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The wind brushed against my face as I walked through the dense trees of Matines Forest, the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves filling my lungs. The rhythmic crunch of my boots against the ground was the only sound accompanying me. For the first time in my life, I was truly alone—no Master Sin Ju watching over me, no sparring matches in the morning, no quiet evenings by the fire.
I exhaled.
"Man... this is my first time adventuring alone, without Master Sin Ju."
It felt strange. The weight of my sword on my back was familiar, yet somehow heavier than before. Maybe it was the responsibility. Maybe it was the unknown ahead. But I had no time for hesitation. I decided I would only stop when night fell. The faster I reached the Adventurer's Guild, the better.
As I walked, my thoughts drifted back to one of the most important lessons Master Sin Ju had ever taught me—the story of Asgiar.
Asgiar, the Demon Lord.
A name that carried fear and destruction.
I remembered how Master Sin Ju sat by the fire one evening, his expression grim as he spoke.
"One day, Zerro, you'll hear whispers about him. About his return. People will fear him, but most won't understand the truth. Asgiar wasn't just some monster. He was a demihuman, powerful beyond belief, and he had only one goal—to eradicate humanity."
Asgiar had once cursed the Four Legendary Dragons—the Earth Dragon, the Aqua Dragon, the Flame Dragon, and the Light Dragon. Under his control, they wreaked havoc, tearing apart the Four Great Kingdoms of our continent, Thesan.
"The four kingdoms still bear the scars of his war,"
Master Sin Ju had told me.
The continent of Thesan was vast and diverse, each of its regions shaped by history, war, and the lingering fear of Asgiar's return.
At the southernmost point lay Matines City, the place I called home. It was a haven for all people, regardless of race or origin. Among the four major territories, Matines was the smallest, yet it was the most technologically advanced. The city's structures were built with intricate stonework, its streets lined with lanterns powered by mana-infused crystals. Towering walls encircled the city, offering protection against external threats. It was a place where merchants, scholars, and warriors coexisted, their goals intertwining in an ever-expanding pursuit of progress. The Matines Forest— where I now traveled—stretched across the outskirts, filled with ancient trees, hidden paths, and creatures that lurked in the shadows.
To the west stood the Kingdom of Terrains, the largest of the four. Unlike Matines, which welcomed all, Terrains was a kingdom ruled by strength and tradition. Its people, renowned for their combat prowess, believed in the purity of human strength, looking down upon demihumans. The kingdom's landscape was dominated by vast mountain ranges, their peaks covered in snow even in the summer. Strongholds were carved into the rock, castles standing as monuments to Terrains' long and bloody history. It was said that warriors from Terrains were unmatched in battle, their skills honed through generations of war and conquest.
Far to the northeast lay the Dungeon Region, a land of mystery and peril. Unlike the other territories, this place was not ruled by a king but by the chaos of nature itself. Dungeons of varying sizes scattered the landscape, each filled with creatures of unimaginable strength. Some believed these dungeons were remnants of the war against Asgiar, ancient battlegrounds where powerful monsters had been sealed away. Despite the danger, many demihumans called this place home. They had adapted to the harsh conditions, forming tribes that thrived within the depths of the dungeons. The Dungeon Region was a place for the strong, where only the most capable survived.
South of the Dungeon Region lay the Deadlands, a barren wasteland almost as large as Matines City. Unlike the other regions, which flourished with life, the Deadlands were devoid of vegetation. The ground was composed of hardened stone, making agriculture impossible. No monsters roamed its desolate plains, no rivers flowed through its cracks. The Deadlands were shrouded in mystery, a place few dared to venture into. Stories spoke of ruins buried beneath the stone, remnants of a lost civilization erased from history. Some believed it had been a prosperous kingdom before Asgiar's reign, destroyed by his wrath and left to wither.
Beyond the northern border of Thesan was Thesan's Departure, a harbor where ships set sail toward the unknown. The continent of Thesan was surrounded by the Demon Sea, a treacherous ocean inhabited by sea monsters and demons. The waters were dark and unforgiving, the depths hiding creatures that had never been seen on land. Many had attempted to cross the ocean, hoping to discover new lands beyond the horizon, but none had ever returned. Whether they perished in the depths or found something they could never escape, no one knew.
Master Sin Ju had said that Asgiar had been sealed away.
"No one knows how,"
he admitted, his eyes reflecting the flickering firelight.
"Or who did it. But legend speaks of a dungeon unlike any other—a massive, eerily quiet place, illuminated by light crystals. That's where he's trapped."
I frowned at the memory.
That didn't sit right with me.
His knowledge of history, battle, and magic was vast. And yet, he expected me to believe he had no idea who sealed Asgiar away? That seemed… unlikely.
No. He knew.
He was hiding something. But why? If Asgiar was truly as dangerous as he claimed, wouldn't it be important for me to know the full story? What was the point of keeping it a secret?
"Why would he even lie to me?"
I said as I clenched my fists. The thought gnawed at me, but I had no way to confirm it.
Not yet.
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
I stopped walking.
The forest had gone silent. Too silent.
Then—
I felt it.
A pulse of mana.
My breath caught in my throat as every muscle in my body tensed. Someone—or something—was nearby and it was powerful.
I slowly reached for my sword, scanning the shadows between the trees. The weight of my master's teachings pressed against my mind.
This was it.
My first real test.
And I was alone.
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