In a quiet room lit only by a pale glow from a single lamp, a tall and broad-shouldered man stood in front of a window. His face, carved in stone-like calm, was framed by long, dark hair. Cold black eyes reflected the silvery light of the moon and the flickering glow from several holographic windows floating in the air.
[Your bond with Narod has been strengthened by 9% >> 35%]
Fray read the message without a flicker of emotion. He glanced up at the sky. The moonlight shimmered strangely tonight—as if the sky itself was watching him.
"So, what are you thinking about?" came a voice from behind.
Fray didn't move. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young boy who looked eerily like a younger version of himself.
He answered flatly, "I think it's time to go back to the family."
The boy tilted his head. "You want to save the world really !? Did you forge that you're the villain in this story."
'Villain, huh?' Fray thought, recalling the events he had learned from Yassine's memories. He whispered, more to himself than to the boy, "I won't deny that… but I'm not trying to save world. I'm going to rebuild it in my own way. And this time, no one will stop me."
He turned fully, but the boy was gone. He wasn't surprised.
'Still… time's not on my side. I need to gather strong allies before the Old Continent opens.'
The Next Morning…
Here's a rewritten version of the scene with simpler language, more environmental detail, and Fray's expression changed to reflect his usual stoic demeanor:
The Next Morning…
The early morning mist clung to the ground like a soft blanket as the small town of Serath slowly came to life. At its edge stood a sturdy stone castle, its walls weathered by time. Tall watchtowers rose against the pale sky, keeping silent watch over the nearby Magora Forest—a dark and mysterious place where strange creatures were said to live.
In front of the castle's thick wooden gates, Fray sat on the back of his white pegasus. His dark formal coat fluttered gently in the breeze, and his long black hair hung still over his shoulders. His cold, unreadable eyes stared ahead as several knights gathered around him to say goodbye.
"We owe you a great deal, young Master," said the general, a large man with brown hair and a rough, proud face. His voice was strong, but warm. "You've helped us through some hard times. You're always welcome here."
Fray gave a slow nod, his expression calm and emotionless. "Thank you for the hospitality. I'll remember it."
The knights saluted, their armor clinking softly in the quiet morning. With a few final nods, Fray guided his pegasus forward. The creature beat its wings and lifted off the ground, rising smoothly into the sky.
As he soared above the rooftops and stone walls of Serath, Fray looked down one last time at the people he had fought beside for the last year. He gave no wave, no farewell—only a silent gaze before turning his eyes toward the distant coastline.
Ahead lay Iskar City, the home of the powerful Dalma family.
And Fray was going back.
...
Nearing Iskar City…
The landscape shifted from forests to open plains, then to the massive coastal city of Iskar. Sunlight danced across the ocean behind the city, where tall stone towers and hundreds of buildings stood surrounded by mighty walls. Fray always thought the city looked like something out of an ancient painting—beautiful, but always tense.
As he approached the gates from the air, two Pegasus knights rose to meet him, their armor gleaming with the Dalma family crest.
"Halt! You are not authorized to enter Iskar City," one of them barked, pointing a spear at him. "Identify yourself!"
'Why is security this tight? Is Something going on,' Fray thought, narrowing his eyes as he reached into his coat for the Dalma family permit Crest.
Before he could pull it out, the knight suddenly hurled his spear. It sliced through the air like a bolt of lightning, aimed right at his chest.
With barely a movement, Fray leaned to the side, letting the weapon pass by harmlessly.
"Hey! What are you doing there? Are you reaching for a scroll?" the second knight shouted. His voice was sharp and aggressive, like he was already expecting a fight.
Fray's expression didn't change. But in the air around him, the pressure dropped. He released his aura—heavy and overwhelming. The knights flinched as if the wind itself had turned against them.
'That wasn't a warning shot. They meant to kill me.'
"W-What kind of aura is this?" one of them stammered, frozen in fear. The other gritted his teeth and shouted, "You dare raise your power against the Dalma family's elite knights? That was your last mistake!"
Both knights charged, blades drawn.
Still mounted on his Pegasus, Fray remained calm. He whispered, "Cemetery Army."
At once, the air turned dark. Thousands of black bees poured into existence, circling him like a living shadow. They buzzed with low menace, their movements sharp and eerie.
"Is that… his spirit?" one knight said, eyes wide.
"Kill him!" the other barked, slicing through the swarm. But the bees moved like smoke, slipping past the blade.
Before either knight could strike again, the swarm closed in on them, surrounding their bodies in a storm of stingers and black mist.
"I sense danger ! Use your—"
Boom!
Bees exploded in waves, tiny blasts lighting the sky in bursts of black fire. Through the smoke, the knights emerged—barely. One held up a glowing shield that formed a dome of light, keeping more of the bees at bay.
'They're stronger than I thought. The Cemetery Army won't be enough. I need to land,' Fray thought, scanning the city walls for a place to drop.
Below, a patch of empty land stretched out along the wall. He steered his pegasus downward as more bees exploded behind him, creating a curtain of smoke between him and his attackers.
"There's no end to these damn insects!" the knight with the shield shouted, dodging more bees.
"There! He's landing!" yelled the other. "We can't let him escape!"
Both knights followed, diving through the air as Fray touched down on the stony field. Dust rose around him as he dismounted.
Drop!
The sword-wielding knight landed hard in front of Fray, grinning like he had the upper hand. "So, you're just going to wait for us? Did the Magora Forest drive you insane?"
Drop!
The second knight landed beside him, shaking slightly. "What are you doing?" he hissed. "He'll know we recognize him!"
"Shut up! We kill him now. He won't live to say a word."
Fray didn't move. He watched them, his face cold and unreadable.
"...Narod," he whispered. "Answer my summoning. First phase. Activate."
A new force flooded the field. The sky darkened slightly. A strange pulse rolled out across the ground.
[First phase activated. All stats increased by 35x.]
Fray's body began to change. His muscles grew denser, thicker. His frame stretched slightly taller. He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of strength ripple through him.
'This power... It's overwhelming. I've never felt anything like it.'
Fray, unlike most Spirit Warriors, didn't have just one contracted spirit. Thanks to his legendary golden soul, he had two—Cemetery Army, and Narod. And Narod wasn't just any spirit—it was a fusion-type, mysterious and incredibly strong.
'The aura... it's heavier now,' the knight with the longsword muttered. "WindWold, answer my call—!"
A ring of green energy started to gather at the knight's side. But before it could finish forming—
Fray disappeared.
"What the—?!" the knight gasped, looking around wildly.
A heavy chill struck the back of his neck. He spun, and Fray was already there.
The knight swung his sword with all his strength, but Fray moved faster. In one smooth motion, he grabbed the knight's head with both hands.
Click!
A clean, unnatural sound. The knight's head twisted sharply, and his body collapsed at Fray's feet.
The second knight stared, pale and shaking. He slowly backed away, horror written across his face.
Fray didn't follow. Instead, he looked at his hands, his face thoughtful.
'This is only the first phase. What kind of entity was Narod when he was alive? The novel never mentioned his existence. It's like he doesn't belong to this world. Maybe… he's connected to those ancient beings. I need to find out as soon as possible.'
Narod, a fusion-type spirit, presented an enigma to Fray. Unlike typical spirits, Narod boasted not just one or two but five distinct fusion phases. Despite Fray's inability to unleash the full power of the first phase, he could effortlessly overcome opponents much stronger than himself.
The origins of Narod remained shrouded in mystery, especially since Narod was the first spirit even heard of that didn't establish any contact with its contactor___Fray.
Lost in contemplation, Fray's attention shifted to the surviving knight, who, covered in sweat, struggled to devise a plan against an opponent who had effortlessly slain his comrade.
Interrupting the knight's thoughts, Fray turned to him with a cold expression before calmly asking, "Don't you want to call for backup?"