the mission

Axel, Matias, and Father Damian returned home after their meditation training session. The sun was low, casting a warm golden hue over the path leading back to the house. It was quiet—almost too quiet—until Axel broke the silence.

"So, I'm pretty sure I'm the most powerful person alive now," Axel said with a smirk, brushing the dirt off his pants.

Matias gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah, because swinging a scythe and summoning ghost fire makes you unbeatable. Real impressive."

"Maybe I don't have to impress you, Mat. I'm sure you'd love to be as cool as me," Axel teased, his grin widening.

"Cool? Don't make me laugh," Matias responded, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You look like you've been running a haunted carnival in your spare time."

Father Damian chuckled, walking beside them with a slight bounce to his step. "You two are impossible," he said with a knowing smirk. "But you both did good today. The knight level suits you."

Matias raised an eyebrow, looking over at the old man. "You think so? Because I think we've only scratched the surface of what we can do."

Father Damian shrugged nonchalantly. "You'll figure it out. You're on the right path."

They continued walking, and Axel dropped the sarcastic grin, turning serious for a moment. "You know, now that we're in the Enlightenment phase, it's impossible to steal our War Souls or Wild Spirit. We can train freely without worrying about anyone taking us down."

Matias nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Yeah, no one's touching us. We can focus on getting stronger now. Though... I can't help but wonder what comes next."

Father Damian's voice broke the silence. "Next is the Refinement phase. That's when things really get interesting." He chuckled, the sound a low, deep rumble. "And when you two stop acting like it's just some easy road."

Axel grinned, his hand brushing over the handle of his scythe. "Bring it on. I'm ready for whatever comes next."

The group continued toward their home, the distant figures of Eliza and the kids now visible at the front. As they approached, Eliza raised an eyebrow, the teasing smile never leaving her face.

"You two look like you've seen the sun for the first time in months," Eliza said with a mocking tone. "Did you actually learn something today?"

Matias shrugged, his usual cocky expression plastered on his face. "Oh, we learned plenty. But you know, it's more of a 'waiting for the next big thing' situation."

Axel chimed in, grinning. "Yeah, no one can steal our War Souls anymore. We're completely free to train at our own pace now."

"Which means we can join a guild," Matias added, his tone full of sarcasm. "No more hiding in the shadows, huh?"

Father Damian raised an eyebrow at the mention of guilds. "Joining a guild, eh? Well, that could be interesting. You two are probably capable of taking on more than just simple tasks now. Maybe you'll get to fight something... fun."

Axel laughed, "Yeah, we could probably take on a few monster nests, or find some lost pets, whatever the guild throws our way."

Eliza rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed. "Sounds like a lot of work for not much reward. Are you sure you want to waste your time on that? What about helping me keep the kids safe?"

"I told you, we've got it covered," Matias said. "You don't need to worry about us. Besides, the faster we take on these little jobs, the faster we can move on to bigger things."

Father Damian gave them a look of mock disapproval. "You two sound like you're too eager to run off and be 'heroes' or whatever. It's a good thing you've got me around to keep things grounded."

Axel smirked, looking over at Matias. "We'll be fine. We've got this."

---

After a brief discussion, they headed to the guild hall. The atmosphere inside was dense with the hum of conversation, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional shout of a brawl breaking out at a nearby table. A group of adventurers sat around, sharing stories of their most recent exploits. The room was alive with energy, but there was an almost tangible weight in the air—one that only high-level adventurers carried with them.

Axel and Matias walked through the entrance, immediately drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. The adventurers took one look at the newcomers, their gazes flicking over the duo like they were sizing them up. The air around Axel and Matias seemed to shimmer with an almost oppressive aura—a subtle reminder of how far they'd come.

"New faces, huh?" a voice called from a table in the corner. "Bet they're fresh out of the warrior level."

Matias shot a smirk over his shoulder, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What gave it away? The whole 'we're too cool for you' vibe?"

Axel rolled his eyes. "Just ignore them. They've probably never seen real power."

Father Damian chuckled beside them, looking at the crowd with a knowing smile. "You two are going to have fun here, I can tell. Just don't go getting yourselves into too much trouble."

They reached the registration desk, where a bored clerk glanced up at them. "What can I do for you?"

"We're here to join," Axel said with a grin. "Fresh off some knight training, Ready to take on some tasks."

The clerk raised an eyebrow, then slowly reached for the registration scroll. "Sure, my name is Elsa. You're E-level adventurers from now on. ?"

"Yeah," Matias replied, "but we've got bigger things in mind. Just starting small."

"Let's see what we've got for you then." The clerk nodded and handed them their badges. They were marked officially as members of the guild, just use your blood on it", she added " it can also be used for communication with the guild office or party members, you are now both in one party do you want to name it?".

Mat thought for a moment" how about...". But Axel who had zero patience cut him off" this is up to the guild, please suggest a suitable one".

--

With their registration complete, they received their first task—clearing wild boars from Clear Water Field. It was a simple task, something that most adventurers would handle without breaking a sweat. But for Axel and Matias, it felt like a waste of their time.

The village was simple, yet welcoming. The elder, a spry old man with a grin that seemed to stretch from ear to ear, greeted them warmly.

"Welcome ," he said, shaking their hands. "Welcome to Clear Water Field."

"You've got a lot of spirit for an old guy," Matias said, raising an eyebrow. "What's the problem here?"

The elder's grin faded slightly. "Wild boars. They've been tearing up our crops for weeks now. We can't afford much, but we're desperate."

"Well, we can help with that," Axel said, cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry, we'll make sure they're gone."

The elder's wife, who was sitting nearby, chimed in. "We've been organizing this village for forty years now. These wild boars have never been this bad."

After a warm dinner, the two were given a room for the night. As Axel lay on the bed, he stared at the ceiling, thinking about the future. This is all so... simple. But I know it won't stay that way for long.

---

The next morning, they gathered their gear and set out for the hunt. The air felt crisp, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. They tracked the boars' footprints until they led to a dark, ominous cave in the distance.

Matias stood at the entrance, eyeing the cave warily. "Well, this looks like the start of a bad decision."

Axel grinned. "Let's get this over with but before we start we need to discuss a plan "

-----------

The grand palace of Harmonia stood tall, its pristine white walls reflecting the moonlight like polished silver. Inside, the throne room was vast yet serene, exuding an aura of authority without extravagance.

At the center of it all, seated elegantly on a high-backed chair, was Lady Seraphina, the Lord of Harmonia. Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her white dress, woven with silver threads, shimmered under the glow of enchanted lanterns. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, moved between the figures standing before her—Shadow Spies, masters of stealth, their presence barely perceptible.

One of them stepped forward and knelt. "My Lady, our reports are complete."

Seraphina crossed her legs, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "Proceed."

"The Elven Kingdom remains silent. No diplomatic envoys, no external movements. It is as if they have shut their doors to the world."

A faint frown appeared on her lips. The elves' reclusiveness was nothing new, but this level of isolation was unusual.

"The Valorian Kingdom, however, is experiencing internal strife. The Royal Family and the Church are at odds. The reasons are unclear, but tensions are rising."

Seraphina let out a quiet breath. "Interesting. A divided Valorian Kingdom weakens its influence. Continue."

"Regarding the Lost Isles..." The spy hesitated. "Of the 2,700 adventurers who entered, only 2,067 have returned."

Silence filled the hall. Seraphina's expression remained unreadable.

"Six hundred and thirty-three missing," she murmured. "Expected, but still concerning. Any details?"

"Scattered reports. Some say there were unexpected beasts lurking in the deeper regions, creatures not recorded in any known bestiaries. Others speak of ancient ruins filled with lethal traps. A few survivors claim to have witnessed... something massive moving beneath the waters."

Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "And yet, no dragon sighting?"

"No, my Lady. No traces of the dragon."

Her grip on the armrest tightened slightly. The dragon's disappearance had been one of the greatest mysteries of the past year. A force of that magnitude does not simply vanish.

Seraphina exhaled and leaned back. "And the Grand Priests of the Mountain?"

The spy lowered his head. "No clues."

A flicker of irritation crossed her features before she masked it with calm. "Then summon the Paladin who was present during the battle of the Grand Priests. I want firsthand information."

The spy bowed and swiftly disappeared into the shadows.

A moment later, heavy footsteps echoed through the hall. The doors swung open, and a lone figure walked in.

His presence was immediate—his sheer aura pressing against the air like a smoldering fire. His eyes, deep and unwavering, burned as if they carried the embers of an unyielding soul.

Damian stepped forward and saluted respectfully. "Lord Seraphina."

Seraphina studied him for a moment before speaking. "Tell me everything you saw in the mountains."

The grand hall was deathly still as Damian approached the throne. Seraphina, draped in white with her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, sat calmly, her sharp eyes never leaving him.

"Report." Her voice was soft, but carried an unmistakable weight to it.

Damian hesitated for only a moment, his mind still replaying the chaos of that day. He knew he'd have to speak carefully. "The two Grand Priests fought the dragon—and it was no ordinary fight. It was brutal."

"Go on," she said, leaning forward slightly.

"The first Grand Priest wielded the power of sealing, trapping the dragon's movements. The second, the power of barriers, pushing the dragon back with unrelenting force." Damian paused, rubbing his jaw, the memory still fresh. "But the dragon—it wasn't just any dragon. It was intelligent, a half-step away from becoming a Grand Emperor."

Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "A dragon, on the brink of a Grand Emperor? How?"

Damian sighed. "The dragon awakened, likely due to the presence of the mysterious entity—whatever it was. I believe it's connected. The power that entity possesses seems to have triggered something in the dragon. It's possible that the entity itself might be at the Grand Emperor level."

"And what of the dragon itself?" Seraphina pressed, her voice hardening.

"It was powerful—more than just physical strength. It had mind control abilities. The dragon could bend the wills of those weaker than it. And the barrier—it was more than just magical protection. It was like the entire area around it was distorted, making it impossible to track, to fight back. The dragon dominated the battlefield."

Seraphina's gaze turned icy. "And where did this dragon go after the battle?"

Damian's lips pressed together. "After the fight, the dragon disappeared. I couldn't sense its presence after the clash. It may be hiding or moving with incredible speed. Or worse, it could be planning its next move."

She exhaled slowly. "So, a dragon on the brink of Grand Emperor, mind control, sealing and barriers… and this mysterious entity—what kind of game are we dealing with?"

Damian stiffened. "I don't have all the answers. But we're dealing with forces far beyond anything I've encountered." He paused. "The dragon's stronger now—its presence alone is enough to make the air thick and oppressive."

Seraphina tilted her head slightly, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "And you're sure there was something watching from the shadows?"

Damian didn't hesitate. "Yes. It was observing, not interfering, as if it's there and there, hidden in the void in front of you but you can't see it, But I'm certain it's not human, not something we can track with our usual methods."

Seraphina's lips curled into a faint smile, her eyes gleaming with something like amusement—or perhaps anticipation. "You've done well, Damian. The pieces are falling into place."

Her voice softened, but it held a weight that could crush mountains. "Rest assured, your friends will be protected in my city. No harm shall touch them while they are under my watch."

Damian bowed low, his cloak swirling around him. "Thank you, my lady. I will remain vigilant."

Seraphina waved her hand dismissively, already lost in thought. "See that you do."

As Damian left the throne room, the heavy doors closing behind him, Seraphina's smile remained. She had all the pieces, now it was time to see who would make the next move.