Previous Events

When the bloody glow lit up from Lake Village, Mida had already noticed the commotion.

After all, the snow-covered land was her territory, and in the darkness, that glaring light was impossible to miss—visible even from the Sacred Peak with the naked eye.

Originally, Mida had no intention of interfering.

These humans had nothing to do with her. They had settled in the snowy plains on their own, hunting the local beasts and low-level monsters, occasionally trading with the snow spirits.

What happened to the people of Lake Village meant little to her; moreover, in Mida’s eyes, this was just infighting among humans, giving her even less reason to intervene.

But just as Mida rolled over on the mountaintop, took a nap, and was about to close her eyes again, she remembered something.

Her newly acknowledged father was human.

To be honest, Mida didn’t want to call that human "father"... but her mother had demanded it, so she had no choice. After all, defying her mother’s wishes led to terrifying consequences.

Mida was deeply afraid of her mother.

From the moment she hatched from her dragon egg, the first thing she saw was her mother.

Her mother had given her a name, taught her magic, fed her all kinds of things... and that was how she became what she was now.

Her mother’s expression was always cold, so Mida was cold too.

Not long ago, her mother had passed by that little village.

Though she didn’t know when—or even if—her mother would return... if she came back and found the village gone, she might question Mida.

That would be very, very bad.

Hmm... Given her mother’s temperament, she probably wouldn’t care about such trivial matters. But that newly acknowledged father of hers might.

If he cared, then her mother would care, because her mother only cared about him.

Her mother only smiled warmly in that man’s presence—even when he had been nothing more than a soulless corpse.

Mida had once been jealous of her father. She couldn’t understand why a silent corpse could make her mother smile... when her mother never smiled at her like that.

But soon, Mida let it go. Her mother had already been good to her—she had received more than enough.

It wasn’t until that man named Wolund arrived that Mida learned the snacks she casually ate were actually priceless treasures in the outside world.

Deep down, Mida knew her relationship with her mother wasn’t like that of ordinary mother and daughter.

But to Mida, none of that mattered. Obeying her mother, making her happy... that was the meaning of her existence.

One day, her mother would smile at her like that too.

......

Ge Rui and Anlier had been best friends since childhood.

Yet their personalities were complete opposites—Anlier was strong and honest, while Ge Rui was thin and sharp-witted.

But that didn’t stop them from getting along.

After coming of age, Ge Rui left Lake Village to attend university in another city, while Anlier stayed behind to inherit the family trade.

At university, Ge Rui met Cody, a professor in the history department.

Gradually, Ge Rui was drawn to the ideals Cody preached and joined the Twilight Apostles.

"The Demon King has not vanished!"

"The Demon King is brewing a terrible plot to destroy this world!"

"The Goddess no longer sends her divine messages—she has already fallen victim to the Demon King!"

"Only by reviving the legendary Hero can we truly defeat the Demon King!"

"Everything we Twilight Apostles do is to save this world!"

"Any sacrifice is necessary! When the truth is revealed, we will be remembered in history as heroes!"

At first, Ge Rui scoffed at these beliefs. But as one Revelator after another descended, he too succumbed.

After all... he had grown up listening to countless tales of the Hero.

Though he couldn’t separate fact from fiction, there was no doubt the Hero was a spiritual pillar for countless people.

"Even in death, the Hero still silently protects and guides us—what a magnificent existence! And now, with the world in peril, we must call upon His name and summon Him back to this world!"

After returning to Lake Village, Ge Rui began organizing merchant caravans, frequently traveling between the village and the Yalan Empire.

The Twilight Apostles conducted several rituals, but they were soon targeted by the Truth Magisterium, branded as heretics.

Judgmental flames rained from the sky, forcing the Apostles to halt their major operations.

Just as they were at a loss, Ge Rui slowly raised his hand, tears streaming down his face, a smile on his lips. "I know a place..."

......

"This is a good place."

Amid the howling wind, old Cody lifted his withered arm, gripping a staff as he chanted incantations.

His gray-yellow robes fluttered violently as a crimson magic circle enveloped Lake Village.

"You’ve all been so kind, so generous... so I believe you’ll gladly offer your lives to save this world."

Cody’s expression was gentle, as if he were back in the classroom, looking at the children before him.

One student, sitting straight and attentive, had left a deep impression on him.

"What a shame... that child might have had talent for magic. If he’d grown up properly, he could have achieved great things."

......

The operation began.

Boer’s face was expressionless.

He had no interest in the drama between the Apostle and his old friend.

But the Apostle had warned him—this man’s strength was noteworthy. Ordinary Apostles wouldn’t stand a chance against him. He could ruin the plan.

Boer wasn’t concerned. With the Hero’s revelation guiding him, such a minor threat was powerless to resist.

"Lord Boer... please take action." Ge Rui bowed respectfully.

Boer nodded.

"The Hero’s revelation to me is... power!"

Boer’s frail body suddenly swelled like a balloon, his muscles expanding until they burst through his skin, exposing raw, crimson flesh.

Anlier didn’t wait helplessly. Even as the transformation took place, his arrow was already whistling through the air.

The sharp tip struck Boer’s forehead—but it didn’t pierce through. The arrowhead barely embedded itself before being clamped in place by steely muscle.

Anlier charged forward, his steel saber thrusting straight for Boer’s heart.

Boer didn’t dodge. He let the blade sink into his chest, then clenched his muscles to trap it.

Unable to pull the saber free in time, Anlier took a devastating punch to the chest, sending him flying backward.