After barely making it back home with his body on the verge of collapse, Kael managed to knock weakly on the door before his strength gave out. When his parents opened it, their expressions froze in horror at the sight before them. Their son—covered in blood, barely breathing, his body trembling as if it would fall apart at any moment. Without hesitation, they rushed him inside. His mother broke down instantly, her tears falling uncontrollably as she held him, while his father ran out to call for help, summoning their relative—the Immortal who had once brought Kael into this path. He arrived quickly and immediately attempted to treat Kael, but the injuries were far beyond anything physical. His body was torn, his energy unstable, and worst of all—his soul itself was in agony. The atmosphere grew heavier as even he began to hesitate.
Kael's mother collapsed to her knees, crying out desperately, her voice shaking with despair. "I'll give anything… even my life… just save my son… please…" The Immortal clenched his fists, unable to bear the sight, his mind racing for a solution. Then, suddenly, he remembered a ritual—one that required a sacred spiritual artifact, an ancient holy blade capable of stabilizing a damaged soul. But that blade… was not something he could obtain. It belonged only to the Heir of Velmora. Desperation overtook them as Kael's parents begged him to seek the Heir's help.
Before anything could be done, the sky changed.
Dark clouds gathered violently, thunder roaring as lightning split the heavens, and heavy rain poured down as if the world itself had begun to mourn. Then—footsteps echoed from afar. Each step carried a pressure so immense that the falling rain… stopped mid-air.
The Immortal stepped outside, his eyes widening in shock. "…Is that…?" His voice trembled. "The Heir of Velmora… Eryndor Valen…"
He immediately approached, forcing himself to remain calm as he greeted the figure. Behind him, Kael's parents cried out, begging for help, their voices filled with desperation. Unbeknownst to them… the one they were pleading to… was the very cause of their son's suffering.
Eryndor spoke calmly, his tone almost gentle. "I came… to save my trainee." His gaze shifted toward Kael. "Do not worry. Your son can be saved… if his soul is given to me."
Silence fell.
Shock spread across their faces.
The Immortal understood immediately—removing the soul meant death. But Eryndor continued, assuring them that his method was the only way. Before anyone could object, before any consent could be given, Eryndor raised his hand.
The force descended instantly.
Kael's body lifted slightly, his soul beginning to be pulled out.
Pain.
Unbearable pain.
And in that moment—
Kael's eyes snapped open.
"…Run…" he forced out weakly. "Run… now…"
His parents froze, but the Immortal understood. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, unleashing his power in an attempt to stop the soul extraction, while Kael's parents struggled to carry him away. The Immortal fought with everything he had, pouring all his strength into holding Eryndor back. But the difference in power… was absolute.
In a single instant—
He died.
No struggle. No chance.
Just silence.
Kael's parents screamed, their voices breaking as they forced themselves to move, dragging Kael with them despite their injuries. But before they could escape—
Eryndor appeared in front of them.
Smiling.
With a casual motion, he sent them flying, their bodies crashing violently into the ground. Kael, half-conscious, could only watch, his vision shaking as he screamed for them to run. Yet even then, they stood back up—covered in blood, trembling, but still moving toward him.
His father charged forward, throwing a desperate punch.
Eryndor's expression darkened.
With a flick of his hand, Kael's father was lifted into the air… and slammed into the ground with overwhelming force.
His body went still.
Forever.
Tears streamed down Kael's face.
His mother let out a scream that echoed through the storm, her voice breaking under the weight of loss.
Lightning struck.
Thunder roared.
And deep within Kael's soul…
laughter echoed.
"HAHAHAHA… Are you ready now?" Noctyra's voice resounded. "Accept my power… and I will help you kill this fool."
Kael's voice trembled.
"…I accept."
In that instant—
Lightning struck between them.
Golden mana erupted violently from Kael's body, exploding outward like a storm. His body lifted into the air, his eyes turning red as his entire being was flooded with overwhelming power. The Aurion Mana surged uncontrollably, forcing his level to rise beyond its limits—breaking through into the Law Seeker realm in a single moment. The energy overflowed, burning the surrounding area, flames spreading across the land as the pressure crushed everything nearby. His mother, unable to escape, was consumed by the destruction.
Eryndor raised his defenses, struggling against the overwhelming golden force.
Then—
Kael awakened.
Fully.
Without hesitation, he attacked.
Their battle tore through the sky, shockwaves splitting the heavens and shattering the land beneath them. Eryndor unleashed every sacred artifact he possessed, including the Sacred Reflection Mirror—a divine tool capable of reflecting an opponent's power. Yet the moment it faced Kael's golden mana… it shattered instantly.
Realizing defeat was near, Eryndor revealed his final artifact—the Velmora Effigy, an ancient relic passed down through generations of rulers. Its power was absolute. Once activated, it could seal its target within it… forever.
Without hesitation—
He used it.
Kael was trapped.
Sealed within the effigy.
Eryndor fled immediately, sealing the artifact deep within a hidden cave, binding it with countless layers of spells to ensure Kael would never escape. Only then did he allow himself to breathe.
Two hundred years passed.
During that time, Eryndor altered the laws of Velmora. Once every week, all trainees and Immortals were required to release their power, strengthening the barrier around the cave. He spread a lie—that within the cave was a dangerous, sacred entity capable of destroying the kingdom.
Meanwhile…
Kael endured.
For two hundred years, he did not give up.
He cultivated endlessly within the effigy, refining his power, stabilizing his existence. When his strength finally reached a stable point—Law Seeker Mid—he awakened once more.
And with that awakening—
came memory.
Pain.
Loss.
Rage.
The golden mana erupted again, shaking the cave violently. With a slight push from Noctyra, Kael shattered the seal and broke free.
Far away, Eryndor's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible… That artifact could imprison a Law Seeker for millions of years… how could he escape in just two hundred?"
He immediately activated the kingdom's defenses.
All Immortals gathered.
All power unleashed.
Strengthening the barrier.
But then—
a single word echoed.
"Break."
And everything… collapsed.
Kael rose into the sky above Velmora.
Free.
At last.
Yet the kingdom remained protected by an ancient barrier, one created by the founders themselves—unbreakable, absolute.
Kael's voice roared across the heavens.
"WHY ME?!"
"Why… did you kill my family?!"
Two familiar figures stared in shock.
Darian Sol.
Mirel Thorne.
"…Kael?"
And before them—
Eryndor Valen…
and Grand Captain Aldric Veyron—
stood in his path.