ZERO ONE: ONE HOPE!

With steps that were still a bit unsteady from lingering exhaustion, yet with an unstoppable, blazing spirit, Hariel re-entered the gates of Inspiriaville.

Gorzuga's large, impressive horn was now slung proudly over his shoulder, a tangible trophy from his first trial.

Somehow, news of his victory had preceded him. The moment his silhouette appeared, the village square, which had previously been filled with anxious whispers, erupted into a boisterous and relieved cheer.

"LOOK, EVERYONE! I WON! THE FOREST KING IS DEFEATED!" Hariel yelled, hoisting the horn high with the last of his strength. A wide grin never left his dirty but radiantly victorious face.

Granny Ivana, her apron still dusted with flour, pushed through the crowd.

Her face showed a complex mixture of emotions: immense relief, a touch of anger from being worried sick, and a pride she couldn't possibly hide.

"You naughty boy! You crazy kid! You almost gave this old woman a heart attack!" she scolded relentlessly.

But the very next second, she pulled Hariel into a tight hug. The comforting scent of bread and firewood from her clothes was so calming.

"Thank goodness you're alright, my most troublesome, beloved boy!" she then whispered, a tremor of emotion in her voice.

Ed Wan stood not far away, a thin but sincere smile finally etched clearly on his stone-like face.

"I told you he would return with a story of victory," he said softly to Granny Ivana, his eyes fixed on the young man. "You proved your words, son. You have passed your first trial."

"Of course, Old Man! I'm ready for the next level!" Hariel replied. "But now..."

His stomach suddenly let out a loud rumble.

Grrrroooowwwl.

The sound was loud enough for a few people nearby to hear, who immediately burst into amused laughter.

"...we party first, right? I'm hungry again!"

And a party began in an instant! As if it had been prepared, or perhaps because the people of Inspiriaville were always ready to celebrate anything.

That night, the village square transformed into a sea of light and joy. A large bonfire was lit in the center, dancing high into the night sky. Long tables were filled with all sorts of delicious dishes—especially stacks of "Hellfire Crackers" of varying levels of spiciness. Cheerful music played, accompanying the sound of laughter and warm chatter. Children ran around happily, comically trying to imitate Hariel's fighting style.

Hariel, the star of the evening, sat in the middle of the crowd, devouring food while excitedly recounting his battle—with a little dramatic embellishment, of course, to make it sound more heroic.

It was amidst this merriment that Alina approached with hesitant steps, her face flushed red under the bonfire's glow.

She offered him a sky-blue scarf she had knitted herself.

"Hariel... this is... for you," she said softly. "So you won't be cold when you travel far away."

Hariel accepted the scarf with a wide, genuine smile. "WHOA! Thanks a lot, Alina! This is so cool! I'll definitely wear it all the time!"

He immediately wrapped the soft scarf around his neck with his typically messy style.

Then, Ed Wan stood up, commanding attention with a short, dignified cough.

"Hariel..." he said, his voice carrying clearly through the crowd. "Before you truly begin your great journey, we all have another gift for you."

He produced a pair of very tough-looking, fingerless gloves. They were made of incredibly strong leather, jet-black with a motif of blazing red flames that seemed alive.

"In my youth," Ed Wan said, his tone flat but full of hidden pride, "I too once faced a ruler of the wilderness. And this was the result of my victory back then. I crafted its hide myself into this protection."

He handed the gloves to Hariel.

"To protect your hands from the heat of your own fire, and perhaps... to help you control that wild power a little."

Hariel's eyes lit up instantly. "INCREDIBLE! THIS IS WAY COOLER THAN GORZUGA'S HORN!"

He immediately snatched the gloves and put them on enthusiastically. A perfect fit! The flame motif seemed to glow faintly as he clenched his fists.

After admiring his new gloves, he looked at Ed Wan with an innocent expression. "Uh, Old Man... this gift is super cool and all... but, if I may ask... is there any pocket money for the journey, too?"

BUAHAHAHAHAHA!

The villagers who heard the question exploded into uproarious laughter.

"You money-grubbing brat!" Granny Ivana chided fondly through her own laughter.

Hariel looked at all the new 'treasures' he had acquired. The legendary gloves were fitted handsomely on his hands, the sky-blue scarf was wrapped warmly around his neck, and Gorzuga's massive horn rested nearby like a grand trophy. He felt like a true adventurer who was one hundred percent ready.

With overflowing spirit, he leaped onto a sturdy wooden table, making a few empty glasses tremble. All eyes immediately turned to him.

"LISTEN UP, EVERYONE!" Hariel shouted, raising his gloved fist into the air, striking a pose like a hero on the cover of his favorite comic book. "With this super cool gear and a stomach that will (soon) be full, I declare myself ready!"

He grinned broadly, showing off his white teeth under the firelight.

"Tomorrow morning at sunrise, my great adventure will truly begin! I will go search for my Grandpa, find the greatest treasure ZERO ONE, and become a Sky Conqueror!" he exclaimed with full confidence. "Don't worry about me! It's the world out there that should be worried, because I'm coming!"

The entire village laughed at his typical boastful speech, a laughter filled with warmth and affection.

"But before that," Hariel continued, his tone suddenly becoming very serious, making everyone quiet down for a moment. He looked at his friends and neighbors one by one, then his grin returned even wider.

"...LET'S FINISH ALL THE MEAT SKEWERS AND 'HELLFIRE CRACKERS' UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT! THINK OF THIS AS A FAREWELL PARTY AND A VICTORY PARTY ALL IN ONE! EVERYONE AGREE?!"

"AGREEEED!!!" the entire village responded in unison, which then erupted into cheers and laughter even more boisterous than before.

Granny Ivana could only shake her head while wiping the corner of her watery eyes, while the smile on Ed Wan's face was now clearly visible.

The party continued late into the night. Finally, with a full stomach, an extremely tired body, but a heart overflowing with happiness, Hariel said his goodbyes and returned to his quiet mushroom house.

He immediately threw himself onto his bed, not even bothering to change his clothes. Every muscle ached, but a satisfied smile was still clearly etched on his face.

His eyes felt as heavy as stones.

Within seconds, loud, rhythmic snores began to sound, his mouth slightly agape. His hand unconsciously still held tightly onto the blue sun pendant hanging from his neck.

"Tomorrow..." he mumbled in his sleep, "...the adventure... really... begins..."

Just then, in the silence of the room lit only by moonlight, the pendant on Hariel's neck suddenly vibrated very gently.

A soft, faint blue light began to emanate from the gemstone at its center, twinkling slowly like a small star waking up in the darkness.

"The first step... has been taken..."

A very fine, almost inaudible whisper, as if carried gently on the night breeze, came from an unknown source. The whisper was filled with an ancient and mysterious tone.

However, this small miracle did not disturb the red-haired youth who was currently sailing on the ocean of dreams.

Suddenly, in the midst of his ever-loudening snores, an enthusiastic shout erupted from his still half-open mouth, a booming sleep-talking voice:

"I WILL DEFINITELY BECOME THE SKY CONQUEROR! HA HA HA HA HA!"

After that burst of sleepy laughter, his snores resumed, perhaps a little louder and more spirited than before.

The real journey was just about to begin...