Despite facing an enemy far above his class…
Despite staring at a monster that had already obliterated multiple magical beasts and B-class mages on its own…
Despite his own battered body...
Dae couldn't fathom how Dom could stand the Reflezard with such an unwavering glow in his eyes.
The trembling in Dom's fists, the surging blue aura surrounding his body, and his heaving breathing all fueled not by pain… but by an indomitable drive for righteous fury.
As Dom suddenly dashed toward the beast, his burst creating a shockwave of dust, Dae's mind flashed back to an old memory.
< In a green, sunlit garden at the back of a large, elegant mansion…
An eight-year-old Dae, in a long white robe, stumbled to one knee, shallow pants escaping his mouth as he barely held onto his two short wooden swords.
The crunch of sandals on the grass then drew his eyes upward.
An old man approached, a wooden sword in hand, as he stopped in front of Dae with a warm, friendly smile. "You've gotten better, little one. I'm impressed," He said.
Dae grunted, rising slowly. "I still haven't hit you yet," He murmured, rubbing his cheek with his wrist while glancing at the old man's spotless robes, compared to his dirtied ones.
The man laughed. "It'll take a few more years before you do that." He declared boldly.
Dae narrowed his eyes. "One more time." He said, taking a stance with his weapons raised—but the man suddenly smacked his head with his sword.
Dae whimpered as he dropped his swords and rubbed his aching skull.
"A smart warrior knows when to retreat. I've told you that many times, Dae." The man said, his voice suddenly strict, making Dae frown.
After a short, tensed moment, the old man's expression softened as he placed a hand on Dae's head. "Besides, I heard your mother made Yugwa."
Dae's sadness vanished instantly at the mention of his favorite dessert. Without thinking, he dashed to the house, his training completely abandoned, while the old man laughed behind him.
Ten minutes later…
Dae and the old man sat at the dining table.
A young woman, bearing a striking resemblance to Dae, arrived with a tray of colorful snacks and drinks.
"Thank you, mother," Dae said, happily taking the food.
She smiled warmly. "You're very welcome, my dear." She said, placing the bigger plate in front of the old man.
As the man took the cup of tea, she noticed the wooden sword beside him.
"Father, I thought we agreed not to bring swords to the dining hall." She said, her voice calm yet slightly intimidating.
The old man chuckled. "Sorry, Nari." He said, gently sipping his tea. "People my age tend to forget things."
Nari, Dae's mother, narrowed her eyes at him--her father-in-law, and Dae's grandfather, her expression even more threatening, but then sighed helplessly as she picked up the sword and returned it to its allocated place.
As the grandfather picked up his chopsticks, he noticed Dae organizing his snacks by color. "Does that really matter? You'll eat them anyway," He asked.
"I just like it this way," Dae said, finishing his arrangement before taking a bite from the purple colored snack, and let out a satisfied sigh.
The grandfather shook his head, then ate with a matching sigh.
Minutes later…
A maid arrived to pick up the empty dishes.
As she refilled the man's cup, Dae asked the question that had been burning inside him for some time.
"Grandfather? How can I become strong like you?"
The Grandfather thanked the maid for the cup, then turned to answer calmly, "Through years of dedicated training and experience,"
Dae pouted. "But I've been at this for two years already." He muttered.
The Grandfather smirked. "It'll take a few more years than that, Dae."
"How long?" Dae asked as the maid dropped a mug in front of him.
"Who knows?" The old man said, sipping on his refreshing tea. "It usually takes thirty years to master all the forms. Since I added a few more, it took me almost five decades to complete my training."
He lowered his cup with a fond smile.
"Even your father, Hakuji, has yet to fully master it."
Dae's frown deepened. "That's… a long time." He mumbled, his spirit disheartened.
His grandfather then gave him an encouraging smile. "But," He said, tapping his chin dramatically. "… seeing you grasp so much at such a young age while still modifying it into your own two-sword style. It wouldn't surprise me if you master it faster than all of us."
Dae's eyes widened. "Even you?" He asked.
The grandfather's grin stretched further. "Are you in such a hurry to surpass me?"
"Yes." Dae declared, a fist raised. "I'm going to finally defeat you and become the greatest swordsman in the world." His words were childish, but they carried a determination that shone through the colorful food smear on his cheek.
The sight made the old man laugh.
Dae's brow twitched. "Are you mocking me?" He asked, annoyed.
"Of course not, young warrior." The man chuckled, hiding his teasing smile behind his cup while Dae glared at him as he drank his warm milk, another sight that drew a laugh from the old man.
Some more minutes later, while another maid cleaned the table, Dae asked the question that truly mattered:
"Grandfather… what if, even after mastering it, I'm still not stronger than you?"
The old man raised a brow.
"You said great-grandfather and even great-great-grandfather mastered it faster than you… But you're still stronger than all of them. Why?"
Dae looked at him, his young gaze incredibly serious.
"Is it because you added more forms?" He asked.
"It might be part of it…" The Grandfather replied as he folded his arms and hummed in thought. "But I think the real reason…was that I followed Ethan,"
"The Mage Emperor?" Dae whispered, eyes wide.
The old man smirked at his surfacing memories. "He was a great and powerful mage. A man worthy of the title he bears." He said, his smile softening. "But it wasn't his strength or title that moved me to fight by his side… it was his savior complex."
"Saviour complex? What's that?" Dae asked, curious.
The Grandfather looked at the ceiling as he answered, "It's a name for people who are driven to save everyone and anyone they find…even at the cost of their own life."
Dae's brow furrowed. "Isn't that… dangerous?"
"That's why I respected him," He chuckled, turning his gaze back to his grandson. "Throughout my many years in battle, I've met countless warriors who boast of the same drive. But when their lives were threatened, they were the first to run."
His smile widened.
"Ethan was one of the few who could still stand and fight. No… he was even worse than the rest."
He paused, shaking his head at the memory.
"It was almost as if he was eagerly throwing his life away for others' sake. To be honest, his complex was more of a mental illness than a noble trait."
The Grandfather laughed at his own words, his heart flooded with reminiscence of numerous examples.
Dae tilted his head, confused. "But… a smart warrior knows when to retreat… right?" He asked.
The Grandfather rubbed his head, conflicted by his own words now turned against him. "That's true, but…" He said, his gaze darkened. "There are some fights you can't run away from--even if the result is guaranteed."
Dae's frown deepened even more. "I'm confused." He muttered.
The old man sighed. "You'll understand it one day." The old man sighed with a shrug. "Let's just say being Ethan made me stronger."
Dae glanced at his grandfather, his next words hesitant, "But he's… dead."
He nodded sadly, recalling the death of his dear friend and the unbearable darkness that surrounded that event… then smiled as he looked at Dae.
"But it doesn't have to be Ethan…" He said, "… if you truly follow my footsteps, I'm certain you'll encounter someone like him."
"Really?" Dae asked, his eyes hopeful.
The Grandfather nodded, moving close enough to place a hand on Dae's head. "When you meet that person, follow them too." He said, rubbing Dae's silky black hair. "I can't explain it. But I believe staying together-- laughing, fighting, all while surviving many hardships will make you both stronger."
Dae smiled, eager to meet such a person, but then frowned in thought. "But how will I know if they have that…complex?"
The Grandfather chuckled fondly, removing his hand. "Believe me, Dae." He said, smiling boldly. "Many may try to imitate, but once you see the real thing, you'll just know it.">
Back in the present…
Dae's tired eyes widened as he watched Dom ram his shoulder into the Reflezard, sending it tumbling with an earth-rumbling crash.
As the beast retaliated with a swing of its injured tail, the impact flinging Dom through the air like a rag-doll, Dae flinched once he recalled Dom's declaration and his grandfather's words.
"It's you." He whispered, a glint of light reflecting from his corneas as the literal embodiment of a 'Savior Complex' crashed into a tree.
Dom groaned as he jumped off the tree and landed with a heavy thud while his eyes struggled to track the speeding shadow moving haphazardly around him.
"Why's this thing so damn fast?" He grumbled, narrowly dodging another claw strike that sliced through the ground like paper and left a shallow gash on his back.
Dom clicked his tongue once he felt the pain and suddenly twisted, sending a sharp punch into the beast's side, shattering its armor in one single strike.
But as he aimed another punch at its exposed flesh, his gaze shifted to the heavy tail now whistling towards him from the side. He raised his arms, blocking the strike with the impact, sending him skidding across the field several feet away.
"Damn it," He grumbled, lowering his arms just as the beast appeared behind him with another strike already incoming.
Dominic's strong enough to break its armor… Dae thought, watching as Dom weaved, the sharp claws grazing his hair while he countered the beast with a kick, its armor crumbling away like glass.
The problem is…
But before Dom could land the next blow, the beast retreated, its speed covering dozens of feet in an instant.
Dom clicked his tongue as he chased after it but clearly struggled to match its speed.
He's not fast enough to finish it off.
Dae watched Dom battle to fatally wound the beast, his eyes following the shards of armor scattering into the wind as the Reflezard dodged another armor-piercing punch from Dom's mana-infused fist.
If I can only slow it down for him…
He then glanced at his sword, still just out of reach… and then… a phrase echoed in his thoughts.
As the words resonated in his mind…as Dom's determined punches echoed in his ears…and his grandfather's advice resurfaced… Dae slowly found the strength to rise, to match the man that was said to be his equal for three whole years.
His purple eyes were glowing with unnatural strength as he popped his dislocated shoulder back into place.
And despite the agonizing pain, he reached out for his blade, his grip tight against the hilt, tiny sparks crackling around his still aching body.
Meanwhile…
Dom gritted his teeth as he weaved under the Reflezard's next slash. He stopped behind the beast with a sharp stomp and grabbed its tail with both hands, his fingers digging deep into its flesh.
"Ora!" Dom screamed as he yanked the heavy beast into the air and slammed it on the ground like a ragdoll, cracking the ground beneath with dust and debris erupting in all directions.
Dom then stomped on its right arm, pinning it down and forcing a pained shriek from the beast while he struck with both fists--but the Reflezard suddenly spun on the floor like a ball with enough force and speed to blast Dom away.
Dom grunted as he anchored his hands and feet into the ground, abruptly stopping his forced momentum.
But as he took another step forward, he stumbled, panting heavily as his pain and fatigue finally caught up to him.
"Damn." He sighed as he wiped the sweat from his brow and searched the thick dust cloud around him… but failed to notice two glowing eyes until the beast was already on top of him.
"Shit." He grumbled as he turned, his eyes widening once he realized that the Reflezard's claw was already inches away from ripping him apart.
Just as a streak of purple lightning suddenly cut through the dust, snatching Dom away from the beast's destructive path in an instant.
It shrieked with frustration and turned its gaze to Dom, now standing several feet away, his eyes focused on Dae, who knelt beside him, coughing into his hand.
"Hey. You okay?" Dom asked, noticing the blood stains on Dae's palm.
"Worry about yourself," Dae grumbled, wiping his lips while using his one sword to push himself up.
They then leapt apart, evading the Reflezard's next deadly charge, which tore into the ground immediately.
Dom aimed a punch at its exposed side, but it dashed to safety again. He gritted his teeth, brow twitching with frustration just as Dae zipped forward, electricity crackling around his body.
"I'll slow it down for you!" He shouted, gripping his lightning-charged sword with his two hands while his legs kicked rapidly across the floor. "When you see your chance, finish it!"
Dom stared briefly in shock, then grinned as he dashed to meet them.
As Dae drew near, the beast narrowed its gaze on the two colored hues directly in its vision.
And despite the rapidly approaching purple shroud, it focused its attention on the stronger blue shroud behind and burst forward, dashing right past Dae as it targeted Dom instead.
"I'm not even a threat to you now, right?" Dae muttered, sliding across the dirt as he suddenly changed direction and dashed after it. "You'll regret that."
Dae suddenly grunted, feeling his damaged body begging him to stop moving, like chains instantly locking him in place, anchoring him to the earth…
But he pushed past that pain with a rapid burst that brought him directly to the beast's side, his sword already pulled behind him.
"Single sword style. Form 2… Orbit!"
With a quick twist, Dae spun rapidly, his blade carving a wheel of lightning and steel, exploiting the gap of broken armor created by Dom's relentless blows to slice through one of its hind legs.
The Reflezard shrieked as it tumbled, its once threatening speed now harshly dragging its body across the floor until it finally stopped-- right in Dom's path.
With a wide grin, Dom swung his fist, the wind whistling against his knuckles. The beast instinctively raised an arm to defend, but Dom's punch obliterated it, the armor and flesh scattering into the air while the beast shrieked in pain.
"One more," Dom grumbled, planting his foot firmly to the ground as he swung his other fist, only for a familiar injured tail to smack his body away like a fly.
Dom skidded across the clearing like a skipping stone and smashed into a tree a couple of feet away.
As he dropped to his knees, blood escaped his lips and a bruise formed on his cheek… but…his smile only widened once he realized how weak that blow felt compared to the first one.
The beast stumbled, its eyes glancing between its weakened tail, injured leg, and severed arm. As it then locked eyes with Dom, the cold blue glow from this confident mage made its entire body tremble.
Instinctively, it realized that it was no longer the predator…and its defeat was imminent.
So…with a sudden gust, it bolted for the trees.
"Motherfucker." Dom scoffed as he chased after it, but despite its now slower dash, he couldn't close the distance.
Dae, however, easily overtook the beast and stopped in its path, pointing his sword forward. "You're not going anywhere," He grumbled, eyes burning with vengeance as he channeled his electricity in his weapon, which roared again like a cannon.
Once the beast noticed the surging mana in the trembling blade, it shrieked as familiar patterns spider-webbed across its armor, preparing to redirect the spell again.
But instead of shooting, Dae leapt forward and jammed the weapon through the gap in its broken armor, his blade piercing deep into the beast's flesh.
"Viper's Bolt!"
With a shout, Dae unleashed his spell directly into the Reflezard's body. It shrieked loudly as millions of volts ripped through its body with a bright purple light glowing through the cracks all over its body.
Then, it unleashed a sharp hiss and swung its one good arm into Dae's torso, sending him hurtling through the air.
Even a direct hit wasn't enough? He thought as he crashed into the corpse of a large beast. My reserve's almost exhausted so it's not a surprise…
His battered body trembled with excruciating pain, yet a faint smirk tugged at his blood-stained lips as he watched the beast stumble.
It let out a deafening shriek, its eyes widened as pain ripped throughout its entire body, its limbs twitching from the residual sparks while steam rose from the gaps in its armor.
He might not have defeated it, but he'd immobilized it.
Created an opening.
One which Dom didn't hesitate to exploit as he burst forward, closing the gap between him and his target in the blink of an eye.
The Reflezard sensed Dom's rapid approach and whipped its tail, the wind whistling around its thick musculature.
However, Dom leapt, easily evading the beast's now sluggish attack.
It looked up, eyes widening to their limits as it watched Dom draw his foot back--then smashed it directly into its face.
As the armor crumbled beneath Dom's foot, Dae watched from a distance, perceiving every shard of its hard shell scattered in slow motion.
"ORA!"
With a determined shout, Dom focused what's left of his strength into his kick, the intensity of his raging mana shredding his trousers as the force dug through the beast's considerably harder shell, before finally connecting with its skull.
The resulting explosion was akin to a ripe tomato being smashed with a bat. Armor, flesh, bone, and blood scattering into the wind as Dom's kick obliterated the Reflezard's head.
It only took a single second, but for Dae, it stretched for longer.
As the beast's headless body fell while Dom spun, unable to resist the momentum of his kick, Dae's tired smile widened.
I've finally found him, Grandfather.