Tyrant's return: Reborn as a Good-For-Nothing Young Master

Floor 14 welcomed them with resistance—just like the floors before—but it barely lasted more than a few seconds.

Shelly hurled a surge of force outward, the explosion of raw energy sending the chasing guards flying into the walls like ragdolls. The street cracked under her feet as the blast wave cleared the alley.

"For the last damn time—stay down!"

She shouted, exasperated.

The soldiers groaned in defeat, none of them eager to get up again.

Zerg chuckled beside her.

"You're getting cranky, Shelly."

She cracked her knuckles.

"No, I'm just tired of these mosquitoes biting at us every floor."

"Sounds like you could use a spar. Loosen those shoulders a bit. I promise I won't break too many of your bones."

Zerg offered with a smirk, clearly itching for a challenge.

Shelly narrowed her eyes.

"Please. Sparring with you is like jumping into a meat grinder and hoping to come out as a salad."

Fenrir walked ahead of them silently, ignoring their banter. He raised his hand, summoning his system panel with a gesture of mana.

Zerg glanced at him.

"Looking for our next target?"

"Valis."

Fenrir answered flatly.

At once, Shelly's playful expression turned more serious. Zerg straightened his posture, stepping closer to peer at the interface flickering in Fenrir's hand.

Fenrir's fingers moved quickly across the translucent screen, searching through several encrypted data layers. Then he paused, his brow furrowing.

"Got him."

He muttered.

"That fast?"

Zerg raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. That's the strange part."

Fenrir replied.

He turned the display for the others to see.

"Valis is here on Floor 14—but his location is completely unguarded. No prison mechanisms, no soldiers, no locks. Just... nothing."

Shelly frowned.

"So, what? They forgot about him?"

"No…that's not it.

Fenrir said quietly.

There was a pause. The street behind them was quiet now, the wind barely rustling through the high metallic towers of Floor 14. In that silence, his words carried a sharper weight.

"If Valis hasn't left yet... it means he doesn't want to. Or he's planning something that needs him to stay exactly where he is."

Fenrir continued.

Shelly folded her arms.

"Well, that's annoying. Are we going to have to convince him now?"

Zerg scoffed.

"Convincing Valis to do anything was never easy. The guy lives in his own world."

"Which makes this harder than every other rescue so far. He's not shackled, not injured, not surrounded. He's free—but still staying put. That tells me everything I need to know."

Fenrir said. "

"That he's up to something?"

Zerg asked.

"That he's choosing to be a prisoner."

Shelly threw up her hands.

"Oh, great. I didn't sign up for philosophical breakouts. Can't we just grab him and drag him out?"

Fenrir shook his head.

"No. If he's staying willingly, it's because there's something he knows that we don't. We can't afford to make enemies out of our own allies."

Zerg sighed.

"Then we talk to him. Let's see what our dear old comrade has in mind."

Fenrir nodded slowly.

"Let's move."

And with that, the three vanished into the winding pathways of Floor 14, the quiet before the next storm following them with every step.

Zerg rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as they made their way through the winding paths of Floor 14.

"Honestly, who cares if Valis wants to join us or not? He sealed his soul to ours the moment we first fought side by side. Now he needs to keep his damn promise."

He muttered.

Fenrir didn't respond at first, but there was a subtle flicker in his expression.

He knew Zerg was right. It wasn't about free will anymore. It was about loyalty, about finishing what they all started.

"We're not here to ask him. We're here to get our companion, and we will."

Zerg continued, his tone growing darker.

Shelly, walking a few paces ahead, suddenly slowed down.

"There are a lot of people here," she said, eyes narrowing as she scanned the area.

The streets near the prison weren't empty like most places they'd passed.

Dozens of civilians moved about—some carrying baskets, others chatting quietly. Families, children, shopkeepers… All of them too close to the prison perimeter.

She turned toward Fenrir.

"You think this is why Valis hasn't broken out?"

Fenrir's eyes flicked toward the crowds. He didn't speak, but the tension in his jaw answered for him.

"Valis was always… different. Gentle. The only one among us who gave a damn about human lives. If he's been sitting in that prison with no real chains… maybe it's because he can't bring himself to break out. Not without hurting these people."

Shelly muttered.

Zerg made a sound of irritation.

"Guilt. He's drowning in it."

Shelly sighed.

"As much as I don't want to believe it, I can see it. I just don't care for it."

She stepped forward, a spark of defiance in her voice now.

"If Valis won't come out, then we'll get him out. One way or another."

The three of them reached the front gate of the prison, a looming metallic archway pulsing with weak barrier wards.

A squad of guards stepped into their path immediately, weapons drawn.

"Halt! This is a restricted—"

Before the man could finish, Fenrir moved.

Illusions shimmered in the air, causing the guards to hesitate.

Zerg charged through the left side like a battering ram while Shelly exploded into motion, sending a wave of force into the ground and staggering the frontline.

One guard stumbled backward, clutching his head.

"It's them—Kyle and Anna!"

The others barely had time to process it before the trio broke through, shattering the gates in a coordinated assault.

Stone and steel cracked and flew apart as the three stormed inside without slowing down.

"We're not stopping. Not until Valis walks out with us."

Fenrir growled.

And behind them, the shattered gate was left hanging open, the guards unconscious or too afraid to give chase.

The inside of the prison was eerily quiet, especially compared to the chaos they'd left behind. No alarms, no guards rushing in. Just long, dimly lit corridors stretching into silence.

Shelly clicked her tongue.

"Creepy. Almost like they knew we were coming and didn't even bother."

"No. It's because they know Valis won't leave. Why waste effort guarding someone who's imprisoning himself?"

Fenrir muttered.

They moved deeper inside, footsteps echoing off cold stone walls. Eventually, they reached a solitary chamber—simple iron bars, no chains, no runes, no locks.

Inside sat Valis.

He was cross-legged, eyes closed, palms resting on his knees like he was meditating. His white robes were dusty, but clean.

His long, silver-blond hair was tied back. He looked calm. Peaceful.

Zerg slammed his fist on the bars.

"Valis! We're here. Get up."

Valis opened his eyes slowly, the violet in them dim and tired.

"You shouldn't have come."

Fenrir stepped forward.

"You knew we would."

Valis exhaled, gaze dropping.

"There are people here… if I left, they would've paid the price. My powers… they're unstable."

"Then stabilize them outside."

Shelly snapped.

Zerg crossed his arms.

"You swore an oath. We all did. That we'd rise again—together."

Valis looked at them one by one, and the tremble in his hands gave away the truth. He hadn't lost his strength—only his will.

Fenrir narrowed his eyes.

"Enough waiting. Stand up. Or we're dragging you out."

Silence.

Then, slowly, Valis stood.

"I'll come. But if any innocents get caught in what we do…"

He said quietly.

"They won't. Because we'll win before they even get close."

Fenrir interrupted.

And with that, Valis stepped out of his cell—his past, and into the war ahead.