Rael had only been part of the Twilight Zone for three days when the storm came.
Not a real one—this time, it was human.
A tall, broad-shouldered man arrived at the edge of Mirewood, dragging behind him a metal staff charged with magical runes. His cloak was black with a silver insignia on the shoulder—a lightning bolt pierced by a fang.
The Black Sparks, a rogue bounty crew. And he was one of their enforcers.
He asked one question to a villager: "Where's the boy?"
Rael felt it before the man even reached the guild.
The air shifted.
The electric buzz in his magic went haywire.
He froze. "He found me."
Julius looked up from their quest board. "Who?"
Rael's fists clenched. "His name's Karn. He was the one who trained me… and the one I ran away from."
A loud knock rattled the door.
"Twilight Zone," a deep voice growled. "Hand over the lightning brat, and I'll leave your shack standing."
Julius stepped forward, unafraid. "We don't hand over family."
The door exploded inward.
Karn strode in, spinning his runed staff. "Big words for a kid."
Lyra moved to Rael's side. "We fight together."
Rael looked at them—his new friends—and nodded.
The battle began.
Julius engaged Karn first, slowing time around the battlefield with a Chrono Veil, allowing Lyra and Rael to reposition.
Karn grinned. "Time magic, huh? Too bad I don't play fair."
He slammed his staff into the ground. A ring of lightning burst outward, dispersing the veil.
Rael stepped forward. "It's me you want. So fight me."
"Gladly."
Karn's lightning surged—raw and brutal.
Rael met it head-on.
Lightning met lightning.
But this time, Rael wasn't running.
He fought with everything he had, combining speed and agility. He recalled Julius's words: Use it to protect.
His magic responded. His electricity became sharper, more controlled.
"Lightning Fang Barrage!" Rael roared.
Karn stumbled, shocked at the improvement.
"Brat's grown teeth…"
Lyra struck next. "Ice-Make: Chain Prison!"
Karn was frozen in place, only for a moment.
Julius finished it.
"Time God Slayer: Hourglass Implode!"
A burst of temporal force crashed into Karn's core, throwing him through the half-broken wall.
The man groaned, coughing sparks.
"Rael," Julius called. "It's your choice."
Rael walked over. Karn met his eyes. "…You're wasting your power on dreams."
Rael's voice was calm. "Better a dream with friends… than a nightmare alone."
He let Karn live.
But the message was clear.
Rael was no longer prey.
Twilight Zone Guild – Members: 3
Julius (E-Rank Mage, Iron Guild Master)
Lyra (E-Rank Mage, Ice-Make Magic)
Rael (D-Rank Mage, Lightning Magic)
F Rank Quests Completed: 30/1000E Rank Quests Completed: 3/10000D Rank Quests Completed: 1/1000
Next Chapter Preview: Festival of Sparks
Mirewood throws a local festival for the first time in years, and Twilight Zone is invited to perform magic shows. But under the surface, a dark shadow watches—a guild scout from a Silver-ranked guild interested in taking Rael away… or destroying Twilight Zone altogether.