The enormous stone guardian slowly stood.
Dust rained from its shoulders.
Its crimson eyes burned like twin suns.
The students instinctively stepped back.
Even the academy instructors outside the dungeon had gone pale.
One instructor whispered,
“That’s not supposed to be here…”
Headmaster Aldric’s expression darkened.
“…Everyone.”
“Prepare for evacuation.”
The giant raised its sword.
Ancient runes glowed across its body.
Its voice echoed throughout the chamber.
“Scanning…”
“Bloodline not recognized.”
“Authority denied.”
“Beginning extermination.”
With one step…
The entire hall trembled.
“Scatter!”
Yozaro shouted.
The massive sword crashed downward.
BOOOOOOM!!
The stone floor exploded.
Huge cracks spread through the chamber.
Kael barely rolled away.
“That was too close!”
Rex rushed forward.
“I’ll stop it!”
His battle axe struck the guardian’s leg.
CLANG!!
Nothing.
The axe bounced away.
“…Seriously?”
The guardian punched Rex.
He flew across the room like a doll.
“Mira!”
“I’m on it!”
Golden healing magic surrounded Rex before he hit the wall.
Luna raised both hands.
Mana gathered rapidly.
Her emerald eyes glowed.
“Grand Ice Prison!”
Hundreds of ice chains burst from the ground.
They wrapped around the guardian’s arms and legs.
For a moment…
It stopped moving.
Kael grinned.
“It worked!”
The guardian looked down.
Its crimson eyes flashed.
CRACK!
Every chain shattered instantly.
Luna staggered backward.
“…Impossible.”
While everyone fought…
Yozaro watched.
Every movement.
Every attack.
Every vibration.
His father had once told him,
“Even the strongest fortress has a weak brick.”
“There…”
He noticed a tiny symbol carved beneath the guardian’s neck.
It was identical to the symbol of Greed from his dreams.
Suddenly…
Everything around him froze.
The battle disappeared.
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He stood inside the mysterious cave.
The cloaked figure faced him.
“You’ve done well.”
Yozaro narrowed his eyes.
“Who are you?”
The figure remained silent.
Instead…
It pointed toward the floating Book of Greed.
“This guardian was created by those who walked your path before you.”
“Only desire can overcome desire.”
The book slowly opened.
Golden letters appeared.
Skill Acquired
Mana Sight
The cave vanished.
Mana Sight
Time returned.
Yozaro blinked.
The world looked different.
Every stream of mana became visible.
The guardian’s body was filled with glowing blue veins.
Except…
One place.
A crimson crystal hidden inside its chest.
“So that’s your core…”
“Everyone!”
“I found its weakness!”
Kael looked over.
“Where?”
“The crystal inside its chest.”
Rex laughed.
“That’s easy to say!”
“It’s covered by a mountain of stone!”
Yozaro smiled.
“Then we’ll break the mountain.”
Kael attacked first.
His sword flashed repeatedly.
The guardian raised its shield.
Exactly as planned.
Rex slammed his axe into the shield from the side.
The giant stumbled.
Luna understood immediately.
“Ice Lance Barrage!”
Dozens of ice spears struck the guardian’s chest.
Stone cracked.
Not enough.
Mira increased everyone’s strength with support magic.
Yozaro took a deep breath.
Mana flowed calmly through his body.
He remembered every lesson.
Every failure.
Every promise.
He ran.
Not toward safety.
Toward the guardian.
The giant raised its sword.
Too slow.
Yozaro jumped.
Stepped on the sword itself.
Then the guardian’s shoulder.
One final leap.
He stood directly before the glowing crystal.
The symbol of Greed on the crystal began shining.
As if…
Recognizing him.
The guardian suddenly stopped moving.
Its voice became distorted.
“Heir…”
Yozaro whispered,
“I’m sorry.”
His sword pierced the crystal.
CRAAAAACK!!
A blinding silver light consumed the chamber.
When the light faded…
The guardian had vanished.
Only a small black ring remained on the ground.
Yozaro picked it up.
The moment he touched it—
Ancient memories flooded his mind.
He saw…
A civilization far older than any kingdom.
Seven kings seated upon seven thrones.
Each carrying one of the Seven Books.
Then…
A war against beings descending from the stars.
The vision ended.
Yozaro fell to one knee.
Luna caught him before he collapsed.
“Yozaro!”
“I’m okay…”
But he wasn’t.
His hands were shaking.
Headmaster Aldric examined the black ring.
His eyes widened.
“…This is impossible.”
“What is it?”
“A Relic…”
“An artifact from the Lost Empire.”
“It should have disappeared thousands of years ago.”
He handed it back to Yozaro.
“It chose you.”
“Keep it safe.”
That evening…
While everyone celebrated…
Luna quietly found Yozaro sitting alone beneath a tree.
She handed him a cup of tea.
“You always sit alone after difficult battles.”
Yozaro smiled.
“It helps me think.”
Luna hesitated.
Then sat beside him.
“…I’m glad you’re alive.”
It was the first time she had spoken so honestly.
Yozaro smiled softly.
“So am I.”
High above them…
Standing on a balcony…
Elenia watched the two together.
She gently placed a hand over her heart.
“…Why…”
“…does that make me feel lonely?”
She didn’t understand it yet.
But the first seeds of love had quietly begun to bloom.
Elsewhere…
In the deepest part of the continent…
A man with long white hair slowly opened his eyes.
A servant knelt before him.
“My Lord…”
“The First Legacy has awakened.”
The man smiled.
“So…”
“The Child of Desire has taken his first step.”
“Tell the Seven Thrones.”
“Our future enemy…”
“…has begun to remember.”