How insignificant an individual is.

I had known that truth since the brutal Age of War began. I lamented as young men like stars died in wars fought for petty convictions and causes. Swords, spears, shields. Beneath torrents of arrows, radiant lives crumbled. Historians recorded their deaths in brief, hastily scrawled lines. Less than a handful of wheat and moldy bread. That was the price of their lives.

After the young men drowned in blood and died, there was no one left to fight, and at last even women and children were conscripted into war. Children who had once played at sword fighting with branches now died on the dirt clutching bloodstained weapons. Enraged by their parents' deaths, children took up swords and spears to kill other children. Enraged by their children's deaths, old mothers and fathers dragged their broken bodies onto the battlefield. Those countless deaths held no glory, no fierce duels, no honor.

What were these deaths for? What were these lives for? What was all this killing for? Swords, spears, shields—what had the blood they scattered left behind? I still could not understand.

"Cough."

Vanfleet, a young man with beautiful blond hair who sang of love, died at seventeen when a stray arrow struck him. His voice had been exceptionally fine. He had shyly told me that once this war ended, he would confess his love to a girl with lovely red hair.

"Ghk."

Emily, a nine-year-old girl who always gave away her share of wheat, killed two girls younger than herself, then took her own life. She had smiled so brightly as she said that someday she would try the Empire's sweet dessert called cake. Instead of tangy strawberry jam, she died with boiling, bloody froth in her mouth, her eyes wide open.

"... Khff, khk."

The light of countless stars faded. Unable even to sparkle, they were obscured by thick darkness and finally vanished from the world. I cannot accept this age. I cannot accept the ends of the young people swept away by it, the radiant children, the kindly smiling elders. I cannot accept such an unreasonable outcome. I cannot reconcile myself to the answer the world has offered...

All those who should have shone became components of war. Stars with hopes of their own were stripped of their free will, made into blades, and hurled away. Fighting others who had been hurled away just like them, they broke and disappeared. Without leaving anything behind in this world.

"Enough."

That was why I longed for the Age of Stars.

Not this dreadful age in which shining people disappeared one by one, but a time when they sang of love and peace, laughing together. I yearned desperately for it.

"... Please, stop now."

Yet however grand my convictions, I was ultimately no more than an individual. The blade I held could not change the world. Never mind the world—it could not even drive off an army, a mere gathering of humans. An individual is insignificant. Far too small to bring an age of madness to a halt...

I was a small being.

I confronted the legions that had come to trample our land, resolved to sing my anger to them, but my battle meant nothing. The great army's numbers did not diminish. I displayed no extraordinary martial prowess. I merely cut down a few insignificant soldiers, sustained a fatal wound in the process, and could no longer swing my sword. Just like so many young men in the Age of War.

Now they would advance.

Into our land.

And extinguish the stars.

And stain it with war.

"What are you fighting so hard for?"

The man who appeared to command the great army asked me. I saw myself reflected in his eyes. A blood-soaked body. Mangled, torn limbs, hands too ruined to grasp even a piece of wood, let alone a sword. Yes, my life was flickering out. Like countless other lives.

"You know, don't you? Fighting like this will change nothing."

"... Cough."

"This world has gone mad. In this age of madness, we have all come too far already. Kill or be killed... We have no choices left but those."

The man commanding the great army looked despondent.

The army standing behind him was no different.

This was the truth of the Age of War that so many monarchs and leaders exalted as an 'age of glory.' A terrible age in which no one could smile. A world where nothing of worth remained, only ashes...

"Burn yourself up in sacrifice like this, and you will still change nothing. In the end, everyone will have to take up swords and spears, and everyone will become the same. The innocence of those you tried to protect will be stained with the blood of the Age of War, and in the end, all of you will return to dust together. At the point of a blade."

"..."

"Accept it now. This is how we all disappear. The nine goddesses and seven chief gods have decreed this continent's end. To remove the seven foolish races, blinded by greed, from this beautiful land..."

I slowly looked at the general.

"Perhaps, you are right."

"..."

"But I cannot stand by, and watch humans as beautiful as stars disappear. I remember a world filled with beautiful humans, a peaceful world, shining like a realm of stars."

"..."

"An age when people did not live for something as paltry as war. When each burned, themselves for what they loved and wanted, ran until their bodies broke, and shone. An age when no one mocked those strug, gling to shine, but gladly applauded and cheered... That age, when people sang of peace, and love before campfires at night."

My world swayed.

But I did not fall.

"The stars, will not disappear."

"..."

"Ah, how happy we were in the age when we could look at the starry heavens, and read a map of the roads we could, and must, travel. And how happy we were when starlight lit, those roads so brightly."

I might stagger, but I had no intention of yielding.

Never.

"You, may trample us and burn our land. Even so, our will shall not disappear. Even so, the flame I kindled shall not go, out, and the light of the stars shall not fade."

"..."

"Even if I die here, the Age of Stars will not end."

Standing firm, I felt death slowly approaching.

"Even if my light goes out here, someone will inherit the flame. That, person will once again lead the lost from the very front. As a lantern."

With those final words, I died.

And...

"... Ah."

When I opened my eyes, I was a hazy specter. A spirit without a body. An earthbound ghost unable to depart for the gods' side because I still had attachments to this world. Before me stood a small boy dressed in royal dragon robes. A boy whose eyes shone like stars.

"F-founding Ancestor, I pay my respects."

The boy resembled me.

.

.

.

"Hah."

I opened my closed eyes and released the breath I had held. The breath flowing from my mouth was as hot as a tongue of flame. The world before me gradually sharpened. Intensely vivid.

'Keep it under as much control as possible.'

I still had not fully digested 「Lantern」. Ignoring the sword's memories welling up chaotically in my mind, I focused on the reality before my eyes. A black fighter appeared beyond that vivid world. Threatening 「paths」 unfolded, and I thrust my sword between them.

And—

"...!"

The charging fighter twisted just short of my sword's tip and escaped danger. That movement was unnaturally fast, and bizarre.

Yes.

「Hmm.」

That was not a movement a human could make.

「That one's Beastfolk.」

The fighter who had entered through the window crouched with both hands and feet planted on the ground. Like a beast walking on all fours.

* * *

Beastfolk.

Beasts that had evolved under the influence of Mana to resemble humans. They inherited some of their ancestral beasts' appearance, along with those beasts' traits. Thus, when fighting Beastfolk, the first priority was to determine their species.

'But that's impossible right now.'

The Martial Limits Duel's equipment did not merely conceal faces and body contours. It hid every distinguishing feature in pitch black. That left very little I could deduce.

'A stance like an animal on all fours. The type that doesn't use blades? A martial artist like a Monk would be trouble.'

All Beastfolk were born with explosive physical abilities. Their innate physical prowess rivaled that of monsters. But their true weapon was not a sturdy body.

「If that one's an unarmed martial artist, this will be the worst possible matchup.」

Their roots lay in beasts.

As such, every Beastfolk was born with combat instincts that were by far the finest among all seven races. In addition, they possessed eyes that could see 「Blood Paths」. A special power granted only to them. Its details were unknown, but the world often defined 「Blood Paths」 as follows.

「Those beast bastards are a real fucking pain.」

The power to find a way to survive even if the sky fell.

"..."

I stood motionless with my sword trained on the fighter. There was no reason to move first. My opponent stayed in place as well. And so two fighters faced each other without moving. Others might find it boring, but for those involved, the standoff was suffocating. That confrontation, which seemed likely to last forever, was broken by an outside factor.

"What the hell, why are there two of you in here—"

SQUEAK

The door opened. The fighter who entered drew a weapon the instant they encountered the two of us facing off inside. An enormous axe. A brutal weapon, but not a blade well suited to indoor use.

'Fuck.'

That fighter's arrival put me at a disadvantage. The Beastfolk fighter had come through the window, while I had been waiting near the room's door. In other words, I had suddenly ended up sandwiched between two fighters.

"Whew—"

Clicking my tongue, I abandoned 「Lantern」 and drew another sword. 「Lantern」 was not especially efficient for fighting multiple enemies alone. Besides, didn't I have another blade perfectly suited to this situation? Then I should use it.

『I was a breath of wind.』

I lowered my body, then spun once, sweeping the floor with my sword's tip. At the same time, the surrounding 「paths」 began to writhe. The power to tangle every flow however it pleased—that was 「Gale」's arcane power.

"This is a fucking freebie—"

The fighter who had entered through the door swung the axe at me in a wide arc. Normally, an axe could not unleash its full power in such a cramped space. There wasn't enough room to swing it. But the fighter swung without caring about that. It wasn't out of stupidity.

「That reminds me of a saying. If force can't solve something, consider whether you're simply not using enough.」

It was because the fighter had enough strength.

'Fuck.'

CRACK

The axe blade smashed through the wooden wall and flew toward my head. Watching the approaching edge, I made a short slash through empty air. The small whirlwind I had stirred up swallowed the surrounding flows and became a 'Gale.'

"...?"

A fierce wind blew. Immediately afterward, the swinging axe blade shot upward at a bizarre angle and struck the ceiling instead.

CRUMBLE

Fragments of ceiling fell. Before those fragments touched the floor, the other fighter moved. The Beastfolk.

"Hoo—."

I inhaled, replenishing my depleted Mana. 「Gale」 demanded far too much of it. If my mana heart had not possessed the properties of steel, my heart would have burst and I would have dropped dead long ago. Enduring the dizziness washing over me, I summoned Gale once more. The Beastfolk's path, which had been heading straight toward me, bent into a curve leading toward the floor.

"—?!"

The whirlwind swept through once. The next moment, the charging Beastfolk's head slammed into the floor. With one opponent halted, I turned toward the one approaching with the axe.

"You bastard, using some weird power—"

I drew on 「Gale」 again. Once more, the axe veered in the wrong direction. As the fighter swore, I leaped high and vaulted over them. Did I launch a surprise attack from my advantageous position behind them? No.

Because...

'Who would that help?'

Using this one would make things easier for me.

Now I was closest to the door, and the brute with the axe stood in the middle. Which meant...

"───!"

I had a chance to foist the Beastfolk fighter onto someone else.

'I can move elsewhere while that one holds out. No reason to waste time here. There are still plenty of enemies left, and the fence hasn't shrunk enough yet...'

I made my plan and prepared to move.

It was an efficient, rational course of action.

There was only one thing I hadn't anticipated.

"Playing cheap tricks... Ghk."

The Beastfolk's combat prowess.

"..."

THUD

Immediately after that sound, the hand of the Beastfolk, who had pounced like an animal, pierced the axe-wielding fighter's chest. Bone and flesh broke with horrifying ease. Alongside those chilling noises, the impacts erupted one after another. It sounded almost like someone playing an instrument. Rhythmic, vigorous, and resounding. The next moment, red blood and chunks of flesh sprayed before me. Fragments of shattered black armor and helmet flew with them.

「Hoho.」

This had not been a fight between opponents of comparable attainment.

To put it another way, yes...

「This is dangerous.」

That was exactly what would happen if an ordinary person encountered a wild beast in the woods. I remembered a story a hunter had told me when I was young. A terrifying story about a bear that appeared in the forest, tore a person apart, and scattered the pieces everywhere...

'I'm fucked.'

The blood-drenched Beastfolk fighter looked at me.

Both hands and feet were still on the ground like a beast's. It was a viciously intimidating sight. Feeling goosebumps rise on the back of my neck, I pointed my sword at the fighter.

TAP

The instant I leveled my sword, the sound of feet kicking off the floor rang out, and the Beastfolk vanished from sight. The next place the fighter appeared was above me. Moving from floor to ceiling, then ceiling to floor, the Beastfolk appeared as though teleporting. Just as I had done moments ago.

'Learned that already? You're not some clever dog. What the hell...'

I hastily redirected the sword I had been aiming forward. But I was too late.

SMACK

My body jolted violently. The Beastfolk's toes struck my chest. The impact was far too great for a simple kick. Blood filled my mouth and my vision reeled. Barely gathering my wits, I swung my sword. But again, I was too late. The instant that first attack landed, the Beastfolk lowered their body, lay back on the floor as though dancing, and swept a kick along the ground with their toes. The target was my ankle.

'Fuck.'

CRUNCH

My ankle broke. At the same time, my body flew into the air. The instant I lost my balance and lifted off the ground, the beastlike fighter attacked again. Planting both hands on the floor in something like a handstand, the Beastfolk kicked upward from below. An attack unlike anything I had ever seen or heard of. Instinctive violence, free, unpredictable, and unrelenting.

That kick was aimed at my chin. My instincts whispered: if that hits, it's over. If the force of the previous blow struck my chin, I would certainly lose consciousness. Even if I somehow endured it, the moment my helmet lifted and exposed my neck, I was finished. I bit down hard on my lip. Then I inhaled.

Next, I compressed and trapped the breath I had taken in.

"Hup—!"

That was the only way to overcome this crisis.

* * *

The Dragon Sword.

Its original name was 「Lantern」. A blade inhabited by the founding ancestor of the now-fallen peninsula. The sword's former owner, who had fought against a harsh world, had not been extraordinarily powerful. Even though he had attained the rank of 「sword runner」, 'wings' were nothing special in the Age of War. Thus, a man who longed for the stars died powerless.

「Hold it tight, so you never let it go.」

But the will that man had carried—the hero's conviction—did not disappear. The sword he swung for the last time remained in everyone's eyes and hearts. It even captured the hearts of the legions that had come to conquer Han.

"...!"

The power to burn everything one possessed without remainder, producing a flame that shone for a single instant. That was the arcane power contained in 「Lantern」. A sublime sword that could relinquish anything for the sake of what its wielder cherished.

「You remember, don't you? Never inhale more than 'a handful of breath.'」

「Lantern」's arcane power was simple and potent.

It burned all the Mana within the body to break past one's limits for an instant. This arcane power could be applied anywhere. To the eyes to evade an enemy's attack, to the legs to close in on an enemy, or to unleash a supreme sword stroke and cut an enemy down. The problem was that this power was not yet within my reach.

「Don't lose yourself in the sword's memories. You have no wings.」

By its nature, 「Lantern」's arcane power used 'wings' as its sacrifice.

Wings were both proof of being a 「sword runner」 and a form composed of Mana. Thus, this sword's former owner had sacrificed his wings to swing a sword beyond his limits again and again. But I had no wings. If I used 「Lantern」, I would burn through all the Mana that spread through my body like blood vessels, along with all the Mana stored in my 「mana heart」. It was scarcely an exaggeration to say that I would effectively become a dead person for a little while.

Even prepared to die,

I could swing only once.

But...

'This is fucking hard.'

There was a workaround for everything in the world.

「Yes. Keep holding on like that.」

Why had I trained to inhale 'a handful of breath,' then endure and hold it to my limit? My 「mana heart」 could take in far more breath, and a mere handful did not allow it to exert its strength. Yet I had repeatedly trained to inhale only 'a handful of breath.'

The reason was simple.

Without wings, I could not regulate 「Lantern」's arcane power. It invariably exhausted every bit of Mana in my body. No matter how often I tried, the result was the same. So I changed my approach. If it used all my Mana as fuel no matter what I did... couldn't I simply keep only a small amount of Mana in my body to begin with?

If I couldn't make the flame burn small,

couldn't I remove the fuel so that it had no choice but to burn small?

"Hup!"

The handful of Mana trapped within my body heated fiercely.

Yes, just one handful.

But that was enough.

More than enough.

With the sensation that my entire body was burning, my field of vision expanded. Within that broadened world, everything moved slowly. The debris falling from the ceiling, the floating dust, the sole of the Beastfolk fighter's foot.

「Paths」 stretched like blood vessels from my second heart. The Mana circulating through my body along those paths stimulated muscle and bone with burning heat. I heated up from head to toe as though aflame. And the destination of that heated Mana was my right hand.

The instant the arcane power manifested, I released the sword I had been holding in both hands. Instead, I drew a dagger from my thigh with my right. The dagger I carried to make use of 「Fang」. A tiny weapon that could not even scratch armor unless I put proper weight behind it. The moment the Beastfolk saw me discard my sword and draw the dagger, their body flinched.

Normally, not reacting would have been natural.

After all, a hastily drawn dagger could not pierce iron armor at this distance. Common sense said that discarding one's original weapon for a dagger was a meaningless struggle. Yet the Beastfolk fighter was trying to retreat, abandoning the advantage and even ruining their stance. It was probably because of that special ability that bordered on cheating. 「Blood Paths」. I didn't know what those eyes could see, but a powerful warning of danger must have sounded.

Well.

『I did not care if I became ashes.』

『I could burn away my insignificant body and soul as much as necessary.』

It was too late anyway.

『As much as necessary.』

The dagger traced a curve.

SPLASH

Blood sprayed.

The Beastfolk fighter had hastily pulled back and now crouched near the window, glaring at me. My hand was drenched in hot blood. Shaking it off, I looked at the floor.

"... You really are damn good at running away."

There lay the Beastfolk fighter's left leg. A leg cleanly severed from the torso.

* * *

「Name: Lantern」

「A treasure passed down through the royal house, inhabited by the founding ancestor of Han.」

「Contains the arcane power of combustion.」

「- Burns all Mana within the body without remainder to surpass one's limits.」

「- For a 'sword runner,' consumes one pair of wings per use.」

.

.

.

「Digestion is in progress.」