Rowan, a mysterious figure with an unknown origin, had appeared seemingly out of thin air. Despite his enigmatic background, he found solace in the company of Dasu, a friend whom he always looked out for.

On a sunny afternoon, Rowan approached Dasu with his usual exuberance, ready to lend a helping hand. Concerned about his friend's demeanor, Rowan asked, "Hey, how ya doing?"

Dasu sighed, appreciating Rowan's kindness. "Hey, Rowan. It's not really a problem. I'm just feeling a bit down. Auntie Victoria said she'd teach me some healing techniques if I helped her out a bit."

Rowan nodded in understanding. "Well, alright then. Take care of yourself, Dasu. I've got to meet up with my other friends. We have our first mission today."

Parting ways, Rowan sprinted through the town, pushing himself to the limits of his speed. Within seconds, he reached the town entrance, pleased with his new record. "Yeah, new record!" he exclaimed.

Olethros, a friend of Rowan's with his own unique abilities, appeared nearby. "Yeah, you beat it by one second," he remarked, impressed by Rowan's speed.

Impatient to get started, Dan chimed in, "Can we just go now? We have to run like a hundred miles. Let's get a move on!"

Rowan grinned and agreed, "Alright, let's go, guys!"

The trio embarked on their journey, running tirelessly towards the village. Despite their determination, it took them a good thirty minutes to reach their destination. Olethros complained about the duration of their journey, expressing his frustration.

"Damn, that took so long!" Olethros exclaimed, catching his breath.

Rowan, unfazed, reassured him, "Oh, calm down. We're here now. We have to help these people!"

Dan inquired about the mission, seeking further information. Olethros explained, "The mission is to take down the gang that's been terrorizing this village. They've been robbing families and even killed someone two days ago."

Rowan's eyes sparkled with determination as he declared, "That settles it. I'm going to crack open their skulls!"

Before plunging into action, Olethros suggested gathering information from the locals. They approached an old woman and politely inquired about the gang's appearance.

The old woman, grateful for their concern, shared her knowledge. "Well, they usually hang around that store over there. They're about to rob it soon. If you want, you can follow them after they finish."

Olethros thanked her sincerely, promising to help the villagers. With their new information in hand, the trio set off, keeping a watchful eye on the gang.

Rowan's keen senses spotted two gang members, and with swift precision, he rendered them unconscious. Olethros swiftly knocked out another with a powerful blow to the head, utilizing his formidable strength.

Rowan proposed a bolder plan, "Let's take them all out at once."

Drawing upon his immense power, Rowan slammed his fist into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that decimated the gang's camp, leaving only destruction in its wake. Most of the gang members were instantly incapacitated.

Olethros, startled by the extent of the devastation, exclaimed, "Rowan, you weren't supposed to kill them!"

Rowan stood firm in his conviction, asserting, "Olethros, these bastards kill, steal, and rape. They don't deserve to live!"

Amidst the chaos, a man with blue hair and a white suit materialized before them. Rue, as he introduced himself, bore a malicious grin. "Hello, gentlemen. My name is Rue, and I'm here to kill the three of you."

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Rowan wasted no time, launching a swift strike that connected with Rue's jaw. Rue, taken aback by Rowan's speed, teleported away. In an instant, he appeared behind Dan, delivering a powerful kick that sent him hurtling through the forest, rendering him unconscious.

Olethros, fueled by anger, tapped into the full potential of his greatsword's abilities. He unleashed a flurry of powerful blows upon Rue, with Rowan joining the assault, seizing Rue's leg and slamming him into the ground.

However, Rue proved to be a formidable opponent, utilizing his teleportation to attack unpredictably. Olethros, with his enhanced speed and power, could only defend against one of Rue's assaults before being struck repeatedly.

Undeterred, Olethros attempted a lightning-fast strike at Rue's neck. However, Rue swiftly shattered Olethros' blade, leaving him defenseless. Rue prepared to strike again, but before he could deliver the final blow, Rowan intervened, unleashing a devastating blast that sent Rue hurtling through the forest, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

Rue, somewhat surprised by Rowan's hidden power, managed to teleport away, leaving the trio behind. Olethros collapsed in tears, cradling Rowan's lifeless body in his arms, overwhelmed with guilt.

"Bastard... I couldn't protect you," Olethros whispered through his tears.

Dan, regaining consciousness, approached Olethros, his voice filled with compassion. "I heard what happened, Olethros."

Olethros, his grief consuming him, exclaimed, "Yeah, it's my fucking fault. Rowan promised he wouldn't die on me. Don't lie to me!"

Dan, filled with resolve, punched Olethros, knocking him to the ground. "Don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control. I got knocked out first, remember? You did your best, Olethros. The leader was stronger than both of us. What else could you have done?"

Olethros, defeated, asked in despair, "What do we do now, Dan?"

Dan stood up, his expression resolute. "We get stronger, Olethros. We make sure this never happens again. We reach higher than Rowan ever imagined."

A flicker of determination ignited within Olethros, his tears mixing with newfound resolve. "Yeah... let's reach higher... for Rowan!"

Dan and Olethros left the village, their shared grief transforming into an unbreakable resolve. They returned to the town, recounting the events to their guild before embarking on a new path, one that would honor Rowan's memory.

in a secluded medical hut, surrounded by an icy aura, Dasu dedicated himself to rigorous training, pushing his limits to master his ice abilities. The tranquil atmosphere was disrupted as an urgent knock echoed through the wooden walls.

Knock! Knock!

Startled by the interruption, Dasu turned to the door and called out, "Who is it?"

A guild attendant replied from the other side, "I'm from the guild. There's something I have for you—it's from a man known as Rowan."

Curiosity and concern flickered in Dasu's eyes as he opened the door, "What happened to Rowan? It's not my birthday, though..."

The guild attendant, with a solemn expression, revealed, "Rowan has tragically fallen in battle. He left this tome for you in his will. He had been saving up for it, knowing your birthday was approaching."

"No... R-Rowan is dead? This can't be happening! He promised he wouldn't leave me," Dasu's voice trembled with disbelief and grief, his heart heavy with sorrow.

Regretful for having to deliver such news, the guild attendant lowered their gaze and offered an apology before quietly departing from the hut.

Tears welled up in Dasu's eyes as he was left to mourn alone. At that moment, Victoria, a close companion, hurriedly descended the stairs and spotted Dasu's distress.

Concerned, she approached him, asking gently, "Why are you crying, Dasu?"

"R-Rowan is dead!" choked Dasu, his emotions overwhelming him.

Understanding the depth of his pain, Victoria comforted him in silence, offering her support and a shoulder to lean on.

In the halls of New Dawn Academy, the students were grappling with the news of Rowan's demise. He had been their role model and inspiration, and his absence left them feeling demotivated and lost.

However, amidst the sorrow, one person seemed heartless—Anderson. He reveled in Rowan's misfortune, laughing callously, "HAHAHAHA! I can't believe it! That loser finally got what he deserved for outshining me!"

The other students glared at Anderson, infuriated by his lack of empathy, but before they could react, someone's fist met his face with a force that sent him crashing through the nearby wall.

Olethros, brimming with fury, stepped forward, warning Anderson, "Shut the fuck up, Anderson! One more word, and you'll regret it!"

Defiant, Anderson tried to provoke Olethros, taunting, "Tch! You're always acting like you're some prodigy. Your friend Rowan was too, and look where it got him!"

An eruption of anger surged through Olethros, and he readied himself to strike again, his patience wearing thin. But a wise and caring figure, Eric, intervened, calming Olethros, "Enough, please. Don't let his words dictate your actions."

Reluctantly, Olethros withdrew, though his anger still simmered beneath the surface. He declared, "Fine, but I'm leaving!" With that, Olethros walked away, seeking solace in the depths of the forest to focus on honing his swordsmanship.

As the scene shifted, Dasu remained devoted to training his ice abilities, unaware of the presence lurking behind him. The sound of footsteps approached, emanating an eerie sensation that sent shivers down his spine—this was no ordinary visitor.