Cold rain began falling lightly across the mountain.
Kentro walked slowly through the dark forest while dragging the corpse of the Catastrophe Bat behind him.
The gigantic body left a long trail across the ground.
Blood covered his clothes.
Several wounds still bled from his arms and shoulders.
Yet his expression remained calm.
His breathing was heavy…
But his eyes were awake.
Always awake.
“…Damn monster.”
The creature alone was valuable enough to feed an entire village for months.
Its wings, claws, and fangs could be sold for absurd amounts of money.
And most importantly—
Kentro enjoyed the feeling of victory.
Even if it nearly killed him.
Hours passed.
The forest grew darker.
His movements became slower.
The exhaustion from the battle was finally catching up to him.
Then suddenly—
The sound of wheels echoed nearby.
Kentro immediately stopped.
A small wooden carriage emerged from the trees.
An old man holding the reins widened his eyes in shock the moment he saw him.
“…By the heavens.”
The horse itself became nervous after sensing the dead monster.
The old man stared between Kentro and the corpse repeatedly.
“Wait… wait… YOU killed that thing?!”
Kentro remained silent.
The old man laughed nervously.
“Kid, hunters disappear just hearing its scream.”
His eyes narrowed.
“…And you dragged it out alone?”
Kentro answered calmly:
“It was annoying.”
The old man blinked several times.
Then burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha!
Annoying he says!”
He looked at Kentro carefully for a moment.
Then his expression softened slightly.
“You look half dead.”
Kentro said nothing.
The old man sighed.
“Get in.
I’m heading toward the eastern roads anyway.”
For a few seconds, silence lingered.
Then Kentro finally climbed onto the carriage while keeping the monster corpse tied behind it.
The old man continued glancing at him curiously while the carriage moved slowly through the forest.
“…You from some organization?”
Kentro looked toward him.
“What organization?”
The old man raised an eyebrow.
“Hm.
So you really don’t know.”
Kentro stayed silent.
The old man scratched his beard.
“Strong people usually belong somewhere.”
“Mercenaries.”
“Kingdom troops.”
“Secret groups.”
“Monster hunters.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Or worse.”
Kentro crossed his arms.
“I work alone.”
The old man laughed softly.
“People who say that are usually the dangerous ones.”
Silence returned briefly.
Then the old man suddenly asked:
“What’s your name, kid?”
Kentro’s eyes shifted toward the dark forest outside.
“…Kentro.”
“Well, Kentro… wherever you learned fighting…”
The old man looked toward the corpse again.
“…It turned you into a monster.”
For the first time—
A faint smile appeared on Kentro’s face.
“…Maybe.”
Several hours later…
The carriage stopped near a rocky path leading deep into the Dark Forest.
The old man looked ahead nervously.
“You live THERE?”
Kentro grabbed the corpse chain.
“Yes.”
The old man stared at the endless darkness between the trees.
“…You’re insane.”
Kentro simply walked away while dragging the corpse once more.
The old man watched silently until the darkness swallowed him completely. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Then he whispered quietly to himself:
“…No normal human survives in that forest.”
The next morning.
Sunlight barely entered the cabin.
Kentro slowly opened his eyes.
Every muscle in his body screamed in pain.
Bandages wrapped around both arms.
The monster corpse had already been cut apart during the night.
The cabin smelled of blood, medicine, and smoke.
Kentro sat quietly for several moments.
Then—
His eyes narrowed suddenly.
The masked man.
“…Dragons resembling humans…”
He repeated the words slowly.
His expression darkened.
“What did he mean?”
Then suddenly—
He remembered the letter.
Kentro immediately stood up and searched through his bag until he found the black envelope.
He opened it carefully.
Inside…
Only one sentence existed.
“If you seek the truth… come to the Eye of Shadows.”
Silence filled the room.
Kentro stared at the message for a long time.
Then slowly—
A dangerous smile formed across his face.
“…Finally.”
The following days passed quickly.
Kentro traveled between villages, cities, and taverns asking quietly about the Eye of Shadows.
Most people had never heard the name before.
Some became pale after hearing it.
Others refused to answer entirely.
And one man whispered nervously:
“Don’t search for things hidden from the world.”
That alone made Kentro more interested.
Eventually…
He found it.
Deep within an abandoned district hidden beneath an old city.
A strange black building stood silently between the fog.
No guards.
No signs.
No lights.
Yet the moment Kentro approached—
He felt something watching him.
The building itself felt wrong.
Cold.
Ancient.
Almost alive.
Kentro slowly pushed the large door.
CREEEEAK.
The door opened by itself.
Darkness welcomed him.
Inside, the halls resembled a haunted mansion abandoned centuries ago.
Dust.
Long corridors.
Broken statues.
Flickering candles.
Kentro’s hand instinctively moved near his sword.
“…What is this place?”
Then suddenly—
A voice echoed behind him.
“At last…”
Kentro turned instantly.
A tall man wearing dark clothes stood silently in the hallway.
His face remained hidden beneath shadows.
Kentro narrowed his eyes immediately.
“…You.”
The man smiled faintly.
“If you seek answers… then follow me.”
Kentro remained cautious.
But eventually followed.
The man walked deeper into the darkness.
One corridor.
Then another.
Then another.
Until suddenly—
He disappeared.
Kentro instantly stopped.
“…What?”
Silence.
Then—
A voice echoed everywhere at once.
“Who are you?”
“What kind of joke is this?”
Another voice emerged.
“What are your powers?”
The walls suddenly twisted unnaturally.
The floor cracked open.
Dark creatures appeared from the shadows.
Monsters.
Dozens of them.
Kentro immediately stepped back into a fighting stance.
“What IS this place?!”
The creatures charged.
Kentro’s fist exploded into one monster’s skull instantly.
Another attacked from behind—
He crushed it against the wall.
But more kept appearing.
Then suddenly—
The world around him changed.
Illusions.
Visions.
Blood.
Screams.
Dragons.
A gigantic black eye watching from the sky.
The voices grew louder.
“WHAT ARE YOU?”
“WHAT ARE YOU?”
“WHAT ARE YOU?”
Kentro grabbed his head violently.
“…SHUT UP!”
Then—
A giant black gate appeared before him.
Covered in strange symbols.
The voices echoed again.
“Prove your worth.”
Kentro’s expression darkened completely.
“…Enough.”
BOOOOOOM!!
He punched the gate with monstrous force.
The entire structure shattered instantly.
Darkness exploded everywhere.
And then—
Silence.
Kentro stepped forward slowly.
A massive chamber appeared before him.
Candles burned quietly along endless black walls.
And at the far end of the room…
A man sat calmly upon a dark chair.
The pressure alone was overwhelming.
Kentro instantly understood.
This man…
Was powerful.
Very powerful.
Kentro walked toward him slowly.
Anger still visible in his eyes.
“What is happening?”
The man smiled calmly.
“Sit down.”
Kentro did not move.
The man continued peacefully:
“I am the leader of the Eye of Shadows.”
“All of what you experienced… was merely a test.”
Kentro narrowed his eyes.
The man folded his hands together.
“This organization exists beyond kingdoms.”
“Beyond races.”
“Beyond the knowledge of ordinary people.”
“We gather secrets.”
“Ancient beings.”
“Forbidden truths.”
“And monsters the world pretends do not exist.”
His eyes locked onto Kentro.
“…People like you.”
Silence filled the room.
Kentro’s patience was visibly disappearing.
The leader chuckled softly.
“You really hate explanations, don’t you?”
“…Get to the point.”
The leader’s smile widened slightly.
Then finally—
He leaned forward and spoke quietly:
“If you truly wish to understand what is happening to you…”
“…Then reach the Dragon Throne.”
Silence.
And for the first time in years—
Kentro felt his heartbeat shake slightly.
Dragon…
Throne?
END OF CHAPTER