About half an hour earlier, James had taken out his elite group—the ones trained directly by him—for a trial battle.
They wandered the outskirts of the city, hunting for a monster, when suddenly a deafening noise from a deadly fight caught his attention.
"Ha… Looks like I've found the opportunity I was searching for. This should be a perfect test for these guys."
He and his squad followed the sound, arriving at an abandoned place tangled with giant roots.
But by the time they reached it, the wild noises had ceased.
A slight frown formed on James's face.
"No more sound… the fight must be over. Hm… I'm curious what happened here and who caused that uproar. Maybe I'll find someone worth recruiting."
James looked irritated at missing the event. It truly bothered him—he was a man obsessed with greater challenges and growing stronger.
Now that the chance was stolen from him, he had to see the fortunate person—or persons—who ended it, and maybe invite them into his squad.
Then again, the winner might not even be human… it could be the monster itself. If it was still lurking nearby, he and his team would handle it.
With these thoughts, they advanced toward the origin of the sound. After battling a giant worm and carving out a path, they reached the area.
"Hurry… we have to get there faster."
Twenty minutes later, James and his team arrived at the aftermath of the battle.
A cold sweat ran down his back. It was astonishing—he had never witnessed anything like it.
He felt as if every fight he'd ever been in meant nothing.
"This destruction… is it the awakening of a legend, or the descent of a nightmare? I didn't expect this at all. I envy those who were part of this clash."
Even James's squad stared in stunned confusion at the scene before them.
A vast wasteland, with a deep crater at its heart.
One of the squad members, holding twin-bladed chains, touched her face and turned to James with a strange euphoric smile, like someone high on drugs.
"Commander… I can't take it anymore… Do you think I'll ever create something like this? I want blood… Someone must still be alive… haha… Can I go ahead?"
James tried to stop her, but before she could speak, the woman had vanished.
"Mara… wait… damn it."
Mara stepped through the air like a spider weaving across its web, moving toward the crater.
A lustful smile curled behind the pink lips hidden beneath her mask.
"Haha… who's still alive? I want to fight… ooh, I think I've found something."
Mara finally reached the hill at the center of the crater. Facing wounded, dying people, her expression turned bitter.
"I came for a dance of blood… not to see this pathetic mess."
She wanted a fight… but they were half-dead.
She gave a dry smile… but a little further away, someone was still standing.
Mara thought, maybe this one is the strongest—still upright after all that. So she stepped toward the boy.
"Haha… another one… good. Let's fight!"
Mara hurled one end of her chain toward the boy.
At that moment, Tahin was stunned by the intruder's sudden presence—he hadn't even realized Mara had approached him and launched her chain.
Tahin failed to dodge. The blade embedded in his shoulder, making him scream and collapse. Blood poured from the wound, staining his clothes crimson.
When Mara reached him, her twisted grin faded. Rage replaced it as he yanked the chain lodged in Tahin's flesh.
Tahin screamed again, but Mara didn't care.
"Ughhhh…"
Mara stared at him with fury.
"How did trash like you survive? I wanted a fight with the strongest… but you tricked me. Why are you still alive?"
Tahin, confused and in pain, felt hurt by the venom in those words. He hadn't expected someone to wish for her death with such hatred.
He wanted to speak… but then noticed other figures nearby.
Among the masked group, only one man was barefaced—radiating a powerful aura. He looked even stronger and more dangerous than Zach.
Tahin involuntarily trembled in his presence.
But that man had no interest in Tahin. His gaze was locked on the group—as if revisiting old acquaintances.
James ran a hand through his hair, stunned by what he saw.
"Haha… who would've thought I'd find you all here like this… Oh Zach, you really pushed yourself to end up like this. A shame you're unconscious—I'm dying to see your face when you wake."
Then he turned to Aylin, staring with regret.
"Ah… seems you haven't changed. Impressive, really… Looks like you faced something truly awful to end up like this."
Judging by the damage, they must've fought a high-class creature. The fact that they survived was proof they'd grown stronger.
James wanted to kill them… but hesitated. Even if they were enemies—the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Their existence might be useful in the battles ahead… especially if a top-tier being was involved.
So he ordered his team to begin treating their wounds.
While doing so, he spotted Billy.
Billy had snapped out of his daze, but his breathing was heavy—gasping for air.
James approached him, grabbed his face, and stared into his eyes. A chill crawled up Billy's spine. He was terrified.
James glared at him, his tone domineering and disdainful.
"Haha… you're still pathetic, Billy. Haven't changed at all."
Hearing his name from that man, Billy tried to back away, but lacked the strength. He only managed to look away with frightened eyes.
James tapped his forehead.
"Hey… when I talk to you, look at me. Don't avert your eyes. Got it?
You still hide in fear and do nothing… what a coward."
Billy replied with a trembling voice:
"Maybe I am a coward… no, I still am… but sometimes fear is a symbol of being human."
He gave a faint smile and continued:
"I didn't abandon anyone… and I didn't betray anyone."
James scoffed.
"Haha… don't make me laugh. You think someone as weak as you could change anything by running or betraying someone? You never mattered in the first place—because you're useless. Idiot."
Billy's eyes watered. He didn't want to surrender to James.
"Maybe I'm an idiot… but strength isn't always everything. The strongest don't always win… even the weak have worth, because they know their weakness. And when they stand firm—they force the world to notice them."
James didn't want to waste any more time. He still had things to do.
His final words cut coldly:
"Even if you understand weakness… without power, you can't change it. The strong can erase their weakness with strength. This world doesn't revolve around the weak… and you still haven't seen what lies beyond that truth."
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