CHAPTER 38: DOMINUS & ARROW

The southern crater of the Mountain of Death was nothing but lava, flames, and the howls of beasts consumed by mana. Fiery geysers erupted intermittently from the ground, and red boulders floated in the mana-saturated air as if gravity had decided to abdicate. In this infernal furnace, two forces advanced in parallel.

On one side stood the Dominus Faction, disciplined, clad in metal armor, united like a seasoned legion. At their helm was Leonard von Arcadia, a martial figure draped in a black cape embroidered with gold. His sword of light swayed against his hip with every step. Beside him was Leo von Arcadia, his cousin, a longbow slung over his shoulder and a piercing gaze. As a member of the Arcadia family, he bore the characteristic blond hair and blue eyes. They resembled each other, though Leonard was more muscular.

On the other side was the Arrow Faction, lighter and more agile, clad in fabric woven from mana threads rather than heavy armor to maximize their mobility. Their leader, Liam Dawnflare, stood tall, his bow already in hand, a pulsating green aura at his feet. His fiancée, Helena, moved like a living flame, her bare arms covered in fiery runes. Her cousin, Élisabeth, followed with a graceful stride, her gaze fixed on the horizon as if targeting an invisible enemy.

The ground trembled. A pack of fire wolves burst from a tunnel carved into the basalt. Fiery silhouettes nearly three meters tall, their fangs dripping with magma. They were fast, ferocious, and utterly mad.

Leonard gave no orders. He took a step forward and slammed his sword into the ground.

*"Divine Blade: Crescent of Light!"*

An arc of golden energy surged forward, slicing the first three wolves in two. The beasts howled, exploding in a burst of fire and unstable mana.

"Wedge formation!" Leo commanded immediately. He was the true strategist. Leonard was just a pile of muscles with an honest and naive personality—basically, a classic Shōnen protagonist.

The Dominus members spread out in a fan, shields raised, weapons ready. They formed a living barrier, every movement synchronized. This was their faction’s strength: discipline, aura, and martial perfection embodied by Leo.

With a fluid motion, Leo drew two arrows from his quiver, nocked them in an instant, and released them in a single breath. The projectiles cut through the air in a golden trail, crossing the battlefield at an inhuman speed. They struck their targets with brutal force, piercing the skull of a giant wolf just as its fangs closed on a terrified recruit.

"Get into formation, you idiot!" he bellowed.

Around him, his brothers-in-arms chained their movements, pivoting to cover the flanks, their swords tracing deadly arcs while their shields absorbed enemy assaults.

"Three packs to the left!" Leonard shouted.

"I see them," Liam replied from the other end of the field.

In this chaotic environment, even enemies would have to help each other if they wanted to survive and claim a share of the resources.

The elf raised his bow, mana swirling around him. His aura formed a green-silver halo. A destructive wind arrow shot from his bow, a projectile as swift as lightning. On impact, it triggered a mini-tornado, sweeping away four wolves at once.

"Too wide a strike, Dawnflare," Leo growled without turning his head, his rough voice cutting through the battle noise. "You just destroyed a strategic passage."

The elf snickered. "I don’t take orders from you. And yeah, I destroyed your retreat path... So your faction has no choice but to fight with all their might."

Helena leaped into the lava field, her feet barely skimming the burning ground, as if carried by invisible winds. Her arms spread, and the magical circles etched in the air ignited at once.

*"Raging Flame!"*

She spun, projecting a spiral of fire that incinerated an entire horde of wolves. Her aura blazed like a miniature star, enveloping her body and crackling in the air through multiple magical circles. She was already an Archmage.

"I’ll leave the big ones to you, Lord Leo!" she shouted, dodging a furious leap from a beast.

Leonard’s cousin sighed, sheathing his bow to grasp his own sword.

The ground suddenly split. A five-meter-tall fire salamander emerged in a burst of magma, its yellow eyes radiating rage. It let out a roar so powerful it shook the air around them.

"Encirclement formation," Leo shouted. "Hold your positions!"

"No need... He’s mine..." Liam said.

He nocked an arrow surrounded by five mana rings, then aimed for the salamander’s eye.

"Wind Flare Penetration!"

The arrow shot at the speed of sound. The salamander pivoted, and the arrow sank deep into its lava carapace—then nothing. Liam stepped back, surprised.

Logically, it should have been torn apart from the inside.

Élisabeth, watching him, furrowed her brow.

"Its skin likely has mana absorption properties."

"Lucky I’m the backup plan," Leo intervened, slipping behind the creature.

He used his dual aura style, charging both blades with blinding golden energy.

*Arcadia Style: Dance of the Twin Suns*

He struck the salamander’s legs first. A second cut aimed for the base of its neck. The creature roared, turning abruptly and spewing a burst of fire, forcing Leo to leap aside.

Leonard charged in turn, concentrating all his aura into his blade.

*Arcadia Style: Solar Burst*

His blade struck the air, unleashing a flash of pure light. The energy shattered the monster’s balance, hurling it to the ground in a violent shock. Leonard leaped and plunged his blade into the salamander’s throat.

As Liam covered their rear.

A brief silence followed. Then the monster’s body emptied in an explosion of heat and light.

The area was cleared.

"Well executed," Leonard said, sheathing his sword.

"You should say thanks," Liam retorted, wiping blood from his cheek.

"I could. But we might have lost three men if I’d let you lead."

"You really should learn to smile," Liam replied. Especially in front of your fiancée. Oh, sorry... you don’t have one." He slightly raised his glasses to taunt him.

Leonard ignored the provocation. He was already studying the holographic map projected in the crystal at his belt.

"This sector is stable for now. We’re moving to the Meridian Caves."