“Hello, Mr. Mantine,” the stranger greeted, his tone eerily calm, sending a chill down Leo’s spine.

Leo’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of trepidation shadowing his expression. “Who are you? What do you want?” he demanded, his voice strained as he struggled to keep it steady despite the tightening grip around his throat and the growing knot of anxiety coiling in his chest.

The man stepped closer, each movement measured and purposeful. “You’re full of questions,” he observed with an unsettling nonchalance.

“Who I am doesn’t concern you. As for what I want,” he paused, a sinister smile playing on his lips, “I don’t want anything from you personally. You’re just a means to an end—a tool to exact punishment on another.”

“The captain?” Leo guessed, his mind racing to piece together the man’s intentions.

“Correct. Perhaps once I’m done here, I’ll repurpose your body for my experiments,” the man mused aloud.

Leo’s breath hitched as realization dawned on him. “You’re the one who hired that assassin—the necromancer.”

The necromancer’s grin widened. “Correct,” he replied with a twisted sense of pride.

Leo managed a defiant smile. “So my captain thwarted your plans, and now you seek revenge? Do you even understand who you’re provoking?”

The necromancer’s face reddened with anger at the taunt. In a swift motion, he shoved Leo to the ground and delivered a harsh kick to his abdomen.

"Augh…" A severe pain raced through his stomach.

"Yes, I know, a B-rank paladin. That’s why you are here; I am not going to fight with a paladin face-to-face." His tone was sharp.

Leo spat blood onto the ground, the metallic taste lingering in his mouth. “As expected from a coward,” he retorted defiantly.

The necromancer responded with a vicious kick, sending pain rippling through Leo’s body. “You’re fortunate that you returned to your association yesterday. I could have skinned your family right in front of you, but don’t worry—I'll do it after your captain is dead.”

He leaned closer, seeking to relish the fear in Leo’s eyes, but was met instead with a chilling gaze—cold and filled with a quiet fury. “Such an interesting boy,” the necromancer mused. “Take him inside the circle.”

A man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Leo's waist. He placed him in a circle on the ground with some strange marks on it. He then tied his hands together with a rope. The necromancer said some strange words, after which the circle on the ground began to glow a dark green color.

"Now we wait."

…

“Frank, Wina, you’re with me. Liamond, take Gery and locate Albert. Once you’ve found him, regroup with us. And everyone, stay sharp; I have a feeling we’re walking into a trap,” Edmond instructed with a firm resolve.

Liamond gave a quick nod of understanding before departing on his assignment.

“Wina, you’re on point,” Edmond directed.

Without hesitation, Wina sprinted ahead, leading the group towards Leo’s last known location. They moved swiftly, their senses heightened for any sign of ambush. After a tense thirty-minute pursuit, they came to an abrupt stop.

Edmond looked at Wina expectantly. “What is it?”

“We’re here. He’s at the end of this alley,” Wina reported, pointing ahead.

“Alright,” Edmond said, his mind already formulating a strategy. “Let’s discuss our plan.”

…

Arkarr sat alone in the darkness, waiting. He had already positioned all of the assassins, and all that remained was for that Paladin captain to arrive. A man approached him while he was thinking, it was Captain Edmond. Arkarr's lips curled into a wide smile.

He possessed the shadow talk ability, which allowed him to communicate from any shadow, eliminating the need for him to go outside and reveal himself.

"That's enough; one more step and the boy will die."

The man came to a halt.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to step inside that circle near you; do that, and I will release the boy."

A new circle materialized on the ground, positioned perfectly at the center of the square, its intricate patterns etched into the stone. Edmond, stepped into the glowing sigil with deliberate intent. As the glyph started to emit a faint, eerie light, two black chains shot up from the ground, coiling tightly around his wrists, binding him with a metallic hiss. He dropped to one knee, the weight of the chains pressing him down, and placed one trembling hand on the cold, rough surface of the square.

'He just walked right into it?'

Five assassins appeared from the shadows and jumped on the man in the center.

"Wait, you idiots."

Suddenly, a woman and a man appeared in the center of the square. The woman threw a golden potion onto the ground, and a bright light burst forth, enveloping everyone. The man slashed his sword, cleaving one of the attackers in half amid the dazzling light. He lunged at another foe, but the target dodged his assault. The light potion's effect had worn off.

Arkarr emerged from his hiding place.

"Idiots, kill those two fast; there must be more of them."

…

Three assassins struck simultaneously, their movements swift and lethal. Wina retaliated by launching a fireball at one, the flames illuminating the chaos around them. Frank focused on preventing the remaining foes from reaching her, and with their seamless teamwork, they dispatched all five within five minutes.

Amidst the fray, Arkarr stood silently, observing the scene unfold. He raised his hand, a green circle forming in the palm of his hand.

“Rise,” he commanded.

To their horror, all five assassins stood up, their bodies reanimated, ready to resume their assault.

Wina yelled, panic creeping into her voice. “They’ve become zombies!”

A dagger was about to pierce Wina's heart when Frank intervened.

"And they have become more powerful."

Another assassin cut Frank's leg with his dagger while he was stopping two of them. Frank collapsed to the ground. Wina cast a spell, and three of them were surrounded by a large white shield.

The Assassins attempted to attack the shield, but it deflected them.

"You're all useless."

Arkarr approached and placed his hand on the shield. Green threads emerged from his hands and wrapped themselves around the shield.

…

Liamond found Albert sprawled unconscious on the cold ground of a narrow alley. Unlike usual, Liamond’s face was set in a serious expression. .

“He is passed out,” Gery observed, kneeling beside Albert to assess his condition.

“We need to move quickly; Wina’s signal just went dead,” Liamond said, urgency creeping into his voice. He pressed his fingers to his temple, closing his eyes in concentration.

“Peter, come in,” Liamond called out telepathically.

“Reading you loud and clear,” came Peter’s prompt reply.

“Albert’s down. I’m sending you his location now. Bring backup and notify the local police,” Liamond instructed, his voice carrying an urgent command. He paused for a moment before adding, “And be prepared to alert the other associations.”

“Understood. I’m on my way,” Peter confirmed, his tone steady before abruptly cutting the connection.

An assassin emerged from the shadows, lunging at Liamond. Gery rushed to shield him, but it was too late. The dagger pierced Liamond's throat, but then his figure shattered and reappeared a meter away. He raised his hand, aiming at the attacker still suspended in mid-air.

“Never underestimate the power of a D-rank priest,” Liamond declared, his voice unwavering.

With a swift gesture, he unleashed a radiant orb of light from his palm, enveloping the assassin. The assailant’s scream was abruptly silenced as the light extinguished his life.

Gery exhaled sharply. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Without missing a beat, Liamond turned to Gery. “Albert was alive, which means it was a trap.” He ran a hand through his hair. “We need to move—now.”

They sprinted towards their destination, arriving within minutes. The scene before them was chaotic: Wina was in the midst of casting a spell, while Frank lay motionless on the ground. Gery made to rush forward, but Liamond’s firm grip held him back.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Hold on,” Liamond cautioned.

“Why are we waiting?” Gery asked, frustration lacing his words.

“That necromancer is at least C-ranked. We can’t be reckless,” Liamond explained.

“So what? You’re scared?” Gery challenged.

Liamond shot him a stern look. “Don’t be stupid. I have a strategy.” He reached into his pocket and produced two vials containing swirling potions.

“Drink it; it’s an invisibility potion, captain is getting ready to use that, We have to get everyone out of there."

Liamond used a spell known as Twin Light. The spell was simple, making a duplicate of the user,but it also divided his mana between the two, meaning that if the twin vanished the mana would be lost. He also used an illusion scroll and create another Gery. The real version of Liamond drank the potion and became invisible. While his twin was ready to attack he went to Leo to bring him out. Thankfully, the magic circle which Leo was on was a week one, unlike the one Edmond was on which kept him imprisoned. A C-rank circle of magic was still difficult for a D-rank to break, nevertheless. Liamond reached into his pocket and grabbed a crystal placing it on the circle. As the crystal began to drain the magic circle, Liamond's twin attacked an assassin in an attempt to divert the necromancer's attention.

…

Arkarr used his threads, and Wina's shield broke in less than a minute.

"Do you believe, your E-rank spell can stop me? Kill them”

One of the assassins jumped on Frank, and a light struck him. Arkarr turned around to face the two newcomers.

"Ah, I didn't want to use this now."

He then said something in demon dialect.

All of the doors in the surrounding houses creaked open, and ten skeletal figures emerged, their hollow eye sockets glowing with an eerie light. Armed with rusted one-handed swords and battered shields, they moved with an unsettling, unnatural grace. Eight of them lunged at Liamond and Gery, while two sinister figures flanked the Assassins, intent on eliminating Frank and Wina.

Liamond felt a cold dread wash over him as he faced the overwhelming numbers. One skeletal warrior lunged at Wina, its bony fingers gripping the sword menacingly, but another leapt towards Frank, its intentions clear as it aimed to cleave him in two. Just then, Gery materialized from the shadows, a scroll clutched tightly in his hand. With a surge of desperate mana, he poured it into the scroll, and in less than a heartbeat, the three of them vanished, leaving behind only the echo of clattering bones and the chilling whispers of the undead.

"What?"

Arkarr's eyes widened. He also looked at where Liamond was, but there was no one there.

"Illusion? How is this even possible?"

"Captain Leo is safe."

A voice came from around the corner, and five figures appeared out of nowhere. The mage and warrior, as well as two new men, one of whom was carrying Leo. Liamond, was on the ground, sweat pouring from his forehead.

'Shit? When did they save the kid, But it doesn't matter because their captain is still under my spell.'

"Skeletons kill them all."

The paladin in the center of the circle rose to his feet.

“What?” Arkarr blanched. That was a powerful binding spell, one that could easily trap a B-rank. Even for an A-rank, it would take several minutes to break free. He had spent a fortune and sacrificed many lives to create it.

The shackles binding the paladin’s wrists shattered, releasing a brilliant cascade of light.

“You’re responsible for all those innocent lives lost,” Edmond said, his voice a potent mix of sorrow and fury.

With a forceful stomp, the ground beneath him trembled, sending a cloud of dust into the air and shattering the sinister circle etched there.

“And you dared to take one of my own,” he continued, his eyes now shimmering with a golden hue, locking onto Arkarr.

“You’ve harmed my comrades,” his tone hardened with each word.

Four assassins lunged at him simultaneously. Edmond unsheathed his sword and, in a blur of movement, cut them all down at once.

Arkarr leaped back, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

“Do you really think that circle was all I had? I’m no fool to face a B-rank unprepared.”

Arkarr raised his hand. “Skeletons.”

At his command, the ground around them broke open, and a horde of skeletons surrounded Edmond. Arkarr knew they were no match for the paladin, but he only needed a few seconds. Placing his hand on the ground, Arkarr whispered an incantation. A massive green circle began forming beneath them, encompassing the entire field.

“This place is riddled with traps,” Arkarr sneered as green gas started seeping from the ground.

With one glance, Edmond knew it was poison. He slightly turned his head toward Wina, who understood immediately. She cast a protective spell, summoning a shield that enveloped their group.

But Arkarr wasn’t done. He pulled out a scroll, activating it. The ground trembled violently, and within seconds, a massive skeletal hand erupted from the earth.

Edmond knew time was running out. His armor began to glow, the light transferring to his sword. He pressed the tip of his blade to the ground, sending out a wave of light that obliterated the smaller skeletons. But as the last of them fell, the massive skeleton fully emerged from the ground—three times Edmond’s size, with green flames burning in its hollow eye sockets.

Arkarr’s laughter echoed through the chaos. “It’s a B-rank skeleton.”

The undead colossus wielded a bone sword, as tall as Edmond, with a skull embedded in its hilt.

“And with every second, it absorbs the poison, growing stronger. Soon it will be A-rank,” Arkarr cackled.

As the skeleton advanced, Edmond knelt and placed his hand on the ground. Arkarr’s laughter faltered, turning into a furious scowl.

“Kill him!” he shouted.

The giant skeleton opened its mouth, emitting a horrid hiss as it charged at Edmond.

Edmond’s gauntlet shimmered, and suddenly, the poison circle on the ground shattered, causing Arkarr’s eyes to widen in disbelief.

“No matter, I still have my skeleton.”

The skeletal giant swung its sword down at Edmond, but he effortlessly blocked it with his own blade. The sheer force of the impact shattered the windows of nearby houses. The skeleton pressed harder, but Edmond, gripping his sword with just one hand, held his ground as if the monstrous attack was nothing.

Sensing danger, Arkarr raised both hands. “Skeleton, use my life force to become stronger!”

Two dark tendrils shot out from Arkarr’s palms and sank into the skeleton. The green flames in its eyes burned brighter, and its strength surged.

But Edmond’s response shattered Arkarr’s confidence. His entire form began to glow with even greater intensity. Majestic golden wings unfurled from Edmond’s back, and with a single surge of power, he forced the skeleton several steps back.

Raising his sword, the blade began to shine so brightly that it caught the attention of people streets away. Arkarr fumbled for another scroll, but Edmond was faster. He slashed the air, sending a radiant arc of light toward the skeleton. The undead beast raised its sword to block, but it wasn’t enough. In one swift motion, the light cut the skeleton cleanly in half.

Arkarr barely managed to dodge to the side. As he scrambled to his feet, Edmond was already walking toward him, his presence suffocating. Arkarr froze, paralyzed with fear. All his traps had failed, and even his prized B-rank skeleton was destroyed.

Wasn’t Edmond supposed to be a B-rank? Leo’s words suddenly came flooding back to him.

'Do you even understand who you’re provoking??'

He became angry, and anger is what brought him out of his paralyzed state. He cast a spell, and a small shadow tornado engulfed Edmond. He then jumped back and began to cast a teleport spell. The tornado vanished with a flap of the wings, and his teleport spell broke.

“Dame it, how is this possible?”

Arkarr was fill with anger. He pulled out his dagger and attacked the man. The dagger shattered when it came into contact with his armor.

…

Leo was staring at Edmond, who had grown two large golden wings. It was beautiful.

When the dagger shattered, Edmond placed his hand on Arkarr's head, and a burst of light came from his eyes.

Arkarr’s scream pierced the air as his eyes were seared by the light.

Edmond’s wings receded, and his eyes regained their normal color. Wina, regaining her footing, rushed to Edmond’s side.

“Captain, are you alright?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

“I’m fine,” Edmond reassured her, his voice steady.

“I’ll call the authorities,” Wina offered.

“No need. I’ve already alerted them,” Edmond replied as he approached the rest of his team.

“How is everyone holding up?” he inquired.

“Frank’s wounded but stable. Liamond’s overexerted himself; he’s critical,” Gery reported grimly.

Leo faced Liamond, worry clouding his features. “Captain…”

“Leo, you’ve done all you could. Whatever happens now is my responsibility,” Edmond stated firmly.

Leo looked down, lost for words. Soon after, the local police swarmed the area, following Edmond’s directives to secure the scene and search for any additional suspects.

Gery turned to Leo. “Can you walk?”

“Yes,” Leo replied.

“Let’s head back to the association. The captain will ensure your family is informed,” Gery said as they departed.

Back at the association, Peter greeted them with drinks in hand. “Here, this will help.”

Wina’s concern shifted to Albert. “How is he?”

“In the infirmary,” Peter answered before urging Leo to drink.

The warm liquid soothed Leo’s nerves. Moments later, Edmond arrived.

"Liamond condition stabilized; Frank and Albert are also OK; good work everyone."

They all exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Leo, expect a visit from the church tomorrow for a debrief. You’re free to go home now,” Edmond said.

Peter offered to accompany Leo home, providing solace along the way. As they walked, the streets dimmed under the encroaching twilight, casting long shadows that danced around them. "This is the everyday job of Paladins; don't worry about it."

Leo remained silent and simply nodded. Upon their arrival at his house, Leo bid farewell to Peter and went inside. His mother, seated on the sofa, sprang to her feet upon spotting Leo, rushing over to embrace him.

“Sweetie, are you okay? The police said there was some trouble,” his mother fretted, wringing her hands.

Leo mentally cursed the police’s loose tongues. “I’m fine, Mom. Really,” he assured her.

She exhaled in relief. “Dinner’s ready whenever you are.”

“Thanks, I’ll be right there,” Leo responded, but his attention was caught by an unfamiliar object in the room.

“What’s this lamp doing here?” he asked, curiosity piqued.

“Oh, that? It’s a magical lamp Belgilia gave us; it works like the cooling box. Just touch the crystal to light it up,” his mother explained nonchalantly.

Leo’s eyes widened as an idea sparked in his mind. “Mom, did Ms. Fodoln mention where she bought this?”.

“She said it was from a store three alleys down. Why do you ask?”

Without a word, Leo grabbed his coat again. “I need to check something out there. I’ll be back soon,” he said, urgency driving his steps as he headed out.

He dashed out the door and down the narrow alley his mother had described, weaving past the morning bustle with practiced agility. Determination propelled him forward as his heartbeat quickened.

‘If I want to become more powerful, I need to push myself’, he resolved.

After roughly a hundred strides, Leo came to a halt in front of an unassuming store, its wooden sign swaying slightly in the breeze.

"Magic Tools Store, what a silly name."

Upon entering the dimly lit shop, Leo was greeted by a woman cloaked in shadows, her face obscured by a hood.

“Good day, sir. How may I be of service?” she inquired with a polite nod.

“Do you have weight bracelets?” Leo asked,

“We do indeed. What weight are you seeking?” she responded smoothly.

“What options are available?” Leo pressed.

“We have 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 pounds,” she listed.

“And the price for twenty pounds?”

“Nine silver coins,” she stated.

“I’ll take two of the twenty-pounders,” Leo decided.

She returned with two boxes, and Leo handed over the silver. As he strapped on the bracelets and activated them, a bead of sweat trickled down his brow. He quickly deactivated them and collected his change.

“If you need anything else, we have a wide selection,” she offered.

“Thank you,” Leo replied.

"My pleasure, Mr. Mantine."

Leo exited the store and began walking but abruptly came to a halt.

‘How did she know my name?’ he wondered in alarm, a chill running down his spine.

He spun around to confront her, only to find the shop darkened and the door locked. A sense of foreboding kept him from knocking.

‘Better report this to the captain tomorrow,’ he thought as he made his way home, unease lingering with every step.

…

“I’m home,” Leo announced as he stepped through the door.

“Welcome back. what did you get?” his mother asked, peering at him from the kitchen.

“Just some work-related items,” Leo replied vaguely.

“Alright, go freshen up. Dinner’s waiting,” she said with a warm smile.

After changing, Leo joined his little sister Rosie at the dinner table.

“Hey there,” he greeted her cheerfully.

“Hi Leo!” Rosie beamed back.

Their mother served Leo his dinner, and he turned to Rosie, “How’s school treating you?”

“It’s fun! I’ve made lots of friends, but the lessons are tough,” she admitted.

“The more you learn now, the brighter your future will be,” Leo encouraged her.

“But you didn’t finish school, and you’re doing well. Why is that?” Rosie asked curiously.

Leo chuckled. “That’s my little secret. Maybe I’ll share it with you one day.”

Rosie looked at him, her curiosity unsatisfied.

After dinner, Leo retreated to his room, his thoughts heavy with the day’s events. Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling, reflecting on his weaknesses and responsibilities in this magical world—and the mysteries of his past life that still haunted him.

‘It’s because I was weak that Frank got hurt and Liamond is in that condition, I'm in this magical world doing nothing, I also need to know what happened to me in my previous world'

His gaze fell on the weight bracelets. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll give it my all,” he resolved.