Scene 09 "Thunder Kingdom – A Remote Place"
Master **Joser** and his disciple **Ned** ride their horses through a rocky, sparsely vegetated area in one of the remote regions of the Thunder Kingdom. Joser has brought Ned here to teach him a lesson about excessive curiosity—though Ned is unaware of this. As they ride, their conversation unfolds:
**Joser:**
"I heard you took down hundreds of Lava Birds with ease… You're one of the strongest warriors, Ned. But don't rush. Wait for the right moment to show your strength and display your skills."
**Ned:**
"Yes, Master Joser."
Joser halts his horse, **Aasif**, turns it toward Ned, and fixes his gaze directly into his disciple's eyes.
With firm seriousness, he speaks:
**Joser:**
"I also heard something else about you."
He grips his **black sword** and slowly begins to draw it from its sheath. Ned freezes in shock, terror gripping him—he remembers what Tagar told him:
*If that sword is drawn, even a little, it can cause catastrophic destruction.*
Ned shuts his eyes tightly and shields himself with his arms… yet nothing happens.
**Joser:**
"Did I scare you, Ned? Everything you've heard about the **Black Sword** is true…
It's one of the **Seven Swords**, each of which holds one of the **Seven Dragons** and countless lesser attached beasts within its sheath."
Ned, stunned:
**Ned:**
"You mean… inside that sheath, there's a dragon? And many other creatures?!"
**Joser:**
"Yes, Ned. The Black Sword isn't called 'black' because of its color… but because the dragon sealed inside it is called **Black**, the strongest and most dangerous of them—meaning: *The Sword of the Black Dragon*."
**Ned:**
"And there are six others?"
**Joser:**
"Correct. I wield the **Black Sword**, and the others are:
* **The Mist Sword**
* **The Lightning Sword**
* **The Ice Sword**
* **The Earth Sword**
* **The Flame Sword**
* **The Water Sword**
The dragons sealed within them are:
* Mist Dragon: **Fog**
* Lightning Dragon: **Strike**
* Ice Dragon: **Frost**
* Earth Dragon: **Quake**
* Flame Dragon: **Volcano**
* Water Dragon: **Cascade**
The Black Sword is like any ordinary weapon **as long as its true owner is not holding it**. Its power does not awaken for anyone else.
Even while sheathed, the sword is dangerous in the hand of its bearer.
Master **Neogen** warned us against drawing or releasing any of its dragons.
There are three warriors who can control all seven swords—and any other weapon.
The Seven Swords… are the **Seventh Foundation** of our world."
**Joser:**
"Has your curiosity faded now, Ned?"
**Ned:**
"Yes, Master."
**Joser:**
"The **Gate of the Unknown** is the **Second Foundation** of our world.
It has linked gates:
* **Exile Gates** – the Third Foundation
* **Confinement Gates** – the Fourth Foundation
* **Transfer Gates** – the Fifth Foundation
I possess the **Confinement Gates**. I inherited them from their previous guardian and activated them.
The Protected Land is shielded by one of my Confinement Gates."
**Ned:**
"The protection barrier?"
**Joser:**
"Yes. It is bound to my strength. If a warrior ever defeats me and forces me to *sink in pain into my own land*, all the gates will break, releasing countless violent creatures and ruthless warriors…
And the protection barrier will vanish as well."
**Ned:**
"What about the rest?"
**Joser:**
"The **Transfer Gates** allow a warrior to travel from inside the Gate of the Unknown to the outside and back.
The **Exile Gates** banish enemies to whatever place the user desires—even non-material places.
Have you had enough?"
**Ned:**
"You've told me so much, Master… things I never knew."
**Joser:**
"Do you see the Red Spiral?"
**Ned:**
"Yes. It's enormous. You can see it from anywhere on the planet."
**Joser:**
"Its red color means nothing will happen during this period.
This sword draws its power from a warrior trapped at the center of the Spiral.
If you go to the Forbidden Land, you'll find a shining crystal within it—holding that warrior inside.
He feels every spiritual and physical pain that any creature or warrior in our land experiences.
That causes the crystal to darken and pulse.
Look here—this sword contains a similar crystal, much smaller.
If it darkens… the consequences will be severe."
**Ned:**
"Aren't you afraid for him?"
**Joser:**
"He remains just a normal sword as long as he is away from his rightful owner.
No one else can benefit from him."
**Ned:**
"And…?"
Before Ned can finish, Joser cuts him off sharply:
**Joser (angrily):**
"Enough! Your curiosity never ends. And you are impatient…
Come. Fight me. Imagine I am your enemy. NOW."
They begin to clash fiercely, their battle echoing through the rocky region.
Unbeknownst to them, two figures watch from above—**Master Waozen and his disciple Tagar**—riding atop the giant tamed **Black Eagle**.
Waozen orders the eagle to descend.
He glances at Tagar, who smiles—understanding exactly what his master wants.
Tagar unsheathes his sword.
**Waozen (impressed):**
"You're smart, Tagar."
Waozen raises his spear. Their duel begins.
**Waozen:**
"I won't spare you, and I won't show mercy. But I know you'll survive until sunset."
**Tagar:**
"Don't worry. I won't let you kill me."
Night falls. The moon rises.
Both Ned and Tagar lie defeated by their masters—despite the fact that neither Joser nor Waozen fought seriously. It was nothing more than a lion playfully disciplining its cubs.
Joser lifts his disciple from the ground:
**Joser:**
"You still have a long road ahead… You're a talented warrior, and you will succeed me one day.
You may have wondered who we are…
We are the **Warriors of the Unknown**, guardians of this world.
We are the protective hand, the watchful eye, and the shield of its people and creatures.
It was our mission in the past… and our mission now… and forever.
The passage of time does not change us.
Challenges do not break our resolve.
We endure as long as the heartbeat of our land endures.
And if that heartbeat ever fades… we fade with it."
Not far away, Waozen addresses his own disciple:
**Waozen:**
"I knew I wouldn't be able to kill you."
He mounts the Black Eagle and soars into the sky.
Tagar stands, gazing at the glowing full moon.
The eagle grows smaller in the distance.
Tagar assumes the warrior's salute and speaks:
**Tagar:**
"Honor and respect to you, Master Waozen."
**Narrator:**
"We meet again in the next episode, dear viewers…
Until then, farewell."