The early morning sun bathed Veilden in gold, but peace did not last.
At the Kind Heroes' home, the four gathered at the breakfast table. Kell rustled open the latest newspaper and began reading aloud, his voice heavy with the weight of the words.
"King Zenhil Assassinated. Mastermind Prince Ranhil captured. Death sentence confirmed. His wife and daughter imprisoned until further royal decree."
The room fell into silence. Arriel clenched his fists. Lira looked down, her thoughts distant. Mirable sipped her tea with an unreadable expression.
"So... it finally happened," Kell muttered.
Before the group could reflect further, a loud knock rattled their front door. A messenger stood panting at the threshold, urgency painted across his face.
"Emergency request from the Adventurer's Guild! Dragons attacking the east residential zone of Veilden! Hurry!"
Within moments, the Kind Heroes sprinted through the streets, citizens fleeing in panic around them. Smoke and fire licked the sky near the eastern edge of the town.
Three massive dragons circled the area, wings beating with thunderous force. Screams echoed. Flames consumed buildings.
Arriel leapt ahead, sword drawn, issuing commands with clarity. "Lira, keep support up. Kell, take the right flank. Mirable, follow me to the middle!"
The four split, dancing between fire and rubble. Lira cast rapid body enhancement spells, her chants fluid and practiced. Kell darted between alleyways, striking at one dragon's legs. Mirable blurred forward, twin blades carving deep into scaled flesh.
One dragon fell. The second reared in fury.
Then everything stopped.
A dark presence settled across the battlefield like oil over water.
On a rooftop stood a broad-shouldered man with ash-gray hair and a wicked grin. He wore a cracked hero bracelet and a dark robe lined with crimson runes. His name was already burned into their minds:
Jaemo.
Rogue Hero. Wanted criminal. And now, wielder of something terrible.
"You shouldn't have come," he said, his voice like gravel. He raised one hand. Runes ignited.
Four more dragons emerged from a nearby hill, eyes glassy, movements unnatural.
Lira gasped. "This... this isn't normal Beast Tamer Magic. It's... It's Dark Beast Tamer Magic! He's controlling them by force!"
"Forbidden magic," Kell growled.
Arriel raised his blade. "Then we stop him here. Now."
The battle that followed was brutal. The Kind Heroes fought hard, combining magic and blades, dodging fire and claws. But the dragons were unnaturally coordinated, reacting to Jaemo's will like extensions of his body.
Burned and bleeding, the four were forced back.
Jaemo stepped down from his perch. "You fought well... for lambs."
Then, salvation.
A shadow swept the area.
From the sky descended Commander Elle, now Level 43, dressed in black armor that shimmered with magic. Behind her landed twenty masked figures, each radiating immense magical pressure. Each wore a glowing bracelet showing Level 30 and above.
"Reinforcements?!" Jaemo spat.
Commander Elle didn't speak. She pointed her blade.
The masked Heroes split into squads, engaging each dragon with fluid teamwork. They moved like one body, cutting down the dragons with practiced, merciless precision.
Commander Elle herself darted toward Jaemo, clashing blades. Her movements were a blur.
Jaemo roared and lashed out with corrupted spells, but Elle's underlings surrounded him. Together, they struck—blades piercing from every angle. Blood sprayed across the cobblestones.
Jaemo fell to his knees, coughing.
"I... am not... the only one," he said with a grin before falling forward.
Silence.
The masked heroes stood over the body.
Then, without hesitation, they extended their hands.
Jaemo's life energy was drawn from his corpse and split among them. Their bracelets flickered. Levels increased.
Arriel watched. His hand clenched tighter around his sword. He knew the truth: Heroes could absorb a fellow Hero's life force and steal their strength. But seeing it so openly, so calmly done... it made his stomach twist.
Commander Elle turned toward the Kind Heroes. Her armor shimmered with residual magic.
She approached Arriel and Lira. "You fought well. I saw everything. You have talent and resolve."
She looked at them both. "I offer you this once. Join us. Become part of the real force defending this continent."
Arriel looked at Lira. Lira looked back.
Arriel shook his head. "We need to think about it."
Commander Elle studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Understandable."
She turned toward her masked agents. "We move out. There are more of these Beast Tamers hiding along the borders. Hunt them. Eliminate them."
The masked figures bowed.
As they vanished with incredible speed, Elle paused.
She looked at Mirable.
Mirable's expression was unreadable. She gave a slight nod.
Then, the commander disappeared with her forces, leaving only the smoke and ash of the battlefield.
Lira walked to Arriel's side. "That was... intense."
"We just stepped into something much bigger than we imagined," Arriel said.
Kell sheathed his weapon. "And I have a feeling this is only the beginning."
As the city smoldered behind them, the Kind Heroes stood in silence, unsure of what path to take next—only that the world around them was changing, and fast.