Border between Greenviel and Froghund
[02:22]
The tree began to grow once again, forming a large circular arena in the middle. This time, each wall slowly extended upward and connected into a pointed roof.
Towering up to twelve meters high, it eventually formed a cone-shaped, tent-like structure. The tree finally stopped growing.
The massive tree with a thick trunk had an open arena in the middle, with the side facing Froghund left open, while the side facing Greenviel was sealed shut by continuing wooden walls that rose and joined above as a ceiling shaped like a cone.
At its very tip, clawing into the sky, it looked like the bullet of a high-caliber weapon—sharp, with stunning precision—marking the tree's highest point.
Some nearby residents came out after hearing the commotion. They'd heard a loud bang whose source remained unknown.
"What was that?!" Several of the locals appeared uneasy, some even screaming in fear. This tree had grown this massive in just two hours?
---
Elaina Arcveil
[Three hours after the tree emerged.]
She walked alone down the corridor, the sound of her expensive shoes clacking against the floor echoing with an elegance that matched her graceful stride.
Her long black hair swayed smoothly behind her, guided by her movements, while her red eyes gazed forward with an emotionless calm.
Her symmetrical face made it impossible for anyone to look at her without feeling drawn in, even though her flat expression masked the charm of her smile.
With an agile figure shaped by someone who prioritized speed, she continued for a few more seconds before stopping in front of an ornate door in the lavish corridor.
Before leaving the white-walled hallway, adorned with golden decorations, she made sure the area was clear and gently pushed open the door.
Inside, Elaina was greeted by the rest of the Gladius unit. They were already geared up in light armor suited to their respective specialties.
They sat at a round table, and Elaina took her seat just as the meeting was about to begin. Each member of Gladius closed their eyes, some folding their arms across their chests.
"Can we begin now?" came a firm voice from the opposite side—a young man, not quite in his youth anymore, had opened his eyes.
The others nodded in agreement. Slowly, they focused and opened their eyes. Elaina pushed aside her thoughts and focused on the matter at hand.
"In Froghund—part of the Dwarvest Republic—and Greenviel—part of the Sperum Kingdom—a mysterious tree has appeared, reportedly over sixty meters tall, towering as if clawing the moon."
That was clearly exaggerated, but a tree that large, appearing out of nowhere, was certainly not normal. This was a serious issue.
"Why should we handle some freak phenomenon of nature?" Her voice was calm like water but pierced like a needle. Some smiled; others just looked at her.
"It's not just a tree. A large sphere—purple on one half, orange on the other—has appeared at the tree's summit. An arena exists there, releasing creatures believed to be Demon Beast Rank A."
Another member continued, deepening the discussion. He spoke sharply, silencing any remaining doubts among the Gladius.
Across from Elaina sat the man who had started the meeting, with blond hair like Zeus, a strong physique, and a heroic presence. His title: Strombreaker.
To his right was a dwarf with brown hair and a taller-than-average height—possibly the tallest dwarf alive. His title: Mjolnir.
Next were two human girls with nearly identical faces, differentiated only by their hair—one light blue, the other dark. Their titles: TwinFate and TwinDestiny.
Then came an elven woman with a cold gaze and words sharp enough to chill bones. Her title: Below Zero.
Beside her, another elf with expressive features, darker pink hair, and stunning beauty. Her title: Scythe.
Two more members were supposed to be present—Wreck and Earth—but they were currently stationed near the border where the tree had appeared.
"So... have the leaders asked us to head there?"
---
Wein Arcveil
After finishing his reading, Wein decided to sleep—fatigue had overtaken him. But when he shifted his gaze, he saw a girl sprawled helplessly on his bed, already asleep.
Loraine, her arm dangling off the side of the bed, lay close to the edge and looked as though she might fall. Wein stood up and walked over.
"She fell asleep in my room?" Wein muttered in his thoughts, slightly annoyed. His sleep wouldn't be comfortable tonight, but he couldn't bring himself to wake her.
He moved Loraine to the center of the bed where she'd be safer from falling, pulled a blanket over her, and placed a pillow under her head.
He also noticed the two wolf pups already asleep and went to the wardrobe in search of a clean cloth to cover them as a makeshift blanket.
After a long yawn, the only resting spot left was the sofa. He walked over, lay down, and glanced back at Loraine one last time.
Alright... I admit it. She really is beautiful… Wein thought. His lips curled slightly, and he closed his eyes as everything faded to black.
His eyes slowly shut, and consciousness began to drift. Control of his body slipped away as sleep claimed him.
A black screen filled his vision. But was it really black? Or something else?
Slowly, like veins of blood, something crept in from the edges—dark liquid crawling inward from every side. His breath quickened.
"Wein?" or "Leon?"
A mirror appeared in front of him. This time, he could control his body and actually see himself… Wein felt like he had been in this situation before, and the mirror was the same as ever.
[You're still surviving in this kind of world?]
Shocked. Persephone—a being from another world—how could she be here, in his nightmare? He was truly startled and responded:
"A curse… I don't even know where it came from," he whispered before collapsing, his body hitting the ground hard, his head slamming down before his vision blurred.
"Wein."
"Wein."
"Wein."
"Wein."
"Leon…"
Or "Wein?"
"Leon" or "Wein?"
"Wein!" Her voice was soft, and somehow, a tear ran down his cheek, falling gently toward his neck.
His eyes opened slowly, finally seeing Loraine holding a bottle of milky-white water in her hand.
"Were you crying?" Loraine smiled—and somehow, Wein's tears fell even harder. But he shook his head, saying nothing, and wiped his eyes with his shirt sleeve.
"No, I wasn't crying… just allergic to dust in the morning," he bluffed, sitting up as his left hand instinctively reached for his head.