Under the dim moonlight, ragged breaths echoed—shallow, heavy, broken—after the fierce battle against the monstrous Hogking. A young man named Dann slowly rose to his feet, his body trembling, yet the resolve in his eyes no longer wavered.
He turned around, gazing at the lifeless body of Hogking, slain by the hand of Drakania. "Amazing… this is the first time I've seen a Drakania in person," he murmured in his heart.
Drakania drew her sword from Hogking's lifeless body, then swung it through the air—almost as if to dispel the lingering traces of evil.
Dann's gaze remained fixed. A light of awe gleamed in his eyes as he stared at the dragon-winged female knight—graceful, as if she had stepped out of legend itself.
Drakania raised her sword before her face, as if offering a silent prayer. Then, with a single motion, she swept it through the air before securing it behind her back.
She turned, her gaze falling upon Dann. A pair of dragon-like green eyes stared sharply at him—wild, yet dignified. "You. What exactly happened here? With power like that, you should've been able to finish everything alone… without sacrificing so many lives. "Her voice rang out clear and commanding, like that of a true knight.
"This is all my fault..." Dann lowered his head, his face heavy with regret—but to the world, that expression seemed to have lost all meaning.
"Is that so?" Drakania narrowed her eyes. "Nothing escapes these dragon eyes," she added, cold and sharp.
"May I... ask you something?" Dann spoke in a quiet tone, though hesitation was still clear on his face as he tried to summon the courage to voice what was on his mind.
"You shouldn't be the one asking questions… but I'll let you speak. "Though her words were harsh, she didn't turn away.
"With the power you possess… why didn't you come to help the people of this village sooner? Do you have any idea how much they suffered—the pain, the cries…" Dann growled in frustration, his face twisted with a disappointment he could no longer hide.
Hearing those words, Drakania clenched her fists tightly. Her head lowered, and her jaw tensed as she fought back the storm of emotions within. A single tear fell, tracing down her cold cheek."So… this is all my fault…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I… I also… I wanted to save them too!!" Drakania cried out.Her tears flew with her scream—undeniable proof of the pain she had been holding in all this time.
Drakania fell to her knees, both crashing against the cold earth. Strands of her shimmering hair tumbled down, veiling the choked sobs that burst from deep within her chest.
Dann stood in silence, frozen as he watched the great dragon knight weep uncontrollably.Behind that strong soul and dignified presence, there lay a heart—gentle, and deeply fragile. "Ah… please, forgive me. I didn't mean to blame you…" Dann said softly, his voice gentle as he tried to comfort her.
Dann reached out his hand, genuinely intending to help her to her feet.But suddenly, a faint voice crying out for help echoed from the distance. Both of them flinched. Without warning, Drakania instinctively unfurled her wings and took off, soaring into the air. The force of her sudden flight sent Dann stumbling backward, thrown off balance by the gust she left behind.
"Ow, ow… my back…" Dann groaned, wincing in pain as his hand instinctively reached for his waist, trying to soothe the sudden ache that shot through him.
The scene shifted to a silent place—the remnants of a dark ritual site, recently used by the Hogkin to forcibly merge themselves with human beings. The room was damp and shadowed, filled with a foul stench that clung to the air Inside, several women lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies limp, breath ragged, eyes staring blankly toward the ceiling—empty and lifeless.
The shattered sky above them offered no solace. Traces of dark magic still clung to their bodies—a lingering curse that tormented their consciousness, trapping them in shadows of illusions that had yet to fully fade.
Drakania stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief at the sight before her.Yet behind that sharp gaze, a quiet sorrow began to stir within her heart.Before her, the weakened women reached out their hands—pleading for help with voices so faint, they were nearly swallowed by the silence.
From behind, the sound of footsteps echoed—Dann slowly approaching, trying to enter the darkened chamber."Don't come in!" Drakania called out suddenly, turning swiftly toward him."Ordinary humans can be easily infected by this dark magic," she added, her tone grave and unwavering.
Hearing her command, Dann immediately stopped in his tracks. He stood still for a moment, then quietly turned around and stepped back out—choosing to wait near the crumbling ruins, where the night wind blew gently, carrying with it the suffocating remnants of silence.
"Magic…?" Dann repeated the word softly, trying to grasp the faint memories flickering in his mind. But before his thoughts could wander any further, Drakania's sharp voice rang out from within the chamber, cutting through his daze. "Don't entertain strange thoughts, or you'll get infected!"
Dann jolted in shock, his eyes widening.How could she…? He stared in disbelief—how could the Dragon Knight possibly know what he was about to think?
Drakania dropped to one knee, her body leaning forward slightly. With a hand clad in armor, she gently reached toward the abdomen of a frail woman lying before her—her movements careful, as if trying to sense the lingering traces of dark magic still gnawing away at the fragile body.
Drakania closed her eyes, allowing her magic to flow gently into the woman's body. But as her vision reached deeper, her breath caught. Something was there—something that shouldn't be. Traces of dark magic had taken root, spreading like tangled vines, binding tightly to the life within. Her brow furrowed, a creeping unease beginning to take hold of her mind.
"Forgive me…" Drakania whispered, lowering her head in silence. Her heart felt heavy—if only she had arrived sooner, perhaps all this suffering could have been prevented.
She rose slowly, then drew the sword from her back.With solemn grace, she lifted it before her face, as if offering a silent prayer.Then, lowering the weapon, she drove its blade into the filthy ground beneath her.
A large magic circle began to form beneath her, its radiant light slowly blooming outward. The glow spread gently, pushing back the thick darkness and illuminating the once-gloomy chamber with a soft, blinding brilliance.
Dann, waiting outside, was taken aback as the light from the magic circle stretched out toward him. Its brilliance was blinding, leaving him frozen in place. "That magic circle… it's enormous," he murmured. "She has incredible power… but what's been holding her back all this time?"
"O holy light, purifier of darkness… cleanse this stain, and return these souls to peace."
All the women cried out in pain, their bodies arching helplessly on the floor.From their abdomens, thick black smoke began to rise—dense and foul, like the mist of a lingering curse. Their skin writhed unnaturally, as if something inside was trying to escape—lost, wriggling worms scorched by the touch of holy light.
The purification ritual came to an end. The faint cries of suffering faded into silence, just as the magic circle gently receded—drawn back into the tip of her blade.
Dann, who had been lying down, gazing at the stars shining in the night sky, slowly sat up. He turned his head, his eyes landing on Drakania as she stepped out of the house—her figure wrapped in the faint glow of lingering magic that still shimmered softly around her.
"Is it… over? How are they?" Dann asked softly, his voice low but filled with concern as he looked at Drakania, his eyes searching for an answer.
Drakania fell silent for a moment, lowering her gaze before finally speaking. "I've purified their souls… but I'm not sure their bodies will last until morning," she said quietly. Her dragon eyes remained fixed on Dann—sharp, yet filled with sorrow.
Silence blanketed the night, broken only by the gentle song of crickets and the soft glow of fireflies drifting through the air. They stood as silent witnesses to the quiet bond between two souls—bound by battle, by wounds, and by a hope that had yet to fade.
"I'll take you back to the capital," Drakania said calmly, yet firmly. "To report everything that happened… and uncover the truth behind that weapon. You're not planning to run away, are you?"
Dann gazed up at the night sky, filled with glittering stars."Run away, huh…" he murmured softly, then let out a faint smile."I'm not going anywhere. This… is my fate."
From behind Dann's faint smile, Drakania watched his face in silence.Her gaze seemed to catch something deeper—an unspoken understanding that lingered quietly between them, carried by the stillness of the night.
For a moment, Dann stared at the night sky. The perfect moon was slowly being veiled by dark clouds—not ordinary clouds, but thick and ominous ones. Yet Dann was just an ordinary human; he couldn't sense the surging darkness spreading across the land below.
"This energy… it can't be…!" Drakania muttered, her eyes widening. The dense aura of darkness clung to the air, pressing against her chest like an invisible weight. Her instincts screamed—something terrible was awakening from within the shadows.
The ground began to quake violently, as if a mountain were on the verge of erupting.The tremors rippled in all directions, stirring the creatures of the night from their slumber. Birds took to the skies in a frantic flutter, piercing through the dark heavens, while mammals scattered in every direction—driven by a fear they couldn't comprehend.
The Situation in the Kingdom of the Eternal Light Order
Chaos engulfed the palace—guards and soldiers dashed in every direction, scrambling to carry out the barrage of incoming orders.Amid the turmoil, one of the royal aides stood tall, his eyes sharp with urgency. With a firm voice, he commanded a soldier to move out and take command in the field. "Mobilize all available units! Evacuate all citizens from the urban sectors—immediately!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the blaring alarms and the frantic rhythm of rushing footsteps.
King Alberecht Valebanc and Queen Isolde Vernhilde moved swiftly through the palace corridors, flanked closely by rows of royal guards. The tremors beneath their feet still lingered, a constant reminder that something ominous was unfolding.
"Diran, what's happening? Is this… an earthquake?" the King asked, his voice deep, laced with concern.
Diran's aide, standing stiffly before them, looked pale. Sweat trickled down his temples, and his eyes were filled with unease. "Your Majesty… I'm not entirely sure yet. But… this isn't an ordinary earthquake," he replied haltingly, his gaze fixed out the window where strange lights flickered in the distance.
"My daughter… where is she? Has Seraphina returned from the battlefield?" The Queen's voice cracked with emotion, her eyes shimmering as they locked onto Diran. Hope and fear battled in her trembling voice—a mother's desperate longing for news of her daughter, Seraphina Valeblanc, the firstborn and heir to the mighty dragon bloodline.
"Not yet, Your Majesty," Diran replied firmly, though his uneasy expression betrayed the tension beneath his voice. "We still haven't received any report from the two soldiers I assigned to escort her back."
Queen Isolde Vernhilde's legs gave out beneath her, her knees barely able to hold her weight. But before she could collapse entirely, King Alberecht caught her in his arms, holding her tightly—as if trying to shield her from the heavy dread that now blanketed the entire palace
"You there!Escort Their Majesties to the royal chambers, now! Tighten the security—no one gets close without permission!" Diran shouted, his voice echoing through the palace halls. The royal guards immediately sprang into action, surrounding the King and Queen in a tight formation, alert and ready for anything.
Moments later, a blinding dark light suddenly flared beneath Diran's feet—a small magic circle, pulsing faintly. His eyes widened in shock as the pattern spread rapidly, crawling like the roots of a curse, stretching across the palace floor… and then, the entire city.
"W-What is this…?" Diran choked out, his voice barely a whisper. His body froze as a looming shadow began to swallow the Kingdom of the Eternal Light whole.
Meanwhile, back in the eastern village—where Dann and Seraphina were
Drakania stood frozen, her eyes locked onto the towering pillars of darkness that tore through the night sky, radiating a suffocating aura of despair. Without a second thought, she spread her wings and took off, soaring toward the nearest hill—desperate to gain higher ground and see what was truly happening.
Not wanting to be left behind, Dann raised his revolver, aiming it toward the hilltop with sharp instinct. His feet moved swiftly—and before anyone could've expected it, he reached the summit first, just ahead of the dragon knight who followed close behind.
The two of them stood there, witnessing it with their own eyes. In the distance, the royal palace was shrouded in a veil of darkness, while a massive magic circle floated—one etched across the earth, and another glowing ominously in the sky.It was a sight beyond imagination, as if the world itself was preparing to devour its final light.
"What the hell is that!?" Dann shouted, eyes wide, unblinking—like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"That's dark energy… and it's massive… I've never seen anything like this before," Seraphina said firmly, her voice laced with caution. Her sharp gaze cut through the grim scene unfolding before them.
In silence, Seraphina pondered something.Could I fly with Dann… all the way there?It would be a long journey—one that would take time they might not have.
"We have to get back to the capital—now!" Seraphina said as she turned to face Dann, her eyes clouded with worry.
Dann stared back at her, silently absorbing the urgency in her gaze. But then, his eyes narrowed—a flash of insight cutting through his thoughts."Wait… there might be a way," he muttered, as a spark of an idea began to take shape in his mind.
"I have an idea… but I've never actually tried it before," Dann said, his voice wavering with uncertainty, yet firm with determination.
"Then do it—now! We don't have time to hesitate!" Seraphina snapped, her eyes sharp and commanding, as if pushing Dann forward with sheer will alone.
Dann extended his left hand toward Seraphina, his gaze steady and resolute.
"Take my hand," he said softly, yet with unwavering conviction.
Seraphina paused, her eyes falling on that outstretched hand—warm, steady, and brimming with hope amidst the chaos. Without a word, she reached out and grasped it tightly, entrusting herself to him completely.
And at that very moment—a surge of unseen energy burst forth from their joined hands. Both of them flinched slightly, their breath caught in their throats. Something powerful flowed from their hands to their chests… and then straight into their very souls.
They stared at each other—Seraphina's eyes wide with shock, while Dann stood frozen in silence. What had just happened… wasn't ordinary magic. It felt like something ancient had stirred awake—a force that bound them together, as if their fates had always been meant to cross at this exact moment.
Dann raised his Revolver and pointed it toward the royal palace.
BANG!!
In an instant, the two of them vanished without a trace.
Back at the Palace of the Order of Eternal Light...
From within the thick fog that blanketed the palace gates, a towering figure emerged—clad in obsidian-black armor. Each of his footsteps echoed heavily against the stone, accompanied by a suffocating aura of darkness that clung to his form like a living mist. He moved slowly, deliberately——as if nothing in existence could stand in his way.
Before him, a knight stepped out from the shadows—the same soldier who had once served as the kingdom's executioner.But now, his true form was revealed. Glowing red eyes… small horns jutting out from beneath his helmet. He was no human—He was a demon, one who had been hiding in plain sight all along.
He bowed low before the armored figure cloaked in black."My Lord… everything has gone according to plan."
"Well done."A deep, gravelly voice rumbled from within the black helm—harsh and hollow, like an echo rising from the depths of darkness itself.
Without so much as a glance, he continued his command—cold, absolute, and laced with authority. "Open the dimensional gate. Use every magic circle we've planted across the land." "The time has come… for the cleansing to begin."
The demon gave a deep nod, a thin, sinister smile curling on his grotesque face. "At once, my Lord."
With a snap of his fingers, tendrils of black energy rippled into the air, igniting a chain reaction—resonating with the hidden magic circles scattered across the land.
"Very well… it's time to begin the resurrection ritual," he said calmly—yet his voice carried a chilling presence, sharp enough to pierce straight through bone.
He raised both arms high into the air, as if welcoming all the darkness in the world into his embrace. From his body, a black aura began to pour forth—writhing like living smoke, slithering across the ground, into the sky, and through the very air itself.
Each magic circle erupted in a deep violet glow—shining like the eyes of demons awakened from a long, restless slumber. The light spread in all directions, forming intricate patterns that pulsed across the ground. From afar, a wall of darkness began to rise, slowly, ominously—threatening to consume the entire kingdom in a single sweep of void.
But just as the ritual reached its peak—A gunshot rang out, shattering the air.
A split second later, the sharp clang of pierced metal echoed in its wake.
The dark knight snapped his head toward the sound, eyes narrowing beneath his helm. Without realizing it, two figures now stood before him—the wind whispered softly between them, carrying an aura unlike any he had felt before.
On the left stood Dann, his silver revolver still smoking from its barrel, gaze unwavering.And beside him, wings of radiant light unfurled with silent majesty—the elegant yet commanding figure of the Dragon Knight herself Seraphina Valeblanc.
"Well, well... look who decided to show up," the dark knight murmured in a low voice,a sly grin evident even from behind his helm.