A few moments passed.
The man lay completely encased in ice, frozen mid-expression—terror locked into his face like a grotesque statue. Lyon let out a slow, exhausted sigh, rubbing his temple with two fingers.
Why couldn't it be a simple quest.
The thought lingered heavily as a memory surfaced unbidden.
—
Flashback…
The man had been shaking.
"I—I told you, okay!" he'd cried, voice cracking. "This whole cave—it's our base! Storage, transport, everything! We move weapons and substances—stuff you can't move through normal channels!"
Lyon had frowned at that.
"Then why the people?" he'd asked coldly. "Why kidnap civilians?"
The man's eyes had darted away.
"N-no one buys unless they see results, so we plan to use them for demonstrations," the man had rambled desperately. "We had to prove it worked! Enhancements, mutations—resistance trials—"
That was as far as he'd gotten.
Ice had crawled up the rest of his body mid-sentence, sealing his mouth shut and ending the explanation permanently.
End of Flashback…
—
Back in the present, Lyon exhaled sharply through his nose and shook his head.
He turned slowly toward the cages.
Every single captive was staring at him.
Fear clung to them like a second skin—wide eyes, tense shoulders, bodies pressed back against the bars as if distance alone could save them. Lyon felt it immediately and softened his expression, forcing the anger down.
"It's okay," he said calmly, keeping his voice low. "I'm not going to hurt you."
He stepped closer.
Several people flinched anyway.
Lyon raised one hand—not threatening, not rushed—and placed it gently against the bars.
Frost spread instantly.
The iron froze solid… and then shattered.
The bars exploded outward in a clean break, ice fragments clattering harmlessly to the floor.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then—
"You're… you're freeing us?" someone whispered.
"Yea," Lyon replied simply. "You're going home."
That was all it took.
The chamber broke apart in sound—quiet sobs turning into open crying as people collapsed to their knees, clutched one another, or stared at him like he wasn't real.
Lyon didn't linger.
He moved.
One cage after another—freeze, shatter, step back. Efficient. Focused. He freed every last captive without wasting a second, even as people reached for him, voices overlapping in frantic gratitude.
"Thank you—"
"Please, I—"
"You saved us—"
"You don't need to thank me," Lyon said firmly but gently. "Right now, you need to focus on leaving. So stay together and follow my lead."
The faster you're out, the better.
Because the truth was unavoidable.
This is beyond me.
An entire Dark Guild. A fortified base. Unknown experiments. Unknown leadership.
I can't fight all of this. Not at my level.
Footsteps echoed.
Loud.
Fast.
The captives froze.
Fear surged again—but Lyon was already moving.
"Stay behind me," he said sharply.
He stepped toward the tunnel entrance where the sound was coming from.
Not taking any chances.
Mana surged.
The cave flash-froze.
Ice erupted outward in a violent wave, engulfing the tunnel—and whatever had been running through it—before a scream could even form.
"Move." Lyon ordered.
The captives ran.
Boots pounded against ice and stone, panicked footsteps echoing loudly as they fled through the frozen corridor. Lyon stayed at the rear, turning only long enough to freeze pursuing figures solid and seal the tunnel shut behind them.
Cracks formed in the ice.
More magic signatures flared.
"Keep going!" he ordered, already sprinting.
He overtook the front of the group quickly. "Stay close and don't split."
Shouts echoed from behind them now—angry, organized.
Too many.
They burst into the central junction—the chamber with five branching paths.
"The exit!" Lyon shouted. "Go! I'll buy you time!"
They didn't hesitate.
As the captives fled down the main tunnel, Lyon turned and slammed both palms into the ground.
Ice surged.
The remaining four paths sealed shut instantly, thick walls of reinforced frost locking them down.
For the first time since entering the cave, Lyon felt something close to relief.
This might actually work.
Then—
BOOM.
The explosion tore through one of the frozen walls, shattering ice and stone alike.
A voice followed, deep and amused.
"I think that's enough fun for now."
Lyon jumped back on instinct, spinning toward the sound.
A man stepped through the smoke.
He was massive—well over six feet, broad-shouldered, wearing a long trench coat. A cigar burned lazily between his fingers, its ember glowing orange in the dim light.
Magic poured off him.
Not overwhelming like Jura's—
—but strong.
Very strong.
Who is this?
The man glanced around the destruction, then looked down at Lyon.
"…Didn't expect a runt like you to cause this much trouble," he said mockingly.
He's underestimating me, Lyon thought. Good I can work with that.
Before the man could continue—
Ice swallowed him whole.
Encased instantly.
Lyon turned and ran.
That should buy me enough time. Enough to reach the woods. And cat—
The ice shattered behind him.
"I wasn't done speaking, brat."
Lyon's blood ran cold.
He barely had time to react before—
A hand clamped around his neck.
He was lifted off the ground effortlessly.
Lyon gasped, grabbing at the man's arm, flooding his body with mana and forcing strength into his muscles.
The man's grip didn't budge.
"…Interesting," the man muttered, eyes narrowing analytically.
He released more magic.
Lyon felt his own strength get crushed under it.
Damn it—!
He tried freezing him instead.
Frost formed—
—and melted.
Steam hissed as the ice vanished against the man's skin.
What?
Shouting erupted behind them.
The sealed paths burst open as other wizards poured in, fury etched across their faces.
"Recapture the others," the man ordered casually.
Lyon cursed.
Soon he focused everything into his legs using Ko.
His kick slammed into the man's stomach.
The impact forced a grunt from him—and Lyon dropped free as the man staggered back a few steps.
Lyon didn't hesitate.
He ran.
Spells flew past him, scorching and shattering stone as he sprinted toward the exit.
Almost—
A hand grabbed the back of his neck.
The world flipped.
He was slammed into the ground with bone-rattling force, the impact ripping the air from his lungs. His body dragged across the stone briefly before stopping.
Pain exploded through him.
His vision swam.
Voices surrounded him—angry, mocking, blurred.
"Little bastard—"
"Thought he could—"
"Just finish him off—"
"Enough," the boss said calmly.
The noise stopped.
He pressed Lyon down effortlessly, leaning closer.
"…We can still make use of this," he mused.
He lowered his head, voice dropping to a whisper by Lyon's ear.
"You're not getting out of this one easily, brat."
Lyon's vision darkened.
…Damn it.
And then—
Darkness.