chapter 17: The phantom and the savage

Chapter 17: The Phantom and the Savage

Rin awoke with a dull ache in his body. His head throbbed slightly from the previous night's ordeal, but that was nothing new. What was new, however, was the lingering feeling of something—or someone—being nearby.

He lay still, feigning sleep, his ears attuned to the silence of the room. A presence was close, subtle yet undeniable. The sensation prickled at his instincts like a blade hovering just above his throat.

Then—movement.

A shadow flickered at the edge of his vision, slipping soundlessly past the doorway. Whoever it was had an unnatural grace, the kind that came from years of training or something far more mysterious.

Rin's body tensed, and in an instant, he was moving.

With quiet precision, he pushed himself up and rushed after the fleeting figure. He pursued them through the tight corridors of the Down World's streets, his feet hammering against the stone. The figure remained ahead, their every step calculated, their speed astonishing.

They took sharp turns without hesitation, evading obstacles with an ease that left Rin both frustrated and intrigued. He pushed himself harder, determined to see their face—only for them to suddenly vanish.

Rin came to a halt, his breaths measured but deep. His sharp gaze scanned the dark alleys, but there was nothing. Not a single trace of their presence remained.

A slow smirk curled his lips. Whoever they were, they were good.

"Interesting," he muttered before turning away. There was no time to dwell on it. He had somewhere to be.

The moment Rin stepped into the guild, a familiar air of camaraderie and tension mixed in the air. Dimly lit lanterns flickered, casting long shadows over the wooden floors. The guild members, rough yet competent individuals, were engaged in conversations, exchanging information about recent events.

Rin greeted them with a nod, his usual cold demeanor unchanged. His sharp gaze scanned the room, assessing, calculating.

Something felt off.

As he moved further in, a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him. It wasn't the kind that came from lack of sleep—it was something unnatural, something forced.

His muscles weakened, his eyelids grew heavy. Around him, guild members began collapsing, their bodies hitting the floor one by one. Mugs slipped from fingers, weapons clattered as warriors slumped forward, unconscious before they even realized what was happening.

Rin fought against it, but the force was overwhelming. His vision blurred, and his knees buckled.

Yet—one eye remained open.

Half-conscious, his senses dulled but still alert, Rin barely registered the sound of footsteps entering the guild.

A tall figure, draped in a long green coat, walked inside.

Mavos.

The atmosphere in the room shifted. Even in his half-unconscious state, Rin could feel the weight of the presence before him. Mavos moved with an eerie silence, exuding an aura of absolute control.

He approached Engine, who, despite the situation, remained completely unbothered. The red thorny umbrella rested beside him, spinning slightly between his fingers as if this was nothing more than casual amusement.

"You're here for the quest," Engine stated, voice calm.

Mavos didn't speak. A gloved hand extended, accepting a sealed document from Engine. The exchange was brief, but something about it felt heavier—like more than just a mission was being passed between them.

Rin caught a single word amidst the haze.

"Him."

Then, just as quickly as he had come, Mavos turned and left.

The moment the door shut behind him, the spell broke.

The guild members stirred, groaning as they struggled to sit up. Some clutched their heads, others reached for weapons instinctively, though the battle had already passed.

Rin straightened, inhaling deeply as full consciousness returned. He turned to one of the guild members.

"What just happened?" His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with curiosity.

"That… was Mavos," came the answer, the guild member still shaking off the drowsiness.

"Mavos?" Rin echoed, intrigued.

"Nobody has ever seen his real face," another guild member muttered, rubbing his temples. "He's like a ghost. A phantom. The only one who takes on S-rank missions alone."

Rin narrowed his eyes. "And the mission?"

The guild member hesitated. "The mission details are only given to The Wall for verification. That's how S-rank missions work."

A new voice chimed in—one of the more senior members of the guild.

"The mission might have something to do with the Balotelli family."

Rin's gaze sharpened.

"They're making a move soon," the man continued. "At the gathering of The Cube."

A heavy silence followed. The Cube. The place where the most powerful individuals in the Down World gathered. A battleground for influence, deals, and betrayals.

And the Balotelli family had plans.

Rin's fingers curled slightly.

"Things are about to get interesting," he muttered.

Deep within a dark, blood-stained lair, a man crawled forward, his breathing ragged. His body was battered, his hands shaking as he reached out toward the towering figures standing before him.

Two guards, armed and expressionless, blocked his path. Their presence alone was intimidating, their gazes void of sympathy.

"I… I need to see Voz Savage," the man rasped, barely able to keep himself upright.

The guards exchanged glances. "No one sees him without permission."

Desperation flickered in the man's eyes. He had risked too much to be turned away now.

"I have information," he gasped. "I know where the Balotelli heirloom is."

A thick silence filled the air. Then—

"Let him in."

The voice from within was deep, commanding. The guards stepped aside, and the man stumbled forward.

Inside, iron cages lined the walls, filled with monstrous, battle-scarred gorillas. Their growls reverberated through the dimly lit chamber, their eyes glowing with a dangerous intelligence.

At the far end of the room, beneath a massive throne, stood Voz Savage.

A behemoth of a man, Voz Savage exuded raw, untamed strength. His muscular frame was wrapped in thick leather, scars etched across his body like stories of war. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable.

Beside him, seated elegantly on the throne, was a masked woman.

She was poised yet predatory, her presence almost more chilling than the monstrous man beside her. At her feet lay a massive white tiger, its piercing golden eyes locked onto the intruder.

The man swallowed hard.

"You have my attention," Voz Savage rumbled.

With shaking hands, the man revealed his secret.

"The Balotelli heirloom… I know where it's hidden it's with that man who humiliated you years ago the south star of the former generation I know his whereabouts," he whispered.

A slow, wicked smile stretched across Voz Savage's lips. The masked woman remained silent, idly stroking the tiger's fur.

Voz Savage turned to her. "What do you think?"

The woman tilted her head slightly. "If he's lying, let the gorillas have him."

The man's breath hitched.

Voz Savage chuckled. "Fine. You're under us now."

The man let out a shuddering breath of relief. But as the tiger's gaze burned into him, he realized—he had merely traded one danger for another.