The battlefield fell into a tense silence.
Smoke drifted slowly through the air, curling around broken wood and shattered metal. The ocean, once violent, had grown strangely calm—as if even it was watching what would happen next.
Sim stood barely upright.
His body trembled under the weight of Zak's last attack. Blood ran down his arm, and his breathing had turned rough and uneven. Every step he tried to take felt heavier than the last.
Zak, despite his own injuries, stood firm.
His chest rose and fell steadily, his eyes clear and unwavering. There was no arrogance in his stance—only quiet resolve.
"I'm not interested in you," Zak said, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the silence. "Not in the government… not in pirates… not in criminals."
He took a slow step forward.
"Do whatever you want with your world."
Then his expression hardened.
"But if, while I'm alive, you harm even one innocent person…" he paused, letting the words settle, "then I promise you—Zak Zee Zed will erase you from history."
The weight of his words pressed down on everyone present.
Roo's jaw tightened.
Anger burned in his eyes.
"You talk too much," he growled.
Without hesitation, Roo launched forward, his metal fists gleaming as they prepared to crush Zak in a single strike.
But—
"Not a step, babwa."
Querry's voice cut in, calm yet absolute.
Roo froze mid-motion.
"Move," Querry continued quietly, "and the game ends."
Roo frowned, confusion mixing with irritation.
"Don't joke. Something like that doesn't exist."
Before Querry could answer—
A new presence made itself known.
The air grew heavier. Colder.
Even the strongest fighters instinctively felt it.
"I'm afraid… he's not lying."
Head Iaaz stepped forward.
His eyes were cold, calculating—like someone who had already seen every possible outcome.
"That ring of his," Iaaz said, glancing briefly at Querry, "a paralyzing ring. It doesn't matter how strong you are. If he activates it at the right moment… you won't even realize when you die."
Roo's confidence faltered.
Iaaz shifted his gaze toward Querry.
"You had the chance to kill him," he said, nodding toward Zak. "But you didn't."
A faint, knowing smile appeared on his lips.
"That means… you want something from me."
Querry smirked.
"Sharp as ever."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I want you to let me… and my friend go."
There was no hesitation in Iaaz's reply.
"Never."
The word struck like a blade.
And then—
Iaaz attacked.
A devastating surge of power erupted from him, cutting through the battlefield without care or restraint. The force was so immense that even Roo, standing directly in its path, was ignored.
Querry's expression sharpened.
"See that?" he muttered toward Roo. "He doesn't care if you live or die."
The attack rushed forward.
Too fast.
Too powerful.
It would have ended everything in an instant.
But at the very last second—
Zak moved.
A faint glow surrounded him.
His body trembled under the strain.
"Teleport…"
The world twisted.
Space itself bent and shattered like glass.
In a blink—
The battlefield vanished.
---
They fell from the air onto solid ground.
An island.
Unknown.
Silent.
Zak hit the ground hard, his body already pushed beyond its limits. The teleportation had drained him completely. His muscles screamed in pain, his vision blurring as darkness threatened to take over.
He collapsed.
Querry staggered as he landed, clutching his side. His breathing was heavy, uneven.
"Abe… babwa…" he muttered weakly, forcing himself to stand. "Where the hell did you bring us…?"
There was no answer.
Zak lay motionless.
Querry looked at him for a moment.
Then, without another word, he bent down and lifted him onto his shoulder.
Step by step, he began to walk.
The island was strange.
The air felt heavy—older somehow, like it carried the weight of forgotten time. The trees were dense, twisted, and silent.
Each step Querry took felt heavier than the last.
His vision blurred.
His legs trembled.
But he didn't stop.
Until—
His strength gave out.
And he collapsed beside Zak.
---
A few minutes later—
Two figures passed through the area.
Brothers.
Leo and Feo.
They stopped immediately when they saw the bodies.
"These two…" Leo said, kneeling beside them. "They're badly injured."
Feo's expression grew serious.
"If we don't treat them now… they won't survive."
Leo nodded.
"Then we don't waste time."
Together, they lifted the two unconscious fighters and carried them away.
---
Their home stood deep within the island.
Old.
Worn.
But still strong.
It had survived time, storms, and whatever else this land had endured.
Feo gently placed Zak down.
"Start the treatment," he said quickly. "I'll gather herbs."
Leo nodded and immediately began working.
Hours passed.
Four long hours of careful treatment, of silence, of effort.
And finally—
Zak's eyes opened.
His body felt heavy, weak, but alive.
"…Where am I…?" he asked quietly.
Querry stirred beside him, groaning slightly.
Feo stepped forward.
"Don't move too much," he said calmly. "You're still not fully healed."
At that moment, Leo entered, carrying a bundle of wood.
Zak frowned slightly.
"I used teleportation…" he muttered. "But this place…"
Feo and Leo exchanged a look.
Then Feo spoke.
"This is the Forbidden Land."
Querry blinked.
"…The Forbidden Land?" he repeated slowly. "The one from the stories?"
Before the conversation could continue—
Zak's body gave in again.
He collapsed back, unconscious.
Querry exhaled and lay down as well.
"Perfect…" he muttered. "Escaped one disaster… and walked into another."
Darkness took them both.
---
Two days later—
Zak stood outside the house, looking around.
The island stretched endlessly.
Wild.
Untouched.
Strange.
"…This place feels different," he said.
Querry leaned nearby, arms crossed.
"I've read about it," he said. "In the Temple of Death. No one has ever found this place."
He paused.
"They say… this was once the island of the King of Warriors."
Zak's eyes sharpened.
"…Then maybe fate is pushing us forward."
Querry smirked faintly.
"Or trapping us."
Zak turned.
"So how do we get out?"
As if on cue—
Leo and Feo approached.
"There is a way," Leo said.
"But it won't be easy."
Feo continued,
"To leave this land… you must defeat its king."
Querry raised an eyebrow.
"And who is that?"
Leo's voice grew serious.
"A creature that no one has defeated in over 1200 years."
Feo added,
"The King of Animals."
"A gorilla… with all three Inners."
Zak frowned.
"Inners?"
Leo and Feo both looked surprised.
"You don't know?" Feo asked.
"What kind of world are you from?"
Leo stepped forward.
"Inners are more than physical strength. They enhance your body… your senses… your awareness."
Feo nodded.
"With Inner, you can even see glimpses of the future."
Zak and Querry exchanged a look.
For the first time—
They were truly surprised.
Zak spoke slowly.
"…How do we learn it?"
Leo studied him.
Then asked,
"Do you really want to?"
Zak didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Leo nodded.
"Then rest today."
His voice was calm—but firm.
"Tomorrow… your training begins."
The wind moved gently across the Forbidden Land.
Somewhere deep within the island—
A presence stirred.
Watching.
Waiting.
And soon—
It would awaken.
**To be continued…**