The sound of armored boots grew louder—clang—clang—clang—as metal plates knocked against each other while several city guards pushed through the frightened crowd and stormed into the park. People scattered out of their way, whispering nervously while pointing toward the center of the cleared space. "There!!" one of the protesters shouted, pointing directly at Zack and Emma. "The technique users!!" More voices joined in, crying out that they were the ones who attacked people and were working with the killer. A tall guard captain stepped forward through the crowd, his long spear raised as sunlight flashed along the blade. "Stop right there!" he barked.
Emma slowly glanced sideways at Zack and muttered under her breath, "…Well." She casually cracked her knuckles, the faint pop of her joints almost lost beneath the noise of the gathering guards. "This just got interesting." Zack sighed deeply. "You think?"
More guards rushed into the park from different pathways, forming a loose circle around them as the metallic clatter of armor echoed everywhere. There were too many, and Zack could tell immediately that fighting here would turn the entire city against them. Emma grabbed his sleeve suddenly. "Zack." "Yeah?" She smirked. "Run."
And they bolted. "After them!!" the captain roared, boots thundering behind them as the guards gave chase. Zack and Emma sprinted across the open grass toward the river path, weaving through startled civilians. A couple sitting on a picnic blanket scrambled out of the way as Emma leapt over their basket, shouting a quick "Sorry!" mid-run.
A guard lunged forward from the side, reaching for Zack's shoulder—but Zack reacted instantly. CLAP. A sharp pulse of compressed sound burst outward from his hands. It wasn't nearly as powerful as Sonic Pulse, but it was enough to send the guard staggering backward, clutching his ears as a piercing ring filled his head. Emma glanced back and laughed breathlessly, "Show-off!!" to which Zack shot back, "Just run!"
They turned sharply onto a narrow stone pathway that curved along the riverbank, their footsteps slapping against the pavement. Behind them, shouts rang out not to let them escape, just as two guards suddenly rushed in from the opposite direction to block the path. Emma skidded to a stop with a frustrated "Oh come on—!!" before her expression hardened. Lifting her foot high, she stomped it directly into the stone pathway.
"Earth Technique."
Her heel struck the ground with a loud CRACK!! as the stone path rippled violently like a wave passing beneath it. Chunks of pavement lifted and twisted upward, turning the smooth walkway jagged and uneven in an instant. The charging guards completely lost their footing and tumbled forward, crashing awkwardly across the shifting stone. Zack blinked in surprise. "…Remind me never to annoy you." Emma grinned proudly, "Too late," as they dashed past the fallen guards without slowing.
Behind them, the captain's furious voice echoed again, ordering everyone to surround them as they headed for the river road. More armored figures appeared ahead from side streets, prompting Zack to groan, "Seriously?! How many guards does this city have?!" Emma quickly scanned their surroundings—left, right—until she spotted a narrow alley squeezed between two tall buildings. "Shortcut!!" she called out, darting toward it without waiting for Zack's opinion.
"Emma—!" It was too late. Zack followed her into the alley as their footsteps echoed loudly against the stone walls while the guards shouted behind them to stop running. Emma yelled back over her shoulder, "Yeah, sure!!" but they had only run halfway down the alley before Zack suddenly skidded to a halt. A tall stone wall blocked the end of the passage—a complete dead end.
Zack slowly turned his head toward her. "You said shortcut." Emma crossed her arms defensively. "It looked like a shortcut!"
As the sounds of approaching metal boots and shouting echoed closer, Emma glanced at the wall again. "…Fine." She stepped forward and slammed both hands onto the ground. "Earth Technique: Stone Rise!" The alley trembled and dust fell from the walls before a jagged pillar of stone burst upward beside the wall like a sudden staircase, rising quickly toward the rooftops above.
Zack stared. "…You could've done that earlier." Emma was already climbing, yelling back, "Less talking, more climbing!!"
They scrambled up the rough stone pillar just as the first guards rushed into the alley below. A spear shot through the air with a loud WHOOSH!, passing Zack's head and clanging violently against the wall. "Whoa!!" Emma reached the rooftop first, grabbed Zack's arm, and with a final pull yanked him up. Both of them rolled across the tiles just as another spear struck the stone pillar below.
They lay there for a moment, breathing heavily while the wind brushed across the rooftop as guards flooded the alley below, calling out to search the rooftops. Emma slowly crawled toward the edge and peeked down at the several guards running back and forth before ducking back quickly. "They're still down there."
Zack sat up, still catching his breath. "…You know," he said between breaths, looking at Emma. "That was actually kind of fun."
Emma stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. "You're insane." But the grin spreading across her face clearly said she agreed. They both stood and quietly began moving across the rooftops, leaping between buildings and slipping through the maze of Meridicus' skyline. Behind them, guards continued searching the streets below, but Zack and Emma were already gone—vanishing deeper into the city before anyone could find them again.
Meanwhile, far above the chaos of the streets, the grand hall of Ray's Mansion no longer felt like the heart of Meridicus; it felt like a courtroom before judgment. Heavy silence hung beneath the high ceilings, and though the golden chandeliers still burned, their light felt dim—suffocated by the tension spreading through the room. At the far end, the throne stood empty, untouched and unclaimed, yet it dominated everything. Ministers and high chiefs gathered in restless clusters, their voices hushed but urgent as they argued about the city slipping into chaos, the protests in the streets, and the mystery of the murderer who had entered the mansion and vanished without a trace. Fear, anger, and uncertainty spread like poison through the hall, while near the throne, the Queen sat in silence. Her posture was composed, but her hands gripped the armrest tightly enough to whiten her knuckles.
Then—THUD. The massive doors of the hall opened, and every voice died instantly. Footsteps echoed—slow, measured, and unstoppable—as a man entered. Tall and broad, his frame carried a natural strength that didn't need to be shown; it was simply there. Dark armor rested over his body, lined with faint golden patterns that glowed under the dim light. His face was calm—too calm—but his eyes were cold, sharp, and unforgiving. He walked forward, and no one stopped him or spoke. Even the guards straightened unconsciously, lowering their gaze as he passed. The Queen slowly stood, her voice soft but carrying something deeper as she breathed, "…Helio." A ripple spread through the hall; some ministers straightened in relief, while others stiffened in fear.
Helio did not respond—not to the Queen, nor to anyone else. He walked forward straight toward the throne, each step echoing like a verdict. An old minister, frail but respected, slowly rose from his seat, his voice trembling just slightly as he bowed his head. "Sir Helio… What brings you here?" Helio stopped just before the throne. But he did not sit, nor did he turn; he simply stood there looking at it—the throne where Ray once ruled, where he laughed, where he protected this city, and where he lived. A long silence followed, the kind that made breathing feel loud.
Then Helio spoke, his voice deep and forged in something unbreakable. "…Did you find the murderer… of my brother?" The words didn't echo; they pressed down on the room. No one answered because no one dared. The old minister lowered his gaze further, stuttering that they were still investigating, but Helio cut him off—not loudly, but completely. "…I thought so." Slowly, he turned, his eyes sweeping across the entire hall until it felt as though no one could hide from his gaze. "That… is why I am here."
Silence fell, absolute and heavy. In the back, a younger minister leaned toward another, whispering nervously, "…Who is he?" The older minister beside him stiffened instantly, his eyes widening. "Are you insane?" he hissed under his breath. "That is Helio… The elder brother of King Ray." The younger man froze as the older minister swallowed hard and continued, "They say he defeated the previous ruler of Meridicus… alone. But refused the throne. He gave everything to Ray." The younger minister's voice dropped to a faint whisper, realizing the truth: "…Then he's… stronger than the King was."
Back at the throne, one of the high chiefs stepped forward, forcing courage into his voice as he bowed deeply. "Sir Helio, with King Ray gone… Meridicus stands without a ruler." Another added quickly that the city grew unstable as fear spread among the people, while a third pleaded, "We request… that you take the throne. At least until a worthy successor is found." Murmurs of hope, fear, and uncertainty rose again, but Helio said nothing. His gaze returned to the throne, and slowly, he stepped forward and placed his hand on it. For a brief second, his fingers tightened just slightly—an almost unnoticeable trace of memory and loss—before it was gone, his expression returning to stone. "…Very well. I will rule."
Relief washed over many faces instantly, but the air didn't lighten. Because Helio wasn't done. His presence shifted, growing heavier and sharper—the kind of pressure that made even seasoned warriors straighten unconsciously. "Listen carefully," he commanded, and every head bowed, every voice silenced. "If the man who killed my brother… is still within this city… then this city will become his grave." A chill ran through the hall as his voice cut deeper than shouting ever could. "Search everything. Every street. Every house. Every shadow. I don't care what it takes. Find him." Immediately, the guards slammed their fists to their chests shouting their agreement, and the ministers followed suit.
Helio finally sat on the throne, and the moment he did, it no longer felt empty. It felt claimed, dominated, and ruled. Silence settled once more before Helio spoke again, quieter and colder. "…And one more thing." Everyone froze as his gaze lifted slightly, as if looking beyond the walls of the mansion and the city itself. "…The one who did this… is not ordinary." The room stilled completely. "…I can feel it. If you fail… I will find him myself."