Raphael's footsteps suddenly halted, his face filled with shock as he stared at Leon.
Leon still wore a smile, as if completely unconcerned about his situation.
"Are you crazy?"
Raphael blurted out, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Leon laughed, his laughter carried by the sea breeze, echoing in the air.
"Haha, everyone needs to have something to pursue, don't they?"
Raphael furrowed his brows, his gaze deep as he looked at Leon.
Leon gazed into the distance, the glow of the setting sun illuminating his resolute face.
"I've already failed, and my life won't last much longer.
But I have no regrets. I will place my hope in my future offspring."
Raphael frowned.
"But you don't have a son yet, do you?"
"There will be, in the future."
Leon's tone was filled with conviction, as if everything was already set in stone.
A flash of confusion passed through Raphael's eyes.
"The path ahead will be filled with thorns and suffering.
Do you really think it's necessary for your child to endure all that?"
Leon smiled confidently, his gaze as firm as steel.
"My son, as a Leon, will also be someone with ambitions.
No matter how tough, he'll walk this path."
"Madman, absolute madman!"
Raphael shook his head in helplessness.
Leon didn't mind his words; instead, his expression suddenly turned serious.
He turned to face Raphael, his eyes filled with earnestness.
"If one day, you meet my child, please make sure to put him through hardship."
Raphael froze, staring at Leon's serious expression, feeling a mix of complexity and contradiction in his heart.
It was an absurd request, one Raphael couldn't understand—why was Leon so insistent?
But in Leon's steadfast eyes, Raphael saw an unshakable belief.
After a brief silence, Raphael sighed and slowly nodded, agreeing to this seemingly irrational request.
"Alright, I promise you."
Before Raphael could finish his sentence, Leon had already burst into hearty laughter, slinging his arm around Raphael's shoulder, his laughter full of confidence.
"I knew you'd agree."
Leon gave Raphael a firm pat on the shoulder, gratitude gleaming in his eyes.
The evening light quickly faded, the sky growing darker as the sea breeze became colder, carrying the smell of salt and blood from the distant waves.
The two walked side by side on the beach, strewn with the bodies of sea magic beasts.
"Madman among madmen."
The cold wind in the mountains, mixed with icy dampness, pierced the bones of Borne and the others.
As they ventured deeper into the mountain range, the terrain began to rise, the steep, uneven paths making every step feel heavy and slow.
The cold wind howled against their faces, cutting like knives.
Borne looked up at the winding mountain road ahead.
The steep slopes were littered with weeds and snow, making every step a struggle.
"Whoo—whoo—"
Borne exhaled heavily, his breath forming clouds of white mist that dissipated into the air.
His teammates behind him were also breathing hard, the cold wind whistling around their ears, numbing them with its bite.
Each step seemed to grow heavier as if the earth itself was dragging their legs down.
"This wind feels like needles."
Harley muttered under his breath, his fingers stiff from the cold.
"Stay in formation, don't fall behind!"
Captain Khazik's voice came through the wind, slightly muffled.
Borne gritted his teeth and continued forward, the cold wind slapping his face, making every step feel like a battle against the elements.
The rear flank of the army kept a measured distance from the vanguard, neither too close nor too far.
They had to stay close enough to follow but not so close that the vanguard would lose its scouting function.
After all, the scouts' task was to clear the path for the flank, and being too close would negate their reconnaissance role.
The rear troops advanced cautiously, maintaining an invisible line with the vanguard.
Every so often, the scouts relayed vital information, using signals or flag messages to report on the terrain and any traces of magic beasts.
The commanders of the rear forces were constantly alert to the movements ahead, ready to respond immediately to any emergencies encountered by the vanguard, but careful not to approach rashly.
The overall pace of the army was strictly controlled, neither slackening from a false sense of security nor speeding up due to pressure.
"Keep formation, don't let the distance grow too wide."
The rear commanders marched while continuously issuing orders, reminding the soldiers behind them.
The cold wind continued its relentless assault, occasionally accompanied by the faint sounds of scout signals fluttering in the wind.
Borne and his team pushed on through the harsh, rugged mountains, as if time itself had become blurred.
Their ears, numbed by the wind, had lost sensation.
The biting cold spread from their feet, through their entire bodies, making their legs tremble with every step, which grew heavier by the moment.
No one could say how long they had been walking.
The dense forest above blocked out the sky, leaving little sunlight to guide them.
The dim light made it difficult to discern direction.
The team seemed shrouded in a never-ending shadow, relying on the faintest glimmers of light to move forward.
Borne couldn't help but glance up, seeing the dark, oppressive canopy above, where tangled branches completely sealed off the sky.
Khazik led the way, his steps steady.
His years of experience as a scout allowed him to guide them through the treacherous terrain.
He remained ever-vigilant, occasionally pausing to scan the surroundings, ensuring no danger lurked unnoticed.
"Watch your step."
The team continued through the shadowy forest, the occasional crack of a branch underfoot breaking the eerie silence that hung over them.
Despite their hunger and exhaustion, the group pressed on.
To save time, they ate dried rations as they marched.
As they trudged forward, suddenly, the corpse of a massive wild boar magic beast appeared in their path.
The boar was covered in spikes but had clearly been dead for some time.
Its belly and neck bore deep bite marks, with blood pooled around it, filling the air with a strong stench.
Khazik, at the front, furrowed his brow.
His sharp nose quickly picked up the scent of blood lingering in the air.
Without issuing a verbal command, he simply raised his hand, signaling the group to stop.
He studied the boar's corpse closely.
After a moment, he waved over two scouts and gave them a quiet order.
"Move in and investigate, see what's going on."
The two scouts quickly followed his command, moving swiftly toward the corpse.
They knelt by the boar's body, carefully inspecting the wounds and searching the surrounding ground for signs of other magic beasts.
The smell of blood was strong, and the wounds were fresh.
It was clear that the boar had not been dead for long.
Khazik stood by, his gaze calm but filled with vigilance.
The dead boar indicated the possible presence of even more dangerous predators nearby.
A tense atmosphere settled over the group, each scout silently gripping their weapons tighter.
After a few minutes, the two scouts returned from the boar's body, their expressions grim as they reported to Khazik.
"There are claw marks nearby.
They're likely still active in this area."
Khazik nodded, signaling the team to prepare.
"Stay alert, we could be attacked at any moment."