On the outskirts of Gallery, chaos reigned.
A massive two-horned rhino-like monster was rampaging through the district, its roar splitting the skies, its footsteps shaking the very streets beneath it. Entire homes crumbled under its charge, leaving behind dust, debris, and terrified citizens scrambling for shelter.
A squad of about a dozen armed warriors—clearly members of the Aenocyon Guild—were doing everything they could to stop the beast.
But it wasn't enough.
"This thing's insane! It's too damn strong!" one of them shouted, his arm bleeding from an earlier clash. "Where's Lord Clamp?! Only he can stop this monster!"
Before anyone could answer, the rhino bellowed and charged—its twin horns lowered like twin lances.
GRAAAWWWRRR!!The roar echoed all the way to the city's inner walls.
"What do we do now?!"
The squad had already begun to falter. Some were backing away, others simply frozen in fear.
And then—A voice. Dry. Annoyed. Loud enough to cut through panic.
"…Why the hell is it taking this long to kill one oversized rhino?"
From atop the city wall, a figure dropped down.
Clamp.
Dressed in his sharp black coat, hair slightly disheveled from the wind, he approached with a scowl on his face and a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"L-Lord Clamp!" one of the warriors cried. "The monster's too strong! With both Lord Baron and Lord Omatsuri away, you're the only one—"
"Shut your damn mouth, Small fry!" Clamp barked. "You think I don't already know that?!"
He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, striding forward like someone out for a casual walk—directly toward the raging behemoth.
Now face-to-face, Clamp and the rhino beast were a study in contrast. The monster was house-sized, muscles bulging beneath its armored hide. Clamp looked tiny in comparison, but not even a sliver of fear could be found in his stance.
"Hey, you miserable beast," Clamp growled, raising his right hand. A strange, yellow smoke began to seep from his fingertips. "You showed up at the worst possible time. So now, I'm going to make sure you die a very, very painful death."
The monster reared its head back and roared straight at him.
And just as Clamp prepared to release his power—Something shifted behind him.
He turned sharply, sensing a familiar presence.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a massive man sprinting toward him—his long coat trailing like a banner, a sword in hand, trailing the exact same yellow smoke as Clamp.
"OMATSURI!!!" Clamp roared, fury in his voice.
But Omatsuri didn't even slow down.
He ran straight past Clamp and toward the monster—whose maw was now open, ready to devour Clamp while he was distracted.
SLASH!!!
With one clean motion, the massive blade cleaved through the beast's skull—splitting it like fruit. The monster collapsed instantly, its body crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom that sent dust billowing in all directions.
And standing atop the corpse, unmoving, was the man responsible.
[Aenocyon Guild Third Division Officer – Omatsuri]
In one fluid movement, he sheathed his sword.
The other warriors stood frozen, mouths agape. No one spoke.
Except Clamp.
"YOU BASTARD!!!" Clamp screamed, face red with rage. "You dare steal my kill?!"
Omatsuri landed beside him with a light thud, dust trailing from his boots. He barely gave Clamp a glance.
"If I had let you handle it," he said calmly, "you would've tortured the poor thing. Would've turned the whole district into a horror show."
Clamp grabbed Omatsuri by the collar, snarling up at the big guy.
"What I do to monsters is none of your business!"
Omatsuri didn't flinch.
"Don't stain this city with your sadistic hobbies."
"What did you just say to me?!"
Instead of backing down, Omatsuri leaned slightly forward—provoking him more.
Clamp's eye twitched.
"And why the hell are you even here? Weren't you supposed to be in Aram?"
"We came back," Omatsuri replied.
Clamp blinked, loosening his grip.
"…Lord Baron came back too?"
Before Omatsuri could answer, a new voice broke in—a younger warrior running toward them with urgent breath.
"Lord Omatsuri! Lord Clamp! Lord Baron has summoned you both to his estate immediately!"
The two men paused.
One of them calm as a mountain.The other—boiling like a volcano.
But both turned their gaze in the same direction.
Toward the heart of Gallery.Toward Baron.
{Chapter 59 End}