Forgotten Heroes
A brilliant flash of light suddenly engulfed the world, creating an illusion of everything being bathed in its glow.
At first, the spirits seemed to resist, but gradually, they began to accept the warmth that enveloped them. The dark aura that had surrounded them slowly dissipated as the white light seeped into their forms.
A gust of wind swept through the central plaza, tousling my hair. I took a moment to survey the scene around me.
The light that had colored the spirits was now flowing inward, as if being absorbed. It was like watching a parched soul drink deeply from a well, quenching an insatiable thirst.
And then, the transformation began.
The ominous aura that had clung to the skeletal spirits vanished. As they absorbed more light, their skeletal forms started to fade.
Flesh began to regenerate over bare bones, and the rusted, worn armor they wore was restored to its original, pristine condition.
Even their skulls regained their former appearance, complete with faces and hair. The spirits, once mere skeletons, had transformed back into humans, as if time itself had reversed.
Moments later, the angels and the light faded away. In their place stood humans, or rather, souls, emanating a gentle, holy glow.
I couldn’t quite believe they were truly alive. They were undoubtedly spirits, but now they exuded a purity and sanctity that suggested their cursed souls had been completely cleansed.
“What… what just happened?” muttered Heo Jun-young, his voice dazed. No one could answer him. Not us, nor the spirits around us, who seemed equally bewildered, glancing at each other and themselves in astonishment.
I turned to Ansol, who had invoked this miracle. Surely, she understood what had transpired.
Just then, a desperate cry pierced the air.
“Brother! Help us!”
A chilling roar echoed from above. Instinctively, I looked up to see the dragon, now fully recovered.
‘Is it not over yet?’
The thought crossed my mind, but it made sense. Ansol’s miracle had been directed at the spirits. The horns on the dragon’s skull—if my eyes weren’t deceiving me—were demonic.
I didn’t know why the dragon bore demonic horns, but even if Ansol’s miracle had affected it, those horns might not have been part of the spell’s domain.
‘Nothing is certain…’
The sky was darkening, and an inexplicable unease crept over me. A malevolent energy was gathering, thick and foreboding.
I closed my eyes, trying to sense it.
It was ominous and sinister, yet strangely familiar. It felt like a curse. Though I couldn’t be sure, it seemed the dragon was preparing another attack, displeased with the current turn of events.
I opened my eyes and looked at Ansol, who seemed at a loss. I spoke calmly.
“So… what should I do?”
Ansol’s face showed a flicker of surprise. Not just her, but the clan members around us seemed taken aback as well.
Among the criticisms of our mercenary clan, the one I acknowledged was the centralization of power. Everything revolved around me, and if I were absent, the clan would crumble. Though I denied it outwardly, a recent incident had proven it true.
But now, for the first time, I was delegating authority. Not just offering advice, but giving Ansol the choice and agreeing to follow her lead.
Ansol seemed momentarily burdened by this, but then she bit her lip and pointed to the sky.
“Stop that… Stop that thing! The great heroes’ wishes can’t stop that curse!”
The dark energy had gathered, casting a shadow over the sky. It rippled like waves before a storm, occasionally sparking with fire. It was like watching a fiery tide.
The great heroes’ wishes, she said.
Indeed, the spirits’ reactions were strange. Having regained their human forms, their faces now showed clear expressions. Moments ago, they had fought the dragon fiercely, but now they seemed anxious and uncertain.
I suspected Ansol knew something I didn’t, but there was no time to ask. The situation was too urgent.
So, I spoke softly.
“And then?”
”…What?”
“After I stop it. Then what?”
“Can you really stop it?”
Her voice was filled with disbelief.
If there’s fire mixed in that energy, it’s possible. I nodded, and Ansol swallowed nervously.
“Please, help them. Join forces with them to defeat that wicked dragon.”
“Understood.”
I answered immediately and turned to the clan members.
“You’ve heard Ansol. Once I stop that attack—or curse—join forces with the spirits here to attack the dragon.”
“Clan Lord, do you have a plan to stop it…?”
Sensing something, Shin Jae-ryong asked with concern, and I glanced at him.
“It’s fine. By the way, how many elixirs do we have?”
“Two bottles.”
That’s enough. We’ve already secured one. Even if I use one in an emergency, there will be one left for Ahn Hyun.
A thunderous roar echoed from the sky, like a clap of thunder.
I quickly reached out to Hwajeong. Can you do it?
Hwajeong replied immediately, but her words were uncertain.
Is the dragon’s power too much for you?
So, it’s possible. I calmly sheathed my sword and raised my arms to the sky.
And then, I looked up one last time.
The dragon’s roar accompanied a massive curtain of fire descending from the sky. Just as Hwajeong had warned, it was like a burning curtain falling from above, covering the sky and cascading down.
As the spirits grew increasingly agitated, I steadied my breathing.
‘By the ancient decree…’
With my mind settled, I unleashed the power within my heart.
“Domain Declaration!”
With a whoosh, a dome-shaped barrier spread out, encompassing me, the clan members, and all the spirits.
The clear, fiery barrier descended like an inverted glass bowl, neatly splitting the ground and settling in place. The fiery curtain from the sky passed through Hwajeong’s domain without resistance.
“Brother!”
“Clan Lord!”
Cries of despair rang in my ears. They thought I had failed to stop the attack since it passed through the barrier.
I wanted to explain, but there was no time.
I was a bit surprised myself, but this was no ordinary magic. It wasn’t just meant to harm; it aimed to ensnare the entire area, a calamity in its own right.
‘Grrr, grrr!’
The pressure was immense, and I screamed internally.
I’d never declared a domain of this scale before, and the force and volume pouring in were overwhelming. It felt like trying to hold up a collapsing skyscraper. The energy was terrifying.
Of course, Hwajeong’s power was greater. She was steadily consuming the descending curtain, but the influx was faster.
‘At this rate…!’
Though the speed had slowed, if this continued, the curse would reach the spirits before we could absorb all the energy.
If that happened, the spirits would be cursed again, wandering the mountains, and Ansol’s miracle would be undone.
‘I can’t let that happen!’
Just then, something unexpected occurred.
’…Huh?’
The domain’s range began to shrink. I didn’t understand why until I heard Hwajeong’s voice in my mind.
“I’ve narrowed it down. Now those souls realize you’re protecting them, and they’re flocking to you. With the protection range reduced, you’ll have a bit more breathing room.”
Is that so? Was that what was happening? I could definitely sense someone slowly approaching from all around. I managed to lower my gaze and look around.
As Hwa-jeong said, it was indeed the souls.
Only then did I realize that hundreds, maybe thousands of eyes were watching me. Each gaze was filled with desperation.
With the range shrinking from all directions, I had a little more room to maneuver.
But the dark energy had already descended to just above my head. As soon as the hot energy settled around my neck, I unleashed Hwa-jeong’s power once more.
Boom!
And in that miraculous moment, the energy halted.
It was just before the end, but I had finally succeeded in stopping it.
But this wasn’t the end. It had only stopped. Ansol had asked me to block it, but I intended to make the most of this opportunity.
I gritted my teeth, took a moment to catch my breath, and then released all my remaining strength with a powerful shout.
“Aaaaaaah!”
With a surge of energy, I unleashed Hwa-jeong’s power as if unfurling a carpet with all my might.
Like a red carpet rolling out, Hwa-jeong’s energy surged upward.
If the dragon had cast a veil from the sky to the ground, now I was reversing it, sending the energy from the ground back to the sky with Hwa-jeong’s power.
Brilliant flames painted the sky. The sky that had been falling endlessly began to rise again.
With a blink, the sky that had turned black was now filled with shimmering flames. From the spreading ripples, a gentle rhythm seemed to emerge.
With this, the energy that had entered my domain was completely under my control.
I took a deep breath and silently shouted toward the distant dragon.
“Return, and engulf it!”
The fiery curtain that had paused in the air surged fiercely toward the dragon without hesitation.
The warm energy that had seeped around my neck gradually faded away, replaced by the refreshing sensation of stepping out of a hot bath.
And soon, I saw the dragon soaring rapidly into the sky, with flames chasing it like a whirlwind.
It was then.
“Ah…”
Just as I thought I had succeeded, I felt my body slowly collapsing. The sky seemed to tilt suddenly, and then I was gently falling backward.
”───!”
In that moment, I felt someone supporting the back of my neck.
Simultaneously.
Roar!
With my vision blurring, I could see the flames consuming the dragon.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
(In a dark room, a demon laughs maniacally at a chained demon kin before him.)
Asmodeus: Hahaha! It’s done! It’s finally done! I’ve resurrected the dragon! At last, I’ve succeeded!
(The demon, after a bout of laughter, looks smugly at the demon kin turned into a seed.)
Asmodeus: Heh! Hehehe! Hahahahaha! Now, everything will change!
(At that moment.)
Boom!
(With a loud explosion, the demon kin’s body bursts apart.)
Asmodeus: Oh…