Gabriel, a relatively handsome man with a tall stature and neatly combed black hair that swept elegantly to one side, sat in a carriage, gazing out the window with a distant expression. The bustling streets of the largest city at the heart of Greenland rolled past—a patchwork of towering medieval houses and people dressed in simple tunics and armor. There was an unusual tension in the air. The streets, typically lively, were subdued, weighed down by a shared unease.

The cause of the city’s nervousness was no mystery to everyone. The previous night, a monstrous roar had shattered the peace of night, so powerful it had shaken Gabriel awake despite the considerable distance, sending dread seep into his heart. The sound had unsettled not just him but the entire region, and by morning, the response was immediate.

An army of hundreds of thousands hastily arranged that same night was sent marching toward the Southern Boundary—a combined force of knights from Greenland’s various settlements, bolstered by mercenaries drawn by promises of generous rewards. It was a call to arms unlike any before, signaling a potential war that could determine the fate of their peaceful land. The testimonies brought by the migrating villagers from the source only heightened the urgency: invaders from beyond the Boundary had begun their assault, the beastial descriptions confirm that they're far from friendly unavailable for negotiation. After all, humans can't negotiate with beasts.

Among these tales was a chilling account of a towering beast, its monstrous form rising above the treetops in the far distance. Witnesses spoke of its thunderous roars, first filled with intimidation, then irritation, and finally escalating into a deafening cry of rage. And then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the creature vanished without a trace... For reasons unknown.

For Gabriel, these events stoked a sense of duty he could not ignore. He felt compelled to answer the call to arms, a resolve strengthened by memories of a courageous Class F student—Kaiser. This fellow transmigrator from Earth had once saved him from captivity, slaughtering the bandits who had imprisoned him and others. Gabriel owed his freedom to that act of heroism, and it had set him on the path to forming his own mercenary band alongside the former prisoners who shared the same gratitude.

Since then, unlike Kaiser and Cia, Gabriel had discovered his own unique ability during the battle with the bandits. As it turns out, it's a group-focused power that enhanced the strength of those who fought under his command. This ability didn’t just empower his comrades; it also grew his own strength. The more warriors he led, the stronger they became collectively, and the stronger he became individually. By now, he had the individual strength equal to five men, and his power continued to grow as his mercenary band expanded.

Thanks to the high regard the people of Greenland held for Players, Gabriel’s charismatic nature, and his mercenary group’s rising fame from completing difficult tasks, recruitment was swift and smooth. His confidence soared, as did his ambitions. Gabriel could already see himself crowned a king in a decade if he continued at this pace.

But beneath his growing success lay an unwavering determination: to find Kaiser, his benefactor, and return the favor. He had heard that a certain Player, Kaiser had stayed behind at the Southern Boundary with the hunters for the sake of the noncombatants migrators. It's a brave and reckless act, something that the Kai he came to know in their short encounter would do. And Gabriel intended to aid him, no matter the risk. Though truthfully, the risk felt negligible at first. The marching army, boasting an overwhelming force, had encountered no signs of invaders on their way to the Southern Boundary. The absence of resistance led to growing confidence among the troops. Some began to joke that if a hundred villagers had been enough to hold the invaders in place, then sending an army of this scale was absurdly overkill, were the higher-ups paranoid?.

However, their faces soon fell when they finally heard from the gravely injured hunters who had survived the confrontation with the invaders. The survivors painted a grim picture of their enemy—beasts that defied logic and matched no earthly predator. Those otherworldly creatures were monstrously resilient. A full-force swing from a grown man, capable of killing any human, can only achieve a shallow wound on an invader. In contrast, a single strike from the creatures was enough to kill a man in the most gruesome manner.

Even their iron armor offered little protection. Worse, it could doom its wearer by hindering their agility, an essential skill for evading the creatures' ferocious attacks. Killing even a single invader was an arduous task, unless one had the precision to exploit its vulnerable spots—something almost impossible to achieve in the chaos of battle against those tall monstrosities.

The survivors recounted the carnage in vivid detail: a hellish battlefield engulfed in flames, littered with the remains of comrades, and the relentless invaders crushing and eating anyone in their path. Amidst the horror, they sometimes praised certain powerhouses and sacrifices—individuals whose exceptional strength and courage had turned the tide, even if only briefly. These figures had made the difference in what was ultimately a misunderstood victory in an unwinnable game.

But what struck Gabriel most wasn’t the tales of chaos or the strength of the invaders. It was their account of a lone figure—the Player who had stood among them and forced the hunters leader to retreat from the burning forest, ordering them to stay back from a fight they couldn't win. Despite the bitterness in their voices, the army’s commander saw this decision in a different light. Given the hunters’ shattered condition and dwindled numbers, he deemed the act a calculated choice—perhaps the only reason some had survived at all, if that young didn't make such a selfless decision, then the survivors they're conversing with are corpses. Truly, a wise decision.

Until...

They heard the condition of the one that gives the command with unwavering confidence condition, which isn't any better, or perhaps far worse than any survivors here. Missing one hand, battered, bathed in blood and suffering some grievous wounds himself and likely a dozen bone fractures after being swung around by an exceptionally tall invader in the testimony of a crippled hunter.

Leaving everyone baffled, some even coughed their coffees out.

For someone like that to command the remaining hunters to retreat, that young man's head must be really broken, rather than wise.

Then again, the fact remains that strangely, no invaders even faced the survivors after that insane declaration. And When the marching army got to the location, everyone was rendered speechless at the sight for they saw nothing but marks of devastation. The forest of tall trees was gone, turned into a desolate vast clearing. The ground was covered in grey ash and coals of the burned trees, corpses can be seen here and there which the army retrieved to give a proper burial deserving for the honorable fallen defenders. What left them baffled though was the numbers of invaders corpses, over fifty of them were sighted, cut by a merciless blade. Which is baffling because according to the surviving hunters, they only faced less than a dozen. However, what's more chilling is when they finally arrive where the massive creature was spotted, dangerously near Southern Boundary itself. The wildfire didn't spread there, for the trees were trampled by something else far more frightening than fire.

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The soldiers were struck silent by the sight before them. The devastation was nothing short of apocalyptic.

The earth, once lush and carpeted with soft grass and moss, was churned into a wasteland of jagged craters and deep, irregular trenches. Trees that had stood tall and proud for centuries were nothing more than shattered remnants, their trunks snapped like twigs or flattened entirely. Some lay twisted, as if crushed by a force so immense it defied comprehension.

The landscape bore unmistakable evidence of the creature’s sheer size and power. Massive footprints, each the size of a small pond, gouged deep into the ground, left behind a clear path of destruction. Around the edges of these prints, the earth was cracked and sunken, as though the heat of its rage had seeped into the soil itself. Boulders, large and immovable under normal circumstances, had been thrown aside like toys or crumbled into debris.

The air carried a strange, acrid scent, a mix of burnt wood and something metallic, almost blood-like, as if the creature’s very presence had tainted the atmosphere. The treetops—those few that still stood at the farthest edges of the devastation—were stripped bare of leaves, their blackened branches clawing at the sky.

What left the soldiers most unnerved wasn’t just the sheer scale of the devastation—it was the fact that all of it had been caused by one young man. A one handed teenager who, by all accounts, had been gravely injured even before the battle began. The thought that this lone figure had faced not only over fifty lesser invaders but also the massive monstrosity responsible for such cataclysmic destruction was simply inconceivable. The battle itself was beyond imagining, yet the results stood as undeniable proof: humanity had triumphed.

Following orders from above, the army settled there, transforming the devastated area into a fortified defensive position in preparation for the inevitable next wave of invaders that would emerge from the Southern Boundary.

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the image of the battlefield burned into his mind. He couldn’t fathom the sheer terror and pressure Kaiser must have faced, standing alone against such overwhelming odds to ensure the survival of others. How much courage did it take to fight creatures capable of such ruin? How much bravery was required to win against something so seemingly insurmountable? The answers eluded him.

How did he even win?

Lately, Gabriel had begun to question whether the reverence that the people of Greenland held for the Players was truly deserved. Most Players, plucked from their safe and modern lives on Earth, were struggling to cope with the brutal reality of this new world. Many were overwhelmed by distress or consumed by their own frustrations, choosing laziness over adaptation. Worse still, some were exploiting the privileges granted to Players, abusing their status to demand luxuries and comfort instead of rising to meet the challenges of their circumstances.

This behavior hadn’t gone unnoticed. The once-exalted legends of the Players were being tarnished by dissatisfaction and disappointment. The people of Greenland had started to view them not as saviors but as burdens, spoiled brats unwilling or unable to live up to their reputation.

But that was about to change.

When news of a certain Player's deeds spread—his selfless courage, his unyielding determination in the face of impossible odds—it would reignite the fading respect and hope for the Players. His heroic actions would stand as a testament to what a true Player could achieve, a story to inspire others to strive for greatness rather than squander their potential.

Right now, Gabriel found himself seated in a richly adorned carriage, a vehicle meant for high-ranking individuals. It had been personally provided by the knights' commander to take them to their destination. Alfred and Brick, bandaged sat beside him, their expressions mirroring his somber thoughts. With them was a renowned legal expert, a man whose words usually brimmed with charm and strategic connections and someone akin to a lawyer. Today, however, even he was silent.

Gabriel was typically outgoing and full of confidence does not usually waste such a rare opportunity to make valuable connections. However, he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Not now, not on such crestfallen occasion.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was heavy with gloom, the weight of the situation pressing down on them all. The rhythmic creak of the wheels rolling over cobblestones was the only sound in the oppressive silence.

Finally, the carriage came to a halt.

Alfred was the first to rise, his movements slow, almost hesitant, as if a great weight pressed down on him. Brick followed silently, then Gabriel. The three stepped out of the ornate carriage into the quiet yard of a modest, charming new house. The small patch of grass was neatly trimmed, the white picket fence a picture of peace, but to them, it felt like a battlefield they weren’t prepared to face.

Alfred walked ahead, his steps heavy with reluctance. Each movement seemed a struggle, yet he pressed on, his determination driving him forward. Gabriel and Brick trailed close behind, their silence speaking volumes. Soon, the three stood before the white wooden door, its bright color at odds with the somber cloud hanging over them.

The big man hesitated. His hand hovered over the door, trembling slightly. Seconds stretched into eternity, his resolve faltering.

Prompting Gabriel to step forward, his voice soft and steady. “Do you need help? I can knock for you.”

Alfred turned to him, a flicker of gratitude in his tired eyes, but he shook his head.

“No need, young man…” His voice was firm, though the weight behind it was unmistakable.

He inhaled deeply, steadying himself, and finally knocked. It was soft, almost hesitant, as if he didn’t want the sound to reach the ears of those inside.

But the house's new occupant had sharp ears.

“Who is it?” came a voice from within, delicate and feminine.

Alfred froze for a moment, his throat tightening. Then, in his deep, resonant tone, he replied, “It’s me.”

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from inside, quick and eager. The door creaked open, revealing Cia. Her delicate features were alight with relief and joy, her pale blonde hair falling like a golden halo around her face. Her charming smile brimming with unrestrained hope.

Behind her, Miss Lina appeared, her lined face softening with profound relief at the sight of Alfred, alive. But that relief quickly turned to unease as her gaze moved to the other two men. Something was wrong, and she felt it immediately.

“Kaiser?” Cia’s voice cut through the air like a fragile thread, full of hopeful expectation. She stepped forward.

Alfred looked down, unable to meet her eyes. The weight of the truth bore down on him, and for a moment, he was silent. But he couldn’t avoid it forever. Besides, this is not his first time delivering such messages.

“I’m sorry…” His voice broke, the words barely audible. “...He’s gone.”

The light in Cia’s smile dimmed instantly, replaced by confusion. “W-what do you mean? Wait, is this some kind of prank?” She let out a shaky laugh, as if she saw through his trick. “Kai arranged this, didn’t he? His the kind to pull stunts like this.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

“This isn’t funny,” she said, her voice trembling. “Kaiser… this isn’t funny.”

She didn't want to believe it, Kai could heal himself and spoke a promise to return with so much confidence as if nothing could stop him. So, how could Alfred survive but not him?

Miss Lina stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Cia, pulling her into a tight comforting embrace. The older woman’s tears spilled onto her shoulder, silent but undeniable proof that... this was no cruel joke.

Kai is indeed gone.

Her knees buckled as she fell to her knees, suddenly robbed out of strength, crumpled to the floor, her hands clutching at the doorframe for support. Her voice cracked, raw and trembling. “But… he promised. He promised!”

"He promised that he would return..."

The tears came then, unstoppable, streaming down her pale cheeks as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her grief spilled into the air, each broken cry like a melody of sorrow that pierced the hearts of everyone present.

Alfred clenched his fists, Brick turned his gaze to the ground, and Gabriel shut his eyes tightly. None of them could bear to look at her, her despair too much to witness. Her cries echoed in the quiet yard, a sound so devastating it seemed to seep into the very earth beneath them.

For all their strength, all their resolve, none of them could muster the courage to offer her comfort. Her pain was too great, her loss too profound. All they could do was stand there, silent witnesses to the breaking of a heart... Powerless wishing to turn back time and had the strength to prevent such calamity that took the life of a good young man.

Who, in the investigation of professional experts that traced the lingering tracks of the Player. Concluded that Kaiser's last steps had sacrificed himself to the shattered cliff, taking the massive monstrosity to the other side with him with the last of his strength. In consideration of every aspect of survival, such all sustained injuries, blood loss, potentially harsh environment behind the Southern Boundary littered with unimaginable terrors. The experts came to a final conclusion, that, the Player named Kaiser. Was, in all logical regards had no chance of survival, therefore, safely assumed...

Dead.

Volume 1 End: Immortal Blade.