"...Why..."
The faint voice was barely audible, as if swallowed by the cold wind that swept through the crevices of the mountains. Ren's eyes widened, staring at the horizon with an expression that was hard to articulate. It was not ordinary fear—but a mixture of shock, disbelief, and... a fear so deep it was difficult to acknowledge immediately.
He saw it.
Something... that should not exist in this place.
Something he hoped never to see in reality, even in his worst nightmares.
"Hey, Ren!!! Don't just stand there!!!"
A loud voice shattered the silence. The red-haired man—Kiel—was shouting at him from behind, his voice filled with panic yet trying to remain calm. It was enough to pull Ren back to reality, even though his body still felt stiff.
At the top of the towering cliff before them—where it should be impossible for any living creature to tread—stood the figure.
A dragon.
Not an ordinary dragon. Its scales were pitch black, shimmering as if absorbing sunlight. Its eyes glowed red, like embers burning in the darkness of night. Its breath echoed, like the roar of thunder that pressed against the chest of anyone who heard it.
Ren gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. But that hand was trembling.
'Why is a creature like that here...? This... is not its place...'
As if hearing the whisper of his heart, the dragon moved its massive head, and for a moment—just a moment—their eyes met.
Ren felt his heart stop beating.
"Leader, give us directions!" The Mage named Lina shouted to Ren, who was still weighing their current situation.
"Damn..." Ren muttered as he assessed their condition.
It should be noted that the surroundings of this snow-capped mountain are already surrounded by monsters, which may have been triggered by the presence of the black dragon.
"Arto!! Can you still pull the aggro!?" Ren shouted to the large man who was the tank in their party.
Arto nodded towards Ren and slammed his large shield onto the ground.
"AAARGGGHHH!! COME AT ME, ALL OF YOU!!" Arto shouted while luring all the monsters towards himself.
"Lina!! Use your magic to clear a path for us!! Kiel!! Protect Lina!!"
"Allright!!"
The loud voice came from Lina—our young Mage, yet her gaze showed strong determination. She stood tall amidst the swirling snow, her cloak billowing in the freezing mountain wind. Although her body trembled, it was not from the cold, but from the invisible pressure of the giant black creature still perched on the summit—she continued to stare at Ren without hesitation.
Ren clenched his jaw, his eyes sharpening as he weighed the rapidly deteriorating and dire situation.
"Damn it..." he murmured softly. Even with all the fighting experience he had, he had never imagined a scenario like this.
They have been trapped. Without warning, a horde of monsters emerged from behind the rocks and slopes hidden by thick fog and snow. As if the presence of the black dragon was a signal for all the wild creatures in the area to hunt. And their prey—was them.
"Kiel!! Protect Lina!! Don't let any of them get close!!"
"Okay, leave it to me!!" Kiel jumped to Lina's side, drawing his two daggers and standing ready in a relaxed fighting stance—though his eyes glinted sharply with vigilance.
Ren took a deep breath. The cold, tension, and smell of blood began to fill the air. But... this is not the end.
"Alicia!! Come on, it's time to move!!"
Ren's shout thundered through the sounds of roars and clashing weapons. From the right side of their formation, a girl with silver hair immediately responded. Her long hair danced in the air, reflecting the cold light from the gray sky above. Her eyes were sharp, full of concentration, and her body was clad in light armor—designed not to withstand attacks, but for speed and agility.
Her weapon was not a large sword like Ren's. But a thin sword—a rapier—that gleamed with deadly elegance. As she stepped forward, not a sound was heard from her footsteps on the snow. As if the earth itself knew that this girl was a death dancer who only needed one movement to take a life.
She nodded. Not a word was spoken. But that nod... was enough. She knew what to do. They had practiced this dozens of times.
Without any further ado, Ren and Alicia surged forward together, like shadows moving through the mist. Ren's great sword swung in a wide arc, cleaving through two monsters in a single strike, while Alicia darted from the other side—piercing the weak points with precision, each movement as quick as a flash of lightning.
They opened a path.
The monsters roared, some trying to chase them, but were held back by Arto, who continued to provoke with his shield, and Kiel, who swung his dagger fiercely, protecting Lina as she continued to chant her spells.
And from a distance... atop the highest rock peak, the figure of the black dragon still watched. Its eyes—a pair of glowing red embers—followed their every movement. Silent. Waiting. Assessing.
As if deciding... whether to let them escape or to end everything right now.
"Yosh... It seems we can do this."
Kiel murmured softly, but his tone sounded relieved, even a bit optimistic. He stood panting, monster blood still dripping from his dagger blade. His back leaned against a large rock, protecting Lina as she completed the final spell to open the escape route.
The snow fog slowly cleared. The path to the eastern side of the mountain—which had previously been blocked—now appeared open. Not entirely safe, but enough to escape.
However, Ren did not respond.
He stood tall in front of them, with the sword still dripping blood in his grip. His eyes gazed far up... towards the high rock peak.
There, the large silhouette of the black dragon was still clearly visible.
Silent. Motionless.
But that did not mean it was unaware. It did not mean it was ignoring them.
'No... this is not neglect...' Ren thought, a cold feeling creeping down his spine. 'This... is observation.'
The dragon's eyes—red, deep, and unblinking—gazed down as if enjoying the spectacle.
Yes. A spectacle.
As if they were merely a herd of livestock pushing against each other to find a way out of the pen. And the dragon... was the audience in the highest seat, watching this little drama with calm pleasure.
Ren gritted his teeth.
"Don't let your guard down," he murmured, almost inaudibly. "We're not out of this hell yet."
And at that very moment, the cold atmosphere changed.
Not just from the snow and wind. But something more ancient, more threatening. Aura.
Ren could feel it.
The dragon began to move.
Its movement was slow.
Too slow... and precisely because of that, it was terrifying.
From its perch atop the rocky cliff, the black dragon raised one of its massive claws. The movement was smooth, even elegant... like a nobleman about to point at a servant he disliked.
And the direction of that deadly finger—fell upon them.
Upon Ren.
Ren's heart sank. His eyes widened, his body tensed like an arrow drawn to its tightest point. His breath caught in his throat.
'No... this is bad.'
The dragon's breath was silent, but the atmosphere changed drastically. The air around began to vibrate—slowly, but surely. Strange particles started to appear in the air, reflecting a purple light mixed with black... not the kind of magic usually seen on the battlefield.
"It's... not ordinary magic. It's... a curse."
And as Ren realized it, everything felt too fast.
"LINA!! USE PROTECTIVE MAGIC, NOW!!"
Ren's voice shrieked, more out of panic than command. However...
It was too late.
Something shot through the air—formless, soundless, and not clearly visible. But the aura of its destruction felt piercing.
In an instant...
A dark purple light pierced the air and struck Lina—right in the chest.
"...Ah..."
Lina didn't have time to scream. Didn't have time to turn.
Her body swayed backward and fell into the embrace of Kiel, who stood behind him. His eyes widened in disbelief... as if he hadn't had the chance to comprehend what had just happened.
"Lina…?"
Kiel trembled, his hands holding the girl's body that was starting to weaken.
The world felt silent.
The wind stopped. The monsters around seemed to freeze. Even the sound of crunching snow was unheard.
All eyes were fixed on one thing:
Lina's body slowly collapsing, with a black light gradually fading from her chest... leaving an unnatural scar. A mark from something that did not belong to this world.
And up there... the dragon remained still.
However, there was something in its eyes.
Not emotion. Not anger. Not hatred.
But...
That Dragon Enjoyed the scenes of their desperation.
"You must be joking..."
The voice was faint, almost like a whisper, but clearly heard by those nearby. Kiel stared at Lina's face, which was slowly losing color; her body was still warm, but her breath was beginning to weaken. He shook her gently, trying to deny the reality that was laid out before his eyes.
"Lina...? Hey... don't do this... This isn't the time for jokes, okay?"
His hands trembled. His mouth opened, as if wanting to say something more, but the words were caught in his throat.
Alicia froze in place. Her eyes widened, her fingers trembling as they gripped the rapier that was already stained with blood. For the first time since the battle began... she lost her rhythm.
Arto said nothing. His usually hard and expressionless face tensed. His shield lowered slightly, and even the approaching monster's steps no longer concerned him. The world seemed to silence them all in one long breath... filled with fear and shock.
And Ren...
Ren just stood still.
The wind blew through his hair, swaying the tattered edges of his cloak. His hands clenched tightly, until his knuckles turned white. His black eyes were focused—sharp, full of embers.
He did not look at Lina. Nor Kiel. His gaze was fixed straight ahead.
Upwards.
Towards the black dragon.
"...That's enough," he murmured softly.
The first step was heard. The sound of snow being stepped on.
Ren began to walk forward.
His steps were slow but steady. His sword was raised. His breath was heavy, filled with controlled anger. There was something different in his gaze—not just ordinary anger.
It... was the intent to kill.
"Ren! What are you—!?"
Kiel shouted, but couldn't finish his words.
Ren did not answer. He just kept moving forward, step by step, approaching the slope where the dragon was watching them all. Like someone choosing to walk into death... but with his head held high and a heart ablaze.
"If you want to play..."
Ren's voice was soft, yet it resonated clearly throughout the frozen area.
"... I'll accompany you until the end."
And at that moment, the atmosphere around him changed. The aura of battle. The aura of life and death.
Ren was no longer just a leader.
He was a challenger.
No matter how you looked at it—their situation had not changed.
Monsters continued to flow from the white mist, as if there was no end. They came like waves, surrounding from all directions. Claws and fangs emerged from the shadows, colliding with each other, fighting for prey.
And all of that... because of one creature.
One entity that did not move, yet radiated enough pressure to break the spirit of anyone who dared to look directly at it.
Black Dragon.
Ren knew. No matter how badly they fought, no matter how hard they tried to survive— as long as that creature existed, the wave of monsters would not cease.
This was not just a coincidence. This... was the will of the creature at the top of the food chain.
Their chances of getting out of here alive—almost nil.
Yet it was precisely because of this that he had no choice.
"Kiel! Arto! Alicia!!"
Ren's voice echoed, momentarily stopping time. The three of them turned with faces full of wounds and exhaustion, but their eyes were still alive.
Ren looked at each of them one by one. There was a slight bitter smile on his face, as if he knew how crazy this request was. But also... how important it was.
"This might be my last request as a leader…"
Silence for a moment.
Then, the sound of the wind whispered snow into the air as Ren raised his sword high, its tip pointing straight up—toward the figure of the black dragon still perched like a god of death waiting for a sacrifice.
"We must defeat that dragon. No matter what it takes."
Alicia took a deep breath. Her heart raced wildly, but she looked up with the same eyes she had when they first set out on this adventure—eyes filled with determination.
"...I won't let you do that alone, Ren."
Kiel gritted his teeth. He slowly laid Lina down carefully, then stood up, drawing his dagger once more.
"I will make sure he... pays."
Arto rolled his shoulders, planted his shield into the ground to tighten his belt, then looked at Ren with a nod.
"If we have to die, then we make sure he goes with us."
Ren smiled faintly. There were no guarantees, no definite plans.
Only resolve.
And with one step forward, the four of them... prepared to challenge the will of the untouchable ruler of the skies.
Without strategy.
Without a plan.
Without a guarantee of life.
Only the war cries echoed as the four of them surged forward, piercing through the endless sea of monsters.
"AAAAAAAARRGGHHHH!!"
Ren led the charge, his sword slashing relentlessly. His swings were rough, unlike his usual style—there was no technique, no rhythm. Just an explosion of anger, and each slash felt like a release from a broken heart.
An ogre jumped at him—Ren cleaved it in half. Black blood splattered into the air.
Alicia followed on the right, her body dancing between the gaps of attacks. Her slender sword pierced the throats of monster after monster, her movements swift, almost like an illusion. But her body began to fill with scratches, as there was no time left for perfect evasion.
Kiel jumped onto the back of a troll, stabbing its neck, then kicking it down. He let out a wild scream, his face covered in blood. "LINA, LOOK AT US!!"
Arto slammed his shield hard against the ground, fending off the goblin horde that tried to surround them. He lifted his large hammer and brought it down on the head of a monster attempting to climb onto his back, sending splatters of blood and bone into the air.
But...
"They have not yet reached the dragon."
Monsters keep coming. They do not stop. The snow turns into a field of blood. Their breaths are choked, their bodies begin to weaken.
But they do not stop.
"RAAAAAHHH!!"
Ren charges forward, his body pierced by a spear from the side—he pulls it out himself and throws it at the head of the next monster. The world begins to blur. There is only one thing in his eyes:
The dragon.
Still sitting there.
Still watching.
Until finally, when they are almost out of energy...
...the dragon raises its wings.
"His… descended," Alicia murmured, her voice barely audible amidst the clashing of weapons and the groans of the ferocious creatures.
The wind exploded. The ground trembled. The fog was swept away by an extraordinary pressure as two giant black wings spread, covering the sky.
And the dragon... descended.
The sound of thunder as its feet touched the ground was like a roar that split the earth. Its breath was hot, colliding with the cold air of the mountain, creating thick steam. Its eyes... glowed red.
It no longer laughed.
Now— it acknowledged them.
Ren, gasping, his body bleeding, raised the sword in his hand.
"Don't stop...!"
Arto's body was thrown far away, crashing into a large rock with a horrifying sound of cracking bones. His shield shattered, and his hammer bounced off, falling silently.
Kiel—ran screaming in despair, trying to stab one of the dragon's eyes. But before his blade could touch the creature's scales, a massive tail swept through the air... and struck him hard. His body flew like a discarded puppet, thrown deep into the fog.
Alicia was the last.
With wounds all over her body, she continued to dance on the battlefield, trying to create a gap... even if it was small. But the dragon's claw struck faster. And in an instant... Alicia's body froze.
Ren saw it.
His eyes did not blink as Alicia's figure petrified, then disintegrated in a shower of glittering ice flakes.
There is no time to scream.
There is no time to cry.
Everything... just needs a few seconds.
And now, only he is left.
Snow slowly fell again, covering the traces of blood, weapons, and bodies that no longer moved. The other monsters had ceased to appear.
Because they all know... the king has intervened personally.
Ren stood in the midst of a field of death, his body covered in blood—some of it his, some of it belonging to the enemy. His breath was heavy, his sword trembling in his grip. My legs... can barely support my body, he thought.
But he still stands.
The dragon took a few steps forward, approaching him. Each of its steps crushed the ground beneath it. The red gaze now stared directly at Ren—without condescension, without mockery. Now... it acknowledged this remaining man as its true opponent.
Ren raised his sword.
His hands trembled. But his eyes remained sharp.
"I will not run..."
The voice was hoarse, almost like a whisper. But it was heard by the dragon before him.
"I cannot... let all these sacrifices... end without meaning."
He knew.
He would not win.
But he would fight.
From afar, the sound of the wind softly rustled... as if reminiscing about Arto's laughter, Alicia's strategic whispers, and Kiel's small jokes that always calmed him, along with Lina's presence that always mediated the differences in perspective between him and Kiel.
Ren slightly bent his knees, preparing for one last dance.
"...Let's go."