The warm breeze stirred leaves across the edge of the forest, but a heavy tension hummed through the air—too subtle for the untrained, yet undeniable for the keen.
At the foot of the hills near the massive cave, Captain stood tall. His long black hair was tied loosely behind his back, a scar running from brow to cheek, and iron armor that clung to him like second skin. His crimson cape fluttered slightly in the wind, but his brows furrowed, eyes narrowing.
"What is this... magic presence?" he thought. "It's masked... but powerful. Very powerful."
Footsteps thudded behind him.
"Yo, Captain," came a low, gruff voice.
A burly adventurer approached—massive shoulders, bare arms thick as tree trunks, and a heavy axe strapped to his back. Muscles rippled beneath his leather armor as he scanned the area, a toothpick in his mouth.
"You feel that?" the man asked. "Something's... off."
Captain nodded once, not taking his eyes off the trees. "Spread the word. Tell everyone to be alert."
But before the adventurer could move—
A voice echoed through the clearing.
"Well, well… not bad. At least some of you can sense me."
Both men froze.
The voice was calm. Confident. And far too close.
They turned sharply, mana surging in instinct. Captain raised a hand and channeled his magic into a wide slash, casting it behind him with a sharp flick.
BOOM!
The explosion rippled through the ground behind them. Dust and leaves exploded into the air. The noise summoned nearby knights and adventurers, who gathered with swords and staffs drawn.
Captain's eyes sharpened.
"All units," he barked, "fall back. Form a perimeter. Anyone below A-rank—stay back. You'll only find death here."
The muscular adventurer, now serious, stepped beside him. "Guess we've got a real one this time, huh?"
A grin tugged at Captain's lips. "Finally. Some excitement."
The smoke began to clear.
And there—sitting casually on a cracked boulder, legs crossed and eyes glowing faintly—was a silver-haired youth.
Leo Vallis.
He offered a relaxed smile. "I came to talk, but I guess you prefer the dramatic route. That's fine. Let's try again."
Captain narrowed his eyes. "Name. Now."
Leo leaned back lazily. "Leo Vallis."
"What do you want, Leo Vallis? Do you not know who we are?"
"Oh, I know exactly who you are," Leo replied, smiling wider. "Knights of the Holy Empire of Luminael. Adventurers on someone else's land. The thing is, I'm not sure what your true intentions are."
His tone cooled, deadly serious.
"And since this land is near my village, I have every right to be cautious. So, tell me—what are you doing here?"
Captain tilted his head slightly, then chuckled darkly.
"You're a threat. All that talk is just noise to us."
Leo's smile dropped.
"I see."
"Then let me ask," he said softly. "Do you wish to die?"
Before Captain could reply, the muscle-bound adventurer roared and leapt into the air with a wild grin.
"Goodbye, Leo Vallis!"
He crashed down toward Leo like a falling meteor.
But Leo simply exhaled—and vanished.
He appeared in midair, hovering above.
The blow missed, and the adventurer's punch slammed into the rock, shattering it like glass.
Leo raised his palm. "Gravity magic: Crush Field."
The air shimmered. A wave of invisible force dropped on the adventurer like a hundred mountains. The earth cracked beneath his boots, smaller rocks crumbling under the pressure.
Still… he stood.
Teeth gritted. Arms trembling.
Before Leo could apply more force—
Wham!
A boot swung toward his head.
Captain had launched himself into the sky, aiming a powerful kick. But Leo ducked mid-air, and everything slowed.
"Fast," Leo thought. "But not enough."
In a single blink, he touched Captain's shoulder.
CRACK!
Captain was hurled downward like a missile. He crashed into the ground with such force that the earth groaned. His armor shattered at the chest, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
Gasps erupted from the adventurers.
Even Heas, hidden at the edge, froze in fear.
"No way… that old man from earlier…?"
The burly adventurer roared again and broke free from the gravity field with sheer force, charging Leo once more. Fists flew—dozens of them—each blow faster than the last.
But Leo dodged every one.
Effortlessly.
Then—BAM!—a kick to the chest.
The adventurer was sent tumbling back, breath knocked clean from his lungs.
Yet both men rose again.
Barely.
"Name?" Leo asked, voice calm.
The knight coughed blood. "Ezo."
The adventurer wiped his mouth. "Wex."
"You two should leave. You can't win," Leo said plainly.
But then—his eyes widened.
Wex and Ezo were healing.
Dozens of adventurers behind them had begun chanting, healers pouring magic into their leaders. Others drew weapons, elementalists gathered flame and lightning in their palms, swordsmen stepped forward to flank.
Leo tensed.
"Damn it. Too many. I don't want to kill them… but they won't survive if I fight seriously. I have to find another way…"
His eyes flicked toward Heas, who still hadn't moved.
Then toward the cave.
"Whatever they're after… it's in there. And I have to stop them before it's too late."
Leo hovered in the air above the clearing, his silver hair rippling with wind that didn't exist. His eyes narrowed as he watched the dozens of knights and adventurers regroup. The healers continued to pour energy into Ezo and Wex. More soldiers arrived, A-rank and above, forming lines.
Too many, Leo thought grimly. If this turns into a full battle, too many will die...
A new plan began to form in his mind—one that required a risk he didn't want to take.
Forgive me... Heas.
He lowered himself to the ground.
The moment his boots touched the earth, Leo released his aura.
A crushing wave of mana surged outward.
Rocks cracked underfoot. Trees bent from the invisible weight. Knights stumbled back, and many adventurers dropped their weapons, eyes wide with terror. The pressure in the air was suffocating, thick like oil in the lungs.
Wex and Ezo, still recovering, froze in place. Their bodies refused to move. Their instincts screamed danger.
Yet—through the haze—a single figure stepped forward.
Heas.
His arms trembled. His sword was gripped tightly in shaky hands. His knees nearly buckled beneath him, but still—he stepped forward.
"I—I know... you're trying to protect someone," Heas stammered, eyes locked onto Leo's. "Those people... your people... you love them."
He swallowed hard. His voice cracked.
"But we're not trying to hurt anyone. It's just... a mission. A possibility—not certainty. And... even if someone did try to harm them… I'd stop them. Even if they were stronger than me... I'd fight them!"
He took another weak step forward, lips bleeding from the pressure, his sword trembling.
"But what you're doing now... hurting people based on a possibility... That's wrong, isn't it?"
A few A-rank adventurers stepped forward to back Heas.
Leo stared at him.
His heart twisted.
You're brave, Heas. Maybe too brave for your own good.
But even as he looked at the boy, a wave of fatigue hit him like a crashing tide.
His vision pulsed.
His brain throbbed.
Damn it... I haven't slept in days...
He gritted his teeth.
"I'm sorry."
In the blink of an eye, Leo appeared in front of Heas.
With a flash of silver and a burst of wind—he struck.
His fist slammed into Heas's chest.
A shockwave rippled outward.
The young knight's eyes widened, and tears streamed uncontrollably from them—not from pain, but heartbreak. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his body flew like a meteor toward the distant mountain.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash split the air as Heas slammed into stone, a cloud of dust rising with the impact. Several people screamed. Weapons clattered.
Leo lowered his hand.
His eyes were cold.
But inside, a silent voice whispered.
I'm sorry. You gave me no choice. I had to show them what I could do... so no one else would try.
Suddenly, Wex and Ezo—fueled by rage—charged at him from behind.
Leo didn't turn.
He simply clenched his fist—and punched behind him without looking.
CRACK!
Both men were launched like broken dolls, smashing into the side of the cave.
A hush fell over the clearing.
Everyone—knights, adventurers, even mages—froze.
Their strongest fighters had been thrown aside like nothing.
Leo turned around slowly.
"I didn't come to kill anyone," he said, his voice calm—but the mana swirling around him made the ground tremble. "But I won't let you bring chaos to my home."
He pointed to the unconscious Wex and Ezo. "Take your captains. Gather your comrades. Leave this land."
He paused, scanning their fearful faces.
"Many of you call yourselves A-rank... but you lack experience. You fight with numbers, not skill. If you stay... you'll only die."
No one moved.
Then, slowly, one of the healers stepped forward.
Then two more.
Within moments, several knights broke formation and rushed to Heas, carefully pulling him from the rubble.
Others lifted Wex and Ezo.
Dozens of adventurers began picking up their gear, some with trembling hands, others with hollow stares. One muttered under his breath, "Monster..."
Leo didn't react.
He stood tall and watched as they vanished into the trees one group at a time.
Silence settled.
He closed his eyes.
I'm sorry, Heas. But this was the only way.
Then his legs wobbled slightly. His vision blurred.
He staggered and sat down against a tree, hiding his exhaustion.
Damn... my brain... it hurts so much... I haven't slept in nights... but I had to do it.
The clearing was empty now.
But in the silence, his breathing grew heavier.
His eyes remained on the horizon, though his body screamed for rest.