The wind blew fiercely, and with every gust the heat intensified.

Shana pulled a sleeve from his garment and tied it around his waist as he gripped his sword.

The scorching heat made him dizzy, and he swayed with every step.

Shana headed for the City of Fire Protection as his first stop after leaving Johan Town. It was the largest city near his hometown and he had no idea where else to go.

“Will divine guidance find me?”

Shana lifted his gaze to the sky.

Where was the guidance meant to descend from the heavens?

On such a bustling street, pleasant surroundings were hard to come by.

The roadside forest had been cleared, leaving a path filled with stinging, blowing sand.

The barren road and hillsides were shrouded in swirling dust, as if they had entered an endless desert.

At the crossroads, a group suddenly rushed down from the hillside.

The tall, thin men were adult Snake People who used booming voices to intimidate Shana.

“Don’t run!”

“Stand still!”

“Get him!”

Brandishing copper hammers, battle axes and longswords, they charged toward Shana. His noble clothes marked him as a newly minted aristocrat.

Shana stepped back several meters, instantly grasping the danger.

Though he had never ventured beyond his hometown, he knew bandits often targeted travelers on key trade routes.

Local tales warned of travelers who ventured out only to fall prey to ruthless bandits.

In this era, running into bandits was common, turning journeys into perilous adventures for ordinary folk.

Without hesitation, Shana drew his sword, readying himself for battle.

Even though this was his first real fight, nerves mixed with excitement as he yearned to prove himself.

Clenching his free hand into a fist, Shana readied the Steel Ring, a divine tool his father had entrusted to him.

The bandits closed in, scanning Shana for any weakness.

The bandit with the copper hammer eyed Shana’s clothes and said, “He’s rich, probably a minor noble from the countryside.”

The bandit with the battle axe examined Shana’s sword, his eyes lingering on the finely crafted blade. He smirked and swallowed hard, a greedy gleam in his eyes. “That sword of yours will look better in my hands.”

“Look at you, tough guy,” sneered one bandit. “You think you know how to handle that sword?”

The axe-wielder spat on the ground. “You’ve got nerve. Most would be shaking in their boots by now.”

Their loud shouts were meant to break Shana’s spirit.

Most, when cornered by fear, would crumple, making it easy for the bandits to overrun them.

But this tactic barely affected Shana.

He held his stance, his eyes scanning the surroundings in silence.

The bandits realized Shana was no easy target. The axe-wielder signaled a comrade with a rusty sword to flank him from behind.

Before they could move, a man clad in leather armor charged down, looking every bit a soldier.

He moved swiftly, leaping from the hillside.

A blur passed, and a bandit’s head flew off, blood erupting like a fountain.

“Who’s that?”

“What’s happening?”

“Where did he come from?”

The bandits panicked immediately, spinning around in search of the attacker.

The newcomer showed refined combat skills with every deadly move.

His movements were precise and economical, each strike deadly.

Before Shana could fully comprehend, the attacker had slain everyone.

Shana stood dumbfounded, a mix of shock and admiration on his face.

Is this the reality of the outside world?

The man wiped the blood from his blade on a fallen bandit.

He glanced at Shana, his eyes finally resting on his sword.

Unlike the bandits, he remarked disdainfully, “That sword of yours is lacking.”

“Too flimsy.”

Lifting his own greatsword, he declared, “What you need is a massive, brutal blade.”

His voice rose with passion, echoing like a battle cry.

“Bigger means stronger!”

“Bigger means mightier!”

“Bigger is the essence of a warrior’s pride!”

Shana kept quiet about his sword’s divine origins.

Yet the man’s tone strangely inspired trust.

But the seemingly trustworthy man quickly extended his hand and demanded payment from Shana.

“Pay up!”

“One silver coin.”

Stunned, Shana asked, “Pay for what?”

The man replied as if it were obvious, “For saving your life, of course.”

Gripping his sword tighter, Shana asked, “Are you a bandit too?”

The man looked offended. “Are you joking? Me, a bandit?”

“I saved you, so naturally you should pay.”

Shana felt he needed no saving because he was eager to test his skills when the man stepped in.

“I never asked you to save me!”

The man replied self-righteously, “Does saving someone need a reason? Anyone with a sense of justice will help someone in peril.”

“You don’t need to ask. It is the instinct of the righteous.”

Then his tone shifted.

“So now, it’s time for justice to be rewarded.”

Never having met anyone like him before, Shana felt indignant and asked, “Does justice require payment?”

The man adopted a lecturing tone and said, “If justice earned no reward, who would uphold it next?”

“Only with rewards will more people choose justice.”

Suddenly, logic stirred within Shana as he considered the man’s words.

Without thinking, he pulled out a silver coin and handed it over.

The man accepted the coin with a broad smile.

“I’m Camon, a mercenary. Thank you for your patronage.”

Though he called himself a mercenary, he was really just a freelancer in the City of Fire Protection.

He accepted any task that came his way and took on whatever work was available.

They were a mixed bunch, and even the decent ones had moral standards that defied simple measures.

Camon pocketed the coin and began collecting the bandits’ weapons, stashing them into a leather bag.

In a blink, he had disarmed the bandits completely.

His fluid, practiced moves showed he was no stranger to this work.

Shana suspected that Camon had targeted these bandits in advance, not out of justice.

At that moment, Camon began decapitating the axe-wielding bandit.

Seeing Shana’s shocked expression, Camon explained.

“These bandits are nothing new in robbery and murder. They have long had a bounty in the City of Fire Protection,” he explained.

“The axe-wielder is Gusido. His head will fetch a reward when brought to the city,”

Noticing Shana still watching, Camon grinned.

“Stop staring.”

“There’s none for you.”

Shana thought, ‘As if I wanted any.’

After gathering everything, Camon slung his heavy bag over his shoulder and walked on.

Since both were bound for the City of Fire Protection, they traveled together.

Halfway on the journey, Shana sat down to eat and drink water as hunger set in.

Beside him, Camon watched with a rumbling stomach. Shana averted his gaze.

Camon grinned and said, “After I saved your life, the least you could do is share some food.”

“Come on, eating alone feels awkward, doesn’t it?”

Shana replied, “Didn’t you already take my money? We’re even.”

Camon conceded, “I can pay too.”

Taking a copper coin, Shana handed him a flatbread.

Somehow, Shana felt as if he had bought his own food with his own coin.

Camon ate messily, wiping crumbs from his mouth with each bite.

He chatted casually with Shana, “Why are you headed for the City of Fire Protection?”

Shana answered, “I don’t know. I just suddenly wanted to see it.”

Camon replied warmly, “I understand!”

“When you’re starting out, you naturally want to see the world and explore big cities.”

“Heading to the City of Fire Protection to witness the grandeur of its temple and the palace of the Divine Blessed King.”

“What kind of life ignores the Temple of Fire Protection, the Mountain of Life’s Origin beyond Fort Pence and the giant Iva statue in the City of Lights? It would be a wasted life!”

Amazed by Camon’s tales, Shana asked, “You’ve been to the Mountain of Life’s Origin and the City of Lights?”

Camon shook his head, “Never.”

Stunned, Shana exclaimed, “Yet you speak as if you have!”

Camon replied, “I’ve been to many places. I may not have seen the Mountain of Life’s Origin, but I’ve roamed the Herdsman’s Plain.”

“I once planned to visit the giant Iva statue in the City of Lights, but our ship got stuck at the Land of Sunrise. The alchemists there are eccentric, and each city enforces its own bizarre rules.”

Camon rambled on as Shana listened quietly to his far-flung tales, finishing his meal.

They walked on until the City of Fire Protection emerged at the road’s end.

Camon grew excited as he adjusted his bag.

“Kid, we’ll part ways here. If you ever need me, head to the Brave Adventurer Inn,” he said.

“If you ever need my help, I promise I’ll offer fair prices for my work.”

Camon suddenly broke into a run toward the city.

He brandished the head of the axe-wielding bandit, pointing at a weathered portrait on the wall outside the city gate.

“Look here!”

“This is Gusido, the ruthless bandit behind countless murders!”

“I took him down myself!”

“I am Camon, the one who ended his reign of terror!”

There was commotion at the gate, yet no panic.

Even the gate guards joined the applause, calling out, “Impressive work, Camon!”

It seemed Camon had earned good standing in the city, for every guard recognized him.

Merchants and residents passing the gate cheered, their eyes fixed on the bloody head with a mix of curiosity and fear.

“Camon truly is impressive!”

“He must have made a fortune this month! He took down a horde of bandits and even caught the Midnight Bandit terrorizing the city!”

When Shana arrived at the gate, Camon stood on a wooden box, soaking in the cheers and admiring looks.

Camon held the bandit’s head high as the crowd gathered around him.

He hoisted the head high, transforming the city gate into his stage.

Suddenly, Shana realized that this rough, reckless man was like a protagonist strutting on stage.

A smile broke over Shana’s face. He had never read about a money-grubbing, head-collecting main character quite like this.

“How peculiar.”

“Who would ever imagine someone like that as the protagonist of their story?”

The City of Fire Protection was vast and thriving.

Newly arrived, Shana felt lost amid the dazzling new sights.

Stunning architecture, mouthwatering cuisine, and flowing wine all enveloped him.

The city’s extravagance captivated him.

But soon, the novelty faded and he felt adrift.

Shana left a bookstore clutching a stack of books.

He loved buying books or borrowing them from the royal library.

As an aristocrat of an ancient noble family, he naturally had access to the royal library.

Muttering to himself, Shana asked, “Why am I here?”

“I came to fulfill my family’s mission, but how can I do that? Just waiting around for answers won’t work.”

Troubled and empty-hearted, Shana wrestled with his purpose.

Finally, he gazed at the books in his arms, finding solace in their familiar presence.

“Hmm…”

“I hope these books hold the answers,” he whispered.

This time, he found several books about divine beings and records from Alcina’s era.

His family had existed since those ancient times, and he hoped to uncover the secrets he longed to know.

Shana was fixated on fulfilling his family’s long-held wish.

He awaited divine guidance, yet he did not understand why this mission was his or where to begin.

Moreover, he failed to see that his obsession was merely a blend of longing for adventure and a misguided sense of duty.

So when he embraced the outside world and his yearning eased, his passionate commitment slowly faded.

That was the source of his inner turmoil.

As Shana walked with his books, he suddenly overheard voices nearby.

A young scholar en route to the royal library asked, “Have you seen ‘The Lost Kingdom,’ the masterpiece by Master Breman and Scholar Gwen?”

He exclaimed, “You haven’t? You absolutely must!” his enthusiasm rising.

“Everyone should visit the Temple of Fire Protection to see it. That painting is unparalleled,” he added, as if missing it was unthinkable.

Suddenly, Shana realized he had yet to visit the Temple of Fire Protection.

In his confusion, he felt an urgent desire to see it.

After all, someone once claimed that a life without the Temple of Fire Protection was wasted.

“Perfect, the Temple of Fire Protection is close by,” he thought.

He quickly changed course and headed for the temple.

A vast crowd of Snake People gathered before the temple, prostrating themselves and slowly ascending the steps in reverence.

Finally, they entered to worship the divine.

In addition to the main hall, several side halls welcomed worshippers.

After his offering, Shana stepped into one of the side halls.

The hall was adorned with murals, including the painted dome overhead.

The main hall enshrined the Life Sovereign and the Blood Progenitor, and this side hall displayed statues of notable divine figures such as Alcina and Alpens.

At last, Shana found the painting they had mentioned: “The Lost Kingdom.”

Though no one truly understood why Master Breman named the mural or its deeper meaning, everyone still called it “The Lost Kingdom.”

Many prayed before these murals, singing hymns of praise to the divine.

When Shana saw the painting, awe struck him instantly.

Undeniably, the painting bore a master’s touch, a testament to unmatched skill and artistry.

Unlike the painting by Scholar Gwen, this mural reached a higher pinnacle, featuring colors and grandeur that seemed beyond its time.

The painting seemed otherworldly, as if it belonged not to mortals but to a sacred divine hall.

Every brushstroke conveyed vast space, drawing viewers into a swirling cloud sea.

The misty jungle below appeared ethereal, and a boat seemed to float toward the sky through a veil of clouds.

Even the figures pulsed with vitality.

The boatmen’s shocked expressions were vividly captured, their intense gazes telling the tale.

As once predicted by the Divine Blessed King, it was a timeless masterpiece.

Shana shifted his gaze to the cloud mountain and mist pillars hidden within the painting, where he glimpsed the “Kingdom of God.”

Instantly, Shana’s expression changed. He moved closer, accidentally bumping into a prostrated Snake Person praying before the painting.

He felt an unexplainable familiarity with this place.

Though he had never been there or seen such a place before.

“Kingdom of God?”

“No… no… this is…”

His words slipped into another language.

It was the language of the Trilobite Men.

With an intonation no Snake Person could mimic, he cried out the name of the cloud city.

“God-Descended City!”

The moment he uttered “God-Descended City” in the Trilobite tongue, thousands of voices rose in unison.

“God-Descended City…”

“Place of Divine Descent… place where the Creator descended…”

“Descent… descent… descent…”

Shana’s head throbbed as if ready to explode.

It felt as if that ancient race, lost for millions of years, now dwelled in the ethereal star sea, sharing memories of the past with him.

Those words should not have come from Shana, for he did not know the Trilobite language or know of the God-Descended City.

In that instant, the words escaped his lips, unbidden yet undeniable.

As his voice faded, Shana sensed the world around him shifting.

Everything changed before his eyes.

The Kingdom of God in the mural expanded, drawing Shana in.

Suddenly, the “Kingdom of God” above the cloud sea materialized around Shana.

The morning sun bathed the plaza in golden light.

The crowd was dense and vibrant, but they were not Snake People.

They were strange beings with humanoid shapes, their bodies clad in bone armor.

Their very appearance evoked an ancient, indescribable race.

They boasted an advanced civilization.

They wore clothing that would seem ornate to Snake People, not only colorful but adorned with intricate patterns.

Their clothes varied in style, and their city was as magnificent as a divine realm, with metal carts rolling through the streets and people riding atop them.

The plaza featured fountains and statues.

Now, Shana stood among the crowd.

He could not fathom why he was here or what was unfolding around him.

Nor could he tell what these beings with an ancient aura truly were.

He looked up at a towering structure.

It was a building more magnificent than the Temple of Fire Protection, a palace built by the second-generation Wisdom King Yesael.

A group gathered outside the palace.

The plaza erupted with cheers.

“Truth Sage Vivien! Truth Sage Vivien!”

“Great Sage, guide us!”

“The Saint’s legacy, the Saint’s will!”

“Truth eternal, Truth immortal!”

Shana heard the fervent shouts, even more passionate than those of devout Snake People.

Though he understood their words, their meaning eluded him.

What was Truth? Who were the Saints and Sages?

He glanced upward at the being they called Sage.

It was a woman with a divine form.

Shana’s scalp tingled, his pupils narrowing to pinpoints.

He recalled seeing her in the temple.

Her divine statue stood in a nearby hall, off to the side of the Mother of Life.

“Blood… Blood Progenitor? Is that a divine being?”

Though Shana was unsure which divine being his family worshipped, he knew it wasn’t the Blood Progenitor.

Yet when he beheld another divine presence, he could not hide his shock and awe.

He wanted to bow his head, frightened to gaze upon such divinity.

But he could not tear his eyes away.

Shana watched as the Blood Progenitor stepped forward and placed a crown on one of the ancient ones.

For some reason, his eyes lingered on the crown, sensing its importance.

As the crown was placed, the ancient king raised his scepter high.

“Yinsai!”

“The King of Yinsai!”

“The King himself!”

The crowd erupted once more in cheers as thousands knelt and others bowed.

The human tide rippled like waves.

At that moment, a Trilobite Man turned toward Shana and fixed him with an ancient, profound gaze.

He was an aged Trilobite Man, his movements stiff and mechanical, his bone armor tinged with petrification.

He asked a question.

“Shana!”

“Have you discovered it?”

The voice penetrated deep into Shana’s consciousness, echoing in his mind.

Shana was speechless, trembling among the crowd.

“Who is he?”

What is he asking me? What have I discovered?

“How does he know my name?”

Terrified, he finally retreated back to the Temple of Fire Protection.

Shana stared at the mural “The Lost Kingdom,” dazed as if his soul had left him.

A voice within screamed that he must remember everything and find the city in the painting.

“Find it!”

“At any cost!”

“Enter that place.”

As his fear subsided, Shana suddenly understood.

He had received divine guidance for the first time.

“This is divine guidance!”

“It is the divine guiding me, showing me the way.”

Shana clenched his fist and whispered, “It truly exists. Divine guidance is real.”

Shana studied the mural “The Lost Kingdom,” committing every detail to memory.

He had heard of the mural’s creation. It was born from a divine vision witnessed by the great scholar Gwen while sailing along the edge of Thunder Marsh and created with Master Breman.

“Thunder Marsh.”

“It’s in Thunder Marsh.”

Shana had found his first objective, though he knew little of the wider world.

He needed a guide.

He immediately thought of Camon. Though the money-grubbing fellow seemed unreliable, their brief encounter suggested he had a sense of honor.

At least he was more trustworthy than complete strangers.

Brave Adventurer Inn.

Shana entered the inn and easily spotted Camon.

He stood out as the most eye-catching figure in the inn, like a protagonist in the spotlight.

He stood on a table, regaling others with tales of his exploits.

“Just the other day, I took down another bandit. He had claimed twenty-three lives and had the sick habit of drinking human blood. They called him the Blood-Thirsty Bandit.”

“When I got there, he was over a helpless man, drinking his blood like a beast!”

“I didn’t waste any time. I took him down with one strike.”

Camon gulped his wine, his face flushed as he continued.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“That poor soul was truly unlucky. Had he met me earlier, he might have survived.”

“Earlier, when I killed that infamous Gusido, I saved an ignorant noble boy who ventured out with nothing but a thread of a sword.”

“That boy was luckier than most. I…”

Seeing Camon about to boast and cast him as a sidekick, Shana interrupted.

Shana immediately called, “Camon!” halting him.

Camon spotted Shana and burst into laughter.

“Look!”

“That ignorant noble boy has come to thank me, to thank the great me for saving his life.”

Proudly, Camon jumped down from the table and walked with Shana to a quiet corner of the inn.

“Kid! What brings you here?”

Shana noted the indelible bloodstains on Camon’s clothes and his unabashed expression.

“Do you enjoy killing?”

“Is that why you became a mercenary?”

Camon raised his cup, spilling a bit of wine.

“No!”

“I love the rush when everyone cheers after I kill the bad guys.”

“At that moment, I feel like someone important.”

Camon said, “Everyone has a reason for being, and each of us is on a journey to find it.”

Although Shana usually disliked crude folks, he found Camon strangely acceptable.

Perhaps it was because, beneath his rough exterior, he had a depth of insight beyond the ordinary.

A person’s wisdom comes not only from books but also from the places they’ve seen.

Shana called out steadily and curiously, “Camon, you’ve traveled far and wide, haven’t you?”

Camon readily agreed, “Of course!”

“Which city in Suinhor haven’t I seen? I’ve ridden Land Dragons across the Herdsman’s Plain, chased waves across the sea, and reached the ports of the Land of Sunrise.”

“I’ve seen the frozen plateaus and northern wastelands, watched Wing Demons cross the ice plains, and witnessed their conquest of the skies.”

“I’ve also seen the sun rise from the edge of the world at sea, bathed in the first light of dawn.”

Shana listened to Camon’s boast, and since no one contradicted him, he began to believe Camon’s tales.

Even if not as extensive as claimed, he surely had experiences beyond ordinary people.

Shana said, “I want to pay you to take me somewhere.”

Camon emptied his cup in one gulp and asked, “Where to?”

Firmly, Shana replied, “Thunder Marsh.”

Camon studied Shana for a moment, lost in thought.

“Sounds good. I’ve wanted to go there for ages,” Camon said.

“I’ve heard it has the most beautiful scenery in the world, where even boats can take to the sky.”

“I have crossed seas and traversed oceans, yet never soared in the sky.”

Seeing that he had convinced Camon, Shana smiled and asked, “So you agree?”

Camon’s face was red, his smile seemingly genuine.

“How much will you pay?”

The next day, Shana and Camon set out. Once they agreed on the price, Camon proved far more efficient than the noble youth.

Pulling and dragging, he led Shana out of the City of Fire Protection, and together they headed toward Thunder Marsh.

As planned, they would first head east to catch a ship to the Land of Sunrise, then travel on to Thunder Marsh.

That night, they camped in the wilderness.

By the campfire, Shana rubbed his hands, imagining the wonders of the Land of Sunrise and Thunder Marsh.

“What is the Land of Sunrise like?”

Camon waved his hand and said, “Didn’t I tell you? It’s a place with far too many rules.”

Shana asked, “Have you seen any alchemists?”

Camon pulled out his greatsword and said, “See this? My sword was forged by an alchemist from the Land of Sunrise.”

Shana glanced at the ugly sword and asked, “What did you ask for? How could an alchemist forge a sword like this?”

Camon gestured broadly and replied, “Just three requirements.”

“Heavy, durable, unbreakable.”

Shana remarked, “It’s just plain ugly.”

Camon shrugged and said, “A sword’s meant to keep you alive, not to win beauty contests. Why waste time making it pretty?”

Shana conceded that Camon had a point, though who wouldn’t prefer a handsome sword over a big, black lump of iron?

The two conversed happily, despite coming from vastly different worlds. One was a blank slate, and the other had traveled seas and mountains.

Yet, somehow, they were remarkably compatible.

Shana even felt it was one of those fated encounters from a story.

Adventure, guidance, friendship.

Their paths intertwined, leading to unforeseen adventures and growth.

Isn’t that how it should be?

Shana and Camon sat around the fire when suddenly a rushing wind sounded from the sky.

Something passed overhead in the darkness.

Shana looked up and saw a silver figure soaring through the moonlit clouds.

In the moonlight, the figure gleamed silver.

Close up, its elegant form and streamlined wings became clear.

Shana stood up immediately and asked Camon beside him.

“Look, do you know what that is?”

Camon had noticed it too, “Something that flies?”

“I only know that Wing Demons can fly.”

“They say that when everything began, the Life Sovereign first created us and then the flying Winged People.”

Shana asked, “But shouldn’t the Winged People be extinct by now? And they don’t even look like that, do they?”

Camon shook his head and said, “I’ve never heard of such a being.”

Shana watched as the silver-winged flying dragon disappeared into the deep clouds.

He felt hopeful, believing it was a divine sign guiding him.

“It’s a good omen.”

“It foretells an extraordinary journey, a truly great adventure,” he said.

Camon asked, “So, are you heading to Thunder Marsh just to look around, or is there something specific you’re after?”

Shana said nothing, simply pulling a blanket over himself.

He prepared to rest, conserving his energy for the journey ahead.

Dream Realm.

Within the Gate of Spirituality.

The Sea of Spirituality stirred with waves, while the sky became an endless sea of clouds.

Duma lived above the cloud sea, like a true angel.

Now, she observed the scenery of Ruhe Beast Island.

The silver-winged flying dragon had crossed the Storm Sea, linking Duma with Ruhe Beast Island.

She used the silver-winged flying dragon to observe the realm of the gods, learning secrets she never knew.

Perspective determines everything.

Blind arrogance and wild speculation about divine beings only invite disasters unbearable to mortals.

Duma and the Winged People understood this well.

“Blood Progenitor, God of Alchemy.”

“And the Dream Sovereign, possessor of miraculous power.”

Duma now knew the titles of two more demigods and another sovereign-level being.

Just as she had imagined, Ruhe Beast Island was unimaginably vast, hiding countless secrets.

Here, relics left by divine beings abounded, traces of sovereign existence and signs of divine intervention everywhere.

Here, divine beings walked the earth.

Here, messengers from the Creator’s realm descended in person.

Because of this, the Snake People built such a civilization in just over a thousand years.

“The gods emerged from here. Everything began here.”

Duma could tell that the Lord of Radiance had left something in this land of gods as well.

The silver-winged flying dragon soared over the cloud sea and entered the most prosperous southern region of the Snake People.

This time, Duma wished to observe Suinhor’s capital.

The City of Fire Protection.

The silver-winged flying dragon looked down upon the earth, where a single fire glowed in the darkness.

Two Snake People sat by a campfire, their eyes fixed on the silver-winged flying dragon.

Duma ignored them, but within the Gate of Spirituality, something stirred.

The Sea of Spirituality surged with giant waves, massive water beasts leapt from it, and schools of transparent Ancestral Fish flashed their shadows.

From the depths of the vast Sea of Spirituality, the Lord of Radiance inexplicably called out that name once more.

“Bar… row…”