Three hundred years ago—
The clash of blades echoed through the stone-walled dungeon, blood and fire staining the air with the scent of death. Crimson moved like a phantom, his smile unwavering, eyes glinting with the thrill of battle. Monsters fell one after another under his blade, their cries silenced before they could echo.
Behind him, his team stood in stunned silence, watching the man who stood at the apex of humanity. One of the hunters, a tall man clad in silver armor, whispered with awe, "This is the Celestis-Rank Hunter… our Kingdom's strongest."
No one could believe it—Crimson was defeating an entire SSS-Rank dungeon alone. Monsters that would have required an army to suppress crumbled under his blades as if they were made of glass.
After the bloodshed settled, Crimson turned toward the grand obsidian door—the boss room.
"I'll go alone," he said without turning back, voice calm but laced with excitement. "I want to test something."
His comrades looked at each other, chuckled nervously, and nodded. "Good luck, Commander," one of them joked half-heartedly.
Crimson stepped through the gate.
Inside the vast chamber, an enormous orc sat atop a jagged throne, its skin blood-red, a crown of bones resting on its head. Around it, lesser orcs stood in silent formation. The moment they noticed Crimson, weapons were raised.
But Crimson only smiled, his steps slow and deliberate.
"This'll be fun," he whispered, his tone low and dark.
The orc lord stood up. "Human…"
Crimson's eyes narrowed. "You can talk?"
The orc grinned, its voice a deep growl. "Yes. I can speak your pathetic language."
Crimson chuckled coldly, raising his dagger.
"Pathetic, huh? Let me show you what true power looks like."
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
The orc lord's eyes widened in disbelief. "How… how can a human move this fast?!"
Before he could react, Crimson reappeared—already behind him. A clean slice.
The orc lord's head dropped to the floor with a dull thud.
The remaining orcs panicked, screaming and scattering in all directions.
"Run. Yes, yes, run!" Crimson laughed, voice twisted with exhilaration. "I love it when they run."
In a flash, the entire chamber turned red.
Pieces of orcs rained down like confetti.
Crimson exited the boss room, his cloak soaked in blood. His team stood frozen.
"H-he cleared it… alone?" one of them whispered.
Crimson didn't answer. He simply walked past them and muttered, "Go collect whatever trophies you want. I'm leaving."
"Wait, sir!" another called out. "Where are you going?"
Crimson paused, turned, and grinned.
"My wife's having a baby!" he shouted with joy, laughter breaking through the eerie silence. "I'm going to be a father!"
Cheers and congratulations echoed behind him, but Crimson had already taken off—running with a speed that blurred the world around him.
Emberfall City — Later That Day
Crimson's heart pounded not from battle, but anticipation. He bolted through Emberfall's cobblestone streets, his destination a modest building tucked between towers of stone. Second floor. Room 12.
He burst in.
"Alena?" he called, breathless, eyes scanning.
He froze.
His wife was sitting near the bed, sobbing quietly. The smile on his face vanished.
"Alena…" he whispered and rushed to her side. "Hey, what's wrong? What happened? Is our child…?"
She nodded through tears. "Yes… our baby is alive."
Relief flooded Crimson's face. "Then why… why are you crying?"
With trembling hands, she pointed to the cradle.
Crimson stood up, confused, and slowly walked to it.
Inside lay a creature—a baby, yes, but not fully human. Its skin pale and strange, eyes glinting with inhuman sharpness. Small black horns curved from its head.
Crimson staggered back. His mind blanked.
He turned to Alena, who began sobbing harder.
"H-He's a… monster," she choked. "Our baby… Crimson… what have we done wrong?"
Crimson rushed back to her and held her close. "Hey, listen to me. Even if he is… different, I don't care. It's not your fault. If we can't raise him… then we don't need to keep him, okay?"
"No!" she screamed suddenly, before collapsing in his arms.
"Alena! Healer! I need a healer, now!" Crimson bellowed, and within moments, mages and priests were rushing into the room.
Crimson stepped outside, standing in the cold rain. The droplets ran down his face, but he didn't flinch.
"Is this… your answer, God?" he muttered to the sky.
Two Days Later
Alena stirred awake. The soft light of dusk filtered into the room. She noticed Crimson asleep on the couch, his cloak tossed aside.
"I shouldn't wake him…" she whispered.
But before she could move, Crimson's voice rose without opening his eyes.
"I knew you'd try not to."
She blinked in surprise. A smile crept onto her face.
He stood up slowly and walked to her side. "Before you say anything… I want to ask something."
He knelt.
"Please… let's raise him. I know he's different. I know he might suffer. But we've waited years, Alena. We prayed, begged… And now, finally…"
His voice cracked, just for a moment. He turned his face away, hiding the tears.
"For once… just once, believe in me."
Alena stared at him. Her heart ached. Her body trembled.
"…But Crimson," she whispered, "he'll suffer. They'll hurt him. They'll never accept him."
"I know," he said, eyes fierce. "That's why I'll make him strong. Stronger than anyone. Stronger than me."
Tears slipped from Alena's eyes.
"…Okay," she whispered, nodding.
Crimson smiled—an expression of both sorrow and hope.
Their hands met above the cradle.
(Chapter 41 Fin)