Mary took a deep breath, her mind racing. She needed to keep the specter at bay until full moon. If killing it wasn't an option, then she had to somehow control the battlefield and stall for time. The spectre was strong, but it was predictable—it had to come for her, after all. She could use that to her advantage

She glanced around. The forest's uneven terrain would give her some space, and the rocks and trees would help break the spectre's line of sight. First, she needed to keep the Lycanthrope from getting too close

*//Wind series:Wind Blast//*

Another gust of wind crashed into the spectre, sending it tumbling back into the thick undergrowth. Mary dashed after it but made sure to keep her distance, using the trees as cover. The Lycanthrope's intangibility made direct hits ineffective, so she'd need to whittle it down through attrition for now

*//Ice series:Ice Arrow//*

She conjured another set of ice arrows, not aiming to hit the spectre, but to drive it toward a rockier section of the forest. The jagged stones would slow its movements, buying her more time

The Lycanthrope snarled, charging after her with relentless fury. But Mary was always just a step ahead. Every time it lunged, she'd retreat behind a tree, forcing it to adjust its trajectory

'You're not trying to fight it anymore' they noted, observing Mary's actions

"I'm stalling. I'll hit it hard when the time comes, also why are you still here" Mary replied between breaths while using mana breath to recover her mana, keeping her focus on the specter. She didn't know why the specter tried to avoid destroying the forest too much but she'll use it to her advantage. She'd already picked out key spots and locations where she could bottleneck the spectre's movements, forcing it to charge through narrow spaces where she could trap it

*//Lighting series:Lighting Discharge//*

Another strike of lightning, not to kill but to disorient. The spectre faltered, its form briefly destabilized by the jolt

Seeing her chance she quickly conjured another *//Wind Blast//* and sent it tumbling again. She wasn't giving it a chance to recover. Whenever it got too close, she'd slip away, using the environment to her advantage and keeping her distance or forcefully creating distance using Wind Blast

Time ticked by as Mary led the spectre on a wild chase through the forest. Her body was running on fumes, but she had no choice. She had to keep going. She could feel the weight of her exhaustion settling in, but the thought of surviving—of making it through—kept her moving

******************

Hours passed, and as the pale light of the full moon began to filter through the trees, the spectre's movements grew sluggish. The energy that had fueled its aggression seemed to wane. Mary, battered and exhausted, stood her ground

Summoning large amounts of her mana. She used her remaining strength to conjure a single *//Ice Arrow//*

The air became chilly, and the ice arrow shot forward, striking the Lycanthrope before exploding to trap it in a capsule of ice. Ensuring that this time, the spectre won't be able to move

Having finally trapped the damn thing in a capsule of ice. She wiped her face and calmed her breathing as she allowed herself to relax while noting the sudden impulse to see the moon

It wasn't an unbearably strong urge, but she didn't feel the need to endure it

Taking a deep breath to stabilize herself and recover she glanced up at the night sky and realized that the full moon has already risen long ago. Looking at it she felt like her strength had returned but that wasn't what she focused on

She didn't know why but she felt that the moon was bigger and brighter. Not only that even when she closed her eyes she could still see the moon. And it was urging her to do something

Then she noticed the wolf trapped inside the ice shivering in fright she didn't know why but her senses kept warning her to escape but she ignored it since the moon was too alluring

Just then she noticed an odd phenomenon. The sky was bleeding? No, it's not the sky but rather the moon that was bleeding. Then following that strange sight, her ear drums almost burst as a warning snapped her out of it

*//WARNING//*

-Night of The Blood Moon has begun please seek shelter and avoid open areas and the exposure to mana

She didn't have the time to read the notice since following the warning her body instinctively used mana to protect herself from the mana wave sent by the moon. But she was only half successful as she was incapacitated and unable to move due to the shockwave that swept over her body causing her body to go into mana overload as foreign energy forced it's way into her body

-Vitality increased by 6

-Strength increased by...

-Agility increased...

-All stats...

-All...

The ringing in her head didn't stop as more and more sounded with each passing second making it feel like her head was going to split in two. Anger and madness flared up little by little with every ring as the sound eventually turned into haunting whispers

Just then interrupting the sound of whispers was a roar coming from the side as she turned head only to see the spectre that was hit by the mana wave emmited by the moon howling in pain

It was growing flesh slowly but surely. But it was weird as it's bones newly grown were still visible and the flesh it grew was rotten and decaying

Then the spectre started emitting large quantities of mana seemingly regaining it's former glory from the distant past

And her theory was proven correct when the Akasha issued a warning

'Akasha system'

-Name:Undead Lycanthrope

-Level:50  -Rank:Third Order

-Title:None

-Description:The spirit of the King of Wolves Lycanthrope who has once been killed during the rise of the Blood Moon has been exposed to it once again turning it into the very thing that it knew as death

*//WARNING//*

-You have been inflicted with the status effect Fear

'Akasha system'

-Your title has been activated resisting the status effect:Fear

-Title:Forest Hunter

-Description:You the Hunter and Predator of the forest stands at the top of the food chain in the forest

-Effects:Fear resistance, 10% boost to all stats when hunting in a Forest

As the fear dissapeared she regained control over her shivering body but the whispers of murder lingered in her mind as she recalled what she had to do

As soon as those thoughts filled her head she didn't feel repulsed by what she was thinking but rather felt relief as she concentrated as hard as she can to use the strongest magic in her arsenal

*//Fire series:Blaze//*

+

*//Wind series:Wind blast//*

Using a double chant she was successful in completing the spell

*//Fusion series:Fire blast//*

After casting the spell a blazing fire appeared from her hands which was then shot out like a rocket

Boom!

What followed was a fiery explosion sending her back just from the shockwave alone

When the dust finally cleared the place where the wolf once stood was a large pit of 4 meters filled with fire

Seeing the strength of the magic, the explosion and the aftermath caused by it she judged it to have killed the wolf for sure as she looked around for any monsters attracted by the noise

Forcing her shaking legs to move she got up before the fire caught up to her while turning her back to the pit of fire

And the moment she turned her back the undead wolf seeing an opening shot towards her

Sensing the danger Mary hurriedly turned around to defend herself but her reaction was too late as she was sent hurtling through the air before stopping after slamming into an nearby tree and smashing it into 2 pieces

********************

Boom! Boom! Bang!

She didn't know how much time has passed but she suddenly found herself leaning against a broken tree

Her left arm was horribly bent with broken bones sticking out of it

And her head was bleeding which covered her vision making the sky and the moon appear bloody red

She was in terrible pain as her internal organs were damaged and she knew that she will die if she doesn't get it treated soon but her mind was becoming foggy and she was losing consciousness as the whispers continued to consume her weak mind

She wanted to rest. She didn't wanna be hungry anymore and she didn't like this pain either

She hated it. She hated being hungry. She hated being in pain. And she hated the feeling of helpless. So she wished that it will all just go away

But as if denying her wishes she heard something approaching and she smelt the smell of burning and rotting corpse

It was the same smell she always smelled during the start of her nightmare that she hated

Finally the moving corpse approached close enough for her to see it

The condition of the wolf was terrible. It's once shadowy black fur have been replaced with a decaying silver fur that has lost it's luster. Half of it's body was nothing but bones and rotting flesh but the other half has been incinerated becoming burnt ash

It smelled horrible and it filled her body with anger and hatred from being reminded of bad memories

She didn't know what she was thinking as every part of her body was now exuding murderous intent and hatred but she stopped herself, held her breath and stopped moving while waiting for the wolf to get closer

The wolf unaware of her thoughts approached her as it slowly watched her breathing become fainter and fainter until it stopped entirely

The wolf finally smiled revealing a mocking and sinister look as it judged her to be dead before approaching opening it's mouth wide while trying to bite her head off but something interrupted it's meal as it's head was unable to perform the action

The wolf didn't know when a knife had appeared in her hands but it clearly watched it pierce through the roof of it's mouth stopping it

But she wasn't done yet. As she needed to make the wolf pay for the pain and hunger she felt because of it

So using every bit of determination that she had. She wanted to ensure she wasn't the only one going to hell. As she would drag this thing along with her ensuring that the deepest pits of hell awaited them

Squeezing with the last of her strength. She used her remaining mana to cast the spell that will cause the most pain and ensure that her target dies with her

*//Lighting series:Lighting discharge//*

The wolf felt great danger as mana gathered upon the dagger transforming into streaks of lighting paralyzing both the caster and the target

But the caster didn't seem to feel pain as she continued to supply mana into the dagger determined to see the end

The wolf had no choice but to watch those burning flames of hatred coming from the very essence of her soul

Finally the electricity stopped coursing through her veins as her hand lost it's strength dropping the dagger while she laid down exhausted in every sense

She moved her burnt hand to wipe the blood off her eyes to gaze at the stars

But even after wiping her face multiple times nothing changed as she realized that it wasn't her blood that made the night sky bright red making her feel really shitty

The full moon dyed bloody like an unpolished red ruby has now painted the once deep blue sky, red

The night sky was still young so she could gaze at the unusual but beatiful sight of a bloody and crimson moon

But it seems she wasn't allowed to have a moment of peace as the undead monsters and ghouls hearing all the commotion had come to find her

Seeing them she got up and forced her burnt hand to pick up the knife once more while letting the whispers of madness consume her whole

The flame of hatred that the wolf saw before it's death was ignited once again with even greater intensity

She hated these monsters for disrupting her peaceful and quiet moment before her death

So she wanted them all to dissapear or at the very least accompany her to the deepest depths of hell

Afterall she can't be the only one that's suffering can she?

Thinking about such twisted thoughts without realizing it she rushed towards the undead monsters with a knife in hand ready to start the hunt once again as the Bloody Moon opened it's eyes to gaze down upon her with great interest

********************

The forest was still under the glow of the Blood Moon. Because of it a group of three travelers, bound for the Capital, had been forced to stop. As the Blood Moon's oppressive presence hung heavily in the sky, warping the mana in the air, leaving them with no choice but to seek shelter

"We'll have to wait out the night here" Kiel muttered as they scouted the area for a safe spot. He ran a hand through his brown blonde hair, visibly frustrated by the delay

But before they could settle, a pulse of mana rippled through the air, strong enough to send a chill down their spines

"That was no ordinary undead" Hans said, his voice low and tense. His sharp gaze scanned the forest, his senses alert

Yuria's eyes lit up with determination. "We should check it out. If it's a threat, we need to deal with it" Then without waiting for a reply, she began running towards the disturbance

Hans sighed but followed without protest, Kiel trailing close behind. And as they neared the source, a certain smell hit them first—an overwhelming stench of charred and rotting flesh

Following the smell they quickly found the source of the horrible smell as two small mountains of corpses rose before them showing the remnants of some gruesome battle. The ground around it was stained with blood forming a small pool, and wisps of smoke curled upward from smoldering remains. Rotting bodies of ghouls, skeletons, and other undead littered the area

"This is... something else" Kiel muttered. "What the hell happened here?"

Hans narrowed his eyes, scanning the scene with a mix of caution and unease "It's not just the carnage. The concentration of madness here is... unnaturally high" He paused, his brow furrowing. "Something–or someone–is at the center of this"

Following their first discovery they ventured further, stepping through the carnage cautiously. Then they saw her

At the center of all that carnage and slaughter was not some fearsome undead monster, but—a girl

A petite figure, drenched in blood, stood amidst the rampaging chaos. Her right hand clutched a bloody knife, with her body covered in wounds–severe, grotesque injuries. Her left arm was bent at an unnatural angle, bones jutting out from the flesh. The other arm bore terrible burn marks, the skin scorched and raw. Her sofly glowing silver hair clung to her bloodstained face, and her expression was vacant, her body unmoving as she stood still

Yuria moved to rush forward, her healer's instinct kicking in, but Hans stopped her, his hand firm on her shoulder. "Wait" he warned, his voice grim. "There's something wrong. I can feel... hatred. Intense, murderous intent radiating from her"

Kiel stepped closer, his green emerald eyes scanning her. "She's unconscious" he called over his shoulder, confirming that the girl was not an immediate threat as he approached closer

"She's not an undead, but she's not entirely human either. Something's... off" Saying that Hans fell silent as his hand reached for the sword at his waist before it was stopped by Kiel as he motioned for Yuria to examine her

At his signal, Yuria hurried over, kneeling beside the girl to assess her condition. While Hans stood guard, his hand on his weapon, eyes darting between the carnage and the unconscious girl. The eerie atmosphere gnawed at his senses

Yuria's face darkened as she examined the girl. "This is bad" she muttered, her usual cheerful tone gone. "Her body's heavily injured. Her nerves are fried. She's lost so much blood... it's a miracle that she's even alive at this point. Her mana reserves has been depleted repeatedly for a long period of time. Because of that her mana vein has been completely twisted. And..." She paused, her brow furrowed. "There's this weird aura that she's emmiting, it's preventing me from fully healing her"

Hans remained silent for a moment, considering the situation before speaking. "Can you stabilize her?"

"I can only do some emergency treatment" Yuria replied, her hands glowing faintly as she began her work. "But with this strange aura clinging to her, I can't do much more. It's like she's teetering between life and death"

Kiel glanced at the surrounding area -scorched earth, shattered trees, and a deep pit where magic had clearly been unleashed as the traces of mana still lingered in the air, a testament to the ferocity of the battle. "She didn't just survive this fight" he said quietly. "She was at the heart of it"

"Then she comes with us" Hans said firmly, his gaze locking onto the girl. "I have questions. Too many to ignore"

Kiel raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "Last time I checked, I was the party leader. I'm pretty sure that i'm the one who makes decisions like that"

Hans's eyes didn't leave the girl. "You can ask your questions too"

Kiel shrugged with a grin. "Fair enough"

"Can we let her stay, then?" Yuria raised her head, glancing between the two men. Her hands continued to glow as she did what little she could to mend the girl's injuries. "She needs time to heal. Plus, she's probably lonely..."

Kiel chuckled. "Sure, we'll keep her. Though she might run away once she has to deal with Hans's charming personality"

Yuria grinned. "Yay!"

Hans shot them both a disapproving look. "You're both too optimistic. Especially you" He gestured to Yuria with a tilt of his head. "Life isn't always about skipping through flowers"

"Maybe not" Yuria retorted, not missing a beat. "But it's better than being all moody and brooding every day. Seriously, Hans, you've got this whole 'edgy lone wolf' thing going on, but it's getting old"

Kiel chuckled. "She's got a point. With your half-black, half-white hair, and ash skin combined with that grim expression, you're practically a walking cliche"

Yuria giggled, playfully adding, "Not to mention your fashion sense. Those dark robes and that ridiculous armor of yours—if you can even call it an armor, are you trying to scare off friends?"

"I agree" Kiel's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Come to think of it, you don't have any friends other than us, Hans. So, congratulations, you're officially the edgiest kid in the group"

Hans rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore them and change the topic. "Focus. We're taking her with us, but stay sharp. Something's not right about this entire situation"

But it seems he failed to change the topic as the teasing continued and Kiel grinned as they were preparing to leave. "Don't be so serious, Hans. Life is more fun when you loosen up. But hey, we'll make sure your lonely days are over now that we have a new friend"

Yuria chimed in with her usual, innocent smile. "Hans, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. You know I only speak the truth, right? As the Saintess of Innocence, I can't lie"

Hans shot her a deadpan look, his patience visibly wearing thin. Kiel, not missing the opportunity, added, "The truth hurts, buddy. Better accept it"

Hans clenched his fist, resisting the urge to punch the smug look off of Kiel's face. Instead, he gritted his teeth and turned away, silently plotting his petty revenge. At least, that was the plan-until Yuria started humming cheerfully beside him, her happiness almost palpable

The Blood Moon still hung heavy in the sky as their journey continued, now with one more companion-a girl covered in blood, unconscious, and harboring secrets that would intertwine their fates

*******************

They found themselves floating, suspended in a place that was both a dream and not. This was the world of thoughts, where reality twisted, and the boundaries of consciousness blurred

The landscape stretched out before them—a world bathed in a haunting, bloody red. The stench of rotting corpses and burning flesh filled the air, clinging to everything like an unshakable curse. The remnants of a once-great war littered the ground—ruins and smoldering flames the only signs of what was left behind

In the distance, the towering World Tree had fallen, its once-vibrant form now a twisted, blackened husk. It lay upon the desolate earth, its branches withering, as though the very life had been drained from it. Above it, a massive crimson eye gazed down from the sky, its eerie presence resembling the Bloody Moon, watching over the destruction with an unsettling, omniscient gaze

Amidst the chaos, a figure appeared—a small, white-clad form, barely visible against the carnage. At first glance, it resembled Ethan, but something was undeniably different. The figure was fading, its body turning to dust little by little. Its face was obscured, a ghostly blur that refused to take shape. Only the faintest outline remained, as though it was slowly unraveling, disintegrating before their eyes

Its lower body had already turned to dust, and the rest followed with every passing second, yet the small child like figure seemed oddly calm. It glanced around, taking in the twisted landscape as though it were merely a curious observer of this ruined world

Then, it's gaze landed on Mary

Her long silver hair floated weightlessly, her figure suspended in the air as though she was caught in some liminal state between worlds. The figure resembling Ethan looked at her with an expression that was unreadable, a strange mix of emotions hidden beneath its dissolving form. It was as though he was trying to recall something—an old, forgotten memories buried deep within his being

Without speaking a word, the figure reached out, and with a simple gesture, the chaotic world around them began to change. The flames and destruction were snuffed out, and the twisted ruins crumbled away, replaced by calm waters. The world was transformed into a serene lake, the surface of the water reflecting the crimson sky above. The once-chaotic battlefield had been quieted, the horrors of war fading into silence

But the figure wasn't finished. With another gentle wave of his hand, he guided Mary's floating body down to the ground, laying her upon the now-still waters as though she were resting on an invisible bed. The motion was careful, almost reverent, as if he feared disturbing her fragile form

For a long moment, the figure stood there, its dissolving body watching her intently. Its gaze softened, as though it was trying to memorize every detail of her face. There was a strange, melancholic tenderness in its actions—an unspoken connection that lingered in the air, though neither could voice it

Then, slowly but inevitably, the figure continued to fade, the last remnants of its form turning to dust and scattering into the wind. All that remained was the peaceful lake, the calm waters rippling gently under the watchful gaze of the crimson moon

And in that quiet, dreamlike space, Mary slept, undisturbed, as the world around her held its breath for her

**********************

Slowly waking up, Mary blinked as she tried to make sense of the lingering fragments of her dream

She had vague memories of a place called Earth, where another version of herself had lived. The details were already slipping away, but she was certain of one thing—the life she had witnessed in that dream had been miserable. Cold, hungry, and utterly alone, that Mary had no one to care for her, a stark contrast to the privileged upbringing she remembered

So it had to be a dream. How could it be anything else? She had been born and raised in the Great World of Chaos as the only daughter and heir of the prestigious Marquess Rosalyn household and she was even engaged to the crown prince himself. She was no orphan from some random planet in the lower realms

Besides, in the dream, she was pretty sure that she had died under the Blood Moon. Even if that other Mary had somehow managed to escape the jaws of a Lycanthrope, she likely would have succumbed to her injuries especially with the undead lurking around under the moon's crimson glow

That alone confirmed it, it was just a dream. Because how could she, of all people, die under the Blood Moon? She was the one who commanded blood and the undead. She has wielded madness and hatred without losing herself to them for years now

That version of her had never been real. It was nothing more than a fleeting nightmare

Thinking this, Mary reassured herself, closing her eyes and willing herself back to sleep. But no matter how much she tried, rest refused to come. Her mind remained restless, the dream's shadow still clinging to her thoughts. With a quiet sigh, she sat up, rubbing her temples before realizing an uncomfortable dryness in her throat

She needed water

Pushing the lingering unease aside, she shifted off the bed and glanced around the dimly lit room. It didn't take long for her to notice two things—the first being that it was still the dead of night, and the second, that she was alone in bed

Her brows furrowed slightly. Where was Ethan?

Scanning the room, her gaze soon landed on the table in the far corner. There, seated with his back straight, was her husband. A soft glow radiated from his eyes, illuminating the stack of papers in front of him as he worked in silence, careful not to disturb her

Mary frowned. He was working? At this hour?

Not bothering to hide the fact that she was awake, she spoke up. "What are you doing?"

At the sound of her voice, Ethan's hand stopped, his glowing eyes shifting toward her. The sudden brightness in contrast to the darkness made her squint as she instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes

"Can you just turn on the lights?" she grumbled, mildly annoyed

A soft click followed, and the room brightened as the glow from Ethan's eyes faded. Mary blinked a few times, adjusting to the sudden brightness before finally lowering her hand

Now that she could see clearly, she took a moment to observe her husband properly. He looked calm like always, his expression unreadable, but there was a hint of something on his face that hadn't been there before. The sight made her curiosity deepen

Glancing at the table, she noticed the neatly arranged stack of documents—contracts, letters, official decrees. There was even a pen resting atop of an request for reinforcements

Frowning, she stepped closer. Why was he working in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?

Without hesitation, she walked over, standing beside him as her gaze swept over the papers

"Why are you working so late?" she asked, her tone softer now

Ethan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he set his pen down and leaned back slightly before raising his hand. A faint shimmer of mana flickered in the air, and within seconds, a glass of water materialized in his grasp. Without a word, he extended it towards her waiting for her to quench her thirst first

Mary took it, the cool glass grounding her as she drank, her parched throat relieved with each sip. As she drank, she kept her gaze on Ethan, waiting for his response

He exhaled softly, his fingers idly tapping against the edge of the table. He looked tired, she realized. Though his expression remained composed, there was a distant look in his eyes

Finally, he broke the silence

"There was something urgent that needed my immediate attention" he said, his voice calm yet unreadable

Mary lowered the now half-empty glass and arched a brow. Urgent? At the middle of the night?

"Matters important enough to leave your wife alone in the bed?" she questioned, setting the glass on the table

Ethan's lips twitched, but it wasn't quite a smile. More like an acknowledgment of her words. "It couldn't wait" he admitted

"The border reports came in late, and there was an urgent request for additianol support and reinforcements due to the recent sightings and frequent appearances of giants at the borders"

Mary frowned at that. The Giants. Ever since the last war some of them were still wandering about searching for something

"And you were planning to deal with it alone?" she asked, crossing her arms

Ethan tilted his head slightly, trying to understand why she was dissatisfied. "It's my responsibility"

"It's ours" she corrected, stepping closer

For a moment, silence settled between them. Ethan studied her, his golden eyes thoughtful, as if debating whether to refute or just accept her words. Then, with a small sigh, he gestured towards the large stack papers placed on his desk

"If you're offering, you can take a look" he said

Mary didn't hesitate. Pulling up a chair beside him, she picked up the nearest document and quickly scanned through the lines of text. Reports detailed the movements and behavour of a group of giants, requests for additional supplies, and shifting troop deployments

As she flipped through the pages her brows furrowed as she looked at the documents on the table. There were far too many documents for this to be just about the giants. Glancing at Ethan, then at the stack of papars, her curiosity deepened

"Even if the giants are causing trouble, there shouldn't be this much paperwork, right?" she asked

Ethan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath before replying

"It's not just about the giants"

Mary's frown deepened. "Then what's the real problem?"

Hearing her question Ethan sighed as he explained. "It's the fact that both the giants and the dragons have emerged, revealing themselves to the world once again. And that can only mean one thing—the end is near. Maybe within the next century, maybe the next decade… maybe even next year"

"What do giants and dragons have to do with the end of the world?" she asked, still struggling to grasp the connection

"Dragons and giants. They have always been in constant conflict and rarely tolerate each other" he explained. "But this time they emerged together and not just that they appeared in large groups, it is not for war—it is to find the source of destruction and stop it before it's too late. No matter how much they can't tolerate each other both sides understand that it's impossible to live without the World of Chaos"

"Then what do we do now? We can't just hope for the best or pray for them to find the cause, right?" Mary asked, her voice quiter

"There isn't much we can do right now. All we can do is wait and prepare for the future" Ethan answered

Mary's brows furrowed as she let out a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as if trying to ward off an impending headache before looking at him. His answer deeply frustrated her

"What do you mean we can't do much? Surely, we can do something. The Empire is still standing strong, and the Four Rulers—you, Lucas, Scarlett, and Rex—are still here. As long as the four of you remain, the Empire won't fall"

Ethan ran a hand through his hair before pressing his thumb and forefinger to his temple, inhaling deeply before meeting her gaze "Yes. But the fact that the end is coming despite our presence means only two things: either we couldn't prevent it, or we have already fallen along with the Empire"

At his words Mary felt a chill down her spine as silence descended upon them

She took a deep breath to steady herself and organize her thoughts since she couldn't believe it. The Empire was unshakable, it was the greatest force the World of Chaos had to offer. The thought of its collapse—of their failure—she couldn't imagine it

"Didn't Rex claim that the Empire had no equal?" she finally asked, grasping for some kind of reassurance

"He did. And he wasn't wrong. In fact, the only force that could rival the entire Empire would be the Abyss"

The Abyss. It was understandable that they could rival the Empire. After all the Abyss was undoubtedly the strongest of the Four Great Realms. Then could it be that the end was caused by the Abyss? But it didn't make sense. To bring down the Empire they would need to gather all the monsters in the Abyss including the demon gods and somehow make them work together. For that they would need a leader strong enough to control the entirety of the Abyss which was impossible

'Then why? No, how? How could the Empire just fall?' She thought to herself not understanding how the Empire could fall

"Because the current Empire relies too heavily on us" Ethan answered her as if having read her thoughts

Mary blinked, caught off guard by his answer before turning to look at him with a questioning gaze clearly needing an explanation

Ethan spoke, his voice quiet but heavy with certainty. "If even one of us were to disappear, the Empire would crumble"

"That's an exaggeration" Mary disagreed, though her voice lacked confidence knowing the influence the Four Rulers had over the Empire

Ethan shook his head as he tried to explain. ""Without Lucas, humanity—and the World of Chaos itself—would lose its greatest protector. The Empire's defenses would weaken significantly, as most cities, towns, and even villages rely heavily on his protection. On top of that criminals will likely run amok in his absence, and depending on the circumstances the people might even lose hope"

Mary swallowed. That was true. Lucas wasn't just a guardian and sword for the citizens of the Empire—he was The Hero. He was the symbol of justice to the people and the mere mention of his name deterred criminals maintaining order. Without him, chaos would spread like wildfire

"Without Rex" Ethan continued, unbothered by her silence "the Empire would lose its heart. The balance between creation and destruction in the World of Chaos would be lost. And by the time a new God of Creation is born, it will already be too late"

Hearing his words Mary clenched her fists in frustration realizing how powerless the Empire truly is without them. As it was another undeniable fact. Rex, that man, wielded the power of Creation itself. He was responsible for providing mana for the entire Empire. Without him, it would be like tearing out the heart of a dragon or a human. If he were to dissapear the Empire will simply collapse

Watching her calm down. Ethan studied her expression and watched her draw her own conclusion before deciding to continue. "If Scarlett were to dissapear. Then the Magic Towers will collapse and traveling across the Empire would be far more difficult since the gates connecting the lands can't be maintained without her"

Mary bit her lips as her nails dug into her palm. Right. Scarlett was unrivaled when it came to space magic. The teleportation circles, the magic gates linking the Magic Towers, even the vast pocket dimensions used for storage by the Magic Tower—all of them were created and sustained by her

Finally, Ethan turned his gaze towards Mary, hesitating for the first time. He chose his next words carefully, as if bracing for her reaction

"Finally if i were to dissapear... the economy would collapse. Trade routes, resource distribution, financial stability—it would all crumble. Since there won't be anyone to manage and distribute the resources of the Empire"

As he finished, Ethan closed his eyes and waited, expecting Mary to reprimand him for speaking of his own demise so lightly. But to his surprise, she was quiet

Confused, he opened his eyes to find her deep in thought, brows furrowed as she processed everything. Then, finally, she spoke

"But for the Empire to fall… someone would need to bring one of you down. That… shouldn't be possible, right?"

Ethan met her gaze and exhaled slowly. He was relieved that she wasn't angry, though he made sure not to let it show

"Individually, no. But if our enemies were to join forces, it would be possible" he admitted which only made Mary feel worse

The World of Chaos had no shortage of enemies. The invaders from the outer realms, the army of Heaven and G.O.D Chaos, the demons of Hell, the monsters of the Abyss… If they were to join forces

Mary's lips pressed into a thin line "Then what should we do?"

"We need to prepare. If the worst comes to pass, we must have someone ready to take our place. The next generation must be strong enough to keep the Empire standing"

Mary's expression darkened as she recalled the so-called Sky Generation—the current group of young geniuses training at the Academy funded and sponsored by Ethan. She still remembered their ignorance and arrogance thinking they would've been able to reach the same level as the Four Rulers if they were given the chance

"You mean them?" she asked, skepticism clear in her voice

"Yes. The young prodigies studying at the Academy now. They are the most promising candidates to replace us"

Mary sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Then what if the Academy is destroyed?" she asked, seeing the glaring flaw in the plan

Ethan fell silent for a moment before offering her a helpless smile

"Then i suppose this world has no hope"

Looking at that helpless look on Ethan's face, Mary felt that there was something unsettling about the way he said it, the quiet resignation in his voice. She opened her mouth to respond, to say something, but before she could—

The room shook

A deep, unnatural tremor rippled through the air, and suddenly, cracks began to form across the walls and floor. Fissures spread like spiderwebs, jagged and endless, as if reality itself was fracturing

Mary's breath caught in her throat. She turned sharply towards Ethan hoping that this was just some kind of joke—only to find him completely still

Unmoving. Unresponsive. Just like everything else around her

"Ethan?" she called, but he didn't react

Meanwhile the world continued to break apart while the cracks deepened, widening until massive chunks began crumbling away, swallowed by the void beneath. The once-familiar room twisted and shattered, with the pieces disintegrating before her eyes

Then, before she could move—before she could do anything—

The ground beneath her gave way. And the darkness consumed her

Causing everything to go black as she was plunged into the darkness

********************

When Mary finally opened her eyes, she was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling. Her body felt strangely heavy, her mind sluggish as she tried to piece together what had happened

But before she could gather her thoughts, a voice broke through the silence

"You're finally awake"

Turning toward the voice, Mary saw a golden-haired girl sitting beside her. The girl's eyes were covered by white bandages, yet she faced Mary as if she could see her clearly. There was a pause, and then the girl spoke again, offering a gentle smile

"You don't have to worry. You can call me Yuria. We found you in a forest during the Blood Moon and… well, we were hoping you could accompany us and answer a few questions"

Before Mary could respond, another voice interrupted from the far side of the room. It was a young man, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed

"Yuria, you're scaring them for no reason. They just woke up. Let them rest before bombarding them with questions"

Yuria sighed and scratched her head. "Oh, sorry. You're right, Kiel"

Mary blinked, unsure of how to respond to the conversation unfolding before her. But the one called Kiel walked over with a relaxed smile, waving off the tension

"No, it's okay. It's my fault for not explaining sooner" he said, his tone light and friendly. "Anyway, I'm Kiel. If you have any questions, just let me know. I'll gladly help"

Yuria snickered. "Wow, shameless as ever, Kiel. Flirting already?"

"What? No, that's not—" Kiel stammered, trying to defend himself

Yuria leaned forward, a teasing grin on her face. "Oh really? Then what exactly did you mean? Have any other plans in mind?"

Kiel's face flushed slightly. "No, I just—"

Before the situation could escalate any further, a third voice broke the banter. The man who had been standing silently near the door stepped forward. His sharp, dark eyes observed Mary with an air of calm authority

"I'm Hans, the Demon Hunter. You can just ignore these two idiots for now" His voice was steady, cutting through the playful atmosphere. "But keep in mind, they're the candidates for the positions of Hero and Saintess"

"Hero and Saintess…" Mary echoed softly. She took a deep breath, still trying to make sense of the situation. "I understand. You can call me Mary"

Hans nodded curtly. "All right, Miss Mary. I'll drag these two idiots outside so you can focus on recovering" With a firm grip on their shoulders, Hans ushered Yuria and Kiel out of the room, despite their protests

So as the door closed behind them, the room grew quiet again. Mary was left alone with her thoughts—at least, so it seemed

-'You've finally woken up. It seems'

The voice wasn't hers, but it echoed in her mind, familiar and calm. She hadn't heard it since… well, since her last strange dream. "How long was I asleep?" she asked, speaking aloud to the presence within her. "And do you know who these people are?"

-'Don't worry. You've only slept for three days and four nights. It will be morning soon' the voice responded. 'As for them, like they said, they are the candidates for the Hero's party. Though they might seem unreliable, their skills are genuine'

Mary sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Did anything happen while I was asleep?"

-'There wasn't much except that you just arrived at the Royal Capital of the Everlasting Empire'

Her eyes widened. "We're already at the Capital? Then… is the Academy close by?"

-'No. You're at the heart of the Empire, but the Academy is still quite far from here'

"I see" Mary hesitated for a moment. She remembered the dreams—the chaos, the destruction. "Then… is the Academy going to be destroyed?"

-'Yes'

The short, simple answer sent a chill through her. "Can we prevent it?" she asked, though she had a sinking feeling about the response

-'No'

Mary frowned. "Did you eat something weird today? Or did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? You're giving me nothing but short answers"

The voice inside her laughed softly, though there was a trace of exhaustion

-'Maybe. I'm not so sure myself'

"How can you not be sure? You're me, aren't you? How do you not know how you woke up?" Mary groaned, sitting up slowly. "What's going on with you today?"

The voice ignored her complaints, shifting gears entirely. 'Our next goal is to meet Ethan and attend the Academy'

Mary blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "Wait. You're just going to switch topics like that? Fine, whatever. But do we really have time to attend school with everything that's happening?"

'Don't worry' they assured her. 'The Academy is different from what you're imagining. And yes, we'll have just enough time for everything'

Mary exhaled, leaning back against the headboard. "If you say so…" She closed her eyes for a moment, her thoughts swirling with fragments of dreams, shattered visions, and the odd people she'd just met. There were too many questions, too many things she didn't understand—but for now, she should focus on the present