The overcast sky gave David this somber mood as he walked toward this decrepit castle in the middle of the Death Valley.

Rising to the apex at the young age of 600, he thought he would be celebrating for a while. But just two months after he could call himself an < Archmage >, David was summoned by his master to this damned mission.

'We're all dying, aren't we? Why would they voluntarily come here?'

Since he was a kid, David heard the tales of this Valley and the zombies present in it. This place was the most common element in those chilling stories that his late mother used to incentivize her children to train.

The recurring, "if you don't want to fight, at least learn how to run."

Perhaps it was due to his mother seeing a couple of zombies when she was young, but David had indeed heard more about this place than his peers. And those tales had left a mark on his heart. And not one of only fear but also deep respect.

So he couldn't understand it. Those aberrations might be a dreadful menace, but how could he hope to bring an end to their legacy that spans millions of years?

'If my master didn't come personally, I wouldn't be here. But this doesn't feel good. Why can they be this daring? Am I missing something?'

However, despite David's uneasiness, the entourage continued uninterruptedly.

There was no going back or laughing about it due to being a prank on the newcomer.

And by the time he could see the castle, the group had exceeded 50 members.

And while David's best estimate would put the number of people stronger than him at 40, today's encounter had proved him wrong.

He was a proud disciple of Martin. Wherever he went, he would be the center of attention. However, here? He was merely the youngest and weakest.

Yet, despite being surrounded by so many incredible people, who he mostly heard only in exciting tales, David didn't feel safe.

His instinct yelled at him that they had become somewhat insane.

And perhaps there was some truth in that because as he stood here in front of this open gate, surrounded by this barren landscape, they didn't even blink twice as they kept marching inside.

Unfortunately, David had also fallen into a trance, surrounded by this many imposing monsters. So the few steps he wavered on his feet and the single glance he had around was most of the sanity he could gather.

The momentum was too strong.

His heart pounded.

His hands were cold.

And his sweat was sharply flowing down his back.

But the momentum was too strong.

Those signs any other day would've made him run for it because he was aware of how those instincts never failed him. He wouldn't hesitate because they were the main reason he could reach the top despite his shortcomings.

Yet, he only walked forward as if afraid to be left behind.

The back of his master had an attractive force that sucked him forward.

David didn't even question why he couldn't see a moving thing, as if this staggering contrast between this reality in front of him and the tales he heard didn't exist.

At first glance, this felt like how it should be. Nothing could stop this entourage.

Yet, as they walked through those dark corridors, there was no clash.

The mentioned zombies were nowhere.

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There was no sea of hungry beasts that would jump at any sign of greed.

There was no sign of the source of most apex organizations' downfalls.

And no one would believe him if David told them that this place, the origin of most tragedies in this world, was now empty.

But it was.

And deep down, David hoped it would stay like that.

However, as David walked inside what seemed to be the main hall, this fancy place that, despite its decrepit state, still carried a grandiose sense, he paled.

His heart slowed down drastically.

His blood pressure dropped.

And his legs wanted to give up.

And this overwhelming feeling of weakness finally woke him up from this mindless trance.

At this moment, as David regained self-control, the back of his master felt more like the Death Valley than this place itself.

Those around him felt like the zombies from the tales he heard from his mother so much.

There was no place left for the feeling of inspiration to be the savior of this world.

And at this moment, somehow, flashing through his eyes were his people. Those fragile creatures he always spied with so much wonder, who lived so shortly but carried a sense of objectivity.

'Perhaps, they don't need saving.' David instinctively concluded, his mood deflated.

David tried to calm down, so he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, despite the insanity of it, as danger felt imminent.

He felt his body quavering carefully.

Instead of ignoring it, he stopped and listened to it.

And it was just a few seconds, but once he opened his eyes again, his complexion was completely different.

His body stopped trembling. His instincts were still there, but they weren't overwhelming him anymore.

His body tensed. And reacting to it, he stood tall and firm.

He again looked at his master back, and he could see it, the excitement.

The thrill.

The hunger.

The tensed muscles and wavering energy painted a clear picture.

However, in David's eyes, this image was not awe-inspiring. Because he couldn't recognize his master, the one he looked upon with so much respect.

And at this moment, this single glance broke his heart.

His eyes watered as, without a single logical thought, his mind instinctively concluded that he couldn't depend on this man anymore.

David knew that danger was imminent.

His heart knew, but he couldn't prove it to anyone.

So, knowing he could only depend on himself, his head moved. His eyes unfocused from his master's back as the centuries-built-upon relationship crashed.

An insane amount of mourning slammed with the already-present overwhelming dread, culminating in unbearable goosebumps.

But David knew where to look.

While people around him seemed like lost chickens, intensely looking around for their target, David slowly turned around and stared at the throne in this hall.

However, despite his eyes seeing a creature sitting in the most obvious place, he couldn't sense it.

Even while he focused, he could barely make any substance of it.

David could barely see, for a moment, the captivated eyes of this smiling creature.

But as he glanced at them, David's eyes trembled, making the vague image in front of the entourage flash like a ghost coming in and out of existence.

And out of everything, the only clear boundary David could see were those eyes staring back, making him feel naked.

---

"Mom, no!"

"Oh, look at you, little, naked boy. 15, and all grown up and shy."

David's mother acted without restraint and heartlessly kicked her teenage child into the small pool she had dug inside this training ground by herself.

"Noooo," David's scream became muffled by the water.

"Didn't you say you wanted to become an < Archmage >?"

Her < Mana > spread through the room, initializing the ritual.

"Why are you the one doing this?" David asked as he put his head above water again.

"We couldn't find you a master yet, and out of everyone in this clan, I'm the only one with a half-decent achievement in such a field. We can't delay this anymore."

"Wasn't grandpa talking with someone?"

"You're being too picky. The benefits of receiving it from someone stronger won't outweigh the wasted time. So, stop with this meaningless shyness, go down, and focus. You aren't delaying this anymore because you should at least know by now how to make a run for it since who knows when you'll need it."

---

David's sudden shudder caught his surroundings' attention.

His fear-stricken face intrigued everyone, so they tried looking where he was staring before.

However, while they tried to pinpoint what was causing the youngest this much dread, David couldn't pay any attention to them.

He felt alone, naked, and cold. And David even somewhat missed his mother.

This wave of conflicted feelings coming from nowhere left David disoriented.

He didn't know where he was or when he was.

Yet, he still jumped back, looked down, and placed his hands on his crotch.

But since his spasming hands couldn't stay still, the discomforting movements woke him up.

Then, despite not remembering everything, he could still see the floor of this damned place and the legs of some people he now somewhat hated.

After seeing those feet again, David's mind returned to this place like thunder.

"MOMMY! AH! THE DEMON LORD!" He screamed, almost tearing his vocal cords.

And while, at first, he seemed like he was going to run away like a silly kid, who had a nightmare, his movements were sharp and vicious.

Even if the youngest was out of himself, he was still an < Archmage >.

When David decided to run, even putting his life in the line for it as he burned his lifespan carelessly, his peers couldn't stop him.

And his master even wanted to. However, no one here was crazy enough to stop a crazed < Archmage >.

Well, perhaps, Ben Higgs, who sat on the throne, could. But he didn't. Instead, he only stared attentively at this insane instinctual beast acting on impulse. And then at the people left behind, who appeared so much more boring in comparison.