The sky had begun to change color as evening approached; the sun still shone brightly, but its warmth was fading. A pale golden light stretched across the rooftops of Novara, casting long, sharp shadows that clung to the edges of every building.
A cold wind swept through the city, carrying the metallic scent of dust and smoke the aftermath of the earlier clashes.
Novara wasn't quiet... but the noise had shifted.
Distant screams, explosions, and alarms began to fade, not because the chaos was over, but because everyone felt it
the real battle was about to begin.
The air grew heavier, pressing down on the rooftops where the two figures stood facing each other.
On one rooftop, Kryne stood firmly, adjusting his cap as the wind tugged at his hair, his sharp eyes locked onto his opponent with unwavering focus.
Across from him, Julian stood at the edge of a higher building, unnervingly calm. The violet aura around him flickered softly, like poisonous smoke waiting for a signal to ignite.
Neither of them spoke.
Even the wind seemed to pause for a moment, as if the entire city was holding its breath.
Julian slowly lifted his hand, a faint glow gathering at his fingertips.
Kryne didn't move his posture remained relaxed, almost lazy, but there was a cold precision in his eyes, as if he already knew what Julian was planning.
And in that single, silent heartbeat...
the new chapter began.
Kryne launched forward toward Julian, his body slicing through the air as he aimed a strike with the open palm of his hand instead of a clenched fist.
Just before the blow could land
A sharp, sudden shot cut across his path.
Kryne twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the bullet, and retreated a step back.
His eyes sharpened as he scanned the surrounding rooftops, searching for the source of the shot.
Nothing.
No movement.
No presence.
"...What?" he muttered.
At that moment, Julian leapt toward him, closing the distance instantly. He pulled the scarf away from his mouth, his expression confident and cold.
"Did you really think you'd fight me alone?"
Julian threw two fast punches toward Kryne.
Kryne blocked both strikes with precise, controlled movements.
Without hesitation, Kryne pushed off the rooftop and leapt down, vanishing from Julian's direct view.
Julian looked down at him from the rooftop above.
Kryne stood still for a brief moment.
He closed his eyes, focusing, trying to sense the energy of every person nearby.
Suddenly, he lowered his head sharply.
A heavy iron ball attached to a chain whistled through the air above him, missing his head by inches.
Kryne turned around instantly.
Behind him stood a massive, heavy-built man, his body thick and imposing. The man burst into loud laughter, clearly amused.
"Well," he said with a grin,
"you're pretty good at dodging attacks."
The heavy man swung the chain once again, launching the iron ball toward Kryne with brutal force.
Kryne leapt aside, narrowly avoiding the attack but
Above him, Julian descended.
Julian wrapped his scarf tightly around Kryne's right arm and immediately followed with a kick aimed at his head.
Kryne twisted his body, avoiding the kick. In the same motion, he turned toward Julian, forcefully freeing his arm from the scarf.
He grabbed the scarf instead and yanked it hard, pulling Julian toward him.
In a flash, Kryne locked Julian from behind, restraining him firmly.
Then, without loosening his grip, Kryne turned Julian's body in a specific direction.
His eyes shifted toward a distant corner of the rooftops.
There-
A figure stood holding a sniper rifle.
Short blond hair. Calm posture.
The man clicked his tongue and muttered:
"Damn it... he saw me."
The blond man smiled faintly.
"But you shouldn't have grabbed Julian like that."
Kryne was still holding Julian firmly.
The heavy, massive man burst into laughter, showing no intention of protecting his companion.
From the shadows, several figures began to surround Kryne.
They held knives in their hands, laughing as they closed in.
Suddenly
Kryne felt something behind him.
A strange, black shadow shaped exactly like Julian rose from the ground behind his back and lunged at him.
Kryne reacted instantly, blocking the attack but the force of it forced him to release Julian.
Kryne stepped back, eyes sharp, mind racing.
"...So that's your ability," he said calmly.
"You create shadows."
As Julian retreated, everyone lunged at Kryne at once, knives thrusting from every direction. The massive, heavy man hurled the iron ball straight at him, and at the same time, the sniper fired a fast, piercing shot.
Kryne showed no fear. No hesitation. He slowly closed his eyes, and then, in a sudden burst of speed, shattered the knives in an instant. The iron ball exploded into pieces before it could reach him, and the bullet-he caught it with his bare hand.
A gray aura erupted around his body, the force blasting everyone nearby backward, sending them flying across the ground. Those who dared approach felt the pressure immediately, frozen by the sheer intensity of his presence.
Some of the Novara police appeared.
"There they are-the troublemakers! Grab them! A few are still here!"
A group of officers charged forward, weapons raised.
"Give up!" they shouted.
Kryne stepped forward, speaking calmly to the police.
"Take these ones... and leave the purple-haired boy."
Julian created five shadows of himself and sent them toward the police, then vanished in a flash.
Kryne leapt onto the rooftops once again, adjusting his cap as he sprinted toward the blond sniper.
The short-haired blond sniper noticed him.
"Damn it!" he muttered, clutching his rifle, and attempted to flee.
Before Kryne could reach him, he stopped suddenly.
Another figure blocked his path.
This person was different distinct from the others.
He carried two long swords. His black hair was tied back neatly. He wore a mask, and a strap rested across his neck, adding to his mysterious presence.
Kryne stared at him, wondering if this was just another troublemaker. Something about him seemed different.
Kryne adjusted his cap, brown hair slipping out in messy strands beneath it.
The masked man spoke calmly:
"Yes... I am one of this family. You can call me Noir."
A shadow moved across the rooftop, and from it, Julian emerged. He stood next to Noir, adjusting his scarf.
He blew on the strand of hair covering his right eye; it lifted briefly before falling back to cover it again.
Julian leaned close and whispered into Noir's ear.
Kryne spoke to himself quietly, his eyes scanning the scene:
"All I have to do here is buy time...
They must not know about the others fighting the Numbers.
No need to exert any effort..."
The sniper fired another bullet at Kryne, but he easily dodged it with a tilt of his head.
Julian created shadows that surged toward Kryne. One by one, Kryne defeated them effortlessly.
He spoke to Julian calmly:
"Nice ability, boy. The Guilds would truly desire a power like that... but why did you choose this path?"
Julian snapped back, annoyed:
"Shut up! None of your business."
He dove into Kryne's shadow and spun it into a whirlpool, swallowing Kryne's feet and rising up to his knees.
Kryne looked down, unfazed:
"You can do that too... hmm, I might face a bit of resistance..."
Suddenly, in a flash of speed, Noir appeared, wielding his twin swords, taking advantage of Kryne's position to strike.
Kryne's cap fell to the ground, and some strands of his brown hair slipped free.
Kryne looked at him and whistled softly.
"Not bad... for your speed."
He aimed at Julian's feet under the shadow, releasing his gray energy. In an instant, he pulled Julian out of the shadow, grabbing him by his clothes.
Julian's eyes widened in surprise.
He swung a powerful punch at Kryne but Kryne blocked it with an open palm, not a clenched fist. The impact made Julian cough violently and crash to the ground.
Noir attacked Kryne, swinging his twin swords in rapid succession.
Kryne easily dodged each strike and grabbed the tip of one of Noir's swords.
"You're fast... truly the strongest among the troublemakers I've fought. But your speed isn't enough yet to match me."
Behind Kryne, Julian slammed the ground with force.
"No... not yet."
He placed his knee on the ground, determination blazing in his eyes.
"I will not lose from a mere strike... even if your experience and power surpass mine!"
Kryne glanced behind him, sighing.
"Kids these days..."
Noir charged his swords with a strange, radiant dark energy, placing both behind his neck.
Kryne stared, surprised.
"Wait... is that?!"
Noir unleashed a powerful wave of energy.
Kryne summoned his gray aura, meeting the wave head-on.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Kryne successfully blocked the wave, muttering to himself:
"This wave... would have been enough to kill the boy behind me in seconds..."
Suddenly, a group of shadowy hands emerged, grabbing him and holding him in place.
Julian shouted loudly:
"Come on! Kill him!"
The blond sniper fired another piercing bullet, striking Kryne in the neck.
Julian felt a surge of victory when he saw the blood-
but the bullet had not pierced Kryne's neck. It only wounded him, his gray energy acting as a powerful defense.
Even so, Kryne kept his focus on Noir.
He broke free from the shadowy hands and spoke calmly:
"Noir... you're not from Novara, are you? Where did you come from, and how did you obtain that power? ...And what is your goal?"
Noir answered coldly:
"My only goal right now is to kill you. As for the rest of your questions there's no need to answer them. You're dead either way."
Kryne spoke in a calm tone:
"No other choice."
He picked up his cap, placed it firmly back on his head, and adjusted it. He bent his hands slightly.
"I just want to live the rest of my life quietly... but I don't think peace will last much longer..."
He drew in a deep breath, filling his chest with air, and spread his gray energy.
As he exhaled, a dense mist formed around him, enveloping everyone in his vicinity.
Julian, caught inside the fog, could sense nothing.
"What... what's happening?!"
Noir stood firm, ready.
The blond sniper was far away but saw the wave of fog.
"Damn... I can't track him anymore."
Suddenly, something emerged from the mist, flying toward him, shrouded in fog.
"Damn... could it be him?!"
He jumped to avoid it-but as the fog settled and cleared, it revealed... just a cap.
The sniper's eyes widened in shock.
"What...?!"
Suddenly, a hand rested on the sniper's shoulder.
The sniper trembled with fear and looked behind him.
Kryne was there, smiling faintly.
"Surprise... surprise!"
Kryne stepped forward, holding his cap first.
As he returned, the blond sniper raised his weapon toward him.
"How did you do that?!"
Kryne scratched his head.
"Well... I threw the cap with all my strength, it hit the ground, I ran toward you, then I climbed up-and here I am."
The blond smiled faintly and muttered,
"Damn... what a cursed day."
He fired his last shot.
Kryne dodged it effortlessly, then raised his hand and struck the sniper's neck with force. The sniper collapsed, unconscious.
Kryne stood up and slowly turned his head toward Noir.
"Now... I can focus on you."
Noir unleashed his terrifying dark energy, the air around him warping under its pressure.
"Now I can fight you at full strength..."
The scene ended there.
While Kryne was facing his own battle above the rooftops of Novara,
far below-within the poor district, deep inside the abandoned zone-
another confrontation was unfolding, just as intense, just as dangerous.
The air there was thick with dust and decay.
Broken buildings leaned toward one another like silent witnesses,
their cracked walls stained by time, neglect, and forgotten violence.
The ground was uneven, littered with rubble and shattered concrete,
each step echoing faintly through the empty streets.
In the middle of that desolate place,
Milo and Toxifar were locked in combat.
Fists collided with raw force,
each impact sending dull shockwaves through their arms and chests.
Neither of them backed down.
Neither allowed himself a moment to breathe.
But this fight was more than just blows and bruises.
Behind every punch Milo threw
was anger, confusion, and a desperate desire to protect what little remained of his world.
Behind every strike from Toxifar
was conviction, twisted ideals, and the belief that destruction was the only path forward.
They weren't just trying to overpower one another.
They were trying to break each other's will.
To prove whose belief was stronger.
To decide which truth deserved to survive.
Milo realized that the two of them had already drifted far from the area
where Celestine and Selvara were fighting Number Two.
The distant echoes of explosions and clashing energy had faded,
replaced by an uneasy silence broken only by their heavy breaths.
Toxifar stopped and turned to face Milo, his expression calm, almost curious.
"What's the problem?"
Milo clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on him.
"Toxifar... why did you kill those innocent people? Answer me."
Toxifar smiled faintly, as if the question itself amused him.
"Well... when you're chasing your goals, sacrifices are inevitable, Milo."
Milo's voice tightened with anger.
"What goals are you talking about?
Those police officers were just people protecting the city."
Milo continued, his voice firm and unyielding.
"Your justification for your crimes is weak.
Do you really enjoy being a criminal?"
Toxifar suddenly snapped, shouting straight into Milo's face.
"Stop pretending to be righteous and kind, Milo!"
His eyes burned with anger as he took a step forward.
"Take off that fake mask of justice."
He sneered.
"Do those police officers even mean anything to you?"
Toxifar spread his arms wide.
"They're nothing but people pretending to protect the city
crushing anyone who dares to seek real justice,
anyone who wants true equality in Novara."
Milo stood still, unable to find a response.
Toxifar didn't wait.
He drove a series of punches toward Milo.
Milo blocked them, but the force pushed him back,
his body slamming hard against the wall.
Toxifar stepped closer, looming over him.
"Milo... come with me."
His voice lowered, almost sincere.
"Let's leave Novara together."
"I have a plan. I have a goal."
"I'll turn this world into a place where everyone belongs."
Milo lifted his head and looked at him.
"belongs everyone... you say?"
His voice trembled not with fear, but conviction.
"How do you plan to create a world that welcomes everyone
when you're a killer?"
Milo snapped, anger flashing in his eyes as he continued.
"Did you drink alcohol again before this fight?"
He clenched his fists, voice sharp and cutting.
"Because the things you're saying make no sense at all."
Milo punched Toxifar for the first time.
"I hope this punch knocks you out of that dream world you're living in."
Toxifar immediately returned the blow, his fist crashing into Milo.
"And I hope this one makes you understand what I'm saying."
Milo answered with another punch.
"You sound like a childish dreamer
hurting people and justifying it by calling it 'true justice.'"
Toxifar struck Milo again, harder this time.
"I already told you stop pretending."
Milo steps back a few paces, his boots scraping against the cracked asphalt.
His chest rises and falls slowly as energy begins to gather around him,
a faint yet dense aura, heavy enough to make the air itself feel thick.
He lifts his gaze, locking it onto Toxifar.
"There's no point..."
He exhales.
"It seems the only solution with you... is violence."
Across from him, Toxifar spreads his arms slightly.
A toxic green energy seeps from his body,
curling like corrupted smoke,
burning the ground wherever it touches.
The air fills with the sharp stench of poison and metal.
He laughs-low, cracked, almost broken-
then fixes Milo with eyes that have lost all warmth.
"Yes... yes."
The energy around him surges violently.
"I'll defeat you-and I'll take you with me by force."
A terrifying smile stretches across his face,
the smile of someone who has already chosen to burn every bridge behind him.
Milo tightens his fist,
veins tense, eyes sharp and unwavering.
"Milo..."
Toxifar mutters, his voice trembling with madness.
"Let's fill this street with our blood."
The air between them shudders,
the silent street turning into an execution ground.
One single strike...
was all it would take
to begin the slaughter.
The air had grown suffocating, heavy as if pressing down on everyone's chest.
Mist wove between the abandoned buildings, thick with the smell of smoke and poison.
Shadows twisted in hues of green and silver, shifting with every breath, every step.
The uneasy silence was almost tangible, a calm before the storm ready to erupt.
Even the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
Everything was in place, every breath calculated, and the street... had become a waiting ground for fate.