Kin'iro's hand fell to the floor. Blood dripped. No one moved.
All eyes were fixed on Leon — red eyes, white hair, purple symbols across his body. Eternal Darkness, First Form. Stable. Perfect.
Kin'iro stared at his severed hand. Not angry. Not surprised. Only... annoyed.
He raised his left hand. From the severed wrist, new flesh began to grow — bone, sinew, skin. Fast. Perfect.
"You dare," he said, his voice still calm. "I will remember this."
Leon didn't answer.
He raised his hand. "Valker."
A spatial rift opened beside Leon. Valker stepped out. Black armor. Greatsword. Pale blue eyes without pupils. A cold aura spread around him.
Zenless raised an eyebrow. "A summoned creature?"
Marcus stepped back. Daidaiiro growled. Kiiro whistled softly. Gurin smiled widely. Shiro remained silent.
Kin'iro didn't react. But his eyes observed Valker intently.
"Take them to the Varavium headquarters," Leon commanded, pointing at Sylphine, Veylin, Raina, and Elliot.
Valker nodded. One by one, he freed them and carried them into the rift. Four prisoners vanished from the room. Valker stepped back out, alone.
"Done," he said.
Leon nodded.
Valker did not return to his dimension. He stood beside Leon, greatsword ready to swing.
---
Several minutes passed. No one moved. Only staring at each other.
The same spatial rift, not yet fully closed, began to tremble.
The air around it swirled — slowly, then faster. A vortex of wind formed before the rift. Silvery light radiated from within, illuminating the faces staring at it in wonder.
A rushing wind sound was heard — not ordinary, but like whispers from afar.
Then suddenly — silence.
A figure stepped out.
His hair fluttered even though the wind had stopped. His eyes were sharp. The sword in his hand glinted under the room's crystal light.
He looked at Leon and Kazan briefly.
"It seems you two are in trouble."
Leon was startled. "Your Majesty—"
"I've rested enough." Zephyr walked to the far right side. "Now let me warm up my body again."
Zenless blinked. His eyes widened slightly, almost imperceptibly. The fan in his hand stopped moving.
"Zephyr Belphegor..."
"The king of the Belphegor Kingdom."
He observed Zephyr from head to toe, as if making sure the person before him was not a ghost, not an illusion.
"I heard your kingdom was destroyed. I also heard you were dead."
"Sorry to disappoint."
"It seems news of my death traveled too fast," Zephyr said.
Zenless sighed. His fan began moving again, slowly.
"Turns out it was just fabricated news."
---
Zenless sighed. "Zero."
Leon turned.
Zenless stood not far from them. His fan was closed, tucked at his waist.
"We can't fight them if we're all alone," he said.
"What do you mean?" asked Kazan.
Zenless sighed. "I don't like this. But..." he looked at Kin'iro. "...I have no choice."
"Cooperation," said Leon. Not a question.
Zenless nodded. "Temporarily. Until this threat is over."
He walked toward Leon and Kazan.
"I will help you. But don't expect us to be friends after this."
"I don't like this either," Marcus stepped forward, joining them. "But the Nexus is destroyed because of them. I won't let them destroy it more than this."
Leon looked at them in turn. Then nodded.
"Fine. Temporarily."
---
Five lines.
Leon in the center. Lokantaka in his right hand, red eyes blazing. White hair, purple symbols on his body. Eternal Darkness, First Form — perfect.
Kazan on Leon's left. His sword — the one with the white hilt — still sheathed at his waist. His right hand held the hilt, thumb pressing the guard, ready to draw at any moment. Feet slightly apart. Not moving. Not rushing.
Marcus on Kazan's left. Body slightly bent forward, right fist before his chest, left fist beside his waist. Ready to charge at any moment.
Zenless on Leon's right. Standing straight, fan wide open in his right hand, sharp edge pointing at the Hydra. A faint smile — cold, without pleasantries.
Zephyr on Zenless's right. Standing firm, sword in his right hand. Around the blade, small sparks of lightning began to crackle — and wind swirled slowly, making his hair flutter.
Five lines. Five fighters. Now united.
---
Across from them, Kin'iro raised his hand.
The other Hydra began to move — not attacking, but taking positions.
Kin'iro in the center. Upright. Hands behind his back. Smiling faintly.
Daidaiiro on Kin'iro's left, flaming spear ablaze, tip pointing at Kazan. Body slightly bent, ready to thrust.
Chairo beside Daidaiiro, fists clenched, feet wide apart — ready to stomp the ground.
Kiiro at the far left of the formation, lightning whip coiled around his arm, body low ready to dash.
Gin'iro beside Kiiro, large shield on his left arm raised to chest level, axe in his right hand.
Ao on Kin'iro's right. He raised his left hand. The air around him dropped drastically — cold, freezing. Moisture in the air condensed, forming small ice crystals that spun in his palm.
From those crystals, a spear slowly formed. Long. Sharp. Gleaming. Ao gripped it, its tip pointing at Zenless. His breath emitted cold vapor.
Aiiro emerged from the shadows. Body straight, feet slightly apart. Both hands pressed against his forehead, fingers together, palms facing forward. His indigo eyes glowed bright — as if focusing on something. Ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Gurin at the far right of the formation, green mist billowing from his body, smiling widely — but his eyes didn't blink.
Shiro beside Gurin, standing still, white pupil-less eyes. Pale white light began gathering at his fingertips.
Nine against five.
Kin'iro smiled. "Five against nine. Seems fair to me."
---
Leon didn't answer. His eyes remained on Kin'iro.
Kazan didn't move. His hand was still on his sword's hilt.
Marcus growled. "Too much talk."
Zenless snapped his fan shut. "Agreed."
Zephyr raised his sword slightly. Sparks of lightning grew more numerous.
Behind the door of Xuánhú's chamber, Nix kept working.
=== CHAPTER 40 END ===