The man who appeared stepped into the room with calm authority, his long black coat swaying behind him. An eyepatch covered one side of his face, and for a moment Ikku froze, unable to process what he was seeing. Then his chest tightened.
— "Master… Zeno…"
— "Well done, Ikku," Zeno said evenly. "We were worried about your absence, but it seems you've managed to track down their hideout. I'll handle the rest."
— "Damn it…" Missak muttered, tense.— "W–wait, Master Zeno!" Ikku tried to speak, but it was already too late.
Zeno lunged like a shadow, his kick smashing into Missak before the young man even realized what was happening. The impact hurled him several meters away, crashing him against the wall.
Zeno turned sharply toward Momo. His fist cut through the air in a brutal hook, but Momo dissolved into smoke just in time. He countered immediately, reforming to land a strike—but Zeno anticipated it. His blow sank deep into Momo's stomach, folding him in half with a choked gasp of pain.
— "To attack me, you have to take a tangible form," Zeno said coldly. "That's when you're at your weakest."
A blade shimmered into existence in his hand Zeno's sword, gleaming and merciless. He raised it to finish the job, but Ikku threw himself between them, arms outstretched.
— "What are you doing, Ikku?!" Zeno barked.— "Master Zeno, you're making a mistake!"— "Not at all. According to the intel I've gathered, these are the rebels we're after."— "But they're not the enemy!" Ikku shouted.— "And what exactly do you mean by that?"
Ikku's voice shook, but his resolve didn't.
— "These people are suffering because of King Riku. All they want is to reclaim their land. Mekira hired us to do their dirty work."
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then Zeno slowly lifted his blade… and pointed it directly at Ikku.
— "M… Master Zeno…?" Ikku stammered.— "Ikku," Zeno's voice was like steel, "there's something you haven't understood. We are not heroes. We are not saviors. We are soldiers. Nothing more. Good and evil are meaningless, subjective illusions. The only thing that matters… is the mission."
— "I refuse to be that kind of soldier!" Ikku cried.
The sword pressed closer to his neck. One slight move, and it would sever his head.
— "Ikku!" Missak shouted, staggering back toward them.— "Stay out of this!" Ikku roared. "This is between me and him!"
Zeno's expression didn't waver.
— "Your attitude endangers the mission, and worse, it endangers Kul-Elna and Isru. By siding with criminals, you could start a war between nations. If you don't come to your senses, I'll have no choice but to eliminate you myself."
Ikku's chest tightened. Memories of his parents surged up, the oppression, the injustice, the suffocating absence of freedom. That crushing weight of being forced into submission. He knew that pain all too well. And he would never let anyone suffer it again.
He stepped forward, pressing his neck closer to the blade. A thin cut opened, warm blood trailing down his skin, but his eyes burned with defiance.
— "If that's what it means to be a soldier of Nexus… if that's what it means to be a child of Kul-Elna… then I'd rather walk away. It took me a long time to find my own path, and I'll never let anyone steal it from me again. I'll do what I want. I'll find the jewels. And I'll never let anyone control my life, not ever again."
Silence fell heavy over the room. Zeno studied him for a long moment, his single visible eye unreadable. Then, to Ikku's shock, the blade vanished.
— "Congratulations, Ikku," Zeno said evenly. "You're a true member of Nexus."
Ikku blinked, stunned.
— "Huh…?"
Zeno sheathed invisible steel.
— "As I told you, good and evil are subjective visions. It's up to you to decide what's right and what's wrong. What defines a member of Nexus is freedom—freedom and free will. As long as you don't endanger Kul-Elna, you're free to follow your own path."
— "But… you said this could spark a war…"— "I exaggerated. I needed to push you to the edge. But remember this: freedom ends where another's begins. Protecting a handful of people at the cost of an entire nation isn't noble—it's reckless, even dangerous."
Ikku exhaled, lowering his gaze.
— "Thank you, Master Zeno…"
— "Well, that sure wasn't about us," Missak groaned, staggering back. "We never stood a chance."— "No kidding…" Momo muttered, clutching his stomach. "Nexus doesn't mess around."— "Sorry about that, guys," Ikku said.— "Don't sweat it," Missak replied, rubbing his neck. "A mission's a mission."— "Well then… I'm giving up on this mission," Ikku declared.— "Very well," Zeno nodded. "I'll inform Sorento. And just in case, I'll also notify King Ryu of the situation."
Suddenly, Nenew burst into the room, his face tight with alarm.
— "What's wrong, Nenew?" Missak asked immediately.— "Mekira's army found us! Over a hundred soldiers are outside the building. What do we do?"
The weight of his words hung in the air.
— "…So it's come to this," Missak muttered grimly. "I knew this day would come. Tell your men, Nenew: gather everyone who can fight. If we win, our independence will be within reach. If we lose… it's the end."
— "Missak! Momo! Let us help!" Ikku pleaded.— "Forget it," Momo said firmly. "Your master's right. Starting a war between two nations isn't worth it. Just by refusing to fight us, you've already done more than enough. Leave the rest to us."— "He's right," Zeno added. "Watch closely, Ikku. Watch how we fight for freedom."— "Well said," Missak grinned fiercely. "Keep your eyes open, Ikku. You're about to witness the show of the LVD!"