The sunrise slowly painted the sky with delicate shades of gold and pink. A deep silence hung over the city, disturbed only by the occasional steps of the guards, who peered into the distance from the high walls. The barrier that enveloped the city flickered, shimmering in the first light of the morning.
Ragnar and Lenor trudged forward. Each step grew heavier, each movement met with unbearable pain. Their bodies—broken, exhausted.
Lenor gritted his teeth, gripping the hilt of his sword that served as his crutch. Ragnar—dark spots of blood on his shoulder spread with every second.
The dragging sound of heavy footsteps… One step… and another…
They didn't even feel the cold of the morning air—only the hellish pain.
Lenor lifted his head—the gates loomed ahead. He saw the figures of the guards bustling about, but the sense of reality slipped away. The world blurred.
"Just a little more… one more step…" Ragnar didn't raise his head. His legs no longer obeyed him. He lost his balance. His knees buckled, and he fell.
Lenor, too weak to catch him, crashed down onto the stone ground with him.
Lenor stared upwards, but all he saw was a blurred spot. The world swirled in his vision, black spots appeared in his field of view.
Someone was coming… someone was approaching…
Heavy footsteps. The silhouette blurred in Lenor's distorted vision. His eyes closed and opened again, the image flickering like a feverish dream.
A voice. Hoarse, sarcastic, yet familiar.
"Damned hell... Did you crawl out of the devil's ass? What the hell is going on here?"
A voice cutting through the pain, through the darkness.
Lenor weakly smiled:
"I haven't been this happy to hear you in a long time, my friend..."
His consciousness faded, and he slipped into darkness.
Elgot crouched beside them, looking at their shattered, torn bodies. He saw deep wounds, torn muscles, streams of blood still flowing down their armor.
His face twisted in anger and worry.
How are they even still breathing?
What the hell could have happened to them?
Without wasting time, he waved his hands, drawing the attention of the guards on the walls.
"Hey, I'm telling you, help here! Quickly!"
He placed his palms on Lenor's and Ragnar's chests, feeling the last warmth slowly leaving their bodies.
He used healing magic to stop the bleeding and stabilize their condition.
His fingers trembled, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
"What the hell... You two—the strongest swordsmen of these lands... What could have done this to you?"
And then, from the gates of the city, a group of Kano emerged...
The city had barely recovered from the horrors of the night when the sunlight began to pierce through the ruined buildings. The protective barrier that had held the city throughout the night dissolved into the air like smoke.
Out of the gates ran Kano and ten of his guards.
The guards nervously scanned the surroundings, bracing for another attack.
Kano rushed ahead of everyone.
His heart pounded, not from fear, but from something else.
For the first time in a long while, he saw Elgot.
The mage he had wronged…
The mage who, as he left, had said: "Become stronger while I'm gone."
And now, here he was, bloodied, exhausted, bent over Lenor and Ragnar.
Kano felt something tighten in his chest.
It wasn't joy… and it wasn't exactly pain.
He remembered how he had snapped at Elgot that morning.
How he had called him nothing, a worthless fool who traded his life for a bottle.
How his words, perhaps, had been the final straw...
Elgot hadn't argued.
He had simply left alone.
And in response, he had left just one phrase:
"Become stronger while I'm gone."
And now… he had returned.
Elgot, though looking battered, still wore the same faint, ironic smile.
His eyes narrowed when he noticed Kano.
—"Oh, there you are, you failure! I see you're dressed like an adventurer now. Even got yourself an elven sword. Well done!"
Kano felt his fists clench on their own.
This was Elgot's usual mockery, but...
Was there something more in it?
Pain? Irritation? Or perhaps a hidden joy that he had returned?
—"But the real question…" Elgot grinned slyly.
—"Did you earn some coin for the old mage?"
Kano froze.
This charlatan hadn't changed one bit.
His lips trembled, and for the first time in a long while, he smiled sincerely.
—"I've gotten myself some debts. But I'll definitely pay them back."
Elgot raised an eyebrow.
—"Oh? Finally starting to understand how the world works!"
Kano extended his hand for a handshake.
Elgot hesitated for only a second before gripping his palm firmly.
—"Well then, little one. Tell me, what happened here?"
Kano took a deep breath and answered briefly:
—"You'll understand in the guild. We don't have time right now."
Kano glanced around.
He saw the guards bending over Lenor and Ragnar, checking their condition.
Their wounds were still bleeding.
Just a little longer, and even magic wouldn't help.
—"Lift them up! Get them to the guild immediately!"
The group reacted instantly.
A few guards lifted Lenor and Ragnar, carefully supporting their heads.
Elgot, though looking exhausted, stood up, still staring at Lenor.
What could have happened to them?
And who the hell could have shattered them like this?
They moved towards the guild.
The guild doors slammed open.
Kano and his group rushed into the main hall, carrying the two heavily wounded warriors.
Naira, standing behind the guild desk, initially looked at them in surprise, then her eyes widened when she saw Lenor.
—"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Instant panic spread through the hall.
Healers and mages rushed to the injured.
Several large tables were quickly cleared of maps and papers – Lenor and Ragnar were carefully placed upon them.
—"Step back!" one of the mages waved his hands, calling for healing magic.
Magical light surrounded their bodies, but… nothing changed.
Black, pulsing veins of poison spread further under their skin.
—"Why… isn't it working?" whispered one of the healers, feeling cold sweat drip down his temple.
—"What's happening to them?! Heal them faster!" Naira shouted angrily.
Elgot silently watched, until he took a step forward.
His eyes narrowed when he sensed something strange in the air.
Something wasn't right.
He extended his hand over Lenor's body and closed his eyes.
His magical senses delved deeper – through skin, blood, bones… and then he understood.
A high-level demonic poison.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
—"This is bad," he rasped, clenching his fists.
The healers flinched.
—"WHAT?!" Naira was barely containing her fury. —"Are you telling me…"
—"Yes," Elgot cut her off sharply. —"Lenor is doomed. If nothing is done."
Her fists clenched, and in the next moment, she grabbed Elgot by the collar.
— "Then do something!"
Elgot only smiled tiredly.
— "I wasn't planning to just sit idly by."
His fingers tightened, and light magic began to crystallize in the air.
Normally, magic doesn't mix.
But he intended to do what even the strongest mages forbade—combine pure light energy with healing magic.
A desperate method.
There was no other chance.
Mana swirled around him, and the guild walls trembled.
— "Damn..." one of the mages stepped back. — "I've never seen such a flow of magic..."
Elgot placed his hand on Lenor's chest.
— "Healing with Light!"
The guild shook.
A pure stream of energy shot from his fingers, enveloping Lenor's body.
A black smoke rose from him—the demonic poison, being expelled from his skin.
His barely beating heart began to regain rhythm.
His eyes twitched slightly, as if for a moment, he felt something…
But at the same time, Elgot's body began to weaken.
He felt his mana leaking out, as if through a hole in a bag.
His body began to lose sensitivity.
His mind filled with darkness.
This was his chance.
A chance for redemption.
— "DON'T STOP!" Naira shouted.
But Elgot could barely hear anymore.
His legs buckled.
The world tilted sharply.
A sudden pain pierced his skull—it felt like a searing dagger strike.
His body swayed violently.
His legs gave way.
He lost his balance… and fell onto Lenor.
— "Elgot!" someone screamed, but he could no longer hear.
The mage's consciousness faded.
The guild resembled a battlefield.
Mages and healers poured all their energy into treating Lenor and Ragnar.
Demon alchemists brewed powerful potions, trying to neutralize the poison.
But nothing helped.
The dark veins of the demonic poison spread deeper into Lenor's body.
Ragnar was still fighting—his shoulder was horribly crushed, but his heart was steady.
Lenor, however, was on the brink of death—his breath grew weaker.
Chaos in the guild escalated.
— "His life force is fading!" one of the mages shouted.
— "A little more and even the gods won't help!"
Naira slammed her fist onto a table nearby.
— "DO SOMETHING!"
Elgot exhaled heavily.
I've used everything I had…
Even with my strength… this is beyond me.
He watched as Lenor slowly faded, feeling powerless.
And then, the silence was broken by the faint sound of footsteps.
A stranger approached Elgot.
She looked young, fragile, unlike a powerful healer.
— "I'll help."
Everyone turned sharply.
Selina stood in the midst of the chaos—her expression completely calm.
— "What?" Naira stared at her.
— "I can do this."
Damn… he's right.
Without this, Lenor and Ragnar will simply die.
Kano remained silent. He watched Selina.
His hands were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his skin.
If she does this—she could die.
But if she doesn't… we lose Lenor and Ragnar.
Selina silently watched everyone.
She didn't back down, didn't hesitate, didn't ask to be excused.
— "How?"
— "How do I raise my level?"
The guild fell silent.
She had made her decision.
Elgot sighed.
— "A purple crystal. No less."
— "Does the guild have purple crystals?"
Everyone turned their gaze to Naira.
She slowly shook her head.
— "No."
Silence.
No one knew what to say.
If there were no purple crystals, it meant they were simply doomed.
And then, Kano's voice broke the silence.
— "There's one."
Everyone turned to him.
— "An orange one."
These words thundered like a storm in the silence.
The guild froze.
— "You said… what?"
Elgot stood still, his face slowly paling.
Everyone who understood what this crystal level meant felt a chill run through them.
— "Orange?!"
— "That's…"
— "That's the level of ancient demons! It's a force that tears the mind apart!"
Mages, alchemists, and warriors stared at Kano as if he had just claimed to have defeated a god.
Elgot didn't even blink, his lips dry.
— "WHO THE HELL IS THE WINNER?"
All eyes turned to Kano.
— "Well…" — Kano ran a hand over his neck.
— "It… happened by accident."
Elgot grabbed his head.
— "YOU… ACCIDENTALLY???"
The guild erupted in exclamations.
— "How can you ACCIDENTALLY kill a being of orange level?!"
Kano scowled.
— "Oh, come on… It just happened that way."
Elgot looked at Kano once more.
What are you hiding, little one?
And then a faint voice broke the tension.
— "Pocket…"
Everyone froze.
Lenor slowly opened one eye.
— "Elgot… pocket…"
Elgot rushed to him, feverishly searching his pockets.
And…
He pulled out two yellow crystals.
— "What… is this…"
The yellow crystals glowed in his hand.
Their mana was swirling—almost on par with the highest archmages.
— "Yellow…" — whispered one of the mages.
— "They're five times more powerful than purple!"
For a moment, everyone realized what this meant.
Selina could use them.
But it was too dangerous.
If she couldn't handle it—she would burn from the inside.
Elgot looked at her.
— "Child…"
— "You have to understand. This isn't just about leveling up."
— "If you fail—you will lose yourself."
Everyone held their breath.
And then, Selina smiled.
— "I'm ready."
The guild froze.
— "Damn…" — Kano felt his heart clench.
What if we lose her?
But it was too late to stop now.