All eyes were fixed on Henry, a pivotal figure amidst the anticipation that filled the air as the gate's gradual unveiling unfolded.

Villagers gathered in distinct groups – some erupted in cheers, others gracefully tossed fragrant flowers, and a few bid him a heartfelt farewell.

A palpable excitement surged within Henry; his heart swelled with a mix of nervous energy and eagerness to step into the vast unknown that awaited him.

Sensing Henry's anticipation, the village chief, with a comforting pat on his back, reassured, "Just take that one step forward, and you'll find freedom. Don't fret about those who supported you; we did what we could."

Henry, gripping his belt where his knife rested, silently vowed, "I'm coming for you, Alexander."

As the first rays of light gracefully streamed through the opening gate, Henry shielded his eyes. When his vision cleared, a majestic mountain bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun stood before him, revealing the beauty of Ascendia.

Unable to contain his excitement, Henry surged forward, sprinting along a cobblestone path that stretched for what seemed like miles. Petals from an array of flowers danced in the air, leaving behind a poetic trail that seemed to bid farewell to the departing traveler.

With a gentle shift in the wind, Henry stole a glance back at the fully opened gates, revealing a crowd of onlookers within.

"Once again, Henry, resist the urge to look back; keep moving forward," the chief emphasized one final time.

With a broad smile, Henry shouted, "Goodbye, everybody!"

0 - Henry's knife slightly vibrated, but he did not notice.

His exclamation resonated through the village, a testament to the remarkable transformation of the once clumsy young man into a formidable warrior.

The villagers echoed their chants, voices crescendoing in unison. The chief's whispered parting words lingered in the air, "Enjoy the journey, Henry."

As the last echoes faded...

Danger emerged.

An ominous undercurrent gripped Henry.

Swiftly, he unsheathed his knife, his every instinct anticipating an imminent threat. However, instead of a collision, a cloaked figure materialized before him, lightly touching his shoulder.

The person's voice, carrying the weight of time, hinted at a quest for something elusive. Despite standing at the same height as Henry, he emanated an aura of indestructible strength, resembling a towering mountain.

The calm demeanor of this enigmatic figure sent shivers down Henry's spine, inducing an endless cascade of sweat.

"Is this Veridore, young man?" the person inquired, leaving Henry to grapple with the grip of an inexplicable fear.

Enduring the trepidation, Henry replied, "Veridore lies ahead; are you a traveler?"

It was then that Henry noticed an ethereal glow atop the person's head.

"Is that a crown on top of your head? Are you perhaps a-"

"No," the figure interrupted without hesitation, making it clear to Henry that he was in the presence of an old man.

After uttering a single word, the mysterious figure fell into silence, continuing to walk forward.

Henry attempted to follow, but the figure abruptly vanished from his sight.

Subsequently, a familiar aura enveloped him, compelling him to look back. There, the person walked away from Henry, hands stained with blood dripping onto the ground.

"So fast," Henry muttered in surprise, his gaze fixed on the crimson liquid adorning the person's hands.

Before he could fully comprehend the unsettling sight, a piercing scream shattered the air behind him. Swiftly turning, his widened eyes beheld a lifeless body sprawled across the path.

Without a moment's hesitation, Henry propelled himself forward, sprinting with unbridled speed toward the ominous scene.

"Chief, is that you?" Henry exclaimed, leaping forward and causing a small explosion that formed a circular mark on the cobblestone path.

"A Dmetrius?" queried the unknown person who observed the minuscule destruction caused by Henry.

As Henry dashed back toward the village gates, he quickly realized the person who was slowly perishing.

"CHIEF!" Using the momentum of his swift movement, Henry caught the falling chief.

Kneeling at the chief's side, Henry was horrified to see blood rushing from the chief's abdomen.

"Chief, why are you bleeding?" he questioned, confusion etched across his face as he stared at the chief in disbelief, pondering the source of the bleeding on his chest. He tried to stop the blood using a cloth he asked from the crowd.

"What caused this? Who caused this? WHY?!" Henry's thoughts raced back to the unknown person who was still walking away.

"YOU!" Henry's fury ignited, radiating a bloodthirsty aura as he charged toward the figure and again made a tiny hole on the path. Holding his knife, he made a practiced pose, intending to adding it into his attack strategy.

Closing in on the mysterious figure, who waved a red flag in the air, Henry couldn't hold back his frustration.

"What do you think you're doing, old man?" His scream echoed through the air, drawing the figure's attention.

Undeterred, Henry pressed forward, but his advance was abruptly halted by a barrage of bright red arrows.

"Arrows?" Henry questioned, locking eyes on the ominous display. Adrenaline surged, compelling him to lunge forward without contemplating the consequences.

Though the temptation to look back nagged at him, he resisted.

"The arrows aren't targeting me, but who?"

"Is it the village? Are they aiming for the village?" The realization caused Henry to drop his guard, and in that vulnerable moment, he was struck by another revelation. "Ahhh, why am I bleeding?"

Tremors coursed through Henry as his body gradually succumbed to numbness. His hands and feet became devoid of sensation, and his voice refused to emerge.

"Have I been attacked by him?" Henry chuckled weakly. "In a world where someone moves as swiftly as lightning? What a mysterious figure I find myself in."

After a fleeting moment, the flow of blood ceased, his heartbeat stilled, and the flaming arrows reached him, searing his flesh.

Then, the knife ceased its glow, plunging the surroundings into an eerie stillness...