[Scene Continues – After Imperial Defeats the Cursed Beasts]
Imperial sheathed his blade. The second cursed guardian fell, dissolving into shadowed fragments.
From a distance, Soren and Caleb stood in stunned silence, witnessing the sheer scale of Imperial's dark power. Their breaths were shallow, eyes wide.
Then—raising from a swirling patch of dark energy on the ground—Asher emerged, his coat fluttering in the black haze.
Imperial (calmly): "Let's move. This request is complete, Asher. As promised, I'll bring Jack to you… after we return. Give me a week."
Asher's gaze shifted past Imperial toward the broken battlefield. He saw the remains of the fallen Guardians and nodded slowly.
The group started walking toward the exit.
The blood river is as silent as it reflecting the situation of the area.
Without a word, Imperial vanished in a blink, appearing on the opposite side of the river between the two monsters.
The beasts turned. With synchronized roars, they raised their massive fists and struck Imperial together.
But as their punches connected, their hands began to blacken, creeping up their arms and over their bodies like a plague of ash. Their roars faltered—and within seconds, the beasts crumbled into dust, disintegrating under Imperial's curse.
He turned calmly and stepped forward—where the bodies of Reyn and Elara lay cold and broken.
Imperial (softly): "I underestimated them... those two beasts."
He kneeled and placed a hand over each of them. Their bodies shimmered, and then were absorbed into his dark space, vanishing like whispers in the wind.
The others followed behind him silently.
Asher (curious, voice low): "Who are they?
Imperial (while walking): "They were once Vice Generals. Elara was Velda—the blood user. Reyn... Morne, the string user."
He paused.
Imperial: "I didn't kill them in Solaria Empire, just gave them a new life. A life worth living."
They emerged from the cursed forest, joining the rest of the Unique's team. By using teleportation they move from there.
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[Two Days Later]
The journey north took two days by cart. As they climbed higher into the region near the Snowfang Mountains, the temperature dipped. The air grew thinner, the breeze sharper—carrying a crisp chill that made them tug their cloaks tighter.
Pale grass bent under the cold wind. Patches of frost clung to rocks and rooftops in the shade, though the sun still shone clearly overhead.
They finally arrived at a quiet, stone-paved town nestled against a steep slope. A worn sign creaked in the wind:
"Orwen's Hold" — known to locals as the Lab Village.
Their cart came to a halt.
Cart Driver (climbing down): "Beyond this point, the mountain paths get too rough for the wheels. Lady Ari, I'll return to the capital now."
Ari (nodding): "Thank you. When you return, tell Aden I'm alright."
Driver (bowing): "Yes, my lady."
He turned the horses back and began heading down the path toward the Hale estate.
Gray, standing still, stared at the town beyond the gate. The wind tousled his silver hair.
Dawn (noticing): "You seem… distant. Something about this village?"
Gray (quietly): "I have business here."
Without explaining further, he began walking toward the village.
Ari exchanged a glance with Tracey and Dawn, and then motioned for them to follow.
Ari: "Let's go."
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As they passed under the village's wooden archway, they noticed something strange. People who had been tending stalls or walking with baskets immediately turned and walked briskly back into their homes. Doors slammed. Curtains twitched. Even children were yanked inside.
Tracey (looking around): "What is this? They act like we're walking monsters."
Dawn (frowning): "Something's not right."
Then—
Girl: "Mom, look! It's Gray!"
A young girl pointed from behind her mother's cloak.
The mother, startled, paused. Instead of running, she stared. Her eyes widened—and then softened.
She stepped forward.
Mother: "Gray? Is it really you?"
Others peeked from their homes. Whispers spread. Within minutes, a crowd began to gather around Gray—not with fear... but with cautious hope.
They greeted him warmly, asked if he was well, thanked him. A few even looked like they were about to cry.
Girl (smiling): "Are these your friends?"
Gray (nodding): "Yes. They are."
The people invited them to the village center, a stone-circle plaza with benches and a long-extinguished brazier. They sat together. Ari finally turned to Gray.
Ari: "You've clearly been here before. Mind explaining?"
Before Gray could speak, the little girl piped up.
Girl: "Gray saved this village once!"
Ari: "From what?"
Gray (low voice): "Years ago, this village didn't welcome magic users. But there was something worse going on."
He pointed toward a squat, metal-roofed building near the edge of the village.
Gray: "That lab. A researcher lived there. He was developing a potion—something that boosted magical and physical ability, but at a price. It robbed people of their mind. He tested it... on his own son."
He let the silence settle.
Gray: "His son went berserk. The power overwhelmed him. He destroyed part of the village, hurt people. Me and my partner—Ren—were sent to stop him. That was our last mission together."
A quiet fell over the group.
Gray: "We killed the son. Captured the father. The village was spared… but it never really healed."
Just then, an elderly man stepped forward.
Elder: "Gray... it's a relief you've returned. You and that young man saved us once. But now... there's trouble again."
Gray (alert): "What kind of trouble?"
Elder (grimly): "About a month ago, someone reopened that lab. Since then, one guy who was staying in the village as a traveler went missing. Some say they've been hearing screams every night ever since. He disappeared without a trace."
The wind stirred through the quiet plaza.
Gray: "So it's happening again."
Gray was about to say something, but Ari spoke first.
Ari: "If you don't mind—we can help."
Gray: "Yeah. We will help."
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They got some rooms to stay in and to investigate.
That night, after dinner, just as they were about to rest—
They heard a scream. Then voices. People shouting.
But strangely, most villagers stayed asleep—used to it, almost desensitized after so long. Only a few had stirred, including the village head.
Ari and the others came out of their rooms.
Gray (tense): "What is this strange feeling? It's... like magic power."
The others nodded. They could feel it too.
They gathered in one room—Ari, Gray, Tracey, Dawn, and a few villagers.
Gray: "I guess this is what you were talking about. I can sense some magic—familiar magic."
He looked toward Ari, Dawn, and Tracey.
He meant Imperial's magic.
Village Head: "It's coming from the forest. East of here. That big forest."
Ari: "The Everly mansion is also in that direction, right?"
Head: "Yes. After that forest, the area under the Everly family begins."
Ari: "Then we have to go there and search."
Gray: "Yes. And I want to visit that lab again."
Dawn: "But I guess right now it's dangerous to go into the forest. If there are strong foes... they'll have the advantage there."
Gray: "She's right. So we operate tomorrow morning."
Gray: "I'll search the lab. I know more about it than you guys."
Dawn: "I'll help you, then."
Ari: "Okay. Then Tracey and I will go into the forest to investigate."
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As Ari and Dawn walked back to their room, Dawn spoke.
Dawn: "Why is it that after Imperial turned... everything seems to connect to him or be caused by him?"
Ari: "Because maybe he is doing all this. And I can't let any evidence of what he's planning remain."
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