High in the mountains of Hollowveil, deep within a vast cavern, masked assassins swarmed through the mine.
Pickaxes struck stone relentlessly. Sparks flew. Ore carts groaned under heavy loads as they were shoved along crude tracks.
"Move faster," one assassin barked. "Finish today. Tonight might be our last chance. Clear the entire mine before dawn."
Dozens worked in tense silence, sweat dripping beneath their masks.
"Tck," one assassin scoffed. "Who would've guessed a captain would show up in a place like this?"
"In a village this small?" another laughed. "I thought no one even cared about Hollowveil."
"You idiot," a third hissed. "The higher-ups know. This place is a hidden mining site. That's why we're here."
Before the laughter could fade—
"AAAHHH—!!"
A scream ripped through the cavern.
"What the hell was that?!"
A body fell from above.
THUD.
The assassin hit the ground in a twisted heap, neck bent at an impossible angle.
Silence swallowed the cave.
Fear spread like rot.
Then—
Another presence descended.
Not falling.
Slamming into the ground.
The stone exploded outward, cracks racing across the floor. Torches flickered wildly as dust filled the air.
A man straightened slowly.
Vairan.
His shoulders shook.
He was laughing.
A raw, unrestrained laugh that echoed off the cavern walls.
"Kukuku… hahahaha…"
He tilted his head, staring at the frozen assassins as if they were toys.
"…Oops," he said cheerfully. "Did I ruin something?"
The assassins snapped out of their terror.
"Hey, bastard!!" they roared, charging at him, blades raised.
Vairan's grin stretched unnaturally wide.
"Oh?" he said, eyes gleaming. "All of you at once?"
With a clang, he pulled out his two axes.
Kendra energy screamed to life, crawling violently along the blades .
"But why didn't you invite me?" Vairan laughed, stepping forward. "I love parties."
He took one step—
And vanished.
The air tore.
Blood splattered the cavern walls.
Screams followed.
Vairan had arrived.
An assassin charged first, screaming as he swung his blade at Vairan.
Too slow.
Vairan stepped in and swung his axe.
CRACK.
Steel shattered. The axe continued through flesh.
Blood sprayed across the cavern walls as the assassin collapsed in two broken pieces.
Another rushed from a distance.
Vairan didn't even look.
He threw one of his axes.
The weapon spun through the air—
—and buried itself straight into the man's face.
The assassin dropped instantly.
Vairan caught the returning echo of screams and laughed.
Now fighting with a single axe, he turned—
Just as another assassin leapt from above.
Midair.
Vairan caught him by the face.
His fingers dug into the man's skull.
Vairan grinned wider than ever.
"Hahaha…!"
He twisted his body and threw the assassin forward—
Straight into another charging man.
Both bodies collided with a sickening crunch, collapsing in a tangled, broken heap.
From behind—
"H-he's killing everyone!" an assassin screamed, voice cracking. "Run! Run for your lives!"
Panic exploded.
Boots slipped on blood-soaked stone as assassins fled in every direction.
Vairan stood in the center of the cavern, laughing.
"Hahahahaha—!"
His laughter echoed endlessly, bouncing off the cave walls like madness itself.
From the shadows behind a broken pillar—
Regen watched.
Silent.
Unmoving.
He stared as Vairan butchered the remaining assassins, eyes narrowing.
Regan watched the massacre in stunned silence.
"…I think I should help him as well," he muttered.
Steeling himself, Regan stepped forward and joined the fight, cutting down the few assassins foolish enough to stay behind—assisting Vairan from the edges.
But Vairan wasn't satisfied.
He noticed movement at the far end of the cavern.
Assassins.
Running.
"WAAAIT—!!" Vairan screamed, his voice cracking with frustration. "What the hell?!"
Regan blinked. "L-looks like they're running away," he said carefully. "That's good, isn't it?"
Vairan slowly turned his head.
His smile was gone.
He stared at Regan.
"Hey, worm," Vairan said coldly. "Can you shut up for a second?"
Regan froze.
"There's not a single person left here who can fight me," Vairan continued, irritation dripping from every word.
He stepped closer.
Regan's heart pounded as Vairan paced back and forth in front of him, axe dragging along the stone, sparks flying.
Some assassins were still alive.
Hidden.
Watching.
"What… what is he?" one whispered, trembling behind a collapsed cart.
"He's definitely a psycho," another hissed. "Stay away from him."
From inside a large tent—
"What the hell is this noise?!" someone shouted angrily. "Can't a man even sleep properly?!"
The tent flap was thrown aside.
Out stepped Dango.
The boss.
Gold rings on his fingers. A thick coat draped over his shoulders. Small in height—but heavy with arrogance.
Vairan stopped moving.
His head tilted slightly.
"Hey, bastard!" Dango snarled, pointing at him. "You killed my people! You'll regret this, I swear it!"
Vairan said nothing.
He began walking toward him.
"Hey—what do you think you're doing?!" Dango shouted, stepping back. "I'll make your life a living hell! You don't know who I am yet!"
Vairan stopped right in front of him.
Dango had to look up.
The difference in height made it worse.
Up close, Vairan's eyes were empty—no rage, no mercy. Just curiosity.
Dango swallowed.
"I-I have money," he stammered suddenly. "A lot of it. Gold. I can give you everything if you join us—"
SLAP.
The sound echoed across the cavern.
One of Dango's golden teeth flew out of his mouth, clattering across the stone.
"AAAHH—!!" he screamed, stumbling back.
SLAP.
Another strike.
Dango crashed to the ground, clutching his face, shrieking in pain.
Vairan stood over him, expression flat.
Vairan looked down at Dango.
Then—
He slammed his foot onto Dango's face, crushing him into the stone.
A sickening crack echoed through the cavern.
"Never in my entire life," Vairan said coldly, pressing harder, "have I heard such an annoying voice."
Dango gagged, blood spilling from his mouth.
"You should've shut up."
Vairan lifted his foot.
Dango lay motionless, wheezing weakly.
From a distance, Regan stared in disbelief.
He makes everything look so easy… Regan thought.
We captured the boss just like that.
Regan swallowed.
And Regan wasn't sure whether he felt relieved—
—or terrified.
Vairan stood with his foot planted on Dango's face.
The cavern was silent.
Then—
Something brushed his senses.
Energy.
Dense. Heavy.
Vairan turned his head—
Too late.
BOOM.
A massive force slammed into his side.
Kendra energy exploded as a shoulder strike crashed into him, launching his body straight into the mountain wall.
CRASH—!
Stone shattered. Rocks rained down as Vairan's body disappeared into the cliff.
Regan's eyes widened in horror.
"W-What was that?!"
Before the dust could settle—
A towering figure was already there.
Seven feet tall.
Built like iron.
His shoulder glowed faintly with compressed Kendra.
He charged again.
BOOM.
Another shoulder slam.
Vairan was smashed deeper into the mountain, stone collapsing around him.
Blood spilled from Vairan's mouth.
"VAIRAN!!" Regan screamed.
The giant didn't stop.
He struck again.
And again.
Each impact drove Vairan further into the rock until the wall itself gave way, cracked and broken around his body.
Then—
The giant grabbed Vairan by the neck.
Lifted him effortlessly.
And hurled him forward.
Vairan's body slammed to the ground in front of Dango.
Dango staggered to his feet, coughing, blood dripping from his mouth.
"A-ahh… I—I told you…" Dango wheezed, pointing shakily. "You would pay for this… with your life."
The massive bodyguard stepped in front of him.
Dango glared up at the giant. "Where were you?!" he snapped. "You're supposed to protect me!"
The bodyguard rubbed the back of his neck lazily.
"…I was asleep."
Dango's face twisted in rage. "ASLEEP?!"
The bodyguard didn't respond.
Instead, his eyes shifted.
Locked onto Regan.
The giant turned.
And began walking toward him.
Each step made the ground tremble.
Regan looked down at Vairan.
He was completely bloodied.
Blood poured from his mouth. From his head. From everywhere.
Vairan didn't move.
Dango stared at him, breathing heavily.
"What happened now?" Dango sneered. "You killed my people…"
He began stomping on Vairan's face.
Again.
And again.
"You did this to my men!" Dango laughed hysterically. "Hahaha—look at you now!"
Regan's hands trembled.
"H-Hey… Khor," Dango said, wiping blood from his shoe. "Clear this mess. Let's leave. We already got plenty from the mine."
Dango turned away.
Regan clenched his fists.
V-Vairan…
What will I do if he can't fight anymore? Regan thought desperately.
Khor stepped forward.
He stopped right in front of Regan.
Regan couldn't move.
This is it, Regan thought.
Khor's hand began to glow as Kendra energy gathered around it.
Then—
Something flashed through the air.
CLANG—!
A sword slammed into the ground between them.
Khor instantly jumped back, eyes narrowing.
Regan gasped. "C-Captain Samuel…!"
From behind the shattered entrance—
Soldiers poured into the cavern.
Armed.
Ready.
Regan turned around, eyes wide.
"…My squad," he whispered.
The tide had shifted.
"I-Isn't… weren't you supposed to head toward the front gate?" Regan asked, his voice shaking.
Samuel nodded grimly. "Yeah. But we heard noise coming from here."
He glanced around at the blood-soaked cavern.
"So we turned back… to get you."
The squad gathered behind him.
Samuel's eyes fell on the broken body lying in the rubble.
"…Is that Vairan?" he asked quietly.
Regan swallowed hard. Tears streamed down his face.
"Y-yes…"
Samuel clenched his jaw. "Where's the girl?"
Regan froze.
Touka's face flashed through his mind.
"S-she's… dead," Regan said, his voice breaking.
Samuel's expression darkened instantly.
"…Damn it," he muttered.
He lowered his head for a brief second.
"This is my fault," Samuel said coldly. "I shouldn't have left you all here alone."
Then—
He lifted his gaze.
Locked it onto the towering figure ahead.
Khor.
Seven feet tall. Calm. Unmoving.
Watching them like prey.
Samuel stepped forward, placing himself between his squad and the giant.
His grip tightened on his weapon.
"…You," Samuel said evenly. "You're the one who did this."
Khor didn't respond.
He simply stood there—
Silent.
Waiting.
Dango clicked his tongue, glaring at the soldiers.
"Tck… why are they here?" he muttered.
He turned toward the giant.
"Khor. Clear this mess quickly. We're leaving."
Without waiting for a reply, Dango disappeared back into the tent, preparing to flee.
Samuel didn't take his eyes off the battlefield.
"Check Vairan," he ordered quietly. "See if he's still alive."
"Yes, sir," a squad member responded, rushing forward.
Samuel's gaze returned to Khor.
I don't think I can beat him, Samuel thought grimly.
But I won't let anyone else die.
Samuel stepped forward—
Then charged.
His swords flashed.
Khor's eyes widened.
"Speed…?" Khor muttered.
He twisted his body, dodging—but one blade grazed him, tearing across his side.
Khor glanced down.
Blood.
Samuel's sword glowed blue, wind spiraling tightly around the blade.
Samuel attacked again.
Khor smiled.
He bent his knees—and leapt.
Kendra energy pulsed violently through his legs.
He rose unnaturally high.
"Legendary Jump," Khor said calmly.
He came crashing down—
But Samuel was already moving.
Midair, Samuel thrust his free hand forward.
"Tempest Strike."
A violent burst of compressed wind exploded outward.
Stone shattered.
Khor was driven straight into the earth, a crater forming beneath him.
Dust filled the cavern.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Khor slowly straightened.
Still standing.
Samuel stared.
He's not fast enough.
I can take him, Samuel thought.
Then—
His eyes widened.
"REGAN—!!"
Regan charged from behind, screaming as he raised his sword and lunged at Khor.
Too reckless.
Khor sensed it instantly.
He twisted aside.
Regan swung again desperately.
Khor's hand glowed.
He struck the blade sideways—
CRACK.
The sword shattered into two pieces.
Regan froze.
Khor smiled.
"It's over."
His fist drew back—
But suddenly, Regan was yanked away.
Samuel grabbed him and threw him aside.
"IDIOT!" Samuel roared. "Stay away from it!"
Samuel turned—
Too late.
Khor's fist was already there.
Glowing.
"His speed—?!" Samuel thought.
BOOM.
The punch slammed into Samuel's face.
His body was hurled across the cavern, crashing hard into the stone.
Regan stared in horror.
"S-Samuel…!"
Khor glanced at Regan, who stood frozen—alive only because Samuel had taken the hit.
"…Tch," Khor muttered.
Then—
He bent his knees.
Kendra energy surged violently through his legs.
"Legendary Jump."
He vanished upward—
—and came down like a meteor.
CRASH.
Khor landed directly on Samuel's chest.
Bone shattered.
Blood sprayed across the stone.
Samuel's body went limp.
"AAAAAAAHHHH—!!!" Regan screamed.
Around him, the remaining squad members froze in terror.
Some tried to move.
Some couldn't.
Most were already dead.
Khor slowly lifted his gaze.
Locked onto Regan.
Regan's breath caught.
Then he turned—
And ran.
As he fled through the cavern, faces flashed through his mind.
Dead squad members.
Broken bodies.
Blood.
Then—
He saw Vairan.
Still down.
Unmoving.
"It's over!" Regan screamed, tears streaming down his face as he ran blindly into the darkness.
Behind him—
Khor watched silently.
"…Pathetic," he muttered.
From the tent, Dango stepped out, grinning.
"Good," he said lazily. "Let's go."
Both of them climbed onto the cart.
"Load as much as you can onto the carts behind," Dango ordered.
"Yes, sir!" an assassin replied.
The carts began to move.
Leaving only blood—
—and silence.