A Presence Long Forgotten

Hiritsu had always sought strength, but now, strength had come to him in the form of the Ring of Destruction.

A relic so powerful that kings and warlords would wage wars for it.

If anyone found out he had it, he would be hunted down without mercy.

So, he made a choice-he would keep it a secret.

For now.

After his body had healed from the brutal tournament, he asked his parents for a simple walk.

But his destination was far from simple.

He ventured deep into the endless desert, away from prying eyes.

Here, in the silence of the dunes, he would test the power of the ring.

He slipped it onto his finger, expecting a rush of energy.

Expecting his mana to surge.

But nothing happened.

His brows furrowed.

"Does it not work?"

Then, he clenched his fist and punched the ground.

BOOM.

A shockwave blasted him into the air.

The desert floor cracked beneath his feet, sending sand flying in every direction.

His heart pounded.

"What the hell was that?"

The ring wasn't drawing from his mana.

It had its own.

A massive reserve of stored mana that it unleashed on impact.

And when left unused, it recharged itself.

Excitement coursed through him.

He began experimenting.

A simple motion of his palm-a beam of raw mana shot forward, tearing through a distant rock.

A flick of his fingers-a firebomb erupted from the ring, soaring high before exploding in the sky like a dying star.

This was no ordinary artifact.

This was a weapon.

And in the wrong hands, it could bring entire nations to ruin.

Even a child wearing this ring could become a walking calamity.

Hiritsu clenched his fist.

He had always dreamed of power.

Now, he had it.

But he also knew-this wasn't enough.

If he became too dependent on the ring, it would control him, not the other way around.

He needed to be strong without it.

He needed someone who could train him past his limits.

Someone stronger than anyone.

And the only person who had ever truly pushed him...

Was his father.

That evening, he returned home. His parents were waiting, their gazes sharp as always.

"That wasn't just a walk, was it?"

his father asked.

Hiritsu didn't flinch.

"No."

He took a deep breath.

"Father... my usual training won't be enough anymore. I need to be stronger-far stronger. Stronger than I am now."

His father crossed his arms, studying him carefully.

"And why the sudden realization?"

"Because I've reached my limit. And if I stop here, I'll never be able to protect what matters."

His father was silent for a long time. Then-

A small, knowing smirk.

"So... you want to surpass even me?"

Hiritsu met his gaze, unwavering.

"Yes."

His father chuckled, shaking his head.

"You've grown cocky, boy. But I like it."

Then, his smirk vanished. His aura flared, filling the room with pressure.

"If you truly want to become stronger, then be ready..."

His eyes burned with challenge.

"Because this time, I won't go easy on you."

Hiritsu's father knew that if his son truly wanted to surpass his limits, there was only one man who could push him to that level.

An old friend.

A warrior.

A legend.

Takuma Sensei.

One of the Top 5 Mages in the world.

A man whose strength was spoken of in hushed whispers, a sorcerer who had accomplished feats beyond human understanding.

His father reached out to him.

And Takuma agreed.

But there was a condition.

"If your son wants to be trained by me, he must first prove himself."

"He will come to my land alone, without help, without guidance."

"And he will face whatever stands in his way."

Takuma's land was isolated, surrounded by an unforgiving sea filled with creatures beyond imagination.

Vast.

Unknown.

Deadly.

Most who attempted the journey never returned.

But Hiritsu was different.

At least, he had to be.

His father looked at him, his expression unreadable.

"You heard him. This won't be easy."

Hiritsu smirked.

"Good. I don't want easy."

His father sighed, then placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then go. And survive."

Hiritsu packed lightly.

A sword.

A cloak.

And his will to endure.

As he set off toward the sea, he knew one thing for sure-

If he made it to Takuma's land...

He would come back unstoppable.

Hiritsu had never felt this excited.

His father's approval meant everything, and the challenge ahead only made his blood boil with anticipation.

With a large backpack filled with enough food and water for a month, he was fully prepared for what he thought would be a grueling journey.

But before leaving, a question lingered in his mind.

"Father, what happened with the ring from the tournament?"

His father's expression darkened, his voice grave.

"That ring was stolen by an unknown thief. It is an artifact of immense power-something that countless nobles and mages would kill for."

Hiritsu expected this answer, but his father's next words sent a chill down his spine.

"Even the Queen of Arthuria has declared the death of the thief. Anyone who holds that ring is doomed, because even the wielder... can defeat me."

Hiritsu's eyes widened slightly. His father, one of the strongest mages he knew, was acknowledging the ring's power.

His father continued, a slight smirk on his face.

"You have defeated me at my weakest, and I played along to boost your confidence. But know this-you are strong enough to survive this journey. Just... no matter what happens, stay away from that ring. It will bring nothing but disaster."

Hiritsu nodded, but his mind was already made up.

The ring was already in his pocket.

No one knew.

And he had no intention of leaving it behind.

Three Days Across the Land

Hiritsu set off immediately, his heart pounding with excitement.

The journey across deserts and kingdoms took three days, and strangely enough, not a single beast attacked him.

It was almost too easy.

But when he reached the sea-his real challenge began.

As he was constructing his small wooden boat, a massive creature erupted from the ocean.

A sea beast.

Its glowing blue eyes locked onto him.

Its shimmering water magic crackled through the air.

Hiritsu grinned.

"Perfect. Let's make this interesting."

Their battle was fierce. Water against fire.

The beast struck first, sending a tidal wave toward Hiritsu. He countered with a wall of fire, evaporating part of the attack but getting drenched in the process.

Blow for blow, they clashed.

Hiritsu's magic was strong, but so was the beast's resilience.

Then, an idea formed in his mind.

The ring.

If it was as powerful as he had seen before, this was the perfect time to test it.

At first, Hiritsu wasn't sure about the true nature of the ring's mana.

It felt overwhelming, almost endless.

But after putting it to the real test against the sea beast-he felt it.

A mana so ominous, so unnatural, that it sent chills down his spine.

This wasn't just power.

This wasn't just magic.

This was something else entirely.

Something not of this world.

For the first time, he hesitated.

It wasn't because of fear-but because a single thought crept into his mind.

"What exactly have I put on my finger?"

The beast froze in place.

Its instincts screamed in fear.

It tried to flee.

But Hiritsu was relentless.

With a devastating blast, he struck the creature down, sending it crashing into the depths of the sea.

Victory.

He smirked, removing the ring and tucking it away before anyone could see.

The sea was now his to cross.

He finished building his simple wooden boat, stepped inside, and ignited his fire magic beneath it, using it as a boost to propel himself forward.

The island of Takuma Sensei awaited.

Takuma Sensei sat calmly on the island, his two students standing beside him, waiting for the arrival of the third-Hiritsu.

But then-it happened.

A sudden, uncontrollable shiver ran through his body.

His breath hitched.

His muscles tensed.

For a brief moment, the air itself seemed to crack around him.

He had felt this before.

A presence that should have never returned.

Dark Mana.

A force so forbidden-so cataclysmic-that its very existence had been erased from history

This wasn't ordinary darkness.

This was something that shattered human limitations

Something that could devour nations.

Takuma had fought beasts that stood atop the world, creatures whose names were lost to time.

Only one of them-the strongest he had ever faced-had radiated this same aura.

He turned his gaze toward the distant beach, across the vast sea.

A massive explosion erupted from the shore, shaking the heavens.

And within it-

That same cursed mana.

His eyes narrowed, his instincts sharpening.

Something-or someone-was coming.

And if this was what he thought it was...

Then the world itself was about to change.