The fourteen floor was silent in a way that felt unnatural—like the calm before something catastrophic.
Zak, Maria, and Dook stood just outside the massive iron doors that led to the floor boss's chamber. The air was heavy, almost suffocating. Even breathing felt like a task.
Maria crossed her arms, her expression serious. "This boss… it's not like the others. Stronger. Smarter."
Zak, however, looked almost relaxed.
"Relax," he said, cracking his knuckles. "This is easy."
Dook raised an eyebrow. "Easy? We almost died on the last floor."
Zak smirked slightly. "That's because we weren't coordinated."
He stepped forward, his tone shifting into something more precise.
"Here's the plan. Maria—you focus only on healing. Stay out of direct combat."
Maria nodded.
"Dook—you stay at a distance. Long-range attacks only. Don't get injured. If Maria has to heal you, we lose efficiency."
Dook adjusted his weapon. "Got it."
Zak turned slightly toward him. "And use Inner in your bullets."
Dook paused. "Inner… inside bullets?"
"It amplifies impact," Zak said. "At least double the power—if you control it properly."
For a brief moment, Zak explained the basics of Inner—just enough for Dook to apply it. Not everything. Only what mattered for survival.
Then, without another word, Zak pushed open the massive doors.
The boss room revealed itself.
Dark. Vast. Broken pillars scattered across the ground. And at the center…
A massive beast.
Rok.
The creature's eyes locked onto Zak instantly.
But Zak had already moved.
At full speed, he dashed forward—faster than the eye could properly follow. Before Rok could even initiate an attack—
BOOM.
Zak's punch landed.
A raw, explosive impact.
The ground cracked beneath Rok's feet as the beast was pushed back violently.
But…
It stood up again.
Unshaken.
Rok growled and lunged forward—but before it could reach Zak—
Gunfire echoed.
Dook.
The bullets, infused with Inner, tore through the air with unnatural force. Rok twisted, barely dodging—
And that moment was enough.
"Beast Laser Punch!"
Zak's fist ignited with concentrated energy as he struck again.
This time, Rok was thrown across the room, crashing into a wall.
Dust filled the air.
For a moment… silence.
Then, from within the debris, Rok's voice emerged—low, shaken.
"These powers… they belong to him…"
Its eyes narrowed as it stared at Zak.
"…It can't be. You… are you…?"
Zak said nothing.
But his aura—faint, yet undeniable—answered the question.
Rok's expression twisted.
"No… I won't let you become stronger."
With a roar, Rok stood again—and began to transform.
Its body expanded. Muscles tightened. Energy surged violently.
Its power… doubled.
But there was a cost.
This form could only last ten minutes—and it would consume its life.
Rok charged.
Dook fired again—but this time, the bullets had no effect.
Zak felt it.
The pressure.
The raw surge of power.
"Stay back!" Zak shouted.
Maria and Dook froze.
Zak began to transform—
But Rok was faster.
A devastating punch landed directly on Zak.
The impact sent him flying across the chamber, crashing into the ground.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
For a brief second… everything went still.
Zak stared at the blood.
And then—
A memory.
Querry.
The moment the Devil attacked him.
The helplessness.
The anger.
Zak slowly stood up.
His expression changed.
Cold.
Focused.
"That's it?" he said quietly. "Not enough."
Then—
He moved.
Faster than before.
This time, Zak activated his sensory Inner.
Every movement of Rok became predictable.
Before each attack even landed—Zak dodged.
Clean. Effortless. Precise.
Maria and Dook watched in shock.
"This… isn't strength Inner," Dook muttered.
Zak didn't stop.
Mid-movement—he activated his Strong Man Body.
His muscles expanded, his presence intensifying.
Both fighters charged at each other.
Zak's fist glowed again.
"Beast Laser Punch!"
Rok gathered all its power into one final attack.
The two forces collided.
A massive explosion of energy filled the room.
The scene shifted briefly—
Maria and Dook were suddenly surrounded by wolf beasts.
Dook stepped forward.
Calm.
One by one—his Inner-infused bullets eliminated them within seconds.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Then—
Back to Zak.
The clash ended.
Rok was thrown back once again.
It struggled to stand.
Three minutes left.
It knew.
"You won't survive… Warrior Zee…"
Its body began to destabilize.
It was going to self-destruct.
Zak understood instantly.
"Move back!" he shouted.
Maria and Dook retreated.
Zak stepped forward instead.
In Strong Man form, he raised his arm.
"Super Laser!"
A massive blast struck Rok directly, tearing through its body.
But still—
Ten seconds remained.
Zak exhaled.
"One way left."
He smiled.
Rok didn't understand.
Then—
Zak activated his Laser Shield.
And in the next instant—
Rok exploded.
A blinding flash.
A deafening roar.
Then—
Smoke.
Only smoke.
Silence returned.
"Zak!" Maria shouted.
"Zak!" Dook followed.
No response.
Panic set in.
Seconds felt like minutes.
Then—
A figure emerged from the smoke.
Barely standing.
It was Zak.
Severely injured.
And then—
He collapsed.
One day later.
Zak hadn't woken up.
Maria sat beside him, quiet but tense.
Dook stood nearby, unusually silent.
Far away.
A meeting was in progress.
Zarko stood at the center of a large hall. Around him were East's most powerful figures—two top captains, four vice captains, and six heads.
"All of you are here for one reason," Zarko said.
His voice was steady.
"We are preparing to hunt the most dangerous individual in the East right now."
He paused.
"Zak Zee Zed."
Murmurs spread.
"He's currently on Cyclon Island."
Before anyone could respond, a soldier rushed in.
"Sir! Urgent report!"
Zarko glanced at him. "Speak."
"The mission we failed to complete in six months… Zak Zee Zed finished it in hours."
Silence.
"He defeated Beast Rok."
"Cleared the entire 14th floor."
"Not a single wolf beast remains alive."
The room froze.
Zarko continued calmly, "There's more."
All eyes turned toward him.
"Zak Zee Zed… was last seen on the ship of Wox Zee Zett."
Shock spread instantly.
"They are brothers."
This time, no one spoke.
A captain muttered, "Now it makes sense…"
Zarko stepped forward.
"Wox has already challenged the government. He has started a war."
"He's captured two islands in the West."
"And no one dares oppose him."
He let that sink in.
"The world believes pirates and criminals are the biggest threat."
He shook his head slightly.
"They're wrong."
"Warriors are."
He turned, his voice final.
"From this moment—we create a new organization."
A pause.
"Government Warrior Hunters."
The room remained silent—but the weight of the decision was clear.
"Our first target…"
Zarko's eyes hardened.
"Zak Zee Zed."
To Be Continued…