Morning Without Answers
The sky was still pale when Dazai woke up.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Then reality settled in.
He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and stepped down from the first floor. The wooden stairs creaked softly under his feet.
In the living room, Arora had just woken up too. She was tying her hair, still half-asleep.
"Morning, Mom."
She turned, her expression instantly softening.
"Morning, dear."
Dazai stretched and yawned.
"Where's Dad?"
There was a pause.
Just a second—but noticeable.
"…He didn't come last night."
Dazai blinked.
"Oh."
He shrugged lightly.
"He must be on some mission."
Arora nodded.
"…Yeah."
But her fingers tightened slightly.
A Walk Through Ashura
Dazai stepped outside.
The fresh morning air hit his face.
Ashura was waking up—shops opening, people greeting each other, kids running around.
And now—
People noticed him.
"Hey, it's Dazai!"
"Rank 8, right?!"
"That's insane!"
"Tell us about the academy!"
Dazai scratched the back of his head.
"…Later, later."
He kept walking.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a familiar place.
Torus the Blacksmith
The sound of hammer hitting metal echoed.
TANG—TANG—TANG
Dazai leaned on the entrance.
"Yo, Torus."
The hammer stopped.
Torus looked up, sweat on his forehead.
"…Look who's back."
He smirked.
"The town's biggest troublemaker."
Dazai grinned.
"Yeah, yeah. Missed me?"
"Not even a little."
Crafting the Weapons
Dazai walked inside, inspecting the work.
Blades.
Armor.
Tools.
Everything clean. Sharp. Precise.
"You've improved," Dazai said.
Torus shrugged.
"Had to. Old man left me the shop, remember?"
Dazai nodded.
"Make me something."
Torus raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Big shot wants custom gear now?"
"…Two khopesh swords."
Torus paused.
"…Good taste."
"Normal or enchanted?"
"How much?"
"Two gold each."
Dazai winced slightly.
"…Expensive."
"Quality isn't free."
"Fair."
Torus picked up a notebook.
"Material?"
"Iron base. Add lapis lazuli and amethyst."
Torus smirked.
"…Going stylish too, huh?"
Dazai shrugged.
"If I'm fighting, I'll look good doing it."
"Enchantments?"
Dazai thought.
"…Binding Strike."
Torus nodded.
"Clean hit stuns the enemy. Duration depends on impact."
"Exactly."
"Come tomorrow."
"Done."
Chaos at Kaizer's House (Again)
Dazai didn't stay long.
Next stop—
Kaizer.
He didn't even knock.
"YO!"
Inside—
"YO!"
Kaizer appeared instantly.
"Homie!"
"Let's go somewhere."
"I'm in."
No questions.
No thinking.
Just chaos.
Ranger Quarters — The Shift
They laughed and walked through town.
Until—
They reached the ranger quarters.
The mood changed instantly.
People still recognized Dazai.
But this time—
Their smiles were… off.
Dazai frowned.
"…Where's my dad?"
Silence.
Kaizer noticed it too.
"…Yo, what's with the faces?"
Dazai stepped forward.
"Answer me."
A ranger finally spoke.
"…They went on a scouting mission."
"…And?"
"…We haven't had any update for four days."
Dazai froze.
"…What?"
His voice dropped.
"What were you doing then?!"
The ranger flinched.
"We sent a search team."
Dazai clenched his fists.
Then exhaled slowly.
"…Okay."
He turned.
"Let's go."
The Hill Decision
They sat on a quiet hill outside town.
Wind brushing against the grass.
Silence between them.
Kaizer spoke first.
"…We're going."
Dazai shook his head.
"No."
"If we find them, we'll just get in the way."
Kaizer looked at him.
"…Since when do you think like that?"
Dazai stayed quiet.
Kaizer leaned forward.
"Stop acting like you don't care."
"…I do care."
"Then let's go."
Dazai looked down.
Long pause.
"…Who's coming?"
Kaizer smirked.
"Anugus."
"Azlea."
"…Rio."
Dazai nodded slowly.
"…Tomorrow."
Gathering the Team
Azlea's reaction—
Was exactly what you'd expect.
"ARE YOU TWO INSANE?!"
Kaizer pointed at Dazai.
"His dad is missing!"
Azlea pointed back.
"And you think running into danger blindly will fix that?!"
"…Yes."
"…IDIOT!"
She sighed.
"…Fine. I'm coming."
Anugus—
"I owe Arthur."
That's all he said.
Rio—
"…Is it dangerous?"
"Yes."
"…I'm coming."
The Next Morning
Dazai packed his essentials.
Before leaving—
"Mom, I'm going to camp."
Arora smiled.
"Be careful."
"…Always."
He turned and left.
She stood there.
Watching.
Worried.
The Swords
Dazai returned to Torus.
The blades were ready.
Beautiful.
Steel base with streaks of blue and purple.
Faint glow pulsing.
Dazai picked them up.
"…Perfect."
Torus smirked.
"Try not to break them."
"No promises."
The Realization (Idiot Moment)
Azlea crossed her arms.
"So… where are we going?"
Silence.
Dazai and Kaizer froze.
Slowly turned.
"…We forgot."
"…We actually forgot."
Everyone stared.
"YOU WHAT?!"
Speed Run
"Wait here!"
They sprinted.
Full speed.
Dodging people.
Jumping stalls.
Sliding corners.
Arrived at ranger quarters—
"WHERE DID THEY GO?!"
"Hollow Mountain!"
They ran back.
Out of breath.
"…Hollow Mountain."
Silence.
Then—
"YOU WHAT?!"
Azlea grabbed her head.
"That's a PURPLE ZONE!"
Kaizer smiled weakly.
"…Surprise?"
Journey to Hollow Mountain
They still went.
Of course they did.
Cart ride.
Long journey.
Mountains grew closer.
Massive.
Dark.
Alive.
Wyverns circled the sky.
Kaizer looked up.
"…I want one."
Everyone—
"NO."
"…One day."
Camp Night
They set camp.
Collected wood.
Cooked food.
Talked.
Laughed.
It felt normal.
Too normal.
Into the Mountain
Morning.
They entered the caves.
Dark.
Cold.
Echoes everywhere.
They searched for hours.
Nothing.
Finally—
"We split up."
Teams
Team 1: Azlea, Rio, Anugus
Team 2: Dazai, Kaizer
The Fall
The ground shook.
Cracked.
Collapsed.
They fell—
Split again.
🔥 Team 2 — Wyvern Nest
Dazai and Kaizer hit the ground.
Looked up.
Surrounded.
Dozens of wyverns.
Massive.
Dangerous.
Silent.
Kaizer whispered—
"…We're dead."
Pause.
"…But this is AWESOME."
Dazai grinned.
"…Yeah."
🌊 Team 1 — The Lake
Azlea stood up.
"…Everyone okay?"
Rio nodded.
Anugus scanned the area.
Then—
They saw it.
A lake.
Glowing from beneath.
Something was there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Azlea frowned.
"…What is that?"
Anugus narrowed his eyes.
"…Trouble."
End of Chapter
Two teams.
Two dangers.
One mission.
And something deeper—
Was awakening.