Ryo stood face-to-face with the last two remaining Ravens.
The air was thick with tension. The scent of charred stone from the last explosion still lingered. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his heart pounded like war drums in his chest.
This is bad.
As he steadied his breath, a bitter thought surfaced.
"Man... I'm actually starting to miss fighting normal criminals... even though I still get knocked out by them. Because these Raven bastards? They're on another level.
The fire-wielder stepped forward, raising a burning sphere in his palm. The fire swirled like a wild creature, illuminating his twisted grin.
Ryo's eyes narrowed.
"So, it was you, huh?" He clenched his fists. "You sure gave me one hell of an explosive dessert back at the restaurant."
But before Ryo could react further—
CRACK!
A blur of motion flashed past his peripheral vision.
Lightning-fast footsteps.
Ryo barely twisted his body in time to counter—but he wasn't fast enough.
A solid kick to his gut sent him soaring backward.
"ARGH!"
Five meters.
That was the distance he flew before his back slammed onto the stone ground.
Pain shot through his stomach and spine like needles. He gasped, chest heaving, trying to force his aching muscles to respond.
No time to breathe.
The fire-wielder had already grown the fireball in his palm—doubling its size.
Tripling.
It hovered ominously, crackling with death.
Ryo barely had a second to react before it was launched straight at him.
With a desperate roll to the side, he barely avoided it.
BOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the plaza.
Ryo coughed, his ears ringing as dust and rubble rained down around him. He turned to look—his stomach twisting at the sight.
A gaping crater now sat where he had been lying just seconds ago.
"That could've been me."
His fingers curled into the stone beneath him.
"This isn't working."
He had already figured out that normal combat wasn't enough.
They were too fast. Too strong. Too coordinated. And above all, they use magic, while Ryo is just a normal human being.
And now—
The electricity wielder pulled out a blade.
But not just any blade.
A sword enveloped in high-voltage electricity.
Ryo stared at the electric blade, thinking, "Are you freaking kidding me? Wasn't the bow and arrow enough?!"
The currents snapped and crackled, illuminating the assassin's sharp eyes—filled with nothing but cold, lethal intent.
One slash, even a graze, would mean instant death.
The fire-wielder grinned, raising his hand.
More fireballs materialized—dozens—swirling above his palm.
"Cocky bastard. He thinks this is checkmate."
Ryo exhaled slowly.
His mind was racing, trying to think up a strategy.
And then…his hand drifted to his trench coat pocket, gripping something—but he didn't pull it out.
Then—
The electricity user charged at him again.
Ryo tried to counter—but the assassin was too fast.
Another blur of motion.
Behind him.
Ryo twisted his body, but—
SLASH!
The blade sliced from his right side—aiming straight for Ryo's neck.
A simultaneous attack.
The fire-wielder sent twelve fireballs hurtling toward him—from the front.
The electricity user swung its sword—from behind.
A perfect trap.
No escape.
For a split second—time slowed.
Then—
CLICK.
Something was un-pinned.
Ryo suddenly threw a small object over his shoulder, directly into the electricity wielder's face.
Before the sudden impact, Ryo gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.
And before the assassin could react—
BANG!
A blinding flash of light erupted mid-swing.
The blade stopped inches from Ryo's neck—missing him by the width of a hair.
It was a flashbang.
The electricity wielder cried out, gripping its blinded eyes.
"Urgh, that was too loud!" Ryo had no time to cover his ears.
Ryo moved.
Despite the ringing in his ears, he grabbed the assassin by the collar, then spun his body—
And threw the electrical assassin.
Straight toward the incoming fireballs.
The fire-wielder's grin vanished.
"Oh sh—"
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the air.
A massive pillar of flames erupted, sending shockwaves across the plaza.
The electricity wielder's body hit the ground—smoking, charred, bleeding, barely breathing.
Ryo exhaled, gripping his side, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Sheeesh..." he muttered.
But it wasn't over.
Through the smoke—
The electricity wielder was still moving.
Shaking.
Its body was burnt, broken, barely functioning.
But—the assassin slowly stood up.
Its fingers trembled as it gripped its blade, its legs barely holding itself up.
But the assassin should be dead.
But didn't.
Because it didn't care about dying.
Despite the pain raging through its body, it kept its focus on Ryo.
This wasn't just an assassination.
This is like an obsession.
Then—
Something caught Ryo's eye.
As the assassin's hood burned away—
Its face was revealed.
Ryo's breath caught in his throat.
"No."
"It couldn't be."
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Because he knew this person.
He had seen her before.
At the palace.
In the throne hall.
One of the palace maids.
The realization hit him like a gunshot.
His voice came out in a whisper—almost unbelieving.
"Are you serious?"
Now that Ryo knew one of the palace maids was a Raven, hesitation gripped him. His mind raced—if he killed her now, what would Shahira think? What would her family say? This was someone who had served in the palace, someone they had trusted.
But then, the explosion flashed in his mind—the wreckage, the screams, the ruined marketplace. Lives lost, families torn apart. This wasn't about one person. It was about stopping them before more innocent people died.
His grip tightened around his gun as he made up his mind. He raised it, pointing it at both enemies.
"Alright, listen up, Shocky and Flamo," Ryo said, giving them an exaggeratedly cringey nickname. "You either drop your weapons and your silly magic tricks, turn yourselves in, and maybe—just maybe—you'll live to see another day… or, I put a bullet straight into your damn souls."
Flamo, the fire-wielder, let out a slow, menacing chuckle. His dagger shimmered, then ignited in roaring flames. With a swift motion, he plunged it into the ground. Fire exploded outward, forming a towering ring of flames around them, trapping Ryo inside. The heat was suffocating, the air thick with smoke.
Ryo clicked his tongue. "Yeah... figured as much." He rolled his shoulders, his stance shifting, prepared for whatever comes next.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way."
Ryo tightened his grip on his gun in one hand and his tonfa in the other. The heat was suffocating, sweat dripping down his forehead, but he kept his stance strong. Across from him, Flamo lifted his dagger, flames swirling as he charged another fireball. At the same time, Shocky's fragile body crackled with electricity, her movements a blur as she powered up for a final, lightning-fast strike—her blade aimed straight at Ryo's neck.
All three were at their limit, ready to go all out.
But then—
A sharp, commanding voice cut through the chaos.
"ENOUGH!!!"
The voice's sheer force sent a ripple through the air. For a brief moment, everything froze—even the fire seemed to waver.
Then, from the sky, rain began to fall—transparent yet glowing with a brilliant light blue hue.
Ryo, Shocky, and Flamo instinctively looked up, momentarily caught off guard. The heavy rain poured down, glowing as it hit the burning embers.
And just like that, the flames began to die. The roaring inferno that had threatened to consume everything—the fire circle, the burning remains of the marketplace—all of it was extinguished as if the heavens themselves had willed it.
The air cooled instantly, the suffocating heat replaced by an eerie stillness. The rain wasn't ordinary. It carried power.
Then, from the entrance of the plaza, slow, deliberate footsteps echoed against the damp ground.
A lone figure emerged.
She walked with controlled fury, her glowing blue eyes mirroring the storm. A radiant blue aura pulsed around her, crackling with raw energy. She gripped her shimmering dagger so tightly her knuckles turned white.
It was Shahira.
Her expression was unreadable, but her clenched jaw and burning eyes spoke volumes.
She wasn't just angry.
She was enraged.
And she was looking straight at the two Raven members with nothing but contempt.
Ryo blinked, looking at the shimmering blade in Shahira's grip, then at the rain that had just extinguished the flames.
"Sha... is this your doing?" he asked, still trying to process everything.
Shahira didn't answer. Her breathing was slow, controlled—but the wrath burning within her was anything but.
Then, she turned her gaze toward Shocky. Her glowing blue eyes locked onto the assassin's face. Despite the rain now washing away the soot and grime, Shahira recognized her instantly.
She didn't flinch. She wasn't surprised.
She only said one word, her voice low, sharp, and filled with venom.
"Lina… You… Traitor."
Lina—the assassin who had nearly killed Ryo, the one wielding electricity, the one who had worked in the palace—stood firm. She didn't react, didn't waver. Her eyes were hollow, empty, devoid of emotion. But she raised her sword and pointed it straight at Shahira—the very princess she had once sworn to serve.
Shahira barely acknowledged it. Her gaze then shifted to Ryo, scanning his body. His wounds. His exhaustion. Her expression darkened, her lips tightening into a thin line. Then, without looking at him, she spoke in a low, commanding tone.
"Ryo… step aside. Go rest. You've been through enough today. I'll deal with these two."
Ryo clenched his fists. "But Sha, it's too dangerous to do this alo—"
"I SAID REST!!!"
The sheer force of her voice sent a chill down his spine. Ryo straightened up like a soldier, instinctively saluting.
"YES MA'AM!" he blurted out.
And with that, he immediately turned and speed-walked toward a nearby building.
He glanced back, still worried. "Could she really take them both on alone?"
But before he could think further—
A fireball came hurtling toward him from behind.
Ryo noticed it too late. His instincts kicked in, but there was no time to dodge. His arms shot up, bracing for impact—
SPLOOSH!
A whip of water lashed through the air, slicing through the fireball before it could reach him. The flames dissipated instantly, steam hissing in the aftermath.
Ryo blinked. "That was a close one!"
At the source of the attack, Shahira stood, her dagger still raised, a long whip of water extending from its blade like a living serpent. She barely moved her lips, her voice low and chilling.
"Oh no, you don't…"
Then, with a simple wave of her hand, the rain stopped, and the glow in the waters dimmed.
Silence.
But the air grew heavier, thick with tension.
Shahira's aura, once a gentle blue, flared violently, illuminating the entire plaza. The ground beneath her trembled as if the very kingdom itself could feel her anger.
She stepped forward, slow and deliberate. Each step carried the weight of royalty, the weight of justice. But beneath that regal presence was something far more terrifying—overwhelming rage.
"You have hurt my people," she said, her voice carrying the power of a ruler addressing her subjects.
"You have wounded the one who has sworn to protect Al-Munira."
She took another step, her glowing presence intensifying.
"And worst of all… You have dared to destroy parts of my kingdom!"
The entire plaza seemed to pulse with energy. The water surrounding her trembled, resonating with her wrath.
"How… Unforgivable."
The two Raven members instinctively braced themselves.
Ryo, now standing safely in the background, gulped as he watched Shahira's overwhelming presence bear down on her enemies.
"Uh… are they gonna be okay after pissing her off that much?" he muttered to himself.
Something told him the answer was definitely no.
Ryo stared at Shahira, his mind struggling to reconcile what he was seeing.
"Not long ago, she was happily teasing the hell outta me. But now…"
Shahira continued her slow, menacing approach toward the two Raven members.
Desperate to regain control, Flamo summoned a massive fireball, its flames crackling wildly in his hand. Meanwhile, despite her injuries, Lina pressed her hand to the wet ground, sending a surge of electricity through the water—aimed straight at Shahira.
Both attacks were launched simultaneously.
But Shahira didn't flinch.
With one swift motion, she pointed her dagger at the ground. The water around her rippled outward,forming a perfect circular barrier that cut her off from the surrounding puddles. The electricity had nowhere to go—it faded into nothing.
And then—
Just before the fireball could make impact, a geyser erupted from the soaked earth, rocketing upward and colliding with the flames. The intense blast of steam that followed sent shockwaves through the plaza.
Flamo and Lina stared, stunned by the flawless precision of her counterattack.
But it wasn't over.
The geyser swirled and morphed into a colossal serpent, its liquid form solidifying into the shape of a cobra. The towering water beast loomed over them, its translucent body shimmering under the dim plaza lights. It was enormous—reaching as high as a building, its glowing blue eyes fixed on its prey.
Ryo, standing in the background, rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"…What fantasy madness am I looking at?!" he shouted, his voice filled with both shock and panic. "Did I pass out already?! Am I dreaming?! Did I hit my head at some point?!"
But it was all too real.
Before the enemies could react, Shahira pointed her blade forward.
The cobra struck.
Flamo barely managed to leap out of the way, tumbling to the ground in a panic. But Lina, weakened and unable to dodge in time, was caught in the beast's watery jaws.
The cobra, with Lina in its mouth, shaking her violently as it slithered through the air like a flying serpent.
Shahira's expression remained cold and unforgiving. With a single downward slash of her dagger, she commanded the snake to strike.
The beast lunged downward, slamming Lina into the earth with a force that shook the entire plaza. The impact was devastating—sending dust, water, and debris flying in all directions. The crater it left behind was far larger than the one Flamo's fireball had created.
Lina lay motionless, unconscious, or might even have died.
But Shahira wasn't finished.
She turned her gaze to Flamo. The cobra hissed, shifting its attention to its next prey.
Flamo scrambled backward, dodging as the serpent struck at him repeatedly. Each near miss sent gusts of wind cutting through the air.
The water beast loudly hissed, sending a deep vibration into the very atmosphere.
Flamo was running out of options.
Shahira's voice rang out, filled with authority and fury.
"You're not going anywhere!"
Ryo flinched, his face contorted in astonishment—and a bit of horror.
He let out a nervous gasp. "G..g..guess she isn't princess for nothing…"
With lightning speed, the cobra lunged again—this time sinking its fangs into Flamo's left leg.
A scream tore through the air as the snake tore his foot clean off.
Flamo collapsed, clutching his severed leg, his agonized wails echoing through the rain-drenched plaza. He tried to crawl away, dragging himself across the wet ground.
But Shahira was already upon him. She roughly stepped on his back, pinning him down, then knocked him out with a punch to the back of his head.
She grabbed him by the head, yanking off his hood.
And then—
She froze.
Her dagger slipped slightly in her grip. Her glowing eyes widened, the light fading in pure disbelief.
"...No…"
There, beneath the hood, was a familiar face.
A face she knew better than anyone else.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her entire body tensed as reality crashed down on her.
The man beneath the hood—the man she had just maimed—
It was prince Jamil.
Her big brother.
Shahira stumbled backward, her knees giving out as she dropped to the ground, staring at him in utter shock.
"Big brother… why?"
Her voice barely came out—a whisper lost in the rain.
Ryo, watching from the distance, immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Sha?" He forced himself forward, ignoring the pain screaming through his body. As he ran towards her, Jamil's face came into view which shocked him for a bit.
But before he could reach her—
His vision blurred, and the world tilted around him. His legs gave out, and he collapsed face-first onto the wet ground.
Pain. Exhaustion. Everything finally caught up to him.
"Must… stay… awake…"
He barely managed to lift his head, trying to fight the overwhelming darkness creeping into his vision.
Shahira turned to Ryo, saw him on the ground.
"Ryo!"
Her panicked voice rang in his ears.
He tried to respond.
Tried to move.
But the world around him faded into black.