"Sometimes, to defeat darkness… you must speak with it."
📍 Hero Association Headquarters — Interrogation Room
The air was heavy.
Not just cold—oppressive.
The metallic walls swallowed every sound, creating an unnatural silence, as if the room itself were watching… waiting.
At the center, bound by abyssal silver chains pulsing with runic seals, sat Zen Kagetsune.
His posture was relaxed.
Far too relaxed… for someone in his position.
His body bore the marks of recent battle, but his eyes—those eyes—still gleamed with danger.
A predator.
Wounded, yes.
But never tamed.
Standing before him were two overwhelming presences.
Darius Valtier remained still, arms crossed. His gaze was sharp, calculating… but there was tension beneath it. He knew this situation could spiral out of control at any moment.
Kelvin Nox…
Was something else entirely.
He wasn't standing still.
He paced slowly, like a beast trapped in an invisible cage.
Each step made the air tremble.
His aura… leaked.
A deep, suffocating violet—thick, almost liquid, like darkness given form.
And it was crushing.
Kelvin stopped.
Without warning.
He turned slowly toward Zen.
His eyes glowed.
— Speak. Where is Eliara?
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried enough weight to break bones.
Zen let out a quiet chuckle.
Low.
Mocking.
— You really think I'd just hand that over?
He tilted his head, studying Kelvin.
— Heh… if this is the new generation of heroes…
A grin spread across his face.
— Then you're all doomed.
Silence.
Darius narrowed his eyes.
Kelvin… didn't react immediately.
Which made it worse.
Much worse.
Because when he finally stopped completely—
CRACK.
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
A web of fractures spread outward as pressure exploded into the room.
His aura… surged.
No—
It erupted.
A storm of violet energy spiraled around him, twisting like a living vortex. The air warped. The light flickered.
His eyes now shone with something inhuman.
Something ancient.
Primordial.
Something that existed… before death itself.
— Kelvin, calm down— Darius started.
Too late.
Kelvin stepped forward.
With every step, the pressure intensified.
Zen… felt it.
For the first time since his capture—
His smile faltered.
Just for a moment.
That presence…
It wasn't just power.
It was inevitability.
Kelvin stopped a few steps away.
He looked directly into Zen's eyes.
— Kid… — his voice dropped, cold as the void — I'm not in the mood for stupid games.
Another step.
— If I wanted to…
His aura tightened.
Pressed.
— You'd already be dead.
Absolute silence.
Zen swallowed.
Not out of fear of death.
But of something worse.
Fear of what comes before it.
Kelvin tilted his head slightly.
— So speak… — he said, almost calmly — or I will silence you. Forever.
The tension cut through the air.
Seconds passed.
Too long.
Finally—
Zen exhaled.
And smiled.
But this time…
Without arrogance.
— …Alright.
A pause.
— But on one condition.
Darius closed his eyes briefly.
"Of course…"
Kelvin didn't change expression.
He simply crossed his arms.
— And who said you're in a position to make conditions?
Silence.
Then—a faint smile.
Cold.
Calculated.
— But I heard you like money.
Zen raised an eyebrow.
Interested.
— Go on…
Kelvin gestured.
A floating artifact entered the room, glowing gold: the Association's official Aura Scanner.
Runes began to rotate.
Darius looked at it… then at Kelvin.
— You're not seriously—
— I am.
Kelvin didn't even glance at him.
His eyes stayed locked on Zen.
— List all your abilities.
A pause.
— You want in? Then we need to know… what you're worth.
Silence.
Heavy.
Darius sighed.
— This is insane…
Kelvin replied coldly:
— We need him.
His eyes flickered.
— But if he betrays us…
The aura vibrated.
— I'll kill him myself.
Zen watched them both.
Then…
He smiled.
— Fair enough.
The scanner flared to life.
Golden lines spread across Zen's body, analyzing every fragment of his energy.
A sharp sound echoed.
Then—
Result displayed.
1,200,000 aura units.
Silence.
Total.
The assistant monitoring the system went pale.
— This is… impossible…
She checked again.
— His aura is completely stable… and incredibly dense.
She swallowed.
— At this level… he surpasses most Rank S heroes.
A pause.
— Possibly… Rank S+.
Darius' eyes widened.
Kelvin…
Smiled.
Small.
Satisfied.
— List your abilities.
Zen closed his eyes briefly.
As if organizing his thoughts.
— My speed… is roughly one hundred times the speed of light.
Darius nearly choked.
Zen continued calmly:
— My strength is… enough to crush mountains effortlessly.
— I specialize in hand-to-hand combat… and cursed weaponry.
A pause.
His gaze shifted slightly.
— I used to wield Absolute Predator Mode…
Silence.
— But now… with my aura restored…
He opened his eyes.
— I'm not sure if I still have it.
Kelvin analyzed every word.
Then—
— Your speed surpasses nearly all Rank S.
— Your strength…
He nodded.
— Exceptional.
A pause.
Then, naturally:
— Be proud.
Darius slowly turned his head.
— Today…
Kelvin locked eyes with Zen.
— You are a hero.
Silence.
Darius almost exploded:
— WHAT?!
Zen didn't react immediately.
He just… stared.
Kelvin continued:
— The Phoenix Guild is without a vice-captain.
His eyes gleamed faintly.
— What better redemption… than for the man who killed the previous one…
A pause.
— To earn that position himself?
Zen's expression darkened.
For a moment…
Something flickered in his eyes.
Guilt?
Anger?
Or something deeper?
He looked away.
— This hero life…
His voice lowered.
— Does it pay debts?
Silence.
— Because I'm drowning in them.
He exhaled.
— That's why I became a bounty hunter.
Kelvin didn't hesitate.
— At your level?
A faint smirk.
— Base salary: 2.5 billion HeroCoins per month.
Darius was speechless.
Kelvin stepped closer.
— But that…
His voice turned cold again.
— Only if you tell us where Eliara is.
A pause.
— And where the Renegades are hiding.
Silence.
Heavy.
Zen closed his eyes.
Thought.
For a few seconds…
That felt like eternity.
Then—
He smiled.
This time…
For real.
— When do I report for duty?
🛋️ Hall of a Thousand Lights — Late Afternoon
The atmosphere was completely different.
Light.
Almost carefree.
Annie and Abby were sprawled across the couch, eyes glued to the holographic screen in front of them.
Videos.
Clips.
Edits.
All centered around one thing:
Ryan's fight.
— I knew it! — Annie grinned — I knew Yan would beat that monster!
Abby laughed, leaning back.
— That was insane… — she said — And I'm pretty sure he wasn't even going all out.
— That's scary…
— Very.
Before they could continue—
The door opened.
Dante Valtier entered.
His uniform reflected the golden light of the hall, but his expression…
Was serious.
Focused.
— Squad.
Both of them looked up instantly.
— A-Rank mission.
A pause.
— Today. Now.
Annie blinked.
— Huh? Where?
— A village in the east.
Dante walked toward them.
— Reports of a creature.
— Unstable aura.
— Likely powerful.
Abby stood up.
— Just the three of us?
— Yes.
— Where's the rest?
Dante exhaled.
— Kane is on leave.
A pause.
— Direct order from Master Kelvin.
Silence.
Then Annie stood as well.
Determined.
— Then…
A smile formed.
— Let's show what we're made of.
Dante smirked slightly.
— Exactly.
The three of them headed for the exit.
As the sun set, its final rays passed through the hall's windows, painting everything in gold.
Like a warning.
Of something great.
Or something terrible.
🌀 End of Chapter 47
"Sometimes, redemption is born where the ruin ran deepest."