The night air was thick with the scent of pine and burning wood, the crackle of the campfire the only constant sound in the clearing.
Luna sat close to the edge of the flames, her face bathed in a flickering orange glow that danced within the depths of her blue eyes. She stirred a heavy iron pot, the steam rising in wisps against the dark sky.
「 Luna Foster 」
[ Rank: ★ ]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
Behind her, Yuna was hunched over a cutting board, her movements methodical as she sliced through a piece of dark, tough-looking meat, her shy gaze focused entirely on her task.
「 Yuna Foster 」
[ Rank: ★ ]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
The tent flap rustled, and Shin stepped out into the light. The fire highlighted the jagged, circular scar wrapping around his neck and the gnarly burn mark that claimed his forearm. He squinted at the scene, his expression inherently sharp.
「 Shin 」
[ Rank: ★ ]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice grating with its usual edge.
Luna looked up and offered a bright smile.
"Cooking. Mind helping?"
Shin raised a cynical eyebrow, his lip curling slightly.
"In a rude way? Huh? Fuck no. Good luck with that, though."
He didn't wait for a rebuttal, trudging over to a fallen log and dropping onto it with a heavy thud.
Yuna paused her cutting, looking around the campsite.
"Where is Ruon?"
Shin shrugged carelessly, leaning back.
"How would I know? He's probably off somewhere being intense."
A soft rustle in the undergrowth signaled Neo's arrival. He stepped out from the shadows of the tree line, his eyes scanning the perimeter with clinical efficiency.
「 Neo Surnine 」
[ Rank: 『 ∅ 』 Zero Star]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
"Everything is clear," he stated, his voice flat and devoid of unnecessary inflection.
He walked toward the fire, his gaze shifting to the empty spots.
"Zazm hasn't returned yet?"
Luna shook her head, her ponytail swaying.
"He said he needed to go somewhere. Didn't say where."
Neo clicked his tongue, a brief sign of annoyance, before sitting down next to Shin with the calculated grace of a predator.
The silence of the forest was suddenly broken by two pinpricks of glowing red light high in the canopy.
Yuna gasped, her knife slipping as she stared up.
"I-is that a wolf?"
Neo didn't even look up, his posture remaining rigid.
"No. That's an insect. An annoying one at that."
A flash of crimson moved through the air as Asher leaped from the branches, landing with a light, silent thud near the campfire. His vibrant red hair caught the light, and his red eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.
「 Asher Ellis Ried 」
[ Rank: 『 ∅ 』 Zero Star]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
"I come all the way here to see how you were all doing, and this is how you greet me?" Asher complained, his voice full of mock hurt.
Neo didn't blink.
"And who asked you to bestow us with this blessing?"
Asher laughed, a bright, carefree sound that didn't fit the gravity of the front lines. He sat down on an adjacent log, leaning forward to peek into the pot.
"What are you cooking, Luna?"
"A stew," she replied cheerfully.
"Ohhhhh!" Asher's eyes lit up.
He leaned back, eventually laying down across the rough log, crossing his feet and tucking his hands behind his head as if he were on a vacation.
Shin stared at him, his temper simmering.
"Sir Asher, shouldn't you be looking after those two catalysts?"
Asher closed his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Me looking after them won't do much. They're stronger than me anyway."
Shin's eyes widened slightly.
"Is that so."
Neo's head suddenly turned toward the bushes on the far side of the camp.
"Where have you been?"
「 Zazm 」
[ Rank: 『 Ω 』 Omega ]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
[ Status: Supreme Commander ]
Zazm emerged from the darkness. He walked with an eerie stillness, his black eyes reflecting nothing and his face a mask of absolute emotional void. Zephyra was draped over his shoulders as usual, her purplish-black hair spilling over his chest and her star-flecked eyes looking bored as she played with a strand of his hair.
"Had some stuff to deal with," Zazm said. His voice was a hollow chill, cold enough to rival the mountain air.
Asher sat up to make room, and Zazm took a seat beside him, staring into the heart of the fire.
"Great timing, Sir Zazm," Luna said, lifting the lid as a savory aroma filled the clearing.
"The food is just done."
Asher turned his head toward Zazm.
"What have you been up to nowadays?"
Zazm didn't look at him. His black eyes remained fixed on the dancing embers, his posture as rigid as stone.
"What you're doing."
Asher laughed again, shaking his head.
"Figures. There isn't much to do on the battlefield anyway besides wait for the next disaster."
Luna began pouring the thick stew into bowls. Yuna took the first bowl and approached Zazm with a timid bow, handing it to him before moving to Asher, Neo, and finally Shin. Once everyone was served, the two sisters sat down with their own portions.
Asher took a long, steaming sip and beamed.
"Luna, you're the best! Seriously, leave this lot and join my squad."
Luna giggled, shaking her head.
"I'll stick with Teacher."
Asher let out a dramatic sigh, looking over at Neo.
"What's so great about Neo? He has a trashy attitude, he's kind of an asshole, and he's a little dumb as well."
Neo took a slow, methodical sip of his stew.
"You shouldn't be saying that."
A quiet fell over the camp, the only sounds being the scraping of spoons and the distant hoot of an owl. Neo eventually broke the silence.
"What about your squad, Asher?"
Asher circled his spoon in the air, a casual gesture.
"It's going great, actually. But in my division, only Nova and Miwa are left, aside from a handful of other soldiers."
Zazm's gaze shifted from the fire to Asher, his eyes like bottomless pits.
"Why is that? Shouldn't there be around five thousand soldiers with you?"
Asher nodded, his tone nonchalant.
"That was how it was in the beginning. But they weren't needed. Nova and Miwa would barge into every fight and just win the entire battle on their own. It was a waste of manpower. So, I decided to place the other soldiers in other locations where they were actually needed."
"I see," Zazm said, his voice flat.
"How are they doing?" Neo asked.
"They're doing great," Asher replied, swirling his spoon again.
"Constantly getting stronger. They've learned to control their strengths really well, and—what else? Hmm, they are also a huge help."
"That's good then," Neo muttered.
Asher's eyes drifted across Luna, Yuna, and then Shin. He set his bowl down, his voice losing its playful edge.
"But Neo... you shouldn't have brought them here."
Shin bristled, his hand tightening on his bowl.
"Sir Asher, we came here of our own accord. We also want to help."
Luna nodded firmly.
"That's true."
Asher shook his head, his smile vanishing instantly. A chilling, predatory look appeared in his red eyes.
"Do you hear yourself right now?"
The sudden shift in the atmosphere was violent. A cold shiver raced down the spines of the three students.
Neo didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he opened a sphere of water and launched it directly at Asher's face. The red-haired man was instantly drenched, water dripping from his chin and soaking his collar. A few stray droplets flew toward Zazm, but they stopped inches from his skin, sliding off an invisible barrier and falling into the dirt.
Asher sat there, dripping, a small, awkward smile returning to his face.
"Neo... what is the meaning of this?"
Neo took another calm sip of his stew as if he hadn't moved.
"You were pissing me off."
Asher smirked, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"And now you're pissing me off. Should I just kill you?"
Neo looked up, his expression one of bored indifference.
"I'd like to see your pathetic ass try."
Yuna scrambled to her feet, running into the tent and returning with a towel, which she handed to Asher with a worried expression.
Asher sighed, rubbing the towel over his hair.
"Seriously, what were you thinking? You know these kids have the potential to be Zero-star threats. That's why it was important for us to keep them safe."
He looked down at the ground, his voice softening.
"We never know what can happen to you, or me, or the others. We must have people ready to succeed us. Besides..."
He looked back at Neo.
"It's not like you needed them. You and Zazm were enough alone here."
Neo set his bowl aside and stood up.
"The reason I brought them here is because me and Zazm are here. That's why they won't be in real danger to begin with, and they would gain experience."
He looked at Asher coldly.
"You get it now, insect? There is no place like the battlefield to learn."
Asher sighed, leaning back and accepting the defeat.
"I guess you're right."
He stood up, stretching his limbs.
"Thanks for the food."
He looked at Zazm.
"Send me back ple—"
His request was cut off mid-sentence as Zazm flicked a finger, and Asher vanished into thin air.
"I'll do a round around the forest," Neo said, his voice commanding.
"You all pack up."
"Yes!" Luna and Yuna spoke together, moving to gather the bowls. Shin gave a silent nod and began dousing the fire.
Zazm finished his portion and stood up.
Zephyra yawned on his shoulder, stretching her arms.
"I want to eat too, give me some." she whispered into his ear, though he didn't react.
Zazm walked toward the edge of the clearing. As he neared a dense thicket, he heard the rhythmic whirr and thud of heavy steel. He pushed through the brush and found Ruon.
The boy was training in a small moonlit glade, swinging his giant sword with relentless focus. He was covered in sweat from head to toe, his shirt completely drenched and clinging to his frame, but his eyes were locked onto an invisible foe.
He didn't stop. His muscles rippled with every heavy, practiced arc of the blade.
The moon hung like a cold, silver eye over the glade, casting long, skeletal shadows through the dense thicket.
Zazm stood on the periphery, his presence nearly undetectable until a faint rustle of fabric behind him triggered his instincts.
In a flicker of displaced space, he vanished, reappearing instantly behind the intruder with his hand poised to subdue them.
"It's me! Sir Zazm!" Luna's voice broke the silence, her hands flying up in a frantic gesture of surrender.
Zazm's hand stopped inches from her. His eyes remained as hollow as a winter grave.
"What are you doing?"
Luna let out a shaky breath, brushing her hand against the back of her neck in a nervous habit. "We were looking for Ruon and just... ended up here."
Zazm shifted his gaze behind her. Yuna was peeking out from behind a large oak, her eyes wide, while Shin followed at a distance, his hands shoved into his pockets and his expression sour as he stepped over a gnarled root.
Zazm didn't offer a greeting; he simply turned back toward the center of the glade where Ruon was still moving.
"He always trains so hard," Luna whispered, watching the heavy steel arc through the air.
Yuna stepped forward, nodding softly.
"I think... I think he should take some breaks."
Zazm watched the labored, heavy movements of the boy. "Why is he swinging that greatsword?"
Shin walked into the clearing, the moonlight catching the jagged scar on his neck. "That's his AMI weapon. His inferiority complex is a little pain, too—always feels like he has to prove something with the biggest hunk of metal he can find."
"It's weird," Luna added, her brow furrowing.
"Why isn't he improving when he trains so much? He hasn't plateaued; he's just... stuck."
"Because he can't," Zazm answered. The coldness in his voice was absolute.
"What?" Yuna's voice squeaked.
"But Sir Zazm, he tries so hard. He puts in more hours than anyone."
"Doesn't matter," Zazm replied, his tone as flat and lifeless as a stone. "He can never be any better."
Luna stepped closer, her confidence wavering. "What do you mean, Sir Zazm?"
Zazm raised a pale hand, pointing at the massive blade Ruon was currently hoisting for another overhead strike. "He can't wield a greatsword. It is a biological and mechanical mismatch."
"You mean he lacks talent?" Shin asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Zazm said. "But aside from that, some weapons just aren't made for some people. The soul and the steel are at odds."
"Is that... what you think?"
「 Ruon Silvell 」
[ Rank: ★ ]
[ Affiliation: The Obsidian Fang ]
Ruon had stopped. He stood in the center of the glade, his chest heaving, sweat dripping from his chin onto the mossy earth. He looked in their direction, a weary, strained smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes—eyes that were filled with a crushing look of disappointment.
"Our cover has been blown," Yuna whispered, pulling her collar up.
Shin glanced at her with a look of pure disbelief. "You consider two bushes 'cover'?"
Zazm didn't respond to the bickering. He walked out of the shadows, his boots making no sound on the damp grass as he approached the boy.
Ruon let the tip of the greatsword thud into the dirt, leaning on the hilt. "What am I supposed to do, Sir Zazm? It's still my AMI weapon. I can't do anything but train with what I was given."
"It will be easier to show you," Zazm said, his black eyes fixed on Ruon. "Attack me."
Ruon didn't hesitate.
He knew better than to question a direct order from the Supreme Commander. He shifted into a wide stance, his muscles bulging as he hauled the massive blade upward. With a burst of explosive speed, he lunged, the heavy greatsword whistling through the air in a horizontal cleave meant to slice Zazm in half.
Zazm didn't blink. He took one calm step forward, entering Ruon's personal space. Instead of a block, he used the back of his palm to catch the flat of the blade at its pivot point.
The redirection was subtle but total. Unable to control the massive weight of the swinging sword, Ruon stumbled, his momentum carrying him past Zazm.
He tried to pivot and strike again, but before he could even reset his feet, Zazm's boot connected sharply with his wrist.
The sword flew from his hand, spinning through the air before burying itself three inches deep in a tree trunk.
Luna, Yuna, and Shin watched in stunned silence.
"See," Zazm said, looking down at Ruon, who remained on his knees, his hands trembling.
"So... there is no way for me?" Ruon asked, his voice breaking.
Zazm looked at the boy's frame, analyzing the leverage of his limbs and the flow of his vana.
"Ruon, have you tried to fight with a spear before?"
Ruon looked up, blinking. "No, Sir."
Zazm raised his hand. Through a ripple in space, a dark, metallic handle appeared in his grip.
As he grasped it, the shaft extended, a gleaming, tapered point sprouting from the end until a full, elegant spear sat in his palm. He tossed it casually.
Ruon caught it, the weight surprising him. He stood up, turning the weapon over.
"What am I supposed to do with this, Sir?"
"Practice," Zazm replied flatly.
He began to turn away. "Learn the spear. That is where you would excel. However, you are free to continue wasting your time on that heavy piece of junk if you prefer."
Ruon gripped the shaft and tried a few experimental swings, but the movements were awkward—he was still trying to use the leverage of a heavy sword. Zazm stopped, turning back with a slight sigh that was more of a cold exhale.
"Wrong."
Zazm stepped back in and took the spear from Ruon's hands. "A spear is not a club. It is an extension of your reach and your center of gravity."
Zazm's posture shifted. He held the spear loosely, one hand near the butt and the other guiding the middle. He began to move—a sequence of rotations that looked like a dance of death.
He spun the spear behind his back, the point a blur of silver, using the centrifugal force to build momentum without wasting vana.
"Don't fight the length," Zazm instructed, his voice echoing in the quiet glade. "The spear is about the transition between the point and the hips. If they close the gap, you strike with the blunt end. If they retreat, you find the throat."
He lunged—a lightning-fast thrust that stopped a hair's breadth from a hanging leaf—then retracted it instantly into a defensive high-guard.
He handed the weapon back.
Ruon took it, his eyes focused. He mimicked the rotation, then the guard.
Finally, he stepped forward and delivered the final thrust Zazm had demonstrated. The movement was fluid.
The weight felt perfectly balanced, and the tip hit the exact center of his target with zero wasted energy.
It felt... natural.
Ruon's eyes widened in shock. Luna and the others gasped, seeing the sudden, massive leap in his coordination.
A huge, genuine smile finally broke across Ruon's face.
Zazm watched him, his expression remaining unmoved.
"Your ability also pairs well with it. Use your friction powers to manipulate the shaft as it slides through your palms.
You can accelerate the thrust by reducing friction to zero, then instantly max it out at the moment of impact to lock the weapon in place. It will turn your strikes into armor-piercing bolts."
Ruon looked at the spear, then at Zazm, his previous disappointment replaced by a burning new light.
"Keep practicing," Zazm said, turning back toward the forest. "Don't let the 'junk' define your potential."
The moonlight filtered through the canopy in jagged streaks, illuminating the small glade where the heavy atmosphere had finally begun to lift. Ruon looked down at the dark metal of the spear, a genuine, relieved smile finally breaking across his face.
"I thought my ability was useless," Ruon admitted, his voice quiet as he ran a thumb over the smooth shaft of the weapon. "And my weapon even more... but I suppose it really isn't."
Shin stepped forward and delivered a heavy, ringing smack to Ruon's back, nearly knocking the wind out of him.
"Yeah, no kidding," Shin grunted, his tone sharp but lacking its usual malice.
"All you were doing with that friction power before was using it to slide around like a damn ice skater. Total waste of potential."
Luna leaned in, peering at the spear with genuine curiosity.
"It really is an interesting use of your power, Ruon. Accelerating the thrust by making the shaft frictionless? That's clever."
Ruon didn't respond with words at first. Instead, he dropped into a deep, respectful bow toward the dark silhouette of the Supreme Commander.
"Thank you very much, Sir Zazm. I'll practice the spear and I'll master it. Thank you for helping me understand my own ability."
Zazm began to turn away, his movements as silent as a ghost's. Zephyra, still perched invisibly on his shoulders, leaned her head back and watched the stars, her expression one of mild, detached amusement.
"A person's ability depends upon them," Zazm said, his voice a cold, hollow echo that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"There are no restrictions. You are free to use it however you please. The power is only as limited as the mind wielding it."
Ruon straightened up, nodding firmly. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Okay then," Luna interrupted, her cheerful voice cutting through the heavy philosophy. She gestured back toward the direction of the camp, where the orange glow of the fire was still visible through the trees.
"Ruon, come and eat first. You can't master anything on an empty stomach."
Ruon nodded, his stomach letting out a timely growl.
"Alright."
The group began the trek back to the campsite, the sound of their footsteps on the dry leaves filling the silence. When they arrived, they settled back onto the logs around the dying embers. Ruon took his bowl of stew, eating with a newfound hunger, his movements energized.
Zazm sat apart from the others, his back against a gnarled tree trunk. He stared down at the dirt between his boots, his black eyes lost in a void of thought that no one else could see.
He looked like a man staring into an abyss that was staring right back.
Shin poked at the fire with a stick, watching the sparks fly.
He glanced over at the Supreme Commander. "How did you know a spear would suit him, Sir Zazm? You called it instantly."
Zazm didn't look up. He didn't even blink. "Experience," he spoke, the single word carrying a weight that suggested a thousand battlefields and several mistakes.
The silence returned for a moment, heavy and thick. Zazm stood up, his tall frame cutting a sharp line against the firelight. He looked at the pot. "Luna, can I get some more stew?"
Luna jumped slightly, startled by the sudden request. "Oh! Yes, of course!" She moved quickly, ladling a fresh portion into a bowl and handing it to him instantly.
Zazm took the bowl, turned around without a word, and started walking back toward the darkness of the forest. The four of them sat in silence, watching his figure grow smaller and smaller until he was completely swallowed by the shadows.
Once he was gone, Luna exhaled a breath she seemed to have been holding.
"When I first met Sir Zazm... he was extremely scary. Just his presence felt like it was crushing the air out of the room."
Yuna huddled a bit closer to the fire, her voice small and airy.
"He isn't exactly less scary now, though."
Ruon let out a soft laugh, looking at the spot where Zazm had vanished. "He might come off as that, but he's an extremely nice person. He didn't have to stay and teach me. He could have just let me keep failing."
Shin nodded, his expression turning uncharacteristically solemn.
"He may be a Remnant, but he's the strongest among us. And a great person, too. He might be extremely cold, but that's all it is."
Yuna tilted her head, her shy eyes fixed on the empty space Zazm had occupied. "Does he really look that cold to you?"
Luna nodded emphatically. "I mean, look at him! His facial expressions never change. Not once. And he barely talks unless it is something important."
"Don't forget his voice," Shin added, shrugging. "It feels like he would kill you at any moment just for breathing too loud. It's chilling."
Ruon spoke up with his mouth half-full of meat and broth. "Well, yes, he is like that. So what? It's just how he is."
Yuna shook her head slowly, her voice barely a whisper. "That's not it. To me... Sir Zazm looks rather... tired sometimes."
"Tired?" Shin asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "The man doesn't even look like he needs sleep. He's a Monster."
Yuna just nodded quietly, her gaze lost in the embers.
Shin let out a long, weary sigh and stood up, brushing the dirt from his trousers.
"Go to sleep, Yuna. You're the one that's tired. You're starting to imagine things."
He gestured toward the tent.
"I'll be going to sleep now. We've got a long day tomorrow."
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