“Gaius, I won’t forgive such insolence you’ve created!” the nobleman declared, blocking Gaius’s hammer strike arcing down from the sky with a dome of intertwining trees, their branches forming an impenetrable shield.

  “You know such a thing couldn’t stop me.” Gaius said, gritting his teeth as the defensive ability forced him back. Without hesitation, he surged forward, his massive warhammer crashing down in fierce, relentless strikes, each one aiming to shatter his opponent’s defenses.

  Suddenly, countless soldiers from the classes of rangers and knights surged forward, surrounding Gaius in a coordinated assault. Rangers launched a barrage of arrows and bolts, their tips laced with thorny, poisonous veins, while knights brandished their spears, lunging in calculated precision.

  Gaius’s eyes flared with a vivid, violent green, the glow consuming his brown irises and radiating through his body. A verdant aura enveloped him, roots of trees spiraling from the energy to intercept every attack, twisting and weaving with surgical accuracy.

  “Finally using those class abilities of yours, yeah, Duxe?” Gaius taunted, a sharp grin splitting his face. “You should know that I, Gaius, have survived countless wars far worse than these cheap tricks.”

  “I admit that.” the nobleman said, his tone cold and deliberate, “but arrogance like yours will be your undoing, you lowly merc.” His body began to shift, transforming as ornate armor fitting for a Duxe Class Commander encased him in shimmering metal.

  At his whistle, an armored horse thundered into view, leaping across the rooftops with remarkable grace to reach its master. Mounting the steed, the nobleman summoned a gleaming lance, the weapon crackling with latent energy. His soldiers fell into formation, encircling Gaius with military precision.

  “Must it come to this, old friend?” Gaius asked, his voice heavy with regret.

  “Friend?” the nobleman spat, his tone laced with disdain. “We may have fought side by side in wars past, but never once did I consider a lowly mercenary like you my equal. You dare frame me for kidnapping and attack me without warning, and now you call me ‘friend’? Don’t make me laugh, Gaius!”

  “You still won’t admit it, even now…” Gaius muttered, his expression hardening. “Duxe Orleanne, if that’s how it must be, then we’ll fight to the death. Only the victor shall emerge as the true bearer of truth.”

  “By the rule of the Almighty… let this war begin!” Gaius roared, his voice echoing through the manor grounds.

  “Fine!” Orleanne replied, his voice equally commanding. “I, Duxe Orleanne, have no part in the kidnapping. By the rule of the Almighty, I shall execute you for your false accusations. Only the victorious shall claim the truth.”

  As their declarations rang out, a Diviner materialized between them, draped in majestic white robes threaded with gold. His presence exuded authority.

  “The declaration of war between both sides has been accepted by the king. Lignivallum is now declared a warzone.” the Diviner intoned, his voice carrying an otherworldly resonance before he vanished into thin air.

  Moments later, a telepathic warning reverberated through the minds of every citizen in Lignivallum:

  “Attention, all citizens of Lignivallum. A war has been declared between Duxe Orleanne’s faction and the Mercenary Guild led by Gaius. Please evacuate to safety.”

  “This is awful…” one citizen whispered in despair.

  “A war… haven’t we suffered enough from losing our child?” another muttered as they hurried their to safety.

  Bang!

  The thunderous sound of battle erupted from Orleanne’s manor. Gaius swung his colossal warhammer at the Duxe, cutting through the soldiers’ formation with raw, unyielding force. Despite being surrounded, the Mercenary Chief tore through his foes like a storm.

  “Sorry for being late, Chief!” a veteran mercenary called out, leaping into the fray to engage the soldiers.

  “The Chief rushed in too fast! Did you see how monstrous his jump was?!” another mercenary shouted, sprinting into the chaotic melee.

  “You’re just too slow, yeah?” a weapon-master mercenary quipped, flipping backward as she hurled knives with deadly precision into the advancing soldiers.

  “Oh, I almost forgot about you guys.” Gaius said, his grin widening as he continued his onslaught.

  “That’s cruel, Chief! Leaving us out of the fun.” one mercenary quipped, dodging an arrow mid-sentence.

  “Well, if Baldric were here, he’d be the one saying that.” Gaius replied, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face.

  “No way! He’d say something more like, ‘You can’t leave me behind just because I’m bald now, Chief!’” the mercenary said, mimicking their missing comrade’s voice with exaggerated enthusiasm.

  “That guy’s a clown, but he wasn’t a bad one.” Gaius said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Out of everyone, he was the best tracker we had. I’ve got a feeling he uncovered something about the kidnapping case. Him going missing only means one thing—they either caught him or silenced him for good.”

  “You lowly born, dare chit-chat while fighting us?!” Duxe Orleanne’s voice boomed, his tone dripping with fury.

  The clamor of battle intensified, with steel clashing and the air vibrating with the ferocity of exchanged attacks.

  Duxe Orleanne charged forward on his steed, his lance glinting menacingly as it shot towards Gaius like a lightning bolt. Gaius raised his warhammer just in time to block, but the impact was immense, sending him hurtling backward off the balcony.

  Gaius landed with feline grace, feet firmly planted on the ground. But the Duxe gave him no reprieve, thundering down from above with relentless thrusts of his lance.

  Patiently, Gaius waited for the right moment, parrying and blocking each strike with precision. The Duxe’s attacks grew faster and more ferocious, coming from every angle as he maneuvered on horseback.

  His soldiers joined the assault, launching sharp wooden stakes imbued with energy toward Gaius. However, the mercenaries rallied to their leader’s defense, intercepting the projectiles with practiced skill.

  “Don’t worry, Chief! Just focus on your battle!” one mercenary shouted, deflecting a spear aimed at Gaius’s flank.

  “What’s wrong, Gaius? Nothing left in you? Can’t do anything, can you?” Duxe Orleanne taunted, his lance grazing Gaius’s shoulder with a sharp thrust.

  Gaius only grinned, his hammer moving with the steady rhythm of someone calculating every move.

  Then, as another thrust came hurtling toward him, Gaius sprang into action. Timing his swing perfectly, he struck the lance with his hammer, sending it spiraling out of the Duxe’s grasp. The nobleman faltered, momentarily off-balance.

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  The Duxe, quick on his feet, leaped from his horse with a warrior’s agility.

  “Sorry, buddy, but you’ve gotta go.” Gaius muttered, bringing his hammer up in a powerful arc. The strike sent the horse flying, the poor beast collapsing motionless on the ground.

  “You dare kill my horse!” the Duxe roared, his face contorted with rage.

  “It was a good horse. I’m sorry, yeah? But don’t worry—I’ll send you to the same place I sent him.” Gaius said, his voice laced with grim resolve.

  “You lowly pricks!” Duxe Orleanne growled, his eyes blazing with violent green light.

  He raised a hand to the sky, and emerald particles began to coalesce around him, swirling like an ominous storm. With a swift motion, he clenched his fist and gestured toward Gaius.

  A vicious swarm of trees erupted from the ground, their sharpened tips rushing toward Gaius like an unrelenting tidal wave.

  “Everyone, dodge!” Gaius bellowed, leaping high into the air to evade the onslaught. The trees followed him, relentless, but he smashed through them with thunderous hammer strikes.

  Not everyone was as fortunate. Soldiers and mercenaries caught in the attack were impaled, their cries of pain mingling with the chaos of battle. Blood pooled beneath the writhing mass of roots, the aftermath a macabre scene of destruction.

  The attack spared no one, wreaking havoc on both the Duxe’s soldiers and the mercenaries alike.

  “You!” Gaius cried out, his voice thick with anger and grief as he surveyed the carnage.

  “Blame yourself for your weakness.” Duxe Orleanne sneered. “You couldn’t even protect your subordinates.”

  “You killed your own men! You hypocrite!” Gaius roared, his rage burning brighter.

  “Those were necessary sacrifices. This war is what you wanted, Gaius!” the Duxe shot back, his tone unwavering.

  Once again, Orleanne raised his hand to the sky, green particles swirling with an even greater intensity.

  Gaius cast a glance at his bloodied comrades and the wounded soldiers who had miraculously survived the first attack, his grip tightening on his hammer.

  An intense green glow flared in Gaius’s eyes, brimming with unshakable determination.

  From the ground, as if drawing power from the very essence of nature, trees and natural elements swirled toward him, fusing into a massive, nature beast-like armor. The transformation didn’t stop there—Gaius continued absorbing everything natural in his surroundings. Trees, roots, vines, even the earth itself, all converged upon him, causing his form to grow to colossal proportions.

  “No way… Chief… I thought I’d never see this again.” one mercenary muttered, rising shakily from the ground. Despite his shock, a faint smile crossed his face.

  As Gaius’s transformation continued, fallen bodies—both ally and enemy—were drawn into the protective field of his growing form, shielding them from further harm.

  The sheer magnitude of the transformation left everyone stunned. Soldiers on both sides froze, their weapons slackened in disbelief. Even citizens watching from afar stood rooted in place, their faces a mixture of awe and terror.

  “That is… the legendary beast from the old tales.” one citizen murmured, their voice trembling.

  Long ago, it was said that a tree-like beast of immense size had defended the kingdom from the invasions of rival nations and rampaging monsters.

  “The Legendary Tree Beast—Gaia!”

  In his fully transformed state, Gaius let out an earth-shaking roar, the sound reverberating across the battlefield. His glowing eyes locked onto Duxe Orleanne, who stood defiant despite the overwhelming presence towering over him.

  Gaius raised one gigantic hand, the air itself seeming to tremble with its movement, and brought it crashing down toward the Duxe.

  Duxe Orleanne responded with a desperate gesture, unleashing another violent swarm of sharp, spear-like trees. But the attack was futile. Each tree was absorbed into Gaius’s colossal form, their energy feeding the living giant instead of harming it.

  The massive hand struck its target, slamming Duxe Orleanne into the ground with an earth-shattering impact. The Duxe’s body lay still, his consciousness fading into blackness.

  Gaius’s transformation began to dissipate, his towering form shrinking as the absorbed nature was carefully returned to its original state. Trees were replanted, the earth smoothed, and fallen bodies—handled with remarkable gentleness—were placed back where they had fallen.

  “Our Chief did it!” a mercenary shouted, breaking the tense silence.

  “Woooahhh!” The other mercenaries erupted into cheers, their voices ringing with victory.

  But Gaius didn’t share their enthusiasm. His eyes lingered on the battlefield, where lifeless bodies lay scattered among the survivors. Victory had come at a cost, and the weight of those lost in the conflict hung heavy in the air.

  “The Mercenary Guild, led by Gaius, has won.” the Diviner’s telepathic voice echoed in everyone’s minds, an official pronouncement of the war’s conclusion.

  The Diviner materialized in front of Gaius, their ethereal presence calm but commanding.

  “What do you wish to claim from the loser as the victor of this war?” the Diviner asked.

  “I want to investigate everything about the kidnapping case.” Gaius said firmly. “Whether it’s connected to the Duxe or not.”

  “Is that so?” the Diviner replied with a slight nod. “Very well.”

  The Diviner’s eyes glowed a brilliant white, and in an instant, he vanished. Moments later, he reappeared with an older man in tow, clad in simple yet dignified robes.

  The pair approached the fallen Duxe. The old man knelt beside him, checking his pulse. His own eyes began to glow violet as he forced Orleanne’s eyes open, locking their gazes.

  The old man flinched, his face twisting in shock as he delved into the Duxe’s memories.

  “This is…” he stammered, his voice laden with disbelief.

  “What happened?” Gaius asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “His memories… part of it, they’re gone.” the old man replied, shaking his head in frustration. “It’s as if someone ripped pieces of them away.”

  “This can’t be.” Gaius muttered, his expression darkening.

  The old man sighed, shaking his head again. “I can do no more. Whatever tampered with his mind has left no trace for me to follow.”

  Without another word, the Diviner disappeared with the old man, only to reappear alone moments later.

  “You should investigate that sewer over there.” the Diviner said, pointing toward a distant entrance before vanishing once more.

  “I see…” Gaius muttered, his shoulders sagging slightly in disappointment.

  “Well, I guess we got what we came for, yeah, Chief?” another mercenary said with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood.

  “What’s happening here?” came a gentle, melodic voice.

  Gaius froze for a moment, the familiarity of the voice pulling his attention. He turned toward its source, his gaze softening.

  “Hero Melina! It’s been so long. Why are you here?” Gaius said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His eyes then shifted to the small figure standing beside her—a young boy, charismatic and composed, with his arms crossed confidently. “Oh! So this is your child, yeah?”

  Melina offered a warm smile. “I couldn’t help but notice a massive surge of green energy gathering here—and then I saw you transform into Gaia, Gaius.” she said. “I rushed over, thinking some grave danger must’ve forced your hand.” Her tone shifted as she scooped up the boy beside her, cradling him like a doll. “Isn’t he soooo cute?!” she exclaimed, holding the boy up toward Gaius like a proud parent showing off a prized treasure.

  “Mother, please.” the boy said, his tone exasperated yet tinged with affection.

  Gaius chuckled softly before his face turned serious, recounting the events that had unfolded. He explained the disappearances of children around Kairus’s age, the escalation of tensions, and the battle that had ensued.

  “That’s terrible!” Melina gasped, her gentle demeanor giving way to a fierce protectiveness. “I wouldn’t want anything like that to happen to my precious Kairus!” She clutched the boy’s small hand tightly. “Kairus, stay close to me, okay? Don’t let go!”

  Kairus didn’t protest, his expression calm as he allowed his mother her moment.

  “I’ll help you search for the missing children.” Melina said firmly, her voice resolute. “Kairus, we’re going to assist them, alright?” She knelt down, her eyes meeting Kairus’s. “Hehe, consider this your first mission as a Hero!” she added with a playful grin.

  “Hero?” Gaius asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

  Melina beamed proudly. “Yes! Can you believe it? My Kairus awakened the Hero class when he was only three years old!”

  “At three?!” Gaius exclaimed, his shock evident. He knew Melina wasn’t the type to exaggerate. If she said it, it had to be true. A prodigy, he thought to himself.

  “Yes!” Melina said, puffing her chest slightly with pride. “I was shocked myself, but it’s only fitting for my Kairus.” She ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately.

  Gaius glanced down at Kairus with an approving nod. “It seems you’d get along with R.” he said, a grin spreading across his face.

  “R?” Melina asked, her curiosity piqued.

  “Well…” Gaius scratched the back of his head, searching for the right words.

  “He’s the Chief’s adopted kid.” a nearby mercenary interjected, smirking.

  “Yeah, yeah. Though he’s a bit of a troublemaker,” another chimed in, laughing.

  “Hey! R is a good kid.” Gaius said with mock sternness, earning more laughter from his comrades.

  Melina smiled at the banter but quickly fell silent, her gaze lingering on Kairus. Something tugged at her thoughts, a pang of doubt creeping into her heart.

  Am I failing him as a mother? she wondered silently. Her eyes softened, her grip tightening slightly on Kairus’s hand. Kairus… Kairus has no friends…

  The realization struck her like a blow, and for a brief moment, she looked as if she might cry. But she quickly composed herself, determined to give her son what he needed—companionship, adventure, and maybe, just maybe, a chance to truly connect.