“Master, this place is…”
“That’s right. This is the ‘Path of Ice,’ an elf temple hidden in the Demon Beast Mountain.”
As we arrived at the Demon Beast Mountain guided by my master, a stone door resembling a temple came into view.
The Demon Beast Mountain loomed to the north, with its high altitude making it cold, so we had worn thick fur clothing.
Still, it was freezing, like the bone-chilling cold of December in Korea.
Brr, it’s cold.
When Master approached the icy door and placed a hand on it, magical energy began to flow, and the door opened.
“Well then, let’s go.”
“Sure!”
I stepped inside the temple alongside my master, feeling as if I had returned to my childhood when I used to explore ruins and learn magic with him.
However, given our situation, it was hardly a picnic atmosphere.
We had just three days left.
In terms of time, we had to rush through this place in one day to reach the Kingdom of Ra, so we could arrive in the western plains with the reinforcements.
The inside of the temple looked like a deserted shrine from a fantasy game.
Countless stairs and incomprehensible patterns surrounded us, and it was still freezing.
Inside the temple, there were spaces that absorbed magic, so we had to walk instead of flying with magic, as it could be risky.
Even without monsters, the cold and stuffiness drained our stamina quickly, so after walking for over ten hours, we decided to take a short break.
“Yuren’s embrace… so warm.”
“You’re warm too, Master.”
To maintain our body temperature in the cold, Master snuggled into my arms, just like 500 years ago.
His warmth and scent were no different now from back then.
As we warmed ourselves by the fire, Master spoke up.
“I still can’t believe it. I’m just an ordinary elf. I hate war and have only one friend… yet I can’t believe I will become the great sage like Yuren’s memories say.”
Contrary to their image, elves weren’t simply a peaceful race.
They were living beings, and they had social structures similar to humans.
In those times, elves with magical abilities were treated as warriors, which meant that most were belligerent folks like Alicia.
But even in such circumstances, Master disliked conflicts and suffered a lot because of it.
He didn’t go into more detail, but just looking at Master’s face said it all.
I could see how much the world had crushed his self-esteem.
I hugged Master tightly and said.
“You are a great sage who has saved countless children. No matter what anyone says, I can firmly say: your path was not wrong.”
“…Thank you, Yuren.”
Did my words give him a little strength?
I could feel him gathering his strength.
“By the way, what will you do if you can’t return to the future?”
“Well, I haven’t thought about that yet.”
For now, I was solely focused on leading this war to victory as Karuga.
Thinking of a way to return to the future would come after that.
Then unexpectedly, Master said.
“What if… you cannot go back? How about coming with me to the Elf’s Forest?”
“Elf’s Forest?”
“Yes! There, you might find a way to return to the future!! And the Elf’s Forest is a truly wonderful place. Even as a human, if you’re a mage like Yuren, I’m sure the other elves will welcome you!!”
The Elf’s Forest, Master’s hometown.
I had only heard of it but never been there.
Surely, it seemed like a place where I could find some other way.
Seeing the sparkling look in Master’s eyes, I immediately responded.
“Yes! If I can’t go back, I will follow you, Master.”
“It’s a promise!!”
I clasped hands with a delighted Master, sealing our promise.
My Master was just as adorable 500 years ago.
I felt there would be no regrets even if I died.
*
“We’ve arrived! Now we’re in the Kingdom of Ra!!”
After a brief rest, Master and I burst through the temple and safely reached the Kingdom of Ra.
As soon as we felt the heat of the Kingdom of Ra, we took off our thick clothes and flew away with magic.
“Eh? Where are you taking us, Yuren? That direction isn’t towards the City of Ra Kingdom.”
“This way is correct!”
I headed straight toward the sea of the Kingdom of Ra.
Although Master was surprised by my sudden action, he trusted me and followed without further question.
After a few hours of flying at top speed, we arrived at the beach where we had played with everyone, becoming Dragon Hunters 500 years later.
Now, it seemed untouched by development, with nature remaining intact. I shouted at the sea.
“Ragnix Mentum!!!!!!!”
Ragnix Mentum – Ragnix Men – Ragnix –
The true name taught by Fire Dragon Ragnix resounded across the blue sea.
Moments later, with great flaps of his wings, the massive black dragon, the divine beast Ragnix, appeared.
Landing before me with a massive splash, Ragnix spoke with flames spewing from his nostrils, looking furious.
“Was it you who called me by my true name?”
“Yes, I summoned you, Lord Ragnix.”
Ragnix stared at me intently.
The gaze felt like he was observing my very soul, making me gulp and wait for his words.
“I don’t know who told you that name, but for not acknowledging the one who speaks it, you shall pay with your life.”
Ragnix looked as if he thought I had heard the true name from someone.
I hurried to interrupt him before he unleashed his dragon breath.
“I can’t provide details, but I can assure you of this: I certainly heard this true name from you!”
“What did you say?”
“I’ve heard that divine beasts can see the truth and falsehoods in a person’s soul. Take a look for yourself.”
Hearing my words, Ragnix stared at me with his dragon eyes.
After a long moment, he responded incredulously.
“That statement… is indeed true.”
Although he hadn’t disclosed his true name, it seemed Ragnix’s interest was piqued by my knowing it.
“Well then, let me hear your story. What do you wish from me, human of Jirens?”
“Please lend me your strength!”
“Strength?”
“Yes!… I want to protect my friends, whom I had joyful times with. But I lack the power to do so. Please lend me your strength!”
To borrow strength from a divine beast requires sincerity.
I fought with the intention of protecting the past, not just for the country like Karuga.
Upon hearing my words, Ragnix scoffed and replied.
“Why should I fight for your friends from Jirens?”
“My friends aren’t just from the Jirens Empire. The people of Ra Kingdom and Yura Republic are all my friends as well.”
“What did you say?”
When Ragnix heard that everyone from every nation was my friend, he was taken aback and stared at me fiercely again.
I considered all the countless people who enjoyed my game to be friends as well.
That feeling was genuine.
…Wasn’t it true!?
Fearing the potential for doubt, I reaffirmed repeatedly.
Everyone from every nation is my friend, everyone from every nation is my friend, everyone from every nation is my friend.
Looking at me, Ragnix said.
“Friends…”
Ragnix seemed lost in some old memories.
Now, I had done all I could do.
The rest was in Ragnix’s hands.
*
In the western plains not far from the Roots of the World Tree,
many lives were gathering in the once peaceful and tranquil fields.
On one side stood the Southern Army of the Zers Empire.
A thousand humans, elves, and dark elves were arranged in formations per Karuga’s orders, waiting for the battle.
And from beyond the horizon, the other side began to emerge.
“Cooowwwaaak!!!!”
“Humans!! I’ll kill you all!!! I’ll wipe out every last elf!!!!”
A horde of demon kin, consisting of monsters and demons, surged over the horizon.
The sight of the demonkind with their ominous purple skin and magical prowess, marching with monsters completely under their control, was enough to give anyone nightmares.
“If there were demons from hell, they’d look just like those guys.”
“Maybe the demons of hell were modeled after them? Gulp! Gulp!”
With a joke to lighten the mood, Sergeant Allen tried to boost morale while Alicia sipped from a bottle.
Currently, the Southern Army was taking a thoroughly defensive stance.
They ignored the offense entirely, and to the demonkind, this defensive formation looked like pitiful prey waiting for the kill.
With the signal to attack, the demon horde charged forward.
“Cooowwwaaak!!!!”
“Let’s go!!!! Tear those ground dwellers apart!!!!”
As the swarm of demonkind surged toward us alongside the monsters, everyone braced for death.
But while we accepted death, we hadn’t given up.
“Shield bearers!!!”
At Allen’s command, the front line packed with shield-wielding soldiers formed a solid shield wall.
“Wizard brigade!! Deploy ‘Shieldron’ (defensive magic)!!”
The wizards poured all their magical energy into the shielded soldiers, casting their defensive magic.
In an instant, a wall of steel was erected, but the demonkind didn’t find it daunting at all.
No matter how solid the wall, it would eventually break.
Especially a wall made of flimsy humans, which would crumble all the sooner.
Fueled by the thrill of hunting, the demonkind charged even faster, colliding with the shields.
Kwaaaang!!!!
“Cooowwwaaak!!!”
“Hold it!!! Hold it!!!!”
With our dense formation and the power of defensive magic, the Southern Army successfully blocked the first wave of the charge.
But that was all. The demons that couldn’t break through began to attack the shields and the soldiers behind them.
“Graaah!!”
“My arms!!! My arms!!!”
As the demonkind’s attacks began to break through the shieldings, soldiers started to get injured.
Human soldiers fought back as best they could, but they couldn’t hold out against a second or third charge.
Allen was growing anxious.
“Is it still far!? Where is Karuga!?”
Since the war began, Karuga had seemed almost like a god of war.
His unbelievable magical skills, strategic mind, and action assured Allen that he would surely do something in this battle.
Had he miscalculated?
As thoughts of regret began to surge, sounds of wings stirred from the sky.
Flap! Flap! Flap!
“Look over there!!!”
At that soldier’s shout, everyone gazed upward.
There were dozens of massive black dragons soaring through the air.
And behind the biggest dragon, there he was… riding with Karuga and Irene.
The moment of retaliation was about to begin.
