Deep within the terrifying forest…
Sore and a group of warriors were hunting the Magic Beasts that had invaded from the wilderness.
With every swing of his sword…
Another beast fell.
Slash!
Boom!
Thud!
Magic Bulls…
Horned Wolves…
Armored Boars…
None of them could survive even a single strike.
One of the warriors couldn’t hide his amazement.
“Is…
is he really human?” Another nodded in disbelief.
“He’s Sore.” “The legendary swordsman who disappeared eight years ago along with his entire family.” “No one has known where he went until now.” They watched in silence as Sore continued cutting through the beasts.
“It doesn’t even look like he’s fighting.” “It’s like…” “He’s slicing bread with a sharp knife.” “And his movements…” “I can’t even see them.” Within minutes…
The battlefield became completely silent.
Sore slowly lowered his sword.
“I think we’re finished here.” “Collect the monster corpses.” “We’re heading back.” “Yes!” The warriors immediately began gathering the fallen beasts.
Together, they left the forest.
…
But just as they reached the edge of the woods…
Sore suddenly stopped.
His expression instantly changed.
“…No.” Something enormous was approaching.
He could feel countless magical signatures.
His eyes widened.
“…Impossible.” An endless tide of Magic Beasts was charging toward the village.
Magic Bulls.
Dire Wolves.
Stone Bears.
Venom Serpents.
Countless monsters covered the land like a living army.
Sore gritted his teeth.
“…So…” “That monster has finally awakened its power.” Every warrior behind him turned pale.
Their hands trembled.
“This…” “This is impossible…” Sore clenched his sword tighter.
Damn it…
I can’t defeat an entire army by myself.
And these men are already terrified.
If I retreat…
The village will be destroyed.
He slowly took a deep breath.
There’s only one option.
Fight.
Without another word…
Sore rushed straight into the incoming horde.
His sword flashed endlessly.
One beast after another collapsed.
But no matter how many he killed…
More continued to arrive.
It was an endless sea of monsters.
Soon…
Several beasts broke through the defensive line and charged toward the village.
Seeing this…
Sore’s father drew his weapon.
“We have no choice!” “We fight too!” His wife immediately joined him.
The elderly couple threw themselves into battle.
But…
It wasn’t enough.
The monsters had already entered the village.
Sore gritted his teeth.
“We need another plan!” Then…
Something caught his eye.
He looked toward the sky.
A figure descended from above.
She wore armor made entirely of crystal-clear ice.
Sunlight reflected from it like thousands of diamonds.
She was beautiful…
Powerful…
And terrifying.
It was…
Siliya.
Ankit’s mother.
But the expression on her face…
Was filled with overwhelming rage.
Without saying a single word…
She raised one hand.
“Water Cutter.” Hundreds of razor-sharp blades of compressed water shot across the battlefield.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Every monster they touched was cut apart instantly.
Within moments…
The battlefield fell completely silent.
Not a single beast remained alive.
She landed on the ground.
Her breathing was uneven.
Her body trembled.
She looked at Sore with tear-filled eyes.
“Our…” “Our son…” The moment Sore heard those words…
His heart froze.
“What happened?” “Tell me!” “What happened to our son?!” But Siliya couldn’t answer.
She stood there in complete shock.
Finally…
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed onto her knees.
Her lips trembled.
“…The…” “The White Dimensional Rift…” “It…” “It took Ankit away…” Silence.
The world seemed to stop.
Sore’s sword slipped from his hand.
He slowly clutched his chest.
His legs lost all strength.
He collapsed to the ground without making a sound.
Tears quietly streamed down his face.
He couldn’t even scream.
He simply stared into the distance…
Unable to believe what he had just heard.
Nearby…
Ankit’s grandfather stood frozen.
His mind replayed countless memories.
Ankit laughing beside him.
Reading books together.
Playing in the basement.
Asking endless questions.
Calling him “Grandpa.” Every memory pierced his heart like a blade.
His knees weakened.
He remained standing…
But his spirit had already shattered.
Beside him…
Ankit’s grandmother silently cried as well.
Her eyes were red.
Yet somehow…
She forced herself to remain standing.
Because someone…
Had to stay strong.
Silence covered the battlefield.
No one spoke.
The only sound that remained was the wind passing through the ruined village.
Ankit’s grandfather stood motionless.
His eyes were fixed on the empty sky.
But inside his mind…
Only one voice continued to echo.
“Dad…
Grandpa!” “Catch me!” A cheerful little Ankit laughed as he ran toward him with both arms wide open.
“My Grandpa is the best Grandpa in the whole world!” “I’ll never leave you!” The old man’s lips trembled.
“…Then…” “…why did you leave me?” “You could have at least thought about this old man.” “How am I supposed to live without you now…?” His body shook uncontrollably.
For the first time in many years…
The old village chief looked completely broken.
Not far away…
Sore remained on his knees.
His hands were clenched so tightly that blood trickled from his palms.
His thoughts replayed countless memories.
My son…
He was always so mature.
Whenever his mother got angry with me…
He was always the one who made her smile again.
A faint, painful smile appeared on Sore’s face before disappearing.
Now…
Who’s going to calm her down?
He slowly looked toward the sky.
“I’ll find you…” “No matter where you’ve been taken…” “I’ll find you.” His voice was barely a whisper.
Tears continued to fall without stopping.
He had no idea where to begin…
But he refused to abandon hope.
Nearby…
Siliya couldn’t even think.
Her mind had gone completely blank.
Only one thought repeated over and over.
Why…
Why couldn’t I save my child?
She remembered the moment perfectly.
Ankit had seen her.
He had smiled.
He had trusted her completely.
Without any hesitation…
He had let go of the tree and reached out toward her.
Because he believed…
Mom will save me.
Siliya buried her face in her trembling hands.
“He trusted me…” “He believed I would catch him…” “And…” “I couldn’t…” “I couldn’t save my own son…” She broke down completely.
The woman known throughout the kingdom as the Queen of Water…
The hero who could wipe out an army of monsters without fear…
Could do nothing but cry for the child she had failed to protect.
On that day…
None of them mourned the loss of a great warrior.
They mourned the loss of a little boy…
Who had become the heart of their family.