The Box: Fate
Chapter 51 — The Illusion of Strength
The weight of Axel and Sharky Bee' discovery hung heavily over the hotel room Zanaki stood up, tossing his boot aside, his sapphire-slitted eyes darkening with intense focus as he processed the revelation
"If the Guild Master doesn't even know who Vahn is, then it all makes sense" Zanaki said, crossing his arms "Vahn didn't come here for a standard bounty. He came specifically for the Zenith card He needs that wish But who the hell is he really? His level and power are completely off the charts If he were a demon, our skills would have picked up on it instantly We didn't feel even a shred of demonic energy from him"
"Exactly" Sharky Bee chimed in, leaning against the wooden table "And remember what he said right before he lowered his hands? He offered to train us. He said he would show us how to hunt a Monarch"
Zanaki cracked his knuckles, a familiar, cocky grin slowly returning to his face "Well, there's no point sitting here guessing Let's go straight to his room and ask him face-to-face who he really is"
"Hold on" Axel interrupted, stepping in front of Zanaki "We aren't doing this here in the middle of a crowded city hotel If things turn bad, Vahn' aura alone could collapse this building We tell him we accept his offer, but the training happens outside the city walls We need an open space where the collateral damage will be minimal"
Sharky Bee looked down at his green-tinted daggers, a sudden wave of doubt hitting him "Are we even sure about this? If Vahn decides to turn on us out in the open... can the three of us even stand a chance against a Level 65 Star-Rank?"
Zanaki laughed, tapping his chest where the Dragon King' heart beat "Don't worry, Sharky I'm more than enough to handle him alone"
Axel slapped the back of Zanaki' head with his heavy, golden-tinted palm "Stop talking garbage, you brat! You almost died against a regular Commander This guy is thirty levels above us" Axel then looked around the room, noticing the silence from the upper floors "Wait... where is Kataki anyway?"
"No idea" Zanaki muttered, rubbing the back of his head "He took off somewhere right after the meeting You know how he is now that he can see—he tracks mana flows like a bloodhound"
"Right" Axel sighed "Well, the rest of the squad just got back from trading their loot. If we're doing this, we go as a unit"
Zanaki walked out into the main hallway where Monk Fish, Akira, and Murasaki were sorting through their newly purchased mana-infused potions
"Hey, listen up!" Zanaki called out to them, waving his hand "Pack your gear We're heading out past the city gates We're going to get some high-tier training from that ridiculously powerful player we met yesterday"
Monk Fish nodded, his hand resting on his prayer beads, while Akira silently tightened his sword belt They trusted Zanaki's call, believing this was just a brutal training session to prepare them for the Monarch, Malakas
But as they marched out toward the eastern plains, Zanaki, Axel, and Sharky Bee kept their expressions guarded They knew the terrifying reality They weren't just going to a training ground; they were walking into a cage with an unidentified powerhouse whose true identity, motives, and allegiance were completely hidden from the world