Ten years ago, before the Heis Village incident. Right after the annual Warrior sparring event, the participants lost to Lucas in the final. He walks to a field of grass and lies down on the field, "AAAAAAAHHHHH" where he screams with frustration. "I never thought you're the type to lush out such emotion." said the other guy while approaching. He looked toward the sound location "Dēno!!"," It seems like you never change huh, Ray '' said Dēno while smiling. Ray runs towards Dēno and swings his sword towards him, Dēno dodges it "Hey, that's dangerous you know". Ray smiles "Care for a bit sparring" Dēno smiles back, and both start sparring. After a few rounds of sparring, both are tired and lay down on the field.
"So how are you feeling right now?" Dēno asked.
Ray [sigh] "Better, I guess"
Dēno sits up "Come on, it's not the first time you've failed the trial"
Ray "Yeah, but still"
Dēno "You see, I already gave up that thought a long time ago."
Ray "Why?"
Dēno "you see, after failing so many times. In my mind, I think maybe we're not the ones that are destined to save the world. So that's why I gave up on becoming the royal army."
Ray [stay in silence]
Dēno "How about we join the adventure guild, even though it is not as flashy as the royal army. But we'll still be contributing to defeating the Demon King."
Ray in deep thought for a while, stood up and started screaming "AAAA ARRRRGH"
Dēno [in shock] "what so sudden?"
Ray "I have decided, we will join the adventure guild. And be the ones to slay down the Demon King before the Royal Army does." raises his sword and looks at Dēno "We'll prove them wrong".
Dēno smiled. stood up, and raised his Ax, Both Ray and Dēno shouted together "DEFEAT THE DEMON KING!!! AND SAVE THE WORLD!!" Both look at each other and laugh it off. "Mind if I join the world-saving crews" a female voice comes from behind them, both of them look behind and are shocked "LIA!!".
Ray "When did you come back, and what's the occasion?"
"I was tasked to escort the current royal army selection winner to the royal capital," Cornelia replies
Dēno "How many years has it been, since you left the village. Ten, nine years maybe. Glad to see you." walks towards Cornelia and hugs her.
Cornelia [smiles] "Yeah, it's been so long. It's nice to see you guys again."
Dēno "Look at you, have become such a fine lady now. Right, Ray?"
Ray [Mortified] "Arh- mm-, yeah."
Cornelia [laughs] "It seems like the two of you still haven't changed a bit" Cornelia lies on the field.
Ray [sits beside Cornelia] "So how have you been?"
Cornelia "It's great, although I needed to adapt to the new place and many more things."
Ray "When we first heard the news of you leaving the village. Everyone thought you were the Hero that will save the world."
Cornelia [chuckles] "Seems like, I'm not the chosen one."
Dēno "Who cares, you already made it to the top 5 right? 5TH C O M M A N D E R"
Cornelia "Come on don't tease me like that" and the three of them look at each other and laugh out loud. Three of them stand up, "Let's go to the Oldman Ron places, you must miss the taste of the hometown right, Lia?" said Ray. Cornelia is excited "Of course!! It has been so long." Ray smiles "Then let's go" Suddenly there was a loud explosion sound. "What's that sound?" Dēno asked, as the three of them were still confused by the situation "LOOK UP THERE!!" Ray shouted. Dēno and Cornelia look up to the sky "Impossible" Cornelia in disbelief, as the barrier is crumbling. "How's the barrier crumbling? What happened?" said Dēno, and one of the royal armies arrived "Commander Runedelia, the village. Is under attack." after hearing that the three of them immediately rush to the village.
At the Village, where everything is burning down and full of the Skeleton Armies. In the middle of the Chaos, one of the kids trips down and cries. As one of the Skeleton army stands in front of the kid and swings the sword towards the kid. Ray jumps in and parries the sword, while Dēno finishes off the skeleton army. "Are you okay kid?" Ray asked, the kid nodded his head and one of the royal armies escorted the kid to somewhere safe. "What's Happening in here, how come the barrier is broken?" Dēno is still confused by the current situation, "it's not the time to think about that, we need to focus on bringing the villagers to safety. That's our priority." Said Cornelia.
Both Ray and Dēno nodded, Cornelia called one of the royal armies "Tell the Village Chief to process the Transfer Immediately." the royal army "Noted!!" and rushed towards the Village Chief's house. Ray, Dēno, Cornelia, and the royal army try their best to fend off the skeleton armies, but it seems like there's no end to it. "Arghh, there's too many of them." said Dēno "Focus. Dēno," said Ray as he took down one Skeleton Army. On Ray's mind 'Thanks to Lia's Healing blessing, even though we're outnumbered. But still able to hold this long." and looks towards Cornelia who keeps channeling the healing blessing. "Dēno!! Lia is the key victory of this battle, no matter what happens we must protect her." said Ray, "yeah, you can count that on me." Dēno replies with confidence. After hearing that, Cornelia couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly, hooded figures appear behind Cornelia, cross-leg sitting while playing with his dagger "So you're the one, who's making this battle this long." Cornelia was shocked and, in her mind, 'what? Who? And when did he?' But before Cornelia can respond, the hooded figure already launches towards Cornelia to stab her. Dēno appears right between them and swings his axes towards the hooded figure, Ray runs towards Cornelia "Are you alright Lia?" he asks, "Yeah, thanks to Dēno." Cornelia Replies. "What a warm welcome." said the hooded figures in front of them, "what the?" Dēno is confused and looks toward the ax, it only hits the ground.
"I'm pretty sure I hit it," said Dēno.
"More Importantly who or what it is" said Ray while feeling unsure.
"Who are you!!" Cornelia asked the hooded figure.
"Who am I?" the hooded figure chuckles, and he throws the robe off. Revealing a guy with one horn coming out of his head.
"A Demon?!!" Cornelia was shocked.
"Allow me to introduce myself, the name is Arvens, King of the roots." elegantly bow.
"King of the roots?!! Does that mean you're a Demon King?" Ray asked.
"Technically speaking you can say that," Arvens replied and ended with a smile.
"How can a demon infiltrate this place?" Cornelia asked.
"How? Dear Sweetie, hate to break it down for you. Of Course, because we have someone in here to lower the barrier for us." said Arvens and laughed.
The word that Arvens says crosses Ray's mind 'Someone?!! Is there a traitor in our village?!!'
"Everlast!!" said Cornelia, after hearing the word coming from Cornelia, Arvens put up a big smile on his face. Suddenly Dēno launched towards Arvens "Who cares if he was demon king or what, all we need is taking him down right here and now" and fully swung his axe towards Arvens. But once again Arvens dodged the attacks "Come on, don't be so impatient. The real fun is just about to start." said Arvens and ended with a smile.