Raizo stepped into the mysterious room, his boots crunching softly against the dust-covered floor. The air was heavy, thick with the weight of time and forgotten memories. He scanned his surroundings—a cracked stone wall, shelves filled with weathered tomes, and a single table in the center of the room, covered with dust so thick it looked like a blanket of gray snow.
He approached the table. A faint glimmer caught his eye beneath the layers of dust. Raizo brushed it away with his hand, sending up a small cloud of particles that made him cough. A book lay there, its leather-bound cover frayed and darkened by age. Embossed letters, faint but still legible, read: Diary of Llyod Shoni.
"A diary, huh?" Raizo muttered. "Maybe this will explain why this place feels so… strange."
He opened the diary carefully; the pages crackled with age. He began to read.
Hi there, my name is Llyod Shoni. Before it came to this, I was a child with many friends. My parents loved me dearly. Life was peaceful back then… but one day, everything changed.
I became an adventurer alongside my friends. I was our party's mage. Together, we fought countless beasts, clearing dungeons and earning a name for ourselves. I was proud… happy.
But then came the dungeon we couldn't conquer. The monster inside was beyond our power. We tried to retreat, but our archer was badly wounded. My friends—all close-range fighters—couldn't stop the beast's advance while I prepared my spells. My heart grew heavy at the thought of losing someone, and in my desperation, I screamed: "FIREBALL!"
I felt a surge of power I had never known before. A massive fireball erupted from my wand, striking the beast and saving us… but that's when everything started to change.
I went to check on our archer, but he looked at me with fear in his eyes and said, "You're a monster." One of my friends shouted, "Nobody should have that kind of power! You're not human anymore!"
The words cut deeper than any blade. By the time we returned to the village, even my parents called me a monster. Their eyes were filled with fear and disgust.
So, I left. I wandered endlessly, going from village to city. But everywhere I went, people saw my power and treated me the same way. A monster. A freak. I had no home, no friends. My heart became hollow.
Eventually, I found this forest. I found this cave. I stayed. I decided that the world didn't need me anymore, and maybe I didn't need it either.
---
Raizo paused for a moment, his grip tightening on the diary. "They called him a monster… just for being strong. I know how that feels."
He kept reading.
---
After living here for fourteen years, I learned many things. I discovered artifacts—strange and powerful relics hidden deep in this cave. One of them… one artifact can share your stats and abilities with each member of your party. I hid this artifact behind my chair, in case I ever needed it.
But peace never lasts forever.
One day, I was exploring the forest when I saw them. Demons. A whole group of them. I couldn't believe my eyes. What were demons doing here? I hid and listened. That's when I heard one of them speak: "Find the Gem of Resurrection. It's somewhere in this forest."
My heart stopped. Could it be the chest I had found deep in this cave? I rushed back, checked the chest, and confirmed it. This must be the gem they wanted. I hid it as quickly as I could.
Later, I confronted them. I demanded, "Who are you?" One demon stepped forward and said:
"I am one of the four demon generals of the Demon King. He is known as the Flame Emperor Erethor… and I am Kairos."
--
Raizo's eyes widened. "Wait… every four demon genera?" He read on.
---
I fought Kairos with everything I had. It was a fierce battle, but in the end, I forced him to surrender. I tied him up and demanded answers.
The truth he told me… shook me to my core.
The story of the first hero is a lie. He never truly defeated the Demon Lord. Before the Demon Lord died, he cast a forbidden spell to divide his essence into something called Fragments of the Chosen Ones. These fragments scattered across the world, seeking hosts. Thus, five Demon Kings were born.
First; The Demon King of Ruin – Zarvohk
Second; The Flame Emperor – Erethor
Third; The Demon King of Shadow – Xorax
Fourth; The Demon King of Destruction – Vorgath
Fifth; The Demon King of Wrath – Lyraez
I was horrified. Not one… but five Demon Kings walk this world.
---
Raizo felt his pulse quicken. He whispered under his breath, "Five Demon Kings… this changes everything."
---
Months passed. Kairos eventually died—his body turned to ash.
To protect the Gem of Resurrection, I used my magic to expand this forest, making its trees grow larger and denser. I wanted this place to remain hidden for all eternity. I will not write where I hid the gem. It must never fall into the wrong hands.
Kairos told me that the demons plan to use the gem to revive the Demon Lord. That alone is enough to terrify me.
I faced Erethor, the Flame Emperor Demon King, once. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I struck him with all my might, but he regenerated almost instantly. He laughed and said, "I am fire itself. I can turn my body into flame, and no blade can cut fire." I was nearly defeated.
But something inside me awakened. My fire magic… changed. It evolved into blue flames. When Erethor saw it, his mocking smile vanished. My blue fire could melt even the ground itself. He retreated.
From that day, I realized something: magic can evolve. If pushed beyond its limits, it transforms into something greater. My fire had transcended.
Now, I am old. My body weakens, but I have no regrets. This is the last entry of my diary.
From yours truly,
Llyod Shoni.
---
Raizo closed the diary, his face a mask of determination. "Llyod… you went through so much alone. I promise… I'll carry on your will."
He began searching the room. Behind the chair, he found a small chest, covered in dust just as Llyod described. He opened it to find five artifacts—small crystal pendants that pulsed faintly with mana.
"These must be the artifacts that can share stats with party members," Raizo said, storing them in his bag.
Continuing his search, he discovered an old spellbook on a nearby shelf. Most of the spells were nothing special, but one caught his eye: Item Box.
"A storage spell, huh? This could be useful."
He spent hours practicing. Over and over, he failed—mana fizzling out, the spell collapsing halfway. His arms trembled from exhaustion. But finally, a glowing magic circle appeared, and a pocket dimension opened.
"I… did it," Raizo breathed, smiling with satisfaction.
His eyes fell upon a rack of weapons. A sword, a bow, a shield, a dagger, a spear, and a staff—all gleaming faintly with enchantments. He drew Voidbringer, looking at its black blade. "I'm sorry, Llyod, but I'll put these to good use."
With a sharp swing, he activated Voidbringer's Gluttony. One by one, the weapons dissolved into dark light, absorbed by his blade. He tested its form, shifting it into a bow, then a spear, then back into a sword.
He raised his hand. "Fireball!" Nothing happened. Raizo frowned, remembering Llyod's words. He closed his eyes, imagining Fenra, Silvia, and Shekiah in danger. He focused on that desperate feeling of wanting to protect them. He shouted:
"Fireball!"
A blazing orb shot from his palm, exploding against the wall. The entire cave shook. Raizo stared in awe. "I… I did it. I can cast without chanting now."
As the dust settled, something caught his attention. A faint glow on a pedestal—the Gem of Resurrection. The gem shimmered in a rainbow of colors, each hue representing a different magic element. Raizo carefully placed it in his Item Box.
He knelt in front of Llyod's skeletal remains. "Llyod… I promise I will protect this gem, even if it costs my life. I won't let it fall into anyone's hands."
A distant roar shook the ground—the viper was still waiting outside. Raizo stood, gripping Voidbringer. "Round two, huh? Fine. Let's finish this."
As he walked toward the cave's entrance, his crimson eyes burned with determination. "No matter what… I will survive this forest and return to them."