The floodlights blared, making the air outside the dungeon feel hot and heavy. It was tense, almost thicker than the dungeon itself.
"Don't move."
The voice came from the front, firm, cold, and leaving no room for negotiation.
A woman stepped out from the line of soldiers. Her hair was tied back neatly, her military uniform immaculate, and her gaze sharp as a blade.
"Put everything down."
With the slightest movement of her hand, dozens of weapons were aimed at the three of them.
"I am Captain Delliah of the Galmasca Military."
Her eyes swept across them one by one—Zouma, Ana, then Mikoto—before stopping.
"You three are hereby designated as suspects."
No one spoke.
"Suspects?!" Zouma snapped.
"You went into a dungeon without permission, registration, or supervision from the Hunter Association," Delliah said flatly. "That is a mid-level legal offense. You will be taken to the nearest military base for questioning."
"Questioning?" Zouma let out a harsh laugh. "You think I'll just go with you?"
Several soldiers immediately stiffened, but Delliah did not move.
"I suggest you do not resist."
Zouma stepped forward and let his mana rise again. It was faint, but still noticeable.
"And if I refuse?"
Delliah only looked at him.
Then Zouma moved first.
A small flame appeared in his palm and shot toward her. Several soldiers flinched back, but Delliah simply swung her hand downward.
WHOOSH!
The fire split in two, as if sliced apart by an invisible blade.
In the next instant, Delliah was already in front of him.
Too fast.
Her elbow slammed into his stomach.
BUKH!
The air left Zouma's lungs at once. His body folded, and before he could recover, Delliah kicked the back of his knee. He dropped to the ground. Another kick smashed into his face and sent him sprawling, blood spilling from his nose.
No one moved.
Delliah brushed off her gloves. "...Stupid hunter."
She turned toward her men. "Tie him up."
Two soldiers stepped forward. Ana remained silent.
Mikoto... was asleep on top of the bags.
And that was when another voice cut through the standoff.
"Well, now. What do we have here?"
Every head turned.
From the other side of the area, another group approached—clearly not military. Their armor was lighter, their weapons more varied, and their presence far rougher.
At the front walked a red-haired man with a faint smile and sharp eyes.
"Ares," one of the soldiers muttered.
Delliah frowned. "What is Guild Firewolf doing here?"
Ares stopped a few meters away. His gaze passed over Zouma, Ana, and finally Mikoto. His smile widened a little.
"We came to take them."
The soldiers raised their weapons higher.
Delliah's voice turned colder. "They are suspects. They will be taken by the military."
Ares shrugged. "Suspects? Would this beautiful captain care to explain why?"
Delliah's expression tightened. "I got a report that a group has been entering dungeons over and over without clear permission. These are the suspects. We saw with our own eyes that the three of them came out of the dungeon."
Ares smiled faintly and pointed at the Gate behind them. "Are you saying every dungeon that appears belongs to the state? Are you trying to monopolize dungeons for yourselves? Look at those three. They succeeded in closing the Gate."
"Procedure is still procedure," Delliah replied. "Entering a dungeon without permission is still a violation."
Ares stepped closer, and his aura began to rise.
"But if a dungeon is left unattended for too long..." His voice lowered. "...monsters come out of the Gate. Civilians die. And by the time you arrive..."
Suddenly he was right in front of Delliah, leaning close to her ear.
"...everything is already too late."
Delliah flinched and tried to kick him, but Ares had already leapt back out of range.
The air tightened instantly.
"How dare you!"
Delliah touched her ear, and her troops immediately readied themselves.
Ares only smiled.
Then, without another word, he lifted one hand.
"Begin."
The world erupted.
DUAAR—!
A Firewolf member slammed his axe into the ground. This sent a shockwave through the soldiers' front line. Their formation staggered.
"Defensive formation!" someone shouted.
Too late.
Another Firewolf member had already broken into their ranks. A sword flashed, and three weapons flew from soldiers' hands. One man dropped. Two stumbled back. The third barely had time to react before a punch drove into his stomach and sent him flying.
Delliah moved at once. She kicked one of the attackers, but he caught her leg with one hand and grinned.
"Not bad."
Delliah stepped back and struck with elbows, punches, and quick, precise kicks. Her opponent blocked everything, then struck back and forced her two steps away.
Her eyes narrowed. "...Strong."
In the midst of chaos, Mikoto quietly took Ana's hand. They slipped away from the crowd unnoticed.
On the other side of the field, gunshots rang out.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bullets flew toward Firewolf, but one member raised a hand. A transparent shield appeared in front of him. The bullets stopped against it, then dropped harmlessly to the ground.
"Seriously?" one soldier muttered.
Before they could fire again, another Firewolf fighter appeared behind them. One punch dropped a man instantly, and a low kick swept two more soldiers off their feet at the same time.
The entire area descended into chaos.
But this wasn't a battle. It was a slaughter.
Firewolf dominated every exchange. Their movements were too efficient, too practiced, as if this kind of violence was routine.
Delliah attacked again. She drew her sword, raised it overhead with both hands, and wind rushed in from every direction. Everyone nearby instinctively looked at her as the air wrapped around her blade.
With all her strength, she brought it down.
"Take this!"
CRUSH!
The slash tore forward with terrifying force. Wind blasted across the field and threw several Firewolf members back at once.
But Ares remained standing in the middle of it.
As if the attack had passed right through him.
Delliah froze for a fraction of a second.
"...What—"
Ares lifted one hand and pointed at her.
Dozens of fire arrows appeared behind him, one after another.
Then they launched.
WHOOSH!
Delliah raised some kind of invisible wind barrier with the last of her strength, but the arrows exploded against it.
BOOM!
The ground shook.
And in the next instant, Ares was already in front of her.
Delliah kicked.
Ares dodged just enough.
Then his hand snapped out, caught her wrist, and twisted.
KRAK—
"GH—!"
Delliah lost balance, spun, and was slammed hard into the ground.
DUAGH!
The earth cracked beneath her. She tried to rise, but Ares's knee was already planted on her chest, pinning her down.
Around them, the fight was already over.
Soldiers lay sprawled across the ground, some unconscious, some groaning in pain. Firewolf's members were already standing again as if none of it had cost them any effort.
Little by little, the field went quiet again.
Delliah tried to move.
Failed.
Her hands trembled. Her breathing was rough. She still glared at Ares, but her body could no longer obey.
Ares looked down at her for a few seconds, then slowly stood.
His smile was faint.
"...Remember this well."
He bent slightly, and his gaze sharpened.
"You government dogs..."
He paused.
"...will not be able to rule anymore in this age of Hunters."
No one answered.
In the distance, Mikoto had closed his eyes. He hugged Ana from behind on the motorcycle, unnoticed by everyone.
"...What a pain."
Ana sat in front, driving, her eyes fixed on the road as though everything behind them no longer mattered.
"...Sir."
"...Hm?"
"...Is it really okay to take this motorcycle without permission?"
There was no answer.
Mikoto had fallen sound asleep against her back. His breathing was calm, as if the battlefield they had just left didn't exist.