Chapter 12-Unseen Strength

Keld's eyes widened as he saw a familiar figure standing before him. A smile spread across his face, his eyes glistening with relief.

"Ryulune!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with joy. "You came to save me!"

Ryulune smirked. "Do you enjoy getting kidnapped or something?"

Keld pouted. "Hey! It's not like I get kidnapped on purpose!"

Before Ryulune could respond, another voice interrupted them. "Enough chit-chat! We need to move!"

Keld turned to face the unfamiliar man. He blinked, then looked back at Ryulune and asked, "Who is this kid?"

Silence.

A vein popped on the man's forehead. "Who the hell are you calling a kid?! I'm older than you! You should respect your elders!"

Keld tilted his head. "Wait… you're older than me? But you're so tiny."

The man clenched his fists. "T-TINY?! You brat—!" He stomped his foot, but it only made him look even more like an angry child. "I swear, I will—!"

Ryulune sighed, rubbing his temples. "Both of you, shut up. They're coming."

His tone silenced them immediately. Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Ryulune turned to Ankh. "Take him home."

Keld's eyes widened. "What?! What about you?"

Ankh laughed as he shattered Keld's chains with a flick of his wrist. "I'll wait for you, Ryulune. But I'm getting this guy out of here first."

Before Keld could argue, Ankh picked him up and leaped into the air.

"W-Wait! We're flying?!" Keld screamed.

Ankh rolled his eyes. "No shit, idiot. Look above you."

Keld hesitantly looked up, and his jaw dropped. A massive airship loomed above them, its shadow stretching across the entire city.

"What the fuck?! That thing is HUGE!"

Ankh chuckled. "Huge? That's the smallest version."

Keld's eyes twitched. "What do you mean, the smallest?!"

Just as he was about to process it all, another thought hit him. "Wait… how has no one ever noticed that thing before?!"

Ankh smirked. "That's the power of Vitra. When you understand it, things will get even more interesting."

Keld's excitement turned into concern. "Wait… where is Ryulune?!"

Ankh's smirk grew wider. "Oh, he's got business to take care of."

Keld frowned. "No! It's dangerous! He's stuck there because of me!"

Ankh suddenly burst into laughter. "Stuck? Who? Ryulune… or those poor bastards?"

Keld hesitated. "Is he really that strong?"

Ankh grinned. "Strong? That word is too small to describe him."

Keld fell into deep thought, realizing he had severely underestimated Ryulune's strength.

Ankh smirked. "You're wondering if Ryulune is really that powerful, aren't you?"

Keld blinked. "Wait… how did you know?!"

Ankh laughed. "Because I'm a genius."

As they landed, Keld turned to him. "Did you and Ryulune bring my friends back safely?"

Ankh shook his head. "Not us."

Keld's heart skipped a beat. "What?! Then we have to find them! If you found me, you can find them too!"

He turned to run, but Ankh grabbed his collar. "Oi, oi, why are you always in such a hurry?"

Keld scowled. "Then who took them?"

Ankh crossed his arms. "Our queen."

Keld frowned. "Your… queen?"

Ankh sighed. "Yeah, weird, right? I was going to take them myself, but she stopped me and said she would do it. and she said she had some business with them."

Keld couldn't understand her motives, but something about it felt off.

Ankh stretched. "Anyway, you should rest. I've got things to do."

Keld sighed. "Fine."

With that, Ankh disappeared in an instant.

As Keld entered his home, his sister greeted him with surprise.

"Wow, you're home early today."

She looked him up and down, then frowned. "Wait… where's your bag?"

Keld blinked. "Huh? I think I forgot it."

His sister crossed her arms. "Where?"

Keld scratched his head. "I… don't know?"

She sighed heavily. "How do I have such a stupid brother…?"

Keld groaned. "Fine! I'll go get it—"

Just as he opened the door, he froze.

Ankh was standing there, awkwardly placing Keld's bag on the doorstep, his hand hovering over the doorbell.

Their eyes met. Ankh's face turned red with embarrassment.

"Uh… here's your bag. I'm going now."

Before he could escape, Keld's sister shouted, "Wait! Are you Keld's friend?!"

Ankh looked back nervously. "Uh… yes? Nice to meet you!"

Then, he bolted.

"Wait! At least come inside!" she called after him.

Keld watched Ankh disappear in the distance and muttered, "He's so fast…"

His sister smirked. "Your friend is interesting."

Keld picked up his bag and sighed, his thoughts drifting back to Ryulune. Is he safe…?

The scene shifted.

A long, blood-soaked hallway stretched into the distance. Bodies lay scattered, lifeless and broken. The scent of iron filled the air.

Ryulune walked forward, his boots splashing through crimson puddles. His gaze locked onto the figure standing at the end of the corridor.

Vorath.

The two stared at each other in silence.

In a blink, Ryulune lunged, his blade slicing through the air toward Vorath's neck—

Only for it to pass through nothing.

A hologram.

Ryulune clenched his teeth, his hands stained with blood, his breath ragged.

"Next time we meet…" he growled, his voice seething with fury. "I'll show you hell."