The Imperial City, a city with a long history of millions of centuries-old civilizations, covers an area of over one hundred thousand square kilometers.

The surrounding areas are mainly divided into three classes: the outskirts, where the common people live in uniform single-story houses; the middle area, where the merchants live in three-story lofts and have more variety in restaurants compared to the outskirts, such as steak and rice bowls in addition to the usual rice porridge; and the central area, the highest point of the entire city.

To enter the central area, one must first climb hundreds of meters up a hill and then pass through a city wall that stands over one hundred meters high, built by the soldiers. This wall encircles the palace and the Durma Academy, with thirty thousand imperial troops and several generals stationed here day and night to guard the safety of the palace.

The palace is inhabited by nobles and members of the royal family, while the Durma Academy is a combat academy where sorcerers and knights are trained, and approximately five million people reside here, seeking refuge in this only city with the ability to protect them and secure their survival.

But as I said, it won't last long...

Although they can currently survive in this chaotic world, their nightmares will soon come.

The scene I witnessed on the streets of the Imperial City that day is just one example.

A mother and daughter were taken away by the imperial army to become sacrifices. And it was not just them, there were many others.

One soldier in the imperial army said, "Releasing just you wouldn't be fair to others, would it?"

Fair?!

To hear the word "fair" come out of such a savage mouth, from the moment she was knocked unconscious, I made the same decision as back then... to pretend I didn't see anything.

Tragedies like this happen every day on this street. Even though Lord Guoshi is dead, his teachings are still being followed.

Every day, hundreds of people are thrown into the so-called Holy Pool, and every day, fear weighs heavily upon them...upon me!

"Brother, do you remember?"

A tender and elegant voice from behind woke me from my dream. I quickly turned my head, and a girl in a yellow-brown dress, full of innocence, murmured in front of me.

"Mmm..."

I lowered my head, apologizing to her.

"You hate me, don't you?"

"..."

"I'm an incompetent brother, leaving you behind and running away, utterly useless!"

"..."

No matter what I say, she remains indifferent, as if my matters have nothing to do with her!

This expressionless face makes it even harder for me to accept her as my sister, just like...just like.

"Brother...you truly are an incompetent brother, because you abandoned me, even though we promised to protect each other...but!"

"Can I really not forgive myself back then?"

I was rejected, bluntly and decisively.

My limbs grew weak, and even the fake magic sword fell to the ground.

"I don't deserve to live like this. I should have died a long time ago!"

To abandon important people and continue living in this world, can I still be considered human?

What was once a lush and peaceful sight, instantly turned into scattered dust in the air.

In this way, I am not qualified to be a magic sword, to be my sister's support.

Even if...

I held the ancestral sword that was given to me, slowly raising it, ready to plunge it into my heart and end my life on the spot!

"Don't worry, brother... I will redeem myself!!"

Smack!

Before I finished speaking, my sister quickly rushed over and slapped the sword out of my hand, with a teary voice.

"This is not redemption, right?!"

"Huh?"

"This is not redemption, it's just you trying to escape!"

As my sister slapped me, I saw the slightly regretful expression on the ancestral sword.

I woke up from the illusion, holding the magic sword in my hand, my face burning with pain. Did my sister slap me or did the ancestral sword?

Holding my swollen left cheek, I struggled to get up from the muddy ground.

Even if the body is strong, the mind is still as fragile as a human's.

One! Two! Three! Four!

Taking four deep breaths in a row, normally my anger would have subsided, but today, it was already the fourth time and my chest still felt like it was filled with something obstructing my breath.

"Open your eyes and look at reality, while there's still time..."

"How is there still time?!"

In anger, I pushed away the ancestral sword and pounded my chest while tears filled my eyes.

"It's too late, everything is too late!"

"...You idiot, it's not too late!"

The ancestral sword soared towards my face like a cannonball, a punch that didn't use any magic power or special abilities.

It was a solid punch produced from the collision of our flesh!

With all his strength, the ancestral sword sent me flying and crashing into a tree trunk.

As I was about to fall to the ground, the ancestral sword grabbed my neck and scolded me fiercely.

"If you want to die, I can fulfill your wish right now. But, there are more important things to do, right?"

"Then tell me! What should I do?!"

"What should you do?! Didn't you see it that day...? The people who are forced to live or die by the empire all know that dying easily is not an option. Don't you, someone who wants to save them, understand?"

After being scolded fiercely by the ancestral sword, and looking at the fragments of the fake magic sword on the ground that could no longer be used, I felt a sense of unease.

I walked up and lifted the sword in front of me, which was already broken and incomplete.

"I... I!"

"I hope this is the last time you shed tears for your own weakness..."

"But what about my sword?"

"Your sword has always been by your side! So you don't need any accessories, you just need love!"

As he spoke, the ancestral sword summoned its own blood sacrifice sword, then lovingly caressed the blade.

"Every magical sword has its own reason for existence, just like my blood sacrifice..."

Long, long ago, a vampire man fell in love with a human woman.

They made a promise to be together for their entire lives, even after death.

"I have faithfully kept our promise."

I clearly saw a hint of relief in his eyes as he spoke these words.

"There are too many unequal and unjust laws in this world. Perhaps I won't live to see the day when they change... But!"

Lord Yuanzu grasped my shoulder and advised me solemnly.

"You have just entered this world... How can you know what you can't change if you don't try to change? "

Change...?

Looking at my almost powerless hands, I recalled the days when I was living aimlessly after being taken in by the academy.

My battle had not ended, I had even forgotten when it began.

If Lord Yuanzu hadn't punched me, perhaps... I would still be immersed in it, unchanged...

"The source of our power comes from belief. No power is innate; you have to discover it for yourself!"

"Discover my own power...?"

Muttering to myself, I placed the completely damaged fake magic sword given to me by Lord Yuanzu aside and tried to summon the real magic sword hidden within me.

"Phew...!"

First, I took a deep breath, then I raised my right hand in a gripping sword posture and closed my eyes.

Lan had said that communication with the magic sword needed to be intertwined with one's own life experience. Then...

What was touching the depths of my heart? What could my existence mean?

I lifted my head high and gazed straight ahead.

"Nana, I just want to know if I still have a chance to earn your recognition, because I am your brother. I hope we can walk side by side..."

"..."

"You still won't forgive me?"

The magic sword was not successfully summoned by me; instead, it sealed off this gorge and even Lord Yuanzu disappeared without a trace.

The ground began to crack, and thick black magma spewed out from beneath the earth.

A gigantic beast emerged from the abyss formed by the fissure!

In that instant, the primordial ancient life form that transcended all existence released a fearsome dragon that could diminish all substance, and it stared at me while climbing the cliff.

Was this the true form of the magic sword?

"My sister has been enduring such great pain, and I... I..."

"Brother, that's not it!"

As I covered my face and suppressed the pain in my heart, a pair of delicate and tender hands gently stroked my hair and said,

"I have never blamed you, so brother, please stop blaming yourself, alright?"

When I looked at her face, I realized that my little sister had grown up.

She was no longer the thin and weak little girl who only sought her brother's help; she had grown into a tall, red-haired beauty.

"Nana...?"

I couldn't speak because I was truly seeing my sister.

All I could do was to act, open my arms, embrace her, and feel her presence.

"Nana!"

"Brother... from now on, we can protect each other!"

Nana also reached her hand towards her back and gently embraced me.

It felt so real... I could clearly feel the softness and warmth emanating from Nana's body. This was the unique love shared between family members.

I held my younger sister tightly, looking into her eyes that resembled rubies. Suddenly, I was reminded of the reality we were in. Without hesitation, I pushed her away and asked,

"I know this is all a lie. Mom and Dad are already dead, and so is my sister. So... this is just an illusion, right?"