"The last 'recovery' was three years ago. Since then, no one had succeeded. But today, with the help of 6-Star Henga, the Flying Lions want to attempt rebuilding the already explored world of Gentha."
The reporter on the news was visibly excited, standing right next to the portal as it opened.
"Flying Lions, huh?" Naro muttered to himself. "Those bastards left my brother to die."
The broadcast now showed the Guildmaster of the Flying Lions. "Bastards!"
Naro punched his TV.
His brother had been part of the last exploration of Gentha—the planet the Flying Lions now wanted to conquer and rebuild.
He hadn't returned with the others. The Guild told Naro that his brother had died in an accident during the mission.
But Naro didn't believe a single word of it.
"An accident? Thats what you call abandoning my brother!?"
He knew his brother was capable—he was a 4-Star.
"Just a bunch of idiotic cowards who think they can do whatever they want." His hands were shaking.
To Naro, the explorers from the Flying Lions were just a bunch of cowards who fled and closed the portal before his brother could make it back to Earth.
Since then, Naro had sworn that if he ever awakened, he would take down the Flying Lions Guild.
He looked at his TV. A noticeable crack now split the middle of the screen.
Naro picked up the remote and turned the TV off.
The last thing he saw was the Guild entering the portal.
"If they come back alive, they'd better bring my brother back with them. Alive."
He briefly thought about filing a report against them, but he knew it wouldn't change anything.
"If only I could awaken... I can't be that unlucky. Even Orion got a dead god's fragment... I think it was one of Yoll's."
For a second Naro's eyes were flickering with envy.
His jaw clenched as he stared at the blank screen. He'd had enough—of waiting, of being powerless.
But he couldn't afford to waste time on regrets or dreams.
He was part of the third generation of the Awakened—he should have one of the highest chances of awakening.
And yet… nothing.
Orion, who was once just a good friend of Naro, now had a fragment of a dead god—and Naro still had nothing.
Fragments of a god, whether the god was alive or dead, could awaken powerful talents or skills connected to that deity.
Frustrated, Naro stepped outside for some fresh air. The evening breeze cooled his face and helped clear his mind.
Somehow, he had to get Nilo back.
He couldn't rely on the Flying Lions. Those idiots probably wouldn't even survive Gentha.
Sure, the Flying Lions were a famous guild.
But their Guildmaster? He was more famous for screwing up the easiest tasks in record time.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the portal, in Gentha…
The Flying Lions Guild were on high alert.
Just as Naro had thought, the explorers ran away before.
They reported a 5-Star Earthworm—that monstrosity was the only reason 6-Star Henga had agreed to help.
Earthworms, in general, were terrifying. Nearly classified as 6-Star monsters, they could destroy entire cities in minutes—only held back by their slow movement.
Their skin, however, was priceless. A strange kind of leather, but as hard as steel.
Yet, the Earthworm was nowhere in sight.
The Flying Lions pressed forward. They wanted to reach the forest, where only 3-Star Druids would pose a threat.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled violently. The entire Guild froze—except for Henga.
He raised his two axes high and began chanting something in a deep, growling tone.
The air around him grew hotter. His body expanded—larger, more monstrous. Even his axes grew in size.
A loud crack echoed. Then—screams.
The Earthworm had struck.
In seconds, three men were gone—devoured alive.
Before the worm could retreat underground, Henga slammed his axes down on it.
At first, it seemed useless. But blow after blow, his strikes grew stronger.
Blood sprayed in every direction. Henga screamed—not in rage, but in pain. His skills had terrible drawbacks.
But the Earthworm was nearly finished. It wouldn't heal fast enough to survive. It was bleeding out.
The Guildmaster of the Flying Lions, however, was not satisfied.
He scowled. "I want to see it dead. Now."
"Don't go after it," Henga warned, panting. "That's a very stupid idea. It's already dead."
But the Guildmaster didn't listen.
"Chase after it. We need its skin for better armor."
Even his voice sounded too arrogant to belong to someone others should follow. Yet, they did.
The Earthworm, still alive, enjoyed its unexpected feast. Five more members of the Flying Lions were shredded.
Only then did the Guildmaster stop them.
"We don't need further losses. We'll now go to the first temple."
After regrouping, the Flying Lions ventured into the forest.