Chapter:12-A Mission

The Mission in the Forest

(The warm atmosphere in the dining hall shifts as Alden steps forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. Kael, Sun, and Elyse stop laughing as he places a rolled-up parchment on the table.)

Alden (calmly): "I have a mission for you three."

(Kael glances at the parchment, then back at Alden, noting the serious tone in his voice.)

Kael: "A mission?"

Alden (nodding): "There's been something… off about the nearby forest. I've sensed an unsettling aura around it for a while now. If left unchecked, it could become a threat to the village."

Elyse (leaning forward): "You're saying there's something dangerous lurking there?"

Alden: "Possibly. That's why I want you three to investigate."

Sun (grinning, cracking his knuckles): "Finally, some action! I was getting bored just drinking all day."

Kael (frowning slightly): "And if it's something serious?"

Alden (meeting Kael's gaze): "Then you'll handle it. You're not weak, Kael."

(Kael shifts uncomfortably at those words. There's something in the way Alden says it—as if this mission is more than just an investigation. As if it's meant for him.)

Into the Forest

(The trio sets out before noon, the dense trees swallowing them as they enter the forest. The air feels unnaturally cold, and the deeper they go, the heavier the atmosphere becomes.)

Kael (muttering): "Alden wasn't wrong. Something feels off."

Elyse (nodding, gripping her weapon): "It's like the air itself is watching us."

Sun (laughing nervously): "Let's hope it's not."

(Then, without warning—)

—a growl. A chorus of growls.

(From the shadows, figures emerge—dozens of them. Rotting flesh, glowing hollow eyes, twisted forms of what were once human.)

Elyse: "Zombies?!"

Kael: "And a lot of them."

Sun (grinning): "Alright, let's have some fun!"

The Battle Unfolds

(Kael, Sun, and Elyse fight fiercely, their teamwork seamless as they cut through the horde of 50 undead. But just as they think they're gaining control—)

—THUMP. A massive shadow looms over them.

(Mutant giants, grotesque creatures with deformed muscles, burst through the trees—20 of them.)

Kael (breathing heavily): "You've gotta be kidding me!"

(The battle intensifies. Sun uses his raw strength to clash against the giants, while Elyse's speed allows her to land critical strikes. Kael, dual-wielding his sword, cuts through the creatures, slowly pushing forward.)

(And then—hissing.)

(Five enormous Rage Snakes slither into the battlefield, their eyes burning with fury.)

Elyse: "It just keeps getting worse!"

Kael (gritting his teeth): "We have no choice. We finish this!"

(The trio fights with everything they have. The battle is brutal, exhausting, but they push through—until, finally, silence falls. The last snake drops dead, their bodies littering the battlefield.)

Sun (panting, hands on his knees): "That… was insane."

Elyse (wiping sweat from her brow): "Is it over?"

(Then, the ground rumbles.)

(From the depths of the forest, an aura of pure frost emerges. The temperature plummets, their breaths turning visible in the air. And then they see it—)

—a towering Ice Bear, its body pulsing with an immense power unlike anything they've faced before.

Kael (eyes widening): "This… this thing is on another level."

(The bear's presence alone feels overwhelming. If Kael had to compare, he'd say its strength is almost 25% of the warlord's.)

Kael (tightening his grip on his sword): "Can we even take this thing?"

Elyse (serious): "We have no choice."

Sun (grinning despite the fear): "Then let's see what we're made of!"

(The Ice Bear moves with terrifying speed for its size. In an instant, it lunges at Sun, its massive claws slicing through the air. Sun barely has time to react—)

SHLK!

(Blood sprays. Sun's arm is severed at the elbow.)

Sun (staggering back, eyes wide in shock): "Ah… AAAAAAHH!!"

(He falls to one knee, his remaining hand clutching the bleeding stump as his vision blurs. Elyse and Kael, standing right beside him, had no time to stop it—the bear was too fast, too powerful.)

Elyse (furious, swinging her sword): "YOU BASTARD—!"

(She aims for the creature's claw, but the blade barely leaves a scratch. The Ice Bear's body is as hard as solid rock.)

(Then—)

—ROOOOAAAAAR!

(The bear's thunderous roar explodes outward like a shockwave. Kael and Elyse are thrown back, crashing against the ground. Blood drips from Elyse's nose, her ears ringing from the sheer force of the roar.)

Kael (gritting his teeth, standing up): "Damn it…"

(He steadies himself, stepping in front of Sun and Elyse, determination burning in his eyes.)

Kael (low, furious): "You want a fight? Then I'll give you one."

The Battlefield Trembles

(Kael charges at the Ice Bear. Their blades and claws clash, sending shockwaves through the forest. Every strike from Kael shakes the ground, his strength pushing the beast back for the first time.)

(Elyse, meanwhile, begins casting healing spells, trying to stop Sun's bleeding. She concentrates, her hands glowing as she restores his severed arm—but something is off. The damage was too severe. Sun's hand is restored, but his thumb and two fingers are permanently lost.)

Sun (panting, looking at his hand): "Tch… This is gonna be annoying."

Elyse (glancing at Kael): "We have to help him!"

(But just as they prepare to move—)

—Kael is struck.

(The Ice Bear lands a powerful hit, sending Kael skidding across the battlefield, blood spilling from his side.)

Elyse (worried): "KAEL!!"

(They rush toward him, but—)

Kael (gritting his teeth, standing up weakly): "Stay back… I'll do this alone."

A Memory Resurfaces

(Suddenly, flashes of the past invade Kael's mind. A memory long buried—a shadowy creature, massive and monstrous, striking down his father. The scene is fragmented, unclear, but the fear and rage it ignites are real.)

(His breathing quickens. His hands tremble. And then—)

—his eyes glow.

Kael's Transformation

(The Blade of Frost and Fire trembles in his grip—then changes. The frost and flames disappear, replaced by a pure, radiant light. The sword hums with power, as if answering his emotions.)

(Kael's body feels weightless, his senses sharpening. He moves—no, he vanishes. In an instant, he is behind the Ice Bear.)

Kael (low voice, unfamiliar yet calm): "…Die."

(A single slash of light.)

—SCHLIIIK!!

(The Ice Bear is split in two. It doesn't even have time to react. The monstrous being—one that should have been far beyond Kael's strength—falls in a single, precise strike.)

(The battlefield goes silent.)

The Aftermath

(Kael staggers, his sword reverting to normal. His vision blurs as he drops to one knee, confused and disoriented.)

Kael (panting, voice shaking): "…What… just happened?"

(Elyse and Sun, frozen in shock, stare at him.)

Elyse (slowly): "Kael… that was… insane."

Sun (blinking, then grinning despite his exhaustion): "Okay… What the hell was that?!"

(Kael glances at his blade, his mind racing. He doesn't understand. He doesn't even remember moving. But he knows… this power isn't normal.)

Kael (whispering, still in disbelief): "Did… did I do that?"

Elyse (crossing her arms, shaking her head): "This isn't the time to flex, Kael."

Kael (still dazed, muttering to himself): "No… I don't even know how I did it…"

(The weight of what just happened settles on him. This wasn't just another fight. This was something more. Something inside him—something ancient—had awakened.)

(And for the first time, Kael begins to wonder—who exactly is he?)