Diyanma suddenly felt something.
A disturbance in the air.
A shift in killing intent.
He turned his head slightly, but it was already too late.
A shadow dropped from above.
Kairo's fist slammed straight into Diyanma's stomach.
The impact was brutal.
Air exploded out of Diyanma's lungs as he screamed and dropped to his knees, clutching his abdomen, his face turning pale instantly.
Zephiron's eyes widened in shock.
You bastard! he roared.
You attacked my friend?!
Without wasting a second, Zephiron pulled out a massive hammer from his storage ring and swung it with terrifying force toward the spot where Kairo stood.
The hammer crashed into the ground.
BOOM!
The earth shattered, and a large crater formed where the hammer struck.
Dirt and rocks exploded into the air.
But Kairo was no longer there.
Zephiron's eyes narrowed.
He quickly turned—
Too late.
Kairo was already behind him.
Kairo's leg swept across Zephiron's side in a fast, heavy strike.
Zephiron failed to fully dodge and was thrown off balance, crashing to the ground with a loud thud.
But Kairo didn't continue attacking him.
Instead, he instantly turned back toward Diyanma.
Before Diyanma could react, Kairo grabbed his collar, forced his mouth open, and shoved a pill inside.
Diyanma tried to resist, but Kairo's grip was like iron. The pill slid down his throat.
Then Kairo started punching him—fast, controlled, not to kill, but to damage and weaken.
At that moment, Zephiron rushed forward from behind and launched a surprise attack with his hammer.
This time, Kairo couldn't dodge in time.
BAM!
The hammer struck him hard, sending him flying several meters away.
He rolled across the ground and slammed into a tree trunk.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he slowly pushed himself back up.
He wiped the blood from his lips and looked at Zephiron.
…Interesting,
Kairo said quietly.
Zephiron didn't respond to him immediately.
He ran to Diyanma and held him up.
Diyanma! Are you okay?! Say something!
But Diyanma couldn't speak.
His body trembled, veins slowly turning dark under his skin.
Zephiron's eyes widened.
Poison…?
Kairo walked toward them slowly, an evil smile forming on his face.
I fed him a poisonous pill, Kairo said calmly.
Only my antidote can cure him.
He took out a small bottle and held it up between his fingers so Zephiron could see it clearly.
Then he tightened his grip slightly on the bottle.
I could destroy this right now, he said softly.
Zephiron's face twisted with rage.
Killing intent exploded from his body.
You dare…! Zephiron growled.
I'll kill you and take the antidote from your corpse!
The moment he said that, he charged at Kairo with full speed, hammer raised.
But Kairo turned and ran.
Zephiron chased him immediately, carrying the half-conscious Diyanma on his back for a moment before laying him safely behind a tree, then continuing the chase alone.
The forest blurred around them as they moved at high speed, jumping over rocks, passing between trees, breaking branches as they ran.
Kairo glanced back slightly and smirked.
You can't catch me, he said. You're too weak.
Zephiron's eyes burned with fury. Today, I will kill you, he shouted.
And I will take the antidote!
The chase continued deeper into the forest, into rough terrain filled with cliffs and shadows.
Then suddenly—
Kairo disappeared into a narrow opening between the rocks.
A cave.
Zephiron didn't hesitate. He followed him inside.
The moment he entered, the light from outside faded.
The cave was dark, cold, and silent.
Water dripped somewhere in the distance.
The air smelled of stone and something… old.
Zephiron tightened his grip on his hammer and looked around carefully.
Kairo… he said coldly. Come out.
His voice echoed through the cave.
No answer.
Only silence.
A drop of water fell somewhere in the darkness.
Then—
From deep inside the cave, a calm voice echoed:
I was waiting for you.
Zephiron turned toward the voice, eyes narrowing, heart beating faster.
In the darkness ahead, two faint red eyes slowly opened.
And in that moment, Zephiron realized—
He had not chased his prey into the cave.
He had walked into a hunter's trap.