The sunset spilled golden light across the streets as Raizo walked away from the café. A faint smile lingered on his lips from seeing his friends safe—but it vanished in an instant.
BOOM!
An explosion shook the ground. The café trembled, windows rattling. Plates fell, and cups shattered on the floor.
Raizo spun around. The sky above was covered in thick, black smoke, swallowing the clouds.
Inside the café, panic erupted. His classmates scrambled under the tables as the shaking stopped.
Pia gasped, clutching her chest. "Was that… an earthquake?"
Bryant shook his head firmly. "No. Earthquakes last longer than that…"
Ejay rushed to the window, eyes wide. "There's black smoke—over there!"
Jade immediately took command. "Call an ambulance! Head toward the center of Maddela!"
"Odson, call for backup!"
Odson nodded, pulling out his phone.
Jade rose from the table, his voice sharp. "Let's move! Odson, Dennix, Clark, Bryant, Gabriel—come with me!"
Gabriel turned back to the others. "The rest of you stay here. Boys, protect the girls."
Outside, Raizo could already see civilians running, their screams piercing the air. He glanced back—Jade's group stormed out of the café. His eyes widened. They weren't empty-handed. They were carrying guns.
Raizo gritted his teeth. He had to move. He cast:
Wind Magic: Boost.
His speed surged. In one leap, he landed atop a shop roof. With a flick of his hand, his adventurer gear appeared from his item box. He searched for his sword—but it was gone. Memory struck him like lightning.
When Gladion touched me… I dropped my sword before we were pulled into the portal.
"Tch… no choice."
From his box, he drew his mythril gloves, slipping them onto his hands. The silver gleamed in the dying sunlight.
---
At the center of the city, chaos reigned. Gladion descended like a storm, his demon magic exploding in all directions. Buildings crumbled. Civilians screamed in terror.
"Demon! Somebody help us!"
The shrieks echoed as people fled.
From Odson's radio, backup was called. Within minutes, sirens wailed. Police cars screeched to a halt on the streets. Doors slammed.
"OPEN FIRE!" a captain roared.
Gunfire cracked through the air, bullets raining down on Gladion.
The demon smirked. "You think your pitiful weapons can harm me? Then let me show you what true damage looks like…"
Demon Magic: Demonic Shot.
Dark circles spun open behind him, and countless black spikes shot forward.
BOOM!
BAM!
BOOOOM!
Explosions tore through police cars. Officers were thrown into the air, their cries drowned by fire and twisted metal. Some lay bleeding on the asphalt.
Then—Jade's squad arrived.
Gladion turned, his crimson eyes narrowing. A small child stood frozen, too scared to run. Gladion formed a demonic claw, lunging for the boy.
"NO!" Clark sprinted, throwing his body over the child. The force sent him flying into a wall.
"OPEN FIRE!" Jade, Dennix, Gabriel, Odson, and Bryant raised their rifles, bullets sparking against Gladion's demonic aura.
Gladion grinned. "Foolish humans." His hand rose.
Demon Magic: Dark Flame Ball.
A massive sphere of blackened fire formed in his palm. He hurled it toward the squad.
"DODGE!" Clark roared, struggling to rise.
But before the inferno struck—
A figure stepped in front of them.
Emerald light flared from Raizo's gloves, forming a glowing barrier. The impact shook the streets, forcing everyone to shield their eyes from the explosion.
When the smoke cleared, Raizo stood tall.
Gladion's lips curled into a cruel smile. "So, you've finally shown yourself, Raizo Hayagashi."
Raizo's crimson eye gleamed. "Yes… I have."
Gladion sneered. "And I see you've made friends with these humans."
Raizo shook his head. "I don't know them. Not at all."
Slowly, he stepped forward, one eye glowing crimson, his presence heavy.
Gladion's grin widened. "Is that so? Then die with them!"
With a roar, he lunged. His claws slashed, but Raizo leapt overhead, the claws shattering the ground into rubble.
Fighting Magic: Strengthening!
Power surged through Raizo's body. Their clash shook the skies.
---
Meanwhile, in the other world—
In the heroes' camp, Raizo's sword Voidbringer began to glow faintly.
"Look!" Fenra gasped. "Raizo's sword—it's glowing!"
The others turned, eyes widening as the blade pulsed crimson before fading again.
"Are you sure, Fenra?" Akari whispered.
Fenra nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
Then the glow surged one last time.
"He's alive," Silvia whispered, trembling.
Akari, Silvia, and Shekiah nodded, their eyes shining with hope. Fenra broke into tears. "Yes… Raizo is alive!"
---
Back in Maddela, the fight raged. The shockwaves of every clash flipped cars, shattered windows, and sent people fleeing.
Jade's eyes darted—he spotted a bazooka among the wreckage of a police car.
He grabbed it. "Dennix! Bryant! Cover me!"
"Roger!" they shouted in unison, laying down fire.
Jade aimed. "Say your prayers, demon." He pulled the trigger.
FWOOSH!
The missile streaked toward Gladion mid-air.
Raizo noticed at the last second. In a split-second decision, he kicked Gladion toward it.
The demon turned, eyes wide. His wings stretched to shield himself, but—
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion ripped his wings apart, blood spraying into the air. A scar burned across his face. Gladion crashed into the ground.
Raizo's gloves ignited.
Fire Magic: Inferno Blitz!
Flames roared around his fists as he dove down. But just before impact, shadows enveloped the rubble—Gladion vanished.
Raizo landed, fists scorching the ground.
"Tch."
---
Police swarmed around him, weapons raised. A chopper's spotlight pinned him in the center of the square.
A voice rang out. "This is SPO1 Jade of the Maddela Police Force! Surrender now, and you won't be harmed!"
Raizo stood tall, fire flickering in his gloves. "I don't want to hurt you. I just need to defeat that demon and go home."
Clark raised his rifle. "Yeah, right."
Dennix lifted an AK-47. "That's the man I bumped into earlier."
Odson aimed his M4. "And the guy from Guillyerno Café."
Gabriel's voice hardened. "Move and we'll shoot you!"
Raizo exhaled, weary. "...Fine then."
In his left hand, a sphere of water formed. In his right, a blazing fireball. He slammed them together—steam and smoke exploded outward, engulfing the square.
"Cover your eyes!" Jade shouted.
The police obeyed, but when the smoke cleared—Raizo was gone.
---
Chaos remained in his absence.
"MEDIC! We need a medic here!" an officer shouted, dragging a wounded comrade.
"Backup, now! Lock down the perimeter!" another yelled.
Civilians screamed, some crying, others rushing to aid the injured.
Reporters flooded the streets with cameras, broadcasting live.
"This is breaking news—an unidentified man fought a demon in the heart of Maddela!"
Microphones pressed toward Jade and his squad, their faces grim and smeared with ash.
"Officer Jade, what happened here?"
Jade's expression hardened. "This city must remain cautious. There's a man out there—dangerous, powerful. One red eye, one brown. Black hair. He's not an ordinary human. Be careful of him."
The reporters scribbled furiously, the warning spreading instantly across the airwaves and beyond.
Meanwhile, in a dark alley, Raizo emerged from the shadows. He opened his item box and slipped on a ring. Instantly, his appearance shifted—his hair turned white, his eye glowed blue.
He changed into his old clothes, blending once more into the streets.
And with the world now aware of him, Raizo knew—his danger had only just begun.