Chapter 12 – Victory’s Shadow

Palace of Fu Xi – Royal Chambers

Luna remains in the grand chamber, the air thick with the scent of burning incense and the lingering tension of the past few days.

Fu Xi leans back on his throne, stroking his chin. “Yes… it seems the whole council is already standing on crumbling ground. Not one of them can be trusted.”

Luna tilts her head slightly, her expression softening. “Even so… I have some good friends I can rely on.”

Fu Xi’s teal eyes narrow in amusement. “Friends, hm? Or maybe more than friends?” A sly smile creeps across his face.

Luna’s cheeks heat instantly. “I—I only meant that person is… interesting!”

“Ohhh? The most interesting person you’ve ever met?” he prods, leaning forward.

Before she can stop him, he gives her a playful nudge. “Sounds to me like you’ve got feelings brewing—”

WHAM!

Her fist lands square in his gut. “UNCLE!!! I said I’m interested in him, not like him!!!”

Fu Xi doubles over, laughing despite the blow. “Alright, alright! I’ll drop it… for now.”

Before Luna can argue, Gindol strides in with urgency in his step. “Lord Fu Xi—we have a situation… but it seems they may no longer need to fly out to that place after all.”

Fu Xi straightens. “Huh? What happened?”

Gindol scratches his head. “Uh…”

“‘Uh’ what?” the king presses, raising an eyebrow.

Luna steps in, smiling faintly. “We… might have built a ship.”

Fu Xi blinks. “…A ship? Here? In the mainland?”

“Yes,” she says casually.

“Let me see it,” Fu Xi demands, already on his feet.

Albius Grand Forge – Airship Dock

The forge buzzes with the news—King Fu Xi has regained consciousness.

Seraphina leans against a beam, her tail coiling lazily. “Looks like we don’t need to make that trip after all.”

“True,” Randy says, but his eyes flick toward the massive frame in the hangar. “Still… I’m curious to see it in action.”

“At the very least,” Elowen grins, “we now have a ship that can take us anywhere.”

A sudden flare of magic erupts in the center of the forge, and Kline appears in a swirl of smoke.

“The main show is here!” he declares proudly.

“Uh-huh…” Randy mutters.

“What?”

Elowen gestures toward the hangar. “Kline… look.”

His gaze follows her hand—and his jaw drops. “WHOOOOA!!!”

The airship towers before them, its hull gleaming with polished kelinite and mithril, the wind and cloud stones humming deep within its engines.

Randy stares at it silently for a moment. This could change the world… but in the wrong hands, it could also destroy it.

Fu Xi’s booming voice echoes through the forge. “BY THE GODS!!” He marches right up to the hull, eyes wide like a boy seeing his first dragon. “What in the heavens is THIS?!”

“It’s an airship,” Randy says with a faint smile. “A ship that can fly.”

“A ship… that can fly?” The king bursts into wild laughter. “Marvelous! MARVELOUS!”

Randy claps his hands. “Alright—time to test it! Everyone aboard!”

Inside the Airship

The interior is sleek, with magically-lit corridors and polished control panels. The faint hum of the engine vibrates through the floor.

Randy takes charge. “Elowen—you’re the captain. Sit there; all navigation controls are yours.”

“Got it!” she says, slipping into the seat with a grin.

“Kline, you manage power flow and the energy systems.”

“Consider it done!”

“Seraphina—you’re on weapons.”

The naga cracks a smile. “Oh, I’ll enjoy this.”

“I’ll handle primary controls,” Randy says proudly.

Elowen glances over. “I thought the captain was me?”

“I’m the pilot, big difference,” Randy retorts, flipping a series of switches.

Luna crosses her arms, smirking. “You look like a little boy with a new toy.”

“Shut up,” Randy mutters—but inside, his heart races. This is it. His first real attempt at flight here.

Takeoff

The engines roar to life, filling the hangar with a thunderous hum. The deck vibrates as the ship rises, inch by inch, into the air.

Fu Xi grips the railing with both hands, eyes bulging. “OHHHHHH! I’M GOING TO DIE!!!”

Gindol sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “My king…”

The airship drifts forward, the forge growing smaller beneath them. A gust of wind sweeps past the deck, carrying with it the taste of freedom—and danger.

And somewhere deep in Randy’s chest… the feeling that their real journey has only just begun.

Beyond the Sky

The airship hums steadily as we drift above the sprawling city, its hull gleaming under the afternoon sun. The scent of forge smoke still clings faintly to the deck, a reminder of how fast we built this thing.

Luna turns to me, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.
“Randy… what exactly do you plan to do with this?”

“Huh?” I tilt my head, scratching my cheek. “Well… we could share.”

Everyone freezes.

“…Share?” Elowen tilts her head, as if I just suggested giving away a dragon egg.

I shrug. “This ship is way too advanced for just me. So… King Fu Xi, would you like to use it?”

“What?!” the king blurts, looking confused—and slightly green, like he’s already seasick despite being in the sky.

I rub the back of my neck. “Well… this ship’s a bit much. Might as well let it be of use.”

Fu Xi shakes his head firmly. “No. This is yours. You make me a new one. And not too complicated, okay, boy?”

“…” I nod silently, wondering if “not complicated” is even in my vocabulary.

The flight trials go perfectly—smooth takeoff, responsive handling. The crew is buzzing with excitement when I decide to pull out my “other” surprise.

“There’s one more thing.”

I tap a switch, and a shimmering semi-sphere of light blooms into existence at the center of the bridge.

Gasps fill the room.

“Incredible…!” Elowen breathes, leaning closer.

“Such detail in this map!” Kline’s eyes are wide. “When did you make this?”

“Well…” I scratch my head. “With Anduril’s help. He had a bunch of old maps he was about to throw away, so I… repurposed them. Turns out it works better than I expected.”

Luna circles the holographic map, her brow furrowing. “This… isn’t magic.”

“In my world, we call this a navigation chart,” I explain. “Every ship and aircraft has one. Even spacecraft.”

“Space?” she echoes.

“Yep. To the moon.”

Kline nearly drops his staff. “Are you telling me your people can travel to space?!”

“Yep.”

“Have you been?”

“Uh… nope. Not everyone can. You need the right equipment. Our science says that outside our planet there’s no air—it’s a vacuum.”

Kline suddenly jumps like an excited kid. “HA! Elowen! I told you my theory was right! No air outside the world!”

“Hold on, Kline…” Elowen sighs.

“I want to see it,” Kline says, still grinning like a maniac.

I glance at Anduril. “You know this hull we built? It can go higher.”

Before anyone can protest, I grip the controls and push the engines harder. The ship tilts upward, climbing through clouds.

“Randy! What are you doing?!” Luna shouts, grabbing the nearest railing.

“I’m going to see it!”

The world falls away beneath us. The sky darkens from azure to deep indigo until—

“…Stars,” I breathe. The horizon curves below, and the void above is scattered with endless points of light.

“I… I can’t believe it,” Elowen whispers.

“Well, we’re not staying long,” I say, my voice low. “No way we survive in space without proper gear. But… now you’ve seen it.”

I ease the ship back down, reentering the breathable air with a smooth descent.

Back on the ground, we gather in the bridge for a strategy meeting.

Anduril leans forward. “Alright. Tell me what’s going on.”

Fu Xi sighs, glancing at Gindol. “Help me out here.”

Gindol folds his arms. “Our recon teams and spies have been busy. What they found… is troubling. Multiple shipments have been leaving King Lozla’s palace, heading directly to the kingdom of Kilos.”

Elowen’s expression hardens. “Kilos… the mercenary nation. They’re infamous for slavery.”

Gindol nods grimly. “One of our men captured a slaver. He confessed there’s been an increase in demand for beast-folk. They want more than ever.”

Kline frowns. “And why?”

“They’re excavating something,” Gindol answers darkly.

Luna’s voice cuts in. “There’s also a record—though I couldn’t recover it entirely—of massive quantities of mithril being collected… along with gold. Then… it all vanished.”

I glance at her. “Vanished?”

She nods. “Without a trace.”

Kline leans back, his eyes narrowing. “Looks like something very fishy is going on.”

And for the first time since we landed… the air feels heavier than the ship we built.

The bridge is quiet except for the low hum of the airship’s core. Outside, the clouds drift lazily past, their edges painted gold by the setting sun.

I lean back against the control console, hands in my pockets, and speak up.
“Well… I actually found something in the church’s library that caught my attention.”

Several pairs of eyes turn toward me.

“Yes?” Elowen asks, resting her chin on her palm.

“Your world… isn’t much different from mine.”

That earns a few puzzled looks.

“The language here is a mix of many—just like ours. Your technology, your materials… similar to what my world uses. The only big difference?” I let out a small laugh. “Magic. Here, it’s out in the open. Back home, it’s a secret—hidden so well that most people would never believe it exists.”

“Magic, huh?” Kline twirls his staff lazily. “I wonder what that would be like, being kept secret.”

“Well…” I glance down at my hands. “In my world, religion is… complicated. Many faiths, spread across the globe. But anyone with magic? They’d be seen as something dangerous—demonic, even. People would hunt them down… or fear them. My world leans more on science than faith these days, though. The two are always… at odds.”

“That sounds complicated,” Kline mutters, frowning in thought.

Fu Xi tilts his head. “What about politics? Surely your world differs there?”

I hesitate before answering. “…Not by much. The systems are different, but the game is the same.”

“Only what?” the king presses.

“Only… in my time—back home—we’re on the verge of a global crisis. A shortage of resources.”

“What happened?”

I look away toward the window. “People got greedy. And our population… the Hume of my world… numbers at least six billion.”

Everyone on the bridge freezes.

“You mean… six billion humans?!” Fu Xi’s jaw practically hits the floor. “What about the others? The beast-folk? Elves? Dwarves?”

I shrug slightly. “I can’t say. Either it’s hidden… or it’s something I refuse to believe.”

“Interesting…” Kline murmurs, his expression unreadable.

Luna clears her throat. “Well then… it seems things are going smoothly enough here. Anything else, Randy?”

“Hmm?” I blink at her. “Well… I’m still excited to start building Lord Fu Xi’s ship.”

She immediately narrows her eyes at her uncle.

“Huh? What?!” Fu Xi chuckles nervously. “It’s just… an interesting business venture, that’s all.”

Luna sighs, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Uncle… maybe this is why Father was always wary of you.”

“But you, child…” He gives her a small, proud smile. “…you’re the reason this nation holds together. Stable, strong… because of you.”

Her expression softens for just a moment, but she quickly turns away, ears tinged pink.

I watch them silently… thinking that even in a world of magic, politics, and airships, family ties still have the same weight as they do back home.

A sudden beep-beep-beep pierces the calm hum of the bridge.
A red light blinks on my navigation panel.

I lean over. “Huh? What’s that?”

Kline raises an eyebrow. “That sound wasn’t there before…”

I grin. “Heh… looks like it works.”

“Works?” Kline tilts his head. “What is that thing?”

I point out the window to the strange disk spinning atop the airship’s hull.
“That, my friend… is called radar. It detects moving ships, wagons, flying beasts—anything with mass. Let’s see…”

I tap a few switches. The display flashes with dots.
“It’s close to the city… and… by the numbers… this is a big one.”

Before anyone can say more, there’s a BANG-BANG-BANG on the airship’s hull.

A guard’s voice calls from outside. “My lord!!”

Fu Xi gestures him in. The man rushes up the gangway, breathless. He leans close and whispers something in the king’s ear.

Fu Xi’s expression hardens. “Luna… you’d better head home.”

She frowns. “What happened?”

His voice drops low. “…The heroes are here.”

I blink. “What the heck are they doing here now?”

“They’re demanding that I honor a request from their kingdom,” Fu Xi says grimly.

“Damn it… they’re fast,” I mutter.

Luna steps closer to the guard. “How many?”

He hesitates. “…All of them. Wait—yes. All.”

I glance at my console. “Well… perfect timing.”

I flip another switch and a small orb detaches from beneath the bridge—my newest toy. On the crystal display, the view flickers to life.

Kline whistles. “What an interesting contraption…”

“It’s a drone,” I explain. “Carries a camera so I can see everything from up here. Let’s take a look.”

The image sharpens—outside the city gates, a group stands in formation.
There’s Princess Verica, tall and composed. Raul in his gleaming armor. Alfian, smirking as always, flanked by two girls from my old class. Marlisa, the saint, hands clasped in prayer. Behind them, several more familiar faces… along with a small army of soldiers.

Kline glances at me. “Friends of yours?”

“Sort of,” I say flatly. “But I don’t care. And I’d rather not remember them.”

Luna’s hand rests on my shoulder. “…Randy.”

I meet her eyes—and in my head, an idea begins to form.
There’s something I’ve been itching to do since school.

“Hey. Mind if I tag along? I want to test them.”

“Test them?” she asks, suspicious.

“I’ll wear a mask. I want to see their abilities. See if they’re even worth my time.”

Kline grins. “I’m in.”

Elowen folds her arms. “Don’t get careless, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I turn to Fu Xi. “Permission, my lord?”

The king chuckles. “Go ahead. But don’t get caught.”

I dig through my gear, pulling out a hooded outfit.
“This’ll hide my face, but… I’ve got a better idea.” I look at Kline. “Think you can make me… a different face?”

“A disguise?” Kline smirks. “Alchemy can do that. But are you sure?”

I nod. “They already think I’m dead. Might as well play along with their little game.”

In a matter of minutes, Kline is grinding herbs, mixing strange powders, and brushing some foul-smelling paste onto my skin. The moment it hardens, he peels it back—revealing a face that’s not mine at all.

The mirror shows an ugly, crooked-nosed stranger staring back.
“Perfect,” I say with a grin. “If this ever ends up on a wanted poster, they’ll chase this face forever. Hahaha—”

SMACK!

Luna pinches my cheek hard. “Don’t be an idiot!!”

Her tail swishes behind her like an angry cat’s.

I rub my cheek, chuckling. “Alright, alright… let’s go see what the ‘heroes’ are made of.”

Reality Check

Seraphina folds her arms, glaring at me. “I’m coming with you.”

“Nope.” I wave her off. “At least this ugly mug on my face is what’s wanted. Not you guys.”

“Why not?” she frowns.

“Because we’re going to have another adventure.”

“Uh huh…” she mutters, clearly unconvinced.

“The Sky Island,” I continue, “has been calling to me ever since I heard of it.”

Fu Xi strokes his beard. “It does hold secrets… an ancient civilization once ruled there. Said to belong to a great Alchemist.”

“Yep. That’s what I want,” Kline says, eyes sparkling.

“Uh huh…” Seraphina still doesn’t buy it.

“Hurry up, Randy!” Kline grins. “Take them down, then we’ll go!”

I glance at Fu Xi. “Pretty sure those guys won’t listen to reason. They think they’re strong.”

“What are you proposing?”

I smirk. “A duel. All of them.”

Fu Xi stares. “…Are you out of your mind?”

I turn to Luna. “You know them better. What do you think?”

She snorts. “Alfian? Even I could beat him. Muscle head. Raul’s just a standard warrior—not a threat, but… fine. Give them a reality check.”

Fu Xi grins. “A duel it is. The Lozla Kingdom values tradition, after all. If they want privileges, they’ll have to prove themselves. Randy—get ready.”

We head outside the city walls, accompanied by Fu Xi, Gindol, and a few guards. The air is tense. The heroes aren’t allowed inside the city, so they wait beyond the gates.

Princess Verica steps forward. “What is the meaning of this?”

Kuzman, that annoying old man, hobbles up beside her. “We require the Grand Forge’s help in crafting our heroes’ equipment for the Demon Kingdom campaign.”

Fu Xi shakes his head. “No… but…”

“Are you toying with us, commoner?” Kuzman sneers.

Fu Xi’s gaze sharpens. “Are you sure you want to go down this path?”

Raul steps forward. “I am Raul. I want to improve my strength before we depart.”

From the shadows, I watch. Luna’s voice echoes from the jewel at my neck. “You’re up.”

Fu Xi finally says, “Then show me you’re worthy of such privilege.”

“What are you talking about!?” Verica snaps.

“Show me their strength,” he replies evenly.

Alfian wastes no time. He leaps at Fu Xi—only for me to step in and slam him down with a smooth counter.

He scrambles up, eyes wide. “WHO ARE YOU!?”

Thanks to Luna’s magic, my voice comes out deep and distorted. “Lord Fu Xi is our liege… but I wonder if you’re worth our time.”

Predictably, Alfian charges again, unleashing a wild flurry of punches.

“Why are you backing away!? Fight me!”

I take a stance—my uncle’s lessons echoing in my mind.
Kid… this martial art is a tool. How you use it depends on your will. But it will make you strong.

I flow through the motions: MMA footwork, Muay Thai knees, Silat sweeps, Karate counters, Jiu-Jitsu locks. A patchwork of disciplines fused into one lethal style.

Alfian roars, “DRAGON THRUST!”

What a slow telegraph. Even Luna moves faster than that.

I sidestep, hook his arm, and flip him with an armbar throw. He hits the dirt with a thud.

“Next,” I say flatly. “Knight boy, you’re up.”

Raul dismounts, drawing his sword. His movement is cleaner than Alfian’s, his strikes heavier. But his thrust is still slow to my eyes.

I catch his blade mid-swing, twist his wrist, and bring my elbow down hard on his joint.

CRACK!

“AAARGHHH!! MY ARM!!” he howls, crumpling.

I straighten up, annoyed. Is this what I’ve been holding back for? Uncle, you made me restrain myself for this?

Marlisa, the saint, steps forward, eyes blazing. “Take this! Tiltrí biorach!”

Lightning streaks toward me—only to vanish inches from my body.

I blink. Anti-magic? No… my body didn’t even react.

For someone who grew up an atheist, the feeling is unnerving.
…Am I really starting to believe in the Divine?

Marlisa’s eyes widen, her voice trembling.
“This… this is dangerous!”

Before I can react, one of my old classmates—the same jerk who used to shove my head into lockers—steps forward with a cocky grin.
“Attack him!!”

I smirk. Perfect. I’ve been meaning to blow off some steam.

My fist drives into his gut, folding him in half. Before he can gasp, my knee shoots up, followed by a snap kick to his chin.
CRACK!
He’s airborne for a heartbeat, then hits the dirt like a sack of bricks.

Another genius charges up a spell. “Sphère tine!”
A blazing fireball roars toward me—
—only to rebound the instant it touches me, screaming back at him like it’s seeking revenge.

BOOM!

The explosion engulfs him in a pillar of flame. His scream rips across the field.
“EAAAAARGH!!!”

The crowd flinches. I don’t. My gaze finds Princess Verica.
“Your Highness… your ‘heroes’ are weaker than I expected. Much weaker.”

Her lips twitch, a sharp click of her tongue.
“Lord Fu Xi… are you saying—”

Fu Xi chuckles. “I’m saying my champion here is far more deserving of our equipment. I won’t let unworthy hands stain my name.”

Marlisa quickly kneels beside Raul, healing magic blooming in her palms. His breathing steadies, but her glare is sharp.
“Be careful, everyone! He’s stronger than he looks!”

Alfian stomps forward, his jaw tight.

Up above, one of my drones hums quietly, recording every move.

From the sidelines, Luna watches, her arms crossed. “Randy…”

“WOOOOO-HOOOOO!” Seraphina shouts from behind her. “RANDY’S BEATING THE HEROES LIKE THEY’RE NOTHING! I’M GOING TO HAVE HIS OFFSPRING!”

A visible vein pops on Luna’s forehead. Her tail lashes like an angry cat. “Try it, and I’ll send you to the next life.”

Elowen tilts her head, watching me like she’s seeing something familiar. “This is… something else.”

Kline bursts out laughing. “What a pathetic bunch. Are you sure these are supposed to be heroes?”

“Yes,” Luna says flatly. “Looks like Kuzman miscalculated. Honestly, Randy and Elysia could crush them without breaking a sweat.”

Kline nods, grinning. “Stats are average. But his combat efficiency? Way beyond theirs.”

Back on the field, Raul suddenly bursts forward, his sword flashing dangerously close to my face.

“Huh…” I sidestep casually, plucking a blade from a nearby guard.
“Well then,” I say, holding it in a reverse grip.

Raul fights like a knight from a storybook—formal, predictable, rigid. My boot slams into his gut, sending him stumbling.

Alfian roars from behind, his body glowing as one of the girls casts a support spell on him. His muscles bulge unnaturally.

“Nice buff,” I mutter. “Still useless.”

I pivot, catching him mid-charge. My hand hooks his leg, flipping him hard onto the ground.
THUD!
My fist comes down, cracking across his jaw. His head bounces off the dirt.

The crowd goes silent.

The soldiers behind Princess Verica begin murmuring, their voices just low enough to be dangerous.

“Are they really… heroes?”
“That guy just crushed them like it’s nothing…”

Even Marlisa, who’s been calm until now, can’t hide her unease. Her eyes narrow as she watches me move.
Is this how warriors in this world fight? she wonders silently. They have experience… but this man…

Raul suddenly grips his blade tighter, his voice echoing like a challenge to the heavens.
“Judgement Blade!!”

A shockwave erupts as the strike connects, my body freezing instantly in a crystal-like stasis.

Alfian grins savagely. “HAA!! That’s my prey, Raul!”
He leaps forward, fist drawn back for the kill—

SHHHNK!

The long edge of my blade bursts through his side. Not fatal… but enough to paint the dirt crimson. His eyes widen in disbelief.

“ALFIAN!!!” Raul’s voice cracks.
“EYA!!! ALFIAN!!” the girls scream, panic lacing their cries.

I meet Alfian’s gaze coldly.
“Looks like… you underestimated your own.”

With one smooth motion, I yank the blade free. My hilt snaps up, smashing into his nose with a sickening CRACK. He drops, groaning, just in time for my heel to bury itself in his gut. The impact sends him skidding across the dirt, a cloud of dust marking his path.

Raul roars, charging again. “Teorainn Bhreiseadh!!”

His body flares with golden light, his movements sharper, faster—
—but still slow to my eyes.

I decide to sell the act, letting a few strikes graze me. A slash catches my side, another hammers my shoulder. I let myself fall back, my knees hitting the ground.

Princess Verica smirks at Fu Xi. “Looks like my hero is something you can’t defeat so easily.”

Raul turns to her, chest heaving. “I’m worthy of your weapons, Lord Fu Xi!”

“You think so?” Fu Xi’s gaze slides past him—straight to me.

I stand, rolling my shoulders. My face is fine, but the attack shredded part of my shirt. Now my torso is bare, six-pack and battle-hardened muscle gleaming under the sun.

Raul’s eyes widen. “…He’s strong. Really strong. Strong enough… that I can’t win.”

I tilt my head. “Is that all you’ve got?”

“EARGHHH!!” He swings with everything, the air screaming from the force—
—but I catch his momentum mid-swing, gripping his body and shifting my weight.

Gravity does the rest.
THUD!

The ground cracks as I slam him down. My fist follows, colliding with his face in a single, decisive blow. His body goes limp.

Raul is out cold.

Silence swallows the battlefield.

Marlisa’s eyes tremble as she watches. One after another, my old classmates fall—groaning, clutching at injuries, their pride in pieces.

She whispers under her breath, almost like a prayer,

“If only… Elysia were here…”

Her words vanish in the wind.

Kuzman’s chosen “heroes” rally for one last desperate attack, charging in with swords raised and magic primed.

I don’t even need to think. My body moves on its own.
A sidestep here, an elbow strike there—
—a well-placed sweep sends another down.
Their fireballs? Deflected without effort.
Their blades? Caught mid-swing and twisted from their hands.

The ground is soon littered with groaning bodies and weapons.

And then… I stop.

I stand there, breathing evenly, while they writhe in the dust.

In my head, it’s quiet.
Enough.

The adrenaline fades, replaced by a heavy clarity.
I’ve seen enough to know… this is fine. Being kicked out back then… maybe it was the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

They’re not strong enough.
Not for what’s coming.
Not for the kind of battles we’ve faced.

A faint smile tugs at my lips—not from joy, but from a grim realization.
My journeys with Elowen, Kline, Seraphina… even Luna… they’ve changed me. Made me stronger. Sharper. More than these so-called heroes could ever imagine.

I turn my gaze back to them—bruised, panting, defeated.
Their eyes hold confusion. Mine hold certainty.

And for the first time in a while…
…I feel no need to prove anything.

Fu Xi exhales, his patience snapping like a bowstring.

“Well then… looks like I’ve wasted enough time on you people.”

His voice is calm, but his eyes—cold and sharp—slice through the air like a predator’s glare. Even the soldiers who moments ago stood firm now instinctively take a half-step back.

“Take a hike… or else.”

The unspoken threat is heavy enough to make the weaker ones avert their eyes.

Princess Verica’s gaze shifts to me, narrowing with suspicion.

“Who are you?”

I bow slightly, keeping my tone polite yet distant.

“No one worth remembering… merely a loyal blade in the service of King Fu Xi.”

Her lips curl into something between a frown and a smirk.

“Very well… nameless warrior. You win this time, Lord Fu Xi.”

With a flick of her cloak, she turns, leading her battered entourage away.

Marlisa lingers behind for a moment, her expression unreadable. When she finally speaks, her voice is quiet, yet cutting.

“This is a disaster… one I already expected.”

She glances over the wounded heroes—some limping, others carried on the backs of their comrades. Their proud armor is dented, their weapons chipped, but the real damage isn’t physical.

The soldiers around us look at me differently now. Not as some mysterious stranger… but as something dangerous. Something they would rather not face.

Marlisa notices too.

“My healing magic can mend their bodies,” she murmurs, more to herself than to anyone else, “but nothing can heal… that.”

Her eyes sharpen.

“The humiliation. The reality check. The shattering of this little fantasy game they thought they were playing.”

Alfian, head bowed and fists clenched, mutters just loud enough for me to hear.

“Tch… damn it!!!”

One of the boys in his group, face pale, glances around nervously.

“Is… is that how people in this world really fight?”

A knight escorting them overhears, answering without hesitation.

“That man is Lord Fu Xi, the Battle Master. The reason our borders have never fallen is because he stands there, keeping the enemies at bay.”

Marlisa nods slowly, her gaze flicking to me before settling back on the knight.

“I apologise for my colleagues… they are not what we expected.”

The words carry more weight than she probably intends, and for a moment, the only sound is the wind sweeping across the field—cool and sharp, like the look in Fu Xi’s eyes.

One of the knights rides alongside the carriage, his tone respectful yet firm as he speaks to Marlisa.

“The strongest in our nation is not Lord Fu Xi… it is Lady Luna. She is our greatest swordsman and our most skilled mage. That is why she holds the title of Magic Knight.”

Marlisa blinks, her brows lifting slightly.

“Lady Luna… I never knew she carried such a reputation.”

Before she can say more, Alfian slams his fist against the carriage wall, the wood rattling.

“Tch! Next time… I’m going to get him back! That nameless bastard won’t humiliate me again!”

Marlisa doesn’t flinch. Her voice is calm, but her words are sharp.

“We should focus on how we’re going to get back, Alfian.”

Her advice is met with a sudden snarl.

“Shut up, bitch! Not like we can just walk home!”

The outburst makes several students jolt. Marlisa catches their expressions—eyes lowered, lips trembling. The first cracks in their pride are showing… and something else.

“I hate it here… I want to go back…” one mutters under his breath.
“Yeah… this isn’t even fun anymore.”
“We shouldn’t be doing this…”
“Why did we even listen to Raul in the first place?”

Their voices are quiet, but in the confined space, every word weighs heavy.

Marlisa exhales silently. It’s starting… homesickness. That creeping despair that no healing magic can touch.

But one voice is missing.

Where is Raul…?

Elsewhere – In Another Carriage

The air inside is warm, heavy, and perfumed. Raul sits close to Princess Verica, his breath shallow, his eyes hazy.

Her form shimmers faintly, the faint outline of horns curling from her hair, her lips deepening in color. With a sinuous grace, Verica shifts—her body melting into the alluring silhouette of a succubus.

Raul doesn’t even react. He’s too lost in the intoxicating haze she weaves around him.

Her slender fingers trace along his jawline, and as she leans in, her crimson eyes narrow with a glint of irritation.

“That man…” she whispers under her breath, a dangerous edge in her tone, “…he is dangerous. Even my power of seduction doesn’t work on him… just like Lord Fu Xi.”

Her nails press lightly against Raul’s chest as a faint glow passes from his body into hers. The young warrior shudders—not from pain, but from the strange, blissful trance she’s drawn him into.

He sighs like a man drowning in pleasure, unaware that his very life force is slipping away with every passing second.

Verica smiles faintly, the expression a mix of indulgence and calculation.

“Play your part well, Raul… until I decide you’re no longer useful.”

The carriage carrying the so-called heroes rattles into the distance. High above, the faint hum of propellers follows them—an unblinking eye in the sky.

The drone glides silently, its camera feed beaming straight back to the bridge of the airship.

Kline leans against the railing, smirking.

“Heh… running away with their tails between their legs, eh?”

Luna’s golden eyes stay fixed on the screen, but there’s a tension in her voice.

“Randy…”

She doesn’t finish the thought, but her gaze says enough—she wants to see him. She wants to know why he did this.

Elowen crosses her arms, her tone measured but curious.

“That’s… something. I never knew the heroes were that weak.”

Seraphina tilts her head, her tail flicking lazily.

“Randy’s stronger than them. Even with their fancy stats… he made them look like rookies.”

Kline taps the side of his chin.

“It’s not just strength. The guy’s got experience. Combat instincts. The kind you only get if you’ve fought for your life more than once.”

Seraphina’s eyes narrow in thought.

“Which means… he’s been through battles before. Real ones. Not tournaments or drills.”

Before the conversation can go further, footsteps echo in the hallway.

Randy steps into the room, his expression unreadable.

“It’s settled.”

Luna turns to him.

“Hey…”

He glances at her, then looks away.

“……”

Without another word, he starts walking toward the lower deck.

“Let me rest.”

The door shuts softly behind him, leaving the air heavier than before.

Luna’s lips press into a thin line. She knows something’s wrong… but she also knows pressing him now will only make him shut her out.

Kline places a hand gently on her shoulder.

“Let me talk to him. Sometimes… men carry things they can’t put into words. We hide it… even from the people we care about.”

Below Deck – Airship Quarters

The cabin is dim, the gentle hum of the ship’s engines filling the silence.

Randy lies on his bed, one arm resting over his eyes. He’s not sleeping. His gaze is fixed on the ceiling, but his mind is far away.

His voice is a quiet whisper to the empty room.

“…Uncle… there’s something wrong with me.”

He exhales, closing his eyes, the memories from the duel flashing behind them. The ease with which he dismantled the heroes. The reflexes that felt too sharp. The strength that felt… unnatural.

The truth is, he didn’t fight them to test their worth. He fought them to test himself.

And now he’s not sure he likes the answer.

A faint shadow lingers in the corners of his thoughts—a fragment of a truth his uncle never told him. Something that feels less like a missing piece… and more like a locked door.

To be continued