Chapter 15: The First Resue

 Kurumi grabbed the weapon, her fingers wrapping tightly around its ancient hilt.

 Before she could move, a figure materialized from the shadows behind her, its presence heavy and commanding.

 A firm tap on her shoulder made her freeze.

 Without turning, she kept her voice steady as she said, "Guild Master, I didn't know you were back."

 The silence that followed stretched painfully, filling the room with unspoken tension.

 Dust motes danced in the sliver of light streaming through the high windows, highlighting the stillness between them.

 Then it spoke, voice deep and resonant, "What are you doing?"

 "I'm going to rescue my rookies and I need this weapon to get past those adventurers," Kurumi replied, her knuckles whitening around the hilt as she spoke.

 "Is that so?" The Guild Master's words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

 "Yes," she replied quickly but respectfully, her spine straightening with resolve.

 "There is no need for you to make a move. If you fight adventurers of that caliber in the city, the damage will be beyond catastrophic," the figure stated, moving slightly closer.

 The air around them seemed to grow heavier, charged with the Guild Master's formidable presence.

 "Well, I don't have a choice. It's my fault their lives are in danger," she replied, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice. 

 Her shoulders tensed as the weight of responsibility pressed down on her.

 "You don't have to worry. They'll be fine, and for the adventurers, we'll handle things strategically," the Guild Master said with absolute certainty, each word measured and deliberate.

 "But I can't leave this task to anyone!" Kurumi argued in a serious tone.

 "Please, Guild Master, let me go." The plea in her voice was raw, unlike her usual composed demeanor.

 The person hummed thoughtfully, studying her with knowing eyes. "So you are worried, but I've told you it's taken care of."

 "By who, Guild Master?" she asked, her grip tightening around the weapon until her knuckles turned white, betraying her anxiety despite her controlled expression.

 "By the current strongest man in the kingdom, Theo von Kronaro," it said, the name falling like a stone in still water.

 Kurumi's shoulders relaxed visibly, tension draining from her body like melting ice. She let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief. If Theo was involved, perhaps there was hope after all.

 Meanwhile, Theo was walking through a verdant forest.

 His footsteps barely disturbed the fallen leaves beneath his feet as he talked to himself, organizing his thoughts.

 "I'm almost there," he said, walking with deceptive laziness that masked his readiness to strike.

 "Wish my lady had given me a clearer explanation of what's going on, but I think I get the picture. I'll just rescue everyone I find."

 Then, as he was about to emerge from the forest's embrace, a wave of sinister energy washed over him—thick, oppressive, and undeniably malevolent. 

 It poured from the building ahead, pulsing like a dark heartbeat against the serene backdrop of nature.

 He couldn't see the building clearly through the last stand of trees, but when he finally stepped into the clearing, he found himself facing an clean looking abandoned factory. 

 "Whoever is there is strong," he said, his eyes widening slightly in appreciation.

 A rare flicker of excitement crossing his usually composed features. "It's a good thing I'm stronger."

 Then he took three slow, deliberate steps forward. With each step, an afterimage appeared behind him, like echoes of his presence lingering in reality. 

 On the third step, he vanished completely—only to reappear inside the building, the transition instantaneous and perfect.

 He moved so fast that it was like everything had been slowed down significantly.

 The world crawling at a glacial pace while he alone moved normally.

 Dust particles hung suspended in the air, and the very atmosphere felt viscous, as if he were moving through honey while everything else was trapped in amber.

 When he entered the building, he found the trio frozen in place, their faces contorted in terror.

 Their eyes were wide, mouths open in silent screams that would never reach his ears in this suspended moment of time.

 And with his ability, it was like they were stuck in time—living statues caught in a moment of pure fear, unaware of their salvation standing before them.

 "Let's see, there are no monsters, so who is the enemy—" he said as his gaze swept the room, finally settling on a makeshift throne across the vast space.

 His words died in his throat as he locked eyes with the figure seated there. "Wait, that energy... you are not human, are you, kid?"

The boy ignored him and looked at him with cold eyes, chin resting lazily on his hand. 

 There was something ancient and terrible in that gaze.

 The silence between them crackled with tension, like the moment before lightning strikes.

 Then after the pause, the boy spoke, his voice carrying a weight beyond his years.

 "What do you want, human? You haven't wronged me yet. If you leave now, I'll spare your life."

 'A monster which can almost match my speed? Not bad. This could be interesting,' Theo thought as a confident smirk played across his lips.

 "I appreciate your concern, kid, but I'll be fine," he paused, his voice dripping with mockery as he added, "After all, you're weak."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

 The boy's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly—the only outward sign of his mounting rage.

"A human dares call me weak? I suppose all humans are foolish. 

 I have no choice but to kill you," he stated seriously, his cold stare boring into Theo like ice picks.

 Then he continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "If the others caught wind of this, I'd be a laughingstock."

 "I don't like fighting children, so I'll let you go," Theo said casually, as if offering a great kindness. 

 He approached Ayame's frozen form and gently placed his finger on her forehead, light as a feather against her skin.

 After a second or two of concentration, she vanished completely—whisked away to safety by some unfathomable power. 

 The boy's eyes widened fractionally, his composure cracking for the first time. 

 The aura in the room darkened perceptibly, growing thick and heavy like tar. The shadows in the corners seemed to writhe and stretch toward Theo.

 Theo ignored the boy's sinister aura and continued with his task, unfazed by the suffocating darkness.

 He calmly approached Takemitchi and, with the same gentle precision, made him disappear with a touch.

 Then, when he moved to Suzuri, he saw her face and paused, recognition flickering across his features. 'This girl looks familiar. 

 Well, I might run into her at some point,' he thought, studying her terrified expression for a moment longer.

 He then made her disappear with a touch to her forehead. 

 As the last of the rookies vanished to safety, Theo's extraordinary energy retreated back into himself. 

 The world around him lurched back into normal motion—dust continuing its lazy descent, distant creaking metal resuming its complaint against time.

 "Alright now, I'm ready to play," he said with quiet confidence, stretching out his arm to signal the boy to come forward. 

 The invitation was clear—a challenge thrown down between titans.

 The boy stood up from his throne with predatory grace and started walking slowly toward Theo, his movements fluid and measured. 

 His face remained a mask of cold calm, but his eyes burned with ancient hatred.

 They made eye contact for a few seconds, both their eyes beginning to glow with otherworldly power—his a deep, pulsing crimson; the boy's an icy, electric blue. 

 The very room began to shake under the pressure of their combined power. 

 Small cracks spider-webbed across the concrete floor, dust raining down from the ceiling as the building groaned in protest.

 But then, a thought crossed Theo's mind, cutting through his battle focus. 

 'Wait, my lady might need my assistance. Besides, I don't need to do anything that isn't within my orders. I know her words are absolute,' he thought, remembering his true purpose.

 "You know, on second thought, let's not do this another time," he said, lowering his arm as the glow in his eyes dimmed.

 "Alright," the boy replied, his own power receding like a tide.

 "Huh?" Theo said, genuine surprise breaking through his usual composure. "I'm surprised you agreed. Why's that?"

 "I've realized that I can't beat you as I am right now, and my time is up. Let's meet again some other time," the boy said. 

 As he spoke, his body slowly started to fade away, disintegrating like ashes being blown by an invisible wind. 

 The sight was both beautiful and unsettling.

 "I'm glad we didn't waste each other's time with pointless fighting," Theo remarked, genuinely impressed by the boy's pragmatism.

 "What's your name, human?" the boy asked coolly, his form now translucent, barely clinging to reality.

 "It's Theo... Theo Kronaro, although some call me Humanity's Strongest Swordsman," he said with quiet pride before turning and walking away without a backward glance.

 And the boy completely faded alongside his two slime subordinates, leaving no trace of their presence in the abandoned factory except for the cracks in the floor—physical testament to the power that had nearly been unleashed.

 Meanwhile, back at the guild, Kurumi was just about to open the door out of the backroom, her hand resting on the cold metal of the doorknob.

 Despite the Guild Master's assurances, worry still gnawed at her insides, a persistent ache that wouldn't subside until she saw her rookies safe with her own eyes.