[Kana Heideson narrating]
"I served as an Imperial soldier, one of the elite. We were the spearhead on the battlefield. I didn't just master swordsmanship—I pioneered refined martial arts within the ranks. Close combat became my specialty, setting me apart from the rest.
There was one mission that stands out. Our commander, Farlhan Ironjaw, devised a plan to strike at the heart of the Court's elite soldiers. They were stationed at a palace, a place where they let their guard down, a retreat... and we were to take full advantage of their vulnerability."
"What we didn't realize was that the palace wasn't a retreat for the elite soldiers—it was a training ground for aspiring knights. Kids. Yes, they were destined to be the Imperial Federation's enemies, but at that moment... They were still just children.
[Valeshire Palace, Empire of Majestus]
When we arrived, the place was nearly deserted. The Court soldiers were scarce, and the plan had already failed. But just as we were about to pull out, a young trainee—barely able to stand—pointed his weapon at us.
Kana: "Drop the weapon, kid. Walk away while you still can."
Trainee: "You... you killed my father!"
The boy charged at me. I easily parried his attack and knocked him out. But as we moved deeper into the palace, something felt wrong. There were hardly any soldiers left.
Then, we turned a corner... and I saw my companions. They were slaughtering the trainees.
Kana: "What have you done?"
Kana and her companions were locked in a heated argument. Some of them couldn't grasp the gravity of the situation—they didn't understand why killing innocents was so wrong. While some trainees had been killed, those under Kana's supervision had been spared. The argument had cost them valuable time.
One of her companions finally reported that Court soldiers were approaching the palace.
Kana's mind churned as she analyzed the lack of security. It was as though the Court had anticipated their ambush and deliberately pulled their soldiers from Valeshire Palace. She couldn't yet fathom the full reason behind this move, but it was clear to her that the higher-ups were likely in collusion with the Court of Majestus.
When Kana and her companions finally returned to the Imperial Federation, Kana demanded an explanation from Commander Farlhan about why some of his soldiers had brutally killed trainees who had done nothing wrong.
Commander Farlhan replied, "It was a grave mistake. On behalf of myself and the other higher-ups, I apologize for this disgraceful failure. What is it that you want, so we can move on from this?"
Kana: "Move on? That's all you have to say? You're dismissing the lives of those innocent people so easily?"
Farlhan: "They were already lost causes. From birth, they were indoctrinated by the Court to believe they were just and orderly. There's no room for negotiation. We had no choice but to eliminate them before they became our enemies."
Kana: "What? That's absurd! How can you be so certain they would become our enemies? Some of them might have left the Order after witnessing what happened to them."
Farlhan: "Kana Michson, you are a respected soldier. Why question the methods of military strategy? After all the years of war, this is the closest we've come to turning the tide. This moment in history is our chance to fight back effectively. The Imperial Federation soldiers must do whatever it takes to defeat the Court of Majestus."
Kana: "Military strategy? You don't understand a thing about it. Oh, but of course, I'm the one who's wrong. You know what? I'm done. I'm quitting being a soldier."
Farlhan: "Are you certain? You'll forfeit your privileges and status if you leave."
Kana: "Yes, I'm sure."
Farlhan: "Guards, strip her of her badge and escort her out."
Noe, one of Kana's companions: "If the Colonel is leaving, then I am too."
Farlhan: "As you wish."
Dansleif: "I'm with Noe. The Colonel's leadership is what made this worthwhile."
Calben: "Same here. I'll follow the Colonel wherever she goes."
Elzen: "Count me in as well."
Kana: "You guys..."
[Later that evening]
Kana returned home under the fading glow of twilight, her mind still spinning from what had happened. The silence of her house was heavier than usual—too still, almost staged. She took cautious steps, her senses on edge. Something felt... wrong.
Her eyes scanned the hallway. The door was closed just as she left it. Windows unbroken. But as she reached for the switch in the living room, the lights didn't respond.
"I wouldn't bother," a calm voice echoed from the darkness.
Kana froze. Her eyes adjusted, and slowly, the silhouette of a man came into focus—sitting on her couch, relaxed, one leg crossed over the other.
She reached for the dagger hidden in her coat, but the man raised a hand casually.
"I'm not here to harm you," he said. "If I was, you'd already be dead. I'm here as an ally."
"Who the hell are you?" Kana demanded.
"My name is Vria."
He stood up slowly, stepping into a shaft of moonlight. His eyes held no malice—only purpose.
"I came because I saw what you did today. You walked away from an empire that lost its soul. You saw the truth. The Imperial Federation is no longer fighting for justice—it's sacrificing innocents in the name of power."
Kana narrowed her eyes, still tense. "And you think I'm going to trust a stranger sitting in my house?"
"No," Vria said. "Which is why I'm offering something more honest. A choice."
He took a step forward and extended his hand. "Touch it. Then decide."
Hesitant but curious, Kana reached out. The moment their hands met, a rush of visions flooded her mind—brief flashes of the future. She saw herself and Vria leading a new movement, a force built not on bloodshed, but conviction. She saw victory—earned not through cruelty, but through unity. She saw hope.
Kana gasped and pulled her hand back, staring at him.
"You saw it, didn't you?" Vria said quietly. "A better way. One that begins by eliminating King Julius Valoria."
There was a long silence.
Then Kana nodded once. "Alright. I'm in."
And that night, the Black Orb was born.
Vria: "So, Jeonne . What do you know about Kana's power?"
Jeonne: "Uhm, see the future. Visions."
Vria:"Not just that. Kana's Sigil, Chrono Sight - Upon physical contact with her hands on a person, she temporarily possesses the target's point of view in the future, but cannot interact with the future. She can see their future in someone's point of view of the target, what she will see. This power may sound like a gift, but there are horrors you're not supposed to see in the future. It's actually the opposite, it's a curse for her. That's why she stopped using her powers and decided to wear gloves all the time. Her last vision, which was you."
Jeonne: "What? Me?"
Vria: "She said, "You were standing on the high ground, eyes filled with reverence together with people, including me."
Jeonne: "Hehe, you flatter me. But what was I doing there "
Vria: "That's what we're trying to know."
Vria: "You must have done something in the future that makes you a very important person to Kana. However, she didn't tell us more about the vision. She just said that you were there. You are the key to everything we need."
Jeonne: "Oh. By the way, s-sir. Uhm, do you know where Kana is?"
Vria: "Yes, she is in the Darian Fortress. It's a prison."
Jeonne: "That sounds kinda like a big prison."
Vria: "It is. It is one of the prisons that is hard to infiltrate. But if you're a Bounty Hunter, you have the authority to enter the prison to interrogate criminals..."
[Bounty Hunter Association]
The Extravagant walked into the Bounty Hunter Association like they owned the place.
Conversations stopped. Heads turned. Even the rowdy ones suddenly became quiet, like kids pretending to behave when the principal walks in.
Hunter 1 (nudging his friend): "Bro. B-Bro. Look. It's them. The Top 5 guild, Extravagant."
Hunter 2 (already fangirling): "Holy shit... They look fantastic. They really live up to the name Extravagant. I swear, it's like a fashion show and a war squad fused into one."
Hunter 1: "That guy leading them—that's Vria Goldagger. Leader of the squad. His sigil lets him see a few seconds into the future. Basically, you throw a punch, and he already dodged it last week."
Hunter 2: "No wonder no one fights him. Man's playing chess while we're trying to play rock-paper-scissors."
Hunter 1: "Behind him, that's Dansleif Wayward. Ex-military. He's got that 'punch-you-into-the-wall' type of body. Served in the Imperial Army, hand-to-hand expert... and he can phase through stuff. Like, literally. You try to grab him and end up hugging air."
Hunter 2: "Oh, I know him. I watched a duel where a guy tried to suplex him—and fell through the floor instead."
Hunter 1: "That's Rosetta Fleur—their sword queen. Hot, Elegant, deadly, and faster than a rumor in a small village. Her sigil lets her teleport where her sword's going. It's like the blade leads, and she follows."
Hunter 2 (sighs dreamily): "If I ever get cut by her, I'm saying thank you."
Hunter 1: "Moving on. That guy over there? That's Noe Florvaine. His legs are basically super springs. He can jump higher than a bounty hunter's rent and kick harder than your mom's slippers. Dude once jumped over an entire building just to land a flying knee."
Hunter 1: "Now she—she's their tech expert. Mirael. No sigil, no powers... just pure, scary-level brains. She's the one who plans everything, builds their gadgets, hacks stuff—second brain of the team."
Hunter 2: "So no powers and still cracked. Honestly, terrifying. I wouldn't mess with her. She probably has all our phones bugged."
Then, someone unexpectedly trailed behind the group.
Hunter 1 (blinking): "...Wait. Who's that?"
Hunter 2 (squinting): "I dunno. He looks... kinda new. Did they just adopt someone?..
Vria approached the front desk.
Front Desk Clerk: "Good morning, my good sirs. How can I help you today?"
Vria: "We have a new member. I want a quick deployment arranged. Call Mr. Caldren."
Front Desk Clerk: "Understood. I'll contact Mr. Caldren right away. While waiting, feel free to relax in the lounge."
The group headed to the lounge. While waiting, Jeonne looked around, taking in the place. It was lively—hunters moving around, screens displaying bounties, weapons on racks, and a faint buzz of announcements overhead.
He was starting to appreciate the vibe... until he felt something strange.
Someone was glaring at him.
He turned—and saw Rosetta Fleur, eyes narrowed, practically glazing him with suspicion and silent judgment.
Jeonne raised a brow, confused.
Then Rosetta finally spoke.
Rosetta: "He's supposed to be the one who saves us? I don't buy it. He just appeared—no background, no story—and you believed in him?"
Vria: "It was Kana's words. Let's trust her."
Rosetta: "Or maybe Kana's playing a prank. I mean, look at him."
Dansleif (smirking): "Yeah, you do kinda look like a dork. Can you even fight? Don't worry. I can train you. Maybe you'll even get a physique like this."
He flexed unnecessarily, as if anyone asked.
Noe (grinning at Jeonne ): "Bro, don't fall for it. I made that mistake. He told me it was an 'easy routine.' I believed him. First day, I couldn't walk straight. Second day, I cried during squats. Third day, I threw up just by looking at a dumbbell."
Jeonne: "...Noted."
Mira (smiling softly): "Don't mind them, Jeonne . They were the same when I joined. Loud, blunt, annoying—but they're good people."
Vria (calmly): "So, Jeonne . Tell me more about your powers."
Jeonne: "Well... I just gain superstrength."
Suddenly, Mr. Caldren arrived.
Mr. Caldren, one of the heads of the Association arrived: "Extravagant. To what service do I owe you?"
Vria: "We're here for a quick-deploy. Got a new member—Jeonne ."
Mr. Caldren: "Understood. Come with me."
He gestured toward the hallway.
The group followed him into a quiet room lined with polished stone walls and a large digital table in the center. A few empty chairs surrounded it.
Mr. Caldren: "Sit. Let's make this quick."
Jeonne took a seat, his mind still buzzing with the image of that shadowy figure. But he tried to focus. He signed some papers, and then, he was officially joining one of the top guilds in the Association.
The Black Orb returned to the village, but what awaited them was a nightmare. The remains of their family and friends lay scattered, brutally torn apart.
Mira dropped to her knees. "No... no..."
Jeonne stood frozen, his voice trembling. "What the hell happened here?"
Jeonne , unfamiliar with the sight he just saw, he threw up.
Dansleif's fists clenched in fury. "Those Imperial knights! They'll pay for this! I knew the village was at risk. They've been hunting us, thinking the Black Orb's base is hidden in some remote place... but I never thought they'd do something this unforgivable."
Vrya stepped forward, his eyes sharp, scanning the carnage. "No."
Dansleif looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean, no?"
Vrya's gaze darkened. "This isn't the work of Imperial knights. Look at the precision of the cuts. These are from finely crafted weapons, and only a master swordsman could achieve this level of skill. Imperial knights prefer halberds and spears... This massacre was done by something far more deadly. A blade."
He paused, his fists shaking with rage as memories flooded back—the enemy he had sworn to destroy had struck again. His voice almost broke as he growled, "Court... of... Majestus!"
[Jeonne 's House]
Jeonne 's cousin, Jin, entered the house with his spare key.
Inside, he found Jeonne lying motionless on the bed, arms sprawled out like a dead fish.
He shook him.
Nothing.
He shook him harder.
Still nothing.
Jin: "...Alright. You asked for it."
SLAP!
The sound echoed.
Jeonne (bolting up): "WHAT THE—?! Where am I?!"
Jin: "Bro! You've been absent for four days! People at school think you died or transferred to Mars! I'm here to check on you!"
Jeonne (confused): "What?! What time is it?!"
Jin: "7:01 AM!"
Jeonne: "FUCK! My alarm didn't ring!"
He jumped out of bed like a man escaping a house fire. In less than a minute, he was in the bathroom—washing his face, half-combing his wet hair, and yanking on his school uniform with one shoe still half-on as he ran out the door.
Jin (blinking at the dust trail): "...Okay. What the hell is wrong with him?"
[36 Minutes Later – Near the School]
Jeonne , now visibly sweaty and out of breath, pedaled a rented bike like his life depended on it. As he turned a sharp corner—
WHAM!
He slammed into someone.
They both hit the ground.
Jeonne: "Oh, shit—Sorry! Are you okay?!"
He looked up.
It was Nico Bellaris.
The same guy who once hit him with a bike before.
How the tables had turned.
Jeonne quickly helped him up.
Jeonne: "You good? Wait... where's your bike?"
Nico (awkward): "It was s-s..."
Jeonne: "What? I can't hear you."
Nico (sighs): "It was stolen."
Jeonne's: "...Come! Ride with me..."
(40 minutes late)
When Jeonne opened the door to the classroom, the teacher's eyes widened in surprise. His classmates, people he had never imagined interacting with, suddenly turned their attention toward him, their faces filled with concern.
For a moment, Jeonne felt something unfamiliar—a warmth. He realized that, despite his isolation, there were people in the room who cared about him. There had always been a barrier, a lack of communication that kept him distanced from his classmates. But now, he could see that it wasn't indifference—it was simply misunderstanding.
Jeonne (Internal Dialogue): "It feels... good to have people worry about me."
Jeonne absorbed the newfound connection.
Meanwhile, Nico entered the classroom, his presence shifting the mood. He quickly apologized to the teacher and the class for being late. His seat was in the back, but getting there felt like torture. Eyes followed him with every step, making him feel like the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders. Each movement was heavy, like walking with rocks strapped to his back.
When he finally reached his seat, the class resumed, but Nico could still feel the stares lingering on him.
Nico: "It wasn't always like this."
-EPISODE 6: END-