Chapter 14

Ryn had been waiting for this.

The tunnel fight had been nothing—a chore, a brief inconvenience. The weaklings outside? Barely a warm-up. Even Kellan—an S-rank—had been a joke. Ryn had expected something better from him, but the guy had gone down without giving him the thrill of a real fight.Disappointing.

But now?

Now he was at the center of the battlefield.

The eye of the vortex.

The moment he had longed for had finally arrived.

A whole decade of peaceful days, of drinking tea with Mira, of idle conversations that stretched into eternity. A decade spent in quiet isolation, keeping his power contained, keeping himself from feeling this.

The rush.

The joy.

The adrenaline flooding his system, making his blood burn with anticipation.

This fleeting thrill—the sheer ecstasy of stepping into battle, of knowing that he could unleash himself, that he could burn as bright as he wanted without restraint.

And standing beside him?

Mira, who hated seeing him like this.

She had always despised battlefields.

Not because she was afraid.

Not because she thought they couldn't win.

But because she hated seeing Ryn risk himself for people who didn't matter.

She didn't care about Elena. She didn't care about the heroes. She barely cared about the war itself.

She only cared about him.

If it were up to her, Ryn would never fight again.

She would drag him away, lock him in their little world, and keep him there forever.

But… she also knew.

She couldn't hold him back forever.

So instead, she decided.

If he was going to fight—she would be there.

To protect him.

To watch his back.

And, most of all—

To make sure he didn't lose himself.

Mira's grip tightened slightly. Her shadows curled around her fingers, twisting like snakes, restless and eager to devour anything that threatened him.

She would never let him be taken from her.

Never.

Elena took a slow breath, letting the tension settle into her bones.

It had been a long time since she last stood beside Ryn in a fight.

Her body moved automatically into a stance she had practiced countless times—a stance that once felt as natural as breathing.

But as she stood there, something gnawed at her.

Her eyes flicked to Ryn.

He still had that smug, confident smirk. He still stood like a man who had nothing to fear.

But…

He hadn't aged.

A decade.

It had been over ten years since she had last seen him.

She had grown older—her body bore the weight of her experiences, her hands were rougher, her face lined with the remnants of battle.

But him?

He was untouched by time.

Exactly the same.

Not a single wrinkle.

Not a single sign of age.

Why?

The question had clawed at her mind since she first saw him in the tunnel.

And yet, this was not the time for answers.

There was no space for idle questions, no room for speculation.

If they survived this, she would call him for tea.

Sit across from him.

Look him in the eye.

And ask him everything.

For now—she would fight.

The battlefield shifted.

A path opened between them and Catapony.

The villains lined up along the sides, their powers activated, their eyes filled with bloodlust.

Some cracked their knuckles, some stretched their limbs, others simply stood still, waiting.

Waiting for the first strike.

The first blow that would turn the entire room into a war zone.

Then—movement.

Catapony lifted his hands, gripping his hoodie.

Slowly—dramatically—he pulled it down.

His bald head gleamed under the dim lights.

Silence.

Then—

Ryn smirked.

"What kind of villain name is 'Catapony' anyway?" he scoffed. "What, was 'Exploding Pony Guy' already taken? How about 'Baldy Pony'?"

Mira snorted, covering her mouth.

Elena sighed.

Catapony's eye twitched.

Ryn continued, eyes gleaming with amusement. "And the pony obsession? Let me guess—failed horse trainer? Got kicked in the head one too many times?"

A dark vein pulsed on Catapony's forehead.

The temperature in the room dropped.

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Then—an eruption.

"I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!" Catapony roared.

He threw off his cloak.

The villains cheered.

"I don't need anyone to deal with you!" Catapony snarled. "You're mine!"

Then, his smirk deepened.

He pointed at Mira and Elena.

"As for them?" His voice dripped with cruelty. "Do whatever you want. As roughly as you want."

The villains grinned.

Elena's fists tightened.

Mira?

Mira's smile disappeared.

Shadows spilled from her fingertips.

Ryn laughed.

A slow, mocking laugh.

"Oh, don't you need backup?" he teased. "What about I give you a handicap? Should I fight you using just my legs? Maybe one hand?"

Catapony's veins bulged.

"You—!"

Ryn leaned forward slightly, his smirk widening.

Catapony's entire face turned red.

He snapped his fingers.

Kellan stepped forward.

And with him—

Two more.

An A-class villain, his body covered in metallic armor.

An A-class swordsman, his blade humming with power.

Four against one.

Because of Dax.

Dax, who had already whispered the warning to Catapony. About the strong backup Elena has summoned.

And now?

Ryn was outnumbered. Coming back to his senses, Catapony didn't want to take a risk fighting him alone. 

Ryn Moves First

Without hesitation—Ryn jumped.

Straight up.

A ceiling blasted outward, scorching the floor beneath him.

The villains recoiled.

Pink ponies materialized.

They floated toward him, their soft fur harmless—until—

BOOM!

An explosion rocked the room.

Another.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The detonations chased him, but Ryn kept moving.

Higher. Higher.

The roof.

He landed, boots scraping against the concrete.

He exhaled.

There.

Catapony was already standing facing Ryn. Waiting.

And beside him?

A villain with massive eagle-like wings.

The A-class flyer.

"You trying to run, little hero?" Catapony sneered.

Ryn dusted off his jacket.

"Run?" He stretched his arms. "Nah."

Then, he grinned.

"I just needed enough space to toy with you."

Catapony's smirk twitched. 

Ryn cracked his knuckles.

"Now, let's get started."