"…This was just the beginning."
Nobu's voice echoed softly through the ruined hall.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unsettling.
Malvek frowned, still catching his breath. "What are you talking about…? They're all dead."
Nobu didn't reply.
His eyes shifted—
Toward the shattered throne.
Something felt wrong.
Then—
A presence.
Before anyone could react—
The air distorted.
And suddenly—
He was there.
A man wrapped in black.
Face hidden behind a mask.
Standing where Kuro once ruled.
"…So," the man spoke calmly,
"you're the one who killed my dog."
His gaze shifted slightly—
Toward the dead giant.
Malvek's heart dropped.
Dog…?
Nobu stepped forward.
Unfazed.
"…If that thing was yours," he said coldly,
"you should've kept it on a leash."
A pause.
Then—
A quiet chuckle.
"…Interesting."
The man moved.
He vanished.
CLANG!!
A violent shockwave exploded across the hall.
Nobu barely raised his arm in time.
The force pushed him back—
His feet tearing across the ground.
"…Fast," Nobu muttered.
The masked man attacked again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Relentless.
SLASH.
A deep cut opened across Nobu's side.
Blood spilled.
"—NOBU!!" Malvek shouted.
But Nobu didn't fall.
Didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward.
BOOM!!
Their attacks collided.
The ground shattered.
Shockwaves spread like explosions.
The fight intensified.
Blow after blow—
Neither side holding back.
The palace trembled under their power.
Nobu's breathing grew heavier.
Blood continued to drip.
Pain spread through his body.
"…You're slowing down," the masked man said.
Nobu smirked.
"…No."
He vanished.
BOOM!!
A punch slammed into the masked man's ribs—
Sending him crashing across the hall.
Before he could recover—
Nobu was already there.
CRACK!!
A brutal kick landed.
Bones snapped.
The masked man coughed blood.
"…What… are you…?"
Nobu grabbed his collar.
Pulled him close.
Blood dripping from his face.
"…The one who ends you."
For the first time—
Fear appeared.
The masked man pushed himself back—
Desperate.
Injured.
Shaken.
"…This isn't over…" he muttered.
"…You don't understand what you've stepped into…"
And then—
He ran.
In a flash—
He disappeared.
Silence.
Nobu stood still.
Breathing heavily.
Blood dripping.
His body trembled slightly.
"…Tch…"
The remaining bandits—
Who had witnessed everything—
Panicked.
"RUN—!!"
They fled.
One by one.
Dropping weapons.
Escaping like cowards.
Malvek rushed forward.
Caught Nobu before he could collapse.
"Idiot… you're bleeding too much…"
Nobu exhaled slowly.
"…I'm fine."
"You're not fine."
Behind them—
Movement.
Misashi's students rushed in.
They surrounded their master. -
Helping him carefully.
Misashi lay injured—
But alive.
The prince approached.
Holding his wife tightly.
His eyes filled with gratitude.
And guilt.
"…I don't know how I can repay you," he said.
"…You saved everything… my wife… my life…"
Nobu looked at him.
Through pain.
Through blood.
"…You know what to do."
The prince froze.
Then nodded.
"…I understand."
Without another word—
He left.
With his wife.
Toward his clan.
Time passed.
The palace—
Was cleaned.
Bodies removed.
Blood washed away.
Night fell.
For the first time—
Peace returned.
Inside the hall—
Everyone sat together.
Eating.
Recovering.
Alive.
Misashi had regained consciousness.
Weak—
But smiling.
Malvek sat beside him.
"…We finally won."
Misashi chuckled softly.
"…You two…"
"…are something else."
Nobu remained silent.
Later that night—
Inside a quiet room—
Nobu and Malvek rested.
Malvek spoke.
"…We did it."
A small smile appeared.
"…The biggest task is over."
Nobu stared at the ceiling.
"…No."
Malvek frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Nobu's voice turned calm.
Cold.
"…You're wrong."
"…The hardest part starts now."
Silence filled the room.
"…We own this place now."
"…That means…"
Nobu closed his eyes.
"…everyone will come for it."
"…Clans…"
"…Enemies…"
"…Monsters…"
Malvek exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah…"
"…Maybe you're right."
Then he looked at Nobu.
"…But this time…"
"…I'm fighting with you."
A pause.
Nobu looked at him.
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
"…Good."
BANG!!
The door slammed open violently.
Both of them sat up instantly.
Misashi stood at the entrance.
Breathing heavily.
Face pale.
Eyes filled with shock—
And fear.
"…Malvek…"
His voice trembled.
"…Someone…"
A pause.
"…kidnapped your sister."