Nate leaned back against the shade of a large tree, letting out a slow breath as he closed his eyes for just a moment. But when he opened them again, the forest was gone.
He now stood in a vast hall, surrounded by towering statues of beasts, each one with a human figure clad in armor standing behind it like a guardian. The air was thick with an ancient presence, a weight that pressed down on him.
"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing through the silence.
"You stand in the Hall of Succession, where all who carried the power before you are honored," a deep voice rumbled through the chamber. Nate's gaze snapped to the lion statue, its glowing eyes glaring down at him with a fierce, almost judging presence.
"You mean this... beast-changing power?" he asked hesitantly.
"Correct," another voice responded, this time from a crow statue whose eyes flickered to life.
"You have been blessed with a power humanity has never fully understood," a third voice joined in, its origin the coiled serpent statue, now faintly glowing.
Then, a figure stepped forward from the space between the statues—a human, their features obscured by shadow. "This world is on the brink of ruin," the figure declared. "You must grow stronger, rise above your limits, and save it. Or fall alongside it."
Nate took a step back, his heart pounding. "Who... who are you?"
Before the figure could respond, the ground trembled violently beneath him.
His eyes shot open.
The forest had returned, the sunlight filtering through the branches above. His breathing was unsteady as he pushed himself up, the vividness of the vision still gripping his mind.
"What the hell was that?" he whispered.
A deafening explosion in the distance snapped him out of his thoughts. His body moved on instinct—he had to see what was happening.
---
From a safe distance, Athena watched as Owen moved through the battlefield with ease. His blade cut down monsters in a single strike, the sharp arcs of his attacks clean and efficient. The bodies of slain creatures littered the ground, yet he barely seemed winded.
"What do you think?" Owen asked, turning to face her, his sword resting casually on his shoulder.
"You've definitely gotten stronger," she admitted with a small smile. "But your magic is still... lacking."
"Yeah, well, that's a problem for both of us," he said with a grin. "You've got high mana but no control. And me? I barely have enough mana to light a candle, let alone cast Flame blast."
Athena sighed, crossing her arms. "Fair point."
Before she could continue, Owen suddenly tensed. His hand tightened around his sword as his eyes scanned the surrounding trees.
"Show yourself!" he commanded, his voice sharp.
---
Damn it. He'd been spotted.
Stepping out of the bushes, Nate raised his hands in surrender. "Uh… hi."
"Who are you?" Owen demanded, his sword already pointed at him.
"I… uh…umm," he stammered, struggling to find the right words.
"Are you mocking me?" Owen snapped, slashing his sword through the air. A sharp wind blade tore toward Nate, forcing him to twist out of the way.
"Damn it, relax! I'm not here to fight!" he shouted, his heart pounding.
...
Something wasn't right.
Athena narrowed her eyes as she studied the stranger. (Nate) There was something off about him—no detectable aura, no visible signs of power—yet he had dodged Owen's attack like it was nothing.
"Owen, stop!" she called out, stepping forward.
"Why?" he growled, his sword still raised.
"Something's off about him," she said, her gaze locked onto Nate. "Who are you?"
"Nate Williams, ma'am," he answered, his voice oddly calm despite the tension in the air.
"And why are you here?" she pressed.
He sighed, lowering his hands. "I heard the explosion and thought someone might be in danger. When I saw the two of you fighting monsters, I got curious."
Owen still wasn't convinced. In a blur, he vanished and reappeared right in front of Nate, his sword slicing through the air toward the stranger's neck.
To Athena's shock, Nate raised a single finger—just one—and stopped the blade mid-swing.
--
What…?
He blocked it. With one finger.
Owen instinctively jumped back, putting distance between them. His sword trembled slightly in his grip.
"Who are you?" he demanded again.
"I didn't come here to fight," Nate said, lowering his hand. Blood trickled from his fingertip, yet before their eyes, the wound sealed itself instantly.
"Instant healing?!" Athena gasped.
"You have that kind of power?" she asked, her disbelief clear.
"I… I don't know," Nate murmured, staring at his finger. "It's the first time this has ever happened to me. I've never bled before."
What the hell is this guy?
---
Nate stared at his hand, his fingers still trembling slightly. That hadn't been him—it was the system, or whatever power was inside him. If not for that, he would have dodged.
"Look, I didn't mean any harm," he said, bowing his head. "I heard the explosion and thought someone might be in trouble. When I saw you fighting, I got curious. Please, forgive me."
Athena placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's fine. We're sorry, too. We acted without hearing you out."
Owen exhaled, lowering his sword. "I'm sorry for attacking you," he muttered, though he didn't seem entirely at ease.
"It's fine. Let's put it behind us," Nate said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"My name is Owen, and this is Lady Athena, princess of the capital of—" Owen paused, leaving the name unsaid.
The word "princess" made Nate freeze. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head deeply. "Forgive my rudeness, my lady."
Athena giggled. "You know, in our culture, kneeling like that is a marriage proposal."
Nate shot to his feet, sweating bullets. "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know! Please don't be mad at me!"
She laughed. "Relax, I'm joking."
Owen, however, looked anything but amused. Jealousy flickered in his eyes.
"So, Sir Owen," Nate said, smirking internally, "are you her guard?"
Owen scoffed. "Of course not! Can't you tell from this armor that I'm a holy knight?"
"And that means…?"
"It means I'm one of the strongest knights among knights!"
"Oh, I see…" Before Nate could tease him further, the ground began to tremble.
From the shadows behind them, a massive serpent with wings slithered upward, its golden eyes glaring at them with predatory intent. Its massive form towered above them as it lifted its head, its forked tongue flickering.
Nate exhaled.
It looks like it wants a fight.
---