In a world engulfed in darkness, at the edge of the continent where the wind rages, Zion was quietly waiting on the dangerously steep cliff.

Enduring the harsh wind for a while, the horizon beyond the sky became faintly bright with the dawn.

As dawn broke, Zion, holding an old sword, lowered his posture. And as the golden light of dawn raced along the horizon, he waited for the wind to stop momentarily, then swung the dull sword through the air.

With that, the world quickly brightened.

The lightning that started from the tip of Zion’s sword tore through the sky, reaching beyond the horizon, slashing through the heavens and the sea without hesitation. Zion, too, was pushed back into the sky by the recoil.

Then, his companion flew to his side and caught Zion.

Immediately after, a flash occurred on the other side of the sea, and a thunderous sound echoed a moment later.

“Did I hit it?”

Zion surveyed the sea, now returned to its normal colors of gold and blue.

After a while, a watcher who had flown from the temple spoke.

“The typhoon has dissipated. The residual winds will create rain clouds within a week.”

With an ideal report, Zion felt arrogantly satisfied.

He never showed it to his subordinates, but he secretly enjoyed breaking typhoons and tidal waves. The moment predictions matched the results was quite satisfying.

“I wish other matters could be solved this easily.”

However, even in the midst of this, instead of feeling refreshed, Zion couldn’t help but think bleakly.

It’s amusing.

The one who dropped the dragon, the true owner of Tiendavis, and Zion Laurel, who knows the future, couldn’t cleanly resolve a single troublesome problem before him.

There were three reasons for this.

One was the horrific structure of Tiendavis, where everything was entangled, and the second was the various variables created by the deeds committed by that man before he came to Zion.

And thirdly, the worst reason that made it impossible for Zion to breathe freely was the curse of concealment placed on him.

Zion eventually received the memories of that man.

With that, he finally felt relieved.

Relieved that there was a reason behind the man’s twisted behavior.

Although he didn’t like it, he somewhat understood his own future, which was heavily worn and exposed.

But for whatever reason, Zion didn’t want to become like that man. So, he decided to fulfill his duty in contrast to him.

At that time, Zion could gather his resolve.

However, his ignorant father ruined everything.

“Your Excellency!”

Moren urgently rushed into the general’s office.

“Are you alright? Lord Commander has fallen. What happened?”

When Moren asked like this, Zion was half out of it.

His father, until the last moment, looked at him and then threw himself out of the window.

Zion, too, couldn’t help but be shocked by the sight. No matter how much he pretended to be superior and arrogant, he was still a boy.

“Your Excellency, Your Excellency!”
Morren nudged the dazed Zion persistently. Zion, chased by the firm grip of the vice-commander, unintentionally opened his mouth.

No, he tried to open it. He tried to offer an excuse or an explanation. However, for some reason, he couldn’t open his mouth.

‘Words…’

They wouldn’t come out.

He wanted to talk about what had just happened, why his father took his own life. But he couldn’t utter a single word. He couldn’t convey his feelings through expressions or gestures.

Then Morren, clicking his tongue, started examining the traces in the room alone.

Left alone, Zion, in a state of neglect, recalled his father’s last words.

―Forgive me, Zion. Please, release your heart with this.

It felt like his heart was freezing.

No way. No way it happened. After saying such words, he wouldn’t commit another foolish act against him.

Zion hoped it wasn’t true. He prayed that this was just his unfounded speculation.

But that frail hope shattered into pieces a few days later when he met his half-brother who descended after hearing the news.

“Zion…!”

Harden Laurel, appearing with his father’s will, tried to embrace Zion as soon as he saw him.

But Zion coldly blocked his brother’s approach and asked in a chilling tone, “Do you still have what you gave me when I left the castle that day?”

“Your button… Is that what you’re talking about?”

Hardeen answered without understanding his younger brother’s irrelevant question.

“It’s with Father. He asked to see it a few days ago. I haven’t gotten it back yet.”

With that answer, Zion felt his ground shatter once again.

He had hoped it wouldn’t be true, prayed that it wouldn’t be to that extent, but ultimately, his father didn’t betray his son’s expectations. It felt like a sinister monster was scratching at his insides with its claws.

Zion wondered if his brother was involved in this matter. So he tried to ask, but his mouth wouldn’t open.

Fortunately, Hardeen was unrelated to this matter. No, it wasn’t fortunate; it was the worst.