As the sun rose on the following day, preparations were at their peak. Leo, Dravis, Darin, and Klaus stood before King Diger, the Queen, and Princess Leta, ready to depart toward the borders of the Gate of Arethilia. Behind them stretched a fleet of a thousand elite knights from Luthoria—vigilant eyes, and hearts burning with caution.
Before their departure, a solemn silence filled the air. The King and Queen bid them farewell with looks that blended pride with fear. As for Leta, she gazed long at Leo, as though trying to memorize his face before parting.
Inside the palace, the Queen stood alone, gazing at her reflection in the windowpane. Her thoughts drifted to the previous night… when she had secretly witnessed what transpired between Leo and Leta—that night they spent together in her room, speaking of his parents, his immortal mother, and his mysterious father. She had told no one, but one question haunted her mind:
"Could he… be their son?"
Then she whispered to herself:
"But… how? It's been over a hundred years since it happened…"
■ ■ ■
Back at the courtyard, the four commanders bid farewell to those staying behind. Moments later, a guard rushed in, his face pale, shouting:
— "My lord! A surprise attack at the border! Gotharz is attacking the Gate of Arethilia!"
The commanders' eyes widened, and they rushed toward the border. Upon arriving at Arethilia's outskirts, they were struck by a shocking sight…
Leading the enemy forces stood Sherry—their former companion from the Radfen Trials. But her appearance had changed. She now wore black armor bearing the mark of Gotharz: the dark dragon. Beside her stood a squad of shadow commanders.
Sherry shouted mockingly:
— "Didn't expect to see you again… those whose combat impressed me in the trials. You… the three of you. And that arrogant one… Leo, wasn't it?"
Darin stepped forward cautiously, stunned:
— "Sherry? Is that really you? Are… are you going to fight us?"
Sherry laughed and said:
— "If you don't want to fight, join us… you, and that lunatic Klaus."
Klaus snapped, furious:
— "Who are you calling a lunatic?!"
Leo then stepped forward firmly and declared:
— "This kingdom is under King Diger's protection… we'll crush your army—and you along with it!"
■ ■ ■
A fierce battle broke out. The four split up and launched into combat.
– Dravis unleashed the skill: "Lightflash – Specter of Hope", diving into the frontlines and blinding the shadow soldiers.
– Darin struck with a flurry of blows using "Decisive Hand – Aura Break".
– Klaus flanked from the side, activating "Abyssal Shadows – Choking Cord", disrupting the enemy formation.
Sherry had eyes only for Leo. She leapt between rocks and cast a dark skill: "Rebound Strike – Curse of Shame", but Leo blocked it with his immense strength, then retaliated with a technique he'd developed during training with Loki:
"Red Moon Strike!"
The earth quaked, and dust burst forth like a storm. Though the Gotharz army was vast, the coordination and sheer power of the four leaders turned the tide. Shadow soldiers fell one after another until only the enemy commanders remained—Sherry among them.
A brutal duel ensued between Leo and Sherry. She fought with unmatched ferocity, laser-focused on Leo. Yet he, calm and composed, endured her attacks, countering steadily until he brought her down and locked her in place.
— "You're a prisoner now," Leo said.
■ ■ ■
Back at camp, an urgent interrogation began.
Darin stepped forward, tense, and asked:
— "Who is your commander? Who ordered this attack?"
Sherry smirked:
— "You ask questions you cannot understand…"
Darin moved to strike, but Leo stopped him:
— "Calm down, Darin… let me try."
Leo stepped closer, his voice calm:
— "Who is the Raiser?"
She replied:
— "He's someone who, if he wished to erase the world with a single hand… he could."
Leo's heart tightened, but he pressed on:
— "And who has seen him?"
— "No one… except his aide—Yuta. The one whose strength I aspire to match."
— "Then why? What's your goal?"
Sherry looked into him, as if trying to see something beneath his surface, then said:
— "Eternal life."
Leo took a step back, stunned:
— "What?"
— "Yes… that's what the Raiser promised us. Once we conquer the kingdoms, he will grant us immortality. We are merely the vanguard—but there are others… far stronger than us. They are the leaders of the 'Quadrant of Greed'—four of the mightiest warriors in this world, all under Yuta's command."
Leo glanced at Dravis, then at Darin:
— "Then… more incursions are coming. They'll try to breach Arethilia again."
Quickly, Leo scribbled everything that had transpired onto a scroll, stamped it with his seal, and handed it to a knight.
— "Take this—ride to King Diger. Don't stop for anything."
■ ■ ■
Hours later, King Diger stood silently, reading the scroll with frozen eyes. He muttered:
— "This… is very bad."
He folded the scroll, looked up at the darkening sky, and said:
— "The Raiser has begun to move… The war is no longer coming… It has already begun."