The moment the warden's body went limp in his arms, Ryusei Ryugu felt a sharp weight settle in his chest.
"…Hey… stay with me…"
No response.
The man's breathing was faint. Uneven.
Ryusei clenched his jaw.
"Dammit…"
Without wasting another second, he lifted the wounded warden onto his back and ran.
The village hospital stood near the inner district—one of the few buildings still intact.
As Ryusei burst through the doors, the scent of medicine and herbs filled the air.
"He's badly injured!" Ryusei called out.
Several medics rushed forward immediately, carefully taking the unconscious man from him and placing him onto a bed.
"What happened to him?" one of them asked.
"…He was attacked," Ryusei replied quietly.
That was all he could say.
Because even he didn't understand everything yet.
Hours passed.
Too slowly.
Ryusei sat beside the bed, elbows resting on his knees, eyes fixed on the unconscious figure.
His thoughts refused to settle.
Why didn't he fight back…?
He's the warden…
An Elementalist should be able to defend himself…
His fingers curled slightly.
"…None of this makes sense…"
The black ring on his hand remained still.
Silent.
As if observing.
Waiting.
"…Where… am I…?"
The voice was weak—but alive.
Ryusei's head snapped up.
The warden stirred, slowly opening his eyes as he struggled to sit up.
"You're at the hospital," Ryusei said calmly, standing up. "I brought you here. You were in bad shape."
The man blinked, still dazed.
"…I see…"
Ryusei crossed his arms, his expression serious.
"They really did a number on you…"
A pause.
"…Why didn't you fight back?"
Silence filled the room.
Then—
The man's body trembled.
"…Because if I did…"
His voice broke.
"…They would kill… my daughter…"
Tears fell.
Uncontrolled.
"…I couldn't… risk it…"
Ryusei's eyes softened.
The anger in his chest shifted—
Into something heavier.
"…I understand…"
The man wiped his tears, forcing a faint smile.
"My name is Nendo Tsuchi… it's nice to meet you."
"Ryusei," he replied. "Ryusei Ryugu."
A brief silence passed between them.
Then—
"Do you know where your daughter is?" Ryusei asked.
Nendo nodded slowly.
"…The Moyasu Gang's base… is in the eastern part of the village…"
He hesitated.
"…But there's a problem…"
Ryusei said nothing.
He already knew what was coming.
"…Moyasu…"
Nendo's expression darkened.
"…He's not someone you can defeat…"
Ryusei stood up.
"…Stay here."
He turned toward the door.
"I'll bring her back."
"You can't!!!"
Nendo's voice rose in panic.
"You can't take them on alone!"
He tried to stand—
But his body failed him.
"…At least let me—"
"You're too injured," Ryusei said firmly.
"I'll be fine."
"NO!!!" Nendo shouted.
Ryusei stopped.
"…Moyasu…"
His voice trembled.
"…He was once a Gādian."
Silence.
Ryusei's eyes widened slightly.
"…A Gādian…?"
"…Yes…"
Nendo looked down.
"…And… he was one of Arashi Ryugu's disciples."
That name—
Hit differently.
Ryusei turned back slowly.
"…What happened to him?"
Nendo's gaze grew distant.
"…He was known as 'The Scorcher'…"
"…Arashi's strongest fire-attributed knight."
His fists clenched.
"…But during the great war…"
"…The day Arashi died…"
The air felt heavier.
"…He blamed himself…"
"…For being too weak…"
"…Too weak to protect his master."
Silence lingered.
"…That guilt… broke him…"
"…He abandoned everything Arashi stood for…"
"…Justice… honor… purpose…"
Nendo's voice dropped.
"…And became something else…"
"…A criminal."
"…A tyrant."
"…A monster."
Ryusei said nothing.
"…He formed the Moyasu Gang…"
"…And now… this is what remains…"
Minutes passed.
Neither spoke.
Then—
Ryusei walked toward the door again.
"…I'll be going."
The door closed behind him.
The moment he stepped outside—
His expression changed.
Cold.
Focused.
He leapt onto the rooftop—
And vanished across the village skyline.
The eastern district.
Ruins.
Silence.
And at the center—
A bunker.
"…Found it."
Two guards stood outside.
They didn't even have time to react.
THUD. THUD.
Both collapsed instantly.
Ryusei opened the door.
Darkness awaited him below.
"…Let's end this."
Inside the Moyasu Base
"…I'm telling you, it's true!!!"
Misaku shouted, frustration clear in his voice as medics treated his wounds.
"That kid—he's not normal!!!"
Deno scoffed.
"Yeah? You got wrecked too."
"YOU DID TOO!!!"
Before their argument could escalate—
ALARMS BLARED.
"What's happening?!" Misaku grabbed a passing member.
"…An intruder!!! He's alone!!!"
Silence.
Misaku's eyes widened.
"…What color is his hair…?"
"…White…"
His expression dropped.
"…It's him…"
Ryusei landed in the center of the underground base.
A massive cavern-like space—
Filled with structures.
Rooms.
People.
Enemies.
They surrounded him instantly.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
"…Surrender," Ryusei said calmly.
"Release the warden's daughter."
"…And I'll let you live."
Laughter erupted.
Weapons appeared.
Spells ignited.
"…Wrong answer."
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade."
Light formed in his hand.
And the battle began.
The ground shook.
Spells flew.
Darkness and light clashed violently.
Yet—
Ryusei stood firm.
Every attack—
Cut down.
Every enemy—
Defeated.
One by one.
Then dozens.
Then more.
"…52…" he muttered.
Bodies surrounded him.
Defeated.
Broken.
"This isn't possible…" Misaku whispered.
"…What is he…?"
Fear spread.
For the first time—
The Moyasu Gang felt it.
Then—
A presence descended.
Heavy.
Burning.
Unavoidable.
"…That's enough."
A voice echoed.
Deep.
Cold.
Powerful.
Ryusei turned.
From the shadows—
A man stepped forward.
Grey hair.
Red eyes.
An overwhelming aura.
"…You've done well."
Flames flickered around him.
"…But this is where it ends."
His gaze locked onto Ryusei.
"…You remind me of someone…"
A pause.
"…My master…"
The air burned.
"…Arashi Ryugu."
Ryusei tightened his grip on his blade.
The real battle—
Was about to begin.
"Moyasu!!!!"
Deno and Misaku's voices echoed across the underground base, filled with relief and excitement.
Like followers welcoming a king.
Or soldiers greeting a savior.
But the man they called out to—
Did not smile.
Moyasu's red eyes remained fixed on Ryusei Ryugu.
Cold.
Calculating.
"This kid…" he muttered, his voice low but heavy with authority, "…is on an entirely different level than you two."
The words struck harder than any blow.
Deno clenched his fists.
Misaku swallowed.
But neither dared to argue.
Ryusei stepped forward slowly, his Photon Blade humming faintly in his hand.
"So you're Moyasu…" he said, his voice steady.
"The former Gādian of the Kingdom… and…"
He paused.
"…Arashi Ryugu's—"
"DON'T SAY HIS NAME!!!"
The explosion of rage came instantly.
Before Ryusei could even finish—
Moyasu vanished.
Then—
BOOM!!
A fist slammed into Ryusei's guard.
The impact sent a violent shockwave through the air, launching him across the battlefield and crashing him into a nearby wall.
Stone shattered.
Dust rose.
"…Fast…" Ryusei muttered under his breath.
His arms trembled.
Not from the impact—
But from the heat.
"…He didn't even chant a spell…"
His skin burned.
Like he had touched molten metal.
Moyasu stood still now, watching.
Studying.
His gaze narrowed slightly as he noticed something.
"…That aura…"
A faint white glow flickered around Ryusei's body.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Moyasu's expression darkened.
"Misaku."
His voice was calm again.
Controlled.
"Bring me the girl… and a pig."
Misaku blinked.
"…The girl, I get… but why a pig?"
"…Just do it."
The tone left no room for questions.
"…Yes, boss."
Misaku disappeared without another word.
Moyasu sat down.
Right there.
In the middle of the battlefield.
"…We'll continue later," he said casually.
"I need to confirm something first."
Ryusei stared at him.
Confused.
"…What is he doing…?"
A former Gādian.
A man who radiated overwhelming power.
…was asking for a pause?
"…Fine…" Ryusei muttered quietly.
He exhaled slowly.
"…I'll take the break…"
His body needed it.
More than he wanted to admit.
The white aura around him faded again—
Without him even noticing.
Minutes passed.
Tense.
Silent.
Then—
Footsteps.
Misaku returned.
Carrying a girl over his shoulder—
And dragging a pig behind him.
"…Man… that was heavy…" Misaku groaned.
Deno raised an eyebrow.
"The pig?"
"…No, the girl—"
THUD!
Misaku dropped instantly.
The girl had kicked him hard.
"…THAT HURT!!!"
"Never comment on a girl's weight!!!" she shouted angrily—
Before collapsing unconscious again.
Deno sighed, holding a small canister.
"…You could've done that earlier."
"…Shut up…"
Moyasu stood.
The air grew heavier.
"…Now then…"
He stepped forward slowly.
"My name is Moyasu."
"Leader of the Moyasu Gang."
Ash began to rise from the ground around him.
"…My Elemental Art…"
The air burned.
"…Ash Dragon."
His eyes locked onto Ryusei.
"…And my ability…"
The temperature spiked.
"…The Scorcher."
He grabbed the pig.
Without hesitation—
He placed his hand on it.
FWOOSH!
Flames erupted instantly.
In less than a second—
The pig was reduced to a perfectly roasted carcass.
Ryusei's eyes widened slightly.
"…Instant combustion…"
Moyasu dropped the body.
"…Now tell me…"
His gaze sharpened.
"…Why didn't it work on you?"
Silence.
"…I'm not stupid," Moyasu continued.
"…You're connected to him somehow."
His voice lowered.
Dangerous.
"…What is your relation to my master…"
"…Arashi Ryugu?"
Ryusei hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"I'm his grandson!!!"
The words rang out.
Clear.
Defiant.
Flames erupted violently around them.
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT!!!" Moyasu roared.
"I don't give a damn if you're Yogan's son!!!"
His voice shook with fury.
"…JUST HOW?!!!"
The flames surged higher.
"How did you obtain it?!"
"…How did you obtain Divine Protection?!"
Ryusei froze.
"…How… do you know that name…?"
Even he barely understood it.
Yet this man—
Spoke of it with certainty.
"Divine Protection…" Moyasu said slowly.
"…is the ability to become immune to spell effects."
Misaku blinked.
"…That's… broken…"
Deno frowned.
"…I've never even heard of it…"
"It's ancient," Moyasu continued.
"…A power of the Crowned Dragons…"
"…A power no ordinary Elementalist should possess…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…And yet…"
"…You have it."
Silence fell.
"…My master had it too…" Moyasu whispered.
Then—
Something clicked.
His eyes widened.
"…Wait…"
"…You…"
His voice dropped.
"…You're the 4th Grand Elementalist… aren't you?"
"…What?!"
"…The 4th?!"
"…That explains everything…"
Fear spread among the gang.
Like wildfire.
Moyasu raised his hand.
"Ash Dragon: Scorch Tiger."
A massive tiger of ash formed instantly—
And lunged at Ryusei.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist!!"
Ryusei's fist glowed.
He struck—
BOOM!!
The tiger shattered—
Blown back toward Moyasu.
"Ash Dragon Cloak."
The tiger passed through him—
Becoming armor.
"Ash Dragon: Burning Ash!!"
A cloud of ash swallowed Ryusei whole.
Then—
EXPLOSION!!!
He was launched through a house.
Debris collapsed around him.
Silence.
Then—
Light.
A white aura emerged from the rubble.
Ryusei stood.
Breathing heavily.
But unbroken.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade."
The sword returned.
Brighter than before.
He charged.
Fast.
Relentless.
"Ash Dragon: Scorch Guard."
Scales formed around Moyasu's body.
Ryusei slashed—
BOOM!!
An explosion blasted him back.
"Physical attacks won't work anymore," Moyasu said calmly.
"The moment you touch me…"
"…you explode."
Ryusei gritted his teeth.
"…Then I'll break through it…"
He charged again.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist!!"
He struck—
BOOM!!!
Another explosion.
Stronger.
More violent.
He was thrown across the battlefield again.
Moyasu walked forward slowly.
Each step heavy.
Dominant.
"Surrender."
His voice echoed.
"You're outmatched."
He stopped a few meters away.
"Even if spells don't affect you…"
"…you still can't defeat me."
Ryusei pushed himself up.
His body trembled.
Burned.
Exhausted.
But his eyes—
Still burned with determination.
"…We'll see about that…"
The black ring on his finger pulsed faintly.
Once.
Twice.
As if…
It was responding.
The battle—
Was far from over.