Blessed Visor

Just because you retired doesn't mean you still don't have the benefits of perfection. It's more of a recognition by fate."

Finderlore and Felix stared into each other's souls, and then Felix gave a powerful punch. Finderlore saw a giant, ancient shadow giving him a blow as well, causing his armor to rupture. Felix went for the finishing blow, slinging his sword and causing the hill, waterfall, and earth to split. Yet, Finderlore remained standing, transforming into a werewolf-like creature. The two engaged in a fierce battle, their speed unseen by the human eye, causing ruptures and disturbances in the air.

Finderlore conjured a branch from the World Tree, its power cracking reality and wrapping around Felix, draining his essence and piercing his blood vessels. Felix stood frozen in shock as blood spilled from his wounds, and he died.

Then, one of the hunters began to shout as he transformed into Felix. He appeared behind Finderlore, pointing a sword at him and telling him to kill the men and leave no evidence or put a slave crest to ensure none escaped.

Finderlore asked why Felix didn't kill him himself. Felix replied that his job was to eliminate any disturbances in the region. "It would be sometime before I head back to the capital, so clean this mess," he said. "Besides, I came to dine with the witch of this forest. And one more thing, it's General Felix. I'm no longer your student, sir."

Suddenly, Finderlore had a flashback of three children: a girl with long, red hair, a boy with green eyes and blonde hair, and a mysterious person with long white hair and braids.

The scene shifted to a flashback of Felix and a boy with white hair, Orion, as they trained under Finderlore's discipline. They were younger and still brimming with youth. Felix looked more like a noble, with short hair, unlike his present appearance. Orion had rougher, longer hair, and a girl with red hair, Maria, was a villager who would often beat them up as she was a hunter before her village was destroyed by a giant.

As the flashback ended, Felix's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination, and he whispered to himself, "How did he earn the title 'Child of the Sword' and one of the 'Swords of the Sword God' with such lazy sword skills?" Felix's figure faded into the fog, and the wind blew the fog away, leaving nothing behind

Felix entered the forest and heard the witch's melody. He whispered to himself, "Orion... hmph... he truly was the child of the vampire queen. Of course, he could defeat me." He wondered if the melody belonged to Ma.

A woman in a pitch-black gown, her long hair blurred by the snow, appeared before Felix. Her gown was filled with stars, and it seemed to contain space itself. Felix was entranced by her beauty..

Meanwhile, David stood at the town gate, and a man wearing a long, crow-like helmet shouted, "The archdemon has awoken!"