Nathan stood over him, expression carved from stone, unblinking and merciless. The chill around him seemed to deepen, echoing the frozen spear that had drawn Hugo here.
"Where," Nathan said, each word slow, heavy, and absolute, "is Freja?"
Hugo raised his gaze, his eyes meeting Nathan's cold and unyielding glare. A shiver ran down his spine before he even realized it. His body stiffened, his breath caught in his throat, and for a reason he couldn't comprehend, he felt fear.Why? Why was he trembling before this man?
No… impossible. I am a Hero. I shouldn't be afraid.
He tried to steady his thoughts, reminding himself of his own worth. He was not just any warrior—he had been chosen, summoned, gifted with the power of a Hero. And among his abilities, he bore one of the rarest treasures: an SSS Rank Skill.
Lightning Speed.
That alone should have been enough to dispel this suffocating fear.
