Brian and Kyle arrived at a towering gate rising nearly twenty-three meters high, with a width exceeding ten meters. Its lavish decorations gleamed under the light as if guarding ancient secrets.
Kloey's footsteps echoed as she approached, glaring sharply at Kyle and shouting,
Kloey: "Don't mess things up again."
Brian cut in sharply and coldly,
Brian: "You're late. You were supposed to be here before us… And where's your lover?"
Kloey raised an eyebrow with disdain,
Kloey: "I just arrived, and instead of welcoming me, you criticize? And what lover are you talking about?"
Brian sneered,
Brian: "That clingy one who's always with you. Strange that he's late today."
Suddenly, thick steam began to rise, cold spread, and ice started creeping across the ground. From the midst of the mist appeared 09 with a confident smile,
09: "Were you talking about me?"
Brian, somewhat surprised, shook his hand,
Brian: "Why are you late for once?"
Kyle's face darkened with anger,
Kyle: "He was here before us."
09 smiled slyly,
09: "I didn't waste my time watching someone get punished… but I can't show up before my flower arrives."
Kloey kicked him hard,
Kloey: "This is no time for your stupid jokes." Then shouted at the gate attendants,
"Open the gate to Bir City."
One attendant approached hesitantly,
Attendant: "I will, but when should I allow others to pass? Investigations have been ongoing in Bir since yesterday."
Brian waved dismissively,
Brian: "Call my deputy and ask if their investigations are complete."
09 sighed,
09: "Hurry up. I have things to do tonight."
Kyle clenched his fists, his tone cold,
Kyle: "What's the mission? I'll work alone."
Brian pulled out a photo and showed it,
Brian: "Track down and capture this fugitive. Work as a pair or solo, doesn't matter. But stay in contact and avoid fighting monsters—you might attract high-tier beasts."
The gate's dazzling lights activated, and Kyle stepped forward, crossing into Bir City.
Outside the city, 09 surveyed the path,
09: "He headed north. We'll split up. Each pair stays two or three kilometers apart. I'll accompany Kloey."
Kloey interrupted,
Kloey: "No, I'll go with Kyle. Better you stick with Brian—you're the fastest and should stay near the weakest."
Brian's anger flared,
Brian: "Do you despise me even though your rank is lower than mine?"
Kloey laughed,
Kloey: "I'm the deputy commander-in-chief. That makes me above all commanders."
Brian growled,
Brian: "Everyone knows you're here only because 09 requested it."
Kloey ground her teeth,
Kloey: "You're just saying nonsense to comfort yourself… I don't know how the commander let a bug like you leave the walls."
Kyle watched with a muted smile. 09 tried to lighten the mood and pulled Brian away,
09: "Come on, I'm going with my friend."
Kloey shouted at Kyle,
Kloey: "Don't screw this up again! Don't let that cat find the fugitive before us—we specialize in everything outside the walls."
Kyle replied indifferently,
Kyle: "I'm heading out, don't bother me."
Kloey activated the trail radar, detecting signs of passage and estimating height and weight. Kyle dashed swiftly, leaping over tall branches. After hours of searching, he spotted smoke rising and headed toward it.
There, he found a hulking man with strange hair colored red and yellow.
Bron was a massive muscular figure beneath taut skin, his chest adorned with a triangular tattoo etched with intricate patterns—a mystical seal marking him as a wielder of Ether. His fiery red-and-yellow hair flickered like burning flames in a cold breeze, as if fire itself coursed through his veins. His violet eyes—common to all in the continent—glimmered coldly, revealing the soul of a ruthless warrior. His broad jaw was like sculpted stone, and his crooked nose told tales of bloody battles fought. Each heavy step shook the ground beneath him, his hot breath mingling with the rusty scent emanating from his armor, making him feel like a living fortress rather than a mere man.
Kyle: "Bright colors… did they allow that inside the city?"
The man stepped back feigning fear,
Bron: "Please, just leave me. I haven't done anything."
Kyle advanced steadily,
Kyle: "Should I torture you or kill you? Choose."
Bron burst into hysterical laughter,
Bron: "Your fate is known… you'll be my captive. You're really a great prize."
While approaching Bron, Kyle noticed a simple circle drawn on the ground with fine lines, without any glow or special effects. It looked like an ordinary mark, so he paid it no mind, dismissing any possible threat.
He moved forward confidently, unaware that the circle carried powerful restrictions that would limit his power. The moment he stepped inside it, Bron swung his axe towards him, surprising him with a swift attack.
Kyle's eyes flared, and he charged, but he felt himself slow down. Before he could take a defensive stance or retreat, he saw Bron's axe swinging toward him. He barely dodged and noticed the strange circle on the ground. He tried to step out, but Bron pummeled him with heavy blows. Kyle dodged some but took several hits.
Kyle laughed,
Kyle: "You can't use your power inside the circle either."
Bron replied coldly,
Bron: "I'm used to fighting without it… my strength forces me to be human inside the circle. You, demon, can you fight without your power?"
Kyle smirked,
Kyle: "Do you think I won't beat you just because I don't have my power? I'm king of street fights."
Kyle launched a barrage of punches, but Bron's metallic armor absorbed the damage. Bron countered with a punch that threw Kyle to the ground. Kyle forced himself up, supporting on his hands to perform a Taekwondo kick to Bron's jaw, but it missed slightly. Bron responded with a powerful kick, knocking Kyle down again.
Kyle drew his sword, trying to release energy blades, but it remained silent. Bron laughed,
Bron: "Anything powered by Ether is useless here."
Bron charged with his axe; Kyle blocked heavy swings, trying to strike weaknesses with sword skills, but Bron's armor blocked all hits. Then both sword and axe fell together. Kyle seized the chance and punched Bron hard, sending him flying.
Bron rose furious and charged like a bull. Kyle dodged while Bron was off balance, grabbed his right ankle with a swift Single Leg Takedown. The sound of Bron's shoe scraping the dirt was followed by a sudden groan as he fell like a felled tree.
Kyle twisted his body like a snake, pinned Bron's back to the ground with his weight on the diaphragm (mount position).
He executed a deadly choke from behind. Bron struggled wildly, lifting Kyle briefly into the air…
Kyle cleverly rolled, crawling like a spider to Bron's back before standing (Back Take).
Kyle's legs coiled around Bron's waist like a copper snake. His right arm slid under Bron's chin like a sharp wire, while his left hand pressed the back of Bron's head (Rear Naked Choke).
Bron, realizing defeat, thought, How could I lose here? Even with steroids and painkillers?
Just as he was about to surrender to death, Bron noticed Kyle's legs weren't tight around his waist. Summoning his last strength, Bron executed a Shoulder Roll Escape.
He exhaled sharply, shrinking his body. Spinning like a wheel toward Kyle's weak side with all his weight, using gravity's force. The sound of Bron's leather scraping the dirt and Kyle's shoulder slamming the ground was like a thunderclap.
Using a basic defense technique, Bron caught the distracted Kyle, lifted him with all his might, and slammed him to the ground with full momentum. Kyle lay nearly lifeless on the ground.
Bron roared, pounding his chest like a gorilla,
Bron: "I am invincible!"
From the trees, Kloey appeared with a sly smile,
Kloey: "Well done knocking down this lowlife, but I have to catch you now, so I can't thank you for humiliating this cat."
Bron laughed in surprise,
Bron: "Are you stupid? You entered the circle knowing what would happen. Couldn't you have unleashed your power from outside and caught me off guard?"
Kloey laughed,
Kloey: "No need for that. You're just a light snack."
She raised her sword and headed toward Bron, who rushed to grab his axe…