Azrith slowly removed his cape before stepping down into the Black Pit.
The moment his feet touched the arena floor—
the underground became silent.
No cheers.
No laughter.
Nothing.
Even the drunk mercenaries who had been screaming moments ago now watched quietly.
Because somehow—
the man's mere presence crushed the atmosphere around him.
No one knew who he was.
But instinctively—
everyone understood one thing.
He was dangerous.
The elegant noble-like figure slowly adjusted his gloves before lifting his gaze toward me.
"Oh?"
"Hello there."
His voice sounded calm.
Almost friendly.
Yet somehow—
that made him even more terrifying.
I didn't reply.
My eyes remained locked onto him.
Everything inside me screamed danger.
Then suddenly—
my eyes widened slightly.
There wasn't a single opening.
Not one.
Every possible angle of attack—
covered.
Every movement—
countered before I could even make it.
It felt like standing before an endless wall of swords.
I couldn't even move carelessly.
Meanwhile—
Azrith simply smiled beneath the mask.
Soon—
the timer above the arena lit up once more.
05:00
The second the match began—
Azrith tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you so quiet?"
"You were laughing just a minute ago."
Tch.
Instantly—
I moved.
BOOM!!!
Using pure speed—
I rushed forward and swung the iron sword directly toward his neck.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
But—
my eyes widened.
He disappeared.
What—
Then suddenly—
BAAM!!!
A fist slammed directly into my face.
"COUGH—!"
My body crashed backward across the arena floor before sliding violently through the blood-covered pit.
The underground gasped.
Fast.
He was absurdly fast.
Meanwhile—
Azrith calmly cracked his knuckles while putting his sword down against the arena wall.
Then slowly—
he glanced at me again.
A faint smile remained beneath the mask.
"I'll be honest…"
"…I expected more."
"COUGH—!"
Blood spilled from my mouth as I stumbled backward.
I quickly forced myself to calm down.
No panic.
Panicking against someone like him would only make things worse.
The person standing before me…
…was far stronger than I could've imagined.
And the terrifying part?
He wasn't even using mana.
Meanwhile—
Azrith simply stood there casually with one hand inside his pocket.
Completely relaxed.
Like this entire fight bored him.
I gritted my teeth before rushing at him again.
BOOM!!!
The iron sword cut through the air aiming directly for his throat.
But Azrith merely sighed.
"The same tactic again?"
The next second—
BAAM!!!
His fist slammed directly into my stomach.
My eyes widened violently.
"W-WH—!"
The impact alone made blood spill from my mouth as my body bent forward in pain.
The crowd gasped.
I staggered backward coughing heavily.
What the hell was this monster?
I had fought powerful people before.
But this—
this felt completely different.
It felt hopeless.
I slowly tried reaching for my sword again—
but before my fingers could even touch it—
Azrith appeared directly in front of me.
No movement.
No sound.
He was just…
there.
My instincts screamed instantly.
Too late.
A hand suddenly grabbed my face before slamming me directly into the arena wall.
BOOOOM!!!
Cracks spread through the pit.
Pain exploded through my skull.
Then softly—
Azrith spoke near my ear.
"You seem quite confused…"
"…Rio."
My eyes widened completely.
Cold fear crawled through my body.
This man—
knew exactly who I was.
Meanwhile—
Azrith slowly looked down at me beneath his mask.
Then—
BAAM!!!
Another punch slammed directly into my face sending me crashing across the arena.
The crowd had gone completely silent now.
No cheering.
No laughter.
Only fear.
I slowly forced myself up while blood dripped from my mouth.
Then finally—
I looked directly at him.
"W-Who…"
"…who are you?"
The blue eye beneath Azrith's mask faintly glowed beneath the underground lights.
For some reason—
just looking into it made my body tense instinctively.
"I suppose…"
"…my name doesn't really matter."
His voice remained calm.
Cold.
"Still…"
"It's Azrith."
He slowly walked toward me afterward.
Each step echoed through the now silent Black Pit.
Then his gaze sharpened.
"And what truly matters right now…"
"…is you."
"And the nonsense you've been doing ever since arriving in Astryx."
My breathing slowly steadied while I listened silently.
Azrith continued.
"From the stunt you pulled at the harbor…"
"…which turned you into one of the biggest criminals in the kingdom."
"And now?"
He slowly glanced around the underground.
"Participating in the Black Pit?"
"Inside the black market?"
A faint smirk appeared beneath his mask.
"I thought you came to Astryx for a reason, Rio."
"I-I did…"
"Then why…"
"…do I feel like you don't actually want to leave this place?"
His words made my eyes narrow.
Meanwhile—
Azrith slowly pointed toward the mercenaries surrounding the pit.
The same people who had screamed for blood moments ago.
The same people laughing while others died.
"Why are you acting like those pieces of shit?"
Silence.
For the first time since entering the Black Pit—
the excitement inside me slowly faded.
Then suddenly—
DING!!!
The timer hit zero.
The underground instantly panicked.
The massive gates behind the arena slowly opened once more.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The gigantic basilisk crawled into the pit.
Its enormous body towered over the arena while crimson eyes locked directly onto us.
My eyes widened slightly.
Shit—
But before the creature could even move—
Azrith disappeared.
Then—
SMASH!!!
The entire underground shook violently.
The basilisk's massive body crashed into the arena floor instantly after Azrith smashed directly through it from above.
The monster didn't even get the chance to scream.
Silence filled the Black Pit.
Meanwhile—
Azrith slowly stood atop the crushed creature while blood stained parts of his gloves.
Then quietly—
he looked back at me.
And for the first time—
genuine disappointment appeared in his voice.
"…I'm disappointed in you, Rio."
Azrith suddenly grabbed my shirt before effortlessly pulling me upward.
My body barely reacted anymore.
Pain echoed through every part of me while my consciousness slowly faded in and out.
The last thing I saw was the underground arena growing distant beneath me.
Meanwhile—
the entire Black Pit had gone silent.
Not a single mercenary dared to stop Azrith.
No one shouted.
No one protested.
Even Lynn quietly watched him leave.
Because instinctively—
everyone understood the difference between Azrith and themselves.
He wasn't someone they could oppose.
Meanwhile—
Azrith casually carried me over his shoulder before stopping near Jasmine.
Then suddenly—
he smiled beneath the mask.
"You must be his girlfriend."
Jasmine's face instantly reddened slightly.
"W-What?!"
"No!"
"…I'm just his companion."
"Ah."
"I see."
Azrith sounded oddly disappointed.
Then casually—
he continued walking.
"Anyways…"
"…you should follow me too."
"I just needed to teach this idiot a lesson."
Despite everything—
there was amusement in his voice now.
Like the terrifying pressure from before had vanished completely.
Then suddenly—
he tossed a pouch toward Lynn.
CLINK.
The cat-masked woman caught it before her eyes widened slightly.
"Five thousand Miras?"
Azrith laughed lightly.
"Sorry for the disturbance, Lynn."
Meanwhile—
Lynn simply giggled beneath her mask.
"It's fine~"
"If anything…"
"…that was the most entertaining night we've had in months."
...
Consciousness slowly returned as I opened my eyes.
The first thing I noticed—
was the softness beneath me.
A bed?
I slowly sat up while grabbing my head.
The room around me looked massive.
Dark elegant walls.
A huge glass window stretching across the side revealing the futuristic skyline of Valorheim far below.
Neon lights illuminated the night while flying transports moved between skyscrapers outside.
This place alone probably cost more than entire districts back in Verilian.
Then—
my eyes shifted beside me.
Jasmine sat near the bed asleep.
Her head rested against the chair while strands of crimson hair fell across her face.
Seems like she stayed here the entire time.
I quietly sighed.
Then slowly—
my hand moved toward my hair.
The disguise artifact had already been removed.
Black-and-white hair spilled down over my shoulders once more.
"…Tch."
Ever since arriving in Astryx—
I hadn't been able to control myself properly.
The harbor.
The Black Pit.
The excitement during battle.
For some reason—
everything inside me felt unstable here.
Was coming to Astryx a mistake?
The thought quietly lingered in my mind.
Then suddenly—
KNOCK.
KNOCK.
My eyes narrowed instantly.
The door slowly opened afterward.
Azrith stood there casually.
Still wearing that same black mask.
That same calm smile.
The moment his blue eye met mine—
I instinctively felt wary again.
Meanwhile—
Azrith simply pointed toward the hallway outside.
"Come."
Silently—
I got up from the bed.
One last glance toward Jasmine.
Then followed him out.
The entire penthouse was absurdly luxurious.
Dark marble floors.
Modern lights.
Massive glass walls overlooking the city.
Eventually—
Azrith stopped near the balcony outside.
Cold wind brushed past us while Valorheim glowed beneath the night sky.
Then finally—
he spoke.
"I'm guessing you have many questions."
"…Yes."
My eyes remained fixed on him.
"First of all…"
"…who are you?"
Azrith tilted his head slightly.
"I thought I already told you."
"My name is Azrith."
"That tells me absolutely nothing."
A faint chuckle escaped him afterward.
"…Fair enough."
He slowly leaned against the balcony railing while looking down at the city below.
"Well…"
"Let's put it this way."
"I'm a contractor."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…A contractor?"
"Let's just say…"
"…Aurelia Lioren wanted me to take care of you during your time in Astryx."
My eyes widened slightly.
"The Headmistress?"
Azrith chuckled softly.
"Yes."
"The one and only."
I stayed silent for a moment.
So Aurelia had already prepared something beforehand.
That woman seriously thought ahead too much.
Then another thought crossed my mind.
"…But aren't you part of Astryx?"
"Why would you even help me?"
Azrith laughed quietly at that.
"I told you already."
"I'm a contractor."
"I don't belong to any kingdom."
The wind blew across the balcony as he leaned against the railing casually.
"I was originally supposed to meet you at the port."
Then he sighed dramatically.
"But unfortunately…"
"…I overslept."
My eye twitched slightly.
"And because of that…"
"…you caused quite the mess ever since arriving here."
I sighed while grabbing my forehead.
Fair enough.
The harbor incident alone was probably enough to make half the kingdom hunt me.
Meanwhile—
Azrith suddenly straightened himself.
"Now relax."
"I'm not gonna babysit you the entire time."
"And honestly?"
"That's already a low I'm not willing to reach."
Then casually—
he threw two cards toward me.
I caught them instinctively.
"…What's this?"
"Your identity cards."
"From now onward…"
"…you're officially citizens of Astryx."
My eyes glanced down toward the cards.
The person on the identification looked completely different from me.
Brown hair.
Ordinary face.
Average appearance.
Name: Zio Norken
Beside it—
Jasmine's fake identity read:
Irene Norken
"Norken?"
Azrith nodded casually.
"A small baron family working under me."
"Don't think too much about it."
"I see…"
"…thank you."
Azrith suddenly chuckled hearing that.
"Instead of thanking me…"
"…you're gonna do me a little favor."
I narrowed my eyes immediately.
"…A favor?"
"Hmhm."
"Yes indeed."
Azrith leaned casually against the balcony railing while the lights of Valorheim illuminated the night behind him.
"Look…"
"I already know you're related to the Valens in one way or another."
"But honestly?"
"I don't really care."
His blue eye beneath the mask slowly narrowed afterward.
"Instead…"
"How about this?"
"You do me a favor…"
"…and in return I'll personally get you inside Noctara."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
Noctara.
The capital of Astryx.
The place where the Valens resided.
Then Azrith continued.
"And who knows…"
"…I might even arrange a meeting with the Valens themselves."
My eyes widened slightly.
This was an offer I couldn't refuse.
No matter how suspicious he was.
"…What do I have to do?"
Azrith smiled faintly.
"Well…"
"I assume you've heard about Count Veritas?"
I nodded immediately.
The house Cedric was affiliated with.
Azrith's expression slowly turned colder afterward.
"Count Veritas rules the center district of Valorheim."
"Though they don't possess much political influence…"
"…their military strength is significant."
"And more importantly…"
"…they're affiliated with the Black Cross."
My eyes sharpened instantly.
Black Cross.
The cult serving the Lady of Velvet Sin.
So they had already spread into Astryx too.
Azrith quietly observed my reaction.
"I see you already know about those heretics."
"Yes."
"Good."
Then slowly—
he straightened himself before speaking again.
"The main objective of your mission…"
"…is to secure a little girl named Lumine."
"…Lumine?"
"Yes."
"She's currently being held within the House of Veritas."
A little girl?
Why would someone like Azrith care about that?
"…Is she related to you somehow?"
Azrith hummed thoughtfully.
"…Nope."
That immediately made me more suspicious.
"Then why are you after her?"
Azrith didn't seem like the type to help people out of kindness.
Not even slightly.
Then—
a faint smile slowly appeared beneath his mask.
And for the first time—
something about that smile genuinely felt dangerous.
"I think you misunderstand the situation."
The wind around the balcony suddenly felt colder.
"I'm not kidnapping Lumine from them to save her."
Silence.
Then quietly—
Azrith finished his sentence.
"I'm kidnapping her…"
"…to kill her instead."
My eyes widened.
"…Kill her?"
"Why?"
Meanwhile—
Azrith's blue eye faintly glowed beneath the mask.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Then softly—
he answered.
"…That doesn't concern you."