The morning sun streamed through the high windows of Emerald Kingdom's great hall, tinting the solid stone walls with a faint golden light. Yet the air inside remained heavy, laden with anxiety, even though the light seemed to try to banish the fear that had gripped everyone since the night before.
In one corner of the room, Lucifer sat silently on a long wooden bench, his head bowed deeply. His thin fingers slowly traced the pitch-black ring on the ring finger of his left hand — a ring once given to him by Velgarion, the ancient dragon, when he was first reborn into the world of Eryndor.
The flash of the past pierced his mind with vivid clarity.
He remembered clearly how, in his old world, his body had been almost completely destroyed by a malignant cancer that refused to heal. Hope was gone. He could no longer even dream, merely waiting for death to claim him. Yet in the final moments of his breath, a gentle white light embraced him. When he awoke, he found himself in a strange place — the lair of the great dragon named Velgarion.
Velgarion, with wise eyes and a body radiating an aura of eternity, granted him a second life. He healed the wounds in his soul, restored his body, and entrusted him with the Ring of Power, one of the Ten Infinite Rings, a legacy of the ancient guardians of Eryndor.
"Lucifer, this ring is not merely a weapon. It is a trial. One mistake, and destruction will come. One pure resolve, and miracles will be born,"
That was Velgarion's message, which remained etched in Lucifer's heart to this day.
The ring itself held limitless magic, pure energy capable of defeating demon kings, gods, or anyone. Yet the key to unlocking it would only appear if the wearer's heart was truly ready. And now, in the face of the thousands of orcs about to attack Emerald Kingdom, Lucifer realized just how unworthy he still was.
He tried again to awaken the power of the ring, staring deeply at the black stone that pulsed slowly, like a second heartbeat. But there was no response. Only a cold emptiness slapped at his soul.
"I… failed…" he whispered, nearly in despair.
---
Not far from him, Arthur stood staring at a large map on the strategy table. Red lines marked the positions of the orc forces, reported to be moving quickly across the eastern river. Gareth, rank A Hunter and Drako's most trusted man, stood at Arthur's side with a grave expression.
Drako himself — a man with golden hair, golden eyes, and a scar at the corner of his mouth — looked steadfast and authoritative. With a loud, commanding voice, he led the discussion:
"They will arrive within two days at the latest. The eastern and southern gates must be reinforced. Gareth, focus the spearmen and archers there. Arthur, you will continue leading the Hunters on the front line. We must not give them a chance to breach the fortress."
Arthur nodded, even though his severed left arm was still thickly bandaged. "Understood, Your Majesty."
Kaela, who was seated next to Lucifer, looked toward the map with serious eyes. Her white hair fluttered lightly in the magical breeze of the hall, and her jade-like skin gleamed in the morning light. "What about Fenrir?" she asked firmly.
Gareth answered quickly, "That monster is surely aimed at tearing down the western wall. We must prepare magical traps or explosives at the choke points."
Drako added, "Azog is not that stupid. He will use Fenrir as the main destroyer, then send Skull and the necromancer troops to break through the secondary defenses."
A sudden, suffocating silence fell. Everyone knew that a single coordinated assault by Fenrir, Azog, Skull, and the black-armored orcs could wipe Emerald Kingdom off the map in a single night.
---
Lucifer slowly stood, breathing heavily as he faced everyone. "If you'll allow me… I will face Fenrir myself," he said suddenly.
All heads turned.
Arthur immediately scolded him, "Lucifer, you're still unstable—"
"I've delayed too long," Lucifer cut in, his eyes glassy with tears. "This ring… is my destiny. I refuse to die as a coward who only watches his friends perish."
Kaela stood, holding Lucifer's shoulder. "We're with you. The three of us are family, aren't we? Don't think you have to bear everything alone."
Lucifer lowered his head, tears dripping onto the black ring. "You… thank you," he murmured softly.
Gareth spoke up in a steady voice, "If you truly intend to face Fenrir, at least let me prepare supporting magic. I will not lose another person again."
Drako, with a sharp but trusting gaze, nodded. "I will entrust the Fenrir command to you, Lucifer. This is a great decision — make sure you are ready."
Lucifer pressed his chest, trying to steady the tremors that coursed through his entire body. "I will try to unlock this ring again… for everyone's sake."
---
Meanwhile, on the eastern plains, thousands of orcs had formed ranks. Azog, with a giant blood-soaked axe, shouted fiercely to lead them. At his side, Skull stood in a respectful bow, and a giant wolf the size of a tower — Fenrir — howled so loudly that the ground trembled.
"Destroy them all!" Azog roared.
The orc forces snarled like a black tide, ready to swallow Emerald Kingdom to its roots.
Drako watched the map filled with red-ink marks, tracking the positions of the advancing orc troops. The morning sunlight that filtered through the tall windows made his golden eyes gleam, affirming the natural authority radiating from his figure. Beside him, Gareth stood tall, though fatigue and drowsiness still clearly shadowed his eyes.
Drako lowered his finger from the map and then spoke quietly, "Gareth, may I ask you honestly?"
Gareth turned quickly, affirming his readiness. "Of course, Your Majesty."
Drako took a deep breath, then looked at his friend with a serious expression. "Why do you place so much trust in a rank E Hunter like Lucifer? Even assigning him to face Fenrir — a monster even rank A soldiers might not be able to defeat?"
That sudden question made Gareth fall silent for a moment. He shifted his gaze toward the window, staring at the sky slowly brightening, before finally answering, "Your Majesty… from the first moment I saw that boy, I felt something within him. His mana… is not ordinary mana."
Drako raised an eyebrow. "Not ordinary mana? What do you mean?"
Gareth swallowed hard, holding back his tension. "It is… golden mana, Your Majesty."
Drako's eyes widened in disbelief. "Golden mana? The kind possessed only by archbishops in the holy church?"
Gareth nodded slowly. "Yes. I am not mistaken. Golden mana is a sign of a blessing that descends from heaven. It usually only appears in those with angelic blood. Lucifer, in my opinion… might not be just an ordinary human who was reborn. He could be a descendant of an angel, or a divine being sent to restore balance to the world."
Silence for several seconds, only their heavy breathing could be heard.
Drako exhaled, looking back at the map as if weighing a thousand possibilities. Then he patted Gareth on the shoulder, stating firmly, "And because you trust him, Gareth, then I will trust him too."
Gareth gave a small smile, though tension still had not fully left his face. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Lucifer might look silly, careless, playful… but in his heart, I feel a resolve purer than anyone's."
Drako nodded firmly. "Then we will place all our hopes on him."
---
Behind them, Arthur stood not far away, still listening intently even though he did not speak. Arthur's gaze shifted to Lucifer, who sat silently in the corner of the hall, head lowered as he stared at his ring with an expression full of regret.
Arthur took a quiet breath. "That boy might truly have a great destiny… if that's the case, then I just have to make sure he survives," he thought to himself.
The atmosphere of the great hall fell silent once more, as if everyone was preparing their hearts to face the doomsday that would soon arrive at the gates of Emerald Kingdom.