Rex departed by boat toward Vietnam, ordering Cyrus to return to the mountain he alone had crossed through the storm. As night fell, the sea turned violent. The vessel rocked and groaned as though the ocean itself sought to claim him. Just when the waters seemed to settle, a massive wave rose without warning and overturned the boat.
Rex was thrown into the sea.
He surfaced and swam toward shore. Shadows moved beneath the water—sharks, circling with intent. Without hesitation, Rex drew the golden gun.
"Forgive me," he whispered, "for the dishonorable kills I am about to commit."
He fired relentlessly as he swam. Bullets tore through the water, and the sharks fell lifeless. At last, Rex reached land—emerging onto the shores of Huế.
As he stepped from the surf, the sun broke through the clouds. Nearby villagers froze in awe as light reflected off his weapons, revealing the glowing yin and yang etched into the steel.
Before the moment could settle, a military detail arrived.
From the rear of the formation, the Prime Minister of Defense charged forward, carried by a gust of wind powerful enough to shake the ground itself. Rex never stopped walking.
The first gunshot rang out.
Four soldiers fell instantly—each struck by a single shot to the head. Fear rippled through the remaining troops. Rex leapt onto the armored vehicle, ripped the spear-like sword from his back, and hurled it into the engine block, pinning the truck in place.
In a blink, he drew Silent Fang.
The only sounds that followed were screams.
The soldiers never saw their killer—only death moving through them. The driver saw everything: the blood, the carnage, the inevitability. Overcome by terror, he turned his weapon on himself.
The Prime Minister stood frozen, trembling.
With one swing, Rex sliced the armored door clean off.
In the ancient tongue, his voice cut through the silence.
"Where is Soc Thuong?"
Prime Minister An Tse stared at the storm before him and answered without hesitation.
"Phú Quốc Island."
Rex's brow lifted—not in relief.
His gaze shifted behind the Prime Minister, settling on a half-naked teenage girl cowering in fear.
Understanding dawned.
"This," Rex said coldly, "is true justice."
He fired once. The Prime Minister collapsed.
Rex turned to the girl, his voice soft.
"I see your fear. I see your hatred. You were ready to die just to escape him."
He removed his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
"Come with me. You will learn a love untouched by hatred or pain."
Then he glanced back at the battlefield.
"But first," he said, "I reclaim what is mine."
Phú Quốc Island – Nightfall
A thick mist swallowed the island. Guards patrolled a secret prison buried more than a hundred miles underground.
Rex handed the girl a weapon—Cerberus.
"Stay here," he commanded. "Shoot anyone you see."
He charged forward.
With a snap, Rex drew his bow and released five arrows in unison. They cut through the mist and pierced five guards in the head at the same instant. Their screams echoed.
A guard returning from duty saw the carnage—then fell dead.
The alarm sounded.
Rex waved forward.
They stormed the building.
Inside the prison hall, guards rushed toward the gate. Rex drew Silent Fang and Eclipse.
"Fire without stopping," he told the girl.
In a heartbeat, Rex moved.
"Dual Stance: Moon Eclipse the Sun."
Nine slashes erupted—hidden within the storm of bullets.
The lights went out.
Nineteen guards saw a blinding light rush toward them in the darkness.
The first slash beheaded the guards on the right.
The second cut two guards on the left diagonally in half.
The third split two more completely.
The fourth severed legs—bullets finished them.
Two more slashes beheaded and bisected four guards.
The final four strikes tore limbs apart.
The ninth and last slash split the final guard down the middle.
Fear froze on their faces as they watched each other die—one by one.
A loud bang.
The elevator doors opened.
Before the captain could comprehend what he saw, Rex killed him.
Walking through the carnage, Rex spoke aloud:
"This is not hatred for you…
This is hatred for something else entirely."
He pulled his spear from the captain's skull and descended deeper underground.
The Lowest Level
Five rooms.
Four contained faces Rex remembered—names that aligned with the Chinese Zodiac. These would become his elite division: The Zodiacs.
The final door stood before him.
Rex cut it down.
Inside, a man hung suspended by four chains—hands and feet bound.
Rex spoke.
"I am the man who will cut down evil.
You were betrayed by those you swore to protect.
Imprisoned while the world cursed your name."
He stepped forward.
"Now you will serve me. My birth year binds me to this responsibility."
Rex cut the chains.
The man fell to his knees, looking up in awe.
He whispered the reason.
Then bowed.
"My king…
I, Soc Thuong, will be your spear."