Chaos continued.
Not the loud kind.
Not the kind made of explosions or screams.
No.
A quieter kind of chaos.
One that seeped in slowly… into people's minds.
And for some—
Doubt had just been born.
---
Aeryn stood still.
Straight.
Imposing.
Surrounded by her men in black.
They formed a perfect circle around her.
Their silhouettes were rigid, almost inhuman.
Not a single unnecessary movement.
Not a wandering glance.
Not even a wasted breath.
A unit.
A machine.
A living weapon.
But at the center of that controlled silence—
Aeryn was thinking.
And that was the problem.
---
Selara's words kept echoing in her mind.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Like a blade reopening the same wound.
"Marcellus knew."
---
A simple sentence.
A detail.
But one that refused to fade.
Refused to die.
---
Aeryn narrowed her eyes slightly.
Her gaze dropped to the ground… then snapped back up.
As if even that moment of distraction was weakness.
— "…tch."
A soft click of her tongue.
Controlled.
But irritated.
---
She didn't like this.
She didn't like doubt.
She didn't like hesitation.
And most of all—
She didn't like not understanding.
---
Her arms slowly crossed.
Her gaze shifted toward the main building.
Massive.
Silent.
Almost threatening.
— "You."
---
One of the men in black stepped forward instantly.
Without a sound.
Without hesitation.
— "Ma'am."
His voice was firm.
Emotionless.
Just an answer.
---
Aeryn stared at him for a few seconds.
As if weighing something.
Then—
— "Go down to the dungeon."
A brief silence.
Very brief.
But real.
---
— "Check."
---
No explanation.
No details.
And yet—
He understood.
He nodded.
— "As you command."
---
Then he vanished.
As if swallowed by shadow.
---
Aeryn remained.
Alone.
Well—
Not really alone.
But isolated.
---
Her gaze stayed fixed on the building.
But her mind—
Was elsewhere.
— "…Ryuji…"
A whisper.
Barely audible.
---
She didn't know why.
But something was wrong.
Something… was off.
---
And she hated that.
---
…
Deep below—
The air was heavy.
Damp.
Thick with the metallic scent of blood.
Always blood.
---
Ryuji stood.
Or rather—
He tried to.
---
His legs trembled.
His muscles screamed.
Each breath tore at his chest.
---
The arrow lodged in his back burned.
Not like a normal wound.
No.
It was different.
---
More insidious.
Slower.
Like a fire that didn't consume the body—
But something deeper.
---
— "…poison…"
His voice was low.
Rough.
---
His eyes locked onto Marcellus.
Standing before him.
Calm.
Too calm.
---
— "Ryuji."
His voice echoed softly.
Almost polite.
---
— "That's your name, isn't it?"
---
Silence settled.
Heavy.
---
Ryuji didn't answer right away.
His gaze stayed fixed on him.
As if trying to see through him.
---
Then—
— "…if I'm not mistaken."
---
A faint smile formed on Marcellus's lips.
— "I suppose you're not stupid."
---
He took a step.
Just one.
But it filled the entire space.
---
— "And you know why I'm here."
---
Ryuji stared back.
His eyes were tired.
Red.
But not empty.
Not yet.
---
— "Sorry."
A faint smirk.
Almost mocking.
---
— "I'm dumber than you think."
---
Silence.
Brief.
---
Marcellus watched him.
Amused.
Interested.
Like observing an animal that refuses to die.
---
Meanwhile—
Ryuji moved.
Very slowly.
---
His hand slid behind his back.
His fingers trembled.
Searching.
Finding.
---
The arrow.
---
He grabbed it.
His teeth clenched.
---
Then—
He pulled slightly.
---
A surge of pain exploded through his body.
Like his nerves were set on fire.
---
— "…gh…"
A broken breath.
---
— "If I were you…"
Marcellus's voice cut through the moment.
---
— "…I wouldn't do that."
---
Ryuji froze.
Arm locked in place.
---
— "That arrow is coated with a… very interesting poison."
A smile.
Cold.
Calculated.
---
— "If you pull it out…"
---
He paused.
Then laughed.
---
A clear, genuine laugh.
Light.
Almost cheerful.
---
As if the rest didn't need to be said.
---
Ryuji let go of the arrow.
His hand dropped.
Heavy.
Useless.
---
His breathing became uneven.
Faster.
---
— "…shit…"
---
He understood.
---
If he removed it—
He'd die faster.
If he didn't—
He'd die slowly.
---
Lovely choice.
Truly.
---
Marcellus resumed walking.
Slow.
Measured.
---
— "You know…"
---
His eyes never left the core.
Glowing.
Unstable.
Pulsing like something alive.
---
— "I have nothing against you."
---
A step.
---
— "You have potential."
---
Another.
---
— "Especially considering what you've survived."
---
Ryuji remained silent.
---
— "But…"
A mocking smile.
---
— "I don't feel like fighting a man who's already dead."
---
He stopped.
Just close enough.
---
— "So…"
His eyes gleamed faintly.
---
— "Give me the core."
---
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
---
— "And I'll let you go."
---
Time seemed to freeze.
---
Ryuji looked around.
Debris.
Bodies.
Blood.
His sword—
Broken.
---
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
---
— "…suicide mission…"
A cold thought.
Clear.
---
But—
---
He lifted his head.
---
His gaze changed.
Slowly.
---
A spark.
Fragile.
But real.
---
— "No."
---
A single word.
But heavy.
---
— "You want it?"
A tired smile.
Almost ironic.
---
— "Come and get it."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
Marcellus's expression shifted.
Slightly.
But enough.
---
— "…very well."
---
A simple hand motion.
---
— "Kill him."
---
The guards charged.
All at once.
---
Eight against one.
---
Ryuji didn't move.
---
Not immediately.
---
Then—
At the last second—
---
He crouched.
Grabbed a stone.
---
And threw it.
---
CRACK.
---
It smashed into the first guard's face.
His nose collapsed.
He dropped instantly.
---
Ryuji grabbed another.
Without thinking.
---
Threw it.
---
A second fell.
Before even understanding.
---
No technique.
No elegance.
---
Just—
Efficiency.
---
Ryuji stood.
Grabbed the first body.
And hurled it.
---
Into the others.
---
A moment.
A disruption.
An opening.
---
Enough.
---
He lunged.
Grabbed a sword.
---
And attacked.
---
Fast.
Brutal.
Precise.
---
One strike.
One guard fell.
---
Second.
---
Third.
---
Blood splattered across the floor.
Walls.
His hands.
---
But—
His body was slowing.
---
His movements grew heavier.
Less sharp.
---
The poison.
The blood loss.
The exhaustion.
---
All came crashing back.
At once.
---
A movement.
Too slow.
---
A force.
Too strong.
---
— "…!"
---
Ryuji raised his blade.
---
CLANG—
CRACK.
---
The sword shattered.
Like glass.
---
A monstrous force hurled him backward.
---
He slid.
Slammed into the ground.
---
His breath vanished.
---
And then—
---
He understood.
---
Marcellus.
---
Standing before him.
---
His blade still raised.
Perfect.
Untouched.
---
Calm.
Always.
---
He made a slight gesture.
---
— "Fall back."
---
The guards obeyed instantly.
Without a word.
---
Marcellus stepped forward.
Alone.
---
— "…I'll handle this."
---
His gaze locked onto Ryuji.
---
Cold.
Sharp.
---
— "Show me."
---
A faint smile formed.
---
— "…whether you truly deserve that power."
---
Ryuji, on the ground, clenched his teeth.
His body screamed.
His mind wavered.
---
But deep inside—
---
Something refused to break.
---
Even now.
Even here.
---
His fingers dug into the ground.
---
He rose.
Slowly.
---
Very slowly.
---
But he rose.
---
His eyes burned.
---
Not fear.
---
Not yet.
---
Only—
Will.
---
The real fight—
---
Was just beginning.