On one of the towering mountain peaks that pierced the sky stood a colossal city, its high walls reaching nearly fifty meters.
Beneath its black walls, the ground had been dug into deep trenches from which long, sharp spears jutted upward like nails.
Though the spears were black, they dripped with a dark crimson liquid.
On some of the spears surrounding the city, one could see the bodies of grotesque creatures, savagely torn apart and hung there like sheep.
While some remained impaled on the spears, others lay scattered on the ground—some with their bodies pierced by a mass of arrows, others with their chests split open, their entrails spilling out as if struck by a sharp axe.
There were also those without heads or legs, reduced to nothing more than brutalized chunks of flesh.
The moonlight shimmered on their blood, which continued to flow, forming small pools.
Such a place did not seem as though it belonged to a natural world.
In truth, this was not a natural world.
From the east, the sun rose, unveiling a new day that had dawned upon the city perched atop the mountain.
The city was filled with buildings of various shapes and kinds, stretching along both its narrow and wide streets.
Some of the buildings were a single story, while others rose two or even three stories high.
There were wooden structures, while others were made of cement or stone.
The buildings lined the edges of the streets, some painted black or green, and in other areas, houses bore shades of yellow or orange.
These colors were not random; they held meaning for the people of the city, carrying a deep significance in their eyes.
At the heart of the city stood a building with high walls, rising five stories tall, gleaming white as though made of marble.
Its glass windows stretched across its floors, their edges adorned with golden decorations.
Beneath it stood a massive black door, four meters in height, seeming as if forged from black steel despite its wooden appearance.
At its sides, green trees swayed gently with the passing breeze.
In front of it stretched a wide square paved with white stone.
It seemed alive with energy.
Clack…
At that moment, before the white building and across the vast square, the sound of clashing swords could be heard.
In the center of the square, a group of people had gathered, forming a small crowd.
Their gathering was not without reason—for this was an important event for them.
As they watched, their bright eyes revealed nothing but their captivation with the scene before them.
Clack…
The echo of swords colliding resounded through the square.
Before them stood two figures dressed in black leather outfits, reinforced with white patterns along the edges.
They were dueling with silver swords.
They moved swiftly, swinging their silver blades through the air.
Clack…
Their swords and shoulders collided, forcing them both to retreat backward at the same time.
But at that moment, just as their feet were about to touch the ground, one of them slid forward, lunging ahead with great speed, leaving his opponent no time to regain balance, his sword aimed straight at the other's chest!!
"This—" The crowd was filled with astonishment at that instant, as though they were witnessing the decisive strike of victory.
Seeing the incoming attack while still midair, the other duelist's lips curled into a smile, as if he had been waiting for this move.
With a swift motion, he dropped one leg down, pressing sideways, narrowly avoiding the blade that was about to pierce his chest by a fraction of a second.
He raised his sword high, then swung it downward in a wide arc, his blade whistling with the sound of the wind as it threatened to slice his opponent clean in half!
Witnessing this, the crowd's expressions deepened into even greater shock, as if unable to keep up with the rapid shift of events.
But at that very moment, the swordsman in midair twisted his body a full one hundred and eighty degrees, turning his blade upward, deflecting his opponent's strike to the side.
Thud.
He landed on the ground, quickly recovering with an acrobatic motion that brought him upright on his feet at the very same time, narrowly evading his opponent's counterattack.
Everything happened so quickly that the crowd could only watch with bewildered and unreadable expressions.
"They're incredibly strong," said one person at that moment.
"Yes, of course. After all, that's the reason we're here," replied another, his face filled with awe as he watched the duel. People gathered here every day to witness their battles.
" If I were up against either of them, I bet I wouldn't last even a second," said a man with a gentle face, his expression a mixture of fear and admiration, as though he longed to watch yet dreaded the very thought of fighting them—a true nightmare.
"That's not important. What matters is who will win today," said a chubby-looking man, his cheeks jiggling with every movement of his mouth.
"I think it's going to be Fainer," said another with a doubtful expression. Fainer had blond hair, fair skin, and blue eyes. His facial features highlighted his handsomeness. His full name was Fainer Swift.
"I don't agree with you. In my eyes, Aster will be the winner," said someone else. Aster was the opposite of Fainer. His hair was black, his eyes dark, and his skin fair. His features were ordinary—neither handsome nor ugly—but there was a sharpness about him. His full name was Aster Taron.
"No, it'll be Fainer," another person retorted. "Man, do you want to bet?"
The crowd broke into a heated dispute for a while, their voices rising so much that they drowned out the sound of the duel.
"Silence!" At that moment, a commanding and resonant voice rang out, causing the crowd to immediately fall quiet.
The man who spoke looked at the duel before him with an eager expression and said, "What matters is not which one wins, but that one of them does."
This man had black hair, tanned skin, and green eyes. His body was massive, with broad shoulders and a chest whose muscles seemed ready to burst through his clothes.
He stood with his arms crossed, watching the duel like a towering statue of stone. This was Rian Terak, friend of both Aster and Fainer.
At that moment, he was brimming with excitement, wishing the duel would end as quickly as possible.
Clack.
The clash of swords rang out, the two moving with swift and graceful motions. Every strike, every movement, every moment carried the weight of warlords, not mere trainees.
The crowd's eyes continued to follow them, shining with anticipation.
The morning sun had climbed high into the middle of the sky, casting down a scorching heat.
Beneath it, Fainer and Aster were drenched in sweat, yet they pressed on with unwavering determination and willpower. Despite the blazing sun, neither their speed nor the sharpness of their strikes waned.
The fight dragged on for hours more.
"Won't they stop?" one person asked, his tone filled with doubt.
"I'm starting to wonder if this duel will ever end," said another, disappointed.
By then, Rian's eager expression was no longer the same.
His face had hardened into a frown.
The truth was, his excitement earlier came from wanting to fight one of them himself, but to his dismay, the duel had lasted the entire day.
Now, as the sun was about to set, both Aster and Fainer were soaked in sweat and gasping for breath, their faces showing clear signs of exhaustion.
Their movements had grown sluggish, prompting some in the crowd to leave, even though the duel had yet to conclude.
Even so, fighting for an entire day was a harsh ordeal… far too difficult for ordinary people.
Aster and Fainer were no exception. In truth, they were deliberately prolonging the duel. After all, there was a reason for it.
A secret…!
Suddenly, a voice rang out, causing both Aster and Fainer to stop and glance at one another.
Their faces bore expressions of relief and joy, mixed with exhaustion.
"Training is over for today," the voice declared.
All the students turned toward the source of the sound.
Aster and Fainer were no exception. Far away, on the steps of the academy's entrance, stood a beautiful female figure.
Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her dark eyes were as deep as an ocean. Her skin was pale and flawless, her face delicately oval.
From her appearance, she seemed to be in her thirties.
She wore a black dress embroidered with blue and red patterns.
An unusual aura radiated from her, making the very air around her still.
This was Professor Talin.
Of course, she was no ordinary person! She was a warrior… someone qualified to fight against monsters.
"Yes, Professor," the crowd responded in perfect unison upon seeing her.
Professor Talin glanced over them, her eyes sweeping the group before pausing on one individual for a moment. Then, she withdrew her gaze and stepped inside the academy.
At that moment, the crowd dispersed, beginning to make their way into the academy.
Aster and Fainer set their swords aside and approached Rian with smiling faces.
"Hey, Rian! Didn't you see our duel today? It was amazing, wasn't it
? Don't you agree?" Fainer said, waving his hands, his face lit up with a broad grin.
Rian's frown deepened as he opened his mouth, just about to speak.
Anyway, let's leave it. My stomach is growling—I'm starving," he said.
At hearing this, Aster quickly spoke up, not allowing Rian to respond.
He already knew what Rian was about to say, but a bad feeling stirred within him at that moment.
Both Fainer and Rian looked at him with different questions in their expressions. Rian felt unfairly silenced, while Fainer's happiness grew.
"That's true. Because of our duel today, you haven't had lunch. But that's fine too—today we'll order a lavish dinner," Fainer said, placing his hand on his stomach.
Soon after, the three of them were sitting in the academy's restaurant, enjoying their evening meal.
Aster and Fainer continued to challenge each other even as they ate.
Rian, however, sat with a frown, eating very slowly, not speaking a word to them.
Seeing this, Aster felt a pang of guilt fill his heart.
"Rian, are you okay?" Aster asked, looking at him.
Even though he knew the reason, he did not address it directly.
"Yes," Rian replied in a gloomy voice.
"Don't you want to talk with us?" Aster asked, trying to reach him.
Rian heard him and said with difficulty, glancing at his food, "I didn't mean anything, but… guys, I haven't trained with you in a while. When I watch your duel, I feel like I want to enter a fight with one of you… but the same thing happens every day," his face showing disappointment.
In fact, what had happened today had been repeating for about a month.
Fainer listened to their conversation but paid no attention.
Hearing Rian's words, Aster felt as if he had done something wrong.
Aster looked at him with a sorrowful gaze and said, "Rian, you know we're not just friends—we're brothers. Right now, we're weak compared to your strength, but don't worry. Soon, we'll be strong enough to face you."
Hearing this, Rian didn't look at him, as if unconvinced by his words.
Seeing this, Aster spoke with a tone of confidence: "Believe me, we'll be ready soon."
He then glanced toward Fainer and added quickly, "Especially you, Fainer."
Blurt.
Fainer spat out his food at hearing that, staring at Aster and Rian in terror while clutching his mouth.
Rian looked at him in confusion, not understanding what had happened.
Aster, however, knew the reason—he knew why Fainer was so terrified.
About three months ago, Fainer and Rian had dueled each other.
But the problem wasn't something anyone could call a proper duel.
In truth, it had been a one-sided slaughter.
Rian had struck Fainer like a hammer of iron, crushing everything in his path, while Fainer could only defend and attempt to flee, unable to turn the tide, causing the duel to end quickly.
But because of that, Fainer had suffered multiple fractures, leaving him unable to do anything for two months.
That memory lingered in Fainer's mind.
After recovering from his injuries, Fainer approached Aster and told him he wanted to help.
He wanted to duel Aster all day to avoid facing Rian in a fight.
Facing another duel with Rian was like a savage nightmare.
Aster knew it wasn't a good idea, but in the end, he couldn't refuse.
That was the reason for Fainer's happiness and Rian's sorrow.
In a spacious room, moonlight streamed in through the windows.
Three people lay on three beds, exhausted from the long day.
Aster, Fainer, and Rian were roommates.
Not just now, but for the past six years, since that tragic night when the number of orphans exceeded any figure recorded in history.
At that time, the orphans chosen to become warriors were sent to the academy, while the others were transferred to the orphanage.
Even so, the number of those who chose to become warriors was overwhelming, placing a heavy burden on the academy. They had no choice but to gather everyone in a single room.
This was one of the main reasons why Aster, Rian, and Fainer were not merely friends but brothers.
The room was silent, even though they had not yet slept.
After a while, Rian tilted his head, breaking the silence, and said, "Guys, we're already sixteen years old. Do you know what that means?"
"Yes," Fainer replied after a moment, "we could be struck by the Soul Flame at any moment."
"That's right," Rian responded.
Aster heard this but did not join the conversation.
Silence returned to the room once more.
Some time passed before Rian spoke: "Hey guys, can I ask you a question?"
"Ask," Fainer replied, raising his eyebrows.
"Do you have dreams?" Rian asked.
Hearing this, Fainer looked at Rian, shook his head slightly, then gazed at the ceiling. Closing his eyes, he said, "I dream of joining the Black Star."
Rian, upon hearing this, placed a hand on his chest and said proudly, "I dream that I will join the Iron Wall team."
At that moment, Aster remained silent.
Seeing this, Rian asked, "Aster, do you have dreams?"
Aster did not answer immediately. He stared at the ceiling for a while before saying, "I don't have dreams."
"Why?" Rian asked, surprised.
Even Fainer showed a confused expression, looking at Aster, his face marked by incomprehension.
"I had a dream once, but it was destroyed," Aster said, as if recalling something.
He looked at Fainer and Rian, then back at the ceiling, the moonlight dancing across his face, and spoke softly, "To me, dreams are things made to be broken.
They live in the air, then dissipate—scars like distant mirages leaving disappointment that pierces the heart, causing one to lose faith in them."
He paused, then continued with a solemn expression: "But I have something else… a will, an indomitable will. With effort, I will grasp my strength and turn my dreams into tangible reality, not just distant fantasies."
He paused for a moment, his eyes revealing unwavering determination: "Will is the beam of light in the darkness of despair. It is the bridge I will cross toward what I desire, even if my dreams crumble around me."
In the early morning, on the academy's courtyard, two figures faced each other, swords pointed at one another.
The first had blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and handsome facial features full of determination.
The other had black hair, deep black eyes, fair skin, his face shining with sharpness.
The morning sun cast their shadows across the ground.
These were Aster and Fainer.
"Now."
Swoosh.
They advanced toward each other like flashes of light, and in an instant, they stood before one another, swords poised, each targeting the other.
Rrrrr…!
Suddenly, just before their swords could clash, the ground shook violently.
Wooooom…!
The wind intensified at a tremendous speed, forcing the trees to bend toward the earth and making the windows howl.
Clouds gathered in the sky, forming a dark mass that obscured the sunlight.
"What is happening?" At that moment, Aster did not understand what was occurring as he advanced toward Fainer.
But suddenly, without warning, he felt his body being pulled to the ground and his eyes closing.
"What's happening to me?" Aster wondered in his mind, fear spreading across his face.
He was lying on the ground, his eyes closing.
He was losing consciousness!
At the last moment before he completely blacked out, he caught sight, in the corner of his vision, of a figure hitting the ground.
"Fainer."
...
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