That night, Gwen couldn't sleep, her gaze fixed on the bloody red moon hanging ominously in the dark sky. Its light painted the world in eerie crimson hues, making everything appear drenched in blood. She had never seen anything like it. In the Upper World, there were no sun, no moon, no stars. Her knowledge of them came solely from the books she had studied.
According to her research, the red moon wasn't a natural phenomenon. It appeared only in the Nether Plane, and its arrival signified a disturbance in the balance of power. One of the Demon Kings had summoned it, calling upon its dark energy to strengthen his forces.
For humans, the red moon had no direct effect. But for monsters and the Red Devil clan, it was transformative. It boosted their strength, turning them into frenzied, bloodthirsty beasts. They would become even more violent and aggressive, as though they had been blessed by the moon itself.
As if on cue, a chorus of monstrous howls erupted from the forests beyond the city. Gwen shuddered. She knew this sound heralded a night of carnage as the Hunters clashed with the monsters. Still, she reassured herself that she had nothing to fear.
She was in a government-protected safe zone, far from the dangerous wilderness. Besides, Zelia Kingdom was home to two renowned sword masters: an eight and tenth-level Knight. Their presence alone should be enough to keep the city safe from harm.
At least, that's what she thought.
When she finally closed her eyes and began to drift off, a sudden jolt of awareness shot through her. Her sixth sense screamed danger, an intense warning she couldn't ignore. Without a second thought, Gwen activated her space magic, teleporting herself away from her bed.
The spell worked, but she hadn't thought about where she was going. She found herself suspended in the air, her body hovering several meters above the ground. Worse, in her panic, she had unconsciously activated her telekinesis magic, which made her continue to float higher and higher.
"Oh, damn!" she exclaimed, flailing her arms. Her stomach churned as she realized she was completely out of control.
Things went from bad to worse in an instant. From the corner of her eye, she spotted a massive bird-type monster streaking toward her. Its wings flapped furiously, propelling it forward at terrifying speed. Its beak, sharp and wide, was open, ready to swallow her whole.
"Good grief! Am I about to become this monster's midnight snack?" she muttered, her voice shaking.
Desperately, she stretched out her arms, trying to summon her gold-element spirit. A protective shield was her only chance at survival. But as soon as she tried, she realized her mistake. Telekinesis magic required all her core, leaving her unable to cast other attribute.
"Master! Why didn't you warn me about this?" she shouted into the night sky, as though blaming her master for her dangerous state.
The monster's beak was only meters away. Gwen clenched her eyes shut, bracing herself for the inevitable. She expected pain, darkness, and the cold grip of death. But instead, she heard the sharp whistle of a blade cutting through the air, followed by a wet, sickening crunch. The stench of blood filled her nostrils.
Cautiously, she opened her eyes. Hovering in front of her was a man—a winged man. He carried twin swords, one radiating light and the other emanating darkness. His face was obscured by a featureless mask, but his presence exuded calm, controlled power.
Without a word, the man reached out and took her hand. With a single touch, he dispelled her telekinesis magic, and she felt her body gently descend to the ground. His grip was firm yet warm, a stark contrast to the cold, lifeless steel of his blades.
There was no mistaking it. This man was a swordmaster—a tenth-level Knight.
As soon as Gwen's feet touched solid ground, the swordmaster turned, preparing to leave. "Wait!" she called. "Can I know your name? I want to repay this debt someday!"
The man paused, glancing back at her. Instead of answering, he placed a gloved hand on the top of her head, as though comforting a child. Despite the mask hiding his face, Gwen could almost sense a smile in his gesture.
And then, with a powerful leap, he disappeared into the darkness.
Gwen stood frozen, her mind racing. She replayed every detail: his jet-black hair, dual wings—white on top, black on the bottom—and those twin swords. They weren't ordinary weapons; they were divine relics. One belonged to the Light Goddess, the other to the Darkness God.
"How could an ordinary human possess such weapons?" Gwen muttered to herself. "And why does he have wings? Swordmasters aren't supposed to have wings—let alone two pairs!"
Her curiosity burned brighter with every passing second. Initially, she had been indifferent to this world, viewing her time here as a temporary inconvenience. But now… now she felt compelled to stay. She clenched her hand, still able to feel the warmth of his touch.
"I have to meet him again," she whispered, a determined smile forming on her lips.
The battle ended quickly once the winged knight entered the fray. Reports the next morning confirmed that he had single-handedly turned the tide, slaughtering the monsters with precision and power. The city was safe, and the residents were buzzing with excitement.
The next morning, Gwen overheard students chattering about the mysterious swordmaster.
"Do you think he's young or old?" one girl asked.
"I bet he's young," another replied. "He's only been active for three years, right? Maybe he graduated recently and rose through the ranks quickly."
"That would make him around twenty-three!"
"I hope he's not married yet," a third girl sighed wistfully. "What if he falls in love with me at first sight?"
Gwen scoffed. How could these simple-minded girls believe they stood a chance with someone so extraordinary? He was more than a human—he was a god among mortals.
"Well," Gwen said, smirking as she walked past the group, "if anyone's going to charm him, it'll be me."
Her boldness earned her a chorus of hostile glares. The other girls exchanged whispers, their faces dark with hatred. Unbeknownst to Gwen, she had just made several enemies.