Dust hung thick in the air, drifting slowly like frozen ash. The massive council chamber—once pristine—was scarred with cracked tiles, shattered pillars, and faint lines carved into the walls by uncontrolled aura.
No one spoke.
No one breathed.
Every eye in the room was locked on the same impossible sight.
Yowai Sato stood in the center.
One hand gripping Lex Cage's fist.
The other stopping Hanuma Cold's punch.
Bare hands.
No stance.
No visible strain.
Just… control.
Lex's eyes narrowed first. His aura flared instinctively, a violent pressure that had once made entire battlefields kneel. Yet now, it met something it couldn't push past—like striking an endless wall of ice.
Hanuma's expression shifted next. Not fear. Recognition.
"So it's you," Hanuma said quietly. "The shadow we felt."
Yowai slowly released both fists and stepped back.
The moment he did, the pressure vanished.
People collapsed to their knees, gasping for air as if they'd just resurfaced from deep water. Some clutched their chests. Others wiped sweat from their faces, realizing only now how close they'd been to losing consciousness.
Frostbite straightened last.
Unlike the others, he had remained seated throughout the clash, one arm resting on the chair, eyes half-lidded. He finally stood, boots crunching against broken stone, and looked directly at Yowai.
"…You didn't release your aura," Frostbite said.
Yowai blinked. "I didn't need to."
A ripple of unease passed through the room.
Lex turned sharply to the king.
"So this is the man."
The king nodded.
"This is Sato Yowai."
Murmurs erupted again, louder this time.
"That's him?"
"He's too young—"
"No… I felt it. That pressure—"
Lord Fuga leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed, watching everything with open amusement. His eyes flicked across the Top Three like a judge inspecting fragile statues.
"Tch," he muttered. "They break too easily."
No one heard him.
The king raised his voice.
"Yowai Sato. Step forward."
Yowai obeyed, boots echoing softly as he approached the center of the chamber. He stopped a respectful distance from the throne and bowed—not deeply, but sincerely.
"I answer the call of Cristal de Frost," he said.
Lex studied him closely now, eyes sharp, calculating.
"You fought Prince Flare… with no support?"
Yowai hesitated—just slightly.
Lord Fuga's voice echoed quietly in his mind.
Choose your words.
"Yes," Yowai answered. "But I didn't fight alone."
Frostbite raised a brow.
"Explain."
"I had responsibility," Yowai said. "And a binding vow."
The room reacted immediately.
"A binding vow?"
"Who sanctioned it?"
The Head Priest stiffened.
"That is forbidden without divine—"
The king raised a hand.
"Enough."
He looked at Yowai.
"You defeated a legendary monster. That cannot be ignored."
Lex crossed his arms.
"Strength alone doesn't make a top general."
Hanuma smiled faintly.
"True. But it decides who survives."
The tension between them thickened again—but this time, it didn't explode.
The king exhaled slowly.
"Yowai Sato. From this moment forward—"
The doors behind him opened again.
Two figures stormed in.
"MASTER YOWAI!"
Akani burst into the chamber, breathing hard, hair slightly disheveled. Shizu followed closely, glaring at anyone who dared look their way.
The guards panicked.
"Stop—this area is restricted!"
Akani ignored them completely and ran straight to Yowai's side.
"You left without saying anything," she said, trying to sound angry but failing. "I thought something happened."
Yowai turned, surprised.
"Akani—this isn't—"
Shizu cut in, arms crossed.
"This is royal business."
Akani shot back instantly.
"So is his life."
The room froze again.
Lex's gaze flicked between the two women.
"…Interesting."
Lord Fuga finally stepped inside, his presence changing the temperature of the room without a single flare of aura. Every instinct screamed danger, even though nothing visible happened.
He smiled politely.
"Apologies. They're persistent."
Frostbite's eyes locked onto him.
"…You."
Lord Fuga tilted his head.
"You can see me?"
"I can feel you," Frostbite corrected.
The king stood abruptly.
"That's enough."
Everyone fell silent.
"This meeting is not to test dominance," the king said. "It is to decide survival."
He turned back to Yowai.
"You will stand among the Top Three."
Lex stiffened.
"…As an equal?" Hanuma asked.
The king shook his head.
"As a variable."
The word echoed.
"A man who shifts balance."
The priest whispered, shaken.
"A calamity rank…"
Yowai didn't smile.
He felt Lord Fuga's presence tighten inside his mind—not approving, not disapproving. Watching.
The king continued.
"But understand this, Yowai Sato. Power invites judgment. And judgment invites consequence."
Yowai met his gaze.
"I accept."
The king nodded once.
Next episode;Worthy pt3