Chapter 74: The Flames Within

Chapter 74: The Flames WithinChapter 74

The two Silver Guild members stared, speechless. One of their most promising young talents was acting... strange.

"Do you know this upstart?" one of them asked, glancing sideways.

Kael didn’t answer. He wanted to—wanted to slap the man across the face for calling Han that. But the words caught in his throat. He was still too stunned.

The memory flashed in his mind, vivid as if it happened only yesterday. Han—standing in Small Light Park, calm, composed. Back then, Kael had noticed Han’s precision and intended to recommend him to Silver Wing. But that changed the moment he saw what Han was truly capable of.

He could still see it clearly—Han surrounded by blazing flame rings, his back alight with raw, controlled fury. His flame techniques had been nothing short of extraordinary. The power he’d wielded didn’t belong to a mere recruit.

And now this same figure... locked up in a confinement room.

"Leave. I don’t want to be disturbed," Han said calmly, seated cross-legged on the bed.

Kael instinctively stepped forward, ready to unlock the cell, but the two other members stopped him. "Don’t do anything reckless," one warned.

They were still arguing when a red light suddenly flashed overhead. An alarm blared through the facility, followed by a sharp, urgent voice over the intercom:

> "All guild members report to the combat hall immediately."



Something was wrong. Very wrong.

The two Silver members rushed off without another word. Kael turned to Han one last time, bowing his head in guilt and awe.

"Please don’t be angry, great one," he muttered, then followed after them.

In the cell across the room, Aiden chuckled. "Hey Han, what’s up with that guy?"

Han shrugged, not even bothering to look. He barely remembered the blue-haired man—and he didn’t care to. But something tugged at the edge of his thoughts. That emergency signal... it didn’t feel ordinary.

---

At the Combat Hall

The combat hall—Silver Guild’s largest facility—was already packed. Over 700 members stood at attention, forming organized rows. It was a sea of armor, weapons, and nervous tension.

Silver Guild was, after all, the most prestigious and powerful guild on the Northern Continent. But that didn’t mean all its members were elite. Most were ranked F to C. Only a handful were B-rank warriors.

The hall fell silent as the Guildmaster stepped forward. His expression was grim.

"A horde of monsters is approaching the city," he announced. "The outer gate is holding... for now. But not for long."

A murmur spread through the ranks.

"Civilians are being evacuated to safety. You are to fight without hesitation."

One member raised a hand. "But Guildmaster, how did this happen? Wasn’t the portal supposed to be detected before it broke?"

The Guildmaster’s jaw clenched. "Portal breaks are usually detected... but not this time. We received the signal only minutes ago—and by then, the rupture had already begun. It’s almost as if someone forced the break, or... controlled it."

A cold silence followed.

"No more delays. Head to the weapon vault. Arm yourselves. Low-ranks, take basic gear. B-ranks, prioritize magical or elemental weapons. We move in ten minutes."

The hall erupted into movement. Members flooded into the storage chambers, emerging with everything from simple iron blades to enchanted spears glowing with runes. There was no time to complain about gear quality.

The monster wave was coming—and Silver Guild was all that stood between it and total annihilation.

The guild’s formation was set with military precision.



At the front stood over a hundred elite members, their role crucial: debuffing and stunning the incoming enemies. Their skills disrupted enemy movement and resistance, creating openings for the real assault to begin.

Behind them, over four hundred vanguard fighters stood ready. These warriors, partnered with defensive specialists and healers, were the main force. They would clash head-on with the enemy, holding the line with unshakable resolve.

At the rear were the long-range attackers—archers and elementalists—numbering just over a hundred. Their job was simple: rain destruction from afar.

High above them floated the Silver Guild’s leader, his gleaming silver wings outstretched as he hovered in the sky like a divine overseer.

"Positions!" he commanded, his voice carrying authority. "Debuff and stun team—prepare for impact!"

Suddenly, with a deafening boom, the colossal gates were torn from their hinges. Beasts and monsters erupted from the portal like a tidal wave of chaos.

The frontline team reacted instantly. Energy crackled through the air as they unleashed their skills—some forged ethereal constructs, others emitted debilitating energy waves. The enemy horde faltered, their strength drained and coordination shattered.

The long-range squad struck next. Arrows blazed through the sky, spells tore the ground apart. In seconds, the first wave was decimated. The survivors were quickly overwhelmed by the charging vanguard.

It was over in moments.

Those who sustained injuries were swiftly healed. Their efficiency was clinical—this was why the Silver Guild was known as one of the world’s most powerful forces. Their strategy, their synergy, the sheer variety of skill users—it was like watching a perfectly tuned war machine.

But everyone knew this was only the beginning.

The portal pulsed again.

Another wave burst forth—bigger, faster. The guild repeated their formation. Another flawless execution. Then came the third. The fourth. Each wave stronger than the last.

By the time they crushed the seventh wave, the battlefield was soaked in blood. Even the healers were panting, drained of energy. The frontliners were covered in cuts and bruises, their weapons chipped, armor cracked.

A sudden, heavier tremor shook the ground.

The guild turned toward the portal—and their hearts sank.

Another wave was coming. Larger. Wilder. Stronger.

Kael’s face went pale.

"Seven waves... and it’s still going?" he muttered. That wasn’t supposed to happen.

This wasn’t a green portal break. Or even a yellow one.



His voice trembled as he stared at the still-incoming wave.

"...This is a Red Portal Break."


A nightmare-class event. Endless waves of monsters. The kind of disaster only S-Rankers could handle.

The question was no longer if they could win—but how long they could survive.

Kael clenched his fists. No ordinary guild could endure this. Only an S-Rank monster slayer could shift the tide now.

Then he remembered.

That man. The one he saw earlier.

With white and black hair.

"...Isn’t he an S-Ranker?" Kael whispered, eyes widening with hope. "He has to be."

He turned toward the battlefield, gripping his blade tightly.

He might be their only chance at survival now.

To be continued.....