Before Kyle could fully comprehend what had just happened, Shin was gone.
Kyle stood frozen in the arena, his eyes wide with disbelief. What just happened? Who was that masked figure?
The audience, who had been watching in complete silence, suddenly erupted into murmurs of astonishment.
"Who is that?!"
Rio darted out from the crowd, his eyes locked onto the masked figure who had saved Shin.
Meanwhile, Raven moved swiftly. he had to get Shin to the nearest hospital before he lost consciousness completely.
With quick, silent movements, he entered the hospital, placed Shin in the emergency ward, and vanished before anyone could notice him.
But… Rio was still following him.
"There's no point in running... I'll find out who you are." Rio muttered to himself, determination gleaming in his eyes.
Raven darted , leaping over obstacles, avoiding crowded streets. But Rio was relentless—following like a shadow, waiting for his chance.
After several minutes of silent pursuit, Raven finally stopped… in front of a house.
Rio hid , watching carefully, waiting to see who would come out of this place.
With a quiet sigh, Raven stepped inside and shut the door behind him. Moments later, he removed his mask and took a deep breath.
Little did he know… Rio was still waiting outside, patient as ever.
"Alright... soon, I'll know who you really are." Rio whispered with a smirk, leaning casually against the wall.
Hours passed.
Raven stepped out of his house,
Rio knew the identity of the masked man.
The next day, Rio headed to work. he worked directly with the most powerful royal families. Not because he was loyal to them, but simply because his strength made him a valuable asset.
Most of the time, his tasks involved protection—guarding shipments, securing convoys, and overseeing transportation. But sometimes, he was assigned special missions.
That morning, Rio received a new order from House Valderin, one of the most influential royal families, to supervise the delivery of a critical shipment and ensure its safe arrival.
"I can reveal the identity of the masked one."
He continued, "But... for a price."
One of the noblemen raised an eyebrow and asked, "How much?"
"A quarter million Phonex."
The family members exchanged glances before one of them finally responded, "250,000 Phonex? That's a hefty sum
Rio received no response regarding the payment. it wasn't a rejection, but it was a clear answer nonetheless.
ryo:"I'll continue working with you... Let's leave this matter for another time."
The Grand Celebration... and the Arrival of Terror
That day, a grand celebration was held in the academy's central courtyard. Students, professors, and high-ranking officials from all across the nation had gathered.
Among them was the nation's ruler himself, a man rumored to be one of the strongest magic users of this era.
Standing beside the academy's headmaster, he began speaking in a composed yet commanding tone:
Ruler: "The academy looks as strong as ever... How is the training going? Is the new generation promising?"
Headmaster (smiling confidently): "Of course, Your Excellency. This year's students possess exceptional potential. We have talents unlike any we've seen in decades!"
Ruler (nodding): "Good. Our nation's strength depends on these mages, and I expect the academy to continue producing only the best."
But then...
The ground trembled suddenly...!
A terrifying pressure swept across the courtyard—the air turned suffocatingly heavy, as if death itself had descended upon them.
A dark, monstrous aura engulfed everything.
Time seemed to freeze, and even the very air felt like it was being sucked away.
Rio fell to his knees—his body unable to withstand the overwhelming force!
On the other side of the courtyard...
Raven collapsed as well, his eyes widening in pure shock.
"Impossible... What is this power?!"
While everyone was drowning in panic, one figure moved calmly amidst the chaos.
He walked with unwavering steps, heading straight toward Lord Evren, the head of one of the most powerful royal families.
Standing before him, his glowing eyes resembled a demon emerging from the depths of hell.
"It's time to pay for what you've done." His voice was quiet, but it carried an undeniable promise of death.
he reached behind him and unsheathed a massive black sword—one that seemed to devour the very light around it.
Then, in a single, fluid motion, he struck.
A violent metallic scream tore through the air.
And in that moment...
The academy's sacred emblem, the very symbol of its power, was split in half.
The emblem crashed onto the ground, shattering before the stunned audience.
Zairos stood in the middle of the courtyard, his aura filling the space with an overwhelming presence.
"I am the Vice Commander of Arcadia."
His eyes gleamed with a mysterious power, and his deep voice carried an undertone of menace. As he spoke, his aura continued to radiate, pressing down on everyone like an invisible force.
He continued in a cold, measured tone:
"You interfered with our operations… and halted our workers' shipments. Such actions cannot be ignored."
Lord Evren stood frozen, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His voice trembled as he responded:
"We didn't know it was yours! We will compensate you with whatever you want, just let's resolve this peacefully!"
Zairos glanced at him with sheer disdain :
"The compensation must be fitting… It should cover the lost profits from your interference, along with an additional sum as an apology. Let's say… 800 million Phonex."
Lord Evren's eyes widened in shock. He clutched his head, unable to comprehend the absurd amount. His voice broke as he muttered:
"800 million?! How… and why such a sum?!"
Zairos answered firmly:
"You must pay… unless you want trouble with us."
Without giving them a chance to argue, he vanished in an instant, leaving behind an oppressive silence and the lingering fear of what Arcadia was truly capable of.