The wind blew softly through the trees as the once motionless body of Levy lay on the ground, lifeless and broken. His pulse was faint, his breathing shallow, and the once mighty aura that surrounded him had all but faded. Only the flicker of the memories from his past life remained, burning faintly within him.
As his body began to succumb to the overwhelming pain, a small light shimmered faintly around his chest—a reminder of the gift he had been given by the elder of Engrasia. In his near-death state, Levy's mind flashed back to that day, standing before the elder in a quiet, humble village.
“You will need this, young warrior. Use it only when you have nothing left—when death is certain, and hope is lost,” the elder had said, his ancient eyes gleaming with the weight of countless battles and lives lived.
“What is it?” Levy had asked, staring at the small, glowing crystal the elder held before him.
“A gift. A token of our gratitude. It will restore what has been taken from you—but be warned, it comes with a cost. When you are on the verge of death, only then will this gift save you, but it will also awaken the depths of your power. Use it wisely.”
Levy had taken the crystal, not thinking much of it at the time. Now, in his near-death state, the elder’s words rang clearly in his mind.
With his last ounce of strength, Levy reached for the pendant around his neck. The crystal, faintly glowing, pulsed against his fingers. It was his only hope.
“Elder… I need you now…” Levy whispered weakly, his voice barely audible. He tightened his grip around the pendant, and as if answering his call, the crystal shattered into a thousand shimmering particles, enveloping him in a radiant light.
His body convulsed, and the air around him began to vibrate with raw energy. His skin tingled as the energy seeped into his muscles, repairing his broken bones and torn flesh. His once-weak pulse surged back to life, stronger than ever before. His wounds closed, and in their place, a fierce, untamed power emerged.
Suddenly, Levy's eyes snapped open, glowing with an otherworldly light.
Far away, on the outskirts of the battlefield, Ela and Lucy were sprinting through the dense forest, chasing Yuan as he made his way toward the human country. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they tried to close the distance between them and the leader of the dark elves. However, something stopped them in their tracks.
A wave of power, unlike anything they had felt before, crashed over them like a tidal wave. It was so overwhelming that Ela stumbled, barely catching herself before hitting the ground.
“Did you feel that?” Lucy’s voice was breathless, her eyes wide with shock.
Ela’s heart pounded in her chest. “It’s Levy… That power… It’s him. He’s alive.”
“How can he be alive after—”
“I don’t know, but that energy is coming from him. We need to go back.”
“But what about Yuan?” Lucy asked, her voice hesitant.
Ela clenched her fists, torn between the urgency of stopping Yuan and the strange, unstoppable power radiating from Levy. “Yuan can wait. We need to make sure Levy’s okay first. This might be our only chance.”
Back at the battlefield, the light surrounding Levy slowly faded, revealing a figure that no longer seemed human. His muscles rippled with energy, his once shattered wooden swords now glowing faintly in his hands. His aura, which had been dim and weak before, now blazed with such intensity that it seemed to distort the very air around him.
He took a deep breath, feeling the surge of strength within him. A new skill—one he hadn’t known before—rippled through his body: Desperate Healing. He could feel it working, restoring him whenever he approached the edge of death. This wasn’t just a second chance—it was a power that would save him when everything else failed.
Levy’s lips curled into a determined smile. “So, this is what the elder meant…” he muttered to himself.
Just then, a rustling in the bushes nearby caught his attention. Emerging from the shadows were several low-level beasts, drawn by the chaos of the battle. Their glowing eyes were fixed on Levy, sensing the raw power that now emanated from him.
“Come on, then,” Levy growled, gripping his glowing wooden swords tightly. “Let’s see if you can handle this.”
The beasts lunged at him, but Levy was faster—far faster than before. With a single, swift motion, his swords cut through the air, and the beasts were dispatched effortlessly. Each swing of his blade was precise and deadly, imbued with the newfound strength flowing through him.
But as he fought, his mind remained sharp, thinking of what lay ahead. Yuan. The Core Stone. The fate of the human country. He couldn’t waste any more time here.
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the human country, the streets were filled with a sense of eerie calm. The citizens went about their daily routines, completely unaware of the approaching threat.
Within the city walls, a group of human soldiers gathered at the gates, their armor clinking as they stood guard. They had heard whispers of unrest beyond the borders, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary yet.
Then, the ground began to tremble. The soldiers exchanged confused glances, and one of them peered over the city walls.
In the distance, a dark shadow loomed, growing larger and larger as it approached. At first, they thought it was a storm, but soon they realized it was something much worse.
“The beasts…” one of the soldiers gasped. “They’re coming.”
A horde of dark creatures surged toward the city, their eyes glowing with hunger and malice. Leading the charge was Yuan, his cloak billowing behind him as he rode atop a massive, winged beast. His eyes gleamed with malevolence as he surveyed the unsuspecting human city below.
“They have no idea what’s coming,” Yuan sneered to himself, his voice dripping with contempt. “Fools. They think their walls will protect them.”
As Yuan and his army of beasts drew closer, the once-calm city erupted into chaos. Citizens screamed and ran for shelter, while the human soldiers scrambled to prepare for the attack.
“Sound the alarm!” one of the captains shouted, his voice frantic. “We’re under attack!”
Bells rang out across the city, echoing through the narrow streets as the human soldiers rushed to their posts. Archers lined the walls, their bows drawn and ready, while swordsmen took up positions at the gates.
But Yuan was unfazed. He raised his hand, and the beasts roared in response. With a single, chilling command, he unleashed them upon the city.
The first wave of beasts crashed into the city walls, their massive claws tearing through stone and wood. Arrows flew through the air, striking the creatures, but for every one that fell, two more took its place.
Inside the city, the citizens cowered in their homes, praying for protection as the beasts tore through the streets. The sound of battle echoed through the air—swords clashing, beasts roaring, and humans crying out in fear.
Yuan, watching from a distance, smiled coldly. “Soon, the Core Stone will be mine, and this world will belong to the dark elves.”
Levy, sensing the growing chaos in the distance, knew what he had to do. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time. The human country was under attack, and he had to stop Yuan before it was too late.
With a determined expression, Levy tightened his grip on his swords and began to move. His body, fully restored, felt stronger than ever. The energy from the elder’s gift surged through him, giving him the power he needed to face whatever lay ahead.
“Yuan,” Levy muttered under his breath. “I’m coming for you.”
As he sped through the forest, heading toward the human country, the ground trembled beneath his feet. His aura blazed brightly, a beacon of hope in the growing darkness.
Far ahead, Yuan stood at the heart of the chaos, watching as his beasts wreaked havoc on the city. He felt untouchable—invincible.
But then, something changed.
Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he felt a powerful, unfamiliar presence approaching from the distance. It was a force unlike anything he had felt before, and it was coming straight for him.
“What… is this?” Yuan muttered, his heart skipping a beat.
In the distance, through the thick smoke and chaos of the battlefield, a single figure emerged—Levy, his swords glowing with power, his aura burning like the sun.
Yuan’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of doubt.
Levy was alive—and he was coming for him.