The meadow was peaceful.
Sunflowers swayed gently in the warm breeze, their golden faces glowing under the bright blue sky. Birds sang in the distance. The air smelled of fresh grass and blooming life. For a brief moment, everything felt calm.
Then the flowers began to burn.
Golden petals curled and blackened as flames licked across the field. The grass ignited in bright orange lines, spreading rapidly. The peaceful illusion shattered.
Jin moved like a storm of silver and fire.
Blood streaked down his cheek and arms from earlier grazes. His silver eyes blazed with chaotic light. His staff spun in a deadly blur around his body as he closed the distance in an explosive burst of speed, flames trailing from his feet. He leaped high, twisting mid-air, and brought the staff down in a crushing overhead strike aimed at Titan's head.
Titan stood motionless in the center of the burning meadow, hands clasped casually behind his back. At the last possible moment, he tilted his head slightly to the side. The staff whistled past his ear, missing by a hair's breadth. The ground where he stood exploded in a shower of dirt and flames.
"Too wide," Titan said calmly. "Your arc is predictable."
Jin landed and spun instantly, staff whipping in a low horizontal sweep aimed at Titan's legs. Titan didn't move his feet. He simply leaned his upper body back at an impossible angle, the staff passing harmlessly beneath him. Jin followed up with a rapid series of thrusts and spins — a whirlwind of strikes that blurred the air around Titan.
Titan dodged every single one without taking a single step. His massive frame moved with effortless precision, bending, tilting, and shifting just enough for each attack to miss by centimeters. Flames and sparks flew wildly around him, but none touched his skin.
"You're telegraphing your intent with your shoulders," Titan critiqued, voice steady even as Jin pressed the assault. "And your footwork is too rigid. You're fighting like you're still on the streets."
Jin roared and leaped again, channeling flames into the staff for a powerful thrust. The tip ignited into a blazing spear of fire.
Titan finally moved — one smooth step to the side. As Jin passed, Titan's leg snapped up in a devastating kick. The impact connected with Jin's side like a cannon shot. Jin was launched across the meadow, tumbling violently through burning grass before crashing hard into the ground, carving a trench through the earth.
Before Jin could recover, Hanz exploded into the fight.
Twin swords flashed in the sunlight as he burst from behind a cluster of burning sunflowers, wind mana swirling around him like a tempest. He shot forward in a low, aggressive dash, blades singing through the air in a relentless barrage of slashes and thrusts. The wind amplified his speed, creating afterimages as he circled Titan.
Titan remained in place, hands still behind his back, dodging with minimal movement. Hanz's blades cut nothing but air. One particularly aggressive overhead chop was met with Titan simply stepping forward, letting the blade pass behind him while delivering a casual palm strike to Hanz's chest that sent him skidding back.
"Not bad on speed," Titan commented. "But your strikes are too linear. You commit too much. Open yourself up."
Hanz growled and pressed harder, wind mana roaring as he unleashed a spinning storm of slashes. Titan finally engaged properly — blocking one sword with his forearm, parrying the other with a casual flick of his wrist, then delivering a short, brutal punch to Hanz's gut that lifted him off the ground. Hanz flew back, crashing into a patch of burning grass.
Titan felt it then — a massive buildup of heat behind him.
He turned.
Jin stood several meters away, staff planted firmly in the ground. Flames roared around him as he poured every ounce of power into the weapon. The runes on the staff blazed white-hot. A swirling orb of condensed fire and silver energy coiled violently at the tip, growing larger with every heartbeat.
Titan's orange eyes gleamed with approval.
"There it is."
Jin thrust the staff forward with a roar.
The orb unleashed in a blinding beam of silver-orange flame, tearing across the meadow straight toward Titan. The ground beneath the attack ignited instantly, carving a molten trench through the grass and flowers. The heat was overwhelming, turning the air into a shimmering haze.
Titan took the hit head-on.
The explosion was cataclysmic. Flames erupted outward in a wild inferno, burning everything in a wide radius. Smoke billowed high into the blue sky.
When the fire cleared, Titan stood untouched in the center of a blackened crater, his clothes slightly singed but his body completely unharmed. He looked at Jin with a faint, satisfied smile.
"Hhmm...! Not bad at all."
Jin leaned heavily on his staff, chest heaving, breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat and blood streaked down his face. His arms trembled from exhaustion, silver eyes flickering. The meadow around him was a charred battlefield now — blackened grass, smoldering sunflowers, smoke curling lazily into the bright blue sky.
I'm almost at my limit…
Hanz appeared at his side in a swirl of wind, panting hard, twin swords still gripped tightly. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, but his grin was as wild as ever.
"Come on, Reaper," Hanz rasped. "Let's do that attack we used on the Mimic. The one that blew its core apart."
Jin shook his head, voice hoarse.
"We don't have enough power to combine it properly. Besides… Titan would just block it."
Hanz laughed breathlessly.
"That's the point, idiot."
Titan walked out of the dying flames, completely unscathed. He rolled his shoulders casually, orange eyes glowing with approval.
"Your coordination is decent," he said. "You cover each other's blind spots well. But against an enemy far greater than you… simple teamwork won't suffice."
He drew one of his massive daggers. Orange energy crackled along the blade like living lightning.
"Use everything you've got," Titan commanded, voice booming. "As if I were your real enemy. Do not hold back."
Hanz laughed again, wild and exhilarated.
"You heard the man, Jin."
Jin exhaled sharply, then nodded. Flames roared to life around his staff, the runes blazing white-hot. Hanz's wind mana surged around him, eyes glowing faint green as violent gusts whipped across the meadow. They stood side by side, mana exploding outward in a wild, synchronized burst — orange fire and emerald wind intertwining into a roaring storm of power.
Titan smiled, a fierce, satisfied grin.
"Good... Now come."
Without hesitation, Jin and Hanz snapped forward.
They moved in perfect streaks — Jin, a blazing comet of orange flame, Hanz, a howling gale of green wind. They closed the gap in an instant, attacking from opposite sides in a deadly pincer. Jin thrust his staff forward, unleashing a spiraling lance of fire. Hanz spun in with twin swords, wind blades slicing through the air in razor-sharp arcs.
Titan assumed a low stance, energy crackling around his body just enough to meet them.
The clash was cataclysmic.
Jin's staff collided with Titan's dagger in a burst of sparks and flame. Hanz's blades came from the flank, wind mana amplifying the strike into howling crescents. Titan moved like a mountain — barely shifting his feet, yet deflecting every blow with precise, economical motions. Each impact sent waves rippling across the meadow, burning grass and uprooting flowers.
They pushed harder.
Jin spun his staff into a blazing whirlwind, forcing Titan to block high. Hanz dropped low, slashing at the legs with wind-enhanced blades. Titan leaped lightly over the low strike, then slammed his dagger down, forcing Jin to retreat. The rhythm was relentless — fire and wind weaving together in a deadly dance, Titan at the center like an unmovable storm eye.
Then they synchronized perfectly.
Jin thrust his staff forward, pouring everything into the tip. A massive condensed silver-orange flame formed, swirling violently. Hanz channeled all his wind mana into it, spinning the orb faster and faster until it became a screaming vortex of fire and gale force.
They unleashed it together.
The combined attack roared toward Titan like a miniature sun wrapped in a hurricane.
—Crimson Inferno—
Titan met it head-on. He swung his dagger in a single, powerful arc. The two forces collided with a blinding explosion of light and lightning-like energy. The shockwave erupted outward, bending every remaining tree and blade of grass in a perfect circle. The ground cracked beneath them. The air itself screamed.
Jin and Hanz were blasted backward like leaves in a hurricane, tumbling violently across the meadow before crashing hard into the grass.
When the flames and wind finally cleared, Titan stood untouched in the center of a massive crater. Smoke rose from his shoulders, but he looked completely composed.
He walked over to the fallen warriors, sheathing his dagger.
"Training is complete," he said calmly. "Rest up. You've done well for the past time."
Hanz was already passed out, sprawled face-down in the grass, snoring weakly.
Jin lay on his back, staring up at the bright blue sky. His lungs burned. His vision blurred at the edges. Every muscle screamed in protest.
It's… over…
A faint, exhausted smile touched his lips as darkness crept in.
A few hours later, the meadow had mostly healed itself.
The charred grass had regrown in lush green waves, sunflowers once again turning their golden faces toward the bright blue sky. The air smelled sweet with blooming life, and a gentle breeze carried the faint, comforting warmth of Lady Phoenix's domain. Birds sang softly in the distance, as if the violent training session had never happened.
Titan and Lady Phoenix sat together on a small hill overlooking the meadow. Titan leaned back against a large rock, arms resting on his knees, orange eyes distant. Lady Phoenix sat gracefully beside him, her flowing robes shifting in the wind like living flames.
"They've improved," Titan said quietly. "Especially Jin. Five months in this Domain… It's paid off faster than I expected."
Lady Phoenix nodded, a small smile touching her lips.
"Hanz has grown bolder. His wind mana is sharper, more controlled. He's learning not to overcommit. But Jin…" She paused, watching the distant figure training alone in the meadow below. "He moves differently now. He's pushing his body toward a style it wasn't built for — fluid, almost instinctive, like he's trying to fight the way he remembers fighting, not the way he actually learned. It's strange. His body resists it, yet somehow… It's working."
Titan grunted in agreement.
"He's forcing something out of himself. The silver in his eyes flares brighter every time he does it. It's not just skill. There's something deeper there."
They fell silent for a while, the wind brushing through the grass between them.
Lady Phoenix's expression grew heavier.
"The time has come," she said softly. "We can't stay hidden forever. The calamities of Chaos… they won't wait much longer."
Titan's jaw tightened.
"We slew one of them before," he said. "With the Blood Queen's help. We almost lost everything that day. The south burned for weeks afterward. If we go against all three now…"
He didn't finish the thought.
"you know... Sometimes I feel like there is something I'm missing, especially with how the Asura left without taking back the Artifact... I just don't understand how or what caused such.
Lady Phoenix looked out across the peaceful meadow, her eyes distant.
"Even I feel it," she admitted. "Something is not right. Like there's a memory just out of reach. Something important was hidden from us. The Asura leaving the Artifact behind… it doesn't make sense. Why give up such power so easily?"
Titan nodded slowly.
"I feel it too. A missing piece. Like I'm forgetting something critical about that day."
The wind carried their words away.
Then, footsteps approached from behind.
Jin and Hanz walked up the hill, fully healed. Their wounds were gone, their clothes clean. Jin looked refreshed, almost relaxed, though his silver-threaded eyes still carried a sharp edge.
"This Domain is incredible," he said, sitting down on the grass facing them. "Healing injuries like that just from resting here… I've never felt anything like it."
Lady Phoenix smiled warmly.
"It is a small mercy in dark times."
Titan nodded toward him.
"You held your own today. Both of you. That last attack was impressive."
Jin let out a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Felt like we were trying to move a mountain. But… thank you. For the training. For not actually killing me."
The four of them sat together in the meadow, the peaceful atmosphere contrasting sharply with the weight of their words.
Lady Phoenix looked at Jin seriously.
"We won't force you. But if you're truly with us… We need to know what you're willing to do. The other regions are under the dragons' rule. We're gathering what forces we can. But it won't be enough without people like you — those who can think beyond simple survival."
Jin stared out at the horizon, gripping his staff.
"I've spent my life surviving," he said quietly. "Running from one fight to the next. But after everything I've seen… I'm tired of just surviving. If there's a chance to actually change things… Then I'm on the right road."
Titan's orange eyes gleamed with approval.
"Good."
Lady Phoenix placed a gentle hand on Jin's shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring.
"Together, we might just have a chance."
Titan leaned forward, putting his hands together, orange rings on his biceps glowing faintly as he gathered his thoughts. The warm breeze of the meadow continued to blow, carrying the sweet scent of sunflowers, but the atmosphere between the four of them had grown heavier.
"From here on," Titan said, voice low and serious, "this is how it's going to go."
He looked directly at Jin.
"You and your Hanz will head to the Western Region. That's where we need eyes and ears the most right now."
Jin straightened, silver threads flickering in his eyes.
"The West… I've only heard rumors. What's it like?"
Titan nodded, his expression grim.
"The Western Region is a fractured mess. From what I can remember, three major factions have been fighting for control ever since the Dragon King's influence weakened there. The Iron Veil Syndicate — merchant lords and smugglers who control the trade routes and floating ports. They're cunning, always playing both sides. Then there's the Ashen Choir — religious zealots who worship the old celestial remnants. They've got fanatical warriors and strange ritual magic. And finally, the Reavers — nomadic warbands who live in the shattered badlands. Brutal, unpredictable, and heavily armed."
Lady Phoenix added quietly, "The West was once the most prosperous region after the South. Now it's a powder keg. Everyone is waiting for the next big player to tip the scales."
Titan continued.
"And that player is the Obsidian Wyrm. One of the Dragon King's right-hand generals. A calamity in every sense of the word. Not the biggest or the strongest in raw power, but the most dangerous because of its mind. It doesn't just conquer — it manipulates. It plays factions against each other, plants spies, and creates civil wars that weaken entire factions before it even shows up. Its intelligence is terrifying. It sees patterns others miss. It predicts movements three steps ahead. The West is just its playground."
Jin frowned.
Obsidian Wyrm... The Black dragon!
"So we're supposed to go into that mess and… what? Spy? Sabotage?"
Titan nodded.
"Exactly. Gather information. Disrupt the Wyrm's operations where you can. Find allies among the factions who might be open to rebellion. But most importantly — stay alive and report back. We need to know how deep the Dragon's control still runs there."
Hanz scratched his head.
"Sounds like suicide. Why us? We're not exactly... you know...."
Lady Phoenix smiled faintly.
"Because you two are survivors. You think on your feet. And Jin… you have knowledge and instincts that even we don't fully understand. That could be the edge we need."
Jin was quiet for a moment, gripping his staff.
"So we're walking straight into the Wyrm's territory. A creature smart enough to play the entire region like a game. If it catches wind of us…"
Titan's orange eyes hardened.
"Then you run. You don't fight it head-on. Not yet. The Obsidian Wyrm isn't just strong — it's patient. It turns your own allies against you before it ever lifts a claw. That's why it's the Dragon King's favorite."
The meadow fell silent except for the gentle rustle of grass and distant birdsong. The contrast between the peaceful surroundings and the dark conversation was stark.
Jin finally spoke again.
"And if we succeed? What then?"
Titan leaned back, staring out at the horizon.
"Then we start building something real. A resistance that can actually challenge the calamities. Not just survive them."
Lady Phoenix placed a hand on Jin's shoulder once more, her touch warm and reassuring.
"We're not asking you to be heroes. Just to be our eyes in the dark. Will you do it?"
Jin looked at Hanz, then back at the two leaders. His silver eyes burned with quiet resolve.
"Well," he said. "I guess we'll see how it goes."
Lady Phoenix's expression grew more serious as she looked at both Jin and Hanz.
"The route to the Western Region will take you roughly six weeks if you move carefully," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You'll travel through the Shattered Lowlands first, then the Whispering Wilds, and finally the Ashen Border before reaching the contested territories of the West."
Hanz whistled low.
"Six weeks? That's a long walk through hell."
Lady Phoenix nodded.
"The path is filled with dangers that have nothing to do with people. Different tribes and cultures unlike anything you've seen in the South. Some are nomadic beastfolk who hunt anything that bleeds. Others are ancient spirit cults that worship forgotten entities. But the worst are the creatures that have learned to wear familiar faces."
She paused, letting the weight settle.
"Beasts that disguise themselves as weary travelers, offering food and shelter. Kind voices in the night calling for help. Illusions so perfect they can mimic loved ones. Do not trust anyone on your path. Do not trust anything. If it seems too good to be true out there… it will kill you."
Jin's silver-threaded eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his staff.
Hanz tried to laugh, but it came out strained.
"Great. So friendly strangers are actually monsters. Noted."
Lady Phoenix continued, her tone darkening.
"There is also an abandoned town along the path known as... Dead Hollow. Rumors say it was once a prosperous trading post. Now… the dead do not stay dead there. At night, the streets fill with hollow-eyed figures that move like broken puppets."
The meadow suddenly felt colder. The sunflowers swayed as if listening.
Jin's jaw tightened, a chill running down his spine.
Dead Hollow... Could they be undead? No matter. We won't have to cross through it.
Hanz's usual grin faltered for a moment.
"Lovely," he muttered. "Ghost town with friendly corpses. Can't wait."
Lady Phoenix raised a hand, her warm presence pushing back against the heavy atmosphere.
"But there is hope. There are still safe places if you know where to look. Ruined divine temples from the old celestial age still hold faint protective wards. Camp within their broken circles at night — the lingering light repels most of the horrors. There are also crystal springs hidden in the Whispering Wilds. The water there cleanses corruption and restores strength. Use them sparingly."
She looked at both of them with quiet confidence.
"You are not going unprepared. We will give you maps, supplies, and signals to contact us if needed. This journey will test you… But I believe you can survive it."
Jin stared at the ground for a long moment, processing everything. The peaceful meadow felt almost mocking now, a temporary sanctuary before the real world tried to swallow them again.
Hanz clapped Jin on the shoulder, forcing a grin.
"Well, Reaper? Ready to walk into monster country with me?"
Jin exhaled slowly.
"With you?... Well..."
Titan watched them both, a faint approving smile on his face.
They're just kids... But Jin... whoever you are. I'm sure this will turn out as well as I think.
A while later.
They all stood together beneath the bright blue sky of the Domain.
Lady Phoenix raised her hand gracefully. Space tore open before them — a shimmering oval portal revealing the familiar blood-red sky of Chaos and a dense, mist-covered forest beyond. The contrast was stark — the peaceful meadow on one side, the harsh, unforgiving reality on the other.
From within her flowing robes, she pulled out a small but ornate chest that seemed far too large to have fit inside. A dimensional pocket, clearly.
"Before you leave," she said, voice steady, "I want you both to understand the true purpose of the Grand Bout. It was never just for spectacle or glory. I intended to use it to gather the strongest warriors — a hidden force that could one day stand against the coming storm. Unfortunately… my plan failed the moment the sky army descended."
She opened the chest.
Inside, resting on dark velvet, lay a large, pulsating fragment of deep blue dragon scale. Veins of glowing gray energy ran through it like living magma, radiating raw, ancient power. Beside it were several finely crafted daggers with runes that shimmered faintly, detailed maps, vials of shimmering healing potions, and a handful of enchanted talismans that hummed with protective magic.
Jin stared at the dragon scale in complete disbelief.
That belongs to Vyragon… They actually managed to take down one of the Dragon King's generals? That monster was a walking apocalypse. How in the hell did they pull that off without divinity?
Lady Phoenix continued, her tone calm and measured.
"These were meant to be the champion's reward. The dragon's fragment can be used to reinforce weapons, enhance the body, or create powerful barriers. The daggers carry stealth and poison resistance enchantments. The maps are the most accurate we possess."
She reached into her robes once more and withdrew a magnificent axe. The weapon was massive yet perfectly balanced, its blade forged from layered dragon scale that shimmered with inner crimson fire. Runes of power ran along the haft, pulsing with restrained strength. The edge looked sharp enough to cut through reality itself.
Hanz's eyes widened like a child seeing treasure for the first time.
"Damn… I wish I had something like that."
Lady Phoenix smiled warmly and handed the axe to him without hesitation.
Hanz froze, staring at the legendary weapon in his hands.
"You're giving this to me? Just like that? This is a legendary treasure!"
Lady Phoenix laughed softly, a warm, genuine sound.
"I have far too many such things. Most of them sit unused, gathering dust. Consider it a gift for the long road ahead."
Hanz opened his mouth, closed it, then simply nodded, gripping the axe tightly as if afraid it might vanish.
Lady Phoenix turned to Jin.
"What do you think of the fragment?"
Jin stared at the pulsating dragon scale for a long moment. His mind raced.
That power… It's tempting. But taking something from the very monster that helped burn everything I knew feels wrong. I don't want any part of that legacy inside me. I've carried enough ghosts already.
He shook his head.
"I appreciate the offer," he said quietly. "But I'll pass. I have my reasons."
Titan raised an eyebrow.
"One of those selfless types who won't take treasure when it's offered?"
Jin gave a small, tired smile.
"Something like that."
They respected his decision. Lady Phoenix closed the chest and put it away.
She made sure they were fully equipped — extra supplies, reinforced cloaks for camouflage, signal flares, a small communication crystal for emergencies, and dried rations that would last weeks.
Finally, Lady Phoenix looked at both of them with deep, sincere gratitude. She bowed her head low, her voice thick with emotion.
"Thank you," she said. "From the bottom of my heart. You two are sacrificing your safety — perhaps your lives — for a cause bigger than any of us. The South has already suffered so much. If we have any chance of saving what remains… it will be because of people like you. I will never forget this kindness. May the flames of hope guide you home."
Titan stood silently beside her, a faint, proud smile on his face.
Jin returned the bow, his voice steady.
"We'll do our best to return. And when we do… We'll bring whatever information we can find. Stay safe until then."
Lady Phoenix straightened, her warm eyes shining.
"Go with courage. The road will be long and dark, but you carry the light of those who still believe in a better tomorrow."
Jin and Hanz stepped through the portal.
The meadow vanished.
They emerged onto a rocky cliff overlooking a vast, mist-covered forest. The blood-red sky of Chaos stretched endlessly above them. In the far distance, the scarred silhouette of Crimson Reach was barely visible on the horizon — a broken reminder of everything they had lost.
The journey to the Western Region had truly begun.