Silence did not follow his scream.
The beast moved.
Its massive body twisted with a sickening sound, flesh warping unnaturally as dark energy surged through its veins. Beneath its skin, the parasite pulsed crawling, reshaping, commanding.
Theron's breathing grew ragged.
His arms felt unbearably heavy.
His legs screamed for him to run.
But behind him…
Luneth lay on the ground.
That single thought anchored him in place.
The monster took one step forward.
Then another.
Each step cracked the earth beneath Theron's feet, sending tremors through his body. His grip tightened around his sword as his transparent aura flickered violently unstable, torn between fear and fury.
"I won't move…" he whispered, his voice broken.
"I won't let you touch her."
The beast roared and charged.
Time slowed.
Theron barely managed to raise his sword
Before Theron's sword could collide with the beast—
A massive figure suddenly appeared beside him.
A towering, muscular man, wearing nothing but torn pants.
His body was covered in scars countless marks of past battles.
His slightly long, spiky brown hair whipped through the air, with two long strands hanging down the sides of his face.
In a single instant
He punched the beast.
A violent explosion erupted,
the shockwave blasting the monster backward several meters.
The ground cracked beneath them,
the air itself trembling from the impact.
The man burst into loud, crazed laughter.
"Hah!
Finally… a truly strong monster!"
Theron froze in place,
staring at him with widened eyes, unable to process what he had just seen.
Lonith slowly opened her eyes
and looked at him in silent shock.
At the moment I believed this was the end…
they appeared.
Number Three of the Numbers Gang
Deton
saved me from certain death.
Deton sprinted toward the beast, his face alight with exhilaration, his wild laughter echoing through the air.
But suddenly… a figure appeared, cloaked head to toe, concealing every detail of their body. Their shape was hidden, and a pure white energy radiated from them, shimmering like sacred light.
With a swift motion, the figure extended their hands, releasing salt that flew through the air, striking the beast's eyes from a distance. The creature froze, screaming in agony, smoke curling from its eyes as if they were burning.
The person spoke, calm but authoritative:
"Deton, I've melted its eyes with my salt…
But be careful, it can still sense everything around it, even without sight!"
Deton grinned and lunged again, reaching the beast in an instant. He delivered a series of rapid, precise strikes with his fists, each hit detonating a massive explosion upon impact.
He glanced at the cloaked figure and said confidently:
"Don't worry… I'll finish it!"
The cloaked figure landed on the ground lightly, as if the earth itself could not hold him.
Slowly, he lifted the cloak from his head, revealing extremely long white hair, flowing freely around his shoulders and body, as if it moved with the very air itself.
His eyes were cold gray, carrying a deadly silence, a focused power that could not be ignored.
He stared at Theron for a few seconds, his gaze piercing, analyzing every detail, almost as if reading his very soul.
Then, he slowly turned, directing his gaze toward Deton, who stood facing the beast, ready to strike.
The air around him seemed to pause, as if the entire world held its breath before moving again.
And in that moment… everyone realized exactly who he was:
Number Two of the Numbers.
His name was Crystel
As I glanced at him for a brief moment, another figure suddenly appeared, extending his hands toward me, asking in a calm voice:
"Are you alright?"
I grabbed his hand, and with a gentle push, he helped me to my feet.
Then, he removed the cloak from his head as well, revealing his face and features clearly.
His hair was light brown, falling neatly to the side, partially covering his forehead, giving him a balanced, practical appearance—as if he was always ready for anything.
His eyes were closed, never opening, yet they glowed with a strange purple energy
A long scar stretched across his face, from his mouth to the middle of his cheek, a testament to countless battles and hardships.
He smiled at me, a calm, gentle smile, filled with kindness and serenity, despite the immense power and authority his presence demanded.
Yes… it was him.
Number One, leader of the Numbers, the strongest among them as far as I knew.
His name was: Aporrhesis.
While the battle raged on, another figure appeared, cloaked like the others, though their face remained hidden.
A voice, stern yet tinged with concern, spoke:
"Sir, Number One… we should retreat from the battlefield quickly." he was number four Zeric
Crystel glanced at me, his eyes filled with seriousness, and said:
"Carry your friend quickly, and let's head back to that village… there must be a doctor there."
Without hesitation, I lifted Luneth onto my back and ran toward the village, the ground trembling beneath my feet, every step aware of Crystel's watchful gaze behind me.
Deton, however, remained in the battlefield, facing the beast with unmatched bravery, his laughter echoing over the explosions, as if every moment of the fight gave him pure exhilaration.
By the time we reached the edge of the village…
it was already over.
In the distant battlefield, Deton stood alone.
The massive beast swayed before him, barely standing.
With a savage grin, Deton lunged forward,
his bare hand piercing straight through the monster's chest,
grasping its heart.
And with it…
he tore out the writhing parasite inside.
Without hesitation,
he crushed it in his hand
and it exploded.
The beast's body went still,
collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Theron reached the village with Luneth on his back,
followed closely by Numbers Four, Two, and One.
The moment they arrived, the villagers gathered around them,
questions pouring in from every direction—
fear, curiosity, and concern blending into a chaotic noise.
Number Two stepped forward, his voice calm yet firm:
"We have an injured girl here. We need a doctor."
The villagers exchanged glances,
then some of them pointed toward a narrow path between the houses.
"The village doctor… that way."
Number Four noticed the noise around him—
the crowd, the overlapping voices.
His expression hardened, clearly uncomfortable with the congestion.
Silently, he moved away toward a quieter area.
Number One noticed and called out in a low voice:
"Where are you going?"
Number Four gestured toward the outside of the village without stopping.
"I'll check on Deton… and I'll be back."
The doctor examined Luneth quickly, his hand hovering over her chest as he carefully felt the area of impact.
His expression shifted slightly, as if he had noticed something unusual.
"The blow didn't pierce the heart…"
he said in a heavy, calm tone.
"Her energy defense absorbed part of the impact."
He lifted his gaze, looking at them seriously.
"Without it, she wouldn't be alive right now."
Taking a step back, he continued,
"Even so, the force was overwhelming."
"There is internal bleeding in the chest, and some of the bones were damaged."
"Her excessive use of energy is what caused her body to collapse after the strike."
Then his eyes settled on Theron.
"You arrived just in time."
"A slight delay… and everything would have ended."
Silence filled the room.
"She will live,"
the doctor said clearly.
"But her condition is unstable."
"Her ability is temporarily sealed, and any attempt to use it now could kill her."
He adjusted the blanket over her and added firmly,
"She needs complete rest."
"Days… maybe weeks."
The doctor took a slow breath, then spoke again, his tone calm but firm.
"For now, she must remain here for a few days."
"Moving her immediately would be too dangerous."
He glanced around the room before continuing,
"This village lacks advanced treatment…"
"But I can stabilize her condition."
After a brief pause, he added,
"Once the bleeding stops and her body regains enough strength, you should take her to Novara."
"She will receive far better care there."
Theron stood up and stepped outside, worry clearly etched across his face.
Number Two walked beside him.
"Don't worry, kid,"
he said calmly.
"She'll be fine."
Moments later, Number One approached them.
His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
"How is the girl?"
he asked.
Number Two answered calmly,
"Her injury is somewhat serious, but she will recover."
Theron stood in front of Number One, studying him carefully.
His voice was quiet, yet sincere:
"You're their leader… right?"
Number One replied calmly,
"Yes…"
Theron lowered his head in respect, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Thank you… thank you so much for saving her."
Number One smiled at Theron calmly,
speaking with a firm yet gentle tone:
"Raise your head… there's no need to thank me."
Tears welled up in Theron's eyes, but he slowly lifted his head,
looking at the leader of the Numbers with deep respect and sincere gratitude.
Theron wiped his tears slowly, then mustered his courage and asked:
"By the way… who are you guys?"
Number Two glanced at Number One, as if reminding himself not to answer,
but Number One spoke calmly, his voice steady and full of confidence:
"We… are the Numbers."
He smiled slightly and added,
"You may also call us the Troublemakers."
Theron took a small step back, surprised and cautious at the same time.
His voice trembled slightly as he spoke:
"Numbers?… Troublemakers?… I've heard that name before… the Troublemakers."
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to recall what he had heard:
"Some people warned me… they said there's a group in the slums of Novara who call themselves the Troublemakers… and that they do bad things."
Number One spoke without hesitation, his voice calm but firm:
"The Troublemakers are exactly our followers."
"They are some people living in the slums of Novara, and their goal is to overthrow the Church… because its laws are unjust, where some live in luxury while others suffer in extreme poverty."
Theron felt a shiver of unease at his words, anxiety creeping in.
"Y-Yes… I've heard about them…"
He took a deep breath, trying to process what he had just heard
Theron hesitated for a moment, then decided to continue his question, his voice low and cautious:
"And… you are their leaders? What is your goal?"
Number Two quickly looked at Number One, subtly signaling that answering wasn't a good idea.
But Number One did not hesitate.
He spoke calmly,
"Our goal, as the Numbers… is to obtain a tool that can remove the seal placed on my body."
Silence followed.
Theron realized he had asked about things he shouldn't have.
Yet Number One continued.
He raised his hand and pointed toward his eyes.
"My power was sealed not long ago… by them."
"I cannot use energy, nor my ability…"
"I can't even open my eyes."
Theron wondered silently, stunned:
Then… how can he see me?
As if sensing his thoughts, Number One continued calmly:
"But I can still sense the energy around me."
"That is how I distinguish one person from another."
Theron hesitated, then asked his final question, his voice barely audible:
"And what will you do… once you regain your freedom?"
Number One smiled slightly—
a calm, terrifying smile.
Then he answered with absolute confidence, without a single moment of hesitation:
"I will destroy Novara."
Theron froze in place.
His mind went completely blank.
I was truly shocked…
deeply shocked…
when Number One revealed his true goal to me for the first time.
Theron stepped back, drawing his sword swiftly, his eyes flashing with anger and shock.
His voice rose, filled with fury:
"Why? Why did you tell me all of this, knowing that I work in Novara?!"
"If you bear a grudge against the Church… don't drag everyone in Novara into it!"
He stood in silence for a moment, sword tightly gripped in his hands,
breathing heavily as he tried to control his rage, his gaze still locked on Number One.
Number One did not move an inch.
No anger. No irritation.
He slowly extended his hand toward Theron and spoke calmly:
"Join us… and I will tell you everything."
"And I promise… I will not harm anyone who doesn't deserve it."
I froze in place.
I was truly shocked when Number One invited me to join them.
No one had ever invited me before… no one had ever truly cared.
Theron replied, his voice hesitant, still unsure of his decision:
"I'm weak… I'm not even strong."
"Why do you want me to join you?"
Number One looked at him seriously,
his face showing no trace of deception or malice.
He spoke with steady sincerity:
"Your heart is pure."
"I would be lying if I said I've seen someone as kind as you before."
He paused briefly, then added softly:
"I want to understand you better."
"And I truly… want to be your friend.
My name is Aporrhesis and you?... "
I smiled at him and answered him
"I'm Theron nice to meet you Aporrhesis!"
I thought to myself back then…
If I joined them, could I change his mind?
Could I change the reality that was about to unfold?
Could I stop all these disasters before they even began?
I truly believe… that was the reason I joined.
With all my heart,
I wanted to save everyone from making mistakes they couldn't undo.
I believed I could change his mind.
He never told me why he wanted to destroy Novara,
nor about his past,
nor the true reason his power was sealed.
All he said…
was that he sought revenge for personal reasons.
And even more astonishing,
the rest of the Numbers…
shared the same mindset.
And so…
I became Number Seven.
And Luneth—
for reasons I didn't understand at first—
she chose to join as well.
She became Number Six.
When they learned about her ability,
they wanted her desperately among them.
I didn't understand why back then…
but I realized it later.
Her power was perfect for hacking systems.
Perfect… in a frightening way.
With Number Six—Luneth—
they could infiltrate any system,
and steal the seal with terrifying ease.
Only then…
did I understand.
That my joining wasn't the start of salvation…
but the first step toward a disaster I had been trying to prevent.
But what truly made me trust Number One…
was his kindness.
He was genuinely kind.
Not just when I was standing beside him—
but even when I was far away.
The way he treated people,
the way he listened,
the way he protected those weaker than him…
He was so kind
that I honestly believed he was an angel.
That…
was what finally made me trust him.
And now—
almost a year has passed.
Here I am,
standing before the sealing device.
Their fate…
rests in my hands.
One decision.
One step.
And everything will change.
--- Present ---
Number Seven stood before the sealing device, still as a statue, his eyes gleaming with calm focus.
His short black hair, with practical strands that never obstructed his vision, shifted slightly in the faint breeze of the room but not enough to disturb him.
Suddenly, his comm-link buzzed… Number Six, Luneth, her voice cutting through his thoughts:
"What are you waiting for, you fool? Move!"
Theron's heart leapt—her sudden voice had startled him—but he quickly steadied himself.
"Okay… okay!" he replied, a hint of fear in his voice.
He reached out slowly, then grasped the seal firmly in his hand.
The instant he touched it, a piercing alarm echoed through the facility, reverberating across every corner.
Soldiers began moving toward his location, but none could perceive him, thanks to the cloak that completely erased his presence.
"I have to get out before the gates close!" he whispered to himself.
He sprinted as fast as he could, every step heightening the tension, every second feeling like it could be his last.
"I have to hurry!"
As the gate was about to close, something unexpected happened…
It swung open suddenly, shocking Number Seven.
Number Six, Luneth, stood in place, hacking into the facility's systems, laughing loudly:
"This is far too easy… your pathetic systems, Novara, won't work against me! I'm Luneth! Come on, Theron, get out now!"
Theron leapt high, and in an instant, he escaped the facility safely.
The guards inside were stunned, each one asking themselves in disbelief:
"He stole the seal… but who?"
Theron sprinted at full speed, calling Luneth again:
"Let's meet at the place where we parted, okay?"
Luneth adjusted the cloak hiding her form, then replied with a smile:
"Alright… I'll wait for you!"
And with that… the chapter ends!