Step to paradise

The two streams of power collided, creating a terrifying pressure that tore through the air. Shockwaves radiated from the point of contact, causing the clothes of the nearby stalls to shake violently.

Flauros leaned over, forcing his spear to slide along the blade, using the inertia to pull the knight off his center of gravity.

The knight snorted coldly, immediately twisting his wrist, changing the direction of his sword to counterattack.

But at that moment, Flauros disappeared.

Not exactly disappeared. Rather, he merged into the darkness.

The knight widened his eyes. "Forbidden magic..."

The space behind him twisted, and Flauros appeared, a sharp spear thrusting straight towards him.

Clang!

The knight turned around in time, blocking with the back of his sword, but the collision caused the two to separate again.

Both stood firm, staring at each other. There was now not only suspicion in the knight's eyes, but also caution.

He took a step back, his eyes more alert than ever.

"Who are you?"

Flauros curled his lips. "Someone you shouldn't touch."

The atmosphere was tense. For a moment, both of them stood still, sizing each other up. But then, from afar, the sound of horse hooves rang out, the royal patrol was approaching.

The knight could no longer continue to attack indiscriminately in the middle of the night market.

He tightened his grip on his sword, then lowered the tip of the sword.

"I will watch you. Don't even think about causing trouble in this kingdom."

Flauros did not reply, only smiled meaningfully.

The knight glanced at him one last time, then turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Left alone, Flauros let out a soft sigh. "What a troublesome night." He muttered, then turned around, left the crowded market, and continued his journey.

"But anyway, we found a way to enter the city, right? Right?~"

Flauros smiled evilly, under the darkness, his blood-colored eyes seemed to flash with some strange light.

A new day begins, and the first rays of sunlight melt the morning dew. The sun begins to shine in a certain office.

Cigarette smoke hung in the air, blending with the pale yellow light in the large but quiet office. The middle-aged knight sat in the armchair, holding the report that had just been delivered.

The tip of the cigarette glowed red every time he took a deep drag, the smoke curled slightly before dissipating into the dim darkness of the room.

The paper in his hand trembled slightly under his calloused fingers from holding the sword for so long. His eyes quickly scanned each line written in neat ink:

"The headquarters of the Black Alliance, along with many of its branches, were burned to the ground in a purple-black magical fire of unknown origin. Most of the members died on the spot, while the few who escaped were hunted down and annihilated by the royal army. There were no survivors."

The Black Alliance, an underground organization that had been rampant for many years, disappeared overnight. Not because of the royal military strategy, not because of the uprising of rival gangs.

But because of a fire, a fire that no one understood.

The knight frowned, his fingertips lightly tapping on the wooden table. It was not a natural fire. It was like a ritual of purification, destroying everything, leaving no one behind.

Those who had been burned did not scream for help. No one ran away. It was as if the fire itself had swallowed their souls before their bodies were burned.

Some kind of magic? Or was there a greater force intervening?

And then, the image of the reddish-brown haired boy who had fought him last night suddenly appeared in his mind.

"Purple black fire, forbidden magic, darkness condensed into a spear..."

He put out his cigarette in the ashtray, his eyes becoming sharper. It couldn't be just a coincidence.

A stranger, but full of danger. The wind outside the window whistled, carrying the cold air from the northern forest.

"It's already spring, but the weather is still cold, huh?"

He couldn't help but sigh. The knight picked up the report again, reading each line as if to make sure he hadn't missed anything.

Finally, he put it down on the table, crossed his arms, and thought. Outside the door, a light knock sounded.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a man in light armor walked in. It was Edwin, his close subordinate. He bowed and approached the table.

"Sir, news from the imperial capital has just arrived. We have been ordered to retreat."

"I guess so." The knight nodded, his voice calm.

"The Black Alliance has disappeared, there is no reason for us to stay here anymore."

Edwin glanced at the report on the table, his eyes flashing with a puzzled look.

"But... Don't you think this is too unusual? A powerful underground organization like the Black Alliance was wiped out overnight without any resistance?"

The knight pondered for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, his eyes as sharp as a sword blade, looking at Edwin.

"Of course it's unusual. But if there's no more enemy to fight, our mission is over."

Edwin hesitated slightly, then continued:

"Then what about that person?"

"You mean the young man from last night?"

"Yes. That strange black-purple flame user. If he's involved in this incident, shouldn't we investigate further?"

The knight lowered his gaze to the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the wooden surface. Then he smiled faintly.

"Edwin, how long have you been following me?"

"Twelve years, sir."

"So you know. The Imperial Capital doesn't need mysterious stories, they just need results."

Edwin pursed his lips, but didn't refute.

The knight stood up, putting his cloak over his shoulders.

"Prepare your men, we'll leave today. The royal family doesn't like knights wandering around for too long in places where there are no more battlefields."

Edwin nodded, then quickly left the room.

The knight sighed, turning back to look through the window. The rain had not stopped, as if it wanted to erase all traces of the terrible night just passed.

The times had changed, and the corruption of the royal family and the nobles had more or less gradually eliminated all the strong forces of humanity, of the neutral and friendly races.

He couldn't help but recall the majestic memories of the past on the battlefield against monsters, where there was still freedom, where witches had not yet been slaughtered, where knights still used their swords with all their heart and passion.

He is Velynrather Kaelthas, one of the five famous sword saints who still exist today through the history of time, and was once the captain of the royal knights of the Ozone Empire. In the past, it was a powerful empire that spanned 2/3 of the continent.

But now he is only a reserve legion captain, the current captain of the royal knights is someone sent by the royal family to consolidate his position.

A bitter feeling suddenly arose in his heart. To survive and protect his family, he had to destroy his own Manas vein and retreat into seclusion.

A decisive factor in the ability of knights to use Manas as energy.

All the glorious victories and contributions he made to the empire were nothing compared to the power.

'If I hadn't attended the knight training school back then, would my life have been better than it is now...?'

In a brightly lit room next to the 'Red Stone' trading company's building, Flauros leaned back, his head resting on the bed frame, his eyes still glued to the complex symbols on the paper in his hand.

Ancient formulas, tightly interwoven magical lines, like an invisible network, covered the entire headquarters of the Black Alliance. He spent hours deciphering it, layer by layer, until the mysterious curtain was lifted.

"So this is the core structure..."

He muttered, a flash of understanding flashing in his sharp eyes. What the Black Alliance used was not simply a defensive formation, but a form of ancient dark magic combined with a seal.

If that were all, it wouldn't be worth worrying about. But what caught Flauros' attention was that at its root, there was a strange mark, not made by humans.

He closed the paper, clipping it to the Forbidden Magic Book, a container of knowledge that even grandmasters did not dare to study.

As soon as the paper touched the cover, the entire book emitted a pale light, then immediately dissipated into nothingness according to Flauros's thoughts.

His hand relaxed, but his mind was still troubled.

"This thing is somewhat similar to the forbidden magic I use, but only the core is similar, the rest of it is completely unrelated..."

That was almost impossible, if it were not forbidden magic, everyone would just think it was trash.

Because magic is all composed of elements, some kind of inherent original definition of the world, then begins to branch out into various forms of magic and personal magic,...

In other words, it is possible to branch out differently, but it is impossible to completely change the root and origin. For example, if a wizard's magic has the water attribute but uses fire magic, it is unreasonable, if his magic has nothing to do with the water attribute, it is even more impossible.

It is like a tree that only has roots but no branches, has flowers and leaves, but has fruit. Extremely unreasonable.

That is the reason why most wizards only use one element, in the case of Flauros, using a combination of two attributes that can only be used when using forbidden magic, and have a lot of trade-offs when using ancient methods.

The person behind the Black Alliance can also create and operate an even more heaven-defying magic formation, what a terrifying 'monster'.

'But they all have forbidden magic at their roots, it seems like the person behind them is a wizard?'

'Alright, let's rest first'

'I used too much Mana yesterday, if I continue. I'm going to die soon...'

'I just used them a few days ago, and I used them yesterday, if I continue, even taking medicine won't save me.'

Last night, Flauros entered the inn with an extremely tired appearance. Cold rain was still falling outside the window, drops of water rolling down the frosted glass, reflecting the dim light from the street lamps in the distance.

His throat felt dry, his chest felt like it was being crushed, and his arms were shaking almost uncontrollably.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, a violent cough immediately broke out. He gritted his teeth, leaning his hands against the wall, but he still couldn't stop the hot blood from flowing from the corner of his mouth.

Dark blood dripped onto the wooden floor, each drop soaking deep into the old wood grain. The side effects... were coming back.

He staggered towards the storage ring, infusing it with the remaining mana. A faint light flashed, and in his hand appeared a small glass vial containing a pale green glowing liquid.

Without hesitation, Flauros opened the cap and poured the viscous liquid straight down his throat.

"—Cough!"

The moment the liquid touched his body, a burning pain erupted from within. The heat spread throughout his chest, seeping into every vein.

His entire body felt as if it was being burned from within, every nerve screaming in pain. His eyes widened, his pupils contracted, and his entire body writhed as if being tortured.

Then suddenly—

The pain receded like a tidal wave, leaving behind a strange numbness. Flauros collapsed onto the bathroom floor, cold sweat pouring out. Each torn wound on his body slowly closed, and new flesh slowly regenerated.

His breathing was still ragged, but at least he was in control of his condition.

After a long, long time, Flauros slowly propped himself up with his hands. His crimson eyes flashed a cold light in the darkness.

Recalling the reckless play yesterday, Flauros couldn't help but shiver at his recklessness. It seemed that since the day he stepped through the gate and traveled here, his recklessness had become more than his brain's blood.

Was this some kind of evolution?

Flauros left the inn, walking slowly into the crowd on the bustling street. It was still damp from the rain last night, but the air was more pleasant.

The aroma of toasted bread, stewed meat, and wine wafted through the air, leading him to a small restaurant nestled under warm yellow lights.

He chose a table near the window, where he could observe the bustling street outside. A waiter quickly came to take the order, and soon, the dishes were brought up one by one.

Savory dish: A plate of hot stewed meat in wine sauce, the meat was so tender that it could be separated with a fork. The sauce was thick, dark red, with a strong aroma of herbs and old wine, mixed with the natural sweetness of the meat.

The steam rose, carrying a seductive aroma that made anyone swallow their saliva.

Vegetable dish: A plate of stir-fried vegetables with garlic butter, simple but sophisticated. Dark green kale, crisp and sweet, sautéed just enough to retain its freshness, topped with a layer of melted butter mixed with the fragrant smell of garlic.

A light sprinkle of crushed black pepper creates a bit of spicy flavor to enhance the dish.

The first starch dish: A portion of toasted barley bread, crispy on the outside, soft and spongy on the inside. The bread is still warm, served with a small plate of rich herbal butter. Each time a little butter is spread on the bread, the aroma of the herbs mixed with the rich taste of barley spreads on the tip of the tongue.

The second starch dish: A bowl of oatmeal cooked with milk and sliced ​​almonds, the layer of porridge is smooth and creamy, topped with a little wild honey and fragrant roasted almond slices.

When gently stirred with a spoon, the honey layer melts, creating a mixture with a naturally sweet taste, rich but not greasy.

Flauros picked up his fork, cut a piece of stewed meat, and put it in his mouth. The rich flavor spread on the tip of his tongue, mixed with the light astringency of the wine.

He slowly savored each dish, letting his taste buds relax after the tension of the past few days. At least, a decent meal could be considered a small reward for himself.

Flauros silently cut a piece of stewed meat, slowly putting it in his mouth. The rich flavor of wine and herbs spread on the tip of his tongue, but his mind was not completely on the meal at the moment.

Thoughts about how to break into the Ozone stronghold without proving his identity still lingered in his mind.

The main entrance to the city was too troublesome. He didn't have any valid documents, and he didn't want to get involved with the local authorities.

But last night, when he stopped in front of the small alley in the night market, he felt an unusual mana fluctuation in the space. After observing more closely, Flauros discovered a secret teleportation circle, hidden deep in the old stone foundation of the alley.

If this were a teleportation gate, it could be an underground path used by secret organizations to sneak into the city without being checked.

Smugglers, spies, assassins, anyone with enough money or the ability to decipher the magic circle could use it. And of course, Flauros was no exception.

He took a sip of water, his eyes slightly narrowing as he continued to consider the plan. Using this magic circle was potentially dangerous, as it might only work under certain conditions or be protected by other magical mechanisms.

But if he could slightly adjust its mana structure, there was a high chance that he could activate it at will.

'Then, I'll depart tonight.'

Flauros silently made his decision. He didn't want to waste any more time here. As soon as it got dark, he would return to that alley and check the magic circle again. If everything went as planned, he would sneak into the city that night.

After finishing his meal, Flauros put down his fork, called the waiter to pay, and left.

Flauros left the restaurant, walking silently on the stone-paved road leading to the Red Stone Trading Company.

It was still raining lightly, the tiny drops of water falling made the air damp and cold, reflecting the light from the dim street lamps.

The climate here is always changing, strangely. The place he started from was in the south, but the further he got there, the colder and rainier it became.

This place has not reached the tropics yet, but the rainfall is already very high. I'm afraid that when he arrives, it will rain every day all year round.

But when he goes to the cold land in the south, even a snowstorm is hard to appear, so someone who hates getting wet like him will be able to feel more comfortable.

Although he is not a cat-like species that likes the cold, he is also a wizard who takes the element of fire as his root, so everything will be fine.

The main road is wide, paved with gray marble slabs that have worn over the years. Water stains sparkle under the light of oil lamps hanging on old-fashioned lampposts.

On both sides of the road are stone and wooden buildings, with a strong medieval European architectural style, pointed tiled roofs, small glass windows, and walls covered with lush green vines.

Along the way, the shops were still open late, welcoming the last shoppers of the day. The cries of wares rang out from the stalls selling hot bread, smoked meats, and wine.

The warm aroma of small cafes wafted through the air, mixed with the smell of damp wood and weeds after the rain.

Flauros walked slowly, unhurriedly. He weaved through the groups of people chatting under the eaves, avoiding the horse-drawn carriages that rumbled past on the main street.

Occasionally, a few adventurers in long cloaks passed by him, carrying with them weapons and traces of long, dangerous journeys.

Turning into a small alley, the street gradually became quieter. The buildings here had an old appearance, the stone walls cracked by time.

At the end of that road, the Red Stone Trading Company appeared, a large white stone building, with a ruby ​​symbol carved on the thick wooden gate.

Entering the room, it was still bustling as usual. Going up the stairs and into the room, he put all the belongings into the storage ring.

He already had enough raw metals to upgrade them, but the problem was that there was no blacksmith around here who was capable of upgrading artifacts, so he planned to enter the city and find a suitable person later.

He also needed to find some bounty hunting quests to earn some extra money. The money he earned was a lot, but could not be used forever. There were too many things to consider along the way to the final stop, so he should still go quickly.

The night was quiet, with only the sound of drizzle falling on the wet roof tiles. The Red Stone Trading Company had already fallen into darkness, and only a few flickering oil lamps lit up the reception area.

Flauros placed a bag of money on the wooden counter, making a slight noise in the quiet space. The night receptionist looked at him sleepily, but quickly checked the amount.

"Checking out, sir?"

He nodded slightly, the shadow of his black cloak fluttering slightly with the movement. Not letting her ask any more questions, he turned and walked through the heavy wooden door.

As soon as he left the guild, the cold night wind blew past, carrying with it the moisture from the slippery stone streets.

Drizzle fell on his cloak, the dim light from the street lamps casting magical reflections on the wet stone.