Journey to Become the Zenith

The Calm Before the Storm

The deafening cheers of the citizens echoed throughout New Fantom City.

"EON!"

"EON!"

"EON!"

Victor stood quietly near the edge of the stage, his black hair swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. His golden eyes calmly swept over the sea of people celebrating below.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

"...Not bad."

The speech Eon had just delivered wasn’t truly his own.

Long ago, during his previous life as Anos, Victor had heard nearly the same speech from a human hero who rallied his people before marching into war. It might not even have been a hero—it could have been a king. The memory had become blurred after countless centuries.

Back then, Victor had never cared.

Hero...

King...

General...

To him, they had all been the same.

If they stood before him on the battlefield, only one thing mattered.

Could they give him a satisfying fight?

If they could...

He remembered them.

If they couldn’t...

They disappeared into history alongside everyone else who had challenged him.

His smile widened slightly.

"I never thought those words would become useful one day."

Behind him, Ramona Redcliffe quietly observed Victor.

The beautiful head of the Redcliffe Family watched the young man with complicated emotions.

He looked barely older than the academy students...

Yet every move he made altered the fate of an entire kingdom.

Just what kind of man are you... Victor?

Before she could continue her thoughts, someone slowly approached.

It was Max.

The old academy headmaster walked with measured, steady steps.

Every movement was calm.

Every breath remained controlled.

Although he carried no weapon in his hands...

His posture resembled that of a veteran swordsman preparing for his final duel.

Victor noticed him immediately.

His golden eyes lit up.

For a brief moment...

His fighting spirit surged.

"So..."

Victor smiled.

"...you finally came."

Dark mist gathered beside him as Diana’s black scythe materialized into his hand.

The surrounding former nobles instinctively stepped backward.

Even Ramona’s breathing became slightly tense.

Victor rested the scythe upon his shoulder.

"Cut the act, old man."

"If you’ve finally decided to fight..."

"...then don’t hold anything back."

"I’ve wanted to cross swords with you ever since I entered this city."

"I want to see how far your blade can truly reach."

Max simply smiled.

It was the warm smile of an experienced elder looking at an impatient young man.

"Victor..."

"It has been quite a while since we last spoke."

Victor sighed dramatically.

"So you really aren’t here to fight."

"A shame."

With a thought, Diana dissolved into black particles before disappearing.

Only Victor knew Diana existed.

To everyone else...

It simply looked like an unusual manifestation of his mysterious aura.

Max quietly laughed.

"I didn’t come here to fight."

"I only wished to talk."

Victor folded his arms.

"Then make it quick."

"I’m not fond of long conversations."

Despite his blunt tone...

There wasn’t genuine hostility behind it.

Victor respected Max.

Not because of his position.

Not because of his age.

But because Max had remained true to his sword and his ideals for decades.

Men like that deserved respect.

Max noticed it as well.

He smiled faintly.

"You truly haven’t changed."

Victor shrugged.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Max’s expression gradually became serious.

"Are you certain about this?"

Victor already knew what he meant.

His answer came without hesitation.

"If I weren’t certain..."

"...I wouldn’t have done it."

Max slowly nodded.

"Then tell me."

"How do you intend to deal with the nobles still inside New Fantom City?"

"I’m certain many of them have already tried sending messengers toward the capital."

"In only a few days..."

"...the Skyfall Kingdom’s army could arrive."

"When that happens..."

"...will you allow these citizens to fall together with you?"

Victor looked directly into Max’s eyes.

Instead of concern...

A confident smile slowly spread across his face.

"You really think I’d make a move without preparing for that?"

His voice remained calm.

"I already sent people to intercept every messenger."

"As for the nobles..."

"They’re already inside my grasp."

"Those willing to cooperate will live comfortably."

"Those unwilling to cooperate..."

"...will simply discover that leaving New Fantom City isn’t as easy as entering it."

"I won’t kill them."

"But until they change their minds..."

"...they’ll remain birds inside a cage."

Max silently listened.

Victor continued.

"The capital won’t learn the truth immediately."

"The governor will stop sending reports."

"Merchants might eventually spread rumors."

"Either way..."

"...that buys me time."

"Time is all I need."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly.

"And if the kingdom truly sends an army..."

"...then I’ll send them back."

"If they refuse..."

"...I’ll defeat them."

Victor spoke those words as though discussing tomorrow’s weather.

There wasn’t arrogance.

Only certainty.

"The people have already experienced abandonment once."

"They won’t surrender this chance so easily."

"Eon’s identity gives legitimacy to our cause."

"The rest..."

"I’ll handle."

Max remained silent for several long moments.

Looking into Victor’s eyes...

He saw something that unsettled him.

Madness.

Conviction.

Confidence.

Wisdom.

All existing together within one person.

For the first time in many years...

Even the veteran swordsman couldn’t fully understand the young man standing before him.

Far away from the square...

Lane moved silently through the forests surrounding New Fantom City.

Behind her followed thirty elite operatives personally assigned by Brinda.

Every one of them wore dark clothing.

Every one of them moved without making a sound.

A scout suddenly appeared.

"My lady."

"The first messenger."

Lane nodded once.

"Leave him to me."

She vanished.

The messenger never realized someone had appeared behind him.

A single flash.

The blade sliced cleanly across his neck.

Before his body could hit the ground...

Lane caught it.

She gently lowered the corpse beneath the trees.

"No unnecessary noise."

"No witnesses."

"Move."

Her team immediately obeyed.

Again...

And again...

The same scene repeated.

One messenger after another disappeared before ever reaching the kingdom’s borders.

No screams.

No struggle.

Only silence.

Each time her blade fell...

Lane repeated the same thought inside her heart.

Victor gave this order.

Victor has his reasons.

I trust him.

Yet...

A tiny corner of her heart still trembled.

She was only fourteen.

No matter how cold she appeared...

No matter how expressionless her face remained...

She still understood that lives were ending by her own hands.

She closed her eyes briefly.

Forgive me...

Then she opened them once more.

The hesitation disappeared.

Only determination remained.

By sunset...

The final messenger lay lifeless beneath the forest trees.

Lane cleaned her blade before quietly returning toward New Fantom City, where Brinda was already waiting to receive her report. As Lane approached, Brinda smiled with visible relief.

"You returned safely."

Lane nodded.

"The mission is complete."

Brinda’s shoulders relaxed.

"I knew Victor chose the right person."

A faint warmth flickered across Lane’s otherwise emotionless face.

Brinda looked toward the distant city walls where Victor still stood.

One day...

I’ll become strong enough to stand proudly beside you.

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