🌵 The wind slowly dies down.
The sand… settles.
The desert of Zahrun becomes silent once again.
⸻
Dravok is on one knee… then slowly stands up.
In front of him—
👤 Zadkiel, motionless, calm but cold gaze.
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"You're strong."
⸻
Dravok wipes the blood from the corner of his mouth.
A faint smile.
Dravok:
"And you… you're something else."
⸻
The other members of the group… watch.
Tense.
But no longer hostile.
⸻
Zadkiel looks at all of them.
One by one.
🔵⚫ Aokugan active.
💭 "Their flows… interesting."
💭 "They have potential."
⸻
Zadkiel:
"Among you…"
Pause.
Zadkiel:
"Who are the strongest fighters?"
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Dravok slightly turns his head toward his group.
Dravok:
"All of them."
⸻
Zadkiel doesn't move.
⸻
Dravok (calm):
"We are seven."
"And none of us are weak."
⸻
He points at two members behind him.
👤 A woman with piercing eyes, light posture
👤 A massive man, arms crossed, hard gaze
⸻
Dravok:
"But those two… stand out."
⸻
Pause.
Dravok:
"And me."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Zadkiel forms a slight smile.
Zadkiel:
"Perfect."
⸻
He takes a step forward.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"Join me."
⸻
The wind blows.
The members exchange looks.
⸻
Dravok stares at Zadkiel.
For a long moment.
Then—
⸻
He turns to his group.
⸻
Dravok:
"You saw it."
"You felt it."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Dravok:
"This guy… is going to change something."
⸻
He turns back.
⸻
Dravok:
"We're with you."
⸻
💥 Moment.
⸻
Zadkiel slowly closes his eyes.
💭 "A foundation… is forming."
⸻
But—
He opens them again.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"I'm still missing something."
⸻
Dravok:
"…A healer?"
⸻
Zadkiel:
"No."
⸻
Pause.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"An informant."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Dravok smiles slightly.
⸻
Dravok:
"Then you're lucky."
⸻
Zadkiel slightly raises his head.
⸻
Dravok:
"A few kilometers from here…"
"There's one."
⸻
Zadkiel:
"Does he work for you?"
⸻
Dravok:
"No."
Pause.
⸻
Dravok:
"We're enemies."
⸻
The wind grows stronger.
⸻
Dravok:
"But…"
"He's not just an informant."
⸻
His eyes grow serious.
⸻
Dravok:
"He's powerful."
⸻
Zadkiel smiles.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"Perfect."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
But Dravok continues.
⸻
Dravok:
"Before that…"
⸻
Zadkiel looks at him.
⸻
Dravok:
"There's something you need to know."
⸻
The tone shifts.
Heavier.
⸻
Dravok:
"Three years ago…"
"The protector of Zahrun disappeared."
⸻
Total silence.
⸻
Dravok:
"A man everyone respected."
"A monster of power."
⸻
The group lowers their heads slightly.
⸻
Dravok:
"We admired him."
⸻
Pause.
⸻
Dravok:
"That's why we formed this group."
"To protect what was left."
⸻
The wind blows.
⸻
Zadkiel remains still.
Then—
⸻
A faint smile.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"…Oh."
⸻
Dravok looks at him.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"You're talking about Master Kaion."
⸻
💥 Silence.
⸻
The group's eyes widen.
⸻
Dravok:
"…You know him?"
⸻
Zadkiel:
"He's still alive."
⸻
💥 Total silence.
⸻
Even the wind nearly stops.
⸻
Dravok:
"…What?"
⸻
Zadkiel slightly turns his head toward the horizon.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"And that's why…"
🔵⚫ His aura pulses slightly.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"…I'm looking for allies."
⸻
Pause.
⸻
Zadkiel:
"To start… a war."
⸻
💥 IMPACT.
⸻
The members freeze.
⸻
Dravok… slowly smiles.
⸻
Dravok:
"Hah…"
⸻
He lowers his head.
Then raises it.
⸻
Dravok:
"Then we chose right."
⸻
🌵 The desert of Zahrun trembles slightly.
⸻
💭 "A war…"
💭 "Finally…"
⸻
🔥