The moment Yuji crossed into Sector 1, the air changed.
It wasn't the suffocating dread of Sectors 2 or 3. No—it was worse. Because this place was… beautiful.
Unnaturally so.
The blue trees stretched impossibly tall, their bark a deep sapphire that shimmered under the strange sky. Each branch was covered in glowing azure leaves, humming faintly as if whispering some forgotten lullaby. The ground was carpeted with thick grass that glowed with a dim cyan hue, and scattered among them were flowers—tens of thousands—each one blooming in shades of indigo, teal, and ice-blue.
Even the sky had changed.
It wasn't the crimson dusk of Zeyrus anymore. It was a pale blue dome, scattered with drifting clouds of cobalt mist, and no sun above—only a glowing circle of white-blue light far in the distance. As if Sector 1 existed outside of time.
Yuji pulled his horse to a slow trot, his hand instinctively tightening around the reins.
"It's... beautiful," Sagai muttered from beside him, awe briefly breaking through his usual sharpness.
Hakiru didn't speak. He simply kept his eyes moving, scanning everything like a predator in enemy territory.
But Yuji felt it.
Beneath the glow… was silence. The kind of silence that wasn't peace—but suppression. The kind that made you whisper even when you were alone.
A single wind breeze passed between the trees.
Yuji's skin prickled.
"I don't like this," he said quietly.
"There's no bird sounds," Hakiru replied. "No insects. No breathing forest. It's a graveyard dressed in color."
Sagai dismounted first, his boots landing softly against the glowing soil. "We should move on foot. Horses might attract attention if... something's watching."
Yuji nodded.
They tied the reins to a twisted tree branch, the horses trembling, reluctant to stay even an inch closer. As Yuji turned, something glinted in the grass—he knelt.
It was a broken Zeyrus helmet.
Burned. Cracked down the middle. Still carrying the faint traces of blue blood.
Hakiru knelt beside him. "Someone came here before. They didn't make it."
Sagai brushed aside a patch of glowing grass—and uncovered a scorched emblem.
The Zeyrus insignia.
Aika's father's expedition crest.
Yuji stood slowly.
They continued forward.
Every step through Sector 1 was like walking through a dream painted in death. Blue fireflies danced between tree branches, and small pools of glowing water pulsed with energy, but none of it felt real. It was too perfect. Too pristine.
Too wrong.
Then they reached it.
A clearing. Perfectly circular. Silent.
In the center stood a humanoid figure—tall, motionless, cloaked in long, torn armor of ancient design. The being radiated a glowing blue aura that shimmered like fire. Its eyes… twin torches of endless blue flame.
It did not breathe.
It did not blink.
It only stood.
Yuji's ring buzzed violently.
> [ WARNING: Entity Detected – Unknown Energy Signature ] [ Elemental Reading: Blue Flame – Origin: ??? ] [ Target Identity: Vernakar – Red Potion Catalyst Source ] [ Risk Level: 5-Star Threat – Combat Expected ]
Hakiru's voice was barely a whisper.
"…That's him."
Sagai narrowed his eyes. "Why does he look human…?"
Yuji stepped forward, eyes locked onto the unmoving figure.
The blue aura pulsed once.
And then—Vernakar raised his head.
His voice was not human. Not beast.
It was hollow.
Dead.
> "You seek life… from one who has none to give?"
The three warriors drew their weapons.
Yuji's heart thundered. The air cracked with rising pressure.
The final battle had begun.
---
For a moment, everything stood still.
Vernakar did not charge.
He did not speak again.
He simply existed—like a curse that refused to fade. The blue flames surrounding him pulsed gently, as if breathing in rhythm with the forest itself.
Yuji's instincts screamed. His grip tightened on the hilt of his Wind blade while the Dark Element churned beneath his skin, hungry.
The temperature dropped.
Or maybe it rose.
It was impossible to tell. Everything was warped here—time, gravity, logic.
Then, in the space between one breath and the next—
Vernakar moved.
Not ran.
Not walked.
Vanished.
And reappeared behind Sagai.
A single blur of motion.
CLANG!!
Sagai spun just in time—his twin lightning daggers scraping against Vernakar's massive blue flame blade. Sparks burst like dying stars, and Sagai was launched across the clearing, crashing into a tree trunk with a grunt of pain.
Yuji barely tracked it.
Too fast—
Hakiru didn't hesitate.
He slammed his hands into the earth.
"Frozen Pillars—ERUPT!!"
A forest of jagged ice spikes burst from the ground beneath Vernakar. But the undead warrior raised his hand—a circular shield of blue flame bloomed around him.
The ice melted instantly.
Steam hissed into the air.
"His flames burn through Ice?" Hakiru muttered, sweat dripping.
Vernakar turned, his burning gaze locking onto Hakiru.
Then he moved again.
This time, Yuji saw it.
A flicker. A ripple in the air.
But Vernakar was already in front of Hakiru—his greatsword raised high. Hakiru tried to leap back, but—
SHHNNK—!!
The blade pierced clean through Hakiru's side.
Blood sprayed in a wide arc.
"AGHHHH!!"
"Hakiru!!" Yuji roared.
But Vernakar wasn't finished.
He yanked the blade free, spun, and hurled it like a javelin toward Sagai—who had barely recovered.
Sagai raised both arms, lightning sparking around him.
BOOM!!
The sword slammed into him and exploded with blue fire, sending Sagai flying again. He hit the ground, unmoving.
Vernakar walked calmly toward where his sword had landed—and called it back. The blade flew into his hand, pulled by flame and force.
Yuji stood alone now.
His ring pulsed with panic.
> [ ADM EB Remaining: 2 ] [ Allies: Unconscious ] [ Threat Level: 5-Star – Active ] [ Retreat: Not Recommended ]
His knees shook—but not from fear.
From fury.
Vernakar turned to him.
"You cannot kill that which has already died," the monster whispered.
Yuji's heart pounded.
He stepped forward.
"Then I'll destroy what keeps you alive."
Wind burst from his boots—a flash-step. He dashed at Vernakar, blade raised—
SLASH!!
Vernakar blocked instantly.
Their swords clashed, and the force blasted a crater into the forest floor. Yuji staggered back, raised his other hand—
Darkness surged.
His right arm was consumed by shadow. Then his left.
Both arms covered in black, elemental flame.
A chill raced down his spine—but he embraced it.
He let the Dark Element flow into his blood.
"Let's see how you handle this."
He released the Wind blade—and formed two fists.
Yuji dashed forward, faster than before. Vernakar swung down with his flame sword—but Yuji dodged, twisting under the arc and punching upward with a Dark-empowered uppercut—
BOOM!!
The strike connected with Vernakar's jaw—his helmet cracked slightly, sparks of blue fire spilling out.
But the undead didn't flinch.
He backhanded Yuji with his gauntlet, flames trailing behind the strike.
Yuji was flung into a blue-glowing boulder—stone cracked, pain flared in his ribs.
> [ Warning: Internal Damage – Fracture Detected ]
He coughed.
His nose was bleeding. Arm bruised. Vision blurry.
But he stood.
Vernakar approached.
The sword in his hand morphed, twisting into a halberd made of solid blue flame.
Yuji raised his dark fists again. He jumped, spun, and launched a volley of Wind-blades from mid-air—but Vernakar twirled the halberd, deflecting each slash with pinpoint precision.
Yuji landed hard and fired a Dark Arrow—
MISS.
"Damn it—!"
He tried again.
Fired another.
BOOM!!
Hit the edge of Vernakar's chest. Blue flame shield flared. Only minor damage.
Yuji gasped.
He was running out of time. Out of energy.
> [ EB Remaining: 1 ]
"Can't waste shots…"
He looked at Vernakar again—studied him.
That shield always formed in the same spot.
Every time Yuji attacked from the front.
"…It's directional."
He gritted his teeth. That's it.
He summoned Wind beneath his feet.
Then darkness into his arms.
A final arrow formed. Black as night. Crackling with unstable energy.
"Let's finish this."
Yuji flash-stepped left. Fired an arrow—a fake shot.
Vernakar blocked—shield facing that direction.
Yuji vanished again.
He appeared behind him.
The shield was gone.
"NOW!!"
He fired.
The Dark Arrow struck Vernakar's neck.
Direct hit.
The explosion was massive.
Shadow-fire devoured half the clearing. Trees burned with blue and black flame. Ash and petals danced through the air.
When the smoke cleared—
Vernakar was on his knees.
His sword fell from his hand.
His body cracked.
Glowing fissures of blue fire spilled from his armor.
He looked at Yuji one last time, eyes flickering.
"…I waited… too long…"
And then—
He collapsed.
And the light went out.
---
Yuji stumbled forward, panting.
> [ Target Eliminated – Sector 1 Cleared ] [ EB Remaining: 0 ] [ Core Catalyst Detected – Red Potion Viable ]
His ring dimmed.
He dropped to his knees beside the fallen corpse of Vernakar.
Reaching into his satchel, he pulled out the potion vial the Commander gave them.
He knelt beside the glowing blue blood pooling from Vernakar's neck.
Poured it carefully.
The potion shimmered red.
He held it tightly, trembling.
"…Aika… we did it…"
Then he rushed to Hakiru—still breathing, but unconscious. Sagai groaned faintly nearby.
Yuji checked both.
No fatal injuries. Not yet.
They needed rest. But they had no time.
He whistled.
Their horses, trembling at the edge of the forest, came galloping forward.
Yuji threw Hakiru and Sagai over their horses. He climbed onto his own.
Clutching the Red Potion like a sacred relic…
They rode back to Zeyrus.
---
The gates of Sector 454 opened at dawn.
Yuji's horse galloped through the narrow canyon pass, hooves thundering against the stone. His cloak was torn, body trembling from blood loss and fatigue. Behind him, Sagai and Hakiru rode unconscious, their heads swaying with every gallop—but still breathing.
In Yuji's grip, a small vial of crimson-red liquid pulsed with soft light—the completed Red Potion. It shimmered like it was alive, glowing faintly against the cool morning air.
As they reached the outer base, soldiers rushed from their posts—shouting in disbelief.
"Is that…?"
"He came back?! Alone?!"
"Call the Commander! NOW!"
The alarm horn didn't need to be sounded.
Within seconds, Commander Arkan emerged from the medical wing, his cape flowing behind him like a battle flag. His stern face cracked slightly when he saw Yuji riding in, covered in ash and blood, but holding the vial.
Yuji slid off the horse and dropped to his knees.
"I got it…" he gasped. "The blood… of Vernakar…"
Arkan immediately rushed to him, catching him before he collapsed. He took the vial, inspected it—then snapped toward the medics.
"Take this to Aika Miyawaki—NOW!"
Two Elite Healers sprinted into the wing.
Yuji tried to stand, failed, then pushed himself upright again.
"I want to see her…"
"No," Arkan said, voice sharp. "You've done enough. You need rest."
But Yuji didn't listen. He staggered forward.
Inside the infirmary, past the rows of injured ADM Corps members, Aika lay pale and still, connected to elemental stabilizers. Her breath was shallow. Her skin, once radiant, had lost all color.
The medics poured the potion drop by drop into her mouth.
Seconds passed.
Then her hand twitched.
Her chest rose, a gasp escaped her lips.
Her eyes fluttered open—cloudy at first, then sharp.
"...Yuji…?" she whispered.
He froze in place.
"Aika… you're okay?"
She gave him a faint smirk—so small, but so her.
"Why do… you always look like you lost a war?"
Yuji laughed, tears blurring his vision.
Arkan stepped forward, nodding to the medics.
"She's out of danger. Her body will stabilize fully in 48 hours, but the poison's neutralized. The mission succeeded."
Yuji let out a shaky breath—and almost collapsed from relief.
But the moment didn't last.
One of the scouts appeared in the hallway, panting.
"Commander—urgent message from the capital."
Arkan's expression darkened.
"…Of course it is."
He turned to Yuji.
"Yuji Kazehaya."
Yuji straightened up, surprised at the tone.
"The King of Zeyrus, King Kael, has summoned you."
Yuji blinked. "What?"
Arkan didn't smile. He didn't blink. Just spoke in his commander's voice.
"He requests your presence at the Royal Council Chamber, immediately. No escort. No delay."
Yuji glanced back at Aika.
She gave him a weak thumbs-up and whispered, "Better not die."
He smiled faintly and whispered back, "I already did."
---
End of Chapter 9