"Be careful. This man's power… it's strange. Unpredictable," Elkan warned his two brothers.
Kael's body blazed with intense mana. His aura surged violently, causing the ground beneath his feet to rise and crack.
"Get ready—"
SING! Kael launched forward like a rocket. Flames coiled around his right fist, forming the image of a roaring tiger. He drove the blazing fist straight into Elkan.
Elkan barely raised a magical shield in time. A violent explosion rocked the battlefield, and dust erupted from the ground as the spell clashed.
Boru and Kian leapt back just in time—
BANG!
Elkan flew through the air. His shield shattered under the force of the strike, and Kael's punch connected directly with his face, sending him hurtling through trees until he finally crashed into a jagged wall of stone.
"Tiger Fist... successful," Kael said confidently.
Boru growled and unleashed a breath of poisonous magic. A red mist spilled from his mouth—deadlier than before—melting everything it touched.
Kael instinctively covered his nose with his arm, but quickly realized even the ground, stone, and trees were disintegrating.
His skin began to burn.
"Now, Kian!" Boru shouted.
Kian slammed his hands into the earth. "Earth Element Magic: Mountain's Wrath!"
BOOM! Two massive mounds of stone erupted and clamped down on Kael, burying him.
"Did... did we get him?" Boru asked, eyes wide.
BOOM!!
Kael exploded from the trap, his fiery aura obliterating the earth and scattering the red mist. The shockwave cleared the field.
"He's still standing?! Who the hell is this guy?" Kian muttered, shaken.
Kael was bleeding. His skin was scorched. But his spirit burned fiercer than ever.
"Bastard!" Boru screamed, firing a volley of poison blasts from his palm.
Kael dashed like a fighter jet, twisting and weaving between the venomous projectiles.
Meanwhile, Fina struggled against magical bindings that kept her hands and legs tied to the ground. She gritted her teeth, powerless to break free.
"Shh. Stay still. I'm getting you out," a soft voice whispered.
Fina glanced down. A man crouched beside her—young in face, but dressed like an old uncle.
"Who are you?" she asked, breathing heavily.
"Asfan. Friend of the guy fighting over there." He nodded toward Kael, who was still dancing around deadly magic.
***
#Two hours earlier.
Asfan had been enjoying some very private company when a loud explosion rocked the island.
The townspeople heard it too.
His instincts screamed: Kael.
He raced toward the source—and found Kael locked in battle with three high-ranking noble mages from the Mermaid Sun Guild.
Now, seeing the chaos firsthand, Asfan made a decision. He couldn't walk away.
He wouldn't leave Kael and Fina behind.
With a swift motion, he dispelled the earth magic sealing Fina's limbs.
She collapsed into his arms, gasping.
Asfan, noticing her torn clothes, removed his cloak and gently wrapped it around her.
The two now watched Kael dodging Boru's relentless attacks.
"Should I help him?" Asfan asked calmly.
Fina coughed, trying to catch her breath. "You're his friend, aren't you? Then help him..."
***
Back on the battlefield, Kael couldn't close the distance. Boru's poison magic rained down without pause.
Kian watched carefully, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Damn, I can't get close... These guys are elite mages," Kael muttered as he dashed, grinning despite the odds. "If all nobles are this strong... this is getting exciting."
"Earth Element Magic: Mud Grave!" Kian chanted.
Suddenly, Kael's legs were trapped—sucked into thick, magical mud.
"Nice one, Kian! I love you, bro!" Boru cheered.
"You're done now!" he screamed, unleashing another toxic blast.
Kael's eyes widened. He couldn't move.
BANG!
"Gotcha! That poison will paralyze you completely. You'll be numb... then dead!" Boru howled with twisted glee.
WHOOSH!
The poison mist vanished suddenly, swept away by a golden wind.
Kael was still standing—barely.
His body trembled, burns and poison weighing him down.
Asfan stood before him, a golden light spinning in sacred circles on both palms.
Holy Magic. Only wielded by the sacred priests of the divine church.
"Damn you... again?!" Boru screamed, slamming his fists into the ground.
"Careful, Boru. Holy magic is poison's natural enemy. We're in trouble," Kian warned grimly.
Kael looked up at Asfan, tears brimming.
He never imagined this pervy uncle was actually a high-level priest.
"Pervert Priest... you're amazing."
Kael collapsed again with a loud thud.
Asfan blinked. "Was that a compliment... or an insult?" he muttered.
He didn't care. It was true anyway.
"Kael, we need to fall back. You're wounded. And the girl... she won't last much longer."
Kael glanced toward Fina. Her body was shaking—barely conscious.
"Alright, Pervert Priest. Let's go."
"Brace yourself. Holy Spell: Radiant Light."
A golden magic circle burst in the sky, blinding Boru and Kian.
Kael and Asfan vanished into the haze.
"I can't see! I CAN'T SEE!" Boru screamed, panicking.
"Damn that priest..." Kian cursed.
As the blinding light faded, the battlefield fell silent.
They were gone.
"They escaped," Kian said, his jaw tight.
Boru walked through the wreckage of shattered stones and trees. There, Elkan lay motionless—face bruised, bloodied, barely breathing.
Kian pressed a hand to Elkan's neck. "He's alive. But badly hurt..."
He stared into the distance.
"Who was that boy? His magic... it's unnatural."
***
Kael and the others had escaped—barely.
They fled deep into the forest, far from the battlefield.
Asfan carried Fina on his back. Her breathing was shallow, her body limp. After a while, they stopped beneath a large tree. Asfan gently set her down, propping her against the trunk.
"Alright, what's the plan now?" Asfan asked, his voice low and serious. "You're the one who caused all this mess. I hope you actually have a plan."
Kael didn't answer. Truthfully, he didn't have one.
"We should go to Lunar Village," Fina spoke up, her voice faint. "It's nearby... the village of Angelia's native people."
"Nice thinking, Mochi Boobs," Kael smiled.
With Fina guiding the way, they made their way through the forest. Her directions were slow but sure, and eventually, they arrived at the village.
Lunar was modest but lively. Neat little houses lined a single dirt road that ended at a massive, ancient tree—marking the edge of the village.
As they passed through the entrance, children ran around laughing and playing. But they froze when they saw Fina.
"Fina! What happened to you?" a little girl asked, wide-eyed.
"It's nothing. I'm alright," Fina said, trying to stay strong.
Some of the children ran off, likely to alert the village elder.
Moments later, an older woman—around fifty, with quick steps and sharp eyes—came rushing over. It was Maria, the head of Lunar Village.
She immediately took charge, helping Fina off Asfan's back with care.
"Oh, sweetheart, what happened to you?" she asked, clearly distressed.
"I'm fine, really. Please... help them too. They're not bad people. They saved me," Fina said firmly, hiding her pain behind trembling lips.
Maria nodded and motioned for them to follow.
As they walked toward Maria's home, Asfan took note of the village surroundings. Something felt off. Very off. But he said nothing yet.
Once they arrived, Fina was taken to a room inside. Several village girls came to tend to her wounds.
Kael and Asfan waited in the sitting room. Moments later, Maria returned, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at Kael.
"You're hurt too. What's your name, dear?" she asked kindly, settling into the seat across from them.
"I'll be fine. It's just a scratch," Kael replied, trying to sound tough.
"I won't ignore someone who risked their life for Fina," Maria said. "Some girls will be here shortly to treat your wounds."
Asfan remained silent, but his brows were furrowed. Something didn't sit right.
"Pardon my question," he finally spoke, "but... is this village entirely female?"
Maria offered a small, bitter smile. "Yes. Everyone here is a woman."
Asfan blushed. For a man like him, this place was a dream come true.
Kael frowned. "Where are all the men? That's... not cool."
Maria's expression darkened.
"They're all dead."
Silence fell like a stone.
Asfan saw it in her eyes—rage, grief, vengeance all buried deep.
Kael clenched his fists. "Was it... the Mermaid Sun Guild?"
Maria nodded. "Yes. They slaughtered every man in our village. Then they forced the women into working as entertainers in brothels."
She paused, voice trembling.
"Once we turned thirty-five, they demanded we bear children. If we gave birth to girls, they let them live. But if it was a boy... they killed him."
Kael's jaw tightened. His hands trembled with fury.
"Fina... she's skilled with mana. Just a guess, but... are many of the young women here born from noble and commoner bloodlines? Is that why they're beautiful... and favored by mana?" he asked carefully.
Maria gave him a long look, then turned her gaze to Asfan.
"You're sharper than you look, priest."
Asfan blinked. "Wait—how do you know I'm a priest?"
"The bracelet on your right wrist. It marks you as a member of the Holy Church," Maria said with ease.
Asfan cursed under his breath. He hadn't thought anyone would notice.
"Yes, many of our girls are hybrids," Maria continued. "Some can wield magic. And among them... Fina is special. She has the courage to change things."
Kael looked at Maria seriously.
"Why are they after Mochi Boobs?"
Maria frowned. "Who's... Mochi Boobs?"
Asfan nearly choked. "H-he means Fina!" he blurted out, panicking.
"Oh... Fina," Maria nodded slowly. "But why call her that?"
Kael grinned proudly. "Because her chest is soft like mochi buns! You know—warm, squishy, and just... dangerously soft. When you touch it, it's like—"
SMACK!
Asfan slapped his hand over Kael's mouth with a loud thud.
"Forget that! Please forgive him, Madam Maria," Asfan said, utterly embarrassed.
Maria chuckled softly. "I see. It's fine, really."
Kael fainted, toppling over.
"Kael?!"
"You hit him too hard," Maria said with a sigh.
***
Later that evening, Kael and Asfan were shown to a house right next to Maria's.
Several village girls helped them settle in—bringing food, clothes, and medical supplies.
Asfan couldn't believe his luck. "This place is heaven," he muttered, eyes sparkling.
Kael was still unconscious on the bed.
Then came a knock.
"Come in," Asfan called.
A blonde girl stepped in—adorable and graceful.
"P-pardon me, sir. I... I have healing magic. I-I'll treat the wounded man," she stammered nervously.
Asfan was frozen. Mesmerized. Mouth agape.
"Sir?"
He snapped out of it. "Yes—uh—he's in there. That room."
She nodded and tiptoed inside. Asfan followed.
"My name is Suha. I'll begin the examination. Um... what's this brave man's name?"
"Kael," Asfan replied.
Suha placed her hands above Kael and activated a spell.
"Scan."
A soft green light swept across Kael's body, revealing internal damage.
"There's still poison—deep in his lungs," she said.
Asfan stepped forward. "I suspected as much. Let me help. Holy Magic: Purification."
He placed his hand on Kael's chest, golden light flooding his palm.
"Heal," Suha whispered, her spell glowing bright green.
Together, they worked for nearly an hour—sweating, focused, and silent.
At last, it was done.
"We did it," Suha sighed with relief.
Asfan wiped his brow. "That took everything out of me..."
Suha smiled. "Sir Kael is incredible. A normal man wouldn't have survived."
Asfan looked at Kael's peaceful face.
"Where does his power come from?" he wondered aloud.
Then Suha frowned slightly. "But there's something odd."
"What is it?" Asfan asked quickly.
"Kael has... no mana. Not even a trace. His body is completely empty."
Asfan's eyes widened.
He remembered the explosions of mana Kael had unleashed in battle.
And now?
Nothing.
Not a single drop of magic within him.
He stared at Kael, a strange chill running down his spine.
"Just who... are you, Kael Luminous?"
To be continued...