The port of Virella never truly rested.
Even as the light faded, the noise remained—voices overlapping, boots striking wood, ships groaning softly against the tide.
Thalren walked through it all.
Unfamiliar faces.
Unfamiliar rhythm.
A world that moved… without him.
---
His body still hadn't recovered.
Each step carried weight.
Bandages tightened beneath his clothes.
His muscles reminded him—every moment—that he wasn't ready.
But his expression—
Didn't change.
---
"…Oi."
A voice called out.
Close.
Rough.
Thalren kept walking.
"…I'm talking to you."
Footsteps approached from behind.
Heavy.
A hand reached out—
And grabbed his shoulder.
---
Thalren stopped.
Slowly—
He turned his head.
Not fully.
Just enough.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—
Something shifted.
The man's grip loosened.
Not by choice.
But instinct.
"…What the hell…"
---
"Boss… look at that."
Another voice.
More footsteps.
Six.
Then eight.
They surrounded him loosely.
Their eyes fixed on the crystal around his neck.
Greed.
Clear.
Unhidden.
---
The leader stepped forward.
A crooked grin on his face.
"…That necklace…"
He pointed.
"…Hand it over."
---
Silence.
Thalren didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't react.
---
"…You deaf or something?"
The man's tone sharpened.
He reached forward—
More aggressively this time.
---
And then—
Something changed.
Subtle.
Invisible.
But felt.
The air grew heavier.
One of the bandits frowned.
"…Why does this feel wrong?"
---
"Shut up and grab it!" the leader snapped.
He lunged.
Fast.
Reckless.
---
Thalren moved.
One step.
To the side.
The attack missed completely.
Before the man could recover—
A short strike to the jaw.
---
The man dropped.
Unconscious.
---
Silence.
Confusion spread across their faces.
"…What?"
---
Another rushed in.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
Thalren shifted his weight.
A slight turn—
The attack missed.
A precise strike to the neck—
---
Down.
---
A third came from behind.
Thalren didn't turn.
Didn't look.
He tilted his head slightly—
The blade cut through empty air.
A sharp kick to the knee—
A follow-up strike—
---
The man collapsed.
---
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Just enough.
Every time.
---
"…What the hell is this guy…"
Fear crept in.
Slow.
Unavoidable.
---
"All of you, together!" the leader shouted.
---
They rushed him.
Messy.
Desperate.
---
Thalren stepped forward.
Not back.
Even in his weakened state—
He didn't retreat.
---
A strike—
A kick—
A shift—
---
One by one—
They fell.
Not dead.
Not broken.
Just… unable to continue.
---
The last one standing was the leader.
Breathing heavily.
Eyes wide.
Confidence gone.
"…Who… are you…"
---
For the first time—
Thalren faced him fully.
His eyes—
Calm.
Cold.
Unmoving.
---
"…I'm not done yet."
---
The leader froze.
Just for a second.
But that second—
Was enough.
---
Thalren stepped in.
A clean motion.
A controlled strike—
---
The leader collapsed.
Unconscious.
---
Silence returned.
The port continued as if nothing had happened.
No one interfered.
No one stepped closer.
---
From above—
On a wooden structure overlooking the street—
Three figures watched.
Hunters.
---
"…He just woke up," one of them said quietly.
"…And he's moving like that?"
---
Another narrowed his eyes.
"…That wasn't luck."
---
The one in front remained silent.
Watching closely.
---
"…Don't interfere," he said calmly.
"…Let him handle it."
---
A pause.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
---
"…He didn't kill them…"
Another hunter spoke under his breath.
"…Even though he could have."
---
The man in front didn't respond immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on Thalren—
Walking away.
Without looking back.
---
"…That movement…"
He spoke slowly.
---
For a moment—
The world dimmed.
---
🌊
Dark water.
Endless.
Silent.
No sky.
No light.
Only depth.
---
A figure stood alone.
Still.
Unshaken.
---
Before him—
A massive shadow rose from the abyss.
Formless.
Overwhelming.
---
The figure moved.
One step.
One strike.
---
Silence.
---
The shadow collapsed.
As if it had never existed.
---
🌊
---
"…There was only one man who fought like that…"
The hunter's voice returned.
Low.
Heavy.
---
The others looked at him.
"…Who?"
---
A pause.
His gaze remained on Thalren—
Disappearing into the crowd.
---
"…No…"
A quiet murmur.
"…It can't be."