Evening approached, the sun pale, casting long shadows across Novara. A cold wind carried dust and smoke from earlier clashes.
The city wasn't quiet the noise faded, not from peace, but because the real battle was about to begin.
On a rooftop, Kryne adjusted his cap, eyes locked on his opponent. Across from him, Julian stood calm atop a higher building, violet aura flickering like poisonous smoke.
Neither of them spoke.
The wind seemed to pause; the city held its breath.
Julian raised a hand, a faint glow at his fingertips. Kryne stayed relaxed, eyes sharp, anticipating.
In a heartbeat, Kryne launched, palm striking toward Julian.
A sudden shot cut across his path. He twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding it, scanning the rooftops nothing.
Julian leapt, scarf pulled from his mouth.
"Did you really think you'd fight me alone?"
Two punches came fast. Kryne blocked, then leapt off the rooftop, vanishing from view.
A heavy iron ball whistled past. Kryne turned behind him, a massive man laughed, swinging again. Kryne dodged.
Above him, Julian descended, scarf wrapping Kryne's arm, followed by a head kick. Kryne twisted, freed his arm, grabbed the scarf, and yanked Julian into a lock from behind.
Kryne turned Julian toward a distant rooftop.
A figure stood there, sniper rifle ready. Short blond hair, calm posture. The man clicked his tongue and muttered:
"Damn it... he saw me."
The blond man smiled faintly.
"But you shouldn't have grabbed Julian like that."
Kryne was still holding Julian firmly.
The massive man laughed, leaving his companion unprotected.
From the shadows, figures with knives closed in, laughing.
Suddenly, a black shadow shaped like Julian lunged from behind. Kryne blocked it, releasing Julian, stepping back with sharp eyes.
"So… that's your ability," he muttered. "You create shadows."
As Julian retreated, all attackers struck at once the heavy man hurled the iron ball, the sniper fired a shot.
Kryne closed his eyes, then burst into motion. Knives shattered, the iron ball exploded mid-air, and the bullet he caught barehanded.
A gray aura erupted around him, blasting everyone backward. Anyone approaching froze under the sheer intensity.
Some of the Novara police appeared.
"There they are-the troublemakers! Grab them! A few are still here!"
A group of officers charged forward, weapons raised.
"Give up!" they shouted.
Kryne stepped forward, speaking calmly to the police.
"Take these ones... and leave the purple-haired boy."
Julian created five shadows of himself and sent them toward the police, then vanished in a flash.
Kryne leapt onto the rooftops once again, adjusting his cap as he sprinted toward the blond sniper.
The short-haired blond sniper noticed him.
"Damn it!" he muttered, clutching his rifle, and attempted to flee.
Before Kryne could reach him, he stopped suddenly.
Another figure blocked his path.
This person was different distinct from the others.
He carried two long swords, black hair tied back, mask covering his face. A strap across his neck added to his mystery.
Kryne studied him, sensing something different. Adjusting his cap, he murmured:
"All I need is to buy time… They mustn't
know the others are fighting the Numbers."
The masked man spoke calmly:
"Yes… I am one of this family. Call me Noir."
A shadow moved Julian emerged beside Noir, adjusting his scarf, hair partially covering his eye. He whispered something to Noir, silent yet precise.
The sniper fired another bullet at Kryne, but he easily dodged it with a tilt of his head.
Julian created shadows that surged toward Kryne. One by one, Kryne defeated them effortlessly.
He spoke to Julian calmly:
"Nice ability, boy. The Guilds would truly desire a power like that... but why did you choose this path?"
Julian snapped back, annoyed:
"Shut up! None of your business."
He dove into Kryne's shadow and spun it into a whirlpool, swallowing Kryne's feet and rising up to his knees.
Kryne looked down, unfazed:
"You can do that too... hmm, I might face a bit of resistance..."
Suddenly, in a flash of speed, Noir appeared, wielding his twin swords, taking advantage of Kryne's position to strike.
Kryne's cap fell to the ground, and some strands of his brown hair slipped free.
Kryne looked at him and whistled softly.
"Not bad... for your speed."
Kryne struck at Julian's feet, pulling him from the shadow. Julian's punch hit Kryne's open palm, sending him crashing to the ground.
Noir swung twin swords rapidly. Kryne dodged easily, catching a sword tip.
"Fast… the strongest among them, but not enough," he said calmly.
Julian slammed the ground, eyes blazing.
"I won't lose… even if you're stronger!"
Kryne sighed. "Kids these days…"
Noir charged his swords with dark energy, holding them behind his neck, readying his next attack.
Kryne stared, surprised.
"Wait... is that?!"
Noir unleashed a powerful wave of energy.
Kryne summoned his gray aura, meeting the wave head-on.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Kryne successfully blocked the wave, muttering to himself:
"This wave... would have been enough to kill the boy behind me in seconds..."
Suddenly, a group of shadowy hands emerged, grabbing him and holding him in place.
Julian shouted loudly:
"Come on! Kill him!"
The blond sniper fired another piercing bullet, striking Kryne in the neck.
Julian smirked, seeing blood but Kryne's gray energy absorbed most of it.
Kryne stayed focused on Noir. Breaking free from the shadow, he asked calmly:
"Noir… not from Novara, right? Where did you get that power, and what's your goal?"
Noir replied coldly:
"My goal is to kill you. The rest doesn't matter."
Kryne adjusted his cap, calm:
"No choice, then. I just want a quiet life… but peace won't last."
He drew in a deep breath, filling his chest with air, and spread his gray energy.
As he exhaled, a dense mist formed around him, enveloping everyone in his vicinity.
Julian, caught inside the fog, could sense nothing.
"What... what's happening?!"
Noir stood firm, ready.
The blond sniper was far away but saw the wave of fog.
"Damn... I can't track him anymore."
Suddenly, something emerged from the mist, flying toward him, shrouded in fog.
"Damn... could it be him?!"
He jumped to avoid it-but as the fog settled and cleared, it revealed... just a cap.
The sniper's eyes widened in shock.
"What...?!"
Suddenly, a hand rested on the sniper's shoulder.
The sniper trembled with fear and looked behind him.
Kryne was there, smiling faintly.
"Surprise... Young Sniper."
Kryne stepped forward, holding his cap first.
As he returned, the blond sniper raised his weapon toward him.
"How did you do that?!"
Kryne scratched his head.
"Well... I threw the cap with all my strength, it hit the ground, I ran toward you, then I climbed up-and here I am."
The blond smiled faintly and muttered,
"Damn... what a cursed day."
He fired his last shot.
Kryne dodged it effortlessly, then raised his hand and struck the sniper's neck with force. The sniper collapsed, unconscious.
Kryne stood up and slowly turned his head toward Noir.
"Now... I can focus on you."
Noir unleashed his terrifying dark energy, the air around him warping under its pressure.
"Now I can fight you at full strength..."
The scene ended there.
While Kryne battled above, far below in the abandoned poor district, Milo and Toxifar clashed.
Dust and decay filled the air. Broken buildings leaned silently, rubble crunching underfoot.
Fists collided, shockwaves rattling arms and chests. Neither gave ground, neither paused.
This wasn't just a fight it was a battle of wills. Milo's strikes carried anger and a desperate need to protect. Toxifar's hits bore twisted conviction and a belief in destruction.
They tested each other's resolve, each blow asking: whose truth would survive?
Both had drifted far from where Celestine and Selvara faced Number Two, leaving only heavy breaths and uneasy silence.
Toxifar stopped and turned to face Milo, his expression calm, almost curious.
"What's the problem?"
Milo clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on him.
"Toxifar... why did you kill those innocent people? Answer me."
Toxifar smiled faintly, as if the question itself amused him.
"Well... when you're chasing your goals, sacrifices are inevitable, Milo."
Milo's voice tightened with anger.
"What goals are you talking about?
Those police officers were just people protecting the city."
Milo continued, his voice firm and unyielding.
"Your justification for your crimes is weak.
Do you really enjoy being a criminal?"
Toxifar suddenly snapped, shouting straight into Milo's face.
"Stop pretending to be righteous and kind, Milo!"
His eyes burned with anger as he took a step forward.
"Take off that fake mask of justice."
He sneered.
"Do those police officers even mean anything to you?"
Toxifar spread his arms.
"They're just pretenders, crushing anyone who seeks real justice… anyone who wants true equality in Novara."
Milo stood still, unable to find a response.
Toxifar didn't wait.
He drove a series of punches toward Milo.
Milo blocked them, but the force pushed him back,
his body slamming hard against the wall.
Toxifar stepped closer, looming over him.
"Milo... come with me."
His voice lowered, almost sincere.
"Let's leave Novara together."
"I have a plan. I have a goal."
"I'll turn this world into a place where everyone belongs."
Milo lifted his head and looked at him.
"belongs everyone... you say?"
His voice trembled not with fear, but conviction.
"How do you plan to create a world that welcomes everyone when you're a killer?"
Milo snapped, anger flashing in his eyes as he continued.
"are you okay this days?"
He clenched his fists, voice sharp and cutting.
"Because the things you're saying make no sense at all."
Milo punched Toxifar for the first time.
"I hope this punch knocks you out of that dream world you're living in."
Toxifar immediately returned the blow, his fist crashing into Milo.
"And I hope this one makes you understand what I'm saying."
Milo answered with another punch.
"You sound like a childish dreamer
hurting people and justifying it by calling it 'true justice.'"
Toxifar struck Milo again, harder this time.
"I already told you stop pretending."
Milo stepped back, boots scraping the cracked asphalt.
A dense aura gathered around him, thickening the air with its presence.
He lifts his gaze, locking it onto Toxifar.
"There's no point..."
He exhales.
"It seems the only solution with you... is violence."
Toxifar spread his arms, toxic green energy curling like smoke, burning the ground. The air reeked of poison and metal.
He laughed, low and cracked, eyes cold.
"Yes… I'll defeat you and take you with me."
A terrifying smile curved his lips, the smile of someone ready to burn every bridge behind him.
Milo tightens his fist,
veins tense, eyes sharp and unwavering.
"Milo..."
Toxifar mutters, his voice trembling with madness.
"Fight with everything you have ."
The air shuddered, the silent street turned execution ground. One strike could start the slaughter.
Mist wove between abandoned buildings, thick with smoke and poison. Shadows twisted in green and silver.
The ground trembled, the city holding its breath. Every movement, every step, the street waited for fate.