Chapter 11: When a Father Chooses

At the Dwarven Palace

Y arrived at the palace alongside the old blacksmith.

A soldier approached with steady steps, then bowed slightly:

— “The king permits your entry.”

The two entered, and Y soon stood before King Ragnar, who sat on his throne with imposing presence.

Y spoke in a calm, stern tone:

— “Is there a problem?”

The king answered with a resounding voice:

— “There’s a call for you… from Mond.”

One of the guards brought forth a crystal orb. As it lit up, a familiar voice echoed from within.

— “This is Y… who’s on the other side?”

The voice replied:

— “It’s me… L.”

A faint smile tugged at Y’s lips as L continued:

— “I called to tell you… I’ll be returning to my tribe. The war begins in a week.”

Y remained silent, listening intently, until L finished in her concise tone:

— “That’s all.”

Y finally spoke:

— “I understand. Just wait for me a little longer… I’ll join you once my weapon is complete.”

Suddenly, another voice burst from the orb—a harsh, scornful growl:

— “There’s no need for you to come. We’ll handle everything ourselves. Humans… are nothing but trouble.”

Y narrowed his eyes:

— “And who are you?”

But the orb gave no reply.

After a pause, Y turned slightly, his voice cold as steel:

— “L… one question. Can I defeat this man as I am now?”

L answered firmly:

— “You cannot.”

A faint smirk crossed Y’s face:

— “I see… then I’ll be joining you soon.”

The unknown voice snarled again:

— “Did you not hear me?!”

Y lifted his gaze toward the crystal, answering with a deadly calm:

— “I heard you… but I’m not obliged to obey. If you have a problem with that… wait. You’ll see me soon enough.”

The connection cut off abruptly, leaving the hall in a heavy silence.

⸻

Back in Mond

L stared at the darkened crystal, a small smile curving her lips:

— “He’s… an interesting one, isn’t he?”

The shadowed man standing beside her remained silent, only his eyes glinting with an icy, enigmatic light.

At the Dwarven Palace

Y turned to the old blacksmith.

— “We don’t have much time… I need to move quickly.”

The blacksmith smiled faintly, then pulled out an old map and handed it to Y.

— “I’ll help you finish your weapon. Take this map, head to this place… it’s on the border of the Samurai Kingdom. Inside the cave, you’ll find a rare blue gem infused with magical energy. I need it to complete the weapon.”

Without hesitation, Y took the map.

— “I’ll leave at once.”

King Ragnar spoke with a faint smile:

— “I thought you’d refuse, old friend.”

The blacksmith sighed as he glanced at Y.

— “I did refuse… but there’s still a strange feeling inside me. This human didn’t complain when I turned him away—he simply pressed on to help his friend. I won’t be an obstacle to him. I’ll wager on humans… one more time.”

⸻

At the Samurai Palace

The Emperor sat upon his throne, his sharp gaze fixed on Kaguya.

— “So… you’ve joined a new guild? The one led by this Y, who now resides in the Dwarven Kingdom, correct?”

Kaguya (calmly):

— “That’s correct.”

The Emperor gave a cold nod.

— “Very well… as long as you’re safe. But I must take my leave—I have too much work in these times.”

He departed with heavy steps, leaving the Empress smiling gently at her daughter.

— “Forgive us, but we should be going soon,” said Kaguya.

The Empress softly held her hand, her smile unwavering.

— “On the contrary… I’m more curious to hear about your sister.”

Kaguya gave a small laugh.

— “I expected as much.”

The Empress leaned forward, her voice warm.

— “Then tell me… what’s the story of your sister?”

Aris answered with quiet confidence as she sat down:

— “If you mean why I call her my sister… it’s because she’s my partner. We trained together, fought together, shared the same roof… and above all, I see her as part of my family.”

The Empress smiled softly and shook her head.

— “That’s beautiful… but that’s not quite what I meant. Why does she grow embarrassed when it’s said aloud?”

Aris hesitated for a moment, then admitted shyly:

— “Because my brother… Y… called her our sister.”

Kaguya’s cheeks turned red as she quickly covered Aris’s mouth.

— “Aris…!”

But the Empress laughed lightly.

— “Kaguya, let her finish.”

Kaguya sat down on the floor, staring silently, while Aris continued with a playful smile:

— “When the Dwarven King appeared, Y introduced himself and said we were his younger sisters. Kaguya isn’t used to hearing that… so she felt embarrassed.”

Aris chuckled, while the Empress’s smile softened.

— “And why did he say that?”

Aris:

— “I don’t know… we can ask him later. But for me… it makes me happy.”

She stood up.

— “Excuse me, I need some training.”

The Empress watched her with admiration.

— “You’ve found good friends. Especially that girl… and it seems her brother is quite remarkable as well. I wonder… what family do they come from?”

Kaguya answered gravely:

— “They don’t have one… not in the traditional sense.”

The Empress raised a brow in surprise.

— “You mean…?”

Kaguya:

— “Aris and Y are not siblings by blood, but they treat each other as such. And not only them—there’s Anna, and Clara as well.”

Kaguya then recounted the whole story to her mother, who listened in fascination.

— “Such an unusual family…” the Empress murmured.

Aris soon returned from her training.

Kaguya smiled:

— “Good training?”

Aris:

— “Thank you… but I’d rather train with you, or with Y.”

The Empress (thoughtfully):

— “I wish to meet Y soon. I think your father would like him.”

Kaguya:

— “Speaking of Father… he seems so busy lately. Why?”

The Empress’s expression hardened.

— “A monster has been sighted near the old cave… but for some reason, no one has been able to track it.”

Kaguya (firmly):

— “We’ll help.”

Aris (eagerly):

— “We’re experienced in dealing with monsters.”

The Empress gave a small sigh, then smiled:

— “I wanted you to rest… but very well. Be careful.”

Both sisters answered in unison:

— “Understood.”

And with that, they set off toward the cave, the wind carrying with it the omen of another looming battle.

Y raced against time, sprinting toward the mine on the outskirts of the Samurai Kingdom. Suddenly, something flickered at the edge of his vision—a faint, transparent shadow waving at him.

He halted instantly, turning into a narrow alley shrouded in darkness between the old houses.

Y stood still, closed his eyes for a moment, and released his aura to sense the area. He whispered:

— “There’s… something here.”

And then, between the walls, a small figure appeared—transparent, fragile, trembling. A little girl, her form like moonlight, shivering in fear.

Y approached calmly. She shrank back, trying to cling to his hand.

— “A ghost girl…” he muttered.

He softened his tone to reassure her:

— “It’s alright… I’m with you. Nothing will happen to you.”

Her trembling eased little by little, until her small, spectral hand reached out and clasped his. Together, they walked slowly through the alley.

Y asked with a steady voice:

— “What’s your story?”

Her voice quivered:

— “There’s… a monster. It can vanish… and it devours spirits. It… it swallowed my friend. She tried to save me.”

— “A creature that eats souls?” Y thought aloud, then asked:

— “Do you know what kind it is?”

She shook her head, despair shadowing her pale face.

— “I don’t know…”

Y tightened his grip on her hand.

— “It doesn’t matter… as long as you’re beside me, it won’t lay a finger on you.”

At that moment, Kaguya and Aris appeared from another path, their steps quick but cautious.

Kaguya called out in surprise:

— “Y!”

Y answered calmly:

— “Perfect timing… there’s a monster nearby.”

They exchanged a look.

— “So we share the same target.”

Y paused, then asked:

— “Tell me… do you see the girl holding my hand? She’s a ghost.”

Aris glanced around, confused.

— “I don’t see anything…”

The ghost girl raised her trembling hand and whispered:

— “Wait… just a moment.”

A faint glow spread from her, a magic light that made Kaguya’s and Aris’s eyes shimmer like gemstones. Then—her figure appeared clearly before them.

Kaguya gasped:

— “I can see her…!”

Y smiled faintly, but his voice turned serious:

— “There’s something important you need to know.”

They sat briefly in the alley as Y explained what the ghost girl had told him about the monster… and about the call with L.

Aris rose with determination:

— “We need to hurry.”

Kaguya nodded:

— “Yes… there’s no time to waste.”

Y stood, his gaze firm.

— “You two go after the monster. It’s yours. I’ll continue on to the cave.”

The two exchanged a glance, then nodded with confidence.

— “Understood.”

And so Y walked away with the ghost girl at his side, while petals of cherry blossoms drifted in the wind—an omen of the coming battle in the shadows of the Samurai Kingdom.

Y stepped into the cave, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone, eyes scanning every shadow and crevice. His breath reverberated faintly in the hollow darkness. He pressed forward, searching the walls and rocks, but found no sign of the gem.

He stopped, brows furrowed.

— “There’s a hidden place here… but where?”

The ghost girl’s faint voice whispered behind him:

— “This way… follow me.”

Y cast her a quick glance, then followed through a narrow passage.

— “Since when do you know the path?” he asked.

— “For a long time…” her voice drifted like an ancient breeze.

She led him to a concealed corridor that opened suddenly into a vast chamber, bathed in the pale glow of a massive crystal at its center. Inside it—another girl was imprisoned, her form dim and still. Beside her sat a towering man, broad-shouldered and solemn, his features chiseled by hardship. His beard was thick, his hair a dark shade tinged with red, and at his side lay a colossal war hammer.

The man lifted his gaze to Y, his voice thundering like storm clouds:

— “If it’s gold you seek, take it and leave… but cross this line, and I’ll call you an enemy.”

Y stopped at the etched line on the ground, studying the scene before him. Then, calmly, he spoke:

— “I’m not here for gold. I seek a certain gem. But it seems now is not the right time. Tell me… what happened to her?”

The man’s eyes clouded with grief.

— “She is my daughter… trapped within this crystal by a cunning demon’s spell. He bound me here, saying if I shattered it, she would die. If I left this place… she would die. I know it’s a trick… but I can’t gamble with her life. She is my little girl.”

Y stepped forward, determination gleaming in his eyes:

— “I have a way to free her. I can use my weapon—but I’ll need the crystal.”

The man bowed his head, then shook it firmly.

— “I’m sorry. There is no guarantee you’ll succeed. I will not risk her soul. My answer is no.”

Y’s faint smile hardened into resolve. His voice dropped like a blade.

— “Then… there’s no other choice.”

The man rose to his full height, eyes blazing with resolve, staring straight at Y.

— “I warned you.”

But Y did not stop. He stepped across the line.

In an instant, the man appeared before him, as if time itself had fractured—his fist surged forward with crushing force.

Y ducked swiftly, evading the strike, and spun, lashing out with a sharp kick to the man’s midsection. His leg rebounded as though striking solid stone.

The man’s tone was cold:

— “It seems I underestimated you…”

Y replied with a calm smile:

— “Don’t worry… I’m used to that.”

“He didn’t even flinch… as if his body were iron.” Y thought to himself.

The man narrowed his gaze:

— “Why don’t you use your weapon?”

Y tilted his head slightly, eyes steady:

— “And what about you? You haven’t touched your hammer. You prefer to fight barehanded… Fine. I’m ready.”

The man growled, fists tightening:

— “This is a fight you cannot win.”

Y clenched his fists, his voice steady as steel:

— “We’ll never know… until we try.”

And with that, the cavern erupted—the sound of flesh and stone colliding, a clash raw and primal. Sparks of a battle born not of magic nor trickery, but sheer will and strength. A duel between the wandering enigma… and the ancient warrior.

Kaguya and Aris arrived to find the Emperor standing tall in the midst of the battlefield, his body moving with majestic steadiness as he fought the monster with rare courage—blocking its strikes and shielding the wounded soldiers with his own frame.

The creature looked as though it had crawled out of another world: six deformed arms, a gaunt body barely covered by dry, withered skin, as if it hadn’t tasted food in centuries. In its chest glowed a pulsating green stone, radiating an ominous energy.

The beast lunged with its arms, but with a single swift strike the Emperor severed them. The abomination shrieked, only for its limbs to regenerate in seconds. Then it raised its hand and unleashed a barrage of magical blasts at the injured soldiers.

The Emperor dashed with blistering speed, intercepting the explosions with his body and blade, but the monster exploited his distraction, whipping its massive tail like a scourge.

At the last instant, violet lightning split the darkness. The tail burst apart, severed in midair. Through the smoke, Kaguya emerged—her eyes sparking with electricity as she cried:

— “I won’t let you harm anyone here!”

Pride lit the Emperor’s face.

— “Kaguya… you’ve grown so much.”

The monster roared, and within seconds its tail regenerated. It staggered back warily, but Kaguya advanced with calm resolve. In a blink, she vanished—only to reappear behind it, sliding her sword into its sheath as she whispered:

— “Storm of Blades.”

In an instant, blood erupted from every inch of the beast’s body, as though dozens of swords had carved it apart at once.

Bellowing in fury, the monster lunged at her with its claws.

The Emperor shouted:

— “Kaguya! Move!”

But she stood her ground, unwavering.

Before the claws could reach her face, a golden beam descended from the heavens, tearing through the earth and ripping a massive wound into the creature’s body. The battlefield shook under the brilliance.

The Emperor lifted his gaze in astonishment:

— “What is this…?”

From the dust, Aris emerged, her eyes gleaming as she declared with a confident smile:

— “He won’t touch my sister… not while I’m here.”

The three stood together—the Emperor, Kaguya, and Aris—while the monster staggered, bleeding and broken.

The Emperor’s voice brimmed with genuine admiration:

— “Incredible… you defeated it with such ease!”

Kaguya caught her breath and replied:

— “Strange… but I’ve grown stronger since my duel with Y.”

Aris smiled knowingly:

— “That’s why I told you to fight me that day.”

Suddenly, one of the guards cried out:

— “The monster… it vanished!”

All turned, but there was no trace left—only heavy footprints leading toward the cave.

The Emperor raised his sword, his voice stern:

— “Tend to the wounded. The rest of you—prepare for battle! I’ll pursue the beast into the cave.”

He turned to Kaguya and Aris:

— “You’ll come with me. Let’s move!”

Aris smirked:

— “That monster really is out of luck.”

Kaguya added firmly:

— “Indeed… because inside that cave, the real monster awaits.”

The scene returned to the battlefield.

Y and Garb traded punches and kicks—raw combat without magic, without tricks… only strength and endurance. Each strike shook the cavern, as though the earth itself bore witness to their clash.

Garb’s booming voice echoed:

— “Are you truly human? Your reflexes are unnatural.”

Y dodged a blow and replied with a steady smile:

— “And you? I’ve struck you countless times… yet your body is like a mountain, unmoved.”

Garb smirked as he straightened his stance:

— “That’s a trade secret.”

Y muttered, recalling the blacksmith’s words:

— “A secret…? Yes, I understand now.”

The air shifted suddenly, the pressure of the cavern trembling. Garb lunged with a crushing punch, but Y seized his arm, lifted him, and slammed him into the ground with force. The stone beneath them fractured.

Standing amidst the dust, Y’s eyes glowed:

— “You’re channeling the damage into the ground. A brilliant defense… but if your feet leave the earth, it fails.”

With astonishing agility, Garb vaulted back to his feet. Their eyes locked in mutual respect before preparing for the next round.

Meanwhile, the echoes of explosions reached Kaguya and Aris.

Aris: “There’s a fight nearby!”

The Emperor: “This way—follow me!”

They entered the hidden chamber, where Y clashed with a massive warrior.

Aris whispered in awe: “What is this…?”

The Emperor, voice stern: “That is Garb… one of the dwarven champions.”

Kaguya gasped: “I thought he vanished ages ago… Has he been here all this time?”

The ghostly girl, Serene, appeared before them.

The Emperor turned sharply: “You… you’re Garb’s daughter, aren’t you?”

Silence hung heavy before Serene pointed to the great crystal:

— “I was imprisoned there… Father protected me all these years. Please… break the crystal and free him!”

The clash raged on. Fists collided, rocks shattered, sweat and blood smeared the ground.

Inside his mind, Garb thought: “Two ways to break me… one, take me from the ground. Two, relentless strikes to shatter my balance.”

The Emperor cried as he watched:

— “What a battle! I know Garb’s strength… but this human… is something else.”

Aris answered proudly:

— “That’s my big brother for you.”

At that moment, Serene vanished, then suddenly reappeared—rushing into the battlefield.

— “I won’t let you kill anyone for my sake!” she shouted.

Both Y and Garb froze, halting their blows just before they struck. Garb’s eyes widened in horror:

— “I nearly… killed my daughter!”

Y advanced toward the crystal, but Garb blocked his path with his war hammer.

— “Stop! What are you doing?”

Y’s voice was cold:

— “My goal hasn’t changed… I need the crystal.”

Before they could collide, Y’s senses flared. A murderous intent surged behind Serene. Without hesitation, Y altered his strike—and in that instant, the hidden monster appeared, lunging to devour her!

With a single decisive slash, Y cleaved the beast apart, but the collision shattered his left arm.

The Emperor, stunned:

— “How… did he sense it?”

Garb trembled:

— “He saved my daughter… instead of me.”

Y turned toward Garb, eyes like steel:

— “You must choose… Will you be a warrior, or a father?”

Garb fell to his knees, tears burning his eyes:

— “Save my daughter… please.”

Y raised his weapon, its edges glowing with strange energy. With one precise strike, he shattered the crystal. Ancient power erupted, and Serene emerged in her true form, collapsing into her father’s arms, sobbing.

From the monster’s corpse, countless souls were released. A sacred aura filled the cavern, the air shimmering with a cold, radiant light.

Y walked out of the cave. Ghosts lined both sides of the path, forming a solemn corridor beneath the moonlight. In the night sky, ethereal fireworks burst, as though the spirits themselves honored the human who freed them—hailing him like a king walking among his people.

The Emperor stood in awe:

— “What an ending…”

Kaguya smiled softly, whispering:

— “Exactly what I’d expect… from my big brother.”

Serene wiped her tears, calling out:

— “Rin… can you hear me?”

Another ghostly girl appeared, raising her hand with a gentle smile:

— “Serene… I never vanished. I’m different from the rest.”

The two girls exchanged a heartfelt gaze. Then Rin turned toward Y, her eyes thoughtful:

— “This man… is extraordinary.”

Serene nodded: “I know.”

Aris stepped closer, puzzled:

— “What do you mean?”

Serene explained:

— “I was born with the ability to see spirits. But within the crystal, my powers evolved, and Rin taught me to harness my magic. Even so… Y is different. He doesn’t need magic to see us.”

Rin added:

— “It’s his right eye… it’s the key.”

Aris remembered Leona’s words:

— “She once said he had a rare sensing gift… and that with time, he might be able to see spirits.”

Rin smiled knowingly:

— “Leona was brilliant to recognize it so early. He isn’t just a human… He’s a bridge between two worlds.”

A silence lingered, until Rin whispered softly:

— “May we… join you for a while?”