In a sudden and eerie turn of events, Dragon Staff Castle returned to the exact coordinates it had abandoned days prior. It was as if Queen Nera was playing a game with fate, or perhaps she had sensed a lingering resonance left behind. Nera sat upon her throne with an eternal coldness, awaiting her scouts' report on the Scarlet Elves. Suddenly, a faint, mocking smile crossed her lips. She whispered in a voice like a serpent's hiss:

  ?"Are you lost, stranger? You seem terrified and weak... is this all you have to offer?"

  ?[Five Days Later – The Field of Doom]

  ?High in the jagged mountains lies the "Field of Doom," a land inhabited only by death. Thorns as sharp as blades sprout from the earth, and the skeletal remains of those who dared to cross litter the landscape. The mana here is so dense it crushes the bodies of the unworthy. Some believe salvation lies beyond this abyss, only to find that the only salvation here is the grave.

  ?"Master Nico was right to choose this place," Malitchi said solemnly. "No one expects us here, and even Queen Nera would hesitate before storming this hell."

  ?"He gave us hope again, Grandfather," Shivana added. "Look at the children; their spirits are finally stabilizing."

  ?Malitchi watched the children play amidst the desolation, a tear of joy falling from his eye—a feeling he hadn't known in ages. "Why are you crying, Grandfather?" Shivana asked.

  ?"These are tears of hope, my child," he replied with a smile.

  ?After a pause, Shivana asked anxiously, "But... where is Master Nico? I haven't seen him in five days."

  ?"Do not worry," Malitchi reassured her. "He told me he had matters to attend to. He provided us with everything: food, cattle, and even left his companion, Sonari, who seems to be growing with incredible speed."

  ?Malitchi gazed at the horizon where the sunset struck the Field of Doom. He thought to himself: [I don't know if Master Nico realizes it, but I've sensed a strange black energy around him. Mana is usually light blue or deep purple... but black? That defies the laws of nature. He seems to have no specific element—or perhaps he hides it perfectly.]

  ?He shook his head, resolving his thoughts. [I won't mention what I saw. As Pure Elves, we can see the flow of mana, but questioning him might be an intrusion. Silence is the wiser path.]

  ?Shivana broke his thoughts with a joyful cry: "Grandfather! Look! Master Nico has returned!"

  ?The Elves gathered slowly as Sonari descended like a lightning bolt toward Nico. Her small wings fluttered; she had finally learned to fly. Nico caught her with a rare, playful expression. "You little troublemaker... learned to fly at last? Did you really miss me that much?"

  ?Malitchi stepped forward to bow. "Welcome back, Master Nico..."

  ?But the words died in his throat. He froze in shock as he noticed deep, jagged gashes scarring Nico's face and body.

  ?Nico smiled coldly, trying to ease the tension. "Don't worry, Malitchi. I encountered some high-level beasts on my way. They were truly strong."

  ?"Did you face them alone?" Shivana asked sadly. "That's so dangerous!"

  ?Nico placed a hand on Malitchi's shoulder. "In this life, you either die standing or fight until your last breath. I won the bet, and that's what matters. Now, excuse me; I need to wash in the river."

  ?Before he walked away, Malitchi turned and asked in a trembling voice, "Master... are you certain Queen Nera won't find us here?"

  ?Nico stopped, turning back with an expression of grim seriousness. "For now... yes. As for the future, no one knows what destiny holds. Be prepared for any surprise, and above all... never surrender."

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  ?As Sonari swam playfully beside him, Nico leaned against a jagged rock, his mind adrift in a heavy silence. His features bore a mixture of exhaustion and focus. His thoughts were interrupted by Shivana, who approached with visible bashfulness. "Excuse me, Master Nico... may Sonari and I swim with you?"

  ?Nico looked at her with his usual coldness, then nodded slowly. "Of course."

  ?Shivana stepped into the water. She was a girl of radiating beauty, with skin as white as snow and hair that shimmered like starlight. As she played with Sonari, Nico watched them in silence.

  ?[Life is truly strange,] he thought. [Once, I harbored a deep hatred for the Elves, and now? I find myself protecting them. Every time I think I understand the nature of this world, I find I am only at the beginning. I need to feel what they feel if I am to understand this existence.]

  ?Nico closed his eyes and took a deep breath. But when he opened them, he found Shivana and Sonari staring at him in absolute terror.

  ?"What are you looking at?" he asked coldly.

  ?Shivana replied with a trembling voice, "M-Master Nico... your eyes... they are glowing a deep crimson, and the paths on your body... they are igniting!"

  ?[The Outburst]

  ?Nico immediately realized something was wrong. He rose quickly and left the river. Before vanishing into the trees, he gave Shivana a strict command: "Take care of Sonari, and tell no one what you saw!"

  ?He sprinted into the depths of the forest, away from the Elves. He felt his body boiling, the red circuits on his skin glowing like veins of lava. [The energy is surging... I must get away... I don't want to destroy those around me.]

  ?He stopped abruptly, clutching his head as it throbbed with excruciating pain. He could no longer suppress the dark energy. Suddenly, a massive wave of power exploded from him, creating a roar that shook the mountains and turning a portion of the forest to ash.

  ?[Dread and Laughter]

  ?In the Elven camp, everyone froze. Malitchi and the others saw the explosion and feared Queen Nera had arrived. They clung to each other in terror. "Please, Master Nico... help us!"

  ?Amidst the thick smoke and charred trees, two red eyes gleamed. The Elves recoiled, but as the dust settled, Nico appeared. The terror in their hearts turned into joy.

  ?Nico stepped forward and told them calmly, "Don't worry, I just lost control of my energy for a moment."

  ?The Elves were awestruck, but Malitchi wasn't fooled. He knew this explosion exceeded the capacity of any "Legendary" hero. Malitchi sighed and stepped toward him. "Please, Master Nico... be careful. We don't want to lose you."

  ?Nico apologized with an enigmatic smile, then suddenly said with gravity, "Regarding Nera... I think she's on her way to us now!"

  ?A massive panic ensued, the Elves trembling once more, only for Nico to suddenly burst into laughter. "You guys are truly funny! I was just joking... it's hard for Nera to reach this place."

  ?He then continued with a firm tone: "But listen well... even if she finds us, we must face her with excitement, not fear. Your fear weakens you. There's no need to panic; everything will be fine."

  ?Wanting to break the tension, Nico pointed at one of the Elven girls. "You there... do you know how to cook?"

  ?The girl replied shyly, "Y-Yes, Master Nico, I do."

  ?Nico said with a wide smile, "Then I'm counting on you. Let's have a celebration. Cook us a large meal!"

  ?[The Celebration]

  ?The Elves gathered around a great bonfire. Their laughter, stifled for years, finally rang out. Nico took his first bite, then spoke with a rare smile. "What incredible food! You are truly talented."

  ?The Elven girl's cheeks flushed crimson. "Thank you, Master Nico... you deserve only the best."

  ?Nico stopped eating, setting his plate slowly on the ground. A heavy silence followed. He looked at their weary faces and spoke:

  ?"Listen well... if things go according to my plan, I promise to make the Scarlet Elves one of the most prestigious races in this world. Your blood will become precious, and everyone will treat you as royalty—not just out of fear, but out of reverence."

  ?Nico continued, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "You have endured hardships that nearly erased you, yet you stand here. Will is everything in this universe. If you hold onto it, it will take you to the peak. I shall be your will until we arrive."

  ?At that moment, the Elves found no words. They set aside their plates and prostrated before Nico with hearts full of loyalty. Malitchi stepped forward, his voice choking.

  ?"Thank you, Master Nico... if we hadn't met you, we would be corpses in Nera's castle. You gave us peace. Even if we offered you our souls, it wouldn't be enough."

  ?Nico stared at them with outward coldness, but inside, his perspective was shifting. [These are the ones who deserve life. Loyalty and simplicity. They seek only peace, yet they were hunted to the brink.]

  ?Nico finally smiled. "Raise your heads. Your place is at the heights. Come, let us finish our meal!"

  ?Nico reached for his plate, only to find it completely empty. He looked down to find Sonari had devoured it all, staring up at him with innocent eyes. Nico caught her, teasing: "You little thief! Where did you learn to steal someone else's meal?"

  ?The Elven girl laughed. "Here, Master Nico, another plate... there is always more!"

  ?Nico looked at her and smiled deeply. "Of course... I'll eat until I'm full!"

  ?

  [End of Chapter 21]