But just as Mel’s face lowered in defeat, with the spirit laughing triumphantly above the roar of the flames, a sudden, loud whooshing noise reverberated from the spirit’s palm. In an instant, the fiery hand vanished into thin air. When she looked again, she saw Van standing unharmed, his palm raised upwards as if he…

“Y-you… Bastard…!!” she cried, a tear escaping her eye as she curled up, recoiling from him. “Hehe… What, are you crying…!? Going to tell your DAD!!? Ah, right, I forgot; he’s de—” “What, it’s just a couple of kids…” Van sighed in resignation as he approached from behind. With a swift motion, he grabbed the…

“Alright,” Van began, leaning against a lamppost with a heavy sigh. “I haven’t the slightest clue where I am, or where to find that harem bastard,” he muttered to himself, frustration evident after racing through the streets in a futile attempt to find a familiar landmark. ‘EVERY SINGLE STREET HAS CHANGED!!! WHAT THE HELL!!!? THEY…

Lalyn sighed deeply, shifting her gaze towards the frantic Marcilla. “Arlyn… She sensed that meatshield’s presence on this badge and then mistook it for whatever stopped Arutol,” she calmly explained, pulling the badge from her breast pocket and tossing it to Marcilla for inspection as she rose up, taking her time as she got off…

As Lalyn was lost in thought, a loud alarm echoed through the city. “What…? Another dragon attack today…?” She murmured softly. Suddenly, the door burst open behind her. Marcilla emerged, supporting Amoria. “Huh!!? You were still here!!?” Marcilla exclaimed, surprised to see Lalyn. “Ahh…” Lalyn barely managed to reply as Marcilla noticed the badge in…

Marcilla’s eyes fell, a shadow crossing her features. “Do you think… he’s mad at us…?” “I don’t know exactly what he feels or thinks… It’s been a while,” Amoria replied, her smile strained as she tried to mask her uncertainty. “I just know that if he wasn’t struggling with everything that happened, he wouldn’t have…

“Shh… Just drink this,” a maid whispered as she gently poured water into Amoria’s mouth, her face pale with concern. “Did you call Lalyn…?” Amoria asked weakly after swallowing, addressing a fellow receptionist who had assisted her into a private room. “Yes, I’ve contacted that woman through [Vibration]; she should be here any minute. In the meantime,…

“He… He cut… Th-the… Dragon… In Two!” a guard stammered, his legs failing him. “Who is that!? Is that our King’s Hand, Sir Greatknight Nickelson!?” “D-DON’T BE FOOLISH!! EVEN SIR NICKELSON…!! IS NOWHERE NEAR THAT STRONG…!” “A… A God…!?” another guard murmured in disbelief. Meanwhile, Sir Hicks stood in silent awe, watching as Van skillfully flipped…

“YOU!!!” A guard’s scream pierced the chaos, his hand heavy on Van’s shoulder. “Ah, y-yeah?” Van responded, a veneer of calm masking his confusion as he turned to face the guard. “Run with me!” Urgency laced the guard’s command. Without hesitation, Van fell into step beside him, noting the dread he hid behind a sense…

As night fell over the capital, the guard’s shift ended, and he began his walk back through the bustling streets. The image of the discarded badge haunted him, glinting from the trash can in the back of his mind like an accusation as he recalled that disorienting aura around that Van Hellix from earlier. “…Just…