Silence.
That was all that remained after Rero's rage burst from his eyes like a storm aimed at Ruigh.
Ruigh lay hidden behind a shattered piece of debris, where he had crawled to escape the explosion of power.
But now, he was trying to crawl away—anywhere far from Rero.
Murderous intent.
It was everywhere.
The presence of a predator.
A wave of nausea hit Ruigh as the pain in his body twisted into a dark whirlpool.
It pulled at his mind, dragging him deeper into unconsciousness.
Rero rose, limping toward Ruigh.
His gaze was hollow, his voice like a whisper carried on a cold breeze.
"I'm going to slaughter you," he said, smiling.
"Slaughter you like a lamb."
His breathing quickened.
Became erratic.
His eyes widened.
"I'll kill you... I'll kill you!"
His laughter pierced the silence, a high-pitched screech that made Ruigh—half-conscious—tremble in fear.
Rero threw his head back, arms wide, laughing as if the world had already ended.
"I am the one who controls everything! My power... it's limitless!"
Then he collapsed.
Fell to his knees.
His trembling hands tore at the ground beneath him.
Everything trembled with him—
From ecstasy.
From joy.
From despair.
Shaking, Rero forced himself back to his feet.
He screamed,
"I am the strongest! The most valuable being alive! Do you understand me!?"
He stomped once—and gravity collapsed.
The ground split.
The building crumbled into ruin.
Everything shattered.
Ruigh gasped as he was slammed to the ground.
He screamed in terror, completely paralyzed.
Pure horror twisted his face.
The pain was unbearable.
His screams filled the air—only drowned out by Rero's laughter.
And then… it changed.
Gravity… bent.
Like it had lost its purpose.
And then, it turned—crashing down on Rero.
Rero cried out, pinned to the earth.
He struggled, tried to summon his power—
But it was useless.
Shock distorted his face as he realized:
The boy... was doing this.
Unconsciously.
"So... he's supernatural too," Rero muttered, staring at Ruigh—
The boy twisted in agony, screaming his pain to the sky.
"No… he can't control it. He must've just awakened it," Rero thought.
"But… he's nothing compared to me. Compared to my power, he's nothing."
Rero grit his teeth and forced his will into the energy field around him—
The system that governed all matter.
He wrenched gravity back under his control.
The crushing force faded.
The ground stilled.
Rero laughed.
He stood again, triumph burning in his eyes.
"You see, boy? No one can beat me. I am the most powerful being alive."
He raised a hand—
A devastating pressure surged forward, aimed straight at Ruigh.
Ruigh's pain-filled eyes widened.
His mouth opened slowly.
But there was no panic.
No fear.
Only silence.
Cold, frozen silence.
And fury.
His lips parted.
One word escaped.
"Die."
Then he collapsed into unconsciousness.
A single black point appeared before him—
A void, darker than the night.
It consumed the pressure entirely—leaving behind nothing but a crater.
Rero's eyes went wide.
Behind him, a voice echoed:
"Ah… I'll be taking that A-rank mission."
Rero spun around.
On top of the debris sat a young man.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Dangerous.
"Who the hell are—"
But he didn't finish.
The man lifted a single finger.
A black point shot forth—
Consuming everything in its path.
It struck Rero.
And swallowed him whole.
Just like that.
The man cleared his throat.
"I'm a Specialist Killer," he said