Nathan: So my hunch was correct. Anything that happens in this world… also affects the place where she hides.
Without another word, he dashed after Grace, determined to catch her before she could escape.
But when he reached the door, it refused to budge.
Grace had locked it from the outside.
Nathan didn't hesitate.
He slammed straight through the door and burst into the hallway—just in time to see Grace slipping inside an elevator.
Nathan sprinted toward it, but this particular version of him lacked the speed-enhancing abilities possessed by his other forms.
By the time he reached the elevator—
The doors closed.
Nathan stopped abruptly.
Nathan: Damn it. I'm not taking the stairs… not today.
Instead, he forced open the elevator doors with his blades.
Inside, the elevator car was already descending, but not yet far enough to escape his reach.
He drove his blade into the edge of the shaft and lowered himself down using the chain connected to both the blade and his arm, descending with controlled precision.
Moments later, Nathan landed atop the moving elevator.
He steadied himself, then pried open the hatch and dropped inside—
Ready to confront Grace.
But when he looked around—
The elevator was empty.
Nathan: What? Where did she go? No… she couldn't have gotten out.
The elevator continued descending.
Nathan:(thought) The elevator didn't stop nor was there any time to escape such a cramp place, other than the hatch. Which means… she's hiding… somewhere.
Nathan scanned the elevator carefully, searching for any place Grace could have slipped out.
But there was nothing.
The elevator reached the ground floor, and Nathan stepped out, immediately beginning to search the lobby for any sign of her.
Then suddenly—
A thought struck him.
Nathan: …The elevator.
He turned slightly, realizing something he had overlooked.
The interior walls of the elevator car…
were mirrors.
Before he could process the realization further, a faint beeping sound reached his ears.
Nathan froze.
He quickly looked down.
The uniform he had borrowed from the hotel worker was making the sound.
Nathan: …This is a fucking bomb vest.
Without hesitation, he tore the vest off and hurled it onto the floor.
But he knew it was already too late to escape the blast.
To minimize the damage to the surrounding area, Nathan threw himself over the coat, shielding it with his own body and compressing the flames around him to contain the explosion as much as possible.
The bomb detonated.
The explosion ripped through Nathan's body, tearing away half of his torso and blasting him across the hallway.
He slammed into the wall with tremendous force.
For a moment, he struggled to breathe.
The first two seconds were agony.
But as no further damage followed, his body began to regenerate instantly, the destroyed flesh knitting itself back together.
Nathan slowly stood.
Then he looked up—
And caught a glimpse of Grace sprinting out of the hotel entrance.
Nathan clenched his jaw and he didn't have time to waste.
Grace had already shown how dangerous she could be.
Now he had to catch her before she did something even worse.
Nathan burst out of the hotel in pursuit of Grace.
As he ran, he quickly grabbed his original outfit that his fan had left near the lantern outside. Within seconds, he had armed himself again.
His fiery chained blades shot outward, latching onto nearby trees, flagpoles, and street lanterns as he swung across the traffic below with fluid precision.
To the pedestrians watching from the sidewalks, it looked almost like a performance.
Some even paused to take pictures of Nathan soaring through the air.
Ahead of him, Grace was already exhausted. Her breathing grew heavier with every step until finally she could run no farther.
She stopped at the edge of a small bridge, leaning against the railing as she struggled to catch her breath.
Moments later, Nathan landed nearby.
Grace glanced at him and immediately understood something important.
In a direct fight, she had no chance against him.
The road was mostly empty now, and no pedestrians were close enough to intervene.
Her eyes flickered toward a nearby car.
For a split second, she considered slipping into the car's side mirror and escaping.
But before she could move—
A fireball struck the pavement beside the vehicle.
Nathan had fired it deliberately as a warning.
Grace froze.
There was no escape that way.
With trembling hands, she slowly pulled a small pocket knife from her pocket.
Grace: I've worked… my entire life… to reach this position.
Her voice trembled.
Grace: I sacrificed everything… everything that mattered to me.
Her grip on the knife tightened.
Grace: Please… just let me go.
Nathan exhaled slowly and lowered his chained blades, concealing them.
Nathan: I'm not here to harm you… and I'm not here to arrest you.
He looked at her calmly.
Nathan: I'm here because I know what you did. All I want… is for you to confess what you did to Christina.
Grace lowered her gaze.
Grace: She would never forgive me. I've… never messed up this badly in my entire life. And even if she did… my entire image would be shattered.
Nathan: How do you know whether she would forgive you or not?
He paused.
Nathan: You two have been rivals for years, yet you barely know each other at all.
Grace looked up at him, suspicion still lingering in her eyes.
Grace: And what makes you think you know us so well?
Nathan: I've read both of your files. And from what I've seen… you're not a bad person, just… misunderstood.
Grace's grip on the knife loosened.
Nathan noticed the change immediately.
For the first time since the chase began, he saw something different in her expression—hesitation.
Hope.
Slowly, Nathan stepped closer.
Carefully.
Grace didn't resist.
When he reached her, he gently lowered the knife from her hand as quiet tears slipped down her cheeks.
Grace: I… I didn't mean to—
Nathan shook his head softly.
Nathan: Save it for her. For now, let's—
???: He's lying.
Both of them froze.
They turned toward the source of the voice.
To Nathan's surprise, it was Zerathos, standing atop a nearby streetlight not far from Grace.
With effortless grace, he stepped off the pole and dropped to the ground, landing beside her.
The sudden appearance startled Grace. She instinctively stepped back, having no idea who this man was.
Grace: W-Who are you?
Zerathos tilted his head slightly, studying her with calm amusement.
Zerathos: Hm… that is a good question.
He smiled faintly.
Zerathos: But the real question is—who are you?
He slowly circled her.
Zerathos: I've been observing you for quite some time. And you…
He paused.
Zerathos: I have an invitation for you.
Nathan immediately stepped forward.
Nathan: Grace, don't listen to him. He is the abomination of this world—the leader of the Dark Knights, Old Dominion.
He gestured toward him.
Nathan: His invitation is a path that leads straight to hell itself.
He looked back at Grace.
Nathan: You don't want to do this.
Zerathos chuckled softly.
Zerathos: Oh really?
He began circling Grace again.
Zerathos: And how exactly do you know what she wants?
His gaze returned to her.
Zerathos: She is one of the most beautiful women in this world… determined, ruthless, cunning.
His eyes flicked toward Nathan.
Zerathos: Unlike you.
Nathan's expression darkened.
Nathan: You know nothing about me.
Zerathos suddenly placed both hands on Grace's shoulders and leaned closer, speaking near her ear.
Zerathos: Join my empire… and I will give you everything you desire.
Grace pondered every word Zerathos had spoken.
Grace: Anything… you said?
A faint smile curved across Zerathos' lips.
Zerathos: Anything you can conceive of. All you must do… is shake my hand.
Grace's grip tightened around the knife.
Grace: Then I… choose THIS!
In a sudden motion, she lunged forward and drove the knife toward Zerathos' throat.
Yet the instant the blade struck—
the wound manifested upon Grace's own throat instead.
Her eyes widened in horror as crimson blossomed across her skin.
Staggering backward, she lost her footing upon the edge of the cubic bridge and plunged into the canal below.
Nathan reacted instantly.
Drawing his chained blades, he surged forward and unleashed a powerful double strike.
But Zerathos remained utterly unperturbed.
With effortless composure, he caught both blades mid-swing.
Nathan faltered for a fraction of a second, momentarily stunned.
Recovering quickly, he channeled a surge of searing firepower along the edges of his blades—enough to produce a devastating explosion upon contact.
Since Zerathos already held the blades, the detonation erupted instantly.
However—
every ounce of destructive force was transferred directly to Nathan.
The blast shredded his hands and tore fragments of flesh from his face.
Yet within moments, his regenerative ability restored the damage.
Two seconds were all he required to heal completely.
Nathan:(thought) Just as Riptide explained… this bastard can manipulate and redirect damage onto me.
His breathing steadied.
Nathan:(thought) Damage return? Highly probable. Riptide also mentioned that Zerathos possesses precognitive capabilities—though only for a brief interval. I must proceed cautiously… and I still have to save her.
Zerathos regarded him with quiet amusement.
Zerathos: If you are still wondering about the nature of my ability… allow me to offer a small demonstration.
Suddenly, Nathan began to choke.
Water erupted from his mouth as he collapsed to one knee.
It felt as though he were drowning.
His lungs burned violently, filling with water that should not have existed within them.
In that instant, comprehension dawned upon him.
Nathan: (thought) It's… causality manipulation. He dictated the effect of Grace drowning… onto me.
Zerathos' smile deepened.
Zerathos: Do not forget the "absolute" aspect of my power.
He took a slow step forward.
Zerathos: Absolute Causality Manipulation.
His voice carried quiet certainty.
Zerathos: All of you are utterly powerless before me. And as for your sister…
A thin smile returned to his lips.
Zerathos: I will take care of her… in ways you never could.
Zerathos let out a soft, sinister laugh.
Something inside Nathan snapped when he heard what Zerathos said about his sister.
Fury surged through him, hot and immediate, consuming his thoughts.
Without hesitation, Nathan fired several rounds of heavy ammunition around Zerathos, deliberately striking the ground and railings to create a thick curtain of smoke. In the next instant, he lunged forward through the haze, jets of flame roaring from his hands like a living flamethrower.
Nathan had abandoned restraint entirely.
He fought like a savage beast unleashed.
Zerathos, however, seemed almost amused.
Zerathos: Such anger… such fury.
He tilted his head slightly, observing Nathan with faint curiosity.
Zerathos: And you call yourself a paragon for these people?
Nathan ignored the taunt completely.
Right now, there was only one thought burning in his mind:
He wanted to burn this bastard alive.
Drawing his blades, Nathan unleashed a rapid succession of slashes. Steel flashed again and again in relentless arcs of violence.
Yet somehow, Zerathos parried every strike.
In fact, he appeared to be enjoying himself.
After what must have felt like ages of slumber, the battle seemed to entertain him.
With effortless strength, Zerathos suddenly delivered a devastating blow to Nathan's chest.
The impact hurled Nathan backward, sending him skidding across the pavement until he crashed near the edge of the bridge.
Zerathos dusted off his coat as though nothing had happened.
Zerathos: I'm ready whenever you are. I can do this all day.
Nathan's wounds rapidly sealed themselves, flesh knitting back together within seconds.
He rose again, prepared to charge back into the fight—
But then he noticed something.
Small bubbles were rising to the surface of the water below the bridge.
Grace sank deeper into the canal, her body drifting motionless within the cold, dark water.
As the silence of the depths closed around her, fragments of her life began flashing before her eyes.
In that moment of fading consciousness, Grace understood the weight of everything she had done. Her selfish ambition, the harm she had caused, the danger she had placed others in—all of it pressed down on her like the crushing water around her.
Even her constant claims of being a good person now felt hollow.
Blood continued to seep from the wound on her neck, spreading slowly through the water as darkness crept into her vision.
The world around her dimmed.
And now, with death drawing near, there was only one thing she truly wished she could do—
Apologize to Christina.
But that chance felt impossibly distant now, like a dream slipping beyond her reach.
At the last possible moment, a hand broke through the water and seized her arm.
Nathan.
He pulled her upward with powerful strokes, dragging her toward the edge of the canal before hauling her onto the dry pavement.
Without wasting a second, Nathan used his healing ability on her wounds.
Only then did he glance around, scanning the bridge for any sign of Zerathos.
But he was already gone.
Nathan:(sigh) Damn it… the bastard got away. Tsk. Next time, I won't let him slip through.
He looked back down at the woman lying beside him.
Nathan: We've got a patient to take care of… Grace.
He paused.
Nathan: …Grace?
Nathan leaned closer, checking on her as she lay motionless on the ground.
Why wasn't she responding?
The question grew increasingly terrifying with every passing second.
He quickly checked for her pulse—and found nothing.
Nathan immediately began performing CPR while calling for an ambulance.
[One hour later]
Grace slowly opened her eyes, her vision hazy and her body weak.
She found herself lying on a hospital bed. A dull ache lingered in her chest, where a small linear scar marked the place where her heart had been forced back to life.
Christina sat on the other bed.
Christina: How are you feeling, Grace?
Grace turned her head and saw Christina resting on another bed beside her, her leg wrapped in a cast.
Christina: Jaded Angel said he had to open your chest to pump your heart manually. He seemed surprised that it actually worked so well. Are you okay?
Grace let out a long sigh.
Grace: I… don't know what to say.
Her voice trembled.
Grace: I don't think apologizing would ever be enough for all the terrible things I've done to you. I'm… honestly just a pathetic loser.
Her hands tightened slightly against the bedsheets.
Grace: You deserved that crown far more than I ever did. And… I'm really sorry. I truly am.
Christina shifted slightly on her bed.
Christina: Grace… I also...
As Grace and Christina continued their conversation, Nathan sat alone on a bench in the hospital hallway.
He listened quietly while writing a report about his encounter with Zerathos, sending the details directly to WHA Headquarters.
Yet even as he wrote, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
His greatest concern was not Zerathos.
It was his sister—Lyra.
The tragedy that had claimed their parents haunted him every time the memory resurfaced.
It had happened on a rainy day many years ago.
Their family had been traveling by car when fate suddenly took a cruel turn.
While driving along a mountain road, their vehicle was caught in a violent landslide.
Nathan and Lyra were seated in the back seat.
Their parents sat in the front.
As the car tumbled down the hillside, Nathan instinctively wrapped himself around his little sister, shielding her with his body.
When he finally opened his eyes again, the only thing he could see was blood splattered across the interior of the car.
Their mother had been killed instantly.
A massive log had crashed through the windshield, crushing her skull beyond recognition.
Their father met an equally horrific fate.
A twisted iron bar had pierced straight through his chest, killing him where he sat.
For a nine-year-old boy and his four-year-old sister, the sight was unbearable.
It was a trauma that would scar them for the rest of their lives.
The local orphanage eventually took the two siblings in.
From that day forward, Nathan became even more protective of his younger sister. Unlike many of the other children there, he grew into someone both fierce and compassionate—brave, quick-tempered when provoked, yet deeply kind and responsible.
Those qualities earned him the respect of everyone around him.
But for reasons he could never fully understand, Lyra disappeared shortly after Nathan first awakened his powers.
Since then, he had searched for her tirelessly.
And now, it had become increasingly clear to him that somehow… she was connected to Zerathos.
Nathan's expression hardened.
Nathan: Zerathos… for the first and last time, you've crossed the line. If you lay even a finger on my little sister, I swear I'll unleash hell upon you.
He clenched his fists.
Nathan: And the next time we meet… I won't let you escape again.
Nathan remained seated for a moment longer, listening quietly to Grace and Christina speaking inside the room.
From the tone of their voices, he could tell that the hostility between them had faded.
They were finally on good terms.
Because of that, Nathan realized something.
There was no longer any reason to report Grace's powers to WHA Headquarters.
Silently, he closed the report.
Some secrets were better left buried.
Rising from the bench, Nathan left the hospital corridor, carrying that secret with him—protecting Grace's future and her career from the consequences of her past.