Hello everyone,
I want to sincerely apologize for the recent silence. To be honest, my studies have become quite demanding, and I initially thought I might have to stop. However, I realized that I simply cannot leave this story behind me.
Because of this, I've decided to return, but with a new schedule to balance school and writing: One day for publishing, and one day for rest/study.
This way, I can ensure that every chapter I release maintains the quality you deserve without falling behind in my education. Thank you for your incredible support andunderstanding.
The journey continues... now!"
Yuro slammed his fists together.
Raeno's words echoed in his mind.
"The energy flows through the body…"
He inhaled slowly.
Focused.
Something within him responded.
Faint—
But real.
A thin layer of energy formed around his hands.
Not strong.
Not complete.
But enough.
"…So this is it."
Across from him, the statue lifted its sword and shield.
Energy surged through its form.
Then—
It moved.
The clash began instantly.
Yuro stepped in, throwing a punch.
The statue's blade met him head-on.
Steel and force collided.
He didn't stop.
Another strike—
Then another—
Each one faster, sharper.
The statue countered with precision.
A sudden twist—
The blade spiraled.
Yuro's eyes widened—
Too late.
The attack tore into him, sending him sliding back.
Pain shot through his body.
"…Tch."
He steadied himself.
Watching.
Learning.
The movement—
That spin—
He saw it now.
The statue advanced again.
This time, energy gathered—not in its blade—
But its shield.
Yuro rushed in.
A punch—
Blocked.
Completely.
The impact rebounded into him—
And in that opening—
The blade struck.
It pierced his abdomen.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
His breath caught.
Blood dripped.
"…Khh—"
The statue pulled back.
Yuro staggered.
But didn't fall.
His hand moved.
Slowly—
He grabbed the blade still lodged in him.
And pulled it out.
A sharp breath escaped him.
Blood poured.
But his grip tightened.
Now—
The weapon was his.
Energy wrapped around the sword.
Unstable—
But present.
The statue moved in again.
Relentless.
A strike aimed to finish it.
Yuro stepped forward.
Not back.
He swung—
Awkward.
Imperfect.
But—
Close.
The motion wasn't clean.
But it carried something familiar.
A rough imitation.
The statue paused—just for a fraction.
Enough.
Yuro threw the sword.
It spun through the air—
And struck.
Direct.
The statue's head snapped back.
He didn't stop.
He rushed in.
Fists clenched.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the blood.
Each strike landed heavier than the last.
Cracks spread across the statue's body.
His arms trembled.
His vision blurred.
But he kept going.
"…Not enough…"
One more.
He gathered what little energy he had left.
All of it—
Into one final blow.
He stepped in—
And struck.
Impact.
A deep fracture spread—
Then—
The statue shattered.
Silence fell.
Yuro stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Blood dripping.
His legs shook—
Almost giving in.
But he didn't fall.
Not yet.
Light surrounded him.
The wounds—
Gone.
As if nothing had happened.
Shiron appeared.
A faint smile on his face.
"Well done."
Yuro's gaze hardened.
"You… didn't care if we died?"
A pause.
Shiron looked at him.
"…No."
Silence.
Yuro's eyes widened.
Anger rose—
But before he could speak—
Shiron continued.
"If your bodies had entered…"
He stepped closer.
"…you wouldn't be standing now."
Raeno frowned.
"Then what is this place…?"
Shiron's gaze shifted slightly.
For a moment—
Something deeper flickered behind his eyes.
"This hall…"
"…no one knows who built it."
"…nor how it truly works."Loren spoke calmly.
"There is a house prepared for you… over there."
She pointed toward a nearby area.
It wasn't far from Shiron's place.
The three of them headed there.
The walk was quiet.
Then—
Yuro spoke.
"I'm going back."
Raeno glanced at him.
"Back… where?"
"The hall."
A brief pause.
Yuro's gaze didn't change.
"I want to face the Scorpion Hawk."
Rin stopped walking.
"Have you lost your mind?"
His voice was sharp.
"Shiron defeated it in one strike… and you think we can fight it?"
Raeno, however, didn't react the same way.
He looked at Yuro for a moment.
Then—
"…Fine. I'll go with you."
Rin turned toward him.
"What?"
Raeno shrugged slightly.
"But why?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Why that thing?"
Yuro didn't answer immediately.
For a moment—
He seemed to be thinking.
"If what Shiron said is true…"
His voice was low.
"…then we can fight it as many times as we want."
Silence.
"It's not about winning."
He clenched his hand slightly.
"It's about understanding."
Rin frowned.
"That's still insane."
Yuro exhaled slowly.
"…Maybe."
A brief pause.
Then—
"…I don't know why."
His gaze lowered slightly.
"But… I don't feel like he's lying."
That made Rin hesitate.
Raeno didn't speak.
The air grew heavier.
Rin looked away for a moment.
Thinking.
Then—
"…Fine."
He let out a quiet breath.
"If you're going… I'm coming with you."
A short pause.
"I don't agree with this."
His eyes sharpened.
"But I'm not letting you go alone."The three of them stood before the hall once again.
For a brief moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
Yuro stepped forward and pushed the door open.
It creaked as it revealed the vast arena inside.
Dark.
Silent.
Waiting.
They walked in.
Slowly.
Cautiously.
Rin glanced around, his brows furrowed.
"…How are we even supposed to bring that thing out again?"
Raeno crossed his arms slightly, scanning the empty space.
"Yeah… it's not like it just shows up."
Yuro didn't respond immediately.
His gaze shifted… toward a corner of the hall.
"…I remember something."
Both of them looked at him.
"Loren…"
His voice was calm.
"…She stood over there."
He pointed toward the far edge of the arena.
"…and imagined the statues."
A brief pause.
"…and they appeared."
Silence fell.
Rin frowned slightly.
"…You're saying we just… imagine it?"
Yuro didn't answer.
He simply walked forward.
Then—
He stopped.
Closed his eyes.
The air grew still.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then—
Something shifted.
A faint distortion formed in the center of the arena.
The space itself… trembled.
Raeno's eyes narrowed.
"…It's working."
The distortion grew.
Twisting.
Condensing.
Then—
It appeared.
The Scorpion Hawk.
Standing in the middle of the arena.
Its wings slightly spread.
Its tail curved behind it—
Stinger gleaming faintly.
But it didn't move.
It stayed within the arena's bounds.
As if… it couldn't leave.
Yuro opened his eyes.
Locked onto it.
"…Are you ready?"A faint smirk formed on Raeno's face—despite the chill running down his spine.
"I'm ready."
Rin let out a breath, his eyes still fixed on the creature.
"…I'm not."
A brief pause.
Then—
"…But I'm not afraid. Let's go."
Yuro glanced at him.
His gaze sharp.
"…Not afraid?"
He took a step closer.
"Then why are you still here?"
A short silence.
"If you truly weren't afraid…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…you would've left already. Like you said you would."
Rin's expression tightened.
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
The air between them grew heavier.
Raeno exhaled quietly.
"…This isn't the time."
Yuro didn't look away.
Neither did Rin.
Then—
Rin clicked his tongue.
"…Shut up."
But he didn't move back.
Didn't leave.
His stance lowered slightly.
Ready.
Determined.
Yuro turned forward again.
"…Good."
His eyes locked onto the Scorpion Hawk.
"Then don't slow me down."Rin glanced at him, a slight smirk forming.
"…Because I didn't feel like crushing your ego, idiot."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Raeno let out a short laugh.
"…Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that."
Yuro rolled his eyes slightly.
"…Just focus."
Rin huffed quietly, but the smirk didn't leave his face.
"Same to you."They stepped into the arena—
—and the creature moved.
Its wings snapped outward.
In an instant, its feathers hardened—turning into sharp, metallic blades.
Then—
They launched.
A storm of feathers shot toward them.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Move!" Rin shouted.
They tried to dodge—
But it wasn't enough.
The feathers tore across their bodies, slicing through their skin.
Some pierced deeper—
Drawing blood.
"Tch—!"
Yuro's eyes sharpened.
"…No time to think."
He clenched his fists—
And dashed forward.
Straight toward the beast.
"I'll stop it—!"
The Scorpion Hawk reacted instantly.
Its wings folded inward—
Forming a solid barrier.
Yuro's strike slammed into it—
BOOM!
But it didn't break.
"…What—?!"
He pushed harder.
Again.
Again.
But the defense held.
Unshaken.
Then—
In a split second—
One wing pulled back.
Yuro's eyes widened.
"…!"
Too late.
The wing shot forward like a spear—
A killing blow.
But—
CLANG!
A blade intercepted it.
Raeno.
He stepped in, sword drawn, striking the wing head-on.
Sparks burst on impact.
The force pushed him back slightly—
But he held his ground.
"…Got you."
The blade scraped across the wing—
Leaving behind a shallow cut.
But—
It didn't break.
Not even close.Yuro glanced at Raeno.
Just one look.
Nothing more.
But it was enough.
Raeno understood.
---
Yuro stepped in—
Closing the distance instantly.
His fist drove forward—
Aimed straight at the creature's head.
But his eyes…
Were on Raeno.
---
The Scorpion Hawk reacted—
Its focus locked onto Yuro.
---
That was the opening.
---
Raeno moved.
His right hand ignited—
Forming a blade of energy.
At the same time, lightning gathered in his left—
Condensing into a sharp, glowing arrow.
---
He dashed in—
Fast.
Precise.
---
The blade thrust forward—
Aimed at the creature's neck.
But—
The Scorpion Hawk pulled back just in time.
The strike missed.
---
Raeno's eyes narrowed.
"…Tch."
No hesitation.
He released the arrow.
---
It shot forward—
Too sudden.
Too fast.
---
The creature couldn't react in time.
Its wings didn't rise.
No defense.
---
Impact.
The lightning arrow struck its chest—
Piercing through part of it.
A burst of energy exploded outward.
---
The creature let out a distorted screech.
---
Rin didn't move.
Not yet.
His eyes followed everything.
Every motion.
Every reaction.
Analyzing.
---
"…I see it."
---
He raised his right hand.
Energy gathered—
Expanding.
Shaping.
---
A large construct formed above him.
A massive sphere—
Condensed energy, vibrating with power.
---
His gaze locked onto the creature—
Still occupied with Yuro and Raeno.
---
"…Now."While the creature was engaged with Yuro and Raeno—
Rin moved.
He raised his left hand slowly.
Calm.
Precise.
---
For a brief moment—
Everything felt still.
---
Then—
He fired.
A beam of freezing energy shot forward—
Striking the creature's legs—
And the ground beneath it.
Ice spread instantly—
Locking its footing in place.
---
"…Got you."
---
But—
The Scorpion Hawk reacted.
Its wings burst open—
Shattering the ice—
And lifting its body into the air.
---
Now—
It hovered above them.
---
Its wings locked in place—
Then—
They fired again.
---
A second storm of feathers rained down.
Sharper.
Faster.
Deadlier.
---
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"…Behind you."
---
At that exact moment—
He moved.
---
The energy sphere above him launched—
Shooting toward the creature from behind.
---
At the same time—
Rin dashed forward.
Straight toward Yuro and Raeno.
---
He slammed his hand forward—
A barrier of energy expanded instantly—
Forming a shield in front of them.
---
The feathers struck.
Over and over.
Crashing against the barrier.
---
CRACK.
---
The shield trembled violently.
Energy splintering across its surface.
---
Rin gritted his teeth.
"…This won't hold for long."
---
Another impact—
Stronger.
Closer to breaking.
---
His voice sharpened.
"…Get ready."
---
His eyes locked forward.
---
"…The moment it breaks."CRACK—
The barrier shattered.
Feathers tore through the air—
But before they could hit—
Yuro moved.
He grabbed Rin—
And pulled him back just in time.
The remaining feathers shot past them—
Missing by inches.
---
Yuro's eyes sharpened.
Thinking.
Fast.
---
"…Raeno."
Raeno turned slightly.
---
"Make a sword."
A brief pause.
"Hold it."
---
Yuro stepped forward.
Energy flickering around his fists.
---
"I'll keep it busy."
---
Rin steadied himself beside them.
Still catching his breath.
---
Yuro continued—
His voice low.
Precise.
"At the right moment…"
His gaze shifted slightly.
"…Rin will stop it."
---
Raeno's grip tightened.
Understanding.
---
"And you—"
Yuro glanced at him.
"…throw me the sword."
---
Silence.
Just for a second.
---
"…We end it in one move."Yuro dashed forward.
His fist drove straight toward the creature—
But—
CLANG!
The Scorpion Hawk blocked it with its wings.
---
Yuro didn't stop.
He dropped low—
Falling to one knee—
Then surged forward—
Striking from beneath its wings.
---
"Now!" Rin shouted.
---
A beam of flames burst forward—
Crashing into the creature's wing.
---
It burned.
Half of its feathers ignited—
Turning to ash.
---
At that exact moment—
Raeno moved.
He hurled a lightning arrow straight at its back.
---
Impact.
The creature staggered.
For the first time—
Its balance broke.
---
"…This is it!"
---
Raeno formed a blade instantly—
And threw it forward.
---
The sword spun through the air—
Straight toward Yuro.
---
He caught it.
Without hesitation.
---
And thrust.
---
The blade pierced through the creature's chest—
This time—
It went through.
---
Yuro's eyes sharpened.
He pushed deeper—
Then—
SLASH!
---
He tore through it.
---
For a moment—
Silence.
---
Then—
The creature roared.
A furious, distorted scream.
---
Its body surged with energy.
Violent.
Unstable.
---
Before Yuro could react—
It struck.
---
A brutal hit—
Sending him flying backward.
---
He crashed into the ground—
Sliding across the arena.
---
The creature stood still.
Its form… changing.
---
Its wings regenerated—
Feathers reforming instantly.
---
Then—
From its back—
A long, deadly tail emerged.
A scorpion's stinger—
Crackling with energy.
---
Its muscles expanded—
Its presence… heavier.
Darker.
More dangerous.
---
Raeno's expression hardened.
"…It's getting stronger."
---
Rin's eyes narrowed.
"…No."
A brief pause.
"…It evolved."