Rumors say that when the heroes defeated the Demon King, the night sky was illuminated by a rain of blue meteors, marking the beginning of an era of peace.
But tonight, the night sky was dyed red, as if a rain of fire were about to fall.
"HEY, GET OUT—NOW!"
"LOOK!"
"This is a bad omen!"
People rushed out of their homes, shocked and worried by what they saw. The night sky, which was usually filled with sparkling stars, was now colored red by a rain of meteors.
Different reactions were shown by various individuals across the world.
"The world will be reshaped once again," said a man who gazed at the sky from the peak of a towering mountain that pierced through the clouds. His golden eyes calmly observed every meteor that passed. He then shifted his gaze toward the north, the place where he felt turbulent energy.
In a place that looked like a cathedral in the Holy Kingdom of Aurel, two people stood staring at a monument.
The monument shone with white light, illuminating every letter carved upon it.
"Before one great problem is resolved, another great problem appears."
Sour expressions appeared on their faces, as if they had just eaten something unpleasant.
An old man in white robes bearing the symbol of the sun stood gracefully. He was the King as well as the supreme leader of the Aurelia religion—Eldanar Alvareth. Beside him stood Elric Lightborn, the Grand Knight of the Holy Kingdom of Aurel.
"I never expected the Demon King to return in our era."
The glowing monument was an ancient monument carved by the heroes who once saved the world.
"Elric, I will send you and several of our finest holy knights to immediately settle our old problem," said the king while tightly gripping his sun-emblem necklace as if praying. "We no longer have much time."
In the Alvan Kingdom, a married couple watched the meteor shower from behind a window. The husband gently stroked the belly of his pregnant wife.
"Elisha, I will protect this child with my life."
The silver-haired man looked at his wife tenderly, his gaze focused on the red-haired beauty before him. His wife's lips curved into a smile.
"Thank you, Carl, but there's no need to worry, because I believe this child will grow up strong."
"Haha… that's true. I can't wait to see how they grow up."
"Fufufu… be patient. This child hasn't even been born yet."
The wife leaned her body against her husband's chest, enjoying his warmth. The husband gently embraced her while gazing at the sky through the window.
***
Northern Continent, Kingdom of Nortgard.
"Hold the defense!" shouted a soldier who appeared to be a commander from atop the fortress wall.
"There are too many monsters, we need support!" A young soldier stabbed his spear into the eye of a wolf trying to climb the fortress wall.
"Send a signal to central headquarters!" The commander observed the enemies attacking the fortress—a horde of snow wolf monsters. Their appearance was abnormal, from their body size to the color of their eyes, but the most striking thing was the pitch-black miasma emanating from their bodies.
"Look over there!" said the young soldier while pointing at a massive wolf.
"AUUUU... RRRR!"
A wolf standing four meters tall with horns on its head—the leader of the pack.
"Focus all attacks on that wolf!"
Dozens of arrows shot toward it, but—
Auuuu…
The arrows were forcefully deflected by the wind created from the wolf's howl.
"That creature can use magic?" The commander couldn't believe what he was seeing. The red eyes of the wolf stared straight at him, filling him with a sense of dread.
"WATCH OUT!"
A blade of wind shot toward him. He managed to duck and evade it.
Slash—
The head of the young soldier beside him was severed by magic, and the smell of fresh blood filled the air.
"Damn monster!"
"Hurry, cast magic at it!"
A mage inside the fortress focused on chanting a spell, forming a massive fireball.
"FIREBALL!"
The giant fireball was launched directly at the leader of the wolf pack.
BOOOM!
A massive explosion occurred, black smoke covering the fortress area.
"It must be dead," the commander smiled, convinced of victory.
IMPOSSIBLE.
The smoke began to fade, revealing the wolf standing inside the massive crater left by the explosion, completely unharmed. The horn on its head shone brightly.
This is bad, I have to run.
"RETREAT!" the commander ordered as his instincts sensed danger—but before he could move—
AUUUUU—
A powerful sound wave struck, causing his body to become stiff.
"DAMN IT, I'M GOING TO DIE!"
The wolf's horn emitted light toward the sky, piercing through the clouds. A moment later—
BOOOOOM!
Black lightning struck the fortress violently.
"Aghhh!"
Screams and cries of pain echoed from behind the walls.
***
Time before the wolf monster attack.
A forest area near the fortress.
A large and deep crater had just formed in the middle of the snowy forest.
The place where the meteor fell.
"Where is this place…?"
A figure emerged from the center of the crater—a man with red hair and golden eyes.
"Thrown into a place like this alone… did the others experience the same thing?"
The man crawled out of the crater and walked toward the forest.
The place where I was thrown—a dense forest covered in snow.
"RRRRR…"
A wolf growled threateningly at the man—a skinny wolf with an injured leg.
"A dog? I don't think this is what it looks like."
"Come to me. Don't be afraid."
"GRRRR… RRRR."
The wolf continued to show hostility.
"Not willing to obey? Interesting."
The man's golden eyes emitted a strange aura as he stared into the wolf's eyes. The color of the wolf's eyes began to change.
"Little dog… obey me."
This creature looks pitiful—it surely won't survive.
"I will grant you power."
A red sphere of light formed in front of his face and entered the wolf's body.
Moments later, the wolf's size and appearance, once pitiful, grew into a completely different creature.
"Find people who carry my scent. That is your first task."
"AUUUUUUUUU!"
The wolf ran out of the forest—obedient to its master.
"It's been a long time since I've been in the real world. I'll enjoy it as much as possible," he said with a smile while gazing at the red moon in the night sky.