– Four Years AgoNorthern Mountains, Halo Peak
A young figure stood at the edge of death, surrounded by enemies. Blood soaked the snow beneath his feet. His limbs trembled. His vision blurred.
He was on the brink of collapse.
Unknown voice (mocking):"Leon Halo. Last survivor of the Holos Clan. We slaughtered everyone. You're all that's left. Starting tomorrow, this mountain—your mountain—will be ours."
The enemies:"Hahaha—hahaha—hahahaha!"
The boy—barely sixteen, blonde hair clinging to his face, golden eyes dull from exhaustion—fell to one knee.
But then…
A golden flame flickered around him.
It spread. It surged. It burned like a sleeping god awakening.
He was no ordinary survivor.He was the last Halo.
Enemy leader (snarling):"He's still standing?! Kill him!"
Leon raised his head. His golden eyes blazed—sunlight in the abyss.
Then, in one fluid motion, he lunged. His blade pierced the leader's chest.
Golden fire erupted from the wound, devouring him.
Enemy Leader (screaming):"AaaaaaAAHHHHHHHH—NOOOOO—AAAAAAH!"
Enemy 1 (shocked):"Wh-What is that?! This isn't the Leon we knew—!"
Leon's sword swung once.Head severed.It landed at the mouth of the dark cave, still burning.
Another turned to run.Leon hurled his blade—Direct hit.The man collapsed, engulfed in golden fire.
No mercy. No hesitation.
One by one, Leon cut them down. Six men. Six executions.
Last enemy (sobbing):"NO—please—don't—hel—AAAAAAA—"
Silence.
From the shadows of the cave, Leon walked into the light.The sun hit his face. His sword—still glowing—was pulled from the charred corpse near the entrance.He stepped on the scorched skull of the first man he killed—then crushed it beneath his heel.
Ahead, the tallest peak of the Northern Plateau loomed in the distance.
Leon stared up at it.
Leon (calmly):"From now on… I'll live."
He looked back at the burning bodies behind him.
Leon:"I'll avenge the Holos Clan.I'll honor you, Mother. Father.And I'll conquer these mountains.As the strongest Arsyn.Rest easy... Leon lives."
He looked forward again. Eyes like fire.
Leon:"From today, I live as Leon Halos."
System Notification —> Quest Completed: "Survive."New Legacy Quest Activated: "Become the Strongest Arsyn in the Clans – Time Limit: 2 Years."
I'm just an ordinary archaeology student. On a field trip to Turkey. I found a hilt of a sword during our travel. I only remember touching it.
When I woke up, I was in Leon Halo's body. Surrounded by enemies.
Sixteen years of memories flooded into my head.
The Halo Clan, known as the Gatekeepers of Hell, one of the strongest Arsyn Way clans. But after the purge of Arsyn clans, the Halos—who always stood at the front—were damaged significantly. They retreated, along with all the other clans, to the Northern Mountains. The Halo Clan's home.
But in the following centuries, the rest of the Arsyn clans divided the Northern Mounts among themselves. The weakened Halo clan could only hold onto Halo Mountain.
Then sixteen years ago, Leon was born. With a Golden Sun Body. He had tremendous potential.
But the clan kept it secret for over a decade.
However, Leon was a weak-hearted kid. Often bullied by other kids in the clan. The weak Leon never once complained or told the adults. He kept living a life of weakness.
But one day, a kid took the bullying too far—stabbed Leon with a needle.
In surging pain, Leon's golden flames activated—burning the kid alive.
That broke the secret the Halo clan had kept for so long.
The four great clans of Arsyn Way, fearing the rise of the Halo Clan, came together to exterminate them.
But when Leon died… I took over his body.
And this thing was before my eyes—
SYSTEM — QUEST: SURVIVE
The Four Great Clans of the Arsyn Way:
Ferros Clan – Known as vultures.
Grehal Clan – Famed for their bloodlust and love for combat.
Herferm Clan – Notorious for their brutal torture methods.
Squaro Clan – Revered as the Clan of Elites.
The heads of all four clans gathered at a round table, two elite guards flanking each of them.
Ferros Head:"That kid Leon… managed to survive the ambush. He also killed six warriors and a Thread Master."
Grehal Head (grinning):"Then let's send more. Killing him will be delightful."
Squaro Head:"No. The Four Great Clans uniting to kill a single child—how shameful. We cooperated with you because we didn't want the weakened Halo Clan sharing the title of Great Clans. But we, the Squaro Clan, are the strongest among Arsyn followers. We won't feel threatened by a single boy."
Herferm Head (coldly):"Strongest Arsyn clan? Aren't you getting arrogant, Maron Squaro?"
Maron's smile vanished. His killing aura exploded.
The air thickened. Pressure spiked. A dangerous stillness fell across the room.
The other three clan heads immediately stood.
All Three (in unison):"Maron! Are you insane?! Stop this madness!"
Dozens of hidden soldiers collapsed from the weight of Maron's presence—none of them from Squaro.
Maron (calmly):"I only brought two warriors from my clan. That's enough to prove our strength."
He turned and walked out, his exit silent and dignified.
Herferm Head:"He's right. For the Great Clans of Arsyn to scheme against a single child… it's disgraceful."
Ferros Head:"Yes. If we move now, we risk offending every Arsyn clan in the Northern Mounts. We Arsyns live by strength. Fire consumes fire—but only fire of equal or greater strength. Killing that boy without just cause would stain the Arsyn Way."
He paused.
"We justified attacking the Halo Clan because of their former strength. But now… we wait. Until there's justification."
The news of the Halo Clan's fall spread across the Northern Mounts like wildfire.
It was seen as the perfect opportunity to seize Halo Mountain.
Only Leon was left alive.
Yet none of the clans dared send a group. The Code of Arsyn was strict:
"A flame must meet its match in kind,Lest honor turn to ash and wind.To gather many 'gainst the weak—Is shame the tongue dares not to speak.To smother sparks that scarce aspire,Is blasphemy to holy Fire.For strength must rise, not crush the dim—Lest wrath befall from Arsyn's hymn."
And so, warriors from across the mountains, hungry for glory and recognition, set their eyes on Halo Peak.
But what they didn't know…
Was that the one guarding Halo Peak wasn't a helpless survivor—
He was a golden lion.Waiting for prey to walk right into his den.
Johan Rong, towering and broad-shouldered, stepped onto Halo Peak, his greatsword rattling against his back as he moved. His voice echoed through the mountain pass.
Johan:"LEOOOON! Come down and face me! A weakling like you doesn't deserve to own a peak alone!"
At the top of the stone steps, Leon emerged from the shadows of the mountain cave. The sun behind him cast his figure in black, but his golden eyes—burning and calm—outshone the sky itself.
System Notification – Quest Activated➤ Defeat the Challenger➤ Reward: Mana Doubled➤ Failure: Lose Halo Peak
Johan (hesitant):"He doesn't… look weak."
Then—
Leon vanished.
Johan (wide-eyed):"What—?!"
A gust of heat swept over him.
Leon was already in the air above, blade raised. Johan pulled his greatsword instinctively—just in time to block. Their swords collided.
BOOM.
A golden shockwave blasted outward, dust and heat rippling in all directions.
Johan slid back, boots digging into the rock.
Johan (straining):"That pressure—it's ridiculous…!"
Leon didn't pause. He pressed forward again—his strikes fast, compact, and relentless. Each swing carried the weight of fire, and every clash forced Johan further back.
Johan gritted his teeth, drew in his mana, and roared.
Johan:"Fiery Tiger!"
Three massive arcs of fire launched toward Leon like tiger claws. Each one wide enough to cut a tree line.
Leon didn't flinch. With a single, elegant horizontal slash, he dispersed them all—the flames shattering in midair like glass.
Johan's eyes widened.
Johan (staggered):"You… you've never even reached warrior level before. And now you're mid-stage master… What did you do?!"
Leon (coldly):"A prey shouldn't ask questions."
Johan (furious):"Who is the prey!"
He charged, swinging wild and hard—flames trailing behind every motion. But Leon slipped past the blows effortlessly, stepping in, ducking under, striking with precision.
A punch to the gut.
An upward slash that cracked Johan's shoulder plate.
A backstep, then a spinning kick to the ribs, launching Johan sideways.
He hit the ground hard, coughing, stunned by the sheer gap in strength.
Johan (gasping):"I… surrender."
Silence followed. The wind swept over the peak.
System Notification – Quest Complete➤ Mana Doubled➤ Hidden Reward (Overwhelming Victory): Skill Unlocked – Golden Flame Chakras: Spiral Form
Golden light gathered around Leon. Eight spiraling flame blades slowly manifested in the air, each burning bright, rotating around him like a halo of judgment.
Leon (quietly):"You surrendered… but there's no fear in your eyes."
He raised a hand, golden energy flaring.
Leon:"Spiral Flame Blades."
System:Mispronounced skill name.➤ Correct: Golden Flame Chakras: Spiral Form
Leon (flatly):"I'll call it whatever I want."
Johan (panic rising):"Wait—WAIT! I already surrendered!"
The spiraling blades shot forward, attacking from every angle—not to kill, but to mark.
Each blade carved shallow, glowing slashes across Johan's skin, his armor peeling, his breath short. In seconds, dozens of cuts covered his body—clean, symmetrical, impossible to forget.
A full minute passed before the blades dissipated.
Leon stood over him, eyes calm.
Leon:"You've got some dignity. You didn't beg. You accepted defeat like a warrior.You're not trash.You're… decent."
Then—
BOOM.
Leon launched a flame-empowered kick to Johan's chest, sending him flying backward. His body flipped through the air, finally crashing all the way down to the base of the mountain.
Johan (groaning, dazed):"How… how am I alive…?"
He blinked, then looked around—and froze.
He was lying atop a pile of corpses. The broken, scorched bodies of warriors who had come before him. Men who had underestimated the golden-eyed monster on Halo Peak.
Johan (quietly):"They thought he was weak too...But he's strong. Really strong."
He looked down at his arms. The spiraled flame scars still burned faintly across his skin.
Not wounds—marks.
Marks of defeat.
As he limped away from the mountain, a new name began to spread among warriors
JOHAN RONG "The Crimson Tiger."