Journey to Become the Zenith

Shadows Beyond the Horizon

The sun hung high in the sky.

Golden light poured across the endless green forests surrounding Fantom City, painting the world in warm colors. Gentle winds swept through the trees, causing countless leaves to rustle softly as if the forest itself were whispering ancient secrets.

A clearing not far from the city echoed with the sounds of battle.

Clang!

Steel collided with steel.

Two figures moved across the grassy field with remarkable speed.

One was Clara.

The blonde-haired woman stood with a shield in her left hand and a sword in her right. Sweat glistened across her forehead as she stepped forward with practiced precision.

Facing her was Lane.

Unlike Clara’s straightforward style, Lane fought like a shadow dancing through the wind. Twin daggers flashed in her hands while mana wrapped around her body like an invisible cloak.

Clang!

Another strike collided.

Clara’s sword descended in a powerful overhead slash.

Lane twisted sideways.

The blade passed harmlessly beside her.

At the same moment, her daggers flashed toward Clara’s exposed flank.

Clara reacted instantly.

Her shield swung outward.

Bang!

The impact sent sparks flying.

The force pushed both women apart.

Around them, several mercenaries and adventurers watched with interest.

They had long since grown accustomed to seeing Victor’s companions train.

Yet every time they sparred, it was still entertaining.

Clara adjusted her footing.

Her purple eyes narrowed.

”Again.”

Lane smiled.

”Trying to lose a few more times?”

Clara clicked her tongue.

”Keep talking.”

The next instant she charged.

Her shield moved first.

Unlike many swordswomen who relied purely on offense, Clara used her shield aggressively.

It wasn’t merely defensive.

It was a weapon.

Boom!

The shield slammed forward.

Lane leaped backward.

The ground cracked beneath Clara’s charge.

Before Lane could fully regain her balance, Clara’s sword swept horizontally.

The attack was fast.

Extremely fast.

Yet Lane was faster.

Mana surged through her body.

Her figure blurred.

The sword passed through empty air.

Several spectators blinked.

They almost lost sight of her.

Lane appeared behind Clara.

Her daggers darted forward like venomous snakes.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

A series of rapid strikes struck Clara’s shield.

The impacts echoed throughout the clearing.

Neither woman gave ground.

Neither woman backed down.

Both continued pushing each other harder.

Minutes passed.

The battle intensified.

Clara’s swordsmanship became increasingly refined.

Lane’s movements became increasingly elusive.

One relied on discipline.

The other relied on speed and precision.

The clash created a beautiful contrast.

Finally—

Boom!

Both women jumped backward simultaneously.

Their breathing was slightly heavier.

Sweat rolled down their faces.

Neither could claim victory.

Neither appeared disappointed.

If anything, both seemed satisfied.

They had improved again.

That alone made the spar worthwhile.

Lane rolled her shoulders.

”You’re getting stronger.”

Clara smirked.

”So are you.”

The atmosphere relaxed.

The spectators began talking amongst themselves.

Some returned to their own training.

Others continued watching.

However—

Lane suddenly froze.

The smile disappeared from her face.

A strange feeling passed through her.

Her black eyes narrowed.

Clara immediately noticed the change.

”What is it?”

Lane didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she closed her eyes.

Mana spread outward from her body.

Ever since traveling alongside Victor, her control over mana had improved dramatically.

Her perception range had increased several times over.

Now she could scan areas several kilometers away.

Normally she only used the ability briefly.

Today was different.

Something had caught her attention.

Seconds passed.

Then her expression changed.

Surprise.

Confusion.

Concern.

Clara frowned.

”Lane?”

Lane slowly opened her eyes.

”There are a lot of people moving.”

”What?”

”A very large group.”

The surrounding adventurers immediately became serious.

Lane focused once more.

The mana signatures felt strange.

Wrong.

Unnatural.

Cold.

She couldn’t properly identify them from this distance.

But one thing was clear.

An army was approaching.

Based on their current speed...

Her calculations formed quickly.

”They’ll reach Fantom City in approximately three days.”

The surrounding atmosphere immediately changed.

Clara’s expression hardened.

An army approaching a city was never good news.

Lane needed confirmation.

She needed to see them herself.

Without wasting another second, she moved.

”I’ll investigate.”

Before anyone could stop her, she vanished.

Her figure shot through the forest like an arrow released from a bow.

Trees blurred past.

Branches whipped through the air.

Birds scattered from her path.

Lane pushed her body harder.

Faster.

Further.

The wind roared in her ears.

Eventually she arrived near the area where she had sensed the disturbance.

A rocky hill rose above the surrounding forest.

Without hesitation, she climbed it.

Once she reached the top, she took a deep breath.

Mana flowed through her body.

A strengthening spell activated.

Her vision sharpened dramatically.

The distant horizon suddenly became clear.

Then she saw it.

Her eyes widened.

An army.

A massive army.

Stretching farther than she initially imagined.

Countless armored figures marched across the land.

Yet something was horribly wrong.

None of them moved like living soldiers.

None of them breathed.

None of them spoke.

Most of the army consisted of skeletal warriors clad in armor.

Their empty eye sockets glowed faintly beneath rusted helmets.

Thousands.

No.

Tens of thousands.

The sight alone was enough to chill the blood.

The sunlight reflected off countless pieces of metal.

From a distance, the entire army looked like a silver tide slowly advancing toward destruction.

Lane’s expression became grave.

Then she noticed something else.

Massive figures.

Ogres.

Several enormous ogres marched among the skeletal forces.

Heavy chains wrapped around their bodies.

Their movements were sluggish.

Controlled.

Enslaved.

The scale of the army became increasingly apparent the longer she looked.

The force covered an enormous area.

Everywhere her enhanced eyesight reached, she saw more undead.

More armor.

More weapons.

More death.

A cold feeling settled in her chest.

Then realization struck.

She knew who could command such a force.

She knew who possessed the ability to create an army like this.

Only one person fit.

Only one enemy possessed both the ambition and power.

Lane’s eyes narrowed.

’The elder necromancer is here...’

The realization sent alarm bells ringing through her mind.

There was no time to waste.

Victor needed this information immediately.

Everyone needed to know.

Without another glance toward the advancing army, Lane turned around.

Then she immediately headed back.