The next morning, Enryu burst out the door, brimming with energy.
"Alright, Hagan, I'm off to studies!" he called out, his voice lively.
Hagan, standing by the door with a stern look, replied, "Be back at the same time as yesterday. Don't be late."
"Got it!" Enryu answered, practically skipping with excitement as he set off.
But as the day unfolded, his focus wavered. His thoughts kept drifting, never fully settling on the lessons.
I wonder how he did that… The way the boulder crumbled to dust. Am I really going to be able to do something like that? Could I... fly one day?
Despite the drifting thoughts, the history lesson had caught his attention. They were learning about the Seven Sovereigns—ancient, mythical guardians of the world, each one believed to possess power so immense that their very presence could destroy our world. Their powers were said to shape the flow of life itself.
His reverie was abruptly broken.
"One last thing before we end—Enryu, happy birthday!" Mother Selene's voice rang out, cheerful and warm.
A flush crept across Enryu's face, and a wide, beaming smile stretched across his features as he quickly thanked her.
Later, Enryu walked with Niko and Sayo toward Hagan's house. The trio made their way down the familiar path, but the day had a strange sense of foreboding.
"Did you know Mr. Hagan was that strong?" Niko asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Nope. He never told me. Honestly, I don't know much about him, and I've lived with him my whole life," Enryu replied with a slight shrug.
Sayo, glancing at Enryu with a raised eyebrow, added, "I heard he used to be a Viking... but I never really believed it. Until yesterday."
Enryu's eyes widened in surprise. "Viking? Whoa—"
Before he could say more, a scream pierced the air.
A child's scream.
"Was that a little girl?" Niko asked, his voice tight with concern.
Sayo frowned. "She sounds terrified... Should we—?"
But Enryu was already sprinting in the direction of the scream. Without hesitation, Niko and Sayo exchanged a quick glance before following.
They had been running for what felt like ten minutes, but the scream never seemed to get any closer. In fact, it felt as though the sound was luring them deeper into the woods.
Niko, panting, slowed down, his brow furrowed. "Wait... is it just me, or are we not getting any closer?"
Sayo, her voice shaky, nodded. "It feels like we're being pulled farther from the village on purpose."
Enryu didn't slow his pace. "Even so, we can't leave a scared kid out here!"
Sayo and Niko both nodded in agreement and continued on
They pushed through the thickening trees, their hearts racing as the shadows deepened around them.
They had unknowingly crossed into The Woods of Envy—a place known for its eerie silence, where the forest seemed to stretch unnaturally far and where whispers of unnatural creatures often made the rounds.
After several more minutes, they stumbled into a small clearing.
And then, they froze.
In the middle of the clearing stood something that defied all logic. Its ashen, peeling skin clung to a skeletal frame, and its arms were grotesquely long, twisted at odd angles. Its empty eye sockets flickered with a static light, and its nails had morphed into jagged claws. Its mouth, unhinged and too wide, bore glass-like teeth that gleamed unnaturally.
Sayo gasped, her voice trembling. "Wha—wha—what is that?"
Niko's voice was strained with fear. "I don't know... but it looks like a nightmare brought to life. Guys, we need to go."
Enryu, face set with determination, shouted, "You! Have you seen a little girl?!"
Niko quickly turned to him, exasperated. "It's obviously not going to answer—look at it!"
Suddenly, the creature emitted the same scream that had drawn them in.
Enryu's eyes widened. "That... was it! It faked the scream!"
Sayo's voice was filled with horror. "It lured us here... like bait."
Niko's voice quivered. "We need to leave—now!"
The creature lunged toward them with terrifying speed.
"MOVE!" Enryu shouted, pushing his friends aside.
In the chaos, he felt something sharp slash across his face, the sting immediate and searing. His body froze in shock, and as he opened his eyes, he realized the pain was sharper than he had expected.
Niko gasped, his voice filled with panic. "Enryu! Your face—it's bleeding. The bridge of your nose!"
His heart racing, Enryu reached up to his face, fingers trembling as they brushed the warm, sticky blood. He pulled his hand away, staring at the crimson streaks.
His thoughts raced. That thing... it barely touched me. I should be dead right now...
He swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears. The fear wasn't just from the pain—it was the proximity of death. It had come so close.
Enryu squeezed his fist, trying to push back the fear. I can't fall apart. I need to stay focused. That thing could still be here... it could strike again.
He spun around, scanning the trees with frantic eyes. But the creature was gone—vanished, as if it had never been there at all.
"Where is it?" Enryu whispered.
Niko looked around, his voice disbelieving. "Did it just... disappear?! It was right here!"
The woods were now eerily quiet, the shadows hanging unnaturally still. The terror that had gripped them moments before seemed to have dissipated, but the stillness was even worse. It felt as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Enryu's thoughts spun. That thing almost killed us... If I was just a little slower...
Then, as if summoned by the tense silence, a hand landed firmly on Enryu's shoulder.
Hagan's voice, calm and composed, cut through the tension. "What are you all doing out here?"
"AAHHHH!" Enryu and Niko both jumped back, their hearts leaping in their chests. Hagan stood in front of them, a towering figure against the darkening trees.
Sayo, tears still streaming down her face, sniffled. "Mr. Hagan..."
Niko, still recovering from the shock, managed to say, "Don't do that! We thought you... You can't just appear like that!"
Hagan's expression hardened. "What are you doing in these woods? Enryu, what happened to your face?"
Sayo's voice quivered. "A monster... it attacked us."
Niko continued, his voice shaky. "We followed the scream of a girl—but it wasn't a girl. It was that thing. It hurt Enryu."
Hagan's eyes darkened. "A Veilburn."
The name sent a chill through Enryu's body. Veilburn… like the ones Reinhard destroyed ten years ago. I remember hearing the name Veilburn in stories as well.
Niko's voice was full of disbelief. "Those are real? I thought they were just nightmare legends to scare kids."
Hagan's voice grew stern. "Unfortunately, they're very real. Some believe they're soulless humans. Others think they're people whose souls were corrupted... but one thing is certain—they're dangerous."
Hagan's expression grew even more serious. "Was its body twitching? Was it unstable?"
Niko nodded quickly. "Yeah, it was like it was barely holding itself together."
Hagan grimaced. "That means it's still only Tier One. I need to find it and destroy it before it evolves."
Hagan turned his gaze toward the direction the creature had fled. "Which way did it go?"
The boys exchanged unsure glances. Neither had noticed.
Sayo, her voice still trembling, pointed weakly. "It went... that way. Toward the village."
Hagan's brow furrowed. "Toward the village?" He seemed puzzled. "That doesn't make sense..."
"Why not?" Niko asked.
Hagan's voice dropped low. "Veilburns avoid places protected by strong ember frequencies like artifacts. They steer clear of places where stronger predators exist."
Enryu raised an eyebrow, his voice curious but tinged with guilt. "What kind of artifact could do that?"
Hagan's gaze hardened. "Your father's weapon."
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
The boys froze, the weight of the moment settling over them like a heavy fog.
Yesterday...
Enryu, grinning mischievously, had waved the weapon almost bigger than him around. "Niko, don't I look badass with this thing? Maybe I should use it?"
Niko had looked concerned. "You should probably not be playing with it… If Hagan finds out—"
"Relax! He left it out. He must trust us, right?" Enryu had said, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. "Hey, let's prank him—bury it and pretend it's lost!"
Niko's voice had been firm. "Enryu. No. That's... the worst idea you've ever had."
Enryu had only laughed. "No way, it'll be hilarious. And he can't even get too mad because he's the adult who left it unattended."
Back in the present, Hagan's voice thundered through the clearing. "You did what?!"
The intensity of his tone made Enryu flinch.
But then Hagan sighed, a weariness creeping into his voice.
Hagan's thoughts flashed briefly, frustration simmering inside him. Dammit... I knew I shouldn't have eaten that bad fish. Food poisoning had me in bed all night...
Hagan's voice returned to its usual calm, though still tinged with a hint of frustration. "Alright—we have a serious situation here. That weapon... it constantly releases a low but strong frequency of ember, creating a protective field. If it's buried underground, though, the natural pressure from the earth blocks the frequency. That's why the Veilburn came so close—it couldn't sense the danger anymore."
Hagan shook his head as he crouched down. "It's like a school of fish no longer protected by a shark circling the waters. Or prey in a forest without a predator."
He met their eyes, his gaze hardening. "Get on my back. Both of you. Now."
Without hesitation, Enryu and Niko jumped onto his back, while Hagan effortlessly scooped up Sayo.
"I'm going to move fast. Hang on tight." Hagan said as he set off, the urgency in his voice unmistakable.
The wind howled past Enryu's ears as he clung tightly to Hagan's back, barely able to keep hold as they raced through the forest.
Hagan's fast... I'm barely staying attached, Enryu thought, gritting his teeth.
Niko shouted over the rushing air, "Do you think it's already reached the village?"
"It definitely has," Hagan replied, eyes locked ahead. "We'd better hope it hasn't hurt anyone yet. We'll be there in a minute."
And in a minute, they were. The treeline broke, revealing the outskirts of the village. Smoke wafted faintly in the distance. Hagan scanned the area.
"It's probably at the heart of the village," he said. "That's where the most people are—"
"No," Sayo interrupted, pointing toward a small, isolated cabin to the left. "It's over there."
Niko frowned. "How do you know that? I don't hear anything."
"I don't know," Sayo murmured, voice quiet but certain. "I can feel its presence."
Hagan didn't hesitate. "Let's check it out."
They approached the house carefully, the air around it cold and heavy.
"You three stay here," Hagan ordered, stepping toward the entrance.
Enryu stepped forward. "No. This is my fault. I need to help."
Hagan paused, then peeked inside the cabin. After a second, he turned to Enryu and nodded grimly. "Alright. Take a look—if you're ready to face your actions."
Enryu entered, heart pounding while Niko and Sayo stayed behind. What he saw brought tears to his eyes instantly.
A woman lay on the ground, half-consumed by the Veilburn in front of her, while her legs are mangled and torn. Blood soaked the wooden floorboards.
She looked up with fading eyes. "Ha… Hagan…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "My daughter… she's over there… She tried to protect me. Please… bless her soul… and take revenge… for us…"
Her head slumped forward as the last of her breath escaped her lips.
Enryu turned his gaze toward the corner of the room—and staggered back. A young girl's body lay crumpled, her face torn away, deep scratch marks gouged into her torso. The sight turned his stomach.
Hagan walked over, knelt beside the child's body, and gently placed his hand on her chest.
"Your soul shall be cleansed," he said solemnly. "As you rise into the afterlife, forever rest your body, but your soul shall live on."
After a moment of silence, Hagan stood and approached Enryu, who was trembling.
"This is all my fault," he chokes out, voice breaking. "I'm the reason they're dead. That little girl… her mom… They didn't deserve this…"
His sobs came harder now, shaking his whole body. "If I hadn't been so stupid—if I hadn't been so careless—maybe they'd still be alive!"
Hagan stepped forward and place a firm hand on Enryu's shoulder. "Yes… this is the weight of your mistakes."
Enryu looked up, face stained with tears
"But what can you do about the past?" Hagan continued. "You can drown in guilt, or you can carry it and rise past it. Everyone stumbles. Everyone fails. But the ones who make it to the top… are the ones who carry the pain and let it forge them into something stronger
He knelt beside Enryu and held out the black-beaded bracelet the girl wore. "You know my favorite thing about you?"
Enryu nodded his head saying no with curiosity written on his face
"Your determination, you never give up"
"Take this. Let it remind you of this moment," Hagan said, gently placing the bracelet into Enryu's hands. "A piece of her soul will stay with you. She won't truly die… not as long as you keep moving forward."
He paused, his voice low but steady
"Don't forget this feeling. Let it carve itself into you–not just as a memory of failure, but as the fire that forges your resolve. Let it burn so fiercely that it lights the path you walk, even when the world around you goes dark."
Enryu stared at the bracelet, then slowly reached out, gripping it with trembling hands. He brought it to his chest, clutching it like a lifeline
"I'll get stronger for her. I'll never give up again."
Hagan rose, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face the Veilburn still inside. "Now you can see how cruel this world truly is. It's not like the stories I told you. You'll face more evil than your soul and mind may be ready for."
Enryu's eyes hardened. "I don't care. I'll hunt every last one down to extinction."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Hagan's lips. "Then go. Tell the others to get far back."
Enryu nodded and ran out.
Inside the cabin, the Veilburn was still devouring what remained of the corpse, paying Hagan no mind. But when a burst of fiery Ember erupted from Hagan's body, the creature turned, shrieking.
With a single step, the Veilburn lunged.
Hagan dodged right, spun, and uppercut the beast straight through the cabin wall. The creature flew out into the open, crashing into the ground outside. Hagan followed.
The Veilburn shrieked, its body twitching. Then, with sickening crunches, it began to change—its form bulging, limbs multiplying.
"It's evolving," Hagan muttered. "I have to end this before it hits Tier Two."
The beast grew larger, now twice its previous size, sprouting two extra limbs. Hagan rushed forward, fists flying—but this time, the Veilburn kept up.
A punch missed. The Veilburn countered with a slash—but was kicked aside mid-swing. The clash continued, brutal and fast.
—
Two minutes earlier…
"Hey, Enryu," Niko whispered. "You okay? What happened?"
Enryu nodded faintly. "Yeah… I'm alright. Hagan's fighting it now."
Sayo looked up. "Is the monster dead?"
"Not yet. But he's got it."
Niko raised a brow. "You think he can beat that thing?"
"There was a look in his eyes… I've never seen it before. I wouldn't bet against him."
"Then let's go watch," Niko said, already moving. "This could be our only chance to see a real fight against a Veilburn."
"But he told us to stay back."
"And he'll yell at us later. But we need to see how they fight—so we can be ready for the next encounter."
Enryu hesitated. "Yeah… that makes sense—"
Boom!
The Veilburn crashed through the wall, skidding outside.
"Perfect timing," Niko grinned.
"Let's hide behind that bush," Enryu said. "Out of the way."
—
The fight raged on.
The Veilburn struck with a high slash—but feinted, dipping low as Hagan reacted. The counter came too late. Blood splattered from Hagan's leg.
It's adapting mid-battle, Hagan thought. Getting comfortable in its body. I have to end this now.
He gritted his teeth. Kids… I hope you're watching.
A wave of Ember surged around him as his body began to change. Skin thickened. Muscles expanded. Thick grey hide spread across his torso and limbs. His face retained its human intensity, but with the armored jawline and horned brow of a rhinoceros.
"This is my full transformation: Rhino Hide."
He planted his feet.
"Come at me."
The Veilburn shrieked and charged, claws glowing with venomous light. It slashed—
—and the attack halted against Hagan's unyielding armor.
"Tough, huh?" Hagan growled.
He drove his fist forward, landing it squarely in Veilburn's ribs.
"Burst."
The Ember within detonated. A shockwave erupted from his fist, blowing a hole through the monster's torso.
The Veilburn screeched one final time before its body began to dissolve, fading into ash.
Hagan staggered, breathing heavily. Blood trickled down his leg.
I'm too old for this… he thought. I need to train these kids—fast.
He turned to the bush. Three wide-eyed faces stared back at him.