"Ahhahh! Hahaha! Hah!"
Robert laughed wildly, his grin stretched unnaturally.
SLAM!
Derius slapped him hard across the face.
"Who are you?" Derius snarled, grabbing Robert's collar. His voice trembled—not with fear, but disbelief.
Robert tilted his head, eyes blank.
"Who am I?" he whispered.
Then his grin returned. Twisted.
"I'm yourrrr… friend."
He laughed again, broken and hollow.
"Hahaha!"
Before Derius could react, Robert's hand pressed against his chest.
BOOM!
A burst of Kendra energy exploded point-blank. Derius was hurled backward, crashing into the snow.
"Tch… what? This much only?" Robert muttered, stepping forward unnaturally.
CRACK!
Lucus's fist slammed straight into Robert's face, staggering him.
"Lysaa! He's completely gone. We need to tie him up!" Lucus barked.
"Yes, sir! You're right!" Lysa replied, drawing her weapon.
Robert stood, laughing softly, blood running down his chin.
"Friends… all of you… friends…"
But his eyes told a different story.
"HAAAAAH!"
Lysa charged straight at him, blade ready.
But Robert's palm glowed ominously.
"Tempest Strike…?!" Lysa's eyes widened as she froze mid-step, recognizing the incoming technique.
Before the blast could release—
THUD!
Lucus grabbed Robert's arm mid-charge and smashed a punch into his face.
"Get down!" he roared, slamming Robert into the snow.
"Sir! Don't hit! Don't hit!" Robert shrieked, his voice suddenly broken and terrified.
Lucus hesitated, breathing hard. "Are you back now?! Robert?!"
"Y-Yes! Yes!" Robert stammered—only for his palm to suddenly glow again.
Lucus saw it just in time.
"Damn it—!"
He dodged sideways as the blast fired upward, shooting harmlessly into the night sky.
Before Robert could react, Lysa lunged, grabbing him from behind.
But—
"Not again…!" Robert hissed, grabbing her arm and flinging her forward like a doll.
"You're finished, woman," he snarled.
A blue energy-coated punch flew toward Lysa's face.
CRACK!
Derius's boot struck Robert square across the jaw.
Robert crashed back down.
"Now!!" Lucus barked.
Without wasting a second, Lucus pinned him and tied him tight with rope, ignoring the wild thrashing.
"Ahhh! AH! AHHH!" Robert screamed, writhing violently as blue sparks flickered from his body.
The two Class B recruits stood frozen, terrified.
Lysa coughed, crawling back. "W-What… what's wrong with him?!"
Lucus stayed silent, tightening the knots.
Derius stood nearby, breathing hard, eyes sharp for once.
"This isn't Robert anymore," he muttered coldly.
The camp fell silent… except for Robert's inhuman screaming.
"Lysa!" Captain Lucus barked, glancing her way. "Take the flare gun. If anything happens, use it."
"Understood, sir." Lysa took it, her grip tight.
Robert lay motionless now, bound and unconscious, faint blue sparks still flickering off his skin.
"Looks like he's knocked out," Derius muttered, eyeing him cautiously. "Maybe… whoever was controlling him let go."
Lucus's jaw tightened. "No 'maybe' about it. He's been released."
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A slow, mocking applause echoed through the mist.
Lucus snapped around, sword halfway drawn.
From the shadows ahead, a figure emerged.
"Exactly right," came a cold, amused voice.
A tall man, draped in a dark cloak, stepped forward with unsettling calm. His eyes glinted beneath his hood, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Who the hell are you?" Lucus demanded, raising his weapon fully.
"Who am I? Kukuku…" The figure chuckled softly, stepping into clearer view. "I'm Dan. Dan Fisher."
Lucus's eyes narrowed.
"Dan Fisher…? The one who ran the Dannes Organization?"
Dan smirked, tilting his head.
"Kukuku… You've got a good memory, Captain."
Lucus kept his sword steady. "Cut to the point. What do you want?"
Dan's grin widened.
"I want all of you."
Lucus frowned. "All of us?"
"I'm not for sale," Derius muttered.
"Idiot. Be serious," Lysa snapped.
"I am serious."
Ignoring them, Lucus pressed, "Why? For what?"
Dan laughed softly. "For what do you think this cursed village is known? The mine behind it."
Lucus's jaw clenched. "So… that's what this is about."
Dan's voice turned colder. "Exactly."
"You're going back to prison, Dan."
Dan chuckled again, slow and mocking. "Prison? You think I care? Besides… what guarantee do you have that any of you will live long enough to drag me there?"
Lucus's grip tightened.
"Enough."
His voice was iron.
"We're done talking."
Dan's smile never faded. "Then come."
Lucus turned slightly.
"Lysa. Derius. Stay back. This is mine."
"Understood, sir," Lysa said at once, stepping back with Derius, both tense.
Dan chuckled darkly.
Dan chuckled darkly.
"Come, Captain. Let's see if you're worth killing."
The air crackled with tension as the final confrontation began.
Lucus stood firm, eyes locked on Dan.
No weapons. No stance. Just standing there… calm. Too calm, Lucus thought.
Dan smiled lazily, as if the cold didn't touch him.
"Now then," Lucus muttered.
But before he could move—
SHRIIING.
A flash of Kendra energy. Fast. Blinding.
"AHHHHH!!" Lucus cried out as pain tore across his chest.
"Sir!" Lysa's scream cut the air.
Derius froze. "What the hell?! I… I didn't even see it!"
Lucus staggered, blood pouring from a deep gash across his chest.
His armour cracked. Barely held together.
That… that cut right through…! If not for this armour, I'd be dead.
Clenching his jaw, he forced Kendra stitches into the wound, slowing the bleeding. His breathing grew heavy.
Dan chuckled softly.
"Kukuku… Oh, right."
He raised a hand lazily, gesturing behind him.
"I'm not the one fighting you."
Something floated forward from the mist.
Lucus's eyes widened. His heart sank.
It hovered silently. White robes torn and stained. Its cracked, mutilated face half-hidden beneath the hood. Bleeding, broken hands floated eerily at its sides, Kendra energy swirling dark blue around its body.
Its mouth split unnaturally into a smile.
Its eyes remained closed.
"...I-It's… the same thing…" Derius whispered, his voice shaking. "The one I saw…"
Lysa took a step back, fear plain in her voice.
"Sir… What… what is that?"
Lucus didn't answer.
Because he felt it too.
Real, paralyzing fear.
Dan's voice echoed softly.
"Let me introduce you."
He smiled.
"The Monk of Hollowveil."
The mist thickened.
And the nightmare began.
"Both of you—run! All of you! Now!" Lucus barked.
"What about you, sir?!" Lysa shouted back.
"I said GO!" Lucus snapped, sword raised.
But Dan only smiled, stepping forward calmly.
"Nah, nah… I won't let you." His eyes gleamed as he suddenly charged, straight toward Derius, Lysa, and the two Class B recruits.
"Shit!" Derius spun his double-pointed spear into his grip, planting his feet. Lysa raised her sword, panic flashing in her eyes.
Lucus lunged, trying to intercept Dan.
SHHHHRRIP!
A flash of blue.
Lucus barely dodged. His forearm tore open, blood spilling as he stumbled back.
"AHHH!"
A cold voice whispered near his ear.
"I'm… yourrr… opponent."
The Monk hovered beside him now. Silent. Smiling.
Lucus's blood ran cold.
Meanwhile, Dan slowed, watching the young soldiers freeze.
"Hey now… I don't wanna hurt you kids. Honestly." His tone turned mockingly gentle. "Let's keep this as painless as possible."
But Derius moved first.
Without warning, he charged.
His spear spun like a cyclone.
"What the hell…?!" Dan's eyes widened. "His speed…!"
The strikes came fast, wild, unpredictable—Derius wasn't just swinging; his spear danced in his hands, switching grips mid-spin. Sparks flew as Kendra energy surged along the metal.
Dan ducked a blow, sidestepped another, the smirk fading from his face.
For the first time, he looked wary.
What the hell is this brat? he thought. That Kendra flow… it's too dense. Too chaotic. That's not normal.
Derius locked eyes with him—and for a moment, Dan saw it.
Fear.
Derius wasn't confident. He was terrified.
Terrified just from sensing Monk's energy.
Behind him, Lysa stood frozen.
Her sword trembled in her grip.
"Lysa! Move! We've got to move!" Derius snapped, desperation creeping into his voice.
Lysa's lips parted, but no words came.
Dan smiled softly.
"Stop staring at him!" Dan snapped.
Derius and Lysa froze.
"That thing won't hurt you," Dan said calmly, stepping forward. "You'll be helpful to us soon enough."
His gaze flicked toward Lucus, still locked in a desperate struggle with the floating Monk.
"Your captain, though? He can die."
Derius's jaw tightened. His spear trembled slightly in his grip.
"Don't get me wrong," Derius said quietly, forcing himself to look Dan in the eyes. "I'm not scared of you."
Dan's grin widened.
But Derius's next words cut through the air:
"I'm scared of that thing."
Behind Dan, the Monk smiled. Its blade danced lazily, slashing at Lucus like it was toying with him. Lucus bled from several wounds now, barely able to keep his footing.
"Captain… I can't do anything here," Lysa whispered
shakily. "I'll die if I get near that thing."
Dan chuckled.
"Kukuku… not afraid of me? Maybe that's the real mistake."
A strange pulse of Kendra energy, faint and controlled.
Blue veins of light laced through his fingers as—
FWUM!
The sword appeared.
A long, slender blade. Old. Scarred. Deadly.
The sound of metal scraping against the scabbard echoed.
Derius's eyes narrowed instantly.
Dan spun it lazily in one hand, the steel flashing cold and real.
Dan's smile vanished.
"Now… let me show you why."
Then he charged.
Dan's boots kicked up snow as he lunged.
"Move!" Derius shouted, pushing Lysa aside.
The sword came down—fast.
CLANG!
Derius barely caught it with the metal shaft of his double-pointed spear. Sparks flew.
Dan's strength was monstrous. His blade pressed down with brutal force.
"Tch—what the hell is this guy?!" Derius grunted, muscles straining.
Dan grinned. "You're quick. That's good. I like a little resistance."
With a twist, he broke the clash, swinging again. Derius ducked and rolled sideways, snow spraying as he moved.
Behind them, the Monk continued slicing at Lucus like it was playing. Lucus's armor cracked further under the invisible slashes. He dropped to one knee.
"Captain!!" Lysa screamed.
"Don't look away, girl!" Dan barked, stepping toward her now.
SWISH!
He slashed horizontally—
—but Derius intercepted again, spear crossing the strike path.
CLANG!
"Back off!" Derius growled, pushing Dan away and stepping in front of Lysa.
Dan spun the sword once, unfazed.
"You're protecting her? How noble."
He smirked. "Let's see how long that lasts."
From behind, Lysa gritted her teeth and whispered, "Derius… you're shaking."
"No I'm not," he muttered, sweat trickling down his temple.
"Your hand's vibrating like a kettle."
"It's just the cold," he lied.
Dan raised the sword again, this time with both hands.
"Let's make it interesting."
He charged again.
But this time, Derius stepped into the strike.
CLANG!
CLANG!
SPARKS!
He parried once—twice—then spun and struck with the blunt end of the spear.
Dan ducked, his sword grazing Derius's shoulder.
Blood sprayed.
"Ahh—damn it!" Derius stumbled back.
Dan laughed.
"That's more like it. Come on—dance for me."
Back to squad captain lucus
"Tch… I have to end this. Fast," Lucus growled, staggering.
His armor was cracked. Blood seeped from dozens of cuts across his body. Only his Kendra energy stitches were keeping him standing.
If not for this armor… I'd already be dead.
Above him, the Monk floated silently. Slashes kept coming—too fast, too precise. It wasn't trying to kill him.
It was toying with him.
Lucus's breathing turned ragged.
"Enough… enough!!"
He roared.
His Kendra energy flared—a swirling wind aura, circling his body like a barrier. Blades of air cut through the mist around him, turning his silhouette into a blur of storm and light.
Blue sparks danced around his fists.
"Wind Shelter!!"
The Monk attacked—slashing again.
But now, the spectral blades sliced only partially through the shield.
30% penetration… better than nothing.
Even as blood ran from fresh cuts, Lucus didn't stop.
"AHHHHHHH!!"
He charged straight through the slashes.
The Monk's eerie grin widened in amusement.
Lucus closed the distance.
With a sharp, desperate swing—
SLASH!
His blade tore across the Monk's chest.
Dark blood sprayed.
The Monk recoiled, floating backward, its robe torn open.
Lucus collapsed to one knee, panting.
"Got you… finally…"
But then—
The Monk's grin widened.
Lucus's eyes widened in horror.
"…No…"
Before his eyes, the Monk's wound began closing.
Dark flesh reknit. Bone snapped back into place.
Its cracked mouth split wider into a grotesque, bleeding grin.
Lucus's heart sank.
"What… the hell… are you…?"
The Monk's head tilted.
Then it whispered softly, its voice scraping through the air:
"…More…"
Lucus, trembling, forced himself back to his feet.
"…I'm dead… if I stop now…"
He tightened his grip on his blade.
And charged again.
To be continued