Three years had passed since Mazuka had been summoned to this world, and in that time, the weight of his mission had grown heavy on his shoulders. He had been pulled away from the life he knew- although not great, and thrust into a battle that, by now, felt endless. Three years was more than enough time to grow weary of the long, exhausting journey that offered no resolution. Every day felt like a slow crawl towards a conclusion that never came. He had fought, trained, and grown stronger—yes—but the end remained elusive.
This morning, the system had delivered a message he had been anxiously awaiting, yet it brought him little comfort:
**"Defeating the Demon King: Probability 60%."**
The words echoed in his mind as he stood by the window, gazing out over the peaceful city of Azure. His frustration simmered, barely contained beneath the surface. In the stories from his old world, by this point, the Demon King should have already made his move—unleashing chaos, razing cities, slaughtering armies, and leaving a path of destruction in his wake. But here? There was nothing. Just eerie, unnerving silence.
Mazuka's grip tightened on the windowsill, his knuckles white. "Why hasn't he done anything?" he muttered to himself. Every day spent in Azure felt like a day wasted. His patience, already worn thin, was almost gone entirely. Yes, his strength had grown over these years—he could feel it—but what use was power without purpose? He wasn't here to enjoy the peace, the quiet. He was here to end this war and make a peaceful life for himself. Yet the Demon King did nothing, and with each passing day, it became harder to tell whether the calm was a blessing or a curse.
The door behind him creaked open, breaking the tense stillness in the room. Mazuka didn't bother turning around, already knowing who it was by the familiar sound of clinking metal.
Mayra entered, her twin blades lightly tapping against her sides as she strode in with her usual confident, unapologetic demeanor. Her eyes scanned the room quickly before settling on him. "Mazuka, we need to move," she said, her voice as direct and sharp as the weapons she carried. "We're wasting time sitting in this city."
He didn't respond right away, keeping his gaze fixed on the horizon. The landscape outside was bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, casting long shadows over the streets. He could hear the faint laughter of children playing somewhere below. They lived without fear, without the crushing weight of responsibility that sat squarely on his shoulders. It infuriated him.
"I know," he finally replied, his voice low and heavy with frustration. "But I'm done waiting. No more dungeons, no more side quests. No more running in circles. I'm ready to go straight for the Demon King." The words came out harsher than intended, the pent-up anger slipping through.
Mayra's eyebrows shot up, and she crossed her arms, her gaze hardening as she assessed him. "Straight to the Demon King? Have you lost your mind? You can't just rush in blindly."
A smirk tugged at the corner of Mazuka's mouth as he finally turned to face her. "I have something new up my sleeve. I can translocate."
Mayra's eyes narrowed, her suspicion clear. "Translocate?" She didn't even try to hide the skepticism in her voice. "Since when?"
"Recently," Mazuka admitted, shrugging as if it were nothing. But it was far from nothing. His tone remained calm, but the underlying urgency in his eyes gave him away. "It's enough to get us moving. I can move us to places I've been before or to places I can see. That'll at least get us closer to the Demon King's territory."
Mayra frowned, still not entirely convinced. "Closer isn't good enough. You've never been to the Demon Kingdom. You can't translocate to a place you've never seen."
Mazuka's eyes darkened, his patience thinning. "We'll get as close as we can, then we travel the rest of the way. We don't have time to waste anymore, Mayra. Something's wrong. The Demon King hasn't moved in years. He's biding his time, and if we sit here waiting any longer, it might be too late. I won't let that happen."
Mayra studied him for a moment, her fingers brushing the hilts of her blades as she weighed the risk in her mind. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we do it right. No half-baked plans. We'll be ready when you are."
Just as Mazuka opened his mouth to respond, another figure quietly entered the room. Aya moved with her usual grace, almost slipping in unnoticed. She hugged her staff close to her chest, her eyes cautiously flicking between Mazuka and Mayra. Though she had grown more confident in the three years they had traveled together, Aya still preferred to avoid conflict whenever possible.
"What's going on?" Her voice was soft, but there was a firmness beneath it that hadn't been there before.
Mazuka met her gaze, his expression hardening with resolve. "We're going to the Demon Kingdom. I'm done waiting." He knew she understood the weight behind those words. They had all been waiting, all trapped in this strange limbo of preparation without action. But no more. They couldn't afford it.
Aya's eyes widened, her grip on her staff tightening, but she didn't object. She simply nodded, the tension in the room rising as the reality of the situation began to settle in. Aya's magic—her mastery over water and wind—had grown significantly over the years. With the artifact staff she carried, she could shape ice with incredible precision, molding the elements to her will. She had become a force to be reckoned with, though she rarely showed it unless necessary.
Mayra glanced at Aya, her expression softening slightly, though her voice remained sharp. "I hope you're ready for this. Once we head into the Demon King's territory, there's no turning back."
Aya swallowed, her nervousness apparent, but she nodded resolutely. "I'm ready. As long as we stick together, I know we can do it."
Mazuka looked between the two women, both of whom had stood by his side through countless battles, and felt a renewed sense of determination wash over him. The time for waiting had passed. The time for action had come.
"Then we leave at dawn."