The hall was silent
At the center of the long table, the Government Reporter stood, voice steady.
"State the matter, Captain Jack."
Jack rose from his seat.
"For all of you present," he said, "thank you for responding to my call."
Arnold leaned back, arms crossed.
"Speak."
Jack nodded once.
"You may have noticed it already," he continued.
"Creatures like the Kulix are no longer behaving as before."
Murmurs spread among the captains.
"Yes," one said.
"So?" another added.
Jack's expression hardened.
"At the current rate," he said, "they will reach Captain-level threat within a month."
The room froze.
"What do you mean?"
"That's impossible."
Jack clenched his fist.
"The more monsters we kill," he said slowly,
"the more power they absorb—from each other."
Silence followed.
Arnold stood.
"So that's why you summoned me."
He turned toward the exit.
"I already knew this."
The captains stiffened.
"But don't misunderstand," Arnold continued coldly.
"Captain-level only applies to you."
He glanced back, eyes empty.
"To me, they are still ants."
His aura pressed down on the room.
"If you don't want to die," he said,
"train harder. There is no other option."
Arnold walked out.
No one spoke.
Jack swallowed, sweat running down his back.
Damn…
I once saw a Kulix flee the moment it sensed him.
The Government Reporter cleared his throat.
"I will relay this to the World Government immediately," he said.
"You are dismissed. Prepare yourselves."
Captain Sam broke the silence.
"We depart for Earth in two days."
No one objected.
Two Days Later
The captains left the moon base one by one.
Only Arnold remained.
"He won't wake for another one week and five days, sir," Maizy reported.
Arnold nodded.
"Then I'll get some coffee. Watch him."
He turned—
And stopped.
Karry's eyes opened.
Bandages covered his body, blood still seeping through the cloth.
Maizy froze.
"That's impossible… you shouldn't be awake."
Arnold turned back slowly.
"Good," he said.
He tossed a sword onto the floor.
"Pick it up. We're training."
Maizy stepped forward.
"Captain, he's not ready—"
"There is no time."
Karry forced himself upright, pain tearing through him.
"Arnold," he said, voice shaking,
"if I train… can I defeat that monster?"
Arnold met his gaze.
"If you train," he replied,
"you'll defeat something far worse."
Karry clenched the sword—a black blade, its aura dark and heavy.
"Then don't hold back," Karry said.
"Break my bones if you must.
Just don't fail me."
Arnold's lips curved faintly.
"That was always the plan."
They left the facility.
A wounded boy wrapped in bandages.
And a trainer without mercy.
Maizy watched them go.
"Don't die, kid."
Karry didn't look back.
"These wounds don't hurt," he said.
"What hurts is being weak in this world."
He tightened his grip.
"I'll rise.
I'll destroy every monster threatening my friends."
He looked at Arnold.
"I need your help."
Arnold nodded.
"I accept."
Together, they descended—
Into the deep void beneath the moon.
And so—
Karry officially stepped into the dark side.
[End of Chapter 21]