The room fell silent, every gaze fixed on the trembling guard. Arthur's voice broke through the tension—a commanding yet chillingly composed tone. "Which squad entered?"
The guard stammered, "The Falcon Squad, sir. They were sent to gather materials."
Brog stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Falcon Squad? Their captain is a Category 2 Retainer. They should have handled a C-level forbidden zone with ease." He turned to Arthur, his voice steely with determination. "Arthur, go and assess the situation. We'll follow shortly."
Arthur's piercing eyes locked onto the guard. "Give me the exact coordinates of the forbidden zone." Without hesitation, the guard handed over his communication device. Arthur studied it for a mere moment, then strode to the window.
Removing his coat, he revealed a physique that radiated power—barely concealed by the thin fabric of his shirt. He glanced at Kuro, his tone unapologetic. " It may cause a little damage Mr. Kurozumi, please be considerate." With that, he launched himself through the window, shattering the glass into glittering shards. The sheer force left a crater where he had stood moments before.
Kuro stared in awe, his voice barely a whisper. "Can he… fly?"
Brog smirked, his answer cryptic. "You could say that." Without another word, he exited the room, leaving Kuro to curse under his breath at the destruction.
"Why did the Chairman wanted me to come recruit him, he doesn't have an ounce of power, he seems like a normal human if we ignore his transformation, why does Chairman want to recruit someone as powerless as him" Brog thought as he walked towards his car,
"Damn him, he didn't even give me money for the damage he caused" Kuro cursed Arthur staring at the window and the floor, "Brother, what was that sound" Ilya came hurriedly and Starred at the window and Floor, "What have you done to the floor and windows" Ilya shouted glazing at Kuro,
Meanwhile, at the forbidden Zone C12's gate, Arthur's landing sent shockwaves through the ground. Guards snapped to attention. "Status report!" he Demanded.
"Captain Arthur, the Falcon Squad entered six hours ago. We lost contact two hours back," one guard explained, his voice quivering. "Captain Rho's last transmission was urgent—he said, 'Emergency! I need backup!'—and then... nothing."
Arthur's silver hair glinted as he issued orders. "Inform Vice Chairman Brog. Open the gates." The moment the gates creaked open; he vanished—a blur of motion that left the guards dumbstruck.
"Is he even human, I could only see his silver hair move through air" the front guard thought
Inside the zone, Arthur pressed deeper, the ominous atmosphere clawing at his senses
"Wh..at is the si..tu..ation inside Arthur" A crackling voice came through the microphone in Arthur's ears,
"Everything seems normal so far, I am two km inside the forbidden zone" Arthur replied
"I see some withered ones insii ddee ..." the voice was cut off,
[hello, hello Arthur can you hear me, Reply] Brog tried to contact him but the connection was cut off,
"Damn it, my connection was cut, Did the withered ones destroy the towers, but that can't be, they stay away from buildings and don't have intellect" Arthur thought
Suddenly, a voice pierced the stillness. "Where is everybody? Someone!" He dashed towards the cries, Arthur sprinted with fierce determination, his feet barely touching the ground as he tore through the dense undergrowth. The bushes parted violently at his arrival, as if bowing to his momentum. He landed in front of a harrowing scene—a man drenched in blood, clutching his shattered arm, his glowing purple eyes radiating an unearthly intensity. Behind him lay a girl, her fragile body battered and bruised, unconscious, each breath a laboured testament to her fight for survival. The air was thick with despair, yet Arthur's presence brought with it an undeniable sense of purpose and strength, a beacon amid the chaos.
"Rho, what happened here?" Arthur demanded, urgency flashing in his eyes.
"Why are you so late, I thought I was going to die" Rho's Voice trembling, "They are protecting something inside a building near the Withering tree"
"Can you run" Arthur enquired
"Ugh, I think if It's the last time I can"
"Then Take that girl and Get away from here, take my Microphone, it will catch signal after you run for about 1 Km"
"Even if you are a category 0 you can't fight that many on your own"
As Arthur saw two Withered ones running towards them, he threw his microphone towards Rho and Shouted "Get the hell out of here"
Gripping the microphone, Rho rushed to the girl, scooped her up, and ran with every ounce of strength he had left, determination driving him forward despite the chaos around.
A Withered One lunged after them, but Arthur moved like a flash of lightning. His fist tore through its chest with brutal precision, the impact echoing like a thunderclap, the lifeless body crumpled to the ground, blood spraying, staining Arthur's pristine silver hair. Standing tall amidst the carnage, as he wiped the blood from his hand. "None of you shall pass," he declared, his voice a chilling promise.
Two Withered Ones charged at Arthur, splitting apart mid-sprint, while a third barrelled straight down the centre like a battering ram. The first two flanked him, their claws slashing toward his sides—but Arthur's fists shot out like steel pistons, stopping them cold. The third lunged, aiming a brutal punch, only to be sent flying backward by a devastating kick.
Arthur straightened, with glowing grey eyes. He slammed the Withered Ones' hands into the ground with bone-crushing force, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "If you dare to rise, be prepared to say goodbye to your hands."
Yet as more Withered Ones surged forward, Arthur's realization sent chills down his spine. Their movements were coordinated, their attacks strategic—something the mindless creatures had never done before.
"This is just a C level Zone Rho shouldn't have any problem, but now I see, 'I have to go Check what they are protecting'"
Arthur dashed away from the crowd, heading in the opposite direction with focused determination. Mid-run, he halted abruptly, placing his hands firmly on two nearby trees. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air. As he ascended, the trees groaned under an invisible force, bending unnaturally before being crushed into the ground as if a massive weight had descended upon them.
"How do you like my little gift?" Arthur called out
To Arthur's shock, only the two Withered Ones at the front were crushed beneath the falling trees. The rest halted abruptly; their movements unnervingly calculated. "No way… Are you kidding me?" he muttered, frustration flickering across his face. "I always take down at least five with that move."
As he stood beneath a nearby House, lost in thought, a hand suddenly burst through the wall. Arthur barely managed to shield his face before a second punch struck him with brutal force, sending him flying through the air. He crashed into a building, the impact rattling his bones as blood spilled from his mouth. "Kugh… Keuk…" he gasped, struggling to rise.
His eyes darted around, scanning the shadows. "Damn it," he growled, "Why the hell are they inside the buildings?"
As Arthur struggled to his feet, a haunting sound reached his ears—a low, collective murmur that sent chills down his spine. He was alarmed, a fear like never before clenched his heart as he looked across the building a gathering of Withered Ones, their disformed bodies bent in eerie reverence, bowing down as if in worship.
Arthur's gaze climbed upward, and his blood ran cold. Atop a crumbling heap of rubble sat another Withered One, its presence radiating an unsettling aura of authority. The scene defied everything Arthur knew. His chest tightened, his heart pounding like crazy, realization dawned on him.
"No… This can't be," he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Are they… evolving?"