Journey to Become the Zenith

A Night of Unspoken Fire

Victor found Videl standing near the far end of the pocket shop.

But she was no longer alone.

Beside her stood two women.

One was calm and refined—her steel-colored hair cascading like polished metal, eyes steady and observant. The other looked younger, sharper around the edges, with black hair framing a stubborn face and eyes that glinted with defiance.

Videl herself now carried two weapons.

Across her back rested the massive blade—Amura’s physical form. At her waist hung a slender dagger that looked almost ceremonial... almost harmless.

Victor raised a brow.

”Hey,” he said casually, folding his arms. ”Don’t you remember? Only one weapon.”

The calm spirit smiled faintly.

The younger one scowled at him and hid half a step behind Videl.

”I know,” Videl replied, scratching her cheek sheepishly. ”But I found another note. It told me that no matter what... I had to bring this one too.”

Victor snorted.

Of course the shop owner wanted to get rid of the troublesome one.

Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure, he thought.

”Well,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, ”since we’re done here... let’s leave. I’ve had enough of this place.”

There was a strange heaviness in his tone.

Videl noticed immediately.

”What’s wrong, Victor?” she asked softly. ”Didn’t you get a weapon?”

That look on his face... she had never seen him so... drained.

He even sighed.

He never sighed.

”I did,” he muttered, lifting his right arm. The red-and-black dragon tattoo gleamed faintly against his skin. ”See this? That’s the contract.”

He tilted his head slightly.

”Diana. Show yourself.”

The air shimmered.

A tall woman cloaked in black appeared beside him. Long black hair fell down her back, red eyes burning beneath a thin veil. In her hand rested the weapon she embodied.

”This is the spirit of my weapon,” Victor said calmly. ”And what she holds is what I chose.”

”Nice to meet you,” Diana said softly to Videl. Though her face was veiled, there was unmistakable composure in her voice.

Videl’s sapphire eyes widened.

”That’s so cool! How can she disappear and reappear like that? Why do you get a tattoo and I don’t?” She turned toward her spirits eagerly. ”Can’t you do that too, Amura? Rika?”

Victor stiffened slightly.

He named them already...

She’s going to ask me to name her properly too, isn’t she?

Amura smiled gently.

”I’m sorry, Master,” she said warmly. ”I’m still too young to manifest so freely.”

Rika nodded with a small huff. ”Same.”

Videl’s shoulders drooped—but only for a second.

”Well... that’s okay,” she said brightly.

Behind them, Diana’s voice whispered directly into Victor’s mind.

”Master... why do I not have a name like that? Your friend named his spirits.”

Victor closed his eyes briefly.

He was still irritated.

Still frustrated.

Still unsatisfied.

”Fine,” he muttered.

”From now on... you’re Diana.”

There was a pause.

Then—

”Thank you, Master,” she said quietly. ”I will treasure this name long after your bones turn to dust.”

”Yeah, yeah,” he replied flatly. ”Let’s just leave.”

She dissolved back into the dragon-marked tattoo.

Amura and Rika returned to their weapons as well.

The dimension trembled.

And the shop vanished.

Outside

Lane stood alone in the empty lot.

Men were scattered across the ground—some unconscious, some groaning, clutching bruised ribs or dislocated shoulders.

She had not moved from her spot.

Every time a man tried to grab her—

She broke him.

No hesitation.

No wasted motion.

The townsfolk had gathered, amused, betting how long the next fool would last.

No guards were called.

It had become entertainment.

Then—

Victor and Videl appeared out of thin air beside her.

The crowd gasped.

And in the next heartbeat—

The three of them disappeared again.

The Inn

They chose a quiet inn near the edge of town.

A single room.

No awkwardness.

This wasn’t the first time they had shared space.

The wooden door shut behind them with a soft thud.

For a moment, silence.

Then—

Victor moved.

He stepped forward and pulled both girls into his arms.

Not gently.

Not hesitantly.

His lips found Lane’s first.

The kiss was deep—intense—driven by something that had been building inside him since earlier.

Lane inhaled sharply but didn’t pull away.

Her fingers curled into his shirt.

He turned.

His hand slid around Videl’s waist, pulling her closer. His mouth left Lane only long enough to capture Videl’s lips next.

This kiss was hungrier.

Videl froze for a heartbeat.

Then melted.

Her arms wrapped around his neck instinctively.

All the frustration he had carried—

The unfinished battle.

The provocation.

The rising heat he’d felt when facing Clara and Isabella earlier—

It spilled out in this single moment.

His hands tightened.

Not crude.

Not careless.

Possessive.

Hungry.

Lane’s breath grew uneven.

Videl’s cheeks flushed deep red.

Victor’s control thinned—but did not break.

He guided them back toward the bed, movements urgent but deliberate.

Clothing loosened.

Fabric slipped.

Warm skin met warm skin.

There was no rush to dominate—

Only the need to feel.

To anchor himself.

To drown out the lingering tension from earlier.

Lane’s quiet gasps filled the room.

Videl’s soft, trembling breaths followed.

Victor buried his face against Lane’s neck, inhaling.

Then turned, pressing his forehead to Videl’s.

”Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured faintly.

”Like what?” Videl whispered.

”Like I’m the only one losing control.”

She swallowed.

She wasn’t losing control.

She had already lost it.

The night deepened.

The bed creaked.

Hands intertwined.

Breath tangled.

Outside, the inn grew quiet.

Within the Tattoo

Diana felt the waves of emotion.

The heat.

The pulse.

It was... distracting.

She withdrew her senses deeper into the mark etched along his arm.

Meanwhile—

Amura and Rika materialized faintly near Videl’s resting blade.

Rika blinked.

”...That guy’s a beast.”

Amura flushed slightly but maintained composure.

”Master has... intense impulses.”

Rika huffed.

”No kidding.”

The two spirits exchanged glances.

Neither looked away.

The night continued.

Not savage.

Not gentle.

But real.

And when silence finally settled over the room—

Victor lay between the two girls, breathing steady.

For now—

The storm inside him had quieted.

And tomorrow—

A new one would begin.