Rimazu finished his opponent with precision.
A flicker.
A footstep.
Gone.
Using his invisibility, he slipped behind the A-rank soldier and struck at the perfect moment. The man dropped before he even realized what happened.
Rimazu exhaled.
Then immediately rushed to check on Sulaiman and Aisha.
When he arrived—
He froze.
Aisha was in Stage 2.
Flames spiraled around her arms, forming blazing ropes that wrapped tightly around her opponent. The fire tightened… seeped inward…
The soldier screamed as the flames burned from within.
Rimazu swallowed.
Half terrified.
Half impressed.
When the fire finally faded, the soldier collapsed.
Aisha turned, breathing hard—but alive.
Sulaiman stood nearby, twin daggers glowing in his hands.
"We're good," Aisha said.
Rimazu nodded quickly. "Yeah… I can see that."
Soon, the rest regrouped.
Zain looked toward the distant shockwaves echoing through the forest.
"I'm going to help Ryo."
Sulaiman stepped forward immediately.
"I'm coming."
Zain frowned. "You don't even know how to fully use your power."
Sulaiman clenched his fists.
"I know enough to fight by Ryo's side."
Zain didn't have time to argue.
"You guys stay here," he ordered. Then he looked at the boy. "Sulaiman. Let's go."
They took off.
Deep in the forest—
The battle was still raging.
Trees had been uprooted.
The ground cratered.
The masked figure stood calmly as Ryo wiped blood from his lip.
"You've gotten a bit stronger," the masked figure said.
Then—
A sharp punch to Ryo's face.
Not full power.
Just enough.
Ryo slammed into a stone wall, cracking it.
Inside his mind, a voice echoed.
Nurami.
"Well then… Stage 2."
Power surged violently through Ryo.
The air darkened around him.
He rushed forward, fist cocked back—
The masked figure prepared to block—
But Ryo faked the punch.
Spun.
And drove his heel into the side of the masked figure's neck.
The impact echoed.
Before the figure could fall—
The environment shifted.
Trees bent inward.
Clouds twisted.
Water from a nearby river rose unnaturally.
An unseen force pulled everything toward one point—
Toward Ryo.
The masked figure was dragged through the air against his will.
Ryo met him mid-pull—
And drove a brutal punch into his gut.
Payback.
The masked figure flew backward, crashing violently through multiple trees before skidding across the forest floor.
Silence.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
Then—
A figure stepped from behind a tree.
The King of Vilamon.
His royal cloak trembled.
"Hey…" the king said nervously. "We had a deal. You take our strongest soldier and his fortune… and you leave us alone."
The masked figure slowly turned his head.
The stare he gave—
Was pure death.
The king felt his legs weaken.
In that moment—
He felt something else.
Regret.
Regret for Sulaiman.
Before anything more could be said—
The masked figure vanished.
Reappearing instantly behind Ryo.
Stage 2.
His blade formed—
He swung—
But the attack was blocked.
Zain.
And beside him—
Sulaiman.
The masked figure staggered.
His breathing heavier now.
Cracks spreading across the mask.
For the first time—
He looked unstable.
The pressure around him flickered.
He was about to collapse—
But before he could fall—
Darkness swallowed him.
He vanished.
Back to Rolencia.
The forest fell silent.
Ryo exhaled.
Zain lowered his guard.
Sulaiman stared at where the masked figure had stood.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.