Darien Difert's great-grandson, Luke Yeager.
Who could have imagined that the son of the Sword Saint, who had left Basor to an uncertain fate, would raise such a figure in a distant land?
Luke Yeager was a prodigy of terrifying potential. He had enough talent to rekindle the nostalgia for the missing Sword Saint.
'At 18, he mastered the visualization of Vis and joined the Palma Knights. Is the power of lineage truly this formidable?'
He achieved all this without revealing his identity.
The one who discerned Luke Yeager's true identity was the current Palma Commander, Lutus Cicero.
He recognized the swordsmanship of the man he had betrayed at a glance.
Since taking the position of Palma Commander over 20 years ago, he had maintained a lukewarm relationship with the First Prince and had not contacted the Temple at all.
But he was ultimately in the same boat. No matter how much he tried to distance himself, his fate was sealed from the day of betrayal.
"It's unfortunate for the young man who knows nothing."
Ignorance is not a sin. However, sometimes, consequences must be faced without understanding.
As long as he was the heir of the Sword Saint, he could not be left alone.
This time, the Temple was merely observing. The First Prince was the first to seek help, followed by Lutus Cicero.
Luke Yeager was a presence that could shake their solid standing. It was impossible to hide the fact that he was the descendant of the Sword Saint.
Not only his swordsmanship but his appearance also greatly resembled Darien Difert. Although there were few left who had closely seen and remembered the appearance of the Sword Saint.
Lutus Cicero could not bury that fact. The king soon found out, and so did the Second Prince.
What would happen if he sided with the Second Prince as the heir of the Sword Saint? The First Prince was aware of this possibility.
As the heir of the Sword Saint, he could influence the Palma Knights beyond just the Palma Commander.
It was only due to Lutus Cicero's support that the First Prince could garner the backing of the Palma Knights with his lacking character. That was part of their deal.
The Second Prince's subtle moves to investigate the past were also irksome. Perhaps he would uncover the truth.
A small spark of doubt, if ignited, could lead to a blaze.
'Before that happens, we must eliminate any chance of ignition.'
Thus, after more than 20 years, a new plan was formed. The Temple also decided to act, albeit on a smaller scale and more covertly than before.
They sent a single High Priest to Basor. That was Dolos.
Dolos was known among the High Priests for his open-mindedness. He reinterpreted the world in a broader sense than his peers.
The light of Lumen reaches all things. Thus, even these ferocious monsters were not mere stains to be eradicated but subjects upon which Lumen's light could shine.
Dolos had long sought a way to control monsters through sacred magic.
The monsters strictly adhered to a hierarchy. The strong dominated the weak, and the weak followed the strong.
If one could control the leader of the monsters, then their subordinates could also be controlled. They could become an excellent force.
The research began with the intention of facing monsters with monsters, without human sacrifice.
'However, it could be used for other purposes as well.'
After years of research, Dolos successfully controlled a monster by implanting a sacred orb in its head.
He came to this desert shortly after Darien Difert killed the previous Red Scorpion, seeking specimens for his experiments.
The desert of Basor was home to a variety of monsters, providing ample subjects for his research.
With the threat that could endanger him as a High Priest gone, he wandered, capturing suitable monsters for experimentation.
'I never expected to find it then.'
It was purely by chance. Following magical traces, he discovered a Red Scorpion's offspring in this rock mountain.
The offspring was large for its age. It struggled with the Red Scorpion's core inherited from its predecessor, unable to assimilate it fully and was in a weak and incomplete state.
Dolos easily subdued it and, after years of research, completely dominated the creature.
The new Red Scorpion proved useful. Dolos used it as bait to lure Darien Difert.
Merely showing itself and lightly disturbing villages were sufficient.
Following the priest's commands, the creature effectively hit and ran. Patient enough to hide its body, it was capable of obedience.
But the research had concluded. Dolos wished to explore new monsters.
After eliminating Darien Difert, Dolos put the creature to sleep, hoping it might be useful someday.
Only recently did he seek it out again. The creature, having absorbed the core over the years, had become stronger and more intelligent. The desert monsters absolutely submitted to it.
Yet even such a creature could not resist the sacred orb implanted in its head.
Dolos decided to use the faithful Red Scorpion once again.
'Some sacrifices are necessary for the greater good.'
There was no better way to make Luke Yeager known than the martial arts tournament. Even if he was unwilling, the king planned to reveal his existence immediately after the tournament's conclusion.
Before that, Luke Yeager needed to be eliminated.
Invading villages, disrupting the final stage of the martial arts tournament, and drawing the Palma Knights into the desert were all part of the plan.
And as planned, all others were shaken off, leading the Sword Saint's descendant here.
To the very place where his great-grandfather was sent to never return!
His great-grandfather didn't die immediately, but he would die here. Perhaps it would be more merciful than being sent to the Demonic Beast Forest, teeming with monsters.
Lutus Cicero desired this outcome. Dolos was merely guarding the entrance, prepared for any eventuality. The execution would be Cicero's task.
Yet, an unexpected visitor appeared. Dolos was aware of the visitor's identity.
Well, did he know much about him?
'The martial arts tournament finalist. Named Hyde.'
A young man with exceptional swordsmanship skills, who disguised his appearance with magic, emitting a faint magical aura. A suspicious character with many questions.
But what did it matter? Dead, all are the same!
Dolos exclaimed.
"I am High Priest Dolos. May you chant my name in death, for divine mercy shall be bestowed upon you!"
Darkness enveloped the area. Giant rocks stacked upon each other formed a cave-like space.
The sparse light that filtered in couldn't fully illuminate the interior. Unlike the outside, the inside was surprisingly cool.
"Where is this place?"
An uneasy premonition lingered. Luke Yeager watched the back of the Palma Commander leading the way.
His mouth was dry, and his body stiffened. The chilly air seemed to penetrate his skin.
Following the Palma Commander's lead, he had galloped here without noticing anything strange.
The urgent situations had kept him too preoccupied to sense anything.
But upon seeing this rock mountain, he felt uneasy.
Silence reigned, and there was no trace of the Red Scorpion.
The Palma Commander dismounted, suggesting they inspect the interior. Luke Yeager couldn't refuse, given the man was his superior.
Until recently, Luke Yeager had followed the Commander without a shred of doubt.
But there was nothing here. Nor were there signs of the other Palma Knights approaching. Perhaps they didn't even know the two had come this way.
He had been led here by the Commander, and no one else had heard that conversation.
Suspicions arose. Hyde had warned him. To be wary of the Commander.
Despite his initial resistance, Luke Yeager couldn't dismiss those words entirely.
"Commander?"
"Do you know where we are?"
Looking down at the sand that had drifted in, the Palma Commander asked.
"I don't. Does this place hold some significance?"
"Yes, it does. It's significant to you because this is where your great-grandfather disappeared."
The place where the Sword Saint, Darien Difert, vanished.
"I've never heard such a story... Wasn't he lost somewhere in the desert?"
"This is the last place I saw him before he vanished."
"I see. Then the Red Scorpion...?"
His tone was too calm, prompting Luke Yeager to respond. However, he was met with a chilling laugh.
"Do you think a mere Red Scorpion could have dealt with your great-grandfather?"
"Excuse me?"
Luke Yeager took a step back. Lutus Cicero turned around, his hand not reaching for his sword. Yet, he was already holding it.
A sense of dread sank in. Luke Yeager called out to him.
"Commander."
There was no ambush. There was no need for one. Though they had never directly fought, Luke Yeager knew he couldn't defeat the Palma Commander. The gap was too wide to bridge without even trying.
A heavy voice broke the silence.
"Your great-grandfather was killed by me. After poisoning him to weaken his resistance, I sent him to the Demonic Beast Forest."
"You must be joking...!"
About to dismiss it as absurd, Luke Yeager stopped himself. The realization hit too close to reality.
"If you defeat me, you'll live. But if you don't—"
A murderous intent filled Lutus Cicero's eyes.
"You'll die here."
"Why...?"
"Why is irrelevant. Sometimes, there are irreversible actions. You shouldn't have appeared before me. No, you shouldn't have come to Basor at all."
Had he distinguished himself in another country, Lutus Cicero wouldn't have recognized him. Even if he had learned of him later, reaching out would have been difficult.
But he had joined the Palma Knights and revealed his identity to the one person he should have concealed it from.
Everything led to this inevitable confrontation.
"Come at me with all your might. I'll grant you an honorable death as a knight."
The honor of a knight lies in dying in battle. But when the opponent declares it, it's nothing but hollow words.
Luke Yeager clenched his teeth. This was no game. Lutus Cicero wasn't one to play games.
Suddenly, a loud noise shook the surrounding rocks, halting Luke Yeager mid-turn towards the entrance.
A powerful strike nearly severed his grip. Had he not drawn his sword, he would have died instantly.
The Palma Commander's fierce gaze was fixed on him.
"Can you afford to be distracted?"
There was no room for distraction. Luke Yeager focused entirely on Lutus Cicero. For some reason, or no reason at all, he had to fight. Against the man before him, the Palma Commander!
If he couldn't win this fight, he would die.
An unexpected battle commenced.