Part 1 – The Beginning of a New Path
The morning sun barely pierced the thick canopy of the forest as Raimer and the dark elf continued along the narrow trail.
Dew clung to the grass beneath their boots while birds sang somewhere high above, creating a peaceful melody that contrasted with the dangers lurking in the wilderness.
For the first time since Fronin’s destruction, Raimer wasn’t alone.
Walking a few steps ahead was the dark elf who had saved his life the previous evening.
Her movements were graceful yet alert, her crimson eyes scanning every shadow as if expecting another ambush.
After several minutes of silence, she finally spoke.
“So…”
Raimer looked up.
“You’ve been staring at the road this entire time.”
He blinked.
“Have I?”
“You have.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“I was beginning to wonder if humans lost the ability to speak after surviving bandits.”
Raimer let out a quiet laugh.
“I’ve just had…
a lot to think about.”
The smile on her face softened.
“I know that feeling.”
A brief silence followed before she stopped walking and extended a hand.
“I never properly introduced myself.”
“My name is Sylvara Noctis.”
“The last daughter of House Noctis.”
Raimer accepted her hand.
“I’m Raimer.”
“Just Raimer?”
He hesitated.
“…For now.”
She studied him for a moment before nodding.
“Everyone has secrets.”
“I won’t ask until you’re ready.”
Raimer appreciated that.
The two resumed walking.
“So,” he asked, “what exactly is this Revolutionary Army?”
Sylvara’s expression became serious.
“People think we’re rebels.”
“They’re wrong.”
“We’re survivors.”
She looked toward the distant mountains.
“Kingdom after kingdom has fallen over the past decade.”
“Corrupt nobles grow richer while villages burn.”
“Demons raid the borders.”
“Entire races disappear.”
“The kingdoms only protect themselves.”
“So we fight for everyone else.”
Raimer remained silent.
It reminded him of Fronin.
No one had come to help when his kingdom burned.
Not one neighboring nation had lifted a sword.
“Can anyone join?”
“If they’re strong enough.”
“And if they survive.”
“Survive?”
She pointed ahead.
The trees slowly opened into an enormous clearing.
Raimer’s eyes widened.
Thousands of warriors stood before him.
Humans.
Elves.
Beastmen.
Dwarves.
Even races he had never seen before.
Training fields stretched across the camp while massive banners bearing a silver phoenix fluttered in the wind.
This was no ordinary army.
It was a force gathered from every corner of the continent.
At the center stood a raised platform.
Upon it stood a broad-shouldered man wearing a black military cloak with silver armor beneath it.
A scar crossed one eye.
His mere presence silenced the crowd.
“That’s our captain.”
Sylvara crossed her arms.
“Captain Gareth Ironheart.”
Raimer could feel an overwhelming pressure radiating from him.
He was far stronger than anyone Raimer had ever met.
As they approached the registration table, a soldier handed them two small crystal badges.
“Keep these on you.”
“They’ll record your points.”
Raimer examined the crystal.
Runes glowed faintly beneath its surface.
Before he could ask another question—
A loud horn echoed across the camp.
Every conversation ceased.
Captain Gareth stepped forward.
His voice boomed across the clearing.
“Listen carefully.”
“You stand before the Revolutionary Army.”
“We do not recruit children.”
“We do not recruit cowards.”
“We recruit survivors.”
No one dared interrupt.
“Beyond these mountains lies the Dark Wilderness.”
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Even Sylvara’s expression became cautious.
“It is home to monsters, cursed beasts, and creatures that have forgotten fear.”
“You will enter alone.”
“You will survive alone.”
“You will kill.”
Another soldier rolled out an enormous map.
“The examination lasts three days.”
“For every monster defeated, your badge will record points.”
“The stronger the monster…”
“The higher your score.”
“You may form teams.”
“You may abandon them.”
“You may betray them.”
The crowd stiffened.
“We do not judge your methods.”
“We judge your results.”
Captain Gareth’s sharp gaze swept across every applicant.
“When the examination ends…”
“The three highest-ranking teams…”
“…will become recruits of the Revolutionary Army.”
Silence.
Then…
Cheers erupted throughout the camp.
Some smiled confidently.
Others trembled.
Raimer simply tightened his grip on his sword.
This was no tournament.
It was survival.
As the crowd dispersed toward the teleportation gates, Sylvara walked beside him.
“If we get separated…”
“We meet at the Black Lake.”
Raimer nodded.
“I’ll make it there.”
She smiled.
“You’d better.”
One by one, candidates stepped through glowing circles carved into the earth, vanishing in flashes of blue light.
Just before it became Raimer’s turn, someone bumped into him.
A massive beastman carrying an axe nearly twice Raimer’s size grinned.
“Try not to die, skinny.”
Behind him stood a bespectacled young man holding a wooden staff.
“Ignore him.”
“He insults everyone.”
“And you are?” Raimer asked.
The young man adjusted his glasses.
“Elias.”
Before he could continue, a short dwarf carrying a tower shield shoved between them.
“If you’re done making friends…”
“…some of us would like to survive.”
The beastman laughed loudly.
“Hah!
I like this old rock.”
“I’m not old!”
The dwarf punched the beastman’s arm.
Raimer couldn’t help smiling.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
Not everyone here was his enemy.
“Next!”
The soldier pointed toward the final teleportation circle.
Raimer took one deep breath.
He looked back once.
Sylvara gave him a confident nod.
“We’ll meet again.”
Without another word—
Raimer stepped into the light.
A violent force wrapped around his body.
The world twisted.
The sky disappeared.
For a split second, everything became darkness.
Then—
He crashed hard onto damp earth.
A chilling breeze swept through the trees.
The forest was unnaturally silent.
No birds.
No insects.
Only the whisper of leaves swaying in the wind.
Raimer slowly stood and tightened his grip on his sword.
His crystal badge glowed softly.
Points: 0
A low growl echoed from somewhere deep within the shadows.
Then another.
And another.
Golden eyes began opening one after another between the trees.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Raimer slowly drew his blade.
The examination…
Had begun.
End of Chapter 3 – Part 1