet again, Black Sword Knight. If you survive.”

And just like that, the mist surged again swallowing them both into thin air.

Sean stood alone in the shattered ruins, panting. The strange fog finally began to settle.

“…Apostle, huh?” he murmured under his breath.

Then—
A loud voice behind him shattered the moment.

“Heeeeeey! Sean! Look what I found!”

The loud voice shattered the brief moment of peace he had just begun to enjoy. Sean turned around with a scowl on his face.

“…Him again.”

Shu came running, with an old but elegant-looking two-hand sword with dragon pattern in is back and a small pouch filled with coins and glittering magic stones in the other.

Because of that Apostle… I completely forgot I was trying to avoid this guy.

Sean let out a deep sigh, trying to suppress the frustration simmering beneath his stern expression.

“Hey, look! I got a good sword and some treasure. You want it? Could be useful—either for selling or keeping, right?” Shu grinned widely, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a child who had just found a new toy.

“NO. Now go away. Don’t bother me,” Sean snapped coldly, turning his face aside.

His tone was like a whip, instantly striking down Shu’s cheerful mood.

Still, the young man didn’t give up. He scratched the back of his head and took a step closer with an awkward smile.

“Aw, c’mon, don’t be like that, buddy. We just fought a tough monster and came out alive. If we hadn’t worked together, you might’ve gotten… well, a little scratched up, right? Let’s be friends!”

He extended his hand—warm, open, sincere.

But Sean looked at it as though it were a shadow from his past he never wanted to touch again.

“…Friend?” he murmured, his voice so quiet it nearly vanished in the wind.

“I don’t need something like that.”

His voice was sharp—like a blade forged from ice. He turned away without hesitation, leaving Shu standing frozen in place.

Sean’s footsteps echoed softly across the cracked ground and broken rubble.

I have no time for bonds. Not anymore. After losing everything… I chose to walk alone.

Shu remained where he stood, his outstretched hand slowly dropping to his side. His eyes followed Sean’s back as it grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

“Uh… What’s with that guy?” he muttered to himself.

His expression shifted from confused to downcast. Even though he’d only known Sean for a short time, he could feel it there was pain behind that cold stare. Not a physical wound… but something hidden deeper, like a scar that had never truly healed.

He looks like someone who’s been walking through darkness for a long time… But why do I feel like chasing after him?

Shu clenched his fist.

“If I give up now… then I’m not a true warrior. And definitely not a real friend.”