The night crept slowly, bringing a cold that pierced like thousands of icy needles penetrating the skin. The damp sea wind blew from afar, carrying a salty aroma that clung to the throat. Waves crashed against the rocks with a heavy rhythm, as if calling for the coming storm. The sky was dark without a moon, only pale stars flickering weakly, as if hiding from what was about to happen.
Inside the vehicle, only the ticking of the clock broke the silence. The short hand was almost touching midnight when Arya, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. His gaze was cold, like a flash of steel in the darkness.
"It's time to move," he said coldly.
In an instant, all the team members awoke from their stillness. Dina took a deep breath before tightening the strap of the dagger sheath at her waist, the sound of leather rubbing clearly heard in the narrow space. Gamma checked the thin thread on his fingers, as if feeling the pulse of a life he was about to cut. Raius tapped the hilt of his sword, his face without expression. Yui stood calmly with an unwavering gaze. Venus, quietly, raised both her hands, the sudden dampness that filled the air becoming a sign that she was ready to awaken the wrath of water at any moment.
Upon arrival, they wasted no time. Dina crept among the stacks of wooden crates, then in one swift motion, "Srett!" the neck of a guard opened without having the chance to make a sound. His body fell slowly, blood seeping into the floorboards. Gamma and Raius moved to block the exit access, ensuring no one escaped. Venus raised her hands.
"Water Cutter."
A sound like cloth tearing filled the air, but what was split was not cloth but the bodies of three guards destroyed without having the chance to scream.
"Search!" Arya closed his eyes, feeling the life pulses around him. "Gamma, the warehouse next to you. Free them."
Gamma nodded, then cut the steel padlock with an invisible thread. The door opened, and the moonlight revealed pale, terrified faces packed together. "You're safe now," he said briefly.
Arya himself entered the ship. The chains there were cut, the victims helped out.
They left the harbor toward the mansion. The streets were empty, only oil lamps swaying in the wind. The luxurious building stood arrogantly at the end of the road, but in Arya's eyes, it was nothing more than a rotten nest waiting to be cleansed.
At the gate, Arya gave a signal. Dina darted. "Srett!" Two guards fell with their eyes still open, not realizing they were already dead. Gamma slipped in, cutting the gate chain in silence.
As they entered, the sounds of laughter, music, and clinking glasses could be faintly heard. Arya pushed open the doors of the main hall. The aroma of fine wine mixed with the smell of unwashed bodies greeted them. On his throne, the city ruler sat laughing, his face red, two women clinging to him.
"Oh? The target has apparently been waiting for his own death," said Arya, his lips curling coldly.
The ruler snorted, "Who are you? Guards! Kill them all!"
27 guards ran forward. "You will die!" they shouted.
Venus moved her hands. "Water Cutter." 9 of them were split in the middle of the way. Blood splattered on the walls, laughter and music stopped instantly. Raius stepped forward, "One Step Slash!" In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind 6 other guards, their bodies cut at the waist.
Dina charged at the rest, "Double Slash!" Dina slashed all the remaining guards. The candlelight reflected off her daggers, and in the same second, the remaining guards fell shredded to the floor.
Silence.
The ruler began to tremble, grabbing a decorative sword nearby. "You will not leave here alive!"
Arya walked closer, his black eyes fixed. "It's you who will not leave this room." In one flash, the sword in the ruler's hand was released, the ruler's hand shot by Arya.
"Argghh!" screamed in pain. "Bang!" shooting the leg.
"Spare me!" crying in pain.
"Your sins and slavery… there is no mercy for you." Bang! The bullet pierced the ruler's head.
Arya did not stop. Everyone armed in the mansion was hunted and killed without mercy. The servants were spared, but only to witness the end of their master.
"Dina, cut this." Arya pointed to the steel door in the basement. "Alright." Srett! The door split neatly.
"Light!" The light filled the room. Pale faces turned, their eyes wide. "You are free now," Arya said softly, then turned to Yui. "Now your task."
"Heal!" The green light enveloped their wounds. Cries broke out. "Thank you… thank you…"
Arya took out food and water. "Eat first." Tears mixed with relieved laughter filled the room.
That night, the city that usually slept in ignorance became a witness to the birth of a new mark. Arya, standing at the gate of the mansion now covered in blood, placed the Exone symbol on the cold stone wall. The emblem was placed under the torch and covered by the torch's shadow, becoming a silent message that would shake anyone who saw it that justice had come, and it knew no mercy.
However, far from that joy, in a dark room lit only by candlelight, a cold conversation took place.
"Solvier is dead?" ??? a heavy but cold voice echoed in the room.
"He was strong… but too arrogant," ??? replied in a flat voice almost without emotion.
"Who will fight him? All of us?" ??? another voice rumbled, as if from within a cave.
A thin but cruel smile appeared on the face of someone sitting in the farthest chair. "Good."
Arya's declaration of war against the Kingdom of Kirezo had reached and been heard clearly, piercing walls and distance. And next, something bigger was about to happen.