One year ago.
Morning sunlight covered a quiet countryside village hidden between forests and rolling hills.
Unlike the modern city, everything here moved at a slower pace. The roads were made of dirt instead of concrete, traditional wooden houses lined the village paths, and smoke gently rose from chimneys as people began their daily routines.
Children ran through the streets, laughing as they played together, while elderly villagers sat outside their homes drinking tea and talking about ordinary things.
To most people, this place would probably seem too quiet.
Too simple.
But for Thomas, it was perfect.
Outside one of the wooden houses, a small table had been placed beneath the shade of a tree. Two cups of tea rested on top, along with several plates of simple food prepared by the villagers.
Thomas sat comfortably on one side of the table while Nel sat opposite him.
For once, neither of them looked like warriors.
They looked like ordinary people enjoying a peaceful morning.
Thomas lifted his cup and took a sip before looking around the village.
"You know, sometimes I think this place is too peaceful."
Nel looked at him with slight amusement.
"Most people would call that a blessing."
Thomas shrugged.
"I guess."
At that moment, several children ran past them while chasing each other with wooden sticks. A few villagers noticed Nel and greeted him warmly.
Nel smiled and returned their greetings naturally.
There was no hesitation.
No formality.
It was simply the way people treated someone they trusted.
Thomas noticed that.
"You really are loved around here."
Nel followed his gaze toward the villagers.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"They trust me."
Thomas leaned back slightly.
"You make it sound simple."
Nel smiled and said, "It is simple."
Thomas shook his head, "No, it isn't."
His eyes moved toward the villagers again.
"People don't trust someone just because they're strong."
Nel remained silent.
Thomas continued: "They trust someone because they believe you'll stand in front of danger before they have to."
For a moment, Nel simply looked at him.
Then he smiled.
"That's surprisingly wise for a cowboy."
Thomas almost choked on his tea.
"Oh, shut up."
Nel laughed.
The sound carried through the peaceful village.
And for a brief moment, everything felt normal.
Neither of them knew that moment would not last forever.
---
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Thomas stayed in the village much longer than he originally planned.
At first, it was only because he enjoyed the peaceful environment.
Eventually, it became because of the people.
Especially Nel.
Despite having completely different fighting styles, the two of them became surprisingly close.
Every morning, the villagers trained together.
Some practiced with wooden swords.
Others practiced hand-to-hand combat.
Everyone trained because they understood one thing.
A peaceful place still needed people willing to protect it.
Thomas often watched from nearby.
Sometimes he joined them.
Sometimes he simply laughed at their mistakes.
And sometimes, he ended up losing against Nel during sword practice.
"Again."
Thomas looked exhausted.
"You've said that twenty times."
Nel pointed his wooden sword toward him.
"Then stop losing."
Thomas immediately pulled out his revolver.
Nel's expression changed.
"That's cheating."
Thomas grinned.
"Winning is winning."
Several villagers nearby burst into laughter.
One of them shouted.
"Chief, he always does this!"
Nel sighed.
"I know."
Thomas looked proud of himself.
"You see? Even your people agree with me."
Nel stated: "They are laughing at you."
Thomas shrugged: "Same thing."
The training continued.
Day after day.
The village continued living peacefully.
And for the first time in many years, Thomas felt like he had finally found somewhere he belonged.
---
Then one afternoon, everything changed.
A strange vehicle appeared near the entrance of the village.
Most villagers had never seen anything like it before.
A black limousine slowly approached through the dirt road.
It was long, expensive, and completely out of place compared to the simple village surroundings.
The engine stopped, Silence followed.
The villagers exchanged confused looks.
Nel immediately noticed something was wrong.
Thomas noticed it as well.
Both of them had survived enough battles to recognize danger before it arrived.
The door of the limousine opened and A man stepped out but his face was hidden.
He wore a black coat, black shirt, a dark ring in left hand finger.
Everything about him looked carefully prepared.
Behind him, four armed men followed.
Their movements were disciplined and Professional.
They were not ordinary criminals.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Nel raised his hand slightly.
Several swordsmen from the village stepped forward, drawing their weapons.
The newcomer simply smiled Then he lifted both hands.
His men reacted immediately, Metal flashed and Glocks appeared.
The villagers froze...
Many of them had never seen firearms before.
Thomas's expression darkened.
Unlike them, he understood exactly what those weapons meant.
The stranger looked around the village calmly.
"As expected."
His smile widened, "A lovely village."
Nel stepped forward.
"State your business."
The man ignored the hostility.
"My name is Zarx."
Nobody answered to it but Zarx didn't seem bothered.
Instead, he continued.
"I came here with an offer."
Thomas immediately disliked him.
People who smiled that much usually hid something.
"What offer?" Nel asked.
Zarx spread his arms.
"Join me."
Silence filled the village.
The villagers looked confused.. "Join him?"
"For what?" Thomas asked.
Zarx looked toward the horizon and said: "A future."
His smile remained.
"A city filled with extraordinary people."
"A city I intend to conquer."
Thomas stared at him for a moment Then he laughed.
"You sound insane."
Several villagers agreed.
Nel folded his arms.
"We are not interested."
The refusal was immediate.
Zarx's expression did not change.
Not even slightly.
"I wasn't asking."
The atmosphere froze.
Thomas's hand slowly moved toward his revolver.
Nel's eyes narrowed.
Then—
A gunshot echoed.
BANG.
A villager collapsed onto the ground.
For a moment, nobody understood what had happened.
Then screams filled the village.
The peaceful village that had existed only moments ago was gone.
Another gunshot echoed.
BANG.
A second villager fell.
Then another.
The sound of bullets replaced the laughter of children, the conversations of villagers, and the peaceful atmosphere that had surrounded the settlement.
Panic spread instantly.
Children cried as adults pulled them away from the streets. Villagers who had never experienced a situation like this froze in fear, unable to understand how quickly their ordinary lives had collapsed.
Thomas's eyes widened as he stared at Zarx.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Zarx looked genuinely confused by his reaction.
"Negotiating."
The calmness in his voice made Thomas's expression darken.
To him, that single word was worse than the gunshots.
Nel stepped forward, His expression had completely changed.
The warmth he showed toward the villagers was gone.
Only anger remained.
"Attack." His command was immediate.
The remaining swordsmen charged forward.
However, Zarx's men were already prepared.
The sound of gunfire filled the village.
Steel clashed against bullets.
But the difference between the two sides was obvious.
The villagers had courage. They had determination.
But they were fighting something they had never encountered before.
Thomas quickly drew his revolver.
His eyes locked onto Zarx.
Unlike everyone else, he understood that removing the person controlling the situation was the only way to stop it.
He aimed directly at Zarx's head.
A perfect shot. A shot he had performed countless times.
Then—
Pain exploded through his leg.
Thomas's body lost balance.
He fell onto the dirt road, his revolver slipping from his hand.
Blood spread beneath him.
His teeth clenched as he looked toward Zarx.
The man was holding a Desert Eagle casually in one hand.
Smoke slowly escaped from the barrel.
"You were saying?"
Thomas stared.
He never even saw him draw the weapon.
That alone told him everything.
This man was not normal.
Around them, the village continued collapsing.
People screamed.
Buildings were damaged.
The place that had been their home was becoming a battlefield.
Nel stood frozen.
Not because he was afraid.
Because he understood the situation.
If they continued fighting, everyone would die.
Every single person.
Zarx walked toward him slowly, he had stop the attack for a moment.
The screams of the villagers echoed around them.
"Join me."
Nel's fists tightened.
"Or I kill the rest."
The choice was cruel.. No, it was not a choice at all.
Nel looked around.
The injured villagers and The frightened children.
The people he promised to protect but couldn't today.
Then his eyes moved toward Thomas.
The answer had already been decided.
"...Fine."
The word came out quietly.
But it carried the weight of everything he had lost.
Zarx smiled and put a hand on his shoulder from side, "Excellent."
His gaze shifted toward Thomas.
"And him?"
Thomas clenched his teeth.
Every instinct told him to refuse.
He wanted to kill Zarx.
He wanted to stand up and fight.
But then he looked around the village.
At the people they had failed to protect, and At Nel.
He understood that if nel was going, then he should too.
The village survived.
But something important disappeared that day.
Their freedom.
–-—-
The village never truly recovered.
The laughter became quieter.
The celebrations became rare.
The people who once lived without fear now carried the memory of that day forever.
Eventually, Thomas and Nel left.
Not because they wanted to but because they had no choice.
Their destination was an abandoned building near the edge of the city.
At first glance, it looked like a forgotten construction project.
Seven unfinished floors, Bare concrete walls, Exposed steel beams.
No signs of life but However, that appearance was only an illusion.
Inside were guards, Training areas.
Storage rooms filled with melee weapons.
Men wearing black uniforms moving through the halls.
The building was not abandoned.
It was a headquarters.
---
A year passed. It was long and difficult.
But Thomas and Nel changed.
The organization forced them to do tasks.
Killing, murdering, forced recruiting.
But also Combat training.
Tho they focused less on that.
Thomas focused on his shooting.
His accuracy had always been impressive.
He could draw his revolver faster now and could react quicker than before.
He could hit targets others struggled to even see.
Some members joked that he could shoot a coin in the air.
---
On the other side, Nel also did tasks, and some training.
His swordsmanship became sharper & Every movement became cleaner.
Every strike became more precise tho not much since they weren't much forced on training.
He improved physically.
Even Thomas admitted that "If I don't have my gun, you beat me."
Nel looked at him calmly " I can, Obviously."
Thomas clicked his tongue, "Still arrogant huh?."
Nel laughed.
"It's the truth."
Thomas stared at him Then laughed.."Yeah, it is."
Despite everything that happened, their friendship remained.
The organization could change their lives.
It could force them to fight.
But it could not erase the bond they had created.
Sometimes they sat together on the rooftop at night, looking over the city lights.
Neither of them talked much, They didn't need to.
Those quiet moments reminded them of the village.
The life they had lost.
---
Eventually, the secret organization started rankings as well as the city had from several years.
Thomas was placed at A-Rank.
One of the strongest fighters inside the organization during that time.
Nel remained B-Rank.
Not because he was weak but The ranking system valued versatility, and Thomas had firearms while Nel relied only on his sword.
However, everyone inside the organization understood something.
If Thomas and Nel fought directly without weapons giving an advantage, Nel could defeat him, but Thomas wasn't a pushover in hand to hand either.
---
During that time, everyone also noticed something else.
Two individuals always remained close to Zarx.
Two people nobody understood in their circle.
They appeared during meetings, They appeared during missions, during punishments,They were always there.
Nobody knew their names, Nobody knew their ranks or limits, except the higher ones.
But everyone respected them, Or feared them.
---
One evening, Thomas and Nel sat near the cafeteria.
The food in front of them was fine, food quality depends on their rank.
Thomas poked at it with his fork.
"This tastes good."
Nel looked at the food, "It probably is."
Thomas stared at him then laughed.
For the first time in days, Nel laughed as well.
For a moment, it almost felt like the old village, Almost.
Then footsteps approached.
A messenger from Zarx stopped near them.
"Nel."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
The messenger continued.
"Boss wants to see you."
Thomas looked at Nel.
Neither of them needed to ask what that meant.
Because they knew It's another mission.
-—-
Minutes later, Nel stood inside Zarx's huge place.
The room was dim and big.
Zarx sat on the chair above stairs, looking down at him.
"I have a mission for you."
Nel remained silent, waiting for him to finish.
"There is a student at Blackridge."
A file landed on the floor, it's a student photo, none other than Alan.
Nel looked slightly surprised, "A student?"
Zarx smiled. "Yes."
"And you want me to kill him?" Nel asked.
"No." Zarx said.
The answer surprised him.
Then zarx continued, "I want you to test him."
Zarx leaned back.
"See what kind of monster he really is."
Nel stared at the photograph.
Something about this mission felt different, But he accepted.
---
What Nel didn't know was that Zarx already understood the outcome.
The mission was never about defeating Alan.
It was about gathering information.
Zarx wanted to see Alan's abilities, strength and limits.
The fight was only an experiment nothing more.
But The mission failed completely.
Alan defeated Nel's group.
Later Nel & his group came the temple.
A mysterious swordsman named Devon blitzed him and sliced his left hand.
Nel lost &The mission ended in humiliation.
When Nel returned to headquarters, Thomas was waiting.
He kept looking at the stairs.
The two individuals who stayed with Zarx came.
Between them Nel & his group was,Chains wrapped around their waist.
His clothes were damaged and His missing hand was covered with blood-soaked bandages.
Thomas froze and asked. "Nel?"
The name escaped before he could stop himself.
Nel stopped for a moment.
His shoulders moved slightly.
he looked back but never answered, because he was ashamed.
The two individuals continued dragging him away.
Thomas watched silently.. "something is wrong" he muttered.
Minutes passed Then the sound of Gunshots came.
BANG
BANG
BANG
BANG
BANG
BANG
BANG
BANG.
The entire hallway went silent.
Nobody moved, Nobody reacted.
Because everyone already knew what had happened.
Thomas stood there alone.
Staring at the closed giant door..And slowly, he understood.
Zarx never forgave failure, Not once.
They were not partners nor They were comrades.
They were tools And broken tools were replaced.
The memory slowly faded.
The village and the headquarters disappeared.
The sound of those gunshots disappeared and Thomas returned to reality.
Rain, the damaged jeep behind, and Most importantly, The person he's ordered to kill.. Jin.
Thomas slowly opened his eyes.
The memories that had dragged him backward into the past disappeared, leaving only the cold rain surrounding him.
For a moment, Thomas almost forgot where he was.
He was still on a mission and He still had a target.
And he can't fail, His fingers tightened around the revolver in his hand.
Despite everything that had happened, despite the memories he had just relived, one thought remained.
He could not return empty-handed, not like Nel.
Thomas slowly aimed at Jin's back.
Lily stood nearby, talking to Jin until she noticed Thomas Near the jeep, her eyes widened.
She screamed "Jin!! Behind you."
Thomas's breathing became heavier.
His body was already damaged and His strength was fading.
But his eyes still carried determination.
"I can't fail..."
The words escaped quietly and Then he pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The gunshot echoed through the empty road.
Lily's eyes widened as her arm reaches for Jin, "Jin!"
Everything happened within a fraction of a second,The muzzle flash illuminated the darkness.
The bullet traveled directly toward Jin, Or at least, that was what Thomas expected.
But something changed.. something he did not notice.
His wrist moved Not by his own choice.
The direction of the gun shifted aiming back at himself.
The impact forced him backward.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
The revolver slipped from his hand and hit the wet road, Clang.
Thomas looked down and confusion filled his expression.
He knew his own movements, He knew he had pulled the trigger. So why he's the one getting shot? Why had the bullet not reached Jin?
A figure stood beside him, someone who had not been there before.
A black hood covered the person's face.
Rainwater flowed from the fabric and fell onto the ground.
One hand remained extended toward Thomas's arm.
It was obvious that He had redirected the shot at the exact moment the trigger was pulled.
Thomas stared at him and His breathing became uneven.
The figure leaned closer.
Only Thomas could hear what he whispered.
Thomas's eyes widened.
Impossible, you're kidding me?
The hooded figure stepped back.
He did not explain himself, He did look toward Jin for less than a moment then turned around and walked into the darkness.
His pace increased and he disappeared.
Lily remained frozen, "What just happened?"
She looked between Thomas and the direction the stranger had disappeared.
She had seen the gun, She had seen Thomas pull the trigger But somehow, he had ended up shooting himself.
Jin remained silent, His eyes stayed on the empty road where the stranger had vanished.
For seconds Then he looked back toward Thomas.
Blood continued spreading beneath him, thomas coughed weakly.
His body finally began showing the damage it had endured.
Lily immediately moved forward.
"He's still alive." She knelt beside him.
Thomas looked at her and a weak laugh escaped him.
The situation was almost ridiculous, The people he had come to kill were now trying to save him.
After everything he had done, After everything he had seen That was how things ended.
Lily looked toward Jin.
"We need to help him."
Jin remained quiet, The rain had finally stopped.
Only the sound of water dripping from nearby buildings remained.
Jin stated: "He tried to kill me."
Lily lowered her gaze, "Yes i know."
"He came here knowing exactly what he was doing."
Lily spoke again "Yes but-."
Jin looked down at Thomas, from a logical perspective, the answer was obvious.
Thomas was an enemy.. A person who had attacked him.
A person who had come with the intention of killing him,
Leaving him behind would have been the easiest decision.
However, Jin hesitated.
A memory crossed his mind, Something he did not explain.
Lily noticed but did not understand.
After a few seconds, Jin sighed.
"Fine."
Lily looked surprised.
"You mean..."
Jin said: "We'll take him."
Relief appeared on her face, "Okay."
Thomas almost laughed, Almost.
The irony was too much.
For years, he had followed orders, He had attacked people,He had taken lives.
And now the person he was sent to eliminate was the one saving him.
What a strange ending.
Several minutes later, Jin prepared his bike.
Lily sat behind him while helping support Thomas.
The injured man was barely conscious,The engine started.
The motorcycle moved through the wet streets, The city passed by in blurred lights.
Thomas's vision continued fading..every breath became heavier.
The sounds around him slowly became distant.
And before darkness completely took him, one thought appeared.
Nel. If you could see me now...You would probably laugh.
Then everything disappeared.
Elsewhere in the city.
The hooded figure finally stopped beneath a flickering streetlight.
The road was empty and The rain had started again, falling softly around him.
For several seconds, he remained silent.
Then a voice came from behind.
"Well done my boy."
The figure did not react, A man stepped out from the darkness.
Black coat & Black shirt.
The same calm smile, none other than Zarx.
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to interfere."
The hooded figure remained silent.
Zarx continued.
"Saving Jin?" A small laugh escaped him. "How sentimental."
The figure slowly turned "Like I care."
His hand moved upward and the hood fell back.
Dark hair appeared beneath it, sharp black eyes reflected under the streetlight.
His wolf-cut hairstyle framed his face, giving him a rough and uncontrolled appearance, Name: Gary.
Gary stepped forward.
Without warning, he grabbed Zarx by the collar.
The movement was so fast that even the water beneath their feet splashed from the force.
"You sent Thomas after him?"
His voice was cold. But Zarx looked completely unaffected.
"I did." He said calmly.
Gary's grip tightened.
"You sent someone after my target?"
Zarx raised his hands slightly.
"Calm down."
Gary stared at him, For a moment, the pressure around them felt dangerous.
Then Zarx continued: "I only wanted information."
Gary remained silent.
Zarx: "The boy interested me." He smiled, "So I tested him."
"You used Thomas." Gary asked, not letting go of his collar.
Zarx: "Yes I did"
The answer came without hesitation.
Gary released him, Disgust appeared on his face.
"I could kill you right now Zarx, because of what you tried to do."
He pulled back his hoodie.
"I could go find Jin tonight But I won't."
Zarx watched him carefully "Then you should"
Gary continued: "I want a proper fight."
A brief silence followed.
"I won't fight someone who is already exhausted."
For the first time, Zarx laughed. Actually laughed.
"You haven't changed."
Gary turned away and waves.
"I don't need your opinion."
Zarx: "No."
Zarx adjusted his coat.
"But you need my information."
Gary stopped.
The smile on Zarx's face widened slightly.
"You don't know where he goes." Silence...
"You don't know his habits, You don't know who surrounds him."
Gary's fists tightened.
Zarx: "And yet..."
Zarx stepped closer.
"I know everything."
The silence became heavier.
Because Gary knew he was right.
For now.
Finally, Gary spoke.
"None of your business. Just mind what you're trying to do with your stupid Gang, stay away from him"
He started walking away. Then added without looking back.
"Now get lost."
Zarx watched him disappear into the darkness.
A small smile remained on his face.
"No respect."
The rain continued falling.
Zarx stood alone, His smile slowly faded but then it returned.
This time, it looked colder. "You're becoming less useful."
His eyes moved toward the city, Toward everything happening beyond his sight.
"But that's fine, You were always treated special."
His thoughts briefly returned to Nel,Then Thomas.
People came and went, their value changed.
Their usefulness ended.
Eventually—
Everyone became replaceable.
Zarx stepped backward into the darkness And disappeared.
The next morning At ironfall Academy.
Something felt wrong the moment Lily arrived.
Students were gathered near the entrance.
Whispers moved through the crowd.
Teachers stood nearby.
Several police officers were speaking with staff members.
And an ambulance was parked outside the school.
Its lights reflected across the windows.
Lily stopped,Her expression changed.
"What happened...?"
She moved closer. Something was clearly wrong.
She approached a group of students.
"Excuse me." Several students turned.
Lily looked at them.
"What happened here?"
The students exchanged uncertain looks.
One girl finally answered."You haven't heard?"
Lily shook her head. The girl lowered her voice.
"It happened last night."
Lily felt a strange uneasiness.
She asked: What happened?"
The girl's expression became serious.
She said: "Someone attacked students."
Lily froze: "What?"
Another student spoke: "They found several injured people."
"And One of the Blackridge students was stabbed."
Lily's eyes widened.
"Blackridge student?"
She thought for a moment.
"Oh yeah... there was some kind of party here last night, right?"
The girl nodded: "Yeah."
Then her expression became more serious.
"Not only them."
"Some of our own students were attacked too."
Lily looked toward the school entrance.the uneasy feeling grew stronger.
The girl continued.
"I'll tell you everything that happened last night."
Lily nodded.. "Yeah, I wanna know.."
Her knuckles tighten.
TO BE CONTINUED.