Year 2671

"Fall back !!! We've been attacked by enemies. There is an attack from the Water Mages".

"What? Isn't this place safe?"

"Argo quick come here. I give you the Water Shard."

"Jun, is this okay? I mean you really trusting this to us?"

"Calm down. As long as we still can-"

Suddenly behind them there is a big explosion.

"Looks like the Water Mages' already found us. Argo, let me handle them. You guys just go."

"But-" Before even Argo finished talking there's more explosion coming.

"Faster you idiot. Or this mission will fail and the world will be destroyed."

Shit, i can't do anything. That's what Argo thinking. But they need to get out from the cave. They need to deliver the last shard, Water Shard to the lab.

"Alright, i'm counting on you Jun. Don't die before the mission is completed."

"Don't worry, i'm stronger than you guys. Let me handle them."

Well, we all are going to die too one day. No one can live forever, you idiot Argo.

"Okay, now that they already leave. I can use my full power. Ukhm ukhm. You Water Mages why don't you guys just give up? We can make a new world that is even better than this. Of course, without trash like you guys."

"You, you must be Jun Hikou, The Earth Mage's Leader. You think you can defeat five of us? Even thought you are strong, but fighting five of us is impossible. We are atleast rated AA, althought you are S ranked you will be defeated."

"Well, why don't we try? 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘬𝘦."

"Only that huh? 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵."

The Water Mage destroyed Jun's earthspike.

They laugh at Jun because they destroy a S rank skill really easily.

"Oy oy, you are Earth Mage's leader right? Why are you so weak?"

"Hmm, maybe i was just testing you guys? Now, let's see if you guys can survive this. E𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘬𝘦!"

***

Argo and his friends are finally out from the cave. They keep running to the vehicle location that their team are waiting at.

"Argo, Jill, Jay, Hose you guys are safe. Come on, we don't have much time left before the Water Mages and Lightning Mages attacking our base."

"What? I thought Lightning Mages are in a war with Fire Mages."

"I've got information that Fire Mages' Leader has been killed. So now they are going to the lab."

"Damn, Lightning Mages are stronger than before. I think now we need help from Wind Mages. Call them and tell them to protect us."

"Yes sir."

He still didn't expect that Lightning Mages can defeat Fire Mages. He afraid that he will fail this mission even thought 'the weak' are supported by Fire, Wind and Earth Mages. Their enemy is only Lightning and Water Mages but they still in a bad position.

Damn it. Please God, help us. I know that this world needs to be fixed. Jun, Valha, Kaleo thanks for your help guys.

On the way to the lab, they encountered Pacifica, the Water Mage's queen. She is the Water Mage Leader's sister. She made a big tsunami heading for them.

"Oh shit, we can't evade that. Is this the end for us?"

Then suddenly the tsunami was blocked by large stone wall that emerged from the ground.

"That. That must be Jun. So he already finished them huh. It's pretty fast than i think, that's why he is the leader."

They saw Jun making a road made of stone so that the car can go through the wall that he made. And then Jun is going to Pacifica's place.

"Oy Pacifica, your enemy is me."

"You brat, how dare you interupt me."

"By the way, how's your brother Perciviel?"

"Why should i tell him to a dead man. Take this 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩."

She release a water and blast it to Jun. But then Jun blocked it with his stone.

"So troublesome, as usual. Well then Pacifica. Let's finish this with my special move, 𝘑𝘶𝘯'𝘴 𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯."

Jun releasing an obsidian that closing Pacifica.

"What? You can use persona skill? Shit, 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵."

"Too weak!"

Pacifica's release her skill to the prison that Jun's made. But her skill can't break Jun's prison.

"Hey, what is this?"

"Enjoy your time there and watch how this world will be fixed from there."

"Shit, you jerk, coward."

"Calm down, calm down. I don't have much mana left too. That's why you might break my prison, but only might."

Pacifica is locked in Jun's prison. Even though she tried to use his skills in prison, she was unable to break it due to differences in power. Pacifica is ranked AAA and Jun is S. Only one rank ahead, makes a lot of difference.

Well now i already locked this little princess. And it's your turn, Argo. You're the only who can save the world, you're the one who can save us all. It's up to you now Jun. Good Luck my friend.

***

"Jerry faster, hit the gas more."

"Patient Argo, Jun already handle her right? Nothing to worry now."

"Huh, i'm just scared that they can chase us and kill us before even we arrived to the lab."

"Okay okay, i will use the 'Overboost' button."

Jerry use the overboost and make the car even faster than before. 100 km/h, 120 km/h, 150 km/h. The speed are raising really fast.

Argo knows that Jun is strong enough to defeat that girl, but he just can't calm down. The situation in this world is very bad. The strong one always win and take over everything.

Luckily the weak one or the normal people that doesn't have power can make an alliance with Fire, Wind and Earth Mage.

In the past before the war. Argo and Jun are best friends. But when Jun went to America, there he got the power he didn't want because of his job. His job is to explore the world to find a rare or historic items.

When exploring, he found a mysterious shard that gives him the power that he has now. But he didn't realise that until he bring those shard to the lab.

Suddenly when he tried to break the shard to examine it, the shard emiting light and all of them in the lab fainted. After they wake up, they realise that the lab is destroyed and their body feels really different.

When Jun woke up, he realise that his friend is emiting a water from his hand. The water is protecting them so they didn't get hurt at all. "What the hell is happening." He can't think straight anymore and lose his calm. From that moment he stopped working and go back to Singapore.

"Boss Argo, we're close now."

"Okay, get ready guys."

They finally arrived at the lab safely. Inside the lab, there is a big machine. They called it 'The Destroyer'. The machine looks like a big harpoon. It has a big plasma power and it can destroy anything in this world.

They believe that the machine can destroy all the shards and they also believe that if all the shards is gone, every power in this world will be gone. And after that the world will be peace again.

But Jun also knew that that was just one other possibility. He knew that if the shards were destroyed, other possibilities could occur like this world would be worse than being destroyed. But there's no time to hesitate. They need to destroy it once and for all.

"Okay, now all the five shards are here. Open the gate and prepare for fire."

"Process one complete. Process two complete. Process three complete. Ready to fire Boss."

"Well, i hope this works."

Thanks for everything guys. If you guys weren't helping me to make this machine and helping me to stealing the shard, i can't fix this world. I hope this works and i hope the new world that we've made can be better than this trash world. Thank you Jun, Valha, Kaleo, Jill, Jay, Hose, Press, Kim, Lomo and everyone.

"I know that i don't have to say this again. But i'm sorry guys if this fail but also thank you for helping me this far. I hope if we die, we can meet again. One day."

"Don't say that boss. You promise us not to tell this again right?"

"I'm sorry, hehe."

Tears drop from Argo's eyes. He felt happy because he had fought with his friends.

Then the light comes from the shards and spreads. The explosion spread far, almost covers the entire surface of the earth.

***

"Yow Valha, you're good?"

"Hey Kaleo. I thought you were dead."

"Ah, the rumour that Lightning Mages killed me? What a joke."

"So? What happened back then?"

"I run away from my base. That's all."

Suddenly they heard a huge explosion and a bright light coming towards them.

"Ah, so Argo did it? It's over atleast."

"Well Valha, hope we can meet again with Argo, Jun and the others after this."

"I hope so. It's been a good life. Really good life. But it's too short."

"Yeah, good bye my friend. No one will gonna miss you."

"No one gonna miss you too man."

***

The explosion spread to make the earth covered by a black cloud for more than 250 years. Almost every living things can't survive the explosion.

But what is surprising is that Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and other Southeast Asia countries are not completely destroyed. But still the destruction is too big, from almost 9 billion people in this world. Now it's only less then 10 million people, 900 : 1 ratio.

And now the only country that can operate is Australia. The name of the country was changed to Sezezu. But because of hunger and illnesses, there are now only 6 million people left in the world in 309.

When rebuilding a country, people realize that they have gained mysterious power, like magic. They think that they gained the power from the broken shards that spread throughout the world.

Because of that, lots of people are using their magic to rebuild the country, the city and everything. Before the 'World End' tragedy happens, people can only use elemental magic. Like fire, water, wind, lightning and earth. But now they can use other magic too, such as light, dark, ice, nature, and other magic.

There is a person named Reon who leads the country and make a system. He made a rank for magic users and he made the rules.

A magic user is now called 'Mage'. Every Mage are not allowed to attack each other or they will go to the jail. The jail have a magic barrier so if someone is locked there, they can't use their magic power. There's a school for magic user to study there from 15 years old until 20 years old. Before that, they must study at normal school.

There's also mage rank system. Reon make the mage rank system based on the mage's pyshical ability, magic ability, mana capacity, stamina capacity, movement speed, intelligence, and magical weapon ability.

The lowest rank is F, the highest rank is SSS. Between F and SSS ratings are D, C, B, A, AA, AAA, S, and SS. Until now, there are only six students who have SSS rank. And there is only seventeen adults who have SSS rank.

After they graduate, they can do whatever they want as long as they don't do crime. But lots of them wants to go adventuring and killing beasts and monsters out there. Because the shards not only affecting human but also plants and animal. So animal and plants can use magic too now.

Reon also divided areas to make cities. Until now there are nine cities. And that is Kaleo, Valha, Terra, Shaza, Edna, Achanta, Gretta, Loretta, and Canbera. The capital is Kaleo, the region is a former city of Sydney.

And now the world has become peaceful. Atleast the human are not in the war each other. But now the human's enemy are the magic monsters out there. They usually attacking the villages and cities. That's why lots of people wants to be adventurers.

***

Year 323

There's five kid who has the same dream, that is going to the Capital City, Kaleo to become the best mage in the world.

"There's more of them coming, big brother."

"Don't worry. Let me handle them all, stand back, 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭."

He shoot a fireball to the wild board and kill it instantly.

"Brother, can i help too?"

"No need, let me do it myself. Now come out 𝐸𝓇𝒶𝒹𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓉𝑜𝓇."

He summon his magic weapon, Eradicator. A flaming two-hand sword. He swing his sword to the boars and kill them all with ease.

"It's all done. I got the material now. Let's go back, Kire."

He is a fire mage, his name is Nare Ciguerl.

They both are going back from the hunt. They lived at a small village, Valhand. Valhand is in Valha's city region.

Everyday Nare and his sister Kire are hunting together. They always hunting because they need the money to enter the academy at Capital City Kaleo.

Valhand doesn't have a mage academy. When they already fifteen, they always left the village and went to the other city academies. That's why there aren't many young people here

"It's pretty tiring right?"

"Yes it is brother."

Everyday always the same. I always went hunting with my sister to get some money. Because we have a dream becoming the best mage in the world. But before that i need to work really really hard.

Sunlight hits my skin, it feels so hot today. Even though it was just raining yesterday. And now it's cloudy still that hot.

"It's sure is pretty hot right Kire?"

"Mhm." she wiped her sweat.

Suddenly a kid with a blue scarf appears infront of the village's front gate.

"You look like a mess, Nare."

"Ah Leo, what's up. Like always we are hunting."

Leo Crystfall, he is my bestfriend and also my rival. I think he is the strongest between us five. He can use ice and wind magic. He also have a strong elemental weapon. He is also a smart and caring person, even though sometimes he is a cold person. Well if i can say he is the perfect one in our team.

"But you look like a trash right now. You should go take a bath and today let's just take the day off."

Like always his mouth can't shut up.

"Okay okay, i know i smell like trash. Well then good bye. Let's go Kire."

"Yes brother."

After leaving Leo, Nare and Kire are going to the village's main street. They are going to sell the material they got after the hunt.

"There you go Miss Kathy, twelve wild boar skin and three elemental core."

"Eh, today you get alot of good stuff huh. Three elemental core is worth three gold coin and twelve wild boar skin is worth twenty four silver coin. That's all for today, thank you Ciguerl."

"No problem miss."

"We got a lot today brother. Usually we only got around twenty silver coin." said Kire.

"Well that's because of lucky. Today we got three elemental core from the wild boar. That's pretty rare material to get. I know that we can strengthen our elemental weapon with that. But i think we don't need to right now."

"That's because you overdo it brother. But thank God we got a lot. By the way brother, why do you act cold to Leo?"

"Why? Well it's normal between us right? I mean he is being cold towards me too."

Kire hold Nare's hand. "It's 'his' normal attitude not yours. You don't need to acting cold to anybody."

Kire stared at Nare as if begging not to do it again.

"Huh, fine fine. I mean even though we are best friend, i still hate his cold attitude. Yeah he is strong, he can do everything i can't, he is the best at doing anything. But i won't lose to him, i will not give up."

Suddenly Kire slap Nare's back. "That's not what i mean. I know he is cold, but he is a good friend." Kire's face blushed.

"Uh huh, and why's your face blushing."

"Oh oh, nothing."

"Hee really?"

Nare know that Kire likes Leo from the beginning. She like him when we were still 8, it's the first time we met Leo in Heljen. Well because of him too we can get our elemental weapon stronger.

"Let's go home then?"

"Okay brother."

It's been a tiring day, not just today but everyday. Five of us always hunting everyday to get money. Me and Kire always hunting wild boar everyday, Shone and Gina are hunting Earth Hyiena together, and Leo... i don't know how he get money but when he get money, he always get more than us.

"Damn, he's always one step ahead of me."

"What is it brother?"

"Nothing Kire. By the way, what are you going to cook for dinner?"

"How about meat pie?"

"That's it, cook that for us. Give me two portion more than yours."

"Like always huh, alright just for today brother. We can't waste our food stock for only one food."

"Yah yah i understand and starving here."

"Alright alright i'm going."

Luckily I learned the recipe from Leo. Kire smiled. Well i'm gonna make the best meat pie ever to beat Leo's meat pie.

While Kire is preparing for the food, Nare is going to the house backyard. He always practice everytime he got back from hunting. He try to expand his mana capacity. He meditated for one hour every day.

"It's windy now and not that hot anymore. What a condition is this, so relaxing." Nare closed his eyes and started to meditate.

I've done this like a hundred times, not only a hundred but a thousand time. Nare thought. I know that my weakness is mana capacity, i can't use magic too much or i will get exhausted real quick. I need to focus and relax, i know i can't beat that guy in an instant. But i believe that one day i will surpass him.

Every saturday and sunday Nare always jogging and doing lots of exercise to increasing his stamina. Every monday to friday he always hunting to train his elemental weapon skill and elemental magic skill. He know if he does that every day, he can surpass Leo.

Maybe what i think might be wrong. But i know it's not impossible to surpass him. I also have a spar with Shone every time i'm going to hut. And my record is 120 win and 119 lose. It's not a good record though, but at least not that bad. My record spar with Leo is 0 win, that's all i got. Every single time i spar with him i can't win once. He is a monster genius that is undefeated.

Well that's probably because mine is fire and his is ice. But i still don't know what if 3000 degree of fire were frozen by -3000 degree of ice who will win? I don't know and i really want to know that. But i can't use 3000 degree of fire because it's just like a plasma. That's a persona fire magic, usually a rank AAA mage or higher can use it.

'Persona' magic is can be used after they got awakened. Every student that attends magic academy is always awakened. Their rank increased and their power is getting stronger. They give awakened so our body is strong enough to be an adventurer.

Probably the leader of this country really wants to explore this world after people can't get out of the island for 300 years. The rumours said that outside of Sezezu there's a lot of magic monster. They want to exterminate them and expand Sezezu region.

But as far as i know, there are very few adventurers who return to Sezezu after they left. Don't know if the rest are dead or keep adventuring, but their condition is unknown. After people left Sezezu, the government couldn't detect them. Maybe because there is no signal.

Well for me, i didn't really care for the money. I just need money so we can go to capital in a good condition. Even though i know that they got dormitory in every magic academy, but if we want to do something else such as eating and other stuff, it cost a lot in the capital city.

I know that my power is still weak if i compare it to them. But still, i believe i can get stronger than ever. Just a little bit more training and it's all done. Besides i've got a good elemental weapon now. After three time upgrading it in Heljen and now it's stronger than ever.

I also can use water magic now after two years of training. I train water magic because i need to balance my magic. After having a big damage magic, i need to improve my defense too. I just realized that since my 100 lost to Leo. I always weak at defense even though my attack is strong, that's what he said to me. Thanks to that now i've got a better elemental weapon and water magic.

"I'm done brother." Kire shouted from the kitchen.

"Alright i'm coming."

I sat down and start to eating.

"No way! This is the best meat pie i've ever eat." Nare shouted

"Shhh you're too loud. Well thanks, it's because Leo taught me before."

"Him again huh. He can do every thing in this world, what can't he do?"

"Maybe there's something we don't know brother."

Yes, he did not tell us of his past. We still don't know his past, where he came from, where is his family or other thing. The only thing we know is that he is our friend and has the same dream as us.

"Well, from now on i'm going to be stronger than him. Not only him, every one else in this world. I'm going to surpass every one."

"Hee, i don't know whether it's your confidence or just bragging. But i believe you will become stronger." Kire smiled.

"Heheh, tomorrow let's go hunt again and tomorrow we will get at least five gold coin."

"Hm, alright!"

"Let's eat for now. I'm too hungry right now."

I believe it, nothing is impossible for me. Not just me, but every one. I believe i can be the best mage in the world, i will surpass anyone. I need to be stronger to protect my friend too. And there is no turning back this time, only one who has a goal can achieve it. And that is me.

"Ahh, a tiring day it is."

Nare jump to his bed and close his eye.

I've been wondering if this world is not destroyed 300 years ago. Will people in this world happy? I mean they do have power too but not everyone, maybe that's the problem?

My uncle ever told me that world 300 years ago is a hell. That's why there's lots of them wants to destroy the earth and make the new earth. I don't know why they can get the power or why do they use the power to do something bad. But right now everyone in this world, not only human but every living things in this world have a magical powers.

For me, i feel that if this world doesn't have magical power they can live like a normal person. But if they have the magical power, they will live in a dangerous world. That's why we need to get stronger so we can survive in this cruel world.

Right now i can't really say that i'm strong enough to protect anyone. I can only use fire and water magic. I know that there are many of them who can only use one magic, but if they can make good use of their flaws, then they can be more powerful than me.

I'm not sad that i'm still weak after years of training. At least those years were fun. The first time we having fun is when i asked Kire to go out with me. When we were 6 years old, our parents were rarely at home. They always work work and work. So Kire and I were going to the forest to play.

One day we met two new people, their name is Shone and Gina. And it turns out they are also lonely. Since that day, we always play and train our magic together. Spend time after time, day after day, year after year until now. I really can't say much about them. They're just my best friend.

"It's been a long time huh."

Nare closes his eyes.

---

Morning again, a time that we cannot escape from it. We always have a morning, every day. It's the time to wake up and going to hunt again.

Nare got up from his bed and walked out of the room.

"Morning Kire." a word that I say every day, and now it's become my habit.

"Morning brother." Kire takes the milk out of the fridge. "You want?"

"Yeah, 1 liter for me."

"And i will punch you in the face."

"And nevermind then."

Kire poured milk into a glass.

"Ah for today, let's go hunt a lizard."

"Why so sudden brother?"

"We are strong enough right? Let's go find another strong opponent. Besides lizard skin is pretty expensive you know?"

"Okay okay, but only 3 for today."

"Deal!"

After breakfast, Nare and Kire go to the forest and start their daily hunt. This time they go deeper in the forest to hunt lizard. Lizard skin price is 1 gold per 100 gram. So it's pretty worth it if the hunter is strong, but lizard is pretty dangerous to hunt. Because lizard can use poison and water magic.

Nare knew that he can defeat the lizard easily using his new trick, even though he never use it before. He only imagined how he would do it and was sure it would work.

"Here we are Kire, the Lizard's Den. The place we never came before."

"You sure right? I mean you might still tired from yesterday."

"Nah, besides if i get injured, we can go to hut today. And i will use the new trick."

"Don't do anything fool like last month okay?"

"It's fine it's fine, not a dangerous one like before, calm down."

"Oh really?" Kire looked at Nare with a feeling of doubt.

She began to recall the events of one month ago. It's an embarrassing moment for her to remember. Nare tries to learn wind magic from Leo, but then he accidentally lifted Kire's skirt and since then Kire has never used a skirt again.

"Well don't remember what's already passed Kire, you need to grow up already."

"I don't want to hear that sentence from you. The cool thing about that word disappears because you say that."

"That's hurt."

Nare sees a lizard and immediately ambushes it. He uses water magic to make him walk on water. And then he called his sword Eradicator and stabbed the lizard and slit it down.

"Eh you're pretty good brother. Is that your new trick?"

"Nope, i didn't even use magic to attack yet."

"Alright let's split up and meet here again after you kill 3 lizard."

"Okay."

They go their separate ways, Nare goes deeper into the forest and Kire goes to the eastern forest.

After a few minutes they separated, Nare finally found the lizard's hideout. He saw three lizards guarding the entrance. He knew that if he failed to kill one of them in one skill, there would be reinforcements coming. He wants to avoid that happening.

I know that i've never used this trick, but it's worth trying. Let's do this.

He took a breath and used the fire to heat the water in the lake near the entrance. After he heated up the water, he control the hot water to shot the lizards from their back.

After the lizards got distracted, Nare jump to them and slash them with his Eradicator and kill them all easily.

I've never distract my enemy in a fight, but this first try is pretty good. I got three lizard and i don't know how much skin i can get today. I think this three is enough for now. I don't want to fight lizard face to face, it's really troublesome. They can move really fast if there's water. And this place has a lake, that will be a big problem. So right now i need to get back.

He take the lizards skin as much as he can. After he finish cutting the lizard skin, Nare leave the place and go back to the meeting place.

When he arrived at the meeting place, he had not seen Kire. He thought he might come too soon. But after he waited a few more minutes, he felt uneasy. He think that Kire's probably in trouble, so he ran to the eastern forest.

He heard many explosions coming from the front. After hearing the explosion, he was relieved. He know that is Kire's magic, Explosive Fire.

"She's pretty scary when she is alone huh."

After knowing that her sister will be fine, Nare comeback to the meeting spot.

Maybe she'll be a great mage one day, maybe S rank or even better. But i will be better than her. I will get SS rank or even SSS rank and i will get my persona.

---

"This is nothing!"

Kire shoot a Fireball to the lizardman.

"I'm not gonna die that easily!" the lizard block the fireball with his Water Blast.

"Just die already! Hyaaa!" Kire swung his sword at the lizardman at a speed so high that the lizard could not even dodge.

If i can't defeat him with combo attack, i will defeat him with one full power ******, Tornado ******. Luckily i learn this skill from Leo, thank you very much.

"Aarghh. You, you can't." before even the lizardman finished talking Kire uses her Explosive Fire.

"Die!"

Finally it's over. Looks like i'm not lucky today, i only found one lizardman but he can talk and he is stronger than other lizardman i've ever met. Well now i'm just gonna take his skin.

Kire cuts lizardman's skin with her sword. "Yosh, i think it will be expensive."

Ah, i wonder how brother do. Yeah, i think he will be fine. He is stronger than me, but Leo is stronger than him. But brother don't worry, one day you can defeat him.