As they approached the capital's entrance gate, Gray and Ed immediately noticed the group.
Gray's eyes moved across Gareth, the four armed adventurers beside him— Then landed on Nero.
"That guy too?" Gray asked, raising an eyebrow.
His attention shifted toward one of Gareth's companions.
"What's going on, Sten? Where are all of you heading together?"
Sten exchanged a brief glance with Gareth.
Gareth gave the smallest nod.
Sten leaned slightly closer.
"We're heading to verify the Thornveil matter."
Gray's expression hardened instantly.
"Understood."
"Make sure no one heads that way."
Gray gave a sharp nod.
Ed remained silent.
The two guards stepped aside, allowing the group to pass without further questioning.
And together—
They headed back toward Thornveil Forest.
The walk back toward the oak tree was quieter than before.
No casual conversation. No unnecessary words.
Only footsteps.
Nero noticed it immediately.
Their eyes lingered on him more often now.
Their hands stayed close to their weapons.
Inside his mind, Angelo's voice surfaced.
"They're tense."
Nero kept his expression neutral.
"Yeah," he replied internally. "Not exactly reassuring."
Angelo's tone sharpened.
"Stay alert. If they find nothing, there's no telling how they'll react."
Nero glanced briefly toward Gareth.
"I already told them the portal vanished."
A pause.
"Not my fault they ignored that."
After some time, they reached the oak tree.
Gareth stopped and turned.
"We're here," he said. "Guide us."
Nero removed his hood and nodded once.
"I followed the stream to get out," he explained, stepping toward the water.
"If we trace it back, we'll reach the area."
Without hesitation, he led the way.
The others followed.
The forest quickly swallowed them.
Branches twisted overhead. Shadows stretched between the trees.
The deeper they went, the quieter it became.
Eventually—
Nero slowed.
Then stopped.
"It's around here."
Gareth frowned.
"What are you looking for?"
"Tree markings."
Nero scanned the trunks carefully.
"I marked several trees with my knife while moving through here."
He rested a hand briefly on one nearby trunk.
"Once I find one, I can retrace my exact route."
Gareth nodded immediately.
"Spread out. Help him search."
The group obeyed.
Minutes passed.
Then—
"Over here."
Sten stood near a tree with a fresh stab mark carved cleanly into the bark.
Nero examined it.
"Yeah," he said.
"This is mine."
He turned.
"Follow me. We're close."
With renewed certainty, Nero guided them deeper through the forest.
Turn after turn.
Until—
They arrived.
And the group stopped cold.
Bodies.
Lightning Wolves.
Not one. Not two.
Twenty.
Their corpses lay scattered across the forest floor— Alongside the massive pack leader.
The aftermath of slaughter.
Silence swallowed the group whole.
One adventurer finally broke it.
"…Did you do this?"
Nero glanced back.
Then gave a small, almost casual chuckle.
"Yeah."
He shrugged lightly.
"Fighting them in the dark was annoying at first."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"But once they started charging themselves up…"
He gestured vaguely toward the dead beasts.
"…They made tracking them a lot easier."
Nero looked toward Gareth.
"Lighting themselves up in the dark like idiots."
A beat.
"Right?"
But Gareth didn't answer.
He simply stared.
Because what lay before him wasn't the aftermath of someone surviving.
It was extermination.
His thoughts tightened.
I thought he fought two… maybe three.
Not this.
This is insanity.
Nero frowned slightly.
"Gareth?"
That snapped him out of it.
"Hm?"
Gareth cleared his throat.
"…Yeah. I'm fine."
But the others were no better.
Shock. Confusion. Unease.
A pack this size could wipe out villages.
Even experienced adventurers would suffer losses.
Yet Nero stood before them—
Untouched.
Sten knelt near one of the corpses and examined the wounds.
No blade marks.
No crushing trauma.
Just—
A hole.
Clean. Precise.
His fingeres stiffened.
What kind of weapon leaves wounds like this?
But no one voiced the question.
Not yet.
Because the Worldbridge still came first.
Nero turned forward again.
"Come on."
His tone was calm.
"If we waste too much time, it'll be dark before we leave."
A brief pause.
"And I'd rather not fight another pack if I don't have to."
They walked for another hour.
By now, high noon had long passed— But beneath Thornveil's dense canopy, sunlight was already beginning to fade.
Branches choked the sky. Shadows stretched deeper. The forest grew heavier.
Then—
Nero stopped.
He stood before a tree with a low-hanging branch and rested a hand against it.
"We're here."
Gareth frowned.
His companions immediately began scanning the area.
Nothing.
Just trees. Roots. Brush. Silence.
Gareth looked around, confusion creeping into his voice.
"Are you sure?"
"There's nothing here."
Nero grabbed the low branch and rubbed his forehead.
"I'm sure."
He gave it a light shake.
"This is where I walked out and immediately slammed my head into this branch."
Under his breath, he muttered—
"…Fantastic first impression."
But Gareth's expression didn't ease.
"This… can't be right."
He looked around more urgently.
"Where's the Worldbridge?"
Nero's patience visibly thinned.
"What are you talking about?"
His voice sharpened.
"You asked me to bring you to the portal."
He gestured around them.
"So I did."
Gareth tried again.
"But the Worldbridge isn't here."
"Do you see anything?"
Nero's irritation finally broke through.
"That's exactly what I've been telling you."
His voice rose.
"The portal CLOSED."
"And then it VANISHED."
"There was nothing left."
Silence.
Tense. Sharp.
Then—
Steel rang.
One of the adventurers drew their sword and leveled it at Nero.
"Enough."
Maria's voice was cold.
"Step away from him, Gareth."
Gareth froze.
"What are you doing?"
"Maria, sheath your sword."
But Zeak drew his weapon too.
"There was never a Worldbridge."
His eyes stayed locked on Nero.
"He lied."
"To lure you into the forest."
Bren moved next.
"It makes sense."
"He's probably working for the king."
Gareth stared at them in disbelief.
"What kind of nonsense are you all talking about?"
Nero remained silent.
Watching.
Measuring.
Sten's patience finally snapped.
"Open your eyes, Gareth."
"The idea of an undiscovered Worldbridge blinded you."
"He fed you exactly what you wanted to hear."
Gareth's certainty faltered.
Confusion spread across his face.
He took a slow step back.
Sten pressed harder.
"If this is all some misunderstanding…"
His sword remained raised.
"Then why hasn't he defended himself?"
For the first time—
Gareth looked directly at Nero.
Searching.
Waiting.
Nero said nothing.
Not immediately.
Then—
He sighed.
"…Are you all finished?"
Maria tightened her grip.
"Ready to admit we're right?"
Nero looked at her flatly.
"Right my ass."
A pause.
"But I'll give all four of you credit."
His tone sharpened.
"You managed to create an impressively stupid story."
The tension thickened instantly.
"First," Nero continued, "I don't even know where I am."
"Let alone your king."
"Second—"
His eyes shifted briefly toward Gareth.
"He helped me."
"Found me shelter."
"Paid for my food."
"So explain something."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Why exactly would I want him dead?"
Zeak barked back immediately—
"You're lying!"
"I bet you've got people hiding nearby!"
Sten scoffed.
"Then explain the Lightning Wolves."
"Nobody kills a pack like that alone."
Nero stared at them.
"…Do you even hear yourselves?"
Maria's patience broke.
"Enough."
Her sword raised fully.
"We've heard enough."
Her voice cut through the trees.
"He's dangerous."
"Don't let him leave this forest alive."
Gareth stepped forward urgently.
"Wait—STOP!"
Too late.
They were already moving.
Maria stepped first.
Zeak followed.
Bren and Sten split apart to flank him.
And in that moment—
Everything slowed.
Nero watched each shift in muscle. Each footstep. Each weapon angle.
Inside his mind—
Angelo spoke.
"Do it."
Nero moved.
Both arms extended outward.
Then—
His palms collided.
CLAP.
The sound cracked through Thornveil like thunder.
A shockwave tore through the forest.
Birds erupted from trees. Wildlife fled. Smaller creatures dropped unconscious from the blast.
Gareth, Maria, Zeak, Bren, and Sten all recoiled violently—
Hands flying to their ears.
Disoriented.
And before their ringing senses recovered—
Nero was gone.