10 Years Ago
The forest, once lush and vibrant, was now in ruins. Trees lay fallen, the ground cracked, and the air reeked of iron—the scent of my own blood.
In front of me, Zepr stood with eyes full of madness, his grin gleaming in the darkness.
"Is that all you've got, Norman?!" His voice echoed with mockery.
In the blink of an eye, Zepr lunged. His claws tore through my clothes, ripping into my flesh, sending blood splattering onto the ground.
"Arghh…!" I staggered back, my breath ragged from the pain.
Zepr laughed, his voice resonating like a creature that was no longer human. "You're already exhausted? This is just the beginning, Norman."
I lifted my gaze, staring at the friend I once knew. "Zepr, stop. That power… it's consuming you alive."
"Stop?!" Zepr spat on the ground. "You're just jealous, Norman! I was the one who found the chalice filled with blood! I was the one who gained this power! And you're afraid because you know you'll never be able to match it!"
I shook my head, struggling to keep my weakening body upright. "You're wrong. You've taken a cursed path. This power isn't meant for humans. If you keep going—"
"Shut up!" Zepr roared, his body trembling, dark veins appearing beneath his skin. "With this power, the whole world will kneel before me! I WILL TRANSCEND!"
The air around him twisted violently. I knew—this was no longer the Zepr I once called my friend. He had fallen into the abyss.
He raised his hand, his claws glowing with a sinister aura. "This is where you die, Norman."
I barely had time to react. In an instant, Zepr lunged at me, ready to end everything—
BOOM!
A powerful force shook the earth.
A shadow flashed between us. In a single swift movement, Zepr's attack was effortlessly stopped.
I froze. He's here…
The man stood firm, his presence radiating like a burning flame. His hair glowed under the moonlight, his sharp eyes glistening with resolve.
Zareth. The Demonic Slayer.
"Master…" My breath hitched. His presence was like a beacon in the darkness.
Zareth didn't look at me. His gaze was locked onto Zepr, who had taken a step back.
"Who is he?" His voice was low, yet it sent shivers down anyone's spine.
"Zepr…" I spoke weakly. "He was my friend."
Zareth went still. His usually composed face darkened. "Zepr… what have you done to yourself?"
Zepr gritted his teeth. "I have obtained a power this world has never seen! And I will—"
"You're a fool."
Just two words. But they were enough to make Zepr roar in fury.
"Don't you dare compare me to weaklings, Zareth!" Zepr lunged, attacking relentlessly.
But Zareth didn't move. His hands shifted gracefully, blocking every strike as if Zepr was nothing more than a passing breeze.
And then, with a single precise motion—
BAM!
Zareth's fist struck Zepr's gut. Zepr's eyes widened, his body stumbling before crashing onto the ground.
"Damn…!" Zepr groaned, clutching his throbbing chest.
Zareth let out a slow breath. "You must be stopped before you lose everything."
Zepr glared at him. "Hah… You think you can erase me?"
Zareth shook his head. "No. I'll take you to a Saint. He can cleanse the darkness that has corrupted you."
Zepr was silent for a moment. Then, his lips curled into a twisted smile.
"What a shame… I have no intention of being captured today."
In a flash, he launched one final attack—not at Zareth, but at me!
I couldn't move in time. My eyes widened, prepared to meet my fate—
But before the attack could reach me, Zareth dashed forward, shielding me with his own body.
BOOM!
The impact forced Zareth back, and in the blink of an eye—Zepr vanished into the darkness.
I shook my head. "He… he ran away."
Zareth clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fury. "He will return. And when he does, I'll make sure he never escapes again."
I stared at the spot where Zepr had disappeared, my chest tightening. My friend—
The Zepr I once knew—
Was gone.
All that remained was a shadow of a man who had lost himself to the abyss.
---
Present Day
Norman stared blankly into his cup, the steam from the warm tea curling gently into the air—just like the turmoil in his mind.
"That was the story of me and Zepr. He's changed…" Norman's voice was quiet, trembling with sorrow he tried to suppress. "But no matter what, I still consider him a friend. Though… perhaps that's just an illusion."
He sighed, gripping his cup tightly as if searching for strength within it.
I, having finished my tea—and having refilled my cup three times—placed the empty cup onto the table with a soft clink.
"So, what debt were you talking about earlier?" I asked, recalling the story Yena had told me before.
Norman fell silent for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words.
Finally, he spoke. "It's a debt he took… using my family as the 'payment.'"
I frowned. "Payment?"
"A long time ago, we promised to complete each other…" Norman's eyes flickered with pain and anger. "That's why he's coming back. He wants me to fulfill that promise—by handing over my family as the price for his power."
I clenched my hands under the table. "So, he wants to sacrifice your family?"
Norman gave a slow nod, his voice heavier. "...I've refused him countless times. I've warned him. But he refuses to listen. And now, he's resorting to filthier methods."
His eyes burned with barely contained rage. I could see how much he was struggling—
Between anger and grief.
Between friendship and truth.
I picked up my cup again, taking a sip before casually asking, "So, he's coming tomorrow morning?"
Norman nodded. "Yes… and by then, this city will be nothing but ruins."
Silence filled the room.
I let out a small smile, leaning back in my chair. "Don't worry. I have a crazy idea."
Both Norman and Yena turned to me in confusion.
"But…" I continued with a nonchalant tone, "this plan relies entirely on 'luck.'"
Their eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
Yena nearly choked on her tea, while Norman stared at me as if I had lost my mind.
"You're seriously gambling our lives on luck?!" Norman gritted his teeth.
I chuckled, shrugging. "Sometimes, luck favors the bold."
I began explaining my plan, breaking the silence with a strategy that might seem impossible—
But if it worked, it could be our salvation.
The city might be on the brink of destruction…
But if my plan succeeded—
It would remain only a threat, never a reality.