Chapter 15: A Fragile Peace
Noah moved swiftly, pulling Zyrex onto his feet. The boy staggered, his weakened body barely able to stand. Noah clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Tch, useless..." he muttered, before crouching down and lifting Zyrex onto his back.
Zyrex flinched. "W-What are you doing?"
"Getting you out of here." Noah adjusted his grip and started walking. "You can barely stand, let alone escape on your own."
Zyrex remained silent. He wanted to argue, to push himself away, but deep down, he knew Noah was right. His body had long since reached its limit.
They moved through the dimly lit underground corridors. The air was thick with the stench of damp metal and decay. Noah's glowing golden eyes cut through the darkness as he navigated the path back.
Then—footsteps.
A group of soldiers rounded the corner, torches in hand. The flickering light illuminated Noah and Zyrex, their eyes locking with the armed men.
"There they are! Stop them!"
Noah exhaled, his grip tightening on Zyrex. "Looks like we're not done yet."
Noah sighed, shifting Zyrex slightly on his back. "Stay still," he muttered.
The soldiers rushed forward, swords drawn. The dim torchlight glinted off their steel as they charged, their footsteps echoing through the underground tunnel.
Noah flexed his fingers, feeling the power of the emblem coursing through him. His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
The first soldier swung his sword—Noah sidestepped, twisting his body just enough to evade the blade while keeping Zyrex balanced. With his free hand, he grabbed the soldier's wrist and crushed it. A sickening crack echoed through the tunnel. The soldier screamed, dropping his weapon.
Noah wasted no time. He turned, using the emblem's enhanced strength to kick the man straight into the wall. His body slammed against the stone with a thud, knocking him unconscious instantly.
The remaining soldiers hesitated. They had seen his strength. They weren't sure if they were fighting a man or a monster.
But orders were orders.
"Kill him!" one of them shouted.
They lunged again.
Noah's eyes flickered with irritation. "You guys just don't learn."
He ducked under a spear thrust, then grabbed the shaft and yanked the soldier forward. Twisting his body, he slammed his elbow into the man's throat, sending him gasping to the ground.
Two others attacked at the same time—Noah kicked off the ground, flipping over them, his movements unnaturally quick thanks to the emblem. As he landed, he spun and delivered a devastating backhand, sending one flying. The other barely had time to react before Noah drove his knee into his stomach, knocking him out cold.
The last soldier standing took a step back, shaking. He dropped his sword and bolted down the corridor.
Noah scoffed. "Smartest one of the bunch."
He exhaled, adjusting Zyrex again. "Let's go."
Zyrex, still clinging to his back, swallowed hard. "...Who are you?"
Noah didn't answer. He simply walked forward, leaving the broken soldiers behind.
Noah walked forward, carrying Zyrex on his back, his golden eyes dimming as the power of the emblem slowly faded.
As they stepped into the open chamber, the first thing they saw was Darius Veldane lying motionless on the ground, his massive frame covered in cracks and bruises. His longsword lay shattered beside him.
Zyrex tensed, his weakened body trembling in Noah's grasp. His tired black eyes flickered with hatred as he glared at the fallen general.
Noah noticed. "You want to kill him?"
Zyrex clenched his jaw. His hands curled into fists, but his body was too weak to even stand on his own. "...No. Not like this." His voice was hoarse. "He's already finished."
A deep chuckle interrupted them.
Noah turned to see Tenebris standing there, arms crossed, the black mist covering his face shifting slightly. "You're more rational than I expected."
Zyrex scowled at him. "And you are?"
Tenebris ignored the question. "We're leaving."
He took a step forward, his body shifting as an eerie, shadowy aura surrounded him. His humanoid form melted away, his silhouette stretching, growing—his wings unfurled with a gust of wind, his massive black scales glistening under the dim torchlight. His golden eyes burned like twin suns as his full dragon form towered over them, filling the chamber with overwhelming pressure.
Zyrex stared, his mouth slightly open. His exhausted brain took a moment to process what just happened. "...Okay. What the fuck?"
Tenebris turned his massive head to look down at him. "What?"
"You—You're a dragon!?" Zyrex's voice cracked. "A real, actual, enormous, mythical dragon!?"
Noah sighed. "You've been locked up for how long, and this is what shocks you?"
"I—I mean—!" Zyrex gestured weakly at Tenebris with a trembling hand. "That's not normal!"
Tenebris snorted, amused. "You'll get used to it."
Zyrex gawked. "I better not get used to it!"
"Less talking. Get on," Tenebris rumbled, his wings stretching wide. With a powerful swipe of his claws, he tore open a hole in the ceiling, the rubble crashing down around them, revealing the moonlit sky above. A gust of cool night air rushed in, replacing the stale underground air.
Noah didn't hesitate, hoisting Zyrex onto Tenebris's back before climbing on himself. Zyrex was still staring at the dragon beneath him in disbelief. "This is insane."
Noah smirked. "Hold on tight."
With one powerful flap of his wings, Tenebris launched into the sky, leaving the ruined castle behind.
As they soared through the night sky, the cold wind rushed past them, carrying the scent of freedom—something Zyrex hadn't known for years. But even as the castle disappeared below, he remained tense, his weary eyes flickering with doubt.
He didn't trust them. Not yet.
He glanced at Noah, who sat in front of him, silent, gripping the dragon's scales tightly. Zyrex could feel it—he was being watched. Not directly, but cautiously, as if Noah were preparing for the worst.
He's afraid of me.
The thought made his chest tighten. He wasn't surprised. He had felt it too—the moment he saw his own reflection in that cell, he barely recognized himself. Would he have still been human if Noah hadn't come when he did? Or would he have lost the last bit of his sanity, becoming just another mindless beast?
Zyrex clenched his fists.
Noah, meanwhile, forced himself to stay calm, but the thoughts gnawed at him. He had seen what happened to those who lost themselves completely. If Zyrex went berserk now, while they were thousands of feet in the air…
He shook the thought away. Not now.
Beneath them, Tenebris let out a slow breath, his wings slicing through the air effortlessly. If the others could see him now, they'd probably laugh—he had just finished a full workout fighting that overgrown soldier, and now he was being used as a taxi service.
He just wanted to sleep.
But he didn't complain. Not out loud, anyway.
For a long while, none of them spoke.
Then, softly, Zyrex muttered, "Where are we going?"
Noah glanced back, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight. "Somewhere safe."
Zyrex scoffed. "Safe doesn't exist."
Noah didn't answer immediately. He just looked ahead into the night, the wind howling around them. "...Then we'll make it exist."
Noah exhaled deeply, the weight of the night settling on his shoulders.
"Give me something to eat,for him too," he said, glancing at Silviana. His voice carried the exhaustion of the past hours, but his tone was steady.
Without a word, she tossed him a wrapped ration, which he caught effortlessly. He walked over to the campfire and sat beside Ignis, who was idly poking at the embers with a stick, watching them glow and flicker.
The warmth of the fire was comforting, but the tension in the air remained.
Silviana's golden eyes lingered on Zyrex as he sat by the fire, silent and cautious. Her mind raced as she recalled the memories she had seen from Noah—the same memories that revealed just how dangerous Zyrex could be.
In the game, Zyrex wasn't just a threat. He was a nightmare—one of the hardest bosses, a monster so relentless that not even Tenebris alone could guarantee victory against him. If he was truly the same as he had been in those memories, then bringing him here was a gamble that could cost them everything.
She stepped closer to Noah, her voice low but firm. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her silver hair reflecting the firelight. "If he's anything like what I saw… then even Tenebris wouldn't be enough."
Noah, still chewing on his food, met her gaze. He understood her concern. The Zyrex from the game was a force of destruction. But the one sitting before them now—weak, wary, and human—was different. Maybe they had saved him before the last of his humanity had slipped away.
Noah swallowed and answered simply, "If I didn't think it was worth the risk, I wouldn't have done it."
Noah exhaled, glancing at Zyrex, who was silently eating by the fire, unaware of their conversation. His movements were slow, exhausted, as if every bite took effort.
"For now, just let him be," Noah said, his voice steady. "Let him sleep peacefully. He's been through too much."
Silviana didn't respond immediately. Her sharp gaze lingered on Zyrex, analyzing every detail—his posture, his breathing, the lingering tension in his frame. But in the end, she sighed and nodded.
Zyrex, completely unaware of their concerns, continued eating in silence, focused only on the warmth of the fire and the simple act of filling his empty stomach.
To be continued-