Many monsters known as "Vakken" lived in the mountains. Resembling gorillas, these creatures were not only powerful but also capable of possessing human bodies.
The blizzards and the Vakken made Mount Hakobe a dangerous place, one ordinary people simply did not dare approach.
Of course, Makarov Dolea was an exception.
Though he was merely a little old man under a meter tall, he was an extremely powerful mage.
Well... he was under eighty centimeters tall. Calling him under a meter was acceptable, right?
No problem!
Makarov strode forward on his short little legs and arrived before a cliff at the mountain peak. The fierce wind howled, nearly sweeping him away.
After steadying himself, he took out a small object resembling a compass and pressed it against the cliff.
Something magical happened. A huge Magic Array unfolded, and the cliff rippled like water as a transparent doorway appeared.
Makarov stepped inside. The doorway vanished behind him, turning back into a cliff as though nothing had happened.
In the blink of an eye, Makarov arrived in a forest.
"God's Space needs reinforcing once every ten years. What a hassle!"
Though he complained aloud, Makarov did not slow down as he headed toward the heart of the forest.
But the farther he went, the more something felt wrong!
"How could this be?"
He had come here several times, once every ten years. Each time, Magic Beasts had run rampant, and he had to clear them out, fighting all the way.
Yet after walking for so long, aside from encountering two or three insignificant ones, he had barely seen any Magic Beasts. Not a single powerful one was in sight.
"Could something have happened at the seal?"
The thought made Makarov's expression change. He immediately sped up, his tiny legs somehow moving as fast as a sports car.
Bang!
A distant explosion caught Makarov's attention.
"Are Magic Beasts fighting?"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The commotion grew louder and louder. Makarov decided to take a look and changed direction.
As he drew closer, he could hear the wolves howling, their cries mingled with pain, sorrow, and rage.
When he arrived nearby, he leaped onto a tree and looked down.
In the clearing below lay a pack of dead Gale Wolves, most of them severed in two by a single slash!
Looking farther ahead, he saw a black-haired boy holding a katana as he chopped off a Gale Wolf's head. The surrounding Gale Wolves whimpered in fear and did not dare come closer.
"There's actually a human here?! There shouldn't be any humans here!!"
Makarov stared at the boy below in utter disbelief!
"Why is this happening? Where did this boy come from?"
As Makarov racked his brains without finding an answer, the boy below flicked the blood from his katana and burst into laughter!
"Too weak. When the difference in strength is too great, numbers can't make up for it!"
He pointed his katana forward and arrogantly said, "Are you still going to send your subordinates to their deaths?"
Makarov followed the katana's direction and saw a majestic white Giant Wolf standing atop a boulder, as large as a cow.
This was...
Makarov was stunned. An S-Class Demonic Beast, the Moon-Howling White Wolf!
This Moon-Howling White Wolf was clearly the leader of the Gale Wolf pack.
"Awooo~~~"
The Moon-Howling White Wolf threw back its head and howled, and the Gale Wolf pack cried out with it!
For a moment, the entire forest echoed with ghastly howls!
After the howling ended, the Moon-Howling White Wolf leaped down from the boulder and stood opposite the boy.
The Gale Wolf pack retreated, clearing space for the human and beast.
Makarov's expression turned anxious. This was an S-Class Demonic Beast, with strength comparable to a human S-Class Mage.
S-class was synonymous with power!
There was no way such a young boy could defeat the Moon-Howling White Wolf!
Though Makarov did not know who he was or why he had appeared here, kind-hearted Makarov could not stand by and watch him die beneath the wolf's jaws.
Just as Makarov was about to jump down, the boy burst into laughter!
"Good! Three years ago, I nearly died beneath your wolf claws. I've remembered that grudge ever since. Today, we settle it!"
Three years ago, Yun Feiyang had inexplicably arrived in this place, only to discover in shock that he had grown young again and become ten years old.
Suddenly appearing in a forest had left him completely bewildered!
Being in a place crawling with Magic Beasts had terrified him!
Fortunately, a katana had arrived with him as well: the Demon Blade Muramasa.
It was an O-dachi, also called a Nodachi. Its blade was one and a half meters long, incomparably sharp and bewitchingly beautiful. It was a famous Demon Blade from the Island Nation.
The moment Yun Feiyang drew Muramasa, a sword style called Mumei Shinpū-ryū entered his mind and turned into his own skill. That was the true foundation that allowed him to survive here.
Yun Feiyang knew of Mumei Shinpū-ryū. It was a style that wielded the wind, a killing technique from Karakuri Zoshi.
A Sword Skill that fused Sword Qi with wind, its ultimate technique was the Four Symbols Divine Beasts.
With the means to protect himself, Yun Feiyang gained confidence and decided to leave the forest and see the outside world.
But no matter how he walked or which direction he chose, he could never leave the forest. It drove him mad several times, nearly pushing him to collapse.
He could not help wondering whether he had some idiot-level sense of direction, just like a certain moss-haired guy.
Could it be that he was not unable to leave, but had simply been walking in circles?
If that was the case, then it was truly tragic!
He struggled, went mad, roared, and vented his frustration, but ultimately accepted the fact that he could not get out.
After adjusting his mindset, Yun Feiyang found a scenic place to settle down. Every day, he either trained his body or honed his Sword Skill, because this place was dangerous and filled with Magic Beasts.
To hone his Sword Skill, he would actively seek out Magic Beasts to fight.
From being chased down every so often at first to becoming unbeatable throughout the forest, he had needed only three years. He had completely mastered Mumei Shinpū-ryū and become a renowned Swordsman!
The wolf pack led by this Moon-Howling White Wolf was a dominant force in the forest. Relying on the Wolf King's strength and their sheer numbers, they could swagger through the forest without restraint.
Three years ago, Yun Feiyang had happened to encounter the Moon-Howling White Wolf. After exchanging one blow and confirming it with his own eyes, he knew it was not something he could provoke, so...
He had been chased by the Moon-Howling White Wolf all the way and had nearly died young!
After learning from that painful experience, he decided to master his martial arts... no, master his Sword Skill before returning for revenge.
Now was the time for revenge!
Yun Feiyang tore open his collar, revealing a hideous scar!
"Three years have passed, yet this wound still aches faintly from time to time. It's all thanks to you. Unless I skin you and tear out your tendons, I'll never ease the hatred in my heart!"
Seeing the boy so confident, Makarov decided to watch for now. If things went wrong, he would step in and save him.
A human-like look of disdain flashed through the Moon-Howling White Wolf's eyes. It opened its jaws and fired a Wind Bullet toward him!
"Good!"
Battle intent surged in Yun Feiyang's eyes. He sheathed Muramasa with a backhand motion and assumed an Iaido stance.
It was coming!
Makarov's spirits rose. He wanted to see just what ability this boy possessed that made him dare challenge an S-Class Demonic Beast like the Moon-Howling White Wolf!
Before you continue