In the distant past, the world was steeped in mystery and myth. Countless heroes roamed the land, rising up to fight against monsters and demons that infested the continent. They severed the heads of giants, shattered the horns of demons, and swept through legions on their own. These heroes did not remain solitary for long; they formed groups with their followers or comrades. The strength of these collectives saved countless lives in the early days, as mercenary bands, knight orders, and guilds banded together to face threats that were insurmountable alone. Over time, they grew in scale and evolved into nations.

Then began the Warring States period. With borders came divisions, and wars broke out endlessly in the name of national prosperity and territorial expansion. Rivers flowed with blood, and mountains were built from corpses. Humanity filled the lands where demons once dwelled, and perhaps the demons, watching from beyond, laughed at the irony, humans who had expelled monsters, only to inflict even crueller torment upon one another. From the outside, it must have appeared a pitiful display: foolish masses running toward ruin, blinded heroes stumbling forward.

It was during that time that Chiron, the first Emperor and bearer of the Steel Flame, appeared. His entire body was wreathed in brilliant, multicolored fire. He moved the wind and the earth, commanding the elements. The kingdom he founded “Ironia”, forged in steel,swiftly annexed other nations. Ironia expanded with relentless strength, and in time, it came to be known as an empire. With this, the Warring States period ended, and the era of imperial power began.

Now, even that age has faded into legend. The steel remains, but the flames are gone.

Yet in that moment..

“Hurrrrrrr!”

A power that once opened a new era for humankind surged from the heart of a certain mad prince.

[The temperature of the lower fate fire has passed the critical point!]

According to the records left in the flame, the “First Heart”, also called “Red Flame”, did not burn in isolation. This power, existing somewhere between a magician’s mana circle and a knight’s dantian, possessed a unique trait, it grew by feeding on darkness. The more darkness it consumed, the larger and more vividly it burned. It first took the form of a ring within the heart, and the prince learned to move it gradually. The memories embedded in the fire aided his thought process, allowing him to succeed despite his meager talent.

What he needed next was darkness, fuel to keep the fire burning. He already knew of Yeongrim’s existence, and so he simply waited for the right opportunity to approach. The Empress gave him ten days. A moment of crisis became his opening. He chose a location that was dangerous but not fatal, selecting it based on the fate bound to the place. As he consumed the fate of the land, the fire consumed the darkness.

The moment the fire surpassed the critical threshold, it surged through his entire body.

“Everyone, stand up!”

The time had come. The prince called for Sol and Andre.

“Follow me!”

Without hesitation, he advanced deeper into the forest. Earlier, the darkness had flowed like a shallow stream, but the deeper they went, the more the shadows clung to their ankles.

“Hey, Your Majesty! Let’s go together!”

“Let the light of the pine shine! Let’s run, driving away the darkness!”

Sol and Andre followed in a rush. While navigating the terrain, the prince read the fate of his surroundings.

[I understand the fate of the place. It won’t be a danger to you.]

Although he couldn’t grasp the fate of the entire forest, he could read the fate in the immediate vicinity. The destined place had not yet appeared. Still, Andre and Sol seemed to have adapted to Yeongrim and were keeping pace without issue, so he resumed his movement. Though his mind urged haste, his body did not lose its composure. As he continued to circle through the forest.

[I understand the fate of the place. The danger of death is a Taoist.]

[I must confront the evil shadow that exists in the fate of the place.]

The prince halted only when he found a suitable location.

“Ugh, ugh! Your Majesty! It’s too deep here.”

“Ugh, the shadow keeps sticking to my ankle.”

Andre and Sol arrived while the prince was examining the terrain. Sol had used light to forge a path, while Andre had guided him. Despite the thick shadows pulling at their legs and sweat soaking their clothes, the prince’s body was dry and his heat evaporated every drop.

“Isn’t it a little hot?”

“What’s this heat?”

The heat radiating from the prince was intense enough to evaporate all sweat. Shadows flowed beneath his feet, endlessly being absorbed into him, allowing his movement to remain unhindered. Once the terrain inspection was complete, he gave instructions.

“Cut down all the trees around the commoners. Activate all the glowstones.”

“But if I use up all the glowstones. Oh, wait a minute. Andre!”

“I will obey!”

Before Sol could voice further concern, Andre dragged him away. The prince began laying out the items Alfred had prepared in advance. He placed a pitch-black pouch on the ground, an artifact that seemed woven from shadow itself, a special item stored in the Imperial Palace’s secret archives.

A low rumble echoed as the pouch absorbed the surrounding shadows, lowering the density of darkness in the area. Then, he crushed and sprinkled glow-stones onto a new white cloak.

“Your Majesty! I have cut down the surrounding trees.”

“The glow-stones are ready for now!”

Andre had cleared the trees, and over twenty glow-stones now floated around Sol, bathing the area in bright light.

“Spread the strongest barrier you can in the open space.”

“Yes!”

Having cast aside his doubts, Sol responded without hesitation. He began casting magic, and the glow-stones that had been rotating around him flew into position.

“Light Shield.”

A three-circle light-element defensive magic filled the area. The shield’s strength was amplified by the light magic imbued within the glowstones. The glowstone halos and Sol’s mana resonated, releasing specks of luminous dust. For a brief moment, it felt as though a starlit sky surrounded the clearing.

For a moment, the two forgot the danger and simply stared in awe.

“Wow. This kind of magic.”

“I guess I did well to follow the prince.”

Sol, too, had never used this many glow-stones to enhance a spell before. Then, a voice came.

“Step back.”

The prince’s voice was low and suppressed, as though something writhed within it. Andre and Sol immediately stepped back.

“Put the cloak that fell on the floor over your head and never, never reveal your body outside.”

The prince threw the radiant white cloak and issued the command. Sol wanted to ask why, but…

“I will follow your orders.”

Andre acted before he could. Sol puffed his cheeks, visibly irritated, but before he could complain…

“Kwaang!”

The barrier thundered. Sol, startled, hurried to wrap himself in the cloak. Something beyond the shield was relentlessly trying to push through the light. He turned to look but saw nothing. Just as relief began to settle.

“Gyaaaaah!”

A pale face floated into view, eyes pitch-black and devoid of whites. It slammed into the barrier. Then more appeared, white faces, pressing in from all sides.

“White-faced ghosts.”

Andre grit his teeth and muttered under his breath. These were spirits that haunted Yeongrim, evil ghosts that devoured the souls of the living.

“Ha, but why are the white-faced ghosts that were not seen until now?”

“That’s right. Why did they suddenly gather when they were always quiet?”

Andre echoed Sol’s question. Why now? Why in such numbers?

“Did Your Majesty call you?”

“Do you think that’s possible? Heek … How do you plan on dealing with them, Your Majesty?”

“Their bodies are shadows. They can only be cut with light. Can you strike the Sol Sword?”

“Yes …yes, of course. It’s possible, but you …there are too many of them …”

“Sweeping them away with area-of-effect magic.”

“It might take too long …too long.”

Andre and Sol tried to devise a method to fight them off.

“It’s unnecessary.”

The prince cut them off with a resolute voice.

“I’ll leave the hunting to you.”