The deeper they journeyed into the forest, the thicker the trees became—tall, ancient, with glowing amber veins. The faint shimmer of gold teased the air like whispers of a forgotten realm. Yet with each step, Ashar's scowl deepened.
"This is nonsense," he growled.
Valieon ignored him, guiding the way in silence. They had walked nearly 10 kilometers.
Finally, Ashar stopped and shouted, "You commoner! You pathetic mortals and your myths—I knew it! You've wasted her time!"
He stepped forward, his aura flaring.
"You will be punished."
But this time, Valieon didn't stay silent.
"We've walked ten kilometers! The forest is nineteen kilometers in—approximately!" he shouted, eyes burning.
"I don't give a damn about your royalty or immortality—talk to me like that again and—!"
Veridian grabbed his arm. "Valieon—he's royalty..."
Ashar smirked coldly. "You've got some nerve talking to me like that."
Flames danced at his fist as he prepared an attack—but Veronica's voice snapped through the air.
"Enough." Her tone was sharp, royal, absolute. "Stand down… or the consequences will be very bad."
Ashar looked at her in disbelief.
"You call him a commoner? Then you are a commoner to me. Should I talk to you like that?"
Ashar flinched, looked away—and slowly extinguished his flame. "Forgive me."
Just then, Veronica bent down. From beneath the roots, she pulled a small golden leaf, its veins glowing like liquid sunlight.
"It's beautiful…" she whispered.
Veridian and Ashar's jaws dropped.
Golden.
Real.
Valieon just stared ahead, unfazed. "Told you."
"I want to see the whole tree," Veronica smiled. "Let's go!"
They pressed on. The shimmer of gold grew stronger. After twenty minutes, a sudden rumble disturbed the calm. Birds shrieked and scattered. Deer dashed through the golden bushes. Foxes and wolves—natural enemies—fled side by side.
Something was wrong.
And in a flash—Veridian was gone.
"VERIDIAN?!" Ashar called out.
But there was nothing. No sound. No trace. Gone—like he never existed.
Valieon clenched his fists. "The guardian…"
Ashar stared in disbelief. "Vanished…? But Veridian holds eighty percent of my power…"
He looked shaken. His pride crumbled into panic.
Veronica, calm as ever, turned to them. "We search. Now."
They moved deeper until the trees opened into a vast, circular ground—scarred by time. An arena.
Something shifted.
A chill ran through Valieon's spine.
Ashar stepped forward—but before anyone could speak, a monstrous force struck him from nowhere. His body flew across the field, crashing through a tree.
Ashar groaned, blood trickling from his lip. But he wasn't done.
He shot into the sky, hands glowing with red-golden flame.
"Blazing Judgment: Sunfall Cannon!" he roared, hurling a massive inferno toward the source of the punch.
The impact shook the trees, smoke billowed—
And when it cleared… the figure stood untouched.
A demon.
Towering. Muscular. Charred black skin with veins of molten gold. Horns curled behind his head, and his smile was wide, wicked, amused.
Ashar's lips trembled.
The demon vanished—and reappeared behind him.
A single kick sent Ashar slamming into the ground like a comet.
"ASHAR!" Veronica shouted.
But before panic could spread—
Valieon stepped forward.
Silent.
Focused.
His fist shimmered, cloaked in brilliant violet.
"Big Bang…" he muttered.
Purple energy spiraled around his arm like a storm unleashed.
In the blink of an eye—Valieon disappeared.
Then reappeared right in front of the demon, fist crashing into its gut.
BOOM!
A colossal shockwave burst outward. Trees bent. The skies roared. Half of Flame Dominion trembled—villagers fainted, temples cracked, beasts cowered.
When the dust cleared…
Valieon stood in the crater, his fist clenched.
The demon's body shook—then exploded into glowing pieces, dissolving into dust.
The Golden Forest went still.
Ashar groaned from the ground.
Veronica stared—eyes wide, chest rising and falling.
And Valieon… didn't even flinch.