In a dimly lit room, a solitary figure sat by the window, his eyes locked onto the ornate frame. Beyond the glass, a world unfolded before him—the forest that had been quiet for a few years now suddenly erupted with crackling lightning of bluish hue. As the wind rustled the curtains, he watched intently, a sense of intrigue mingling with a hint of unease. After a few moments, the bolts of energy he saw changed color to red. For the man watching, this alteration was familiar. "Should I help him? No, I know he's strong. No random person could beat him anyway. I'll ask him about this tomorrow."

Confident in his decision, the man stood up, approached a magic crystal, and grasped it. "Hello, clear up my schedule for tomorrow. I'm going to visit a friend of mine." The magic crystal served as a communication tool. After conveying his message, the man returned to the window, witnessing the crimson lightning gradually fade out. "I guess the battle's over. That unexpectedly took quite a while. I'd like to know who made it tough for him.”

The morning after the forest incident, panic began to simmer within the city of Molokut. Rumors spread like wildfire, claiming that a Dragon King had engaged in battle the previous night. Others insisted that a mighty creature had rampaged through the Forgotten Forest and was now headed towards the city. The adventurers' guild buzzed with activity early in the day as members exchanged stories about the events they had witnessed.

A woman in her 30s pounded a board to capture the attention of everyone present in the bustling guild hall. "Calm down, dear adventurers. This might sound far-fetched, but our scouts report no traces of magic in the area. It's quite possible that it was a natural phenomenon," she reassured the crowd, her voice carrying over the chatter.

"But Miss Mira, many of us saw silhouettes in the sky last night. Some thought it looked like a dragon, while others saw what seemed like an angel," proclaimed one brave adventurer. Another chimed in, "Yeah, it was intense, ya know?"

Mira maintained her composure. "Rest assured, our scouts are Platinum-ranked and above. They wouldn't report something untrue. Besides, an Aetherium-ranked adventurer is coming here today to investigate. We'll be safe even if those alleged monsters make their way to the city."

A hush fell over the room, replaced by hushed murmurs. Suddenly, an adventurer asked, "Who's coming, Miss Mira? Is it the Rampaging Luke or the Ice Blade Kalazar?" The two mentioned names were Aetherium-ranked adventurers from the nearby city of Gamerstedia, famed for achieving the highest rank in the guild and being on par with the world's strongest beings.

Mira's smile grew wide. "No, they're from the Tiscar Empire..." The room erupted in gasps and cheers. Only one Aetherium-ranked adventurer hailed from the Tiscar Empire. "Yes, you know him—The Holy Warrior Ivan Falkenberg!" The excitement in the room escalated, as one of the most powerful figures, or perhaps the most powerful human, in the world was set to visit the humble countryside city of Molokut.

“Ohh! That’s reassuring, Sir Ivan will visit us!” An adventurer leaped to their feet and shouted. The room was quickly filled with excited chatter, Mira relaxed as the adventurers calmed down from the panic, now she needs to prepare some stuff for the arrival of an Aetherium Ranked adventurer.

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In the borders of the Gulukian Kingdom, the sun beat down relentlessly on the land, casting a sweltering heat over everything. A man of hulking stature and clad in heavy armor shifted uncomfortably, his upper body wrapped in layers of cloth in a desperate attempt to shield himself from the scorching rays.

"Man, this is a hot day. Should have brought some more water," he grumbled, his voice muffled by the makeshift protection.

Beside him walked a hooded figure, their features carrying a woman-like elegance. "Sir Ivan, you just drank an abnormal amount of water, did you not?" the figure inquired.

"Well, I can't argue with that, Serefina."

"Please, just behave, sir. Let's not draw unnecessary attention as we wait in line to enter the kingdom," Serefina advised as she scanned the long queue leading to the border gate.

"I know, I know, no need to be so uptight about it." Ivan let out a sigh. "What do you think about the reports from the guild?"

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"It's poorly written."

"I'm not talking about the writing quality, are you messing with me?"

"No, of course not. It's just that the report seems suspicious. If the claims about the lightning sightings are true, they could be linked to the Dragon King, Lord Larcosta."

"I'm glad you noticed it too, Serefina. But why would a Dragon King venture into the Abandoned Forest near a countryside city?"

"Hmmm, I can't provide an answer to that, I’m not exactly sure why, which is exactly why the Empire tasked us with investigating."

"Well, let's make the best of it then," Ivan said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice as he contemplated the upcoming mission.

Time crawled-by under the relentless sun. Beads of sweat formed on Ivan's brow, and his clothing grew damp. The line moved at an agonizingly slow pace, and Ivan began to worry they might be stuck outside the border, forced to camp for the night. Suddenly, a woman came rushing towards them, accompanied by two men who appeared to be adventurers, judging by their gear.

The woman approached Ivan, her expression a mix of panic and urgency. She bowed before him, even though he was nearly hidden within his bundled garments. "Sir Ivan Falkenberg, am I addressing the right person?"

"Y-yes, I'm surprised you recognize me."

"We received a message from the guild earlier, which informed us of your arrival. My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mira Lostar, the guild representative of Molokut!" She announced with evident pride.

Whispers rippled through the crowd at her proclamation. The sight of a guild representative making such a public introduction was quite the spectacle. Some speculated that a high-ranking individual had arrived, while others entertained the possibility of an important dignitary visiting the local guild branch.

"Is that so? Well then, Mira, what brings you here?"

"We're here to provide you an escort to our modest city of Molokut!" she declared enthusiastically.

"Could you please lower your voice? I'd prefer not to draw attention in this crowd. Serefina, what message is she talking about?" Ivan shot a mildly irritated look at his companion.

"While you were busy complaining about the heat, I took the initiative to send my summons to the guild. It was my way of expediting our entry through the border, and also my attempt to spare myself from your incessant griping."

"Well, that was kind of you. But the last part wasn't necessary." Ivan managed a tired smile. "Alright then, Mira, do we have permission to bypass the line?"

"Yes, indeed! We have a carriage waiting for us within the city walls."

"Alright, lead the way," Ivan replied with a grateful smile, ready to escape the oppressive heat of the border queue.

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"Hmm, this is peculiar," a man dressed in noble attire muttered to himself. "Larcosta should have returned after last night. Did he take a detour?" The man paced around the room, an unusual space that resembled a cave but exuded an opulent aura. Despite its extravagant interior, the room was enormous, devoid of any typical accommodations.

"Lord Farlys, there's no sign of Lord Larcosta in the surrounding area." A man dressed in black robes reported to the man named Farlys.

"This is growing stranger by the minute. Larcosta should have returned triumphantly. Unless..."

"What would you like to do now, Lord Farlys?"

"Let's head back to Molokut and survey the forest. Although the forest reverts to its natural state over time, Larcosta should still be there if he hasn't returned home. Perhaps he sustained injuries during the battle and is lying somewhere in need of aid."

"If that is your wish." The man in black robes bowed respectfully, allowing Farlys to pass as he followed his master.

In the middle of the Forgotten Forest in Molokut.

Farlys and his companion floated above the woodland, scanning the area for any traces of Larcosta. The forest lay eerily quiet, seemingly devoid of life. While they spotted a few wandering monsters, none posed a threat and could easily be dispatched if they became aggressive.

"What do you see, Camoo?" Farlys inquired of his follower.

Camoo raised his hood, his eyes emitting a faint bluish glow. "I see a group of five individuals on the forest's outskirts, but there is no sign of Lord Larcosta."

"A group, you say? Ah, it must be Sir Ivan's party. Are you absolutely certain that Larcosta is not within this forest?"

"Yes, Lord Farlys."

"Very well. I will postpone my search for Larcosta for now. I intend to meet Sir Ivan and extend my greetings. I've already cleared my schedule for the day, and it would be quite dull if I did nothing." With that, Farlys set off in the direction of Ivan, and Camoo followed suit.