Years ago. The central continent, southwest, just above the borders of the Kingdom of Malandry. The Great Dungeon of Dune. It was a large subterranean dungeon that was under the arid desert of the Asharan Land.

This dungeon was managed by the Ashara Clan of Nobility. This clan was a master in navigating the desert and the dungeon beneath it.

The Hero of the Era, the Black Hood, Elway, Tristana, and their new resident mage Jain Sybil were now on rest, for a week after doing the first draft of their diving on the Great Dungeon of Dune.

On the third day of their rest, they scheduled a meeting at the Adventurers’ Guild cafeteria for dinner, although the nobles gladly let them stay in one of the biggest mansions owned by the state they still opt to eat the food the cafeteria of the adventurers guild offered, something that cannot be easily replicated.

That night they had an uncanny visitor. Although disheveled Alphecca immediately knew who it was the moment he approached their table, it was because of the skirt of knives that he wore.

“Redgar… it's probably me you want to talk to?” Alphecca stood up. Elway tried to stand up but the hero’s hands stopped him.

The visitor removed his hood showing his face in the crowd, “Can we talk outside?” it was really Redgar, the familiar mug was there but he was far from what he was before.

Alphecca took a glance at the party “Meeting’s canceled, we still have time so don’t worry,” he said as he took his sword that was lying diagonally on the chair.

Everyone knew except Jain what was the beef between the two. Their last meeting was when Redgar left and it was a good one but they knew that their last words were not enough for closure. The two must talk with themselves tonight.

They watched the back of the two as they left the cafeteria.

<--->

Alphecca followed Redgar to wherever he wanted to go. They hadn’t stopped walking for a while and there were no words that were exchanged between them yet.

Although it was dark, there were candles on the lamp posts that at least lit up the way. Alphecca could tell that this was not a friendly visit. He began hearing the sound of water. Redgar heard it too and followed it, knowing where they were going. It was down a small flight of stairs just before the bridge ahead.

Then, all of a sudden, Redgar stopped moving. They were now on a riverbank. The river was man-made; most of the people in the Asharan domain were earth and water magic users, and they were good at making these waterways and bridges.

Finally, Redgar faced Alphecca. Clearly, the man had aged so much.

“How long has it been?” it was Alphecca the one who began the conversation.

“2 years… 2 long years,-” Redgar spoke as he began rummaging in his chest pocket, after grabbing the right object that he was searching for he threw some folded papers at Alphecca’s feet “-Read it.”

Alphecca didn’t like the way Redgar had thrown it, he glared but still knelt, took the paper and flicked a light on his pointing finger, “Where did you find this?” he said as he began to read it.

“She could be saved, there were many ways, as long as we could take her outside, restrain her, it was possible,” Redgar spoke and each word gutted his ability to think rationally.

Alphecca dropped the paper, he was cold. Staring directly into his eyes as he spoke “So what… adventurers could die any moment inside the dungeon… what do you want me to say?” on Alphecca’s side, they already had these conversations before, the ‘what if’s, the ‘what were,’ and the possibilities.

Redgar smiled as if he finally had accepted everything. “I already understand why I was looking for answers… I wanted to find a reason not to answer the call of my ancestors…” he knew what he should have done 2 years ago but delayed it.

Redgar stared at Alphecca’s face, the man was really amazing. He was strong, ahead of his peers, he had a mind of steel. He was the definition of the title he was holding.

Opposite him stood Redgar, the last of his kind. His parents had died fighting for what they believed to be the greater cause. The Red Monks were notorious for their rituals and culture. They worshiped the sun, followed strict rules, and only ate meat. The best part of their faith was the mandate to help others without expecting anything in return and to always do what was right. However, the worst aspect of their faith was their rituals and belief about vengeance.

Stolen story; please report.

But it was already far from the mind of Redgar. Although he was the last of their faith he won’t commit revenge for shallow reasons at all. He had learned to accept only the positive aspects of his fate.

While wallowing in his thoughts he remembered something, he took out a token that the healer gave to him and showed it to Alphecca.

“It would glow red whenever you lie-” Redgar said and held it out so that Alphecca could see it “-I hate you!” and the token glow red.

It made a smile crack on Alphecca’s face.

The more Redgar processed things the more he wallowed in regret. Regret that he was weak, regret that Lenaya died, regret of his feelings. He truly tried to end himself a few times but just thinking that he was saved by Lenaya he felt that he couldn’t take what was not already his. Truly love would build someone up and destroy someone down.

Keeping all his feelings mixed in his soul truly did break the man that he was. Redgar was desperate, he was still logical but he didn’t know what to do with his rage. It must flow out. Believing in a simple truth was much better than thinking of it complicatedly.

“Is it your fault that Lenaya died?” it was the only question Redgar could ask.

“It was all my fault, I was late… I didn’t kill the fox fast enough,” Alphecca said as he turned his back but he didn’t move to leave, he turned his back because he couldn’t watch the man changing, falling deeper in the abyss of his emotions.

The token didn’t glow, It was the only thing that he was waiting for. Redgar cracked a smile as he decided on what he was going to do next.

Although it was impossible to beat the strongest hero of his time, gazing at the hero's back invited him to take the chance.

In a flash, he launched a literal backstab but…

“You should have done this before, you really waited two years?” Alphecca spoke. He used his sword to block the knife.

Redgar immediately created a space between them.

Redgar’s right eye began to turn red. His power and magic increased as his eyes turned darker red. It was one of the abilities the faith of the Sun uses. One of the reasons why they were called the Red Monk.

“That’s right… let it all go… let’s see what you got, Redgar Nigel!!” Alphecca said taunting. “It was all my fault… I know it… how about you? Do you really know why you are here? Why you are doing this? Red Monk my ass!! You didn’t even have the chance to save her!!! Did you?” Alphecca continued to provoke him. If Redgar was going to let it all out then he was ready to receive it.

This fight should have happened 2 years ago but Redgar just avoided the confrontation.

“I will not say sorry to you!! I also lost her!! She was a friend to me! And a lover to you! You weakling!!” Alphecca seemed to have a piece he wanted to say but the fight began.

It was Redgar who attacked first.

Alphecca effortlessly evaded the first attack and then countered with a slash on Redgar’s back. As the pain seer it totally woke him up, he waved his hands and made 6 of his knives float.

Redgar’s fighting style was a mix of mid-range and calculated melee attacks. Still against the hero of the era, he dodged it with ease even breaking some of the knives.

“You tried to fight me without coating your knives with magic edge? Pure recklessness!!” Alphecca continued to mock Redgar.

Redgar was not in his full power, he had been neglecting his body, not even practicing his knives. It was totally reckless that he even activated his Red Eye to buff his powers. His eyes hurt but his rage was washing it away.

Using the red eye was the only way to stand toe to toe against the greatest man he ever knew.

Redgar retracted all of his knives and one by one held them, placing magic edge each time he touched them.

“Lenaya died because of you… so I will kill you…” Redgar muttered the only words he could come up with that were fueled by rage and nonacceptance.

“That’s more I like it, how about this, I’m going to carve a new scar in your face after a beat you!” Alphecca smiled.

Hearing those words made Redgar grit his teeth, he would do it. That’s how he was, a man of his words “If it’s the god’s will then so be it.” he smiled.

The two knew that this night was going to change their lives.

<--->

Presently at the Sun God peak.

Alphecca and Redgar stood face to face with a space of 15 paces. Their long-awaited fight was not scheduled that day but it had to happen now.

A boy was watching on the sides.

The two locked eyes, each gaze a silent declaration of war. The old man stood poised, his weathered face etched with determination, his sword gleaming in the dim light. Every muscle in his body was coiled, ready to strike. Opposite him, Redgar's single eye burned with a fierce intensity, his grip tight around the knives in each hand. The air between them crackled with anticipation, a moment suspended on the edge of violence.

At the exact moment, the two began their rush. The spaces between them instantly disappeared and the blades that they were holding began rapidly exchanging with strikes and parry. Although the old man held a single sword it was enough to deal with Redgar’s two blades. Still, Redgar was efficient, he made sure that the old man would work for every parry and counterattack he would launch.

“Getting old? Old man?” Redgar suddenly threw some insults.

“Your age is the only advantage you have… and you know that,” the old man retorted, he then landed a kick on Redgar’s stomach. It was one of his newly developed techniques that he had been using on the boy.

Redgar flew, surprised by the explosive strength of the old man. Still, he managed to throw two of his knives, and the old man evaded it with ease.

The scarred man landed by rolling “I think warm-up is finished… time to get serious,” Redgar said waving his hands calling the two knives back to him floating and another wave making the three other knives float around him.

Alphecca knew of the knives and their different elements. He had broken two before so he was not familiar with the two of his new knives.

The two began to use Magic Edge, which would radically change the flow of battle.

Simon just stood there watching intently, the boy knew in his heart that something was wrong with the old man but still fully placed his trust in him. He could tell that the scarred man was really strong, he was not afraid, but rather he began formulating ways to fight and kill him.