Chapter 103: He's Coming
Nyx's aura surged outward in a violent wave.
SWOOOOSH—!!
For a brief instant, the air around her distorted as overwhelming energy burst from her body. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the aura shattered like fragile glass, scattering into nothingness.
Her body lurched forward.
The veins along her neck bulged beneath her skin, spreading like jagged cracks through crystal, and all the strength left her legs at once.
"...Khh—!"
She dropped to her knees, as a harsh cough escaped her lips.
Splat.....
Blood splattered across the ground.
Dark, thick, and unmistakable.
Champagne's eyes widened in alarm.
"...Yo!"
His body moved before his mind could catch up. He lunged forward, catching her by the shoulders before she could collapse completely.
"Hey! Hey, what's happening?!"
Nyx shoved his arm away with what little strength she had left. Her entire body trembled violently as another fit of coughing overtook her.
"...Call them..."
Her voice was strained, barely above a whisper, yet the urgency behind it was impossible to ignore.
"...My bodyguards..."
Another violent cough wracked her body, spraying fresh blood onto the pavement.
"...They... have the antidote..."
Champagne froze.
Not because he didn't understand her but because he understood perfectly.
Antidote...
Fwoosh...
His mind flashed back to the alley.
Suriel.
Ash Junior.
Their lifeless bodies.
Neither of them would be answering anyone ever again.
His jaw tightened.
"...Damn it..."
"CALL THEM!"
Nyx's voice suddenly rose, filled with panic as she grabbed onto the edge of the wall to keep herself upright.
"...What's wrong with you?!"
Champagne remained silent.
His lips parted, but no words came.
'How could he explain it?'
She still believed her bodyguards were alive.
Another fit of coughing bent her over.
"...You're... useless..."
Using every ounce of remaining strength, Nyx forced herself back onto her feet. Her balance wavered dangerously, yet stubborn determination kept her standing.
"...Move."
Champagne instinctively reached toward her.
"Wait—"
Too late.
She shoved the nearby door open.
BANG!!
Nightlight flooded into the room, and so did reality.
Standing outside were familiar faces.
Daito.
Wei-Wan.
Fah-Jin.
Aerin.
Brandon.
Wasabi.
Zachia.
Avenor.
Every member of the Outsiders team stood waiting in silence.
Nyx blinked once, then again.
Her brows slowly knitted together.
"...What is this...?"
Even Champagne looked caught off guard.
"...Wait... you guys... how did you—"
Nyx ignored him.
Instead, her eyes swept across the group before settling on the empty space behind them.
"...Where are my bodyguards?"
Silence answered her.
Nobody moved and nobody spoke.
At last, Wasabi stepped forward with her usual calm expression, as though the situation wasn't nearly as tense as it truly was.
"They left."
She gave a small shrug.
"...Though it looks like they forgot their belongings."
Nyx didn't question the explanation.
She didn't have the luxury.
Ignoring everyone else, she hurried toward Ash Junior's shoulder bag lying nearby. Her movements were hurried but precise as she tore the strap open and rummaged through its contents with desperate hands.
Medicine.
Documents.
Equipment.
Then Her fingers stopped.
A small glass vial.
Without even checking the label, she uncorked it and swallowed the entire contents in one gulp.
Everyone watched in silence until several long seconds passed.
Fwoo...
Her breathing gradually steadied.
"Huff....."
The violent trembling faded.
The dark veins receded beneath her skin as if they had never existed, and the lingering traces of blood around her lips became the only evidence that anything had happened at all.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before straightening herself.
Color slowly returned to her face.
When she finally looked at them again, her usual composure had returned.
"You should all be careful."
A faint smile curved across her lips.
"...You'll get in trouble if you don't collect your autographs."
She casually brushed imaginary dust from her sleeve before gesturing toward the exit.
"...Now leave."
Champagne scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before stepping forward.
"...Yeah... about that..."
He hesitated.
Just for a moment.
"We're not really here for autographs."
Nyx narrowed her eyes.
"...Then what?"
Champagne let out a quiet sigh.
"...We're here to..."
He paused again.
"...Collect you."
Silence.
Heavy and complete.
Nyx slowly turned to face him, her expression unreadable.
"...Excuse me?"
Behind Champagne, Daito slowly raised a hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
His voice was quiet, filled with genuine disbelief.
"...You spent all that time talking..."
"...And this is the moment you choose to say it?"
Champagne winced.
"...Yeah..."
He rubbed the back of his neck again.
"...My timing could've been better."
Before anyone could say another word—
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The ground shook violently beneath their feet.
The entire circus trembled.
Outside, terrified screams erupted as crowds scattered in every direction.
"What now?" Brandon muttered.
No one answered as they were already moving.
One after another, they burst through the crowd, forcing their way toward the center of the Masquerade.
FWOOSH!
Then they saw him.
Mardale Aranos.
He stood alone in the middle of the ruined grounds, breathing heavily.
His clothes had been torn to shreds. Blood covered nearly every inch of his body.
He wasn't defeated.
But he had been pushed to his absolute limit.
Civilians fled in panic while security forces rushed in from every direction, surrounding him with raised weapons.
"Aranos!"
Daito's voice cut through the chaos as the team pushed past the guards.
Mardale slowly lifted his head.
Despite his battered appearance, his eyes remained sharp, aware and focused.
"...Bad news."
He drew in a slow, exhausted breath.
"...He's coming."
The words settled over everyone like a weight.
Then...the atmosphere changed.
Not with an explosion, not with another tremor, but something far worse.
WHOOSH!
An invisible pressure descended from above, spreading across the entire Masquerade.
The air became heavier and colder.
It felt as though something unimaginably powerful had stepped into the world.....and everything else was instinctively making room for it.
Nyx felt it immediately.
For the first time since meeting her, every trace of amusement disappeared from her face.
Daito slowly clenched his fist.
"...Ragnarock."
Far beyond the smoke...slow footsteps echoed.
Measured, steady.
Growing closer.
The real battle...was finally about to begin.
To be continued....