Bustin's blade hovered inches from the Captain, blocking every step.
But the Captain's eyes weren't on the weapon—they darted across the surronding, trying to make sense of what he saw.
Hinata was bleeding, barely able to stand.
Roxy steadied him, tense but uninjured.
And behind them… Oxel. Sword in hand, expression unreadable, standing too close to Hinata's back.
The Captain's mind raced.
Why is Hinata injured?
Why is Oxel here?
What did the White Leader mean by betrayal?
Nothing added up.
"Captain…" Hinata's voice was weak, strained.
He staggered, and Roxy caught him, holding him upright.
The Captain's jaw tightened.
His grip on his sword reflexively strengthened.
The wound on Hinata's back… the angle… the force…
It had to come from someone he trusted enough to let behind him.
His gaze flicked to Oxel.
Slowly.
Uneasily. Refusing to accept the possibility.
Then a soft chuckle echoed across the courtyard.
The White Leader stepped forward, cloak shifting like smoke.
"Oh, Captain… you truly look lost," he said, amusement dripping from his tone.
"Come closer. Look carefully. Your loyal and most trusted lieutenant… has betrayed you."
The Captain froze. His mind refused to form the connections, yet every detail whispered the same terrible truth.
"…What are you talking about?" His voice was low and controlled, though tension coiled in every word.
Oxel didn't answer. He simply stood there, unreadable, sword in hand, faint shadow across his expression.
For the first time in years, the Captain felt something unfamiliar: fear—not for himself, but for the possibility that the man he had trusted most had turned against him.
White Leader chuckled softly, the sound sending a chill down Captain's spine.
"Look at him closely, Captain. That trust you place in him—that mindless loyalty—it blinds you. And that, my dear Captain, is why you're so vulnerable."
Captain's fists clenched, his mind spinning.
The battlefield around him seemed to fade, the smoke, the fire, the chaos—all of it becoming background to the impossible truth he was struggling to accept.
No… I can't… I won't believe it. Oxel… why?
Captain took a cautious step forward, trying to gauge the situation, trying to read Oxel's intentions.
Behind Hinata, Oxel's lips parted.
Calm. Measured.
"Captain… welcome," he said, his voice low, deliberate.
"I know you're confused. And you should be. I know you've always trusted me… more than anyone else. That trust… that loyalty… it's the only thing keeping you from accepting the truth."
Captain's eyes widened. Every muscle in his body tensed.
Oxel continued, his gaze never leaving Captain's, calm yet commanding.
"You suspected me at times, didn't you? But your mind… your heart… refused to believe it. Because you trusted me. Too much. And that… is why you're hesitating now."
The surrounding seemed to grow colder.
Captain's head spun, his thoughts racing.
I trusted him… more than anyone… and now…?
Oxel's eyes glinted, just enough to hint at something beyond loyalty. Something darker.
"But now… the truth stands before you. And there's nothing left to do but see it… and accept it."
Captain's breath caught.
His sword wavered slightly in his hands.
The world around him went silent.
Then Captain's voice finally broke through the suffocating silence.
"Why?"
His shout echoed across the surronding, raw, shaking with confusion and anger.
"Why did you betray us, Oxel?!"
Oxel didn't flinch.
Didn't look ashamed.
Didn't look proud either.
He simply exhaled, almost tired.
"Captain… you know this world is corrupt," he said quietly, his tone disturbingly calm.
"No one cares for others the way you do. Those with power never solve the problems of the weak—they become the problem."
He slowly raised his blade, pointing it lightly toward the Captain.
"The Black Lotus… they will fix this world. And I chose them. Captain…" His voice softened, almost pleading.
"Come join us. You can change the world with us."
The Captain stared at him—shocked, hurt, a tremor passing through his fingers.
"I know the world is corrupt," he said, his voice low and trembling with rage.
"But that doesn't give us the right to slaughter people. Even if your goal is justice—"
He stepped forward, eyes burning.
"—you're dragging innocent lives into your war. Do you really think the soldiers dying out there have no families?! No dreams?! They never chose this corrupted world!"
Oxel's expression didn't change.
"They are sacrifices," he said simply.
"A few sacrifices… for a better world."
The Captain's face hardened—anger flashing, but behind it, unmistakable sorrow.
"…You've lost it, Oxel," he whispered.
For a brief second, the emotion tore through him—pain.
The pain of seeing the man he trusted most turn into something unrecognizable.
White Leader said with a big laugh,
"Today is the day when I will end all of this. You all will die today."
He turned toward Yoki.
"Yoki, you wanted to fight Captain and Hinata, right? Now it is your chance. I give you full freedom to fight them. But don't underestimate Hinata… even though he is injured—"
Before he could finish, Yoki suddenly appeared right in front of his face, glaring at him with pure anger.
White Leader paused.
"What happened?"
Yoki's teeth clenched.
"How dare you ruin my fight."
White Leader raised a brow.
"Ruin your fight?"
Yoki stepped even closer, his voice low and furious.
"Do you think I am a coward who needs a method like this to defeat anyone?"
White Leader replied calmly,
"I know what you mean. But fighting Hinata is dangerous. Even if you win, you will not win without major injuries."
Yoki suddenly laughed—
a loud, wild, fearless laugh.
"So what?"
He spread his stance slightly, power leaking from him.
"I live to fight. And injuries in a battle… are rewards for me."
Yoki's wild grin vanished.
His face turned completely serious, voice dropping into a cold, heavy tone:
"There is only one person in this world who can kill me."
The surrounding went silent.
Everyone—Captain, Hinata, Roxy, even Bustin—looked shocked.
There was someone out there who could defeat this monster?
Yoki continued, eyes darkening:
"I will not die in the hands of any other person except him. You know that."
White Leader exhaled impatiently.
"Yes, yes, I know. But we should end things here. Kill them quickly."
Yoki's fingers tightened around his twin axes, muscles flexing as he lifted them slightly.
He glared at the White Leader.
"No one moves."
His voice echoed like thunder.
He took a step forward, staring straight into the White Leader's hood.
"I don't care about your plans. Even if they fail."
Yoki's tone sharpened, colder than steel.
"I only joined you because you promised me strong opponents to fight."
Another step forward.
"But if you tell me to fight in this cowardly way… then I won't fight."
His killing aura flared.
"And I won't let any of you fight them either."
White Leader let out a long breath—amused, but also surrendering.
"I knew you'd do something like this."
A chuckle.
"I hoped you would let it slide this time… but it seems not."
He waved his hand casually.
"Very well."
His eyes turned toward the Captain and the others.
"It is your lucky day. You live a little longer."
Then he turned away.
"Everyone. We're leaving."
Yoki didn't look at Captain, Hinata, or Roxy.
He simply stood there, still as a mountain, guarding the battlefield until the White Leader's forces started to withdraw.
The Captain's fists tightened.
I can't… let them escape.
His eyes darted around the ruined surrounding.
But then he froze.
Hinata was injured.
Roxy was shaken.
Uzair, Titus and Rolsten were nowhere nearby.
Even he himself wasn't at full strength.
No… no one can fight right now. If I chase them… we die here.
His jaw clenched in frustration.
But on the other side—
Hinata's eyes burned with fury.
Despite his injuries, despite the blood dripping down his back, he pushed himself up.
"I won't let you run—!"
Hinata shot forward—
—but before he could take even three steps,
a shadow blurred.
Yoki appeared instantly in front of him.
Hinata's eyes widened—
CRACK!
Yoki's massive fist smashed into Hinata's face.
The impact launched Hinata several meters back, his body skidding across the stone floor before collapsing.
Roxy gasped.
Even the Captain took a sharp breath.
Yoki looked down at Hinata with a calm, almost respectful smile.
"I won't fight you while you're injured."
He lifted his axe onto his shoulder.
"Don't worry. We'll fight again… so be ready next time."
Then he turned and walked away with the others.
Hinata lay on the ground, grit in his voice, pain twisting through every word.
"Captain… I'm sorry…"
The Captain took a step forward—
—but then he saw Oxel walking away with the White Leader's group.
Their eyes met for a single moment.
Captain's eyes followed Oxel and the others as they vanished into the shadows of the city.
For the first time in years, the Captain felt the weight of betrayal settle deep into the chest. Everything has changed…. and nothing would ever be the same.