A few miles out on the outskirts of the city, the Sword Saint stands in an open plain. The winds blowing Northward, headed to the skylines of the city. The six great mages lower themselves from the skies and approach her. With the voice of a middle aged man, the Great Mage speaks to her.

“It has been done Sword Saint. You may rest easy knowing that they won’t be a problem for a long time. Though the other guilds with modern weaponry might become a problem for the people of this strange land.”

“By that time they awaken, I shall have a great army that will take all of them on. For now, I must return to Breznick and report to the King. Watch over the other guilds. I’ll keep helping you mages but you must make sure the underground society of Dark World VR, with all its fancy tech doesn’t go overboard. ”

“Of course, these kids and teenagers controlling tanks, destroyers and planes would make anyone fear them, most of all the unsuspecting people of this strange world we’re in. Oh, it seems like they've been found out, huh.”

“Do you think you're smart? We know you’ve been tapping into our chats through the use of magic. But how did you know there’s more than one guild that uses modern weaponry?!”

“Ehehehehe, we have our ways. Have a good day now Sword Saint. May we meet again, but we shall hide for now. This world is unknown to us, we don’t know how they’d react if they were to find out about us and I can sense that you can see the future… Was this always a gift of the Hero skill?”

“Humu. But since you already know the dirtiest part of the community, most of all the Men of the Woods and I assume you know about the League of Modern Guilds.”

“Oh why of course we know about them… in truth, the Mage's Association is also in on them. The use of modern methods helps us a lot in experiments concerning the new game Metas and strats.”

“Then please, keep an eye out for them.”

The Mages instantly teleported themselves out of the area. The Sword Saint turns around in her background, the frozen skyline of the city. She walks to the survivors of the battle and calls it a day.

The Natives of the continent of Dragovh enjoy their life under the peace as the presence of the Demon Lord keeps the warring Kingdoms from fighting amongst one another. Inside the Capital city of the Holy Empire of James the Conqueror. A buzzling Kingdom where the houses lay as far as the eye can see and with massive ornate concrete walls coloured in white and gold covering the outline of the city to keep it protected, the nearer you are to the center, where the gigantic white castle lay, the better the living status of the people while near the walls gates is where the more normal citizens stay, where the usual darb style of the medieval houses made from stone and wood is the norm. The contrast can be seen when you have a birds eye view of the city. Little did they know, their world's peace was about to be disturbed by an entity far more foreign than the Demonic Legions of Vitas or the Vampires of Rose.

In the downtown part, a famed Adventurers Guild lay. A building full of decorations inside and outside. From the various shields that lay plastered on the wall inside its main lobby to the large sign outside the three story building in a foreign language unknown to the players.

There, all sorts of colorful adventurers and people come and go, from Mages darbed in colorful robes and staffs, to Archers and Swordsmen in chainmail or iron armor. On the very corner of the building, a party of four is having a lively chat about taking quests. An average looking man in light armor with a very young voice is loudly speaking in the group. The natives of the land were flourishing and their overall atmosphere was very positive even though the Demon Lord of the land breathed upon the current peace. A young man in light armor with a leather coat underneath it is speaking to a group of teenagers.

“I say we go take quests about helping the folks out in the village Pierence!”

But a man wearing leather armor and has a large wooden bow strapped on his back interdicts. His voice is also very young, crass and youthful

“I say we do, I like hunting Orcs out in the forest of Derval Grifvet.”

A tall woman with long black hair, wearing a beautiful mage robe then steps in with a voice that could calm an angry giant

“I say we go to another Guild building and find better paying quests.”

“But Eattare, we’ll have to go through the city and head to the East gate.”

The elf with short red hair in the table puts her hands down on the table, and with the voice of a young girl, she screams with great energy.

“I say we head to the East gate and get ourselves some more interesting quests than hunting Orcs in the open!”

The group is silenced by her straightforward approach, Grifvet then stands up.

“Well, we heard the lady speak. Let’s go!”

“Man, Ingraine, you should get a job in the Kingdom’s political sector or something.”

As they were about to leave the building, a party of three Knights clad in intimidating enchanted armor stepped in loudly through the front door with the head of an Orc Commander in hand. The entire lobby stares at the huge Knights with visible blood on their spiky armor that covers them from head to toe, not a hint of skin visible. They look back at the lobby and slowly walk to the desk. The beautiful clerk was thoroughly shocked at the figure of three hulking Knights. Though distorted by the big helmets they’re wearing, the voice of a mature man is heard.

“Is this the Guild house ma’am?”

The Elven Clerk replies in fear.

“Mhm, yes. This is the Guild house of West Gate.”

“I’d like to submit this Orc Commander’s head. The reward was Two thousand Aeralous Gold. Am I correct?”

“O-o-of course. Please take it.”

The Clerk takes a small sack from below her desk and places it on the table.

“Tha-nk you for your service sir Knights.”

“You're welcome.”

The Knight places the Orc Commander's head at the desk and collects the Gold coins, using their teleportation magic to make it disappear. They then slowly walk outside and into the lively crowd in the street.

“Man! They looked so cool!”

“I’ve never seen those Knights before. A lot of weird people have been popping up since the last few months.”

“I’ve heard that those people came from a continent rattled by the Demon Lord.”

“That could explain why they always look so well armed and equipped.”

“I suggest we stay away from those types. Something about them seems wrong.”

“What’s wrong with them?”

“Don’t you think it's weird that they don’t know that this is the Guild house?”

“That could be because they came from a foreign place.”

“Maybe, but something still feels wrong about them. From how they look and show themselves. You know they’re on an entirely different level from us, and I’ve never heard that accent before.”

“That’s true. Those Knights seemed so lifeless, as if what they did was just a chore. But killing that Orc Commander meant they walked in a Dungeon and killed everyone inside it till the last floor.”

Little did they know that these are players of Dark World VR whose gear and levels are in stark difference with the Natives of the land. Eattare and Pierence know the quest the geared Knights took and are disturbed by how cleanly they performed it.

“I swear I saw that quest up only yesterday, you must be a monster to be able to clear such a dangerous place overnight.”

“Yes exactly! So let’s try to avoid them if we can. Most of all, you Grifvet.”

Grifvet on the other hand sees them as Knights he’d see in stories, of great people tackling unimaginable danger for the safety of everyone. True Gentlemen in Armor.

“I’ll try but I’d want to talk to them and ask how they reached such levels! They’re swordsmanship must be through the Gods!”

The party drops the conversation and strolls outside into the crowd. As they walk through the lively city, merchants selling various items from silk carpets to swords and magical items litter the streets. The colorful street is full of life and the crowd is just as unique, from Halfbreeds to Humanoid Demons litter the crowded place.

As the party moves through the crowd, Eattare and Ingraine gets distracted by the wonderful new clothing that came from the North. While Grifvet and Pierence sat their eyes on some enchanted swords and bows. The party took longer than expected and it was afternoon when they reached the East gate’s Guild building. This one looks more like a normal two-story medieval building.

The party moves inside and sees an old man at the desk, he smiles warmly and greets the party.

“Welcome to the East gate Guild building! Please take a gander at our quest board next to me. It's not much but I hope you’ll be able to find one that’ll fit what you're looking for.”

It has minimal quests posted on the board but the party still checks and sees if there’s any interesting ones. Ingraine’s elven ears lift as she finds an interesting one.

“Hey guys! Look at this one!”

The party looks to the bottom right of the board and sees a quest offering 300 Gold Aeralous Coins. The small paper is requesting the capture of a Beast or Person in the forest who's been killing its animal populace, causing an imbalance in its ecosystem.

“Last seen, center of the Forest of Treuat, East of the Holy City. Unknown Beast/Human/Demon capable of killing at an extremely high rate. Proceed with Caution.”

-The Ministry of Magic and Mages-

Grifvet and Ingraine immediately sees the uncommon request, most of all, it coming from the Ministry itself.

“Oh wow, that’s strange. It came from a Ministry. That thing must be real trouble. C’mon Ingraine, let’s ask the others.”

“Indeed. Hmmm… do you guys think we can take this on?”

The party members look at one another, with competence brimming in their eyes. Pierence and Eattare see the confidence and with no questions asked, they both agree.

“Heh, I say we can. Let’s go and test ourselves!”

“Yea! Let’s go.”

The party immediately takes the paper and heads to the desk where they sign a contract taking the quest. The old but wise Clerk smiles at the teenagers, excited to go on an adventure.

“The Adamantium Party. What an ironic name, youngsters these days. Be careful now, they say an Earth Dragon lies in that forest.”

“Don’t worry sir, we’re all above Level Fifty!”

Eattare shows her Adventurer’s Card,

Full name: Eattare Yuwah

Class/Type: Magician

Level: 62

Origin: Capital City of James. Inner District.

She flips it back and it shows the various skills she has collected over years of adventuring. The trio on the other hand was already planning the logistics and route they must take to get there.

“Hmm… the forest of Treuat is a bit far. We might have to take a Carriage there. Do we have enough supplies?”

“We do. If Ingraine doesn’t eat much of our rations on the way there.”

“Mhm-mhm! Let’s go!

In a good mood, the party heads to the huge gate of the city, they show their Adventurer Cards at the Guards which lets them through. Outside of the gate is a station, full of carriages headed to different parts of the continent. Some have trips lasting 2 weeks. After some searching, Night begins and the party finds a carriage being pulled by four horses headed to the Kingdom of Leylua, on the placard by its driver says they’ll be stopping near Treuat before going to Leylua.

The party rummages through the crowd of people and talks to the driver. The driver’s rough tone is heavy and apparent but understandable.

“Yer headin’ to Leylua Wood Elf gal?”

“No sir! We’re headed to the forest of Treuat! And I am not a Wood Elf! I am a High Elf!”

“Yer. Hop in when yer ready. It’ll cost ya’ half.”

Grifvet obviously sees through this but doesn’t interdict as Eattare steps in.

“What about Two Fourths instead? Treuat is not that far by Carriage.”

The Driver seeing the tall beautiful mage is left in silence. “Errrr, she seems like she’s from a Noble family.” After some thinking, the carriage driver lays a new price.

“A’ight, a’ight. Forty Aeralous Silver coins.”

“Thank you.”

The party enters the carriage and it leaves after a few minutes. As the Moon flies over the sky, the lanterns placed on the wagon’s sides is all that gives light to the dark forest. The group then passes through an immense open plain, where the small leaves follow the blowing of the wind and the Moon’s figure lights it up at night. The beautiful landscape still captivates the young adventurers as the carriage moves through the dirt road at pace.

After a few hours, Ingraine and Grifvet had fallen asleep, with their heads resting on their hands. Eattare and Pierence start a conversation to break the annoying silence.

“Did you find anything good in the shopping district Eattare?”

“Nothing much, though the fluffy clothing from the North seemed like something I could use to not only keep myself warm but also as a sleeping cushion.”

“The prices are insane though. One hundred fifty Maximallus Gold for one? Its pelt must be made from a rare beast of sorts. No wonder it requires the currency of humanoids. Only they could survive the beasts that appear from the snow.”

“I did hear that up North, a frozen city has become a place of resting for Demon Beasts.”

“Ugh, not those of all things. We almost all got killed when we fought a Magrave Wolf. The Demon Lord knows his ways with the animals.”

“But the thing that got the Mage's association riled up is that they say it's a strange looking city, with structures that looked like stacked boxes that’s even higher than the Castle of Saviours.”

“Impossible, it took the Kingdom of James almost a decade to complete that castle.”

“It's true though, and something Evil is within that city they say. As Demon Beasts flock it like a Stronghold. As if a Core of Mana is underneath it, bringing them together to rest on its lands.”

“I guess it has the same smell of the Demon Lord's army. That should be the only explanation unless these people make Demons themselves.”

“Let’s hope not. One Demon Lord is enough for our continent. It might be large, but it's not large enough for two Evils.”

Silence then falls again and a bit curious about what Eattare thinks, Pierence once again starts a conversation.

“There’s been a lot of strange figures lately. I’ve even heard another Sword Saint has appeared from nowhere.”

“It's strange. Though the Imperial Kingdom of Eutopos has said it's a blessing from the Gods but there has never been an Era where so many Heroes and Sword Saints all existed. It's usually only one Hero or one Sword Saint. The only time this happened was when the Vampire Queen tried to take over the world.”

“Ah yes, I still remember that story from my Grandfather. The only time when a Hero and a Sword Saint existed.”

“Exactly, so what’s happening right now that requires so much Heroes and Saints?”

The Carriage rattles a bit from the rocky dirt road as it enters a dense forest. The beautiful Moon is suddenly engulfed by the huge trees and thick jungle.

“But hey, I heard she’s an absolute beauty! Clad in Golden armor with a Sword that could be seen from miles with its shine!”

Eattare shushes the excited Pierence as their sleeping friends are calmly resting.

“Calm your voice down. Ingraine and Grifvet are sleeping.”

“Oops.”

“Now, I’ve also heard rumors when I was out shopping.”

“Hm? Of what?”

“Four legged Dragons, they say that in Geraldia. The Knights of Gareth fought one and brought it down.”

“Four legged Dragons? How is that possible? I only heard it in stories of the old. Before the FIrst Demon King, when the Gods were at war against each other.”

“Indeed, it is such an amazing thing though, I am sure Grifvet would’ve been leaking if he found out about this story.”

“Man, the last few months have been hectic. So many new people and things to see. It’s never been like this…”

“I think something big is happening, it has been the Fourth Reset and this has been the longest time that the Demons haven't made a move.”

“Do you think?”

“I hope not… but if so, we must be ready.”

Soon, Pierence falls asleep and Eattare looks at him with a smile, to acknowledge his attempt to break the silence of the trip. After a few minutes, she also succumbs to the night and sleeps.

After what seems to be hours, the carriage comes to a sudden halt in the middle of the dense jungle. The driver hops down from his bench and knocks on the door of the carriage.

“C’MON! WAKE UP YER YOUNGSTERS!”

The party slowly wakes up from the loud screaming of the driver. They hastily pick up their items and head out the carriage in a messy manner, Grifvet almost missing the step and directly hitting the dirt road face first. Eattare who’re already ready to go immediately walk up to the driver to pay.

“Here’s your payment. Thank you.”

“Yer. Be careful now. They say somethin’ lurks’ in these parts.”

“Don’t worry!” Ingraine wobbles a bit, but she again regains her stance. We know what we’re doing!”

Pierence and Grifvet, still a bit aloof from waking up, pick up their packs and they head off West, into the forest. Eattare and Ingraine cast light magic and ten small balls of light hover around the party as they navigate the dense forest at Night. As they walked through the night, they could hear all sorts of creatures, from Wolves howling to roaring far away from their location.

The party then approaches a small river with calm water flowing through it. The forest gives them enough space to place their individual tents and call it a night. The next morning, the calming flow of the river and the chirping birds give them a warm sunrise. The sounds of the forest calm their nerves and they head out of their tents, they perform some exercises and ready their clothes, the party gathers around the Campfire they made that night and Ingraine starts the conversation.

“Okay! First deal of the day is to find that Warlock Mage guy or Monster that’s been targeting the animals of this forest!”

The party seemed to then shift into a more serious tone, with Grifvet deep in thought. He then opens up.

“The best thing we can do is find remains or carcasses. Since the Ministry of Magic knew about whatever it was. I’m sure it's because it left evidence behind after doing its deed.”

“Mhm-mhm! I like that idea!”

Eattare then speaks up.

“And if it's powerful magic it’s using, we’ll be able to sense it and most of all, me and Ingraine should immediately feel the shift in the Mana.”

Knowing the dangers of a quest like this, Pierence fires up.

“I’ll scout ahead, I haven’t jumped through trees for a few days now!”

The party unanimously agrees to each of their suggestions and heads off into the forest. Using simple telekinetic magic, the party members communicate to each other.

This forest is beautiful, but it’s very dense and thick. What the heck!”

“I should’ve bought my flying stick if it was gonna be this hard.”

“No signs yet of anything. Two of you, stay vigilant.”

Ingraine, deep in her element, swerves through ahead of Grifvet and Eattare.

“Follow me, I’m sensing something North of us. It's powerful, very powerful.”

Ingraine jog towards where she’s feeling an intense amount of Mana.

“This isn’t normal…”

“What about it?”

“The Mana, it’s not flowing outward like usually it does when a creature or human is using magic. It’s actually going into it. Are we truly sure about this?”

The party continues moving as Eattare questions if this thing was truly worth it. All of them use telekinetic magic to communicate in hopes of staying silent and not spooking the creature.

“We’ve made worse decisions and made it through alive. Just keep going.”

“This is bad guys.” Grifvet runs to Ingraine and stops her jogging by holding her arm.

“O-o-ouch! That’s hurting me!”

“Guys! Let’s all gather together right now.”

The party gathers all together. Making a small circle with Ingraine still angry at Grifvet for suddenly pulling her back.

“What is it? You seem like you just met a dead relative.”

“I remember this kind of mana flow. From the old books about great Knights slaying Ancient Dragons, Dedatorus, Gods, and the Heroes. Do you guys know the tale of Sir Caine the Knight of the Stars?”

“I do, my father has a lot of books in our library and that’s about the founder of the Silver Knights of Leylua.”

“And do you know what it says in the book, before he got fought and got killed by the great Red Ancient Dragon? Or when he met someone trying to revive the corpse of Mors Letum?”

“If I remember correctly, the Mana was flowing into the Volcanic Cave at the rate of speed that was unforeseen before and even Wyverns wouldn’t go near the Volcano.”

“EXACTLY. So don’t you guys think this is an extremely bad idea to continue forward?”

Ingraine still annoyed steps up.

“Then how about this, we just see what it is, for all we know, this might be a new creature created by the Demon Lord to mess with us. Stories of the old are famous throughout the continents and I’m sure he’s trying to use this to mess with us.”

“ I don’t know… what if this was a real Ancient Dragon? Were useless against something like that. Heck, I think it might sense us miles before we even sense it.”

“C’mon guys, are we really gonna let his pass? An opportunity to meet something from the old tales? We even joked around back then that it's impossible for those stories to be real. But now, we have a real chance to prove it as real.”

“Yea, but we would be inside the belly of an undefeatable Dragon that even the continent's most powerful Knights were unable to take down.”

“Don’t kill the quest now Grifvet! We came all this way just to give up like this?”

“Well I apologize for thinking about everyone’s safety. All of us still have parents to return to, you know.”

As the two were about to have an argument, Eattare and Pierence stepped in to break the two.

“Look, okay guys, let’s meet halfway. Let’s return to the Kingdom, report this to the Ministry and let them deal with this okay?”

“You guys do that. As an Elf, I cannot let this pass. My people have suffered long and hard from Earth and Volcanic Dragons. I must see this myself!”

Obviously stressed, Pierence gives in to Ingraine’s demands to calm her down.

“Okay, okay, how about we go to it. But the moment we see trouble, we’ll run okay?”

“This is crazy! You're gonna get us all killed!”

“You know how Ingraine is, the moment she makes up her mind, she’s gonna complete it no matter what. We have no choice.” Pierence looks at Ingraine straight at her eyes.

“Just so you know, I hope you're prepared to carry our corpses back to the Kingdom. We’ll go with you since we’re friends, but I hope you can carry the responsibility of endangering us all for your selfish curiosity.”

Grifvet unsheathes his short sword and puts his shield up while Pierence pulls out his special tipped arrows. Eattare opens her spellbook and prepares stun and speed spells and Ingraine just hastily walks forward, determined to find out what’s been doing the killings. The party collects itself and the young Elven girl once again follows the trail. After walking for about ten minutes with Grifvet’s noisy light metal armor clanking, they started smelling rotten flesh and the air became heavier and the mana flow became even more aggressive.

The party then enters a small open area in the woods. In the middle is a huge pileup of carcasses, mostly Wolves, Orcs, Cows, Deers and even Demon Beasts.

The party was in absolute shock, but they sensed as if whatever was far away, they stepped out to check if it's the source of the disturbance in the Mana flow. It's known that places where a lot of dead rest becomes areas possible for the birthing of a Demon.

Suddenly, a strong wind hits the party members and Pierence is thrown off of the tree he’s on. The party collects itself and out of nowhere, they’ve been immobilized, unable to move an inch. To their front, large steps are heard with low roaring.

As the steps come closer, the ground seems to shake from the sheer weight of the beast. Grifvet being the Knight was in front of the group when they’re about to check the carcasses. He sees gigantic two golden glowing eyes nearing him, as it moves, the large trees that could be Three hundred fifty feet tall easily fall like weightless blocks.

The party members start panicking while Ingraine is deep in thought on what she could do. After seconds of grueling panic, the gigantic head of a jet black dragon pops out. Its armored scales gleaming as the sun shines on its skin. Grifvet only being Five-Eight tall looks like an ant to the gigantic dragon head that could easily be One hundred fifty feet in height.

The entire party is absolutely shocked at the gigantic Dragon and out of nowhere, the voice of a beautiful woman with a calming but commanding tone speaks to them, to their shock, the sound wasn’t coming from the forest, but through their heads like their current method of speaking.

“Humans, why hath thee wandered into thy forest?”

Suddenly, they’ve been able to move their mouths and speak. Ingraine was quickly filled with dread. Speaking up to save her friends.

“WE WERE SENT HERE TO INVESTIGATE THE KILLINGS OF ANIMALS! PLEASE LET US GO!”

The gigantic dragon leans forwards to speak to Ingraine, though its mouth is not moving. The beast instead uses Telepathy to communicate with them.

“Ah, I’ve been careless. I apologize. It’s been so long since I fed on something that isn’t undead. I apologize if my words aren’t as clear, I am still very new to this language.”

Grifvet though was still very astonished by it all. Asking questions instead of running.

“Why are you here? Did the Demon Lord send you?”

“Oh my, what a strong child. I can feel your fear. It's overflowing your body yet you stand before me and ask me these questions. Nay, the stand before no man or creature… I am Bahamut! The Dragon of the Abyss! One that sleeps in the Void, my breath is death, my wings are calamity itself, my tail more swift than the mightiest whip and my scales, impregnable even by swords that have been folded for thousands of times.”

Eattare and Pierence on the other hand are visibly scared, thinking of multiple ways to escape the giant Dragon’s presence.

“Please, don’t kill us.”

“THIS IS CRAZY! WE HAVE TO GO!”

Feeling bad for scaring the youngsters, Bahamut tries to assure them that she’s not planning on harming them in any sort of way.

“Don’t fear, I shalt not do that. Someone whom I care about would be angry if I did. Though please bear in mind I’m still of the Dragonkin. A proud race of ancient beasts that’s feared throughout the lands.”

The party’s been released from their immobilized state. Eattare, Ingraine and Pierence immediately fall to the ground from sheer terror of the magnificent beast in front of them. Grifvet, with his legs locked, was unable to run, though he wanted to.

“Poor children. Here, let me calm thy nerves.”

Out of nowhere, the party’s members suddenly calmed down. Though they’re still afraid of the gigantic dragon in front of them, they no longer feel the urgency to run or fight.

“Such magic… wha-what did you do?”

“Huh?! What?”

Bahamut then tries to explain who she is, in hopes of gaining their trust.

“I’m one of the greatest Dragon Gods, titled as the Queen of the Red and Black Dragons. It is only natural for me to know magic beyond human or demon comprehension.”

The massive Dragon leans even more forward to the small man.

“Child, do not worry. I do not know of my kind here, I only know of my kind from another place. Far from here.”

“You're a-a-a-a…. Dragon God?”