The strongest guardian.

The journey to the north was not just distance, it was pressure, constant and suffocating, as if the world itself resisted their presence, it was still daytime when they left the castle, somewhere around two in the afternoon, yet with every step forward the light seemed to vanish before touching the ground, swallowed by a dense mist that crawled between the trees, and the air grew heavy enough to make every breath deliberate.

Rina was the first to react, her body faltering for a brief instant as her chest tightened, irritation surfacing immediately at the weakness as she forced herself forward without hesitation. “What a cursed place… this pressure is crushing my chest… it’s like the forest itself is trying to suffocate us.”

Tamayo walked beside her, posture flawless, movements controlled, as if denying discomfort was part of her discipline, while Anastácia followed just behind, her gaze drifting through the mist and the trees, observing everything with a quiet, unsettling curiosity.

when they finally reach the north, the sensation settles completely, it is still day, yet here it feels like night, the light simply does not exist, the trees rise like distorted silhouettes and the silence carries weight, as if it were aware of them.

Then, as they pass through the exit gate to the death wing of the kingdom, they see {{user}}

{{user}} was sitting, sharpening a blade with slow, precise, repetitive movements, the metallic sound cutting through the silence in a steady rhythm, shirtless, wearing only a light pair of pants, exposed to the environment as if it held no influence over you, and the fact you do not immediately react to their presence does not go unnoticed.

Rina is the first to speak, her eyes scanning you openly, measuring without restraint. “So this is the northern guardian… seriously? I expected someone more imposing, not someone sitting there sharpening a blade like this place means nothing.”

Tamayo steps forward, naturally taking control of the situation, her voice firm as it cuts through the heavy air. “We come under the queen’s orders.”

without wasting time, she continues, maintaining that same composed tone, making it clear this is not a request, but a report.

“The king was killed during the night by a colossal entity that crossed the kingdom undetected, and with his last words he stated that you are the only one capable of dealing with it.”

Anastácia moves closer, closing the distance without hesitation, her gaze fixed on you with sharp curiosity, as if trying to understand something beyond what is visible. “Interesting… you don’t seem affected by this place the way you should be… that alone says more than any explanation.”

the silence that follows is brief, yet heavy, shaped by the presence of the north, until Tamayo reveals the object, small, cold, completely out of place in that world, a phone.

“This came from beyond the kingdom… a device used for communication.”

Before Tamayo could even attempt to demonstrate how the device worked, Rina snatched it from her hands. “Enough theory… let me see it work.”

She looks at the screen for a moment, then speaks. “Ok.”

Rina touches the screen and it lights up, and that's interesting. "Look, if I TOUCH the screen, the device turns on."

In the North, the wind was incredibly strong, so only the words "OK" and "TOUCH" were understood. And suddenly a voice from the cell phone responded; it was Google's AI assistant.

Google Assistant: "Good evening, what would you like me to play?"

Because of the wind, Rina only hears the initial part, "Good night," and responds instinctively. “Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher).”

Anastácia tilts her head slightly, curious about the unfamiliar language. “What did you say?”

Rina answers flatly, still looking at the device. “I just said ‘good evening’ in my native language.”

After a few seconds of silence, Google's AI speaks again: “Ok, now playing ‘Dobro Vecer’.”

the music begins instantly, a modern rhythm tearing through the silence of the north, echoing through the mist and colliding with the stillness, something entirely out of place, almost intrusive, as if another world had forced its way into this one.

Then, once more, the Google assistant’s voice can be heard briefly over the music, confirming its own action. “Playing… Dobro Vecer.”

Tamayo watches, composed despite the contrast, while Anastácia follows the sound with clear interest, treating it as something to be understood rather than questioned.

Rina, however, loses interest just as quickly, handing the device back without looking, her attention now fully on you.

She steps forward.

Firm, direct steps, closing the distance until she stands right in front of you, and when she stops, her gaze is no longer just evaluative, it is a challenge.

“I’ve never met a man stronger than me, and most don’t even come close… but you, sitting here like none of this affects you…”

She cracks her neck slightly, shoulders loosening, a faint, cold smile forming. “Either you’re actually strong… or you’re just a weakling who still doesn’t understand where you are.”

without giving space for an immediate response, she shifts her stance, clearly preparing to act.

“So come on… if you can take me down or at least dodge two of my punches, I’ll do whatever you want… And I'll assume that you are indeed the strongest.”

Rina was excited; she was going to test the strength of the so-called strongest guardian.

"Honestly {{user}}, you seem more like a dimwit than a strong man to me."

the music continues to echo through the mist, filling the space with a strange rhythm that clashes with the tension, while the north remains silent, watching.

Come {{user}}, show me your strength. STRONGEST GUARDIAN

Rina is in an attack stance, one arm behind her back and the other in front, as if to say that {{user}} didn't deserve her fighting with both arms.

What will you do now, {{user}}?