Chapter 13
The forest stood eerily silent, its tranquility disrupted only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. Amidst the fallen bodies of an entire assassin organization, a lone figure stood, his blonde hair catching the soft glow of the setting sun. His serene expression was in stark contrast to the bloodied battlefield around him.
Troy of the Blue Whisper Squad remained unshaken as he assessed his surroundings. With a flick of his fingers, shimmering blue energy wrapped around the unconscious assassins, restraining them in place.
"Mission completed," he muttered, retrieving a sleek silver device resembling a watch from his pocket. He pressed a button, sending his confirmation. The device beeped softly, acknowledging the message.
Finally, a break, he thought with a sigh of relief.
Days of consecutive high-ranking missions had drained him. He had barely taken a step forward when—
BZZZT.
The device vibrated violently in his hand.
Troy stared at it in disbelief. Again? The universe truly had a personal vendetta against his free time.
As he read the new mission details, his blue eyes darkened. A high-threat report had surfaced from the nearby city of Mussel. The strongest opponent? A mere Collection Phase warrior.
"...Weak," Troy muttered.
He glanced toward the distant city, determination flashing in his gaze. If he acted quickly, he could complete the mission before sunset and still have time for a proper meal.
Adjusting his robe, Troy took off at an inhuman speed, his figure becoming a mere blur among the trees. The wind howled as he carved a path through the dense foliage, his feet barely touching the ground.
Then—he felt it.
A surge of mystic essence.
His head snapped toward the source. This level of power wasn't supposed to exist in Mussel. Something was very wrong.
Without hesitation, he altered his course, sprinting toward the anomaly. It led him to a massive cave entrance.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted from inside, sending jagged iron spears flying in all directions. The air crackled with deadly energy.
Troy remained unfazed. With a single motion, he raised his hand.
"Total Freeze."
Instantly, every iron spear froze in midair, the world itself seeming to pause. Then, with a casual clench of his palm, the frozen weapons shattered into countless shards, glistening like falling snow.
A weak voice broke the silence.
"Th-Thank you…"
Troy turned his gaze downward. Two teenage figures lay in the dirt—injured, exhausted, and completely defenseless. The boy had short brown hair, his beastly instincts dulled by fatigue, while the girl, also brown-haired, struggled to even sit up.
The battle had clearly drained them.
Troy frowned. Had he just accidentally saved someone?
Before he could question them, an angry, guttural voice echoed through the cave.
"YOU…!"
Troy turned to face the source of the rage—a towering figure cloaked in black metal, red eyes glowing with pure hatred. His body trembled, but not from fear. From wrath.
A sharp gasp came from behind Troy.
Kaito's face turned pale. "No way… you're from the Blue Whisper Squad!"
At those words, the injured duo turned their heads toward Troy, eyes widening in disbelief.
The Blue Whisper Squad—one of the six elite divisions originating from the Wizard Knight School. Their reputation be as powerful as the powerful tier-1 wizard factions.
Troy waved a hand dismissively. He hated unnecessary attention. Unfortunately, his robe bore the unmistakable Golden Melody insignia, a dead giveaway of his affiliation.
But while others looked at Troy with curiosity—
Raven looked at him with pure murder in his eyes.
His breath hitched. "It's the Blue Whisper again… IT'S THE BLUE WHISPER AGAIN!"
His rage erupted like a volcano. "I'LL CRUSH YOU!"
Troy, completely unbothered, blinked.
"...And you are?"
Raven's body shook violently. Memories flooded his mind—memories he had buried long ago.
He had once worn the same blue robe Troy now wore.
He had once been a Wizard Knight.
And he had once knelt before a man who shattered his dreams.
---
A younger Raven, his once proud figure now hunched in submission, knelt before Master Willow, his heart pounding. The man's short white hair shimmered like a deity's halo.
"Please, Master Willow," Raven begged. "Have mercy."
Master Willow didn't even look at him. "You have committed many atrocities, Raven. This time, there is no mercy."
Desperation clawed at Raven's throat. "Then strip me of my title! Just—just don't take away my power!"
Master Willow turned. His black eyes bore into Raven's very soul.
"...You still don't understand, do you?" he said softly.
Raven annoyed by his master words charge forward hoping to catch him off guard but then he feel something –
A gentle tap on Raven's chest.
The world cracked.
Pain—searing, blinding pain tore through his core as his magic itself began to crumble.
His hard-earned power… slipping away.
Master Willow's voice echoed in his ears.
"I could have shattered your core painlessly… but because of your arrogance, I've only cracked it. Now, you will spend the rest of your life watching your strength decay—slowly, painfully, with no way to stop it."
"This… is your punishment."
---
Raven's vision returned to the present. The rage he had buried for years ignited.
"I WILL CRUSH YOU ALL!"
He raised his hands.
"1000 IRON SPEARS!"
A storm of jagged spears tore through the air, each one vibrating with killing intent.
Troy sighed, bored.
With a lazy flick of his wrist, he muttered, "Redirect."
Every. Single. Spear. Turned around midair.
Raven's eyes widened as his own attack came hurtling back at him.
"What the f—!"
BOOM.
The dust settled. Raven still stood, his iron body barely holding together. His blood-red eyes locked onto Troy.
"Is that all you can do? Just redirect attacks?" Raven sneered.
Troy cracked his neck. "Oh? You want something stronger?"
He raised a single finger.
"Condensed Wind Pin."
A thin streak of wind—almost invisible—shot through the air.
A soft piercing sound.
Silence.
Kaito blinked. "...Wait, what just—?"
Raven froze.
A single, tiny hole had appeared on his forehead.
His iron body… faded.
His expression twisted in confusion—before he collapsed with a final, deafening thud.
Silence.
"...D-Did anyone just see what I saw?" Kaito stammered.
Lucas swallowed. "Yeah. He just one-shot him."
Nephis's lips parted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"...Monstrous."
Troy yawned and said "Finally I can eat now."
Stay tuned for the next chapter