Chapter 3: Mystery

In the meantime, a pack of wolves had surrounded both Leon and Lina— the last survivors of their group. It seemed that the wolves had pursued them even to the cave's exit, shredding the bodies of their companions and leaving rivers of blood in their wake. Blood spattered over both of them; Lina clutched her mouth tightly, struggling to hold back her urge to vomit, while Leon spoke steadily:

"Hold on. I promise I'll get you out of this."

Leon acted quickly. He returned to the cave entrance and blocked it with a massive boulder, allowing Lina to breathe a sigh of relief. With worry in her eyes, she asked,

"Will we be all right?"

Leon gently patted her head to reassure her, replying,

"Don't worry; I promise I'll protect you."

Lina nodded in reassurance, but soon her voice trembled with urgency as she asked,

"Are my parents all right?"

Leon answered softly,

"I hope so…"

After regaining their composure, they continued on, hoping that someone had managed to open the entrance. That hope was dashed soon when they saw the giant boulder still in place—albeit with some fractures inflicted by the wolves. Lina sank to the ground in despair, and Leon sat beside her, attempting to comfort her:

"Don't worry. Everything will be all right."

But at that very moment—

"BOOM!"

Both Leon and Lina leapt up in terror as the wolves began their assault on the entrance! It was only a matter of time before they managed to shatter the boulder.

"BOOM!"

In another instant, the boulder crumbled into fragments of gravel. Witnessing this, Leon grabbed Lina and shielded her with his body.

Leon was sixteen, while Lina was fifteen. It was only natural for an elder brother to protect his little sister. Leon exhaled in relief as he cautiously surveyed the entrance and realized that the wolves could not cross it. It seemed that luck was on their side this time. The two waited patiently until the wolves finally left the area, enabling them to venture outside.

When the wolves finally withdrew, Leon rose and declared firmly:

"I'm going out to see if any wolves remain out there."

Lina shook her head in worry, refusing the idea. Leon tried to reassure her, saying,

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Cautiously, Leon stepped outside. After a quick scan, he signaled to Lina that there were no wolves in the vicinity—but at that very moment, a shadow swooped down from the sky toward Leon.

Before he could react, a massive wolf attacked, crushing his feet as if they were mere powder! Leon cried out in agony, nearly losing consciousness, while Lina's eyes widened in terror. Rushing out of the cave, she screamed,

"Brother! Brother!"

Despite his searing pain, Leon motioned with a trembling hand and managed in a weak voice to say,

"No... don't come! Run! Save yourself! Don't worry about me!"

Lina completely disregarded his plea. Determined to die beside her brother rather than be left behind, she dashed toward him.

Leon crawled along the ground, his shattered feet dragging as pain wracked his body. Suddenly, his gaze caught sight of an ordinary-looking sword lying on the ground. He attempted to lean on it, but a searing electric shock nearly rendered him unconscious. Clenching his lips, he fought through the shock, knowing there was no time to think. Ignoring the thoughts that had flitted through his mind as he grasped the sword, he focused solely on one thing:

"You can do this… get up… ignore the pain… you must save your sister!"

At that moment, the wolf was about to devour Lina…

Suddenly, with a swift slash, the wolf was cleaved in half, its hot blood splattering across Lina's face. Confused by what had just occurred, she could only register Leon's embrace as he held her tightly, whispering,

"I told you everything would be all right."

Dazed and unable to comprehend the unfolding events, Lina pushed aside her swirling thoughts—there was no time for reflection. Yet, matters were far from over; a group of dozens of wolves had now encircled them, rendering the situation even more perilous.

At that moment, Leon raised his blood-stained blond hair toward the sky. His eyes burned with a cold, murderous determination as he declared:

"Anyone who comes near her, I will turn into minced meat."

An aura of death spread around them. Lina froze in place, unresponsive, while the wolves, sensing the unmistakable scent of death, seemed to approach their fate. It wasn't long before they began to retreat in panic.

Leon exhaled a shaky breath and murmured softly, "I can't believe I resisted the urge to dismember them—I didn't want her to see what I was capable of." Yet, he soon began to lose his balance. Suddenly, he felt his sword being pulled toward the corpse of the wolf he had slain, and the tip of the sword began to draw in fresh blood. A terrible pain seized him; he cried out as if burning in the flames of hell. It was the sword's violent reaction; unable to bear it, he collapsed, unconscious.

Lina, who had been watching everything unfold, was utterly confused. Ignoring her own thoughts, she managed to hoist Leon up and hurried him back inside the cave—the only safe haven in this ravaged village.

Inside the cave, she kindled a fire and began to tend to Leon's grievous wounds, all the while reflecting on the events that had just transpired.

---

After a full day…

Leon finally awoke, groaning in pain. He clutched his head, trying to grasp what was happening. Before he could utter a word, Lina sprang toward him and embraced him tightly:

"I was so worried about you!"

Leon took her hand to calm her, repeating softly,

"I told you everything would be all right."

Lina looked at him anxiously and said,

"Your wounds seem to be healing at an odd pace!"

Leon examined his body and mused,

"I think there's something about this sword."

Lina's eyes widened in shock,

"The sword?! How can that be?"

Leon shook his head apologetically,

"I don't know why, but it seems fate wants us to survive."

Glancing at the sword, Leon noticed the number 500 engraved on it—a surprisingly high figure! He knew that wielding such power would typically require slaying many monsters, yet he had only killed one wolf. Pushing aside his thoughts for the moment, he was too exhausted to ponder further.

Lina then asked,

"Are you hungry?"

Leon managed a tired smile and replied,

"I'm starving."

Lina retrieved some snacks from her bag and offered them to him. They shared the meal, then spent the night in the cave.

---

The next day…

Leon woke early and roused his sister,

"Come on, we need to leave this place."

Lina did not object; she trusted that Leon was now strong enough to protect her.

They began searching through the corpses for any sign of their relatives. The scene was horrifying—bodies scattered everywhere, and within three days the stench of death had begun to permeate the air.

Suddenly, Lina placed a hand over her mouth and collapsed, tears welling in her eyes. She had just seen the lifeless bodies of her parents embracing each other, both with serene smiles. Despite the passing days, their bodies remained unblemished, without any foul odor.

Leon stood transfixed by the sight, though he had prepared himself for this moment ever since their separation. He clasped his hands behind his back, his fingernails digging into his palm as he struggled to maintain composure—he could not afford to break down in front of his little sister, for he was responsible for her protection.

Leon gathered the bodies of their parents along with those of Yun, Fawz, and Mina's parents, and held a small funeral near a towering cedar tree, placing flowers atop their graves.

Addressing Lina, he said,

"We must find Rin and Mina. I haven't seen them anywhere, but I'm confident they're safe."

Lina's eyes glimmered with hope, wishing they were indeed well.

At that very moment…

Mina awoke to find Rin busy chopping branches for firewood, a knife in hand. Noticing her awake, he looked at her and said,

"It seems you've finally woken up."

Mina asked weakly, "Did something happen?"

Rin answered calmly, "It appears you slept for an entire day—you must have been very tired."

Startled, Mina jumped up, her face flushing as she felt a ringing in her ears from the shock: "An entire day?!"

Rin nodded and said, "Nothing to worry about."

After a moment's hesitation, Mina inquired, "Were you guarding me while I slept?"

Rin paused before answering softly, "I no longer feel that I can sleep."

Though his demeanor remained calm, there were no signs of fatigue—his wounds were visibly healing. He pointed toward a clear blue river under a bright blue sky, as if what they had experienced was nothing more than a distant dream. At that moment, the "Thunder Catastrophe Wolf" reappeared at the gate that had been sealed.

Rin said, "Wash your face over there; I'll prepare breakfast."

Mina headed to the river while Rin went fishing and then ventured into the forest to gather some fruits for a fish soup. Upon her return, Mina sat on a tree stump as Rin prepared the soup. Suddenly, Rin waved a red apple and tossed it to her, saying, "I found an apple tree while wandering."

Mina bit into the apple, a look of delight spreading across her face, "It's delicious!"

After breakfast, Mina asked hesitantly, "It seems the gate has vanished. Did anything happen while I slept?"

Rin replied, "At dawn, the gate began to shrink, and the giant wolf rose from its slumber before it could close completely."

Mina expressed relief, thinking the danger had passed, but Rin added gravely, "It's safe to rest for now, but it will most likely reappear at sunset."

Surprised, Mina asked, "How do you know?"

Rin glanced at his sword and said, "It appears this sword carries a wealth of information about that demonic gate. It emerged in ancient times, but that era was erased from history. No one in the world knows of its existence… There are hidden forces at work behind the scenes."

Mina's face registered both confusion and concern, yet she composed herself and said, "Come on, let's continue searching for them. I have a strong feeling they're still alive."

Rin nodded, and they pressed on.

---

Meanwhile, Leon and Lina continued their search. Leon declared confidently, "I'm sure they're still alive."

Unbeknownst to them, they were drawing too near. Suddenly, Rin sensed danger and gripped his sword. On the other side, Leon felt the same ominous presence. The sword was giving signs that another wielder of similar power was approaching.

Rin cautioned softly, "There is another like me wielding a sword—but his power far exceeds mine."

Mina nodded slowly as fear began to seep into her heart. At that moment, both Rin and Leon started sprinting between the trees until their eyes met in the middle of the forest. Initially, neither focused on the other's face; their eyes were locked solely on the swords.

The clashing of swords rang out forcefully, but Rin's reaction was quicker. Then, as he looked upon his opponent's face, he realized with shock that it was… Leon!

Both swords clattered to the ground in disbelief, and not a single word was uttered until Lina suddenly leaped forward and embraced Rin tightly, tears streaming down her face.

From a distance, Mina observed this and felt a measure of relief. Yet Lina clung to Rin, sobbing in a trembling voice, "I was so worried about you!"

Rin exhaled with a gentle smile, "There's no need to worry; everything will be all right."

Lina attempted to console Mina over the loss of their families, but Mina offered a sad smile that reflected her deep sorrow. In a sudden moment of tenderness, Mina embraced her, and their tears flowed unceasingly as they remembered the scattered corpses of their families.

---

Meanwhile, tension reigned between Rin and Leon, and neither spoke to the other. After a long silence, Rin said, "Let's postpone this conversation for later. We need to find a place to rest for the night."

Leon suggested, "It's best we leave this area. I saw some wolves roaming around here."

Rin replied, "I spotted a cave about a kilometer from here—it seems safe for now. We can spend the night there."

Leon agreed, and they all moved toward the cave. As they walked, silence fell among them—none knew quite how to express the mixed emotions of sorrow and fleeting hope.

As the sun began to wane, heralding dusk, Rin spoke gravely, "We must hurry… it's about to appear."

Lina asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Rin glanced at Leon and said, "It seems you haven't told her anything."

Leon responded apologetically, "I'm sorry—I didn't mean to frighten you. But this gate begins to emerge at sunset, then shrinks at dawn."

Lina nodded in understanding, "I see."

They arrived at the cave's entrance, and Rin instructed Leon, "Stay here with them. I'll go in and check to see if it's safe."

Moments later, Rin emerged, saying, "You can come in—it's safe."

Mina and Lina exhaled with relief, having been anxious over his delay. They each entered separately, followed by Rin and then Leon.

---

Inside, Rin had gathered some firewood beforehand to light a fire. He stepped out with Leon and felled a large tree to fashion a table and chairs. Meanwhile, Mina prepared the food.

They set their plates on broad leaves, and the aroma of the delicious meal filled the air. Amid the warmth and the comforting food, for a moment they felt as though they were with their lost families again.

Suddenly, Mina proposed, "What do you think about returning to the village to hold a funeral for our families?"

Rin began to speak, but Leon interrupted, "There's no need. I have already interred everyone—next to Yun and Fawz, beneath a majestic cedar."

Gratefully, Mina bowed to Leon and Lina, saying, "I will never forget this as long as I live."

Lina replied gently, "There's no need to thank us… we are family."

Rin then said, "I wanted to return for that, but we were busy searching for you—and then we were attacked by a wolf. We nearly died."

Lina added, "The same thing happened to us, but Leon saved me. The sword gave him the strength to kill the wolf."

Mina looked at Rin and said, "It was the same with you, Rin… It seems fate has kept us alive for a reason."

Leon and Rin exchanged a meaningful look, as if realizing their destinies were intertwined.

"I'm going out to hunt," Rin announced. "Leon, will you come with me? As for the rest of you, stay inside the cave. We won't go far—don't worry."

Leon nodded in agreement. When they stepped out of the cave, the demonic gate had already appeared, and from it emerged a great "Thunder Catastrophe Wolf," followed by its pack. Yet something strange occurred: while the massive wolf remained motionless, the other wolves began dispersing in all directions.

Leon and Rin gazed at the sky. Then Rin asked,

"How did you come by that sword?"

Leon replied,

"I found it by chance among the scattered corpses when I was crawling on the ground. I picked it up to lean on it, but I was struck by an electric shock that nearly knocked me out. I had no time to think—the moment Lina was about to die, I acted without hesitation and split the wolf in half. But I didn't explain it to Lina, for this sword is shrouded in mystery."

Leon then asked,

"And how did you find your sword?"

Rin recounted, "When I was searching for my bag with Mina, we heard a wolf's howl. I followed the sound, only to find myself in a strange place where I encountered an old man with a white beard. He asked me some bizarre questions before vanishing into thin air."

Rin then drew his sword and his book. Leon examined the book but soon felt the same sensation that had overtaken him when he first gripped the sword. Then, picking up Rin's sword in surprise, Leon inquired,

"Why is your sword engraved with the number 2?"

Rin answered,

"I killed only one wolf. The number 1 appeared suddenly when I was on the brink of death, then the number 2 emerged as I absorbed the corpse. I doubted the first number's appearance because when I awoke beside Mina, the body had already vanished. I believe the sword absorbed the corpse during my unconscious state."

At that moment, Leon produced his sword. Rin's mouth fell open in astonishment as he exclaimed,

"Why does your sword bear the number 500?!"

Leon responded hesitantly,

"I don't know… I assumed your sword bore the same number. Memories of the sword flooded me, and I found it strange. Initially, I thought the number was false, but the power I felt—the experience radiating from it—cannot be denied. It remains an enigma."

Rin looked at the sword in bewilderment and murmured,

"What is happening? How

can this be?"

Then, recalling his earlier sensations, he added,

"But while searching for you, I felt the power of this sword. There's no way the number is fake."

Rin returned the sword to Leon and said quietly,

"It's better we don't reveal the truth right now."

Leon nodded in agreement.