"So... is there really no way to stop them?" Ito asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"I've been observing them for a while," Naeris said, her sharp eyes fixed on the holographic display. "Those tree-like creatures are just hosts—the real threat is a swarm of underground parasites. They corrupt large trees into cores, draining all nearby life… and you've seen what happens to humans. But if we eliminate the parasites, we can destroy every nearby Dark Zone."
"Then we just have to keep killing them, right? But… where are they all coming from?"
"Their exact origin is still unknown, but for now, they all seem to be emerging from the Kingdom of Flauta, which was completely devoured four years ago."
"So why don't we just wipe them out at the source?"
Naeris crossed her arms, letting out a sharp exhale as she leaned against the table. The usual playfulness in her eyes was gone, replaced by cold calculation. "If it were that simple, we would've eradicated them long ago. A large-scale operation like that isn't just difficult—it's nearly impossible."
"That's why, Ito, we're heading to a Dark Zone for special training—to make you stronger and bring us one step closer to turning the impossible into reality."
Ito's chest tightened as realization sank in—his captain had expectations of him. A mix of excitement and pressure coiled in his gut. His fingers clenched involuntarily before he hesitantly asked, "Can I really help you all?"
Naeris smirked and leaned in close, her fingers brushing Ito's chin. "For some extra motivation... how about a special reward?"
"Thanks, but uh... sorry, Captain. I gotta head home after this—Sara is waiting for me. And trust me, if I'm late, my 'special reward' will be a scolding."
Zeth let out a short chuckle before grabbing Ito from behind. "No time to waste."
In an instant, they shot into the sky at incredible speed. Within seconds, they arrived at the edge of the Dark Zone.
"Alright, we're here. Let's get started," Zeth said, landing effortlessly.
"Hold on a sec, Captain Zeth… You were so fast, my brain's still catching up!" Ito groaned, steadying himself.
Zeth nodded, his demeanor shifting as a faint, shimmering energy radiated around him. "Focus, Ito. Can you see it now?"
Ito took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening as he concentrated. The energy around Zeth became clearer, the air itself seemed to ripple around him like an unseen force.
"Yes, Captain Zeth! I can see it. You're controlling it flawlessly."
"Good, that means you've mastered the basics. Now, for the next step—how long can you maintain your aura?"
"I can hold it for at least twenty seconds," Ito answered, determination in his voice.
"Keep training, and you'll sharpen your senses while boosting your physical strength to five times that of a normal human. And if you keep growing, you'll eventually develop your own technique."
Ito raised his hand. "Captain, I have a question!"
"Yes, Ito?"
"What was that layer above the sky when you said 'Zone'?"
Zeth crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ah, so you noticed that. That 'layer' wasn't just the sky—it was the boundary of my Zone. It's a space created by my aura. The bigger your Zone, the stronger your technique becomes, and you can also adjust its size. But for that, you'll need years of training—at least ten."
He muttered under his breath, "Now then, let's do what we came for."
Without hesitation, he strode toward the hollow tree. Its twisted whips lashed out at him, but Zeth barely reacted. With a swift, precise strike, he shattered the creature effortlessly. Among the broken remains, something still writhed. Zeth reached in and grabbed it before it had the chance to regenerate.
"So this is the parasite Captain Naeris was talking about. Aren't you going to finish it off?"
"What?! Eat it?!" Ito recoiled, his face twisting in disbelief. "But why, Captain?"
Zeth held the wriggling parasite up, his gaze unwavering. "Have you noticed? We've been standing here talking for a while, yet it didn't attack us until I approached it alone. If I had to guess... it has something to do with that black aura you got from that incident."
Ito stared at the worm-like parasite, confusion flickering in his eyes as it squirmed in Zeth's grasp.
"Will you do this?"
A tense silence hung between them. Then, Ito swallowed hard, shifting his gaze before giving a small nod.
"Yes."
He hesitated for a moment, his fingers tightening around the parasite before he forced it down. A violent shudder ran through his body as his throat constricted, his breath hitching. His vision blurred for a second, his muscles tensing.
Zeth stepped closer, watching him intently.
"Ito, are you alright?"
A tense silence followed. Ito clutched his neck, his expression unreadable. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke—his voice strained.
"It tastes really disgusting."
Zeth narrowed his eyes, observing Ito carefully.So I was right... he thought. That black aura—it's growing even more than before.
"Now, Ito, focus and try to take control of its power."
Just as Ito began to harness it, a sudden attack tore through the air, slamming into the ground with a deafening impact.
Through the thick cloud of dust and smoke, a claymore sword came flying, but Zeth's invincible force deflected it effortlessly, sending it hurtling back.
"From the moment we set foot here, I caught the scent of rats lurking in the shadows. So, who are you, and what do you want?"
"We're just here to see if the rumors are true—if you really are the strongest captain among all 25 nations."
The man wielding a massive claymore scoffed. "Nectar, enough with the chit-chat. We need to get this over with—quick."
Nectar sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time. No need to repeat yourself."
Ito glanced at Captain Zeth, his voice filled with curiosity and caution. "Captain Zeth, who are these guys?"
"Judging by that tattoo on their wrist, they're probably bounty hunters."
"Bounty hunters?"
"Yeah, they're a group of ten people. They take on any job for anyone as long as they get paid. And from what I've heard, every single one of them is incredibly strong."
"Captain Zeth, will they be difficult for even you to defeat?"
Zeth's lips curled into a smug grin as he cracked his knuckles. His gaze swept over the bounty hunters like they were nothing more than insects beneath his feet. With a slow exhale, he rolled his shoulders, radiating unshakable confidence.
"Small fries like them?" He scoffed, his voice laced with amusement. "They're not even a warm-up."
"Don't underestimate us!" one of the bounty hunters growled, gripping his massive claymore as he lunged from above, aiming to cleave Zeth in half.
But in a blur, Zeth sidestepped effortlessly, his movements so fast it was as if he had vanished. Before the swordsman could even react, a fist came hurtling toward him like a cannon shot. He barely managed to twist away at the last second, but not without consequence—a sharp pain streaked across his cheek as Zeth's strike left a deep cut, blood trickling down his face.
Nectar folded a piece of paper with a swift, practiced motion, and within moments, a massive dragon emerged from it, brought to life by his Zone technique. With a deafening roar, the dragon shot forward, its glowing eyes locked onto Zeth. As it neared, its jaws opened wide, unleashing a devastating energy blast straight at him.
But with a mere flick of his wrist, Zeth channeled his force technique into his palm, forming an invisible barrier. The blast crashed against it, sending shockwaves through the air, yet Zeth remained unmoved—standing tall, unscratched, and unfazed.
Zeth smirked, dusting off his sleeve as if the attack was nothing. He took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with sheer dominance.
"Is this all you've got, small fries?"
The air grew heavy, the battlefield silent—only the crackling embers of the blast remained.