The Heart of Zero

Riyugi's pupils widened as the glinting dagger closed in on her brow. Fear and helplessness paralyzed her, tears streaming down her face. Her breathing stopped, and her arms hung limply by her sides, her entire body rigid with despair.

"Clang!" The sound of clashing metal rang out, the dagger halting mid-air.

The man wielding the blade scowled, his brows furrowing. "Eighth Successor! Are you really going to protect this woman?" he shouted in fury.

It was Shingin who had stopped the blade. His hand trembled slightly, sweat glistening on his brow. His expression was a mixture of hesitation and regret, but his gaze was resolute. "Everyone! There must be some kind of misunderstanding here!"

A woman nearby scoffed, her eyes filled with disdain. "Don't let her weak facade fool you, idiot."

Riyugi stood frozen, tears streaming silently as she shook her head. Her lips parted, but no words came out, her throat choked by fear and sorrow.

With a sudden burst of strength, Shingin pushed the assailant back. The man staggered before regaining his footing with surprising agility, his combat prowess evident. Standing tall, he glared at Shingin with a menacing gaze full of threat.

Rayl, who had been silent all this time, finally broke his quiet. His eyes burned with anger, and his voice was cold and biting: "Shingin, are you willing to stand against us—the Revolutionaries—for her?"

"No!" Shingin protested, shaking his head vigorously. "Rayl, listen to me! Please let Riyugi explain!"

Rayl's eyes grew colder, his disappointment palpable. After a long pause, he spoke in a voice filled with betrayal. "You've let me down, Shingin."

A thunderous explosion shattered the silence. The sheer force of Rayl's unleashed power split the ground beneath their feet. The air vibrated with a terrifying energy, suffocating and unrelenting.

Shingin's heart raced. He had never seen Rayl like this before. Even sealed, the strength Rayl now displayed was monstrous. The oppressive energy made Shingin's legs stiffen, his body tense in preparation for the inevitable clash.

Rayl, seething with fury, charged toward them with an unstoppable force, his eyes glinting with killing intent like a raging beast.

Shingin's thoughts spiraled into chaos. He hadn't come here to fight his allies, let alone Rayl. Yet the situation left him no room to retreat. Pain and regret clouded his mind as he stood his ground.

"Boom!" The ground quaked as Shingin summoned his full strength. The blue energy of his alien soul flared to life, surrounding him in a protective aura that clashed head-on with Rayl's overwhelming power. For a brief moment, Shingin's energy held firm, suppressing Rayl's advance.

Rayl's eyes narrowed in surprise, clearly not expecting such resistance. The air vibrated with explosive energy as their powers collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The earth cracked and trees shook, as though the entire world trembled beneath their struggle.

Shingin gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into holding back Rayl's onslaught. But he could feel himself faltering. Rayl's mastery over his power was far more refined, each strike growing sharper and more precise. Shingin's body began to buckle under the strain, the ground beneath his feet crumbling as the pressure mounted.

Behind him, Riyugi remained motionless, her trembling figure etched into his mind. The terror in her tear-filled eyes was a knife to Shingin's heart. He couldn't let her vanish into this storm of violence. A surge of anger and determination erupted within him, and his alien soul's energy darkened, deepening to a shadowy blue that pulsed with newfound intensity.

The moment Rayl noticed the change, his pupils dilated in shock. But before either of them could react further, a powerful yet soothing energy swept over the battlefield, quelling their raging clash in an instant. The violent energies dissipated like smoke on the wind, leaving only the faint hum of lingering power.

Shingin collapsed to his knees, his body wracked with pain. Rayl staggered backward, his expression shifting to one of awe and confusion. Both men turned toward the source of the calming force—a young boy now stood between them.

The boy had delicate, sculpted features and golden hair that shimmered softly in the wind, as if he had stepped out of a painting. Despite his youthful appearance, his aura radiated an authority far beyond his years.

Shingin stared, dumbfounded, questions swirling in his mind. Who was this child?

Around them, the remaining Revolutionaries quickly lowered their heads in reverence, their voices unified in a solemn chant: "Leader!"

Shingin's chest tightened, disbelief washing over him. This boy—could he truly be the leader of the Revolutionaries? The idea seemed impossible, and yet the gravity of the situation left no room for doubt.

The boy—no, the leader—turned to Shingin, his golden eyes sharp and calculating. "You must be Shingin," he said in a calm, measured tone.

Shingin felt the weight of the boy's gaze, as though it could see straight through him. He nodded stiffly, acutely aware of the vast gulf between them.

The leader gave a faint nod of approval. "As I expected. The Eighth Successor. I am William, the Seventh Leader. Now that we've met, it's time we talked. This place is no longer safe."

As his words fell, the faint wail of sirens echoed in the distance, drawing closer. Police and emergency responders were on their way.