Chapter 38: Dominus & Arrow
The southern crater of the Mountain of Death was nothing but lava, flames, and the howls of beasts consumed by mana. Fiery geysers erupted intermittently from the ground, and red boulders floated in the mana-saturated air as if gravity had decided to abdicate. In this infernal furnace, two forces advanced in parallel.
On one side stood the Dominus Faction, disciplined, clad in metal armor, united like a seasoned legion. At their helm was Leonard von Arcadia, a martial figure draped in a black cape embroidered with gold. His sword of light swayed against his hip with every step. Beside him was Leo von Arcadia, his cousin, a longbow slung over his shoulder and a piercing gaze. As a member of the Arcadia family, he bore the characteristic blond hair and blue eyes. They resembled each other, though Leonard was more muscular.
On the other side was the Arrow Faction, lighter and more agile, clad in fabric woven from mana threads rather than heavy armor to maximize their mobility. Their leader, Liam Dawnflare, stood tall, his bow already in hand, a pulsating green aura at his feet. His fiancée, Helena, moved like a living flame, her bare arms covered in fiery runes. Her cousin, Élisabeth, followed with a graceful stride, her gaze fixed on the horizon as if targeting an invisible enemy.
The ground trembled. A pack of fire wolves burst from a tunnel carved into the basalt. Fiery silhouettes nearly three meters tall, their fangs dripping with magma. They were fast, ferocious, and utterly mad.
Leonard gave no orders. He took a step forward and slammed his sword into the ground.
*"Divine Blade: Crescent of Light!"*
An arc of golden energy surged forward, slicing the first three wolves in two. The beasts howled, exploding in a burst of fire and unstable mana.
"Wedge formation!" Leo commanded immediately. He was the true strategist. Leonard was just a pile of muscles with an honest and naive personality—basically, a classic Shōnen protagonist.
The Dominus members spread out in a fan, shields raised, weapons ready. They formed a living barrier, every movement synchronized. This was their faction’s strength: discipline, aura, and martial perfection embodied by Leo.
With a fluid motion, Leo drew two arrows from his quiver, nocked them in an instant, and released them in a single breath. The projectiles cut through the air in a golden trail, crossing the battlefield at an inhuman speed. They struck their targets with brutal force, piercing the skull of a giant wolf just as its fangs closed on a terrified recruit.
"Get into formation, you idiot!" he bellowed.