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Though the dark mage was slain, the building’s tremors did not cease. Instead, they grew stronger with each passing moment.

Should I escape from here, or should I head upstairs?

As Ian pondered this dilemma for a moment, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

“Ian!”

Instinctively turning around, Ian felt a wave of irritation mixed with a strong sense of self-loathing.

“I told you not to call me like that, seriously.”

He glared at Semid, who was frantically shouting.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and come here! If you stay there, you’ll get crushed!”

“Ugh.”

Ian waved his hand dismissively. If they were in an underground chamber, it might be different, but he was confident that he could survive in a building this tall, even if it collapsed.

Sure, it would drain some magical energy, but he still felt he had enough reserves.

Without looking back, Semid ran ahead, trusting Ian to manage on his own.

As Ian made his way to the upper floor, an unexpected sight unfolded before him.

Kwadduudddeuk, Kwaaaaah!

The ceiling was torn away in a spiral, revealing a purple-hued magical column shooting up toward the sky, forming a pillar.

Ian stared blankly at the suddenly visible sky. Even a fool could tell that things were taking a turn for the worse.

The once blue sky was turning a deep violet.

This phenomenon was reminiscent of the dimensional distortion that occurred when the outer seas encroached. No, it could be said that it was the phenomenon itself.

Ggugung!

Above, something translucent was undulating, appearing and disappearing repeatedly.

Watching this, Ian couldn’t help but smirk, the corners of his mouth lifting. A chuckle slipped through his lips.

“This explains why Flaming failed.”

There was no way to avoid it now that such a thing had appeared. While its identity was unclear, it was undoubtedly a symbol of the outer realms.

Eventually, the black sphere fully revealed itself.

It wouldn’t be able to maintain this state for long; it lacked the magical energy to do so. But that brief moment was the real issue.

Guuuuuuung!

From the temporarily manifested black sphere, dark ripples erupted.

As the ripples shot towards the ground and made contact with him, Ian felt a peculiar impact on his mind, but to someone like him with spiritual energy, it was merely unpleasant.

“…”

Ian glanced down at his hands and flinched.

Kyaaaah!

Hoooooo!

The wall exploded, and the ceiling was ripped away, allowing screams from outside to echo in.

“Aaaaah!”

Nearby, another scream rang out. Someone had been hiding in a corner, unable to escape in time.

It wasn’t a soldier; it was someone who had been involved in transporting or packaging drugs.

Their body writhed and bulged, solid muscles forming as hair sprouted over them.

Their face grotesquely contorted. A person who had just moments ago been human transformed into a monster in an instant.

Kyaaaah!

The creature, its throat visible as it opened its mouth wide, let out a terrifying scream and charged at Ian.

As it staggered and almost fell, drooling in its frenzy, it closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

Avoiding the charging monster by stepping aside, Ian infused his holy sword with magical energy and swung it.

The blade, elongated like a whip from the magic, sliced through the monster.

As he stood there, looking down at the scene, Ian let out a sigh.

“Ha.”

He had just witnessed a person transform into a monster, and the situation he had feared was clearly unfolding.

Those who had taken the drugs created by the dark mage were becoming monsters upon reaching certain conditions.

The screams echoing from various corners were proof of that.

He had no way of knowing how many had used the drugs, but it certainly wasn’t a small number.

With smoke rising in several places, it sounded like the building was collapsing.

Chaos had descended upon Flaming.

‘I can handle this.’

For now, it was manageable. However, this was not the end.

Kiiing!

Under the black sphere, cracks began to form in the air, and a red light flickered through the gaps.

Seeing this, Ian felt a chill run down his spine.

“…The outer gate.”

A passage connected to the outer sea. It needed to be closed.

‘Can I do it?’

He had no immediate means to close such a large outer gate at that height.

If there were heroes within the city or someone of equivalent strength, they would respond immediately, but there was no sign of them.

Then again, it was unlikely anyone would be idly sitting around in such a city.

Though some magic seemed to be aimed at the outer gate, it was a futile endeavor. Their power was either insufficient or failed to reach.

Crunch!

Ian slammed his holy sword into the ground, gathering flames in his hands.

Whoosh!

Just as he was preparing his magical energy, a screeching noise pierced the air, like nails on a chalkboard, as the cracks burst open, and countless monsters poured out.

There were easily hundreds of them. But among them, one stood out, dropping directly from the center.

“…….”

It had a purple ring above its head. This was a monster attracting the attention of the outer realms, signifying that it was undergoing beastification.

Knowing the implications, Ian’s expression hardened. Yet, it wasn’t solely despair.

As darkness settled over one side of the city, a sudden stream of fire shot silently from the ground toward the sky.

─────!

But what truly caught his attention was how beautiful it looked. It was as if a comet were soaring backward.

Ian’s expression brightened.

‘A red spear knight!’

The stream of fire represented hope itself. It seemed that the train had arrived just in time.

Whoever had come, if they could unleash flames of that magnitude, it indicated they were at least Level 5.

As the fiery stream, leaving a long tail, reached the outer gate, it explosively released the flames it had been condensing.

Kwahwaaaak!!!

Magnificent flames spread through the air’s cracks, engulfing the outer gate. Watching the scene unfold, Ian couldn’t help but smile.

As the sky suddenly turned a shade of purple and darkness descended, it was a scene that truly instilled courage in those who had been engulfed by despair.

Although a horde of monsters had already poured out, it was alright. The Flaming City might not have soldiers, but that didn’t mean there was a lack of strength.

Mercenaries.

They weren’t particularly trustworthy, but if their lives were on the line, things would be different.

They would fight. They would raise their weapons against the monsters that poured out from the outer gate and the people mutated by the drugs.

It seemed the Red Spear Knight had arrived as well, so there was nothing to worry about.

Boom!

“…”

I just need to focus on myself. Ian pulled the holy sword he had stuck into the ground back into his hands. He gathered his mana.

The effects of the doping agent he had taken while fighting Ben were still lingering.

Exhaling softly, Ian stared at the monster that had fallen before him. Its appearance was grotesque, but the malice gleaming in its eyes was undeniable.

He felt no fear. His heart raced a little faster, but that was all.

Ian muttered quietly.

“O great Fourth Lord, Hamir of the Reversal.”

Growl…

“What do you wish from me?”

Is this return, which disrupts the plans of the dark mage, a coincidence or intentional? If it’s the latter, why did you choose me instead of a hero?

There was no reply. He hadn’t really expected one. It was merely a monologue.

Ian pushed his exhausted body forward.

With a sword in hand.

Enveloped in flames.

He clashed with the monsters that drew the eyes of the outside world.

Crash!

—

Clap, clap, clap!

“Wow, that was amazing! Well done, Dior.”

“Phew.”

Dior Berger, the squad leader of the Red Spear Knight 4th Division, gazed up at the sky, his right arm enveloped in blazing flames.

As the knight beside him applauded, the outer gate opened in the sky, engulfed in flames, burning brightly.

He could see the gaping cracks starting to seal up.

Dior straightened his posture and exhaled the deep breath he had taken.

“Couldn’t you have taken over for me?”

“Me? Why?”

The captain of the Red Spear Knight 4th Division, Hawain, tilted his head as if genuinely curious.

“I could have failed, you know.”

“Well, you wouldn’t know until you tried. You succeeded. You’ll be in my position before long, so are you planning to rely on my help then?”

“By then, I’ll manage on my own.”

“Just like now. I’m helping you gain experience. If you had failed, it wouldn’t have been too late for me to step in.”

If it weren’t for the helmet he was wearing, he would have had to see that smug face. In many ways, he was grateful for the existence of the helmet.

“I’ve said it before, but I really don’t like you in many ways.”

“Hehe, of course you don’t. You’re just as much of a brat as I am. It’s not a hatred of your own kind, is it?”

“…”

“Look at you, not denying it. You little brat. I’ll listen to your complaints later, so let’s go. We need to eliminate the monsters that are pouring out of the outer gate. We also need to meet with the young lord.”

Seeing Hawain holding up his shield, Dior couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Are you referring to young master Ian?”

“Is there another young master?”

“Isn’t there one right here?”

“You’re my subordinate. If you’re unhappy about it, you can either leave the knight order or rise above me.”

Kuwuuuuu!

Just as Hawain finished speaking, a bizarre sound echoed from the black sphere in the sky, and a dark ripple erupted again.

Kwang!

Dior turned his head. From the building on the left, someone broke through the wall.

Amid the swirling dust, it was human at first glance, but it quickly transformed into a monster.

Drooling and bulging with muscles, it charged forward, kicking the ground.

Hawain spread his legs slightly and took a stance, swinging the shield on his left arm to strike the approaching monster.

Teroong!

With a crisp sound, the monster was knocked back. Whether its brain was shaken or not, it fell and merely writhed on the ground, unable to get up.

Flames from a spear struck the unguarded body of the monster, igniting it fiercely.

“Why would such a weak creature come after me?”

“It probably looked easy to take on.”

“Do you want to die?”

“Since you’re already using your hands, can’t you take care of that too?”

Dior looked up at the black sphere floating above. Just acknowledging its presence affected his mood.

Anyone who saw that would undoubtedly feel despair and fear. No wonder the city was in chaos.

Despite countless mercenaries clashing with monsters.

Hawain sighed.

“If I could have, I would have done it a long time ago.”

“But you haven’t even tried.”

“Do you know what that is?”

“…It’s probably the dark wizard’s magic.”

“It’s magic, yes, but it’s necromancy. It’s one of the eyes of the outer gods believed in by the necromancers, the White Gravekeeper.”

The White Gravekeeper,

The one who desecrates rest.

An extraordinary being that robs the souls of the dead and raises fallen bodies.

It is a outer god that the necromancers believe in and follow.

It is also a direct counterpart to the third lord of the Twelve Guardians who protect the world, NERDIEL of life, and the ninth lord, IGREEO of souls.

Is that black sphere an eye of such a being?

“More precisely, it’s the shadow of an eye. Look, the size of the sphere is shrinking and then expanding. If we leave it alone, it will eventually disappear. It can’t be sustained for long.”

“How do you know that so well?”

“Because I’ve seen it before. I thought it was just spreading curses periodically, but it turns people into monsters like that.”

“If we leave it alone, won’t everyone in Flaming turn into monsters?”

In the worst-case scenario, yes, but it likely wouldn’t happen.

“If that were the case, it wouldn’t have summoned that thing in a small city. It would have been called forth in the capital or at least in a place with a much larger population. Since that’s not the case, there must be some conditions.”

Kwang!

“Logically, that makes sense, but I’m not sure if we can think about these things logically.”

Kukukukung!

“That’s true. Anyway, it’s really hard to believe.”

Hawain marveled at the building that had lost its upper floors.

Below the black sphere, where the outer gate had opened, flames were rising, and explosions were occurring one after another.

Ian was probably down there.

“What do you mean by that?”

In response to Dior’s blunt question, Hawain laughed.

“Look at those flames. How neat and clean they are. It’s pure perfection. Was it Level 4? That’s an insane talent. Just being able to generate such flames at that level is surprising, but he’s continually stacking the fire and increasing its power. Being far away makes it even clearer.”

“If he’s inherited the blood of Berger, he should be able to do that.”

“Kid, I’m proud of him for not being my brother. It’s a bit annoying.”

“If you’re so bothered, why not make your own brother?”

Hawain clicked his tongue, looking at Dior, who wouldn’t back down. He should have put him in his place long ago, but it was too late now.

“Enough of that. Let’s go. Just in case, we should check on the young master.”

———-