Inside the palace—
Princess Akidna stood on her balcony.
The night air was quiet.
Still.
Her thoughts drifted.
"…He was strange."
A faint softness appeared in her eyes.
"I've never felt that way about someone before…"
Footsteps approached.
Soft.
Measured.
A maid stepped beside her.
Carrying dinner.
"My lady…"
A small, knowing smile formed on her lips.
"Did you fall in love?"
Akidna glanced at her.
Calm.
But thoughtful.
"…It's not like that."
She paused.
Searching for the right words.
"It's just…"
"…he felt different."
"…like he didn't belong here."
Silence.
Then—
a small realization struck her.
"…and I didn't even ask his name."
The maid gently placed the tray down.
"You can ask him next time."
Akidna nodded slightly.
"…Yes."
She took a seat.
But her thoughts didn't settle.
They lingered.
"…I hope I meet him again."
Inside the cave—
a calamity descended.
A loud crash echoed through the darkness.
Everyone heard it.
The mercenaries stopped.
Turned.
Dust filled the air.
And within it—
someone stood.
Zeo.
A lone boy.
No real battle experience.
Yet—
his expression was cold.
Determination burned within him.
Save her.
Destroy them.
Seven men stood before him.
They grabbed their weapons.
Moved forward slowly.
Watching him.
Measuring him.
Zeo looked at them—
and counted.
Seven…
"I can't win against numbers…"
"…but I just need time."
His hand moved.
Touching the status window.
And then—
everything changed.
Strength.
Speed.
Agility.
Intelligence.
Even—
his battle experience.
All began to rise.
Rapidly.
His body grew stronger with each passing second.
The men in front noticed.
"He's dangerous."
One rushed forward.
The others followed.
No questions asked.
He had entered their hidden base.
That alone—
was enough reason to kill him.
One closed the distance.
Struck.
Zeo stepped back.
Fast.
He drew the sword Carla gave him.
Clang—
One swing.
He blocked all their strikes.
But they didn't stop.
They attacked from every direction.
Zeo's eyes moved.
Observing.
Calculating.
Positions.
Timing.
He rushed toward the closest target—
But suddenly—
the man dropped low.
His hand hit the ground.
The earth beneath Zeo's feet collapsed.
Another moved.
Roots shot upward—
binding his legs.
Tree magic.
Zeo struggled.
The others charged.
In that moment—
his eyes flicked to the window.
His stats were rising—
but slowly.
Then—
he noticed something.
Three empty skill slots.
A small smile appeared.
The next second—
Boom.
A blast erupted.
The attackers were forced back.
The roots shattered.
The ground stabilized.
Zeo stood free.
And chose.
Skills filled the empty slots.
"Eye of the Observer."
His vision changed.
His eyes glowed—
deep red.
Information flooded in.
Ranks.
Skills.
Weaknesses.
"…All C-rank?"
A flicker of tension crossed his face.
They attacked again.
Closing in fast.
"Pusher."
A wave burst outward.
Several were thrown back—
crashing into the cave walls.
Four remained.
They attacked together.
But something was different now.
Zeo matched them.
Speed.
Strength.
Reaction.
All rising.
Every second.
They noticed.
"…He's getting stronger."
They hesitated.
That was their mistake.
Zeo moved.
One slash—
another—
One by one—
they fell.
Unconscious.
Silence returned—
briefly.
Then—
more footsteps.
Eight more entered.
Zeo's eyes flashed again.
"Eye of the Observer."
Three C-rank.
Four B-rank.
One—
A-rank.
Stronger.
Much stronger.
But Zeo didn't hesitate.
The A-rank stepped forward.
Weapon drawn.
A double-edged axe.
"…Aliskwen."
Recognition hit.
He attacked the capital…
Stopped once by the protagonist…
And—
He was involved in her death.
Zeo's grip tightened.
His resolve deepened.
I won't let it happen.
At this moment—
Zeo's power was nearing B-rank.
Aliskwen charged.
Zeo dodged.
Barely.
The others closed in.
"I just need to hold them… for a few seconds."
Steel clashed.
The battle intensified.
Then—
another presence appeared.
Deep within the cave.
A man stepped out.
Wearing red.
The leader.
His eyes scanned the scene.
Unconscious bodies.
Broken ground.
Then—
another crash echoed.
He walked toward it.
Hand resting on his dagger.
And what he saw—
made him pause.
Even the A-rank—
was down.
Blood covered the ground.
And at the center—
Zeo stood.
Covered in it.
His own.
And theirs.
Breathing heavily.
Looking less like a boy—
…and more like something else.
The man in red smiled.
And began to clap.
"Well…"
"Who are you?"
"And why are you here?"
Zeo said nothing.
He already knew.
Cilard.
Leader of the assassins.
The one who would stab Akidna.
The true antagonist.
Zeo's eyes darkened.
Black.
Burning.
Before anything else—
more footsteps arrived.
Reinforcements.
Three B-rank.
Two A-rank.
And—
one S-rank.
They surrounded him.
No escape.
No hesitation.
Only one outcome remained.
The final battle—
was about to begin.