The Chase

Beatrix saw red.

Celestia materialized in Arthur's hands.

Evan drew his sword.

In an instant, three attacks cut through the air, brimming with lethal intent.

But the two swords and staff struck nothing but empty space.

The assailant who had incapacitated Artemisia was suddenly 100 meters away from their initial position.

[Oh, you're faster than I estimated? Still not an issue, though.]

They remarked as they glanced at the faint tear in their clothes where Arthur's sword had grazed, their expression entirely unbothered.

It was only then that the trio could properly process their appearance.

A tall man with long black hair tied into a ponytail just below the base of his head. His facial features were objectively above average, with black eyes and a hint of stubble on his chin.

He wore the black uniform of the Gozonian Army, but none of them believed for a second that he was a demon—or any sort of ally to Gozon.