Dragon Sword

Chapter 4: Awakening

I wished that everything was nothing more than a bad dream.

Then I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was a clear blue sky.

A gentle breeze brushed against my skin, warm and comforting.

Beneath me was thick green moss, and before me stretched a vast lake that reflected the heavens.

I had just experienced hell.

Yet the heaviness in my chest slowly faded.

The emotions that crushed me moments ago… grew lighter.

Could this place be… heaven?

If it was, then it meant only one thing.

I was dead.

The realization stabbed into my heart.

I clenched my chest, overwhelmed by helplessness.

I used all my strength… yet I couldn’t do anything.

Useless.

I failed to protect the one I loved most.

My greatest regret—

I never told her the truth.

That I loved Liane… from the bottom of my heart.

“If only I were stronger…”

I muttered those words.

Then—

A shadow loomed over me.

I immediately sat up and turned my gaze.

Standing before me was a girl with golden eyes.

She was beautiful—far beyond human comprehension.

Snow-white skin.

A small, childlike face.

Large eyes and rosy cheeks that felt unreal.

Her beauty transcended humanity itself.

“A… goddess?” I asked.

She smiled faintly.

“I’m flattered. But I wouldn’t call myself a goddess.”

“Then… who are you?”

“There’s no need to know my name,” she said calmly.

“One day, you’ll know it for certain.”

She looked into the distance.

“But right now, I have something I must do.”

“To save the world.”

Her words didn’t make sense.

“What do you mean… save the world?” I asked, confused.

“There are many things I want to explain,” she replied.

“But our time is limited.”

She stepped closer.

“The most important thing right now… is to awaken what’s hidden inside you.”

She placed her hand against my chest.

Golden light exploded outward.

“Look carefully…” she whispered.

The world vanished.

I was dragged into a realm of pure white.

Then—

Images flooded my vision.

Mountains of corpses.

Lakes of blood.

The world lay in ruins.

Cities erased.

Landscapes reduced to ash.

Humans and dragons slaughtered one another without end—

Until none remained.

“What… what is this?” I shouted.

“Is this the future?”

“Yes,” she answered quietly.

“This is the future.”

“No… that’s impossible!”

“I promised Liane we’d see the world together!”

“How will you keep that promise,” she asked softly,

“if you let her die?”

Then—

An image appeared.

Liane’s head fell to the ground.

The golden armored knight stood behind her.

My mind shattered.

“That’s not true…” I whispered.

But the truth was merciless.

I was dead.

And Liane faced the golden knight alone.

“The town of Nide was destroyed,” she continued.

“The golden knight slaughtered hundreds of dragons in an instant.”

Images shifted.

Dragons screamed as they fell.

“Only the chief dragon put up a fight,” she said.

“And even that… wasn’t enough.”

She pointed at the vision.

“Look. Peace vanished in an instant. A week-long festival… erased by a single unexpected strike.”

I wanted to deny it.

But I couldn’t.

I saw it all with my own eyes.

“The war between humans and dragons continues—”

“Stop!” I screamed.

“I don’t want to see anymore!”

“I don’t want to remember how useless I was!”

“How weak I was!”

My knees gave out.

I collapsed onto the ground, all strength drained from my body.

I cried.

I mourned the town I had grown to love—

The place that accepted me even after I lost my memories.

“I’m sorry…” I whispered.

“I couldn’t save any of you…”

The girl spoke again.

“I came here for one reason.”

“To save the world.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I can’t allow this future to happen,” she said.

“That’s why I’m here—to awaken your hidden power.”

She looked straight into my eyes.

“Arthur. You are the hero.”

“The one who will save the past, the present… and the future.”

A hero?

I didn’t have the strength for that.

“Don’t lose hope,” she said gently.

“Because now… I’ll return the power that was always yours.”

Golden light engulfed my body.

My eyes burned as they turned gold.

Power surged through my veins—violent, overwhelming.

Then came memories.

A future without Liane.

A world drowned in blood and despair.

“I couldn’t bear to watch it anymore…” she cried.

“That’s why I’m begging you—please don’t lose hope!”

She grabbed my hand, trembling as tears fell.

It was the plea of someone I didn’t know.

Yet somehow… I couldn’t refuse.

Not just for Liane.

Not just for the dragonfolk.

But for the world itself.

I’ve always been a swordsman.

I knew it—even before I lost my memories.

I was born to wield the sword.

A vision appeared.

Me, standing before a mirror.

Clothes fit for royalty.

“The power of a paladin,” she whispered.

“The swordsman of heaven. The strength to slay anything.”

At that moment, I understood.

I wasn’t dead.

This wasn’t heaven.

“This realm…” I said slowly,

“It connects us. You from the future… and me from the past.”

I looked at her and smiled.

“I don’t know who you are. But thank you. For returning my memories… and awakening my power.”

She wiped her tears and stood up.

“I have one request,” she said softly.

“Save the world. Save the future.”

I nodded.

She smiled.

That smile…

It resembled Liane’s.

I don’t know who she truly is.

But I know one thing—

She will become someone incredibly important to me in the future.

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“The white dragon bloodline… I will kill you!”

The golden knight swung his sword toward Liane.

She was barely breathing.

I moved.

Clang!

Metal screamed as our blades collided.

The impact shook the air.

“What—?” the knight shouted.

“I killed you. I definitely killed you!”

Golden light erupted from my body.

The knight staggered, stunned by the pressure, and retreated instantly to create distance.

“Wh-what did you do?” he stammered.

“Are you the same person—”

I vanished.

In the next instant, I was right in front of him.

My fist crashed into his chest.

Crack!

Golden armor shattered like glass.

His body was sent flying—crashing through trees, tearing through stone, and carving a path across the mountains.

I turned back without another glance.

Golden light flowed from my body and enveloped Liane.

Her wounds closed at a visible speed.

Blood vanished.

Her breathing steadied.

She stared at me in disbelief.

“Arthur… are you really the Arthur I know?”

I met her gaze.

“I’m sorry for my pathetic display earlier,” I said quietly.

“But this time… I won’t fail.”

“I’ll protect you.”

Her eyes trembled.

Then—

“UNFORGIVABLE!”

A thunderous voice roared from the distant mountains.

A pillar of light erupted, piercing the clouds and tearing through the sky itself.

“I am Lumino—the proud Golden Knight!”

“Bearer of the Sword of Light!”

“I will not tolerate being humiliated by a traitor who sides with dragon blood!”

I tightened my grip on my sword.

“So you’re coming again…”

I exhaled slowly.

Golden light gathered around my blade.

This was it.

The moment to test my awakened power.