The battlefield lay in eerie silence, but the unsettling events had already ignited tension. The inexplicable deaths of civilians, the disappearance of monster cores, and the sudden teleportation of the Holy Knight and his Church's warriors left many with a growing sense of unease.
News of the incident quickly spread, reaching the officials of both kingdoms.
Elowen scowled. "How could they leave without informing us?"
While others speculated about the Church's abrupt retreat, Strategist Martin Copper had a different perspective. His voice was steady, yet laced with calculation. "They wouldn't have left unless they discovered something of immense value—something worth making our kingdoms their enemy. Or…" He paused, his gaze sharp. "Unless there is a hidden danger the Church wants no part of. We must consider both possibilities."
Despite the storm of possibilities running through his mind, Copper maintained his composure. Turning toward King Elowen and King Caius, he spoke with authority. "Before jumping to conclusions, we must determine the reason behind their retreat. More importantly, we need to contact Sir Hero immediately—if there is an unknown threat, he should be informed before it's too late. Lord Caius, is there a way to reach him? The mission may be over, but if this is an emergency, it would be reckless to remain silent."
The kings exchanged glances. Seeing the gravity in Copper's expression, they understood this was no trivial matter.
Martin Copper was no ordinary strategist—he hailed from the prestigious Copper family, a lineage renowned for producing master tacticians. Their ancestors had cemented the Frost Dynasty's rule by obliterating the infamous Ice Palace in just thirteen days, using only five hundred soldiers. If Copper was this tense, the situation was far worse than they initially believed.
Without hesitation, King Caius ordered his minister to establish contact with Sir Hero through the device given to him. Meanwhile, both kings commanded their guards to locate the army's commanders and carry out Copper's instructions.
One of the guards rushed outside, immediately launching another flare into the sky—a signal for an urgent retreat.
As the flare faded, the Red Moon rose.
Unlike any ordinary celestial event, this Red Moon was an ill omen, a rare occurrence in the cycle of the decade. And this time, it was even more foreboding. It would culminate in a total lunar eclipse.
First, the blood-red moon would dominate the midnight sky. Then, as the eclipse veiled it in darkness, the second phase—the Black Moon—would take form. Finally, as the eclipse ended, a pure White Moon would shine down upon the land.
A phenomenon like this happened only once in an era—a night of pain, death, and rebirth.
For Dark and Demonic Awakeners, this was the most sacred of nights, a convergence of power unseen in centuries. The Red Moon signified suffering. The Black Moon heralded death. And the White Moon... the rebirth of something far worse.
And now, the pieces fell into place. This was why the Church had involved itself in this mission.
Tension gripped the camp. What was coming next? Was there still time to prepare?
Copper's voice cut through the silence, his words measured but urgent.
"The monsters here were too weak. Their cores, missing. The civilians… died after that blinding light. Everything points to a single truth—this mission was a trap. Either the boss monster has evolved into an 8th-tier threat, or… the Church fled to assist Sir Hero because they couldn't abandon us to die and tarnish their reputation."
He exhaled slowly, his gaze turning toward the distant valley.
"But there's something even more alarming." His eyes darkened. "A treasure has emerged."
He didn't need to explain further. The timing was too perfect.
The mission had just ended. Sir Hero had left the battlefield. A sudden burst of radiant energy had engulfed the valley. And then, just like that—the Holy Knights vanished without a trace.
"There is only one reason they would flee so abruptly," Copper muttered. "They found something so valuable, it was worth turning our entire kingdoms against them."
At the military base on the other side of the valley, tension ran high. Soldiers moved in frantic urgency, orders were shouted, and uncertainty loomed over their heads like a dark cloud. Meanwhile, far from the turmoil, Hero Kang Solomon and his disciple wandered aimlessly, his thoughts consumed by the unsettling events in the mountains.
As he walked, memories of the past clawed their way back—memories he wished he could erase.
And so, the vast geography of Azure Planet unfolded before us.
The land was divided into five major continents—East, West, North, South, and Central—each home to humanity. These continents were separated by formidable natural barriers: towering mountains, endless rivers, and vast oceans. Yet beyond these lay even more mysterious lands—hidden continents known only to a few.
To the north and south poles, lands of ice and desolation remained untouched by most civilizations. Scattered across the oceans, small, secretive continents harbored the merfolk and sea creatures. Some islands float in the skies hidden behind clouds, known as the Sky Fortress, while others thrived in the very heart of volcanoes—like the feared Dragon Continent.
500 years ago, chaos descended upon the world.
A floating Fortress emerged from the sky—the Demonic Continent—bringing with it the Demon King's army. War engulfed the land, and all seemed lost. But from the very heart of the Central Plains, a warrior rose. A man chosen by fate—the one who would stand against the darkness. He became known as the Hero of Humanity, the Slayer of the Demon King.
At the time, the Holy Kingdom, located east of the Central Plains, was home to the great Church of the Goddess of Light, Aria. The Pope of that era prophesied the hero's coming, and the Goddess herself bestowed upon him the Sacred Sword. This moment marked the turning point for the Church. Once just one of many religious factions, it gained unparalleled influence, becoming the largest and most powerful church in existence.
Under the guidance of the Church of Light, the First Hero's Party was formed—an alliance of various species. Humans, Dwarves, Barbarians, Dragons, Beastmen, and Elves all sent their strongest warriors to stand beside the Hero, Kyle.
At that time, the Elven King faced a dilemma—he had no male heir. His most trusted commander, Norm Solomon, proposed a solution.
And here a discussion going on whom should they send to join the hero party.