The jungle was quieter now, or perhaps H.R. had simply grown accustomed to its sounds. The once-daunting growls of monsters were now background noise, a constant hum that no longer set his nerves on edge. He stood at the edge of a clearing, watching as Aika sparred with a C-rank monster, her movements sharp and precise. Her fiery red hair whipped through the air as she dodged a swipe of the creature's claws, countering with a blast of fire that engulfed it in flames. The monster let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing into ash.
Aika turned to him, her green eyes gleaming with pride. "Did you see that? I did not even break a sweat!"
H.R. nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You are getting stronger. But do not get cocky. Overconfidence gets people killed out here."
She rolled her eyes but could not hide the grin on her face. "You sound like an old man. Relax, will you? I have this."
He did not respond, his gaze drifting to the horizon. Two years had passed since he found her chained to that rotting tree, her spirit unbroken despite the collar around her neck. In that time, she had grown into a formidable warrior, her natural talent for
magic honed by relentless training. She was now second only to the prince in strength, a fact that filled H.R. with quiet pride.
But while Aika flourished, H.R. remained in the shadows. He had never been one for the spotlight, and his role as her mentor suited him. He trained her, protected her, and watched as she became the person he always knew she could be. Yet, despite her
growth, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was falling further behind. His body felt heavier with each passing day, his movements slower, his strength waning. He told himself it was age, but deep down, he feared it was something else something he
couldn't control. One evening, as they sat by a crackling fire, Aika broke the silence. "Why do you always hide your face when we're near the
city?"
H.R. stiffened, his hand instinctively touching the mask he wore whenever they ventured beyond the jungle. "It's safer this way," he said after a pause. "People don't need to know who I am." She tilted her head, studying him. "You're not some wanted criminal, are you?"
He chuckled, the sound low and weary. "No, nothing like that. I just… prefer to keep to myself."
Aika did not press further, but her curiosity lingered in the air like the smoke from the fire. H.R. knew she didn't fully understand him, and perhaps she never would. That was fine. His purpose wasn't to be understood it was to ensure she thrived.
The peace they had built was shattered one fateful morning. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the air grew thick with an oppressive energy. H.R. recognized it immediately: the presence of an S-rank monster. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice firm.
Aika shook her head. "No way. I'm not letting you face that thing alone."
"You're not ready," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This is beyond you."
She opened her mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes silenced her. Reluctantly, she nodded, though her fists clenched at her sides.
H.R. disappeared into the jungle, his movements swift and silent. When he reached the source of the disturbance, he found a towering beast, its body covered in jagged scales and its eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. It was unlike anything he had
ever seen, a creature born of pure destruction.
The battle was fierce, but H.R. moved with precision and power that surprised even him. His blade cut through the monster's thick hide as if it were paper, and his strikes were fueled by a strength he had not realized he possessed. When the beast finally
fell, its death throes shook the earth, and H.R. stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving.
He didn't return to Aika that night. Instead, he donned his mask and armor, becoming the figure the city would come to know as the "Dark Lord." Over the following weeks, S-rank monsters began to appear more frequently, their attacks growing bolder and
more devastating. The city's A-rank warriors struggled to hold them back, their efforts barely enough to keep the chaos at bay.
But in the shadows, H.R. fought alone. He moved like a ghost, striking down monsters before they could reach the city walls. The people whispered of a mysterious protector, a figure clad in darkness who wielded unimaginable power. Aika heard the rumors too, but she never connected them to the man who had
saved her all those years ago.
One night, as H.R. stood atop a crumbling tower overlooking the city, he felt a pang of loneliness. The mask hid his face, but it also hid his humanity. He had become a symbol, a legend, but at
what cost? Aika's laughter echoed in his mind, a reminder of the life he had left behind. He wondered if she would ever know the truth, if she would ever understand why he had chosen this path.
But for now, it didn't matter. The city needed him, and he would answer the call, even if it meant sacrificing everything. As the moon cast its pale light over the city, H.R. disappeared into the night, ready to face whatever horrors awaited him. The Dark Lord would endure, even if the man behind the mask
could not.