Journey to Become the Zenith

The Gathering Storm

The other side.

Clara was surprised to see Lane suddenly leave without saying anything.

The black-haired woman rarely acted without purpose. In fact, during the time they had spent together, Clara had learned one thing about Lane—every action she took carried meaning. She was not the type to waste words, nor was she the type to move without reason.

The training field gradually fell quiet after Lane’s departure.

The warm afternoon breeze swept through the surrounding grasslands, causing the leaves overhead to sway gently. The sunlight remained bright, but for some reason Clara felt a strange uneasiness settle in her chest.

’I wonder what happened?...’

She watched the direction Lane had disappeared toward.

’Even though I still can’t get a proper read on her expressionless face, I think I actually saw a bit of worry in her look.’

The thought lingered in her mind.

Worry.

That was something Clara almost never associated with Lane.

The woman always looked calm.

Always looked composed.

Always looked like she could face anything the world threw at her.

If even she was worried...

Then something serious must have happened.

Nearby, Eon and Brinda were discussing training methods while several mercenaries sharpened weapons or rested beneath the shade of nearby trees.

No one spoke much.

Everyone felt the strange atmosphere.

Time passed.

Then suddenly—

A familiar figure appeared in the distance.

Lane.

She was moving quickly.

Very quickly.

Clara immediately stood up.

Eon stopped talking.

Brinda narrowed her eyes.

The closer Lane came, the more everyone noticed something unusual.

Her expression remained the same.

Cold.

Calm.

Emotionless.

Yet somehow...

The atmosphere around her had changed.

The air itself felt heavier.

”Where have—”

Clara wasn’t even able to finish her question when Lane interrupted her.

”Eon, Brinda, I want you two to head back to Fantom City and gather all your battle-ready men and return here.”

The words struck everyone like thunder.

Eon blinked.

Brinda frowned.

Several nearby mercenaries exchanged confused looks.

Eon stepped forward.

His usually relaxed expression vanished.

”Why? Are we going to war or something?”

His voice carried none of its usual humor.

If anyone else had spoken those words, he would have laughed.

But this was Lane.

She wasn’t someone who joked.

Everything about her was serious.

Her face.

Her tone.

Her actions.

She simply wasn’t the type of person who played around.

Lane looked directly at him.

”Yes.”

One word.

That was all.

Yet that single word sent chills through everyone present.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Even the wind seemed quieter.

Eon felt his scalp tingle.

Brinda’s pupils contracted.

Several mercenaries subconsciously tightened their grip on their weapons.

War.

The word carried enormous weight.

Not a skirmish.

Not a battle.

War.

Clara stood motionless for a moment before finally finding her voice.

”Who is the enemy? What do you mean going to war?!”

Her heart had already begun beating faster.

It wasn’t fear of combat.

Clara had faced danger countless times before.

But war was different.

War swallowed entire cities.

War destroyed families.

War left nothing untouched.

Images flashed through her mind.

The people of Fantom City.

The guild.

The merchants.

The children.

What would happen if an army arrived?

Who could possibly be attacking?

Her thoughts immediately reached the most obvious answer.

The Blackthorn Kingdom.

There had been tensions for a long time.

Perhaps they had finally decided to move.

However—

Lane’s answer completely shattered that assumption.

”The enemy are undead warriors...”

Everyone froze.

”...As for the meaning of going to war, figure out the answer yourself.”

The temperature around them seemed to drop.

Undead.

The word alone was enough to make experienced fighters uncomfortable.

Stories of necromancers and undead hordes existed throughout every kingdom.

Most people dismissed them as distant threats.

Now one was heading toward them.

A real one.

Not a rumor.

Not a story.

A real army.

Lane continued speaking.

”Enough about that. There is also something I want you to do, Clara.”

The calm confidence in Lane’s voice unexpectedly helped Clara regain her composure.

If Lane wasn’t panicking, then panicking wouldn’t help anyone.

”What should I do?”

The two women weren’t particularly close when they first met.

Their personalities clashed often.

Yet over the past days, circumstances had slowly changed that.

They still argued.

Still annoyed each other.

But there was also a level of trust that hadn’t existed before.

Lane nodded.

”I want you to head back to the guild and tell the lazy guild master about the invading undead army.”

Clara immediately understood the importance.

The Adventurer’s Guild needed to know.

Everyone needed to know.

Lane continued.

Her voice remained steady as she explained everything.

The estimated size of the army.

The direction of its march.

Its speed.

The approximate time before arrival.

The composition of the undead forces she had observed.

The armored skeletal warriors.

The chained ogres.

The overwhelming numbers.

Every detail was delivered clearly and efficiently.

Neither Eon nor Brinda interrupted.

The more they listened, the worse the situation sounded.

Then Lane delivered the final piece of information.

”I believe the elder necromancer is most likely leading them.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The surrounding mercenaries stared at her.

Even Eon lost his composure.

A legendary necromancer.

An enemy capable of commanding such a force.

No wonder Lane had called it a war.

After giving every detail she possessed, Lane finally paused.

The wind blew through her black hair.

For the first time, hesitation appeared on her face.

A small hesitation.

Barely noticeable.

But it was there.

”When you’re done reporting all these to that lazy guild master...”

She stopped.

The words seemed unusually difficult for her.

Almost as though saying them required more courage than facing an army.

Then she finally finished.

”...come back here and... help me...”

The moment the words left her lips, something strange happened.

A small feeling of relief appeared within her chest.

It confused her.

Lane wasn’t used to asking others for help.

She preferred handling things herself.

Yet somehow saying those words felt... right.

Clara stared for a moment.

Then a faint smile appeared.

A genuine one.

”Got it.”

No teasing.

No jokes.

Just a simple answer.

Then she turned and began running.

Fast.

Very fast.

The road back to Fantom City suddenly felt far too long.

Lane watched her disappear into the distance.

Then she slowly shifted her gaze.

Eon and Brinda were still standing there.

Frozen.

The reality of the situation hadn’t fully sunk in yet.

Lane’s eyes narrowed.

A faint killing intent leaked from her body.

The surrounding temperature seemed to drop instantly.

”Why aren’t you guys moving?”

The coldness in her voice snapped them awake like a bucket of ice water.

Eon visibly jumped.

Brinda nearly stumbled backward.

Both former underworld rulers immediately regained their senses.

”We’re going!”

”Right now!”

Neither dared waste another second.

The two immediately turned around and sprinted toward Fantom City alongside Clara.

Within moments they disappeared into the distance.

Lane remained standing alone.

The afternoon sun continued shining overhead.

The peaceful forest remained beautiful.

Birds still sang.

Leaves still danced in the wind.

Yet beyond the horizon...

An army of death was marching toward them.