As Si-Woo walked, lost in contemplation, a familiar shadow passed overhead. Before he could react, Z, his white-blood baby wyvern, swooped down from the sky and landed gently on his head. Si-Woo's eyes widened in surprise before a bright smile spread across his face. He reached up, gently patting the wyvern’s smooth scales.

"Hey, Z. Missed me already, huh?" Si-Woo chuckled, warmth flooding his chest. He carefully shifted Z so the little wyvern perched comfortably atop his head, its wings tucked neatly. Si-Woo spoke to the bond as if it could truly understand his every word—and, in a way, maybe it did.

He gazed out at the streets of Ondur, bustling with activity, and his voice softened. “Things are changing, Z. Ondur isn’t like Earth… not completely. And Ha-Yoon and I… we’re the last humans left.” He paused, his throat tightening. “That’s a heavy thing to carry, isn’t it? Sometimes, it feels so… lonely.”

The weight of the prophecies pressed against him, and he sighed.

“Everyone seems to think Ha-Yoon and I have a destiny to fulfill, something grand. But it’s a lot of pressure, Z. More than I know how to handle.”

Z tilted its small head, blinking at him with those intelligent, glistening eyes. Si-Woo’s thoughts drifted back to a distant memory of his mother.

He was small then, feeling overwhelmed by expectations even as a child. She had wrapped her arms around him, her voice gentle and sure.

“Pressure creates diamonds, my love,” she had whispered, her fingers combing through his hair. “The trials you face will shape you, make you more godlike, though you may never become God. Your journey will light the way for others, a diamond to guide the lost.” She had kissed his forehead, the warmth of her love an unbreakable promise.

Si-Woo’s eyes stung, but he blinked away the tears." I miss you Mom and Ye-Jun."He said, his voice quivering. A soft nudge broke his reverie. Z pressed its small head against his, a tender show of affection. Si-Woo smiled and laughed quietly, reaching up to cradle the wyvern’s tiny form. “Thanks, Z. I needed that.”

With Z's gentle presence, the heavy weight on his heart lightened just a bit. Si-Woo took a deep breath, feeling ready to face whatever came next.

As Si-Woo continued walking through the streets of Ondur, taking in the sights and sounds around him, a sudden, oppressive aura washed over him. He turned to see a tall figure approaching, each step radiating a suffocating presence. It was unmistakable — Mitstushiro Amreen, his black, shrewd eyes locked onto Si-Woo with unsettling intensity. Light purple hair framed his cold expression, and for a moment, everything around Si-Woo seemed to grow still.

Mitstushiro stopped a few paces away, a chilling smile on his lips. "I believe I haven’t formally introduced myself," he said, his voice smooth yet carrying an unmistakable edge.

Si-Woo felt Z shift uneasily on his head, the baby wyvern's body tensing in response to the danger emanating from the Ranker. Si-Woo reached up and gently patted Z, trying to calm his bond despite the fear churning in his stomach. "I’m Si-Woo," he replied hesitantly, the weight of the moment making each word heavy.

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Mitstushiro's eyes glinted as he leaned slightly forward, his smile widening into something more sinister. "A true honor to meet the former inhabitants of this land," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. His tongue flicked over his lips briefly before he continued, "Your sister must be taking the test right now, hmm? Why aren’t you?"

Si-Woo met his gaze, swallowing his unease. "That’s none of your business," he replied, keeping his voice steady despite the chill crawling up his spine. "And we’re still inhabitants of this land."

Mitstushiro's smile twisted into a smirk, and his voice turned hard. "For however long we allow it, which won’t be—"

"Si-Woo!" a booming, familiar voice interrupted, cutting through the tense air. Hemeraldo appeared, his massive form imposing as he strode forward with a seemingly casual air. His wild brown mane and fiery orange eyes softened only for a moment when they met Si-Woo’s, as if they had planned this meeting all along. "I've been looking all over for you, kid," Hemeraldo said, clapping a large hand on Si-Woo’s shoulder with a touch of exaggerated familiarity.

Mitstushiro narrowed his eyes at the blacksmith, but Hemeraldo's calm, commanding presence left little room for dispute. Si-Woo allowed himself to exhale slightly, grateful for the intervention, as Hemeraldo guided him away from the confrontation.

Mitstushiro’s smile didn’t waver as Hemeraldo appeared. Instead, it widened, turning even more sinister. "I was having a conversation with Si-Woo," he said, a low, dangerous undertone in his voice. "It seems you’ve interrupted, blacksmith."

Hemeraldo’s eyes, piercing and fierce, didn’t flinch. He leaned in slightly, towering over most but meeting Mitstushiro’s presence head-on. "We’re a bit busy right now, Amreen," he said, his tone casual but edged with steel.

The smile on Mitstushiro’s face faltered for a split second, replaced by a flash of cold fury. His eyes darkened, and a dangerous silence fell over the space around them. "Watch your tongue, blacksmith," he said, his voice low and venomous. "You would dare address me in such a manner?"

Hemeraldo didn’t back down, his gaze steady. "I call it like I see it," he replied, his words deliberately calm but carrying an unmistakable weight."Now leave!."

For a tense moment, the two men stared at each other, their presence pressing down on everyone nearby. Si-Woo felt the crushing weight of their combined power, his legs trembling under the strain. The air grew thick, like a storm ready to break.

Mitstushiro’s smile twisted cruelly, and he stepped in closer, his face inches from Hemeraldo’s. "Or what?" he whispered, his voice dripping with malice.

Si-Woo forced himself to stay upright despite the suffocating pressure emanating from the confrontation. It felt as though the entire world had shrunk to just the three of them, every breath a struggle.

Mitstushiro’s eyes flicked to Si-Woo, his lips curling once more. He licked them briefly before speaking again, his words like venom. "The blacksmith thinks he can protect a stranger," he sneered, "when he couldn’t even protect his beloved." He let out a cold, hollow laugh that sent chills down Si-Woo’s spine before stepping back.

Si-Woo forced himself to stay upright, but each breath felt heavier than the last. The tension between the two men was palpable, like a spark away from igniting everything around them.

Hemeraldo’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. Si-Woo could almost feel the heat radiating off him, as if the blacksmith’s very being was aflame. The air crackled, the threat of devastation hanging thickly between them.

Mitstushiro turned away, his movements languid but charged with an unmistakable malice. Before disappearing into the crowd, he cast a final glance over his shoulder. "I hope to see you and Ha-Yoon soon," he said, his tone mocking, yet carrying a hint of genuine intent.

As Mitstushiro faded from sight, the oppressive weight lifted slightly, and Si-Woo realized he’d been holding his breath. Hemeraldo’s hand rested on his shoulder, grounding him in the moment, but the encounter would leave a mark he knew he wouldn’t easily forget.