Thick fog rolled like ancient spirits reluctant to sleep, cloaking the waters of the North Atlantic. Amid the cold waves that rumbled softly, silhouettes emerged—one, two... dozens of warships. They made no sound, as if they carried death in silence. Their iron hulls cut through the sea like knives slicing flesh, and the sky above them—gray, heavy—held back a rain of blood yet to fall.
On the deck of the largest ship stood a man well-acquainted with chaos: Joker.
His black cloak flared wildly in the wind, his eyes narrowed as he stared toward the horizon—a small island, mostly unknown to the empire's maps, but important enough to move him personally.
Iceland.
"Isn't this my show?! I have to tidy myself up." Joker started to turn around, about to go down the stairs,
The generals stood behind him, silent as tombstones.
"oh, i forgot. when we arrive, Burn their docks. Take the coastal towns. Let fire announce our arrival," he continued. "Find him—the Earth element wielder. I don't know his name. Whatever it is, draw him out. Make him reveal his Power."
A few moments later, they arrived.
In the distance, dozens of ships responded. Red lights lit up from the mouths of their cannons. The sky cracked. Iceland's shores shook with thunder that split the morning apart.
***
Elsewhere, in a room shrouded in secrecy and sealed from the world, four individuals sat in a circle.
On a marble table lay the morning newspaper. Its headline: "Iceland Attacked: Mysterious Fleet from the North."
One of them stared coldly at the words. "Send the order. Don't let this news spread across the globe. No one must know about this war."
Another, wearing a long coat and silver eyes, tore the paper without emotion. "Let the world remain calm. No need to disrupt the chessboard… just because one pawn starts to move."
The last one added, "If he survives… maybe the world truly needs him. But if he doesn't—at least we'll know who's unworthy."
Back on the flagship, Joker leaned toward an old wizard draped in a black hood. The crystal orb in the seer's hand trembled, as if resisting something trying to be seen.
"What do you see?" Joker asked, his tone laced with thinning patience.
Silence. Then slowly, the wizard's eyes widened.
"Damn," he whispered.
"What?"
"That man—he's hiding his soul. Impossible, and yet he's the one doing it. I can feel it now. It's like... he wants to be found. That man, Joker."
Joker gripped the ship's railing, eyes blazing. "What the hell is he doing there, bastard?! Damn it..."
***
Meanwhile, the four of us stood before a large house on the southern edge of Iceland. Carla had planned all this.
"So… what exactly are we doing here?" I asked, confused.
"You know, I've loved history since I was little. I never imagined I'd meet someone like you, Hiro. Someone who's about to create new history."
"What do you mean, Carla? Just tell us already," Charlotte cut in sharply.
Zeco remained silent. I didn't notice him much, and instead pressed for more.
"What do you mean, Carla?!" I asked again.
"You are one of the seven Elemental Users in the world, Hiro. Haven't you met two already? Today will be the third!" Carla said, pointing to the second floor of the large house before us.
And then, a voice welcomed us from the upper floor, as the balcony door creaked open.
"Hello there," said a man, standing on the balcony. His light brown hair was neatly tied back. Wind circled around him—not wild, but as if it were protecting him.
"Are you here to see me?"
-To be continued.
-Hello there!
My sincere apologies to all readers—I just need a moment. A brief pause to clear my mind, which I've been using continuously. I only need a little time. Especially since the conflict in the next chapter will be quite complex. I want to take the time to carefully arrange each piece of the conflict during my free time. That's all. Thank you.
-Author