Riding high above the vast expanse of the endless green desert, Kent sat atop his dragon, Sparky, feeling the biting wind whip against his battle-worn cloak. His golden eyes locked onto the distant horizon, following the directions given by Khoya. His path led straight to the Kuki Nation’s capital city, but fate had other plans.
Two days into his journey, his sharp senses caught sight of movement below—a large battalion of soldiers moving in organized formations. Their armor glistened under the sunlight, reflecting a sense of purpose and menace. Kent narrowed his eyes.
“These bastards were the ones chasing Khoya,” he muttered.
Initially, he considered flying past them, avoiding unnecessary conflict. However, his mind swiftly shifted gears. If he ignored them now, they’d become a problem later. Leaving enemies behind was never an option.
Kent guided Sparky lower, using the desert dunes for cover. His strategy was simple—divide and annihilate.
“Time to hunt.”
One by one, he picked his targets. The first was a scout stationed atop a high dune, scanning the desert with a telescope. Kent landed soundlessly behind him and, before the man could react, a scorching wave of fire engulfed him. No scream, no remains. Only a wisp of blackened sand remained.
The next group of three soldiers stood guarding their supplies. Kent crouched behind a dune, conjured a small flicker of golden fire in his palm, and released it. The ember shot forward, expanding into an inferno as it swallowed them whole. Their weapons clattered to the ground, their bodies turned to ash before they could even scream.
Systematically, he continued his slaughter. His methods varied—sometimes a swift decapitation with his lightning-forged sword, other times a silent neck snap. He used fire to erase evidence, ensuring no bones remained.
By nightfall, only one squad remained. Their leader, a grizzled war veteran, sensed something was wrong. He barked orders, commanding his men to regroup. Too late.
Kent descended from the sky like a death god. Flames roared around him as he landed in their midst. His golden lightning cracked the air as he swung his sword, cutting through three men in one stroke. The leader charged at him, but Kent caught his sword with his bare hands.
“You think you can stop me?” Kent growled, his grip tightening until the metal shattered.
The soldier’s eyes widened in horror as Kent plunged his burning fist into his chest. His screams faded into silence. Within moments, the entire battalion was reduced to nothing but scorched earth.
Dusting off his cloak, Kent summoned Sparky. “No loose ends. Time to move.”
–
Khoya had finally arrived in Red Sword City, her hood drawn low as she walked through the bustling streets. She needed information—information about Kent, his family, and the current political climate.
Her first stop was an inn, where travelers gathered to exchange stories. Taking a seat near a group of merchants, she listened intently.
“That Kent? Hah! The spoiled brat is making enemies everywhere.”
“I heard he kidnapped Princess Chi Kai. The Emperor is furious.”
“The King family is under house arrest. If Kent doesn’t return, they might be wiped out.”
Khoya’s brows furrowed. Moving on, she visited the city’s temple, where the elderly whispered about Kent’s past.
“A disgrace to his family, they say.”
“But isn’t he powerful? Didn’t he defeat genius Mages?”
“Powerful? Perhaps. But reckless. He brings ruin wherever he goes.”
She clenched her fists. She knew Kent was far from what they described. But it was clear—the city had turned against him.
At the Adventurer’s Association, she spoke to a battle-worn mage.
“If Kent had just returned the sword, none of this would have happened.”
“The sword is his right,” Khoya argued.
“Hah! And at what cost? The Emperor won’t let this go.”
Taking a deep breath, Khoya left, her mission clear—Kent needed to know what awaited him back home.
–
Kent soared through the skies once more, but this time, he wasn’t alone in his thoughts. Behind him, Princess Chi Kai sat in silence, bound by enchanted chains. She had watched him fight, had seen him hunt, and now, she was beginning to understand the kind of man he was.
“You’re not just some reckless fool,” she murmured.
Kent smirked but said nothing. After travelling for another day, Kent suddenly stopped.
“What is it this time?” Chi Kai cried out angrily.
Kent didn’t reply to her. Instead, his gaze locked onto a valley below, where a luminous seven-colored fruit glowed in the moonlight.
“That’s the Seven-Colored Fruit,” Chi Kai exclaimed with wide open eyes.
But guarding it stood a three-horned bull, a beast the size of a war elephant, its muscles rippling with strength. The bull snorted, pawing the ground aggressively.
A smile creeped on Kent’s face as he was excited to fight.
“You can’t be serious,” Chi Kai gasped. “That thing will kill you.”
Kent chuckled. “It’ll try.”
“Stop joking. If you die here… I will also lose my life. STOP!” She cried out in anger. But Kent completely ignored her.
Leaping off Sparky, he landed before the beast. The bull charged directly, its three massive horns aiming straight for his chest. Kent sidestepped, his fingers grazing the bull’s hide before he struck—a powerful punch straight to its ribs.
The beast bellowed in pain but didn’t stop. It turned, its horns glowing with magic, and charged again.
Kent dodged, this time grabbing one of its horns and twisting. The bull roared, trying to shake him off, but Kent held firm, his muscles straining.
“You’re strong,” Kent muttered. “But I’m stronger.”
With a battle cry, he ripped the bull’s central horn clean off. The beast wailed, stumbling backward. Seizing the opportunity, Kent leaped into the air and brought his fist down with all his might—shattering the remaining two horns.
The bull collapsed.
Breathing heavily, Kent walked to the fruit, plucking it with ease. He turned to Chi Kai, smirking. “Told you.”
She exhaled sharply. “You’re insane.”
He simply laughed, mounting Sparky once more. The journey to Kuki Nation continued.