Beyond the Boundaries

The Battlefield

The scene was bloody and horrific. The sound of soldiers' screams mixed with the sharp clash of metal. The heat of the battle was as intense as the arena itself, which was covered in blood.

Istria's army was severely undermanned and under-equipped. Five thousand soldiers, most of whom did not even reach the level of the first star, faced an army twice the size of the Kingdom of Aetheria, led by three generals: two 3-star generals and one 4-star fighter.

Despite this overwhelming disparity, Astrea survived thanks to Vargas, a 4-star fire mage, whose long-distance magical attacks were the trump card that delayed the kingdom's collapse.

In the center of the arena, Nico, a warrior general from the Kingdom of Aetheria, stood looking at Vargas with contempt.

'Vargas, why are you putting your life in the service of this crumbling kingdom? Surrender and join us. Someone with your talents does not deserve to die here.'

Vargas replied firmly: 'Don't tell me what to do. You will not win today, no matter what.'

Vargas' confident tone felt like an invisible punch to Nico's pride.

'You will regret this, you stubborn wizard!'

Tensions mounted between the two most powerful figures in the arena. Nico, with his massive body and double sword gleaming in the dim sunlight, represented sheer power. Vargas, with his glowing wand and flaming eyes, was the embodiment of cunning and magical destruction.

Nico lunged at Vargas with incredible speed, delivering a vertical slash with his double sword. A fiery barrier rose between them, conjured at the last moment by Vargas to block the attack, but Nico's power partially penetrated the barrier.

'Your attack is powerful, but soulless!' Vargas said, firing a giant fireball at Nico, who dodged it with an acrobatic move.

Nico responded with a wry smile: 'You won't beat me with tricks, Wizard.'

A fierce battle erupted between them. Each blow from Nico was powerful enough to destroy a rock, and each spell from Vargas was enough to turn the ground into a sea of flame.

Amidst the destruction, Vargas managed to unleash a spell that immobilized Nico for a few seconds. The wizard used the moment to launch a series of explosive fireballs.

'You're finished!' Vargas shouted.

But Nico emerged from the smoke with only minor bruises, smiling: 'Have you forgotten who I am? I'm Nico, the Mage Killer!'

He sprinted toward Vargas at breakneck speed and managed to land a blow that shattered the magician's magical barrier and sent him flying away.

Meanwhile

Ryan was rushing out of his room, wearing his armor and carrying the sword he had obtained from the Hunter's World. His steps were determined, his eyes blazing with resolve.

Lily called out to him in a soft voice: 'Where are you going?'

Ryan paused for a moment, then said coldly: 'To the war.'

Lily gave him a long look, then said with a soft smile: 'Good luck.'

Ryan waved as he quickly left. Her maid, Riz, noticed how much Ryan had changed, but she said nothing, preferring to remain silent.

On the ramparts, the soldiers were in despair. The sound of the enemy knocking on the gate grew louder, and the cracking of the wood signaled that the end was near.

'Bam... Bam... Bam...'

Everyone was waiting for the gate to collapse and for 10,000 soldiers led by two 3-star generals to enter.

Fear gripped their hearts. Some soldiers dropped their weapons, some started crying, and others stood motionless, as if waiting for their inevitable fate.

Suddenly, a strong voice filled the square:

'Get up!'

The sound was enough to wake the soldiers from their stupor. They turned toward its source to find Ryan walking among them, holding his sword.

'Get up and fight! Do you want your wives and daughters to become slaves of the enemy, or do you want your sons to be enslaved to death?'

His words were like an arrow that pierced the soldiers' hearts. Ryan continued in a stronger voice:

'Fighting is not with weapons alone, but with the heart! If the heart, mind, and soul come together, no force on this earth can defeat us. Stand with me today, not because we seek victory, but because we refuse to be defeated!'

He raised his sword high, then shouted at the top of his voice:

'Who is with me? Who will stand with me today to say to the darkness: You will never prevail! Who will etch their name in history with me?'

The cries of the soldiers escalated from frightened whispers to a roar that rose from the depths of their souls. Everyone picked up their weapons again, eyes ablaze with indomitable determination.

Ryan finally cried out: 'For Astrea!'

He rushed toward the enemies like a tornado, swinging his sword like a grim reaper.