Chapter 48 – The Return of the Hunter
Lya, arms crossed, looked at Valen with a bored expression.
— So, you really eliminated him?
Valen shrugged, pretending to be modest.
— What do you think? I'm the great Valen. You think some overgrown lizard could stand up to me? Don't be ridiculous.
Liora, still covered in dust, frowned.
— He was supposed to have an abstract existence. Even if you destroyed his body, he should've been able to return.
How did you do it, exactly?
Valen tapped his shoulder, looking relaxed.
— That's thanks to Elyonna.
Elyonna — in her sword form, now turned back into her miniature human self — crossed her arms and gave the group a superior look.
— Hmph. When he split me in two, he sliced through the very essence of the Void. Then he cut it into pieces and erased all its versions from reality with his eyes.
Result: no more Yzareth, not even in parallel dimensions.
Naël nodded, hands behind his head.
— I can confirm. The avatar I had in my grasp just… vanished. Gone. Poof.
Zarion, leaning against a cracked wall, made an agile leap from the top of a collapsed building.
— You're an idiot, Valen. He could've been useful. But whatever.
A faint smirk crossed his face.
Liora clenched her fists.
— Wait… how long have you been there?!
Zarion, pretending to be innocent:
— Oh, me? Just got here.
Liora raised an eyebrow.
— You know way too much about the fight for someone who "just got here."
She turned to Naël, who looked away.
— And you?
Naël, hands in his pockets:
— Well, it's Valen… who would dare get in his way?
An awkward silence spread through the group.
Then Lya spoke again, more serious this time:
— We still have a problem. Drake.
His soul was taken by Yzareth.
Valen froze.
— WHAT?! And you're telling me now?!
He ran a hand down his face.
— Great. I erase the lizard, and now we can't even ask him where the soul went.
Zarion, looking resigned:
— Yeah. I think it's over for him.
Ryn, watching the motionless body, whispered:
— You really think there's nothing we can do?
Naël shrugged.
— Béatrice, don't bother. I think he's dead. For good.
Liora sighed.
— Seriously, you guys have zero tact. You could at least pretend to be sad.
Then, crossing her arms:
— And none of you has a technique to save him?
A heavy silence followed.
Naël, thinking to himself:
> I already resurrected half a country and he didn't even flinch… if someone told me not to get involved this time, I'm fine with that.
Zarion was thinking the same thing, a small smile on his lips:
> Good thing I told him that when they'd ask, he should say "it's Zarion."
Lya placed a hand on Drake's chest.
— I might be able to create a new soul for him.
Zarion raised a hand.
— Bad idea. Where would you get his memories? He'd come back… empty.
Lya frowned.
— Right. Didn't think of that.
Liora sighed.
— In that case, let him go. It's hard, but that's the job.
Valen raised a finger.
— Wait. I'll try something. Something I saw in an anime.
Naël's eyes widened.
— No, don't do anything stupid, Valen. If you mess up, we all explode.
Zarion chuckled.
— Nah, I think I know what he's planning. And yeah, it's the only shot we've got.
Valen smirked confidently.
— Relax. I'm the great Valen, remember?
He extended his hand. A timepiece appeared, spinning backward.
A golden current flowed from his arm into Drake's body.
Time around Drake… began to rewind.
But the rest of the world stayed intact.
— Huh?! — shouted a hunter. — He's manipulating time… without affecting time?!
The frozen flames started to move in reverse, the blood returning to his veins.
Drake gasped suddenly, his eyes shooting open.
Silence.
Then Valen raised his hand proudly.
— And there you go. Express service by the great Valen. Free resurrection, but next time, I'm charging.
Liora raised an eyebrow.
— You sound like a magical artifact salesman.
Elyonna sighed, arms crossed.
— And to think I'm the one who did all the work here.
Naël chuckled softly.
— Yeah, you're mostly the one who sulks when we don't compliment you.
Lya, amused:
— Welcome back to the team, Drake. You missed the apocalypse, but don't worry… we'll probably have another one tomorrow.
Drake, still groggy:
— Huh?… What kind of nightmare was that…
Valen crossed his arms, smirking.
— Not a nightmare, bro. Just another Tuesday.
Chapter 49 — "The Costs of the Catastrophe"
The dust hadn't even settled when Liora put her hands on her hips, surveying the smoking ruins of headquarters.
— I congratulate you, Valen. You managed to resurrect Drake… okay, Ryn, Béatrice, take care of the wounded.
Ryn sighed as he lifted a hunter trapped under a slab of wall.
— Easy to say. It looks like a meteor hit the HQ…
— Technically, murmured Lya, it was almost the case.
Liora looked up at the sky.
— The material damage is huge… it'll take weeks, maybe months to rebuild all this.
Valen crossed his arms, proud as punch.
— You're right, it will take time… and above all, money.
He grinned, then pointed at Zarion.
— And because some people watched the fight like it was a movie, the bill's probably going to be steep.
Zarion took a step back.
— Oh no, don't pin that on me. It was Naël who arrived early and didn't lift a finger!
Naël, offended:
— Excuse me?! You were there too, and Valen as well! You just wanted to see "how we would handle it," right?
Lya frowned.
— Wait, Naël — as far as I remember, you can teleport, right? So why didn't you?
Naël, eyes shifting, improvised:
— Uh… I was out of mana after my fight with the first-of-his-name Yzareth.
Lya raised an eyebrow.
— Mmh. Right. And I'm the Fairy Queen.
Liora interrupted, stamping her foot.
— What I want to know is why you didn't step in sooner! Without the barrier I put up, half the city would've disappeared!
Valen raised a hand, pretending to be calm.
— Relax, relax. You can cover the repairs, right? And let's be honest, most of the damage was caused by your hammer, Liora.
— WHAT?!
— Yeah. That hammer swing that leveled three buildings and blew up the central fountain… wasn't me.
Liora pretended to think, then sighed.
— Fine… okay. I'll take care of the repair costs.
Valen raised an eyebrow.
— …Oh yeah? You sure? Because I was just going to say Naël has a nice little treasure trove from Antares.
Lya, with a predatory smile:
— It's true, he came back with a mountain of gold, gems and artifacts and didn't share a thing!
Liora snapped her fingers.
— Perfect! So Naël, you're the one who's paying.
Naël's eyes went wide.
— What?! Why me? It wasn't me who destroyed everything!
Arthur, freshly healed, approached, still bandaged in places.
— That's true, how can you let a lady like Liora handle the costs alone? I'll contribute to the reconstruction.
Valen huffed, annoyed.
— Look at this show-off, Elyonna. Always playing the charming prince…
Elyonna raised an eyebrow.
— You say that because you haven't a penny, admit it.
Arthur placed a hand over his heart.
— Fear not, Lady Liora. I will handle it personally.
— You certainly know how to speak to women, she replied with a smile. But no, don't worry: it's Naël who will pay.
A nervous tic ran along Valen's temple.
— No but he's too pretentious… and besides, he escapes the costs?!
Naël, incredulous:
— How is it "I'm the one paying"?! He looked at Lya, furious. — You grassed me up, didn't you?!
Lya shrugged, looking innocent.
— If you'd shared the treasure, it wouldn't have gone down like this.
Zarion burst out laughing.
— Moral of the story: in this team, either you fight, or you finance!
Drake, still dizzy, timidly raised his hand.
— …And what do I do?
Valen slapped him on the shoulder.
— You? You're alive again thanks to me, so you say thank you and shut up.
The whole team burst out laughing while Naël, dejected, muttered:
— I swear, next time I'll just let everyone die…
Chapter 50 — "The Bill of the Century"
The sun was slowly setting over the HQ ruins. Hunters bustled everywhere: some repaired walls, others cleared debris, while Valen and Naël... argued in front of a mountain of paperwork.
— Explain it to me again, growled Naël, holding a bill. Why do I have a thirty-seven million credit invoice under "Naël Corporation"?!
Valen, sitting casually on a concrete block, sipping a soda, replied: — Because, my dear official financier, you've got the biggest treasure and the fewest excuses. You pay.
— But I didn't level half the HQ! That was Liora and her nuclear hammer!
Liora happened to pass by with an innocent look: — Oh, you exaggerate. "Leveled" is a strong word. Let's say I… restructured the area. Valen burst out laughing. — Yeah, restructured—apocalypse-style.
Elyonna arrived, arms crossed. — You're still talking about money? This feels like a tax meeting. Naël sighed. — I wish that were all. Now they're charging me for windows, roofs, and even the pigeons that died from the explosions!
Ryn, treating an injured man, said without looking up: — It's true, the pigeons—tragic. A real massacre. Valen immediately continued: — Yes, may their souls rest. By the way, we planned a small ceremony tomorrow; you're invited Naël. You're the official sponsor.
Naël nearly choked. — Will you cut the crap, yes?!
Lya arrived with a magic tablet and a big smile. — I totaled the repairs. So… between destroyed buildings, damaged artifacts, healing potions, and psychological trauma payouts for civilians… She swiped the screen. — We're at… fifty-two million.
Silence. Then Valen let out, amused: — There you go—a nice round number!
Naël exploded. — YOU'RE ALL INSANE!
Liora clapped her hands, delighted. — Come on, don't complain, you'll become famous. "The hero who paid for the HQ reconstruction." — I don't want to be famous, I want to be rich!
Arthur intervened, still immaculate despite his bandages. — Don't complain, Naël. It's a noble gesture. A true gentleman shares his fortune for the common good. Valen snickered. — Hear that, Elyonna? Mr. Poetry thinks highly of himself. Elyonna rolled her eyes. — Honestly, I'd rather have Valen's terrible jokes.
Naël, exasperated, raised a hand. — Fine, you know what? I'll pay… but after this, nobody asks me for anything for a year, understood?!
Lya: — One year? Dream on—next mission we'll probably need a ship, or a dungeon repaired. — Tch… I'm going to strangle you all one by one.
Drake arrived then, a little lost, carrying a bag of gemstones. — Uh… I found this in the rubble, is it worth anything? Naël lunged for it. — YES, IT'S WORTH SOMETHING! Give it here right now!
Zarion laughed, leaning against a wall. — Ah… I love these post-battle meetings. Always a mix of drama, comedy, and qualified theft.
Valen raised his soda can to the sky, smiling: — To the most explosive guild on the continent! Everyone raised a drink, a bandage, or a gemstone. — To us!
Then, after a short silence, Naël mumbled: — Yeah, to us… the freeloaders of the multiverse.
Everyone burst out laughing as the sun disappeared behind the ruins.
Chapter 51 – "The Hunter's Shadow":
---
One month later.
The reconstruction was finally complete.
The HQ walls gleamed with a fresh glow, the magical gates purred softly, and for the first time in ages, the hunters could breathe in peace.
Naël, adjusting his brand-new cape:
— "Well… that cost a fortune. I'm heading out on a mission before someone finds another hidden invoice."
He waved to Valen, Zarion, and the others, feigning casual ease.
Valen raised a hand with a mocking smile:
— "Safe travels… for our wallet."
Naël:
— "Aren't you ashamed to say that?!"
Valen:
— "Nope."
Naël took off with a sigh, leaving behind a cloud of golden dust.
---
Later, Valen and Zarion walked down a quiet street, hands in their pockets.
The wind gently brushed the still-warm ruins of past battles.
Valen yawned, arms folded behind his head.
> — "Hey, Zarion…"
— "Hm?"
— "It never crossed my mind before, but… how old are you, actually?"
Zarion slowed down, surprised by the question.
A faint, nostalgic smile tugged at his lips.
> — "Not sure you really want to know."
— "Oh, now I do. You got a weird age? Like a 300-year-old stuck in a hot guy's body?"
Zarion sighed, amused.
> — "...Let's just say I stopped counting after 400."
Valen froze, mouth slightly agape.
> — "400?! And not a single wrinkle?!"
— "Cosmic hydration."
Valen burst out laughing.
> — "Dude… you didn't just say that seriously, did you?"
— "I've lived long enough to master the art of sarcasm."
Then the tone shifted.
Zarion, gaze drifting toward the horizon:
> — "I've lived in other worlds. Other realities. Some beautiful, others… less so."
Valen:
> — "So you're like an immortal multiversal grandpa, huh?"
— "You could say that. And you—don't you feel like time's slipping away?"
— "I'm 21, man. Vael's the old one, not me."
Zarion smirked.
> — "If you say so…"
---
Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath their feet.
A black flash erupted — and reality shattered.
They reappeared in a temple of dead stars.
Silence reigned. Not a breath, not a shadow… except those that moved on their own.
Chains stretched from the floor to a throne of living darkness.
And on that throne… a figure.
White hair, ash-pale skin, eyes glowing red.
His irises, shaped like inverted stars, seemed to devour the light.
Zarion, calm but tense:
> — "Since when do you have a demonic twin brother?"
Valen:
— "Exactly. I don't. And that… isn't a brother."
The chains vibrated. The entity slowly raised its head.
A predatory smile split its face.
> — "So this is what I've become… an incomplete, confused version playing at being human."
His voice was soft, almost elegant, but each word rang like a blade.
Valen frowned.
> — "You're not me."
> — "Oh, but I am. I'm what you hide: the rage, the pride, the hunger for true power. The real Vael. Not the fragile copy you pretend to be."
Zarion stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt.
> — "So you're… Valen's dark-mode version?"
— "Call me whatever you want, ancient one. Words won't change what I am."
Valen chuckled nervously.
> — "Honestly, for someone who's me, you've got zero humor. Clearly, you never met Lya."
A cold, raspy laugh echoed.
> — "Lya? The friend? The bond? The weakness? You think love will save you? That's cute. You'll come to me, sooner or later. It's inevitable."
The chains trembled, cracking the temple floor.
Zarion stepped back, tense.
Valen stood still.
> — "If I ever become like you… I'll perform a self-exorcism."
Zarion raised an eyebrow.
> — "And I'll film it. Sell it to the Council. Make millions."
The entity chuckled, eyes glowing with abyssal light.
> — "You joke… as if humor could hide fear."
Valen lifted his head, a burning spark in his gaze.
> — "You're right. But the difference between you and me… is that I have people to pull me back when I fall. You have no one."
The shadow's laughter died.
The chains quivered… then shattered one by one with a dry, unreal snap.
The entity rose slowly.
Its shadow stretched to the walls, devouring the light.
Each step made the air tremble, as if the world itself hesitated to breathe.
> — "Then watch closely, Valen. Watch what you'll become… when there's no one left to save you."
He smiled. A hollow, terrifyingly calm smile.
And in that moment, even Zarion felt a chill run down his spine.