The man with the claymore stepped back, muttering under his breath, "We knew he was strong... but this much?"
Nectar gritted his teeth, frustration flaring in his narrowed eyes. "This guy is really strong, and it's pissing me off. Should we retreat?"
The claymore-wielder's fingers curled tighter around his weapon's hilt, knuckles whitening. He locked eyes with Nectar, voice unwavering. "No… we have to complete this mission, even if it costs one of us our lives. We finish what we start."
"Alright then." Nectar's eyes glinted with madness. "I'll go all out and keep him busy. Take that chance to finish off the brat. No hesitations."
Across the clearing, Ito's voice broke through the rising tension. "Captain Zeth, are you alright?"
Zeth didn't look back, only raised a hand slightly. "Don't worry about me—just stay focused, Ito. Stay alive."
Nectar stepped forward, a wicked grin forming on his lips. "Looks like we underestimated you," he growled. "But let's see how you handle this—Zone: Art Creation!"
A shockwave burst upward from him, erupting into the sky like a crimson storm. The clouds above twisted, glowing red, then blue, then violet as a dense, shimmering layer of energy expanded outward. A dome-like Zone engulfed the entire area—fifty kilometers of raw power, pulsing with life.
Ito stared skyward, eyes wide. "This layer in the sky… it looks just like Captain Zeth's Zone from that day." The memory of Zeth's overwhelming presence flashed in his mind, and his heart pounded harder.
Zeth tilted his head slightly, a mocking grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What now? Planning a little dance show for me, small fry?"
Nectar sneered. "Heh, don't act so high and mighty. You're inside my Zone now. Let's see how long that smug smile of yours lasts."
With his Zone now active, Nectar could manifest any creature his twisted imagination could conjure—beasts born of malice and raw energy.
"Feast, my pets—tear him apart!" he shouted.
Ten colossal dragons materialized, formed of black mist and fire. Their eyes glowed like dying stars, and their roars shook the very air as they charged like a living tidal wave. The ground trembled under their weight.
But Zeth's eyes flicked—sideways, sharp, scanning.
A glint of steel flashed. The claymore-wielder had vanished from his spot and was now hurtling toward Ito, blade drawn for a killing strike.
Zeth moved.
A thunderous crack split the earth as he launched forward, vanishing in a burst of speed. Even the dragons couldn't register the movement. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared between the assassin and Ito.
"Did you really think this cheap trick would work?" Zeth said coldly, eyes locking onto the assassin's.
The claymore-wielder smirked despite his position. "Cheap or not… it worked."
Above them, the dragons had gathered their strength. Their throats glowed, and in the next moment, a barrage of blinding blasts rained down like meteor showers. The sky itself roared as devastation swallowed the battlefield, smoke and light consuming everything.
When the dust settled, the claymore-wielder lay broken and groaning in the distance. Nectar scanned the ruined land—no sign of Zeth or Ito.
A grin stretched across his face. He let out a victorious laugh. "See what happens when you mock me?" he sneered. "I warned you, Zeth!"
But then—a voice, cold and calm, echoed behind him.
"You really are having fun."
Nectar's grin froze. A chill ran down his spine. He turned slowly, heart sinking.
Zeth stood there, not a single scratch on him, eyes calm and piercing. Nectar's instincts screamed—but before he could act, Zeth surged forward in a blur.
He grabbed Nectar by the mouth, silencing his scream. With monstrous force, he hurled him into the air like a ragdoll. The wind howled as Nectar soared skyward.
But Zeth was faster.
He appeared mid-air, above Nectar—eyes gleaming with quiet fury—and slammed him straight back down. The impact shattered the ground, sending debris and dust flying like a bomb had gone off.
Nectar's body lay crumpled in a crater, unconscious. His Zone dissipated instantly, and the dragons dissolved into nothingness.
Silence fell.
Only one figure remained standing—barely. The man with the claymore. His body was wrecked—sword broken, one leg bent at a sickening angle—but he didn't fall. He stood on pure willpower alone, locking defiant eyes with Zeth.
Zeth exhaled, calm as ever, and raised one finger.
Boom!
A sharp, precise blast erupted from his fingertip, striking the man's forehead. His head exploded in a crimson flash—blood and fragments splattering the cracked earth. The body wobbled for a heartbeat… then collapsed.
Zeth lowered his hand. "I should've let him speak his last words."
"Captain Zeth…" Ito's voice was barely a whisper.
Zeth turned to him. "Oh, Ito. Sorry for tossing you like that earlier. You alright?"
Ito looked away, fists clenched tight. "How were you so calm… when you killed that man?" he asked quietly.
Zeth's eyes didn't waver. "When you choose to kill, you must also be prepared to face the consequences. Don't let your kindness become a weakness. Understand?"
Ito nodded slowly. "I know they attacked us first, but… why do I still feel sad for them? Is this… sympathy?"
His voice trembled. He took a deep breath, then stood straighter. "Yes, Captain."
Before Zeth could respond, the sound of boots thundered through the woods. The First Squad's vice-captain and several members emerged, weapons drawn, eyes wide at the sight of destruction.
"Captain, are you alright? We heard multiple blasts. Captain Naeris said you were engaged."
Zeth shrugged. "You're late. It's done." He gestured at the fallen enemies. "One's dead. The other… nearly there. Take him."
The vice-captain's gaze shifted to Ito. "Hey, kid. Still in one piece?"
Ito blinked, lost in thought. "Huh? Oh… yeah. Thanks to Captain."
"Close enough." The vice-captain chuckled and gave him a friendly—if overly hard—pat on the back. "Let's get you out of here before Zeth decides to warm up with round two."
A few hours later…
The heavy doors of the Executive Hall creaked open with a hiss, and Zeth strode into the grand office of Chief Velthorn Blake. The air was cold and sterile, lit only by the pulsing blue glow of a massive holographic map suspended in midair, flickering with data points.
Zeth's boots echoed across the polished floor as he approached the sleek obsidian desk. Behind it, Velthorn sat with his fingers steepled, eyes sharp and unreadable.
"I assume the situation has been handled?" Velthorn asked, though his tone suggested he already knew.
Zeth gave a slow nod. "They're dead. But they weren't after me." His gaze hardened. "They were targeting Ito."
Velthorn's expression didn't change, but his fingers tapped once against the desk. "Troubling. Bounty hunters of that caliber don't act without direction. Which means someone paid them—or gave them the green light."
Zeth's voice dropped. "What are you trying to say?"
Velthorn stood up and moved to the glowing map. He tapped it, and it zoomed in—highlighting three names. "Only three people knew about Ito's execution: you, me… and the higher-ups."
Zeth clenched his jaw, realization creeping in like poison. "So you're saying someone from the inside wants him dead."
Velthorn turned from the map, his eyes hard. "I'm saying this isn't over. Not even close. That was a scouting group. What's coming next… will be worse."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"The boy's alive—and now, they know it. Word will spread like wildfire. Assassins, rogue knights, fallen clans… they'll all come crawling out of the dark for him. This world loves to devour anything that threatens its balance."
Zeth's silence was heavy.
Velthorn stared him down. "That's why I'm telling you this now."
He reached out and tapped the center of the holographic map, where the ruined remains of the Flauta Kingdom flickered weakly—barely a memory.
"You must protect him, Zeth. No matter what. Because Ito… he's not just another survivor."
Velthorn looked him dead in the eyes.
"He's the last hope to reclaim a kingdom that the world wants to forget."