In the van, Juliane felt far more anxious than afraid.
She didn't fully understand what was happening, but her heart raced at the sound of gunfire echoing around her.
Paying attention to the conversation of her kidnappers, it seemed they were facing someone… special.
She thought "special" because it was hard to believe the descriptions she was hearing about the opponent they were fighting.
Still, she had a very open mind.
Juliane understood that there were inexplicable things in the world, even if she had never seen them herself.
As a girl raised in the countryside, her mindset was very different from someone from the city.
She had learned to fend for herself from a very young age.
Even in the midst of that tension and fear, she tried to gather as much information as possible.
A name crossed her mind… William… her beloved—but she quickly dismissed the possibility.
He was dedicated, hardworking… someone who had achieved his dream of becoming an astronaut.
However, that was all—he wasn't some kind of superhero capable of facing an armed group to rescue her.
So there could only be one explanation: some other group had attacked the kidnappers.
And she…
She was simply unlucky enough to be caught in the middle of it all.
"Will… my love… forgive me…"
"I don't think I'll make it through today… I didn't want to leave you…"
"I hope you find someone who makes you happy… the way I wished I could…"
Tears streamed down silently.
She was lost… and without hope.
°°°
Two and a half kilometers away, a camouflaged man lay prone on a small hill.
James Oliver.
A sniper positioned there under direct orders from Director Michel.
He waited. He observed.
The director had ordered the elimination of the group for knowing too much about sensitive matters.
James understood.
The boss wanted to erase all connections to the kidnapping, so he could use the victim freely afterward.
But what he had seen since arriving there…
A man fell from nowhere, crushing the rear of a police car.
Then, the van lost control, flipping several times.
And then…
It began.
The same man charged at a trained group—killed two with his bare hands… and ignored bullets as if they were nothing.
James kept watching, unable to process it.
Faced with that scene, he simply couldn't believe what he was seeing.
That wasn't normal… it wasn't possible.
He was about to make contact… but the radio crackled first.
The director.
After confirming to Michel everything the others had reported, he received new instructions and repositioned himself, waiting for the target to appear.
°°°
In the void of the intermediate space, Daniel watched everything in silence.
William's despair.
Every choice.
Every mistake.
To him, his disciple was a rough diamond. And diamonds… are only shaped under pressure.
He did not interfere.
Daniel had seen many geniuses die—and had personally eliminated many others.
Talent… meant nothing on its own.
It was merely potential.
Vivian, for example—a brilliant mind, but mediocre martial talent.
Even so, when she fought at full strength… she was his strongest disciple.
Among them all, only Linia could stand against her.
The Black Mage of the Ten Thousand Armies.
Was he cruel? Perhaps. But Daniel knew one thing: a weak heart… was the greatest cruelty to those who wished to protect others.
°°°
— Demi — John ordered — bring the girl out. We'll carry out this final test we were assigned. We need to be cautious and hold out until reinforcements arrive.
Following the order, Demi entered the van and came out dragging Juliane by the hair.
He found it strange that she didn't seem to feel pain, even though her eyes were filled with tears and fear was evident.
Rafael gave a bitter smile at the scene, but bit his lip and looked away.
His conscience screamed at him to do something, but he couldn't gamble with death anymore.
It was either her… or his family, who depended on him.
°°°
— Boss, what are we going to do? We don't even know if that monster knows this girl.
Alan commented, somewhat discouraged. It was as if Boss Michel was trying to get them killed again and again.
Romeu, leaning against the van, seemed to have an idea as he said:
— How about… we call out to the other side using the name of this bitch's husband, and threaten to kill her if he doesn't show up?
John thought for a moment.
Michel only wanted to test the other party's intentions—understand their motives for attacking them.
If the enemy didn't react even then, they could rule out any connection to the kidnapping.
— Fine. You'll do it, Alan.
Alan's eyes nearly popped out at the order.
— Boss, why me? Send that useless Rafael, or give a cane to the idiot who came up with the idea!
Alan had absolutely no desire to test his luck against that terrifying man.
The disastrous and humiliating end of Ralf and Josef was still vivid in his mind.
John didn't change his mind.
— Rafael's arm is incapacitated, Romeu has a broken leg. You're the only one with a suitable weapon.
— But boss, what about Demi?
— Demi will provide cover. You two are the only ones armed. Or do you want to go pick up weapons from Ralf and Josef's bodies?
Looking at how close the corpses were to that rock, Alan took a deep breath.
— Damn it! Fine, I'll do it!
Facing Juliane, whose face was swollen from his blows, he trembled slightly.
"That guy can't be anything to this bitch… right?"
Pulling her in front of him and pointing the gun at her head, he declared:
— Walk nice and slow, or I'll blow your head off!
Juliane trembled, her tears continuing to fall.
She didn't understand what she had done to deserve that.
Even the one who had tried to help her no longer looked at her with the same intention.
Sniff!! Sniff!!
"Why do I have to die like this? I couldn't even see my Will one last time… I couldn't become a mother… mom, dad… I don't want to die like this, I want to live!"
"Will, my love… please… I know it's impossible, but save me!"
Her tears ran down her bruised face; the sadness and despair in her eyes were heartbreaking.
She had lost hope, even as her mind longed for a miracle.
Juliane's legs gave out, and she fell to her knees.
Alan, who followed her, grew furious.
— Get up, you useless trash! — he shouted before striking her head with the butt of his AR-15.
Bang!
He frowned. He felt the impact, but it didn't seem to have hurt her.
Grabbing her by the hair with one hand, he pulled the dirty cloth from her mouth.
His gaze was deadly, making Juliane shut her eyes in fear.
— Hey, bitch… tell me, how do you look so fine after that van rolled over? And why don't you feel anything when I hit you, huh?
Letting her go, Alan pointed his AR-15 at her face.
— You're not bulletproof too, are you?
Faced with questions she couldn't answer…
With that gun pointed at her head, the fear of death intensified.
— Kyaaa!!
Her scream echoed loudly.
°°°
William, who had been preparing to counterattack while dealing with his injuries, heard a man's voice.
Then, a female scream—one he would never forget.
— J-Juliane?
As if forgetting his injuries and preparation, William leapt onto a two-meter rock.
His gaze swept over the armed man before locking onto the woman on the ground.
His eyes burned red with fury, veins bulging across his forehead.
— Who… is the bastard that dared lay a hand on my Juliane?!
His cold, murderous shout echoed, cutting off Alan before he could speak.
Everyone was caught off guard. Even Juliane lifted her head in disbelief.
Alan trembled.
— Shit!
He was about to pull her closer as a hostage…
But before he could act, it felt as though a steel clamp crushed his neck.
A sizzling sound, like burning flesh, filled the air.
Smoke rose between the fingers gripping his throat.
Alan's face twisted in pain.
He tried to feel the ground beneath him—but it was gone.
Glancing forward, he saw the eyes of a raging beast staring back at him.
His hands shot toward his weapon, trying to fire.
Another hand—like iron—gripped it, stopping him.
— You… are the trash who touched my wife's beautiful face with those filthy hands?
William's voice was rough, filled with killing intent.
Alan's face turned redder and redder—burning pain and suffocation taking over.
His legs flailed wildly in the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
His fists struck William's arm repeatedly—but it was like hitting concrete.
Desperation took over.
— So desperate now? You didn't seem to show mercy to my Juliane!
William's cold voice cut into him like a blade.
With his free hand, he grabbed the weapon hanging from Alan's body.
Bamm!!
The strap snapped.
— You wanted this, didn't you? Fine!
Pow!!
A shot rang out. Blood sprayed.
— Arck!
The bullet tore through his left leg.
Bang!
— Arck!
William threw his body to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
Alan crawled, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
Pow!!
Another shot—his other leg.
Footsteps approached.
— Where do you think you're going? — William growled, stepping on the freshly wounded leg.
— Arck! Help!
Terror filled Alan's face.
— Boss! Save me from this demon!
Pow!!
Another shot pierced his arm, and a foul yellow liquid spread beneath him.
— Seems like you're only a man when you're bullying women.
William's voice was cold.
°°°
John, Romeu, and the others watched in silence, their expressions grim.
Even if they wanted to act, only Demi still had a weapon.
John thought about shooting the girl—but if he did, that monster's wrath would fall on them.
He couldn't understand any of it.
That man was completely different from the husband Michel had shown them.
"Was this all a setup… to use us to weaken him and then capture him? Is that why Michel gave us a false description?"
John tried to connect the dots—the test, the location… everything felt planned.
°°°
From the moment she heard that familiar voice, Juliane stared at the man's back.
He had appeared out of nowhere to save her.
He was tall, his hair seemingly shining blonde. His body looked strong and well-defined—but was covered in blood.
There was nothing about him except that voice…
But she clearly remembered what he had shouted:
"My Juliane…"
And just now… he had called her his wife…
"No… it can't be my Will… so why is he calling me that?"