Upon arriving at the kidnappers' hideout, Kazuki stood atop an old building's roof, staring into the distance at the ruins of a dark castle—the place where Lycia was being held.
The night wind blew softly, carrying the scent of iron and blood that lingered in the air.
Without hesitation, Kazuki lowered one hand, giving a signal to his forces.
"Go in. Wreck everything... but don't touch my main stage."
Neera and the members of Nocturne Eclipse nodded silently and slipped into the shadows.
Kazuki remained alone, arms crossed as he watched the chaos begin to unfold in the distance. Small explosions. Screams. The clash of steel.
Yet he remained still.
"…I already said, I want to be the last one to enter."
Kazuki's voice was barely above a whisper, but sharp like a demon's breath.
Then, he began walking leisurely along the crumbling castle wall.
"Hmm… which way should I enter?"
He stopped at the end of the hallway, staring at the two dark paths before him.
A small smile formed on his face.
"The front gate is too cliché... the rooftop's overdone... ah, maybe the ventilation shaft—maximum dramatic effect."
And then he jumped, disappearing into the shadows. His voice echoed softly just before his body vanished:
"I have to make sure... my entrance is cooler than anyone else's."
Elsewhere, right inside the enemy stronghold—where Lycia was imprisoned...
The once quiet and dark atmosphere abruptly turned into chaos.
A group of girls dressed in elegant black, each bearing a dark blue crescent moon emblem on their cloaks, strode down the castle's main corridor.
Their steps were unhurried, but intimidating. The dark aura and magical pressure they radiated made the air feel heavy.
They were Nocturne Eclipse—the shadows of the White Reaper.
One of the enemy guards squinted, his face twisted in confusion and nervousness.
"W-What the hell...? They're all girls?! Who are they?!"
But before he could draw his weapon—WHOOSH!
A magic dagger flew and pierced through his helmet, dropping him silently.
Neera led the front. Her face was calm. Her hair swayed gently, and her gaze was cold and emotionless.
"The target is in the central sector. Clear the path."
Her voice was soft, but enough to rattle anyone's heart.
Without needing further orders, the members of Nocturne Eclipse moved in unison.
Magic shimmered in the darkness. Shadow strikes, flying daggers, and their unique powers eliminated enemy guards one by one.
"AAARGHH!! THEY'RE HERE!!!"
"DAMMIT!! ATTACK THEM ALL!!"
The guards' panic-filled screams echoed—but it was futile.
Though Kazuki's squad was made up of young girls… they weren't ordinary humans.
They were elites, individuals blessed directly with magic from the White Reaper himself.
In mere moments, more than half of the enemy forces had fallen. No mercy. No noise. Only the final screams and clashing of steel remained.
However...
From deep within the main chamber, a heavy voice boomed.
"Hmph… enough."
A massive man clad in thick black armor stepped out from behind a metal door.
On his back, a massive greatsword glowed red.
He was Gorath—the leader of the kidnappers.
A former royal knight turned international fugitive.
He glared at Nocturne Eclipse's forces and scoffed while gripping his sword's hilt.
"Playtime's over. You think you can waltz into my domain, kill my men, and walk out alive?"
His sharp eyes locked onto Neera.
"Let me deal with these spoiled brats."
Neera stepped forward without hesitation, her gaze flat—she didn't see him as a threat.
"Priority target detected. All members… leave this to me."
The battle between Neera and Gorath, the villainous leader… was intense—
But only from one side.
Neera moved with grace, each slash and spell like a deadly dance.
Meanwhile, Gorath—known for his brutality—grew increasingly frustrated.
"WHY ARE NONE OF MY ATTACKS LANDING!?" he roared, his body covered in small wounds that appeared from nowhere.
Neera merely gave a slight smile. She hadn't even drawn her sword.
She was toying with him using only her magic and speed.
"For a so-called leader, you move like someone who just learned how to fight," she mocked coldly.
Gorath growled.
"YOU'RE MOCKING ME!?"
"No," Neera replied, her voice like ice. "I'm just stalling. For someone."
Gorath's eyes widened. He took a step back. Then another.
Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and raised a hand—a teleportation circle formed behind him.
"Damn it... I can't win against this woman... I have to escape!!" he thought.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, Gorath vanished from their sight.
One of Nocturne Eclipse's members shouted.
"Neera! Why didn't you chase him!?"
Neera stood tall, glancing slightly over her shoulder, her smile faint but piercing.
"No need. We mustn't ruin His stage..."
The members immediately understood. Their expressions lit up with admiration and excitement.
"Don't tell me... the White Reaper will take the stage himself!?"
Neera merely gazed up at the night sky as if she could hear the overture to a grand performance.
Elsewhere...
Kazuki strolled casually through the dark hallway of the enemy's castle.
His steps slow, hands tucked in his cloak pockets.
He looked like a rich kid who had gotten lost in a haunted house.
"By the way… why do all the hallways look the same? I've been walking in circles for five minutes and ended up back here again…"
He stopped, staring at a wall.
"Looks like I'm... lost."
He touched his chin, as if pondering deeply.
"Is this some kind of test from the world? A trial to find the right door in a maze of wrong ones?"
Kazuki let out a long sigh, as if the world itself had grown tired of trying to challenge him.
Suddenly...
WHOOSH!
A teleportation circle flared to life right in front of Kazuki, and—THUD!
Out of it tumbled Gorath, the villain leader who had just fled from Neera.
His body was bloodied, breathing ragged. But as his eyes darted forward—they froze.
Before him...
A young boy with silver-white hair stood calmly… one hand in his pocket, the other holding a piece of toast that had somehow appeared from nowhere.
Kazuki looked at Gorath.
"Huh?"
Gorath froze.
He wasn't sure whether to feel relieved... or more terrified.
"...A kid?"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
"By the way… who are you, exactly?"
But Gorath's ego outweighed his instincts.
"A KID!? HAH! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?" he roared, charging with his massive sword.
Kazuki simply watched the blade approach.
CLANG!
Without much effort… Kazuki caught the sword with one bare hand.
Gorath froze.
Kazuki leaned forward slightly, his voice soft—filled with a cold mockery.
"Heh…"
Gorath grew even more furious. He attacked again. Slashes. Magic blasts. Blind fury. But—
Kazuki merely tilted aside, stepped to the side, deflected with a finger.
"Your reflexes are slow. Your breathing's heavy. Your heart… is beating too fast."
Kazuki's gaze sharpened.
"Your body is trying to fight. But your mind has already lost."
BOOM!
Kazuki surged forward, his glowing fist slamming into Gorath's stomach. The villain's body crashed into a wall and fell to his knees.
Gorath coughed blood.
"Damn... What the hell... He's too strong... And his body... it's so small…"
Kazuki walked toward him slowly.
Behind his blank expression, a faint smile formed—one that was strangely terrifying.
He stopped in front of the trembling Gorath.
"Now… it's my turn."
From beneath his black cloak, Kazuki raised a hand.
A silver-white sword materialized, glowing with a blinding light… yet exuding a chilling aura.
White Blade.
His sword. The symbol of "Silent Death."
Gorath let out a panicked groan. In desperation, he unleashed all his remaining mana.
Dark aura surged like a storm, splitting the ruin's ceiling above.
"DAMN IT…!! I'LL KILL YOU!!!" he roared, nearly losing his mind.
But Kazuki merely rotated his sword slowly, as if preparing for the final act of an opera.
He looked up at the sky.
"By the way… it's not even morning yet."
Then he sheathed White Blade again.
"I'll give you a moment. This is a performance, after all."
Kazuki turned his back.
"If everything ends in one strike… the audience will get bored, right?"
Gorath gritted his teeth, still trying to stand while holding his wounds.
Kazuki walked away slowly.
But his footsteps… were the first notes of the finale.
The night sky grew darker.
And this chapter… closed.
The true performance… is about to begin.