Sunlight seeped through the towering windows of the fortress-like residence, casting soft golden beams across the polished floors.
The building castle faintly with age and wind, a living echo of power and peace. Beyond the frost-tinted glass walls, the merged universes stretched in endless sky-bridges and floating terrain. Somewhere far above them, the faint hum of energy lines buzzed like distant cicadas.
Jahanox dragged his fingers through his messy hair as he stepped into the corridor, yawning mid-stride.
"Haaaah... man, what a pain..."
A lazy smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but his eyes were sharp—calculating. The kind of eyes that stayed awake behind the joking tone.
'What's next…? How long until the next move?'
He passed beneath a chandelier of crystallized stardust before entering the living room.
The aroma of toasted bread and seared spices greeted him instantly.
Everyone was already there.
He raised a brow, placing a hand dramatically over his chest.
"Tch. So disappointing... The vice leader's the last to arrive, huh?"
Jennie, her soft brown hair tied in a gentle bun, looked up from the kitchen island. She wore a pale blue apron over her clothes, sleeves slightly rolled. Her hands moved with natural grace as she set down a dish on the table.
"You're not late, really. It's fine," she said sweetly, her voice carrying the warmth of a quiet morning sun.
Ai Hoshino leaned with her arms crossed against the wall near the archway, a glint in her eye. Her glasses slid just slightly down the bridge of her nose as she looked from Jahanox to Jennie.
Smirking, she elbowed Kiyomasa, who was busy quietly sipping from his cup at the dining table.
"Hey. Be honest. Don't they look like a couple?"
Kiyomasa nearly choked.
"A-Ah?! Uh... yeah, I guess they'd be a really good match!" he stammered, cheeks slightly pink.
Ai gave a single, thoughtful nod, her smirk widening.
"Knew it."
Miwa was slouched upside-down on the couch, her feet hanging over the headrest and hair dangling toward the floor. She was munching on something from a bowl balanced on her stomach.
"Wait a sec... where's Zazm?" she asked, voice muffled around a bite.
Minos, who had been flipping through the food, didn't even glance up.
"Yeah, weird. He's not here yet."
Jahanox clicked his tongue and exaggeratedly headpalmed, eyes rolling.
"Tch... What kinda leader shows up last? Where the hell is he?"
Miwa immediately rolled off the couch, bowl in hand.
"I'm gonna go look for him."
Minos finally looked up, unimpressed.
"The castle's huge. You gonna wander all morning? Just wait. If he's hungry, he'll show up."
Jahanox waved dismissively.
"Nah, if it's Zazm... he's 100% on the roof."
Ai, arms still folded, raised an eyebrow.
"What's his obsession with high places?"
Jennie blinked, gently placing more plates on the table.
"He really does go to every high place he can find... Why does he like high places so much?"
Jahanox shrugged.
"Beats me. He's always been like that. But... it's different nowadays."
Minos narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Different how?"
Jahanox leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, his playful expression fading just slightly.
"...Before, he used to just chill up there. Like he was enjoying the quiet. Now..." He paused letting out a breath.
"...Now it feels like he's trying to escape something.
He paused, letting that thought sit in the air.
"It's been like that ever since we got powers."
The light morning hum continued through the high-ceilinged halls as Ai sat down at the dining table beside Kiyomasa, her arms still lazily crossed as she leaned back in the chair. She tapped her finger rhythmically against her elbow.
"So… something's been different since he got powers?"
Jahanox, now slouched in the seat across from her, gave a slow nod, swirling a spoon in his mug.
"Yeah. Not anything obvious. But something's off. Like… I can't figure it out, y'know?"
Miwa, who had been halfway toward the door, turned her head.
"We'll talk about it later. I'm gonna go drag him down."
Before she could take another step, Jahanox leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and tilting his head with a teasing smirk.
"Nah. Don't bother. If he didn't show up, he probably doesn't wanna eat."
Jennie, placing a plate of toast in front of Kiyomasa, turned her head, frowning gently.
"But that's not okay... He should at least come down."
Jahanox exhaled through his nose, smirk still there but his tone quieter, more serious as he picked up a fork and lazily pointed it around the table.
"That's what it looks like to us. But he's got a lot more going on up here than we do."
He tapped his temple.
"Before every mission, every step we take, he's already spent hours thinking about what could go wrong.
And for him... the lives of billions wouldn't matter half as much as ours do. So yeah, let him be. He doesn't need food, sleep, or even us crowding him right now."
The table fell quiet for a moment. Everyone slowly began to eat.
Miwa sat down last, arms limp on the table, eyes cast toward the window. Her lips were drawn tight, trying to hide the gloom, but it clung to her like static.
Ai glanced sideways. She adjusted her glasses.
"Hey. Don't start sulking. That's my job."
Miwa barely looked at her.
"I'm not sulking…"
Shove.
A giant spoonful of strawberry cream cake was suddenly jammed into Miwa's mouth. Her eyes widened mid-protest.
"Eat," Ai said flatly.
Miwa chewed, blinked, then gave a thumbs up.
The room burst into laughter — Minos let out a low snort, while Jennie covered her mouth with a soft giggle. Jahanox chuckled as he leaned back, resting one boot on the other knee.
Above them, high on the castle's ancient rooftop — where even the wind seemed to tread carefully.
Zazm lay still against the cool stone floor, his coat bunched behind his head as a makeshift pillow. His hair moved only slightly in the breeze. His eyes were closed, expression unreadable.
A shadow shifted above him.
Zephyra leaned over from behind his head, her long purple hair falling across his forehead like a curtain of stars. Her tone was dry, almost amused.
"Why are you sleeping here, his majesty?"
Zazm didn't open his eyes. He reached up and brushed her hair aside, strands slipping through his fingers like silk. She leaned back, unimpressed.
"Not sleeping," he muttered. "Just enjoying the peace."
"Which is now gone, I'm assuming." she replied, giving a half-scoff.
Zazm's eyes twitched slightly.
Sighs. "Ha...."
"Don't 'haa' me, Be grateful. I'm the reason you're sane enough to lie here at all."
She hovered beside him, floating with arms crossed.
"Everyone's having breakfast downstairs, you know. You're not gonna join them?"
Silence.
"Not like you need food or anything, but you could at least show up."
Still, no answer.
Zephyra let out a small sigh and floated away. As she flew downward toward the castle's edge, her hair caught the light like streaks of violet lights.
She descended all the way to the quiet lake far below — mirror-still and blue beneath the open sky. By a rock near the edge, she found a hollow depression and filled it with water.
Moments later, she returned.
Zazm, unaware, opened one eye, scanning the horizon.
"Where did she go..." he mumbled to himself.
Just as he closed his eye again—
SPLASH.
Ice-cold lake water hit his face like a slap.
He shot upright with a sharp inhale, hair soaked and eyes wide.
"Are you insane?!"
Zephyra hovered nearby with the stone bowl in her hands, expression smug.
"Next time, answer me when I ask something."
Zazm exhaled sharply, dripping wet. He shook his head like a soaked cat, water spraying.
"I didn't join because I was thinking. That's all. You ask these questions knowing the answers."
Zephyra floated closer, offering him a small towel — one she had clearly brought just in case.
"Yeah. I've said it before. It's just fun hearing you actually say them."
Zazm took the towel and wiped his face, running it through his hair without a word.
---
Footsteps echoed softly down the stone stairs as Zazm entered the wide dining hall, the air still warm with the scent of breakfast. The sunlight from the windows lit his figure in half-gold, half-shadow.
Jennie noticed him first. Her bun swayed slightly as she turned toward him with a gentle smile.
"You're late," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "If you want, I can make you something quick."
Zazm raised one hand, palm facing out in a calm refusal. "No need."
"So you finally decided to show up, huh?" Jahanox stretched with a yawn, arms behind his head, but there was a teasing spark in his eyes.
Minos spoke mid-chew, not even looking up. "Sorry, buddy. Nothing left for you. We cleared the table."
Zazm stepped closer, his voice even and low. "If you're all done, I have something to tell you."
Miwa skipped over before anyone could answer, a small plate balanced in her hands. "We can talk—but you should really try this cake, Zazm! It's ridiculously good."
He gave the cake a glance, then without a word, teleported a fork from the table straight into his hand. He took a small bite from the plate in Miwa's hands.
Miwa grinned and nudged the plate into his arms.
Leaning his back against the nearest wall, Zazm accepted it and took another bite, chewing quietly before speaking.
"It's about time we leave the Shadow Realm and start exploring this universe."
Ai turned in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, her eyes sharp behind her glasses.
"Didn't you say we'd leave tomorrow?" she asked. "Why the sudden rush?"
Zazm met her gaze. "What do you plan to do until then?"
She blinked once, a bit surprised at the directness—but then exhaled through her nose and gave a short nod.
"You're right. No point wasting time."
"Exactly," Jahanox chimed in, now sitting up properly. "He's got a point. Every second matters. And it's not like we're tired anymore."
He looked around the room and raised his voice.
"Anyone here still need beauty sleep, or can we move?"
Minos leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head. "Honestly? I hate being boxed in. Outside sounds like a lot more fun."
Miwa raised her hand with a little cheer. "I'm good to go too! Let's hit the road!"
Jahanox looked at Jennie. She met his eyes, gave a soft smile, and nodded once in quiet agreement.
Kiyomasa, still holding his glass, looked up thoughtfully. "That's fine… but, um, Zazm—what you said yesterday… about this universe being made from ten or twelve others… is there something we need to know? Is it really that different here?"
Zazm took another bite of the cake. He chewed slowly, swallowing before answering.
"There is," he said plainly. " War. Racism. Hatred. Protests. Questions. Likely all these or none, I don't know."
Kiyomasa's eyes widened. "Wait—what do you mean?"
"Think about it," Zazm replied. "Multiple universes dumped into one. Planets and people from different laws of existence forced to coexist. Would you be okay if something alien suddenly moved into your home?"
Jennie lowered her eyes. "That would be… frightening. Confusing too."
"But it's not guaranteed, right?" Ai interjected, crossing her arms. "What if people don't even know others exist?"
"If they don't," Jahanox said, "that's good for us. But if they do… then who knows what kind of mess we'll step into."
Zazm didn't say anything at first. Then, with a casual flick of his fingers, he teleported the fork and plate back onto the shelf behind him.
He pushed off from the wall. "Whatever the state of the universe, our stay won't be short. A few years. Maybe decades. That's how long we might be here."
Minos narrowed his eyes. "Decades? What for? What's our goal?"
Zazm looked directly at him, expression unreadable.
"You'll only understand."
Minos blinked. "Man, what are you even yapping about?"
Kiyomasa tilted his head, a little concerned. "So… we don't actually have a clear mission yet?"
Zazm closed his eyes.
"Can you find anything in a dark room without turning on the light?"
Jennie looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Ai adjusted her glasses and answered calmly, her tone thoughtful.
"He means we can't know what our goal is until we explore. Like if someone told you to find something in a pitch-dark room, you wouldn't know where to look… unless you turned on the light. That's what we're doing."
Understanding settled around them like dust in the sunlight.
They weren't just stepping into a new world—they were stepping into the unknown, and only by walking through it could they discover what truly awaited them.
---
In the blink of a moment, the world around them shifted.
The cloudy twilight of the Shadow Realm folded like paper, and light—real, golden, blinding light—rushed in.
They landed in silence on soft, thick earth. The wind rustled something massive above them.
Ai's brows furrowed.
"…Where the hell are we?"
Her voice echoed through a colossal forest. Towering trees—no, giants—stretched hundreds of feet into the sky, their bark dark and twisting, roots curling like beasts across the moss-covered ground.
The canopy filtered sunlight in strips, creating dancing shadows on the soil below.
Zazm stood still, eyes scanning the horizon calmly. "A planet," he said. "One with a good population density."
Jennie's head snapped toward him, mouth parting slightly.
"You… teleported us through an entire planet?"
He nodded once.
Jahanox whistled, impressed. "No surprise there. He's been trying to pull that off for, what, a few months now?"
"Shhh," Ai snapped, lifting one hand.
She didn't blink. Her eyes were fixed in a direction none of them had noticed.
"Someone is coming."
Her tone was sharp, clinical.
Everyone tensed immediately.
Jahanox casually reached behind his back where no weapon was, but habit made the movement instinctive. "Define 'someone,' genius."
Ai didn't move. "Eight Humans."
Jennie looked startled. "Humans?
Zazm spoke catching everyone's attention.
"Don't panic, if they are humans then just act normal."
"No Zazm, they aren't normal." Ai spoke still looking in a particular direction.
"Explain." Zazm spoke in a cold tone looking at her.
"They are wearing jet black cloth-- no that's something else. It's extremely hard to spot them and they look like they are armed or something. Though they are wearing cloaks."
Minos asked in confusion, "Armed like with what?"
Ai spoke in a surprised tone, "I don't know that looks like armor or body suit but it doesn't."
Jahanox shuffled his hair in irritation.
Zazm walked closer to Ai his hands still in his pockets, "How far are they?"
Ai turned to him, "A few hundred kilometers."
Miwa who was on her guard laughed a little and waved her hand saying they are far far away let's get out of here.
She paused.
"And they're moving too fast. Like, way too fast."
Jennie tilted her head. "Fast like… running?"
"No. Jumping. Through trees. Flying, almost. They're somehow launching themselves—like they're kicking off the air or pushing through nothing."
Minos blinked. "What?"
"They're jumping several meters," Ai continued. "And then shooting forward midair like they're getting pushed from below."
Miwa let out a low whistle. "Okay what the hell is that?"
"I don't know," Ai said, her voice tight.
"They're using something, but I don't know what. They're wearing gloves that… spark when they hit the trees. Their boots look like they're spitting air or something. But it's not magic. It's… weird."
"They're flying with their feet?" Kiyomasa asked, baffled.
"No. Not flying. More like—slamming themselves forward. It's messy but fast."
Jahanox raised an eyebrow. "So circus freaks in space ninja outfits are parkouring through a forest and headed right for us. Got it."
Zazm folded his arms. "How far?"
"Two minutes if they continued at this speed."
Then Ai's eyes widened.
"They're not slowing down."
Jennie stepped back, startled. "What?"
"They're jumping again—higher. Way higher. One just flipped off a branch and bounced midair. That shouldn't even be possible."
Minos stared into the forest canopy. "That's not possible."
"And now they're propelling through the air," Ai added. "Not wings, no jets—just… something."
Jahanox sighed. "Guess we're about to find out what kind of world we just dropped into."
Zazm's eyes didn't move from the treetops.
"Let them come don't use any powers."
Jennie came forward, "I can make all of our illusions while we can hide."
Zazm's eyes locked onto her and he was about to say something but Ai interrupted.
"No Jennie from what I can see these people are just different and as Zazm said we shouldn't use any powers here."
Zazm took a few quiet steps forward, approaching Ai and Nox as the rustling of cloaked soldiers echoed faintly from the trees beyond.
His tone, low and unreadable, barely moved the air.
"You two will handle the talking," he said.
Ai raised a brow. "What do you mean? You're the leader."
Zazm glanced past her toward the figures nearing through the trees.
"It's better if you and Nox speak," he said, flat and sharp. "You know something about them. Enough to fake familiarity."
Before Ai could argue, Jahanox strolled up beside them, hands in his pockets.
"Nah, he's right," he cut in with a crooked grin. "It's better for everyone if Frostbite over here keeps quiet." He gave Zazm a slight nod. "We got this."
Zazm ignored the comment.
He turned to the rest of the group.
"Act like we're camping."
Without another word, he waved his hand. A few large branches cracked from nearby trees and landed in a pile before him.
Kiyomasa didn't even hesitate. He flicked a single finger, and a soft whoompf of flame lit the makeshift fire. Sparks spiraled up toward the giant trees towering around them like skyscrapers woven from bark.
Zazm crouched, slowly fanning the flames with a focused stare, adding precision to Kiyomasa's raw ignition. The fire started to crackle naturally—warm, even cozy.
Kiyomasa took off in silence, moving around the area with practiced ease as he gathered more sticks, dumping them to feed the flame.
Minos cracked his knuckles, rolling his eyes.
"Guess I'm on picnic duty," he muttered.
With a snap of his fingers, particles of matter swirled in the air beside him, collapsing together into a clean, deep gray mat over the mossy forest floor.
He dropped down onto it and shaped a small orb in his palm with a glint of focus.
With a playful smirk, he flung it toward Miwa, who barely caught it with both hands.
She grinned. "Hey—this is cool!" And began tossing it up and down like a stress ball.
Jennie quietly walked over and sat beside Minos on the mat, her gaze occasionally flicking toward the still-distant figures, expression calm but alert.
Meanwhile, Jahanox casually wandered the area, hands tucked behind his head, pretending to explore the massive roots and wild growth nearby.
His body language screamed carefree, but his sharp glances took in every tree, every echo, every possible hiding spot.
Back at the fire, Ai was already whispering instructions to Zazm while watching the movement from the treeline.
"Don't act too indifferent. Look mildly curious but relaxed," she muttered. "And for the love of God, don't look like you're mentally plotting to kill their entire team."
Zazm, without glancing at her, replied, "I am relaxed."
Ai sighed. "Terrifying. That's worse."
The sound of rustling leaves above signaled their arrival. Eight figures, cloaked in dark, earth-toned fabric, landed silently on the thick branch of a colossal tree—each hundreds of feet above the forest floor. Obsidian Fang had arrived, eyes sharp beneath their hoods. Their leader, Commander Keith Urban, stood at the center, aged but commanding. His cloak hung over his half-cape, hiding the worn insignia: a black obsidian fang piercing through a galaxy, stitched against the dark fabric. His beard was thick and blonde, matching the wild locks flowing beneath his hood. A scar split his forehead and another cut down his lip, remnants of a life spent on the frontlines.
Beneath them, the Catalysts continued their act.
Laughter rose from the fire. Miwa and Minos tossed the orb back and forth. Jennie was pouring tea into metal cups. Jahanox reappeared from behind a tree, acting like he'd caught a butterfly. Zazm, quiet as ever, sat beside the flames, adding a small stick like he was absorbed in nothing but the warmth.
"Commander, they're not even reacting to us. Should we—?" one of the younger soldiers muttered, fingers twitching over their concealed weapon.
The girl next to him narrowed her eyes. "This is Ashburn Forest. Even birds hesitate to fly here. What the hell are a bunch of kids doing down there like it's a picnic?"
"We wait," Keith ordered, his voice low but firm. "I said stand down. They look young. I'll handle this. The rest of you take position in the trees. Eyes on them. If anything happens—strike."
"Commander, you shouldn't go alone," one of them whispered.
Keith's gaze didn't move. "Orders."
He leapt down from the branch in a smooth motion, landing silently next to Miwa. She jolted, the ball slipping from her hands and bouncing off the mossy ground.
"Wah!" she yelped, stumbling back. Her body tensed on instinct, but she didn't power up.
Jennie was the first to rush over, concern etched into her soft features. "Miwa! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
Miwa shook her head quickly, cheeks pink. "N-No, I'm fine! Just startled."
Ai approached, calm and apologetic. She stepped slightly in front of the others. "Sorry about that—she's jumpy with strangers."
Keith lifted a hand to signal peace. "It's fine. No harm done. Just surprised to find a bunch of young people out here. What are you kids doing in the middle of Ashburn Forest?"
Ai gave him a sheepish smile, eyes briefly scanning his figure and cloak. "Ah... picnic? Yeah. Just a little day out in nature."
From behind a nearby tree, Jahanox emerged, holding something between his fingers. "Hey! Look what I caught—" he started, then paused mid-step, seeing Keith. He tilted his head toward Ai. "Who's the guy in the horror movie outfit?"
Ai whispered back, barely moving her lips. "No clue."
Jahanox approached the man, casually circling him with curiosity. "What kind of suit is this? Doesn't look military. Doesn't look civilian either."
Miwa's eyes narrowed slightly. She focused on the commander's outfit as she activated her telepathic link to the group.
"What he's wearing is most likely armor of some kind but it looks like clothes.....one of his arm is slightly glowing and pay attention to his boots and neck and what's that cloak....wierd."
Everyone received her quick analysis mentally, their posture sharpening almost imperceptibly.
Commander Keith narrowed his eyes, the scar across his forehead twitching ever so slightly as he took another heavy step forward. The leaves under his boot crunched with force, startling a nearby squirrel that zipped up the massive tree trunk.
"Do you kids not recognize who you're talking to?" he asked, his voice calm but layered with authority, the kind that didn't need to shout to shake a room.
Ai rubbed the side of her neck awkwardly, her fingers brushing the sharp collar of her jacket. She forced a nervous smile.
"We… don't, sir," she said, her tone hesitant and polite, yet not groveling.
Commander Keith's gaze sharpened. "You better start talking. What's your real reason for being here?"
The air around them thickened with tension.
Jahanox chuckled lightly, but even that usual grin of his had a tremble beneath it now. His eyes darted toward Zazm briefly—who sat beside the fire, silent and completely still, watching the flames as though nothing outside of it mattered.
Ai took a small step back, bumping into Jennie who instinctively placed a hand on her back for support. Miwa, who had dropped the quantum ball earlier, stood frozen behind Jennie, her hands clutched together tightly.
"W-We're just here for a picnic…" Ai said, voice cracking ever so slightly. "We swear. We don't mean any harm."
Commander Keith's boots stopped a few feet away from them. His eyes—cold, calculating—locked with Ai's. Jahanox stepped up beside her slowly, shaking his head as he tried to match Keith's energy with a boyish naivety.
"Sir, please… we're from a ruler village," he said with a forced sheepish smile, hands raised slightly in a non-threatening manner. "In the far northern mountains. We really don't know much about the outside world or… cities. This forest is new to us."
Keith's eyes didn't soften. He tilted his head just slightly.
"For people from a backward mountain village," he said, his tone like ice cracking under pressure, "your clothing is awfully fashionable."
Jahanox blinked and let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
"We like… sewing?" he said.
Ai gave him the sharpest sideways glance.
Jennie tried to help, stepping forward slightly. "We don't mean to trespass or cause any problems, really…"
Commander Keith looked over each of them in turn—his eyes pausing on Kiyomasa's casual pant shirt. He looked at Jahanox's bracelet.
Zazm's long coat, Jennie's skirt, Miwa's hoodie, Minos's track suit and Ai's necklace and baggy shirt.
He clearly didn't buy a word of it.
But—for now—he said nothing.
Commander Keith's eyes narrowed. The tension crackled in the air like dry leaves underfoot. His years on countless battlefields had sharpened his instincts beyond logic, and those instincts screamed at him now—these kids weren't what they seemed. They were dressed casually, relaxed, young… but something wasn't right.
He didn't miss the flickers of sharpness behind their eyes. Or the subtle readiness in their stances.
Across the clearing, Zazm sat in his usual stillness beside the fire, eyes half-lidded beneath silver lashes, fingers trailing against the ground as though feeling the pulse of the earth itself.
"Zephyra," he said, his voice as flat and calm as a glass lake.
A faint shimmer twisted the air beside him—like moonlight catching smoke—and there she was. Silent and invisible to all but him, Zephyra floated at his side. Her long violet hair shimmered under the scattered daylight that leaked through the massive tree canopy.
She leaned in, voice low and teasing.
"They're armed," she whispered lazily. "Every single one of them. But you could kill them all in under four seconds if you wanted."
Zazm didn't look at her. He kept his gaze on the fire, the flames casting shadows on his sharp features.
"Killing isn't the best choice," he murmured. "We don't know the politics here. Or how people respond to threats. Cooperation will get us further."
Zephyra shrugged midair. "Whatever His Majesty commands."
Then, without warning, she draped herself lazily over his back like he was a rocking chair. Arms folded, boots hovering just above the ground, she swayed gently and narrowed her eyes toward Commander Keith.
"You should probably go now," she murmured into his ear. "Before they mess things up too much."
Zazm stood, the movement smooth and fluid like water slipping over stone. He brushed the dust off his hands and stepped away from the fire, slowly walking toward Keith.
Commander Keith straightened as Zazm approached. Even though the boy looked young—twenty at best—there was something in his stride. Something weightless, unbothered. Something dangerous.
Keith's hand twitched near his side, inches from his Hollowviel shield.
Zazm stopped just a few paces in front of him. He had to tilt his head up slightly to meet Keith's eyes.
The man towered above him—broad-shouldered, scarred, and battle-worn—but Zazm's expression didn't change in the slightest.
From behind, Zephyra floated beside Zazm with narrowed eyes, staring at Keith's huge frame.
"Damn," she whispered, lips curled in amusement. "This guy is massive. What do you think… two-twelve? Gotta be."
Zazm remained cold and unreadable.
Keith studied him, his gaze hard and slow. "You're the leader, aren't you?" he said.
"I am," Zazm replied simply.
Zephyra kept staring. "You're 192. He's easily twenty centimeters taller. That's insane."
Keith looked around once more at the others—Miwa, now playing with a floating quantum ball again, Ai pretending to dust off a log, Jennie still hovering protectively near Miwa, and Jahanox pretending to chase butterflies like a child. It was a good act.
But Keith wasn't buying it.
"This forest isn't safe for kids," he said, tone firm. "You're going to follow me. I'll escort you out."
Zazm's eyes locked into his.
They were calm, but empty. Emotionless. No sign of fear or hesitation. Just an ancient stillness.
"Thanks for the offer," he said.
He turned slightly, just enough for the breeze to catch the edge of his coat.
"But there's no need to bother yourself. We'll leave immediately."
The air grew still—crackling not with wind, but with pressure. The kind of pressure that folded into your spine, made your breath hitch, and your instincts scream.
Commander Keith's eyes remained locked with Zazm's, their silent battle of composure and authority louder than any clash of swords.
Then… Keith exhaled.
"Very well," he said, voice low and unreadable. "You're free to go."
Jennie visibly relaxed. Miwa let out a quiet gasp. Even Kiyomasa lowered his arm, the faint ember in his palm dimming slightly.
But Zazm didn't move.
That made all the difference.
Keith paused mid-turn, the wind catching his cloak just slightly as he looked over his shoulder.
"…Is that what you thought I'd say?"
The tension detonated like a bomb.
In an instant, blue energy-blades hummed to life—long, thin, and pulsing with ethereal power. Seven of them. One at each Catalyst's throat. Silent, lethal, ready to end them in less than a breath.
Except Keith.
Keith carried no blade at their throats.
Instead, from beneath his cloak, he pulled a massive white claymore—aged, the hilt chipped and scarred with time, but the edge glinted like starlight. It sang of wars long finished and battles not yet begun.
Miwa froze, eyes wide, hands mid-motion with the small qmball. Jennie instinctively stepped in front of her. Minos cursed under his breath, his fingers twitching with suppressed matter-energy. Kiyomasa's palms glowed molten red. Jahanox gritted his teeth, looking around.
But before anyone moved, Zazm spoke—his voice calm and cold, as if this were just another morning.
"…Why have you done this?"
Commander Keith's grip tightened on his claymore.
"There's no chance I wouldn't recognize remnants—especially strong ones like you."
One of the soldiers sneered, stepping closer to Ai with his energy blade. "Even if they're strong, they aren't gonna do shit now."
"We don't even know what that means!" Ai snapped, her eyes burning with disbelief. "What remnants?! What are you even talking about?!"
"We don't know any of this shit," Minos spat. "We're not from here, you dumbass."
Keith clicked something on the side of his tight black collar. With a quiet hum, a translucent, holographic screen flickered across his eyes—tactical data feeding in real-time. He narrowed his eyes.
"…No classification readings," he muttered. "They aren't registering at any threat level."
"Meaning?" one of his troops asked.
Keith's voice dropped.
"Meaning they're stronger than Star Level One threats."
Silence.
Zazm slowly turned his head toward his group, eyes flicking across each of them. Calm. Silent. Ready. He knew they would fight if he gave the word. They trusted him that much.
"I repeat…" Keith stepped forward, eyes now watching Zazm alone. "It's best if you cooperate. Come with us. Quietly."
Zazm held his ground, posture unchanged.
"We don't know any 'remnants,' or whatever accusations you're pushing," he said, eyes locked with Keith's. "But if it helps… we'll cooperate."
A wave of disbelief swept over his team.
"What?!" Ai snapped. "Zazm—are you serious?!"
Minos turned sharply. "No way in hell I'm following these—"
Zazm raised one hand. That was enough. Everyone quieted.
Keith watched the shift in the group. How quickly the tension in their bodies faded. How willingly they obeyed this young man's single gesture.
He eyed Zazm carefully. "…Your comrades respect you a lot."
Zazm returned the gaze with ice in his voice. "Same goes for yours."
Keith stepped closer, the massive claymore resting across his back. "Tell me your name."
Zazm didn't speak.
"Do I need to repeat myself?" Keith asked, tone roughening.
Zazm's voice dropped. "You expect us to become allies… while holding blades to our throats?"
Keith's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "You're right. No point asking names from enemies."
He started to turn.
"But if you're willing to cooperate—"
"I have a condition."
The line hit like a thunderclap.
Laughter erupted from two of the Obsidian Fang soldiers behind him.
"Hah! This guy's got balls."
"He doesn't get to make conditions!"
A female soldier leaned toward another. "Too bad he's hot. Shame he's on the enemy list."
"Silence," Keith snapped. "Do you all remember where the hell we are?"
Instant silence.
He turned back to Zazm, gaze steely. "There are blades on your necks. Your condition doesn't mean anything."
Zazm didn't blink. Slowly, almost carelessly, he lowered his hand.
And then—blood.
A thin stream slid down Keith's neck.
And not just his.
Every soldier in his squad looked down in confusion.
Their suits were slashed. Not fatal—just shallow enough to bleed. Lines so fine they hadn't even noticed.
They were cut.
Zazm's voice was quiet, nearly a whisper.
"If anything… you're at our mercy."
Keith touched his neck. Red stained his fingers. His gaze shifted—half shocked, half impressed.
"You could've killed us."
"I still can."
"Why?"
Zazm didn't answer.
His hands slid into his pockets.
That silence was louder than anything else.
Keith held his stare… then slowly raised a hand.
All weapons lowered.
His soldiers obeyed, shaken.
The blue pulse of their blades dimmed.
Just then, Jahanox stepped forward, pushing Zazm's shoulder lightly with a casual grin.
"Sorry for our leader," he said with a half-joking tone. "You know how it is—dramatic types."
Zazm gave him a side glance but didn't interrupt.
"We're just travelers," Jahanox continued. "We don't mean harm. We're totally okay cooperating. Mutual understanding and all that."
Keith turned to him. "Mutual understanding? What's in it for us?"
Ai stepped beside Jahanox, arms crossed, lips tilted in a sarcastic smirk.
"We want information," she said plainly. "And I believe that's what you want aswell.
Keith narrowed his eyes, looking between Zazm, Jahanox, and Ai. His instincts still screamed—but this wasn't the time for war.
"…Fine," he finally said. "Then follow us. No funny moves. You'll get your answers."
Zazm's eyes lingered on him for a moment before he gave a silent nod.
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