The four heroes began their battle with the Lugren. A strange, echoing sound burst from the fiend's throat—a chilling howl. Basch's eyes widened.
"That's a call," he said. "It's summoning other fiends."
The heroes quickly shifted into formation, preparing for the fight ahead. Meanwhile, Shio moved through the village, helping injured or stranded villagers escape the chaos.
In the distance, columns of knights marched toward the village, armor clanking and banners fluttering in the wind.
After guiding the last few villagers to safety, Shio paused to catch his breath. He glanced toward the battlefield, watching the heroes fight in perfect harmony. A thought crossed his mind—If I train hard enough, maybe I can be like them.
As the Lugren sustained more damage, a dark aura began to pour from its massive form. With a roar, the beast knocked the heroes back and cloaked itself in a barrier of thick, heavy air, making it harder to approach.
More fiends swarmed the village.
Standing firm, Iona raised her lute and began to play a new song. Raiken, her summoned beast, leapt into action—dashing through enemy lines, slicing down any fiend in its path.
The waves of enemies kept coming. The general of the knights surveyed the field and saw that some villagers had yet to escape.
"Protect the villagers and this village with your lives!" he roared.
The soldiers responded with a thunderous war cry and charged headfirst into the fray, swords raised and shields locked.
Yagura darted through the battlefield, narrowly avoiding the Lugren's crushing blows while slashing at its limbs with his lightning-charged daggers.
Amy raised her hands, and thick vines erupted from the earth, wrapping around the Lugren's body and pinning it in place. Thorn-covered branches dug into its hide, preventing it from moving.
Iona shifted her song once again, the tempo quickening. Her melody infused the others with strength—Raiken moved faster, Amy's spells grew stronger, and Basch... glowed with power.
Basch walked slowly toward the immobilized Lugren, blade still sheathed. He stopped at just the right distance, closed his eyes, and placed a hand on the hilt of his katana.
In a single breath, he stepped forward—and drew.
"Blossom Arts... Rising Sun."
In an instant, a deep gash split the Lugren's body. Blood sprayed like flower petals, blooming into the shape of a tree before dissipating into light. The monstrous fiend collapsed, severed cleanly in half, before fading into dust.
The lower-ranked fiends fled in fear.
The battle was over.
A victory cry echoed from the knights. Shio stood at the edge of the village, watching in awe. The heroes regrouped and were met with cheers and gratitude from the villagers and soldiers alike.
Shio hesitated. He wanted to thank them… maybe even shake their hands. But instead, he stood back, simply watching.
Basch spotted him from afar and walked over.
"Hey, kid. You did good out there," Basch said. "We could use more brave souls like you."
"Thanks… but you all did most of the work."
"Maybe. But you got here first—and you saved people. That counts. If you're serious about becoming a hero, there's a city called Sumiko. Every few years, they host something called the Hero Ascension."
"I'll think about it," Shio replied.
"Good. Name's Basch. Maybe we'll cross paths again."
With that, Basch gave him a nod and returned to the others. Amy had already finished healing and repairing parts of the village.
The heroes began to prepare for departure. As Basch rejoined the group, the others looked at him with curiosity.
"You really think that kid has potential?" Iona asked.
"He's interesting. Rough around the edges, sure—but there's something in him. When I looked at him… I saw something dark. Something hidden."
"Maybe the trials will bring it out," Yagura said. "If he even shows up. He's just another wanderer."
"Still," Amy added, glancing over her shoulder, "we'll find out soon enough."
Yagura sighed. "Let's go already. I'm done with this place."
And so, the heroes departed for Sumiko City, where the Hero Ascension awaited.
What trials will they face? And will Shio walk the same path?