Journey to Become the Zenith

A Smile in the Dark

A faint smile curved his lips.

”So,” he said lightly, as if discussing the weather, ”how about we take over Fantom City’s underworld?”

The words settled into the night like falling ash.

The alley still smelled faintly of smoke and burned leather. Bodies lay scattered behind them, cooling in silence. Lantern light trembled against brick walls, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and listen.

Videl stared at Victor.

Her sapphire eyes widened—not in fear, but disbelief.

”Take over Fantom City’s underworld? What do you mean?!” Her voice rose before she could stop it. ”Shouldn’t we destroy such an evil organization?!”

The anger in her tone wasn’t blind rage.

It was wounded justice.

Victor turned to her slowly.

Even now, his posture remained relaxed. Black hair shifting slightly in the breeze, golden eyes steady, unreadable.

Videl took a step forward.

She had followed him for years. Through forests, bloodshed, training, philosophy. Through moments where he’d been brutal—but never meaningless.

There was always purpose behind his cruelty. There was always a line he would not cross.

That was why she trusted him.

That was why she loved him.

But this—

This sounded wrong.

”I will take over the underworld whether you want me to or not, Videl,” Victor said calmly. ”Also... there is no such thing as something fully evil. Just like there is no such thing as something purely good.”

The words struck harder than any blade.

For a brief moment, Videl’s breath caught.

Her chest tightened.

Then something shifted inside her.

Resolve.

For the first time since they were children training together, Videl released killing intent toward Victor.

It wasn’t wild.

It was controlled.

Sharp.

Her mana flared around her like a blade unsheathed.

She already knew she was weaker than him.

If she held back, she would lose before she began.

So if she had to stand in his way—

She would stand as if her life depended on it.

Lane stiffened.

Inside, panic erupted.

What are you doing, Videl?!

Are you really going to fight him?

If you attack him... what do I do?

Her hands trembled slightly before she forced them still.

She didn’t want to fight Videl.

But if Videl struck Victor—

Her loyalty was clear.

Aria felt the air thicken.

Even without understanding mana fully, she could feel it pressing against her lungs.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Why were they fighting?

Victor looked at Videl, not angered.

Amused.

”Videl,” he said softly, ”are you actually sending killing intent my way?”

Her jaw clenched.

”Victor, I know I’m not your match. And as your partner... and your lover... I would never want to fight you like this.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

”But if you stray from the path, then I should be the one to bring you back.”

She stepped closer.

”Taking over Fantom City’s underworld isn’t right. Please reconsider, Victor... I really don’t want to do this.”

The last sentence cracked.

That was the truth.

She didn’t want to oppose him.

Victor’s smile faded into something gentler.

”Videl,” he asked quietly, ”why did you decide that Fantom City’s underworld was evil?”

She blinked.

”What?”

”How did you reach that conclusion?”

Her brows furrowed.

”Isn’t that obvious? They enslave free people. They hire assassins to kill for money. They burn villages to create more slaves. They sell illegal products. They commit countless atrocities.”

Victor nodded slightly.

”Then tell me,” he continued, ”what happens if we destroy Fantom City’s underworld?”

She answered instinctively.

”If we destroy it, won’t people be happier? Won’t slaves go free? Won’t lesser evils disappear?”

Victor almost laughed.

Not mockingly.

But softly.

At innocence.

”Videl,” he said, voice calm but firm, ”if we destroy it, something else replaces it.”

She opened her mouth to protest.

He raised a hand gently.

”Before you say we destroy the next one too... understand this. No matter how many times we wipe it out, another will rise. Weeks. Months. Years. Human desire doesn’t disappear. It reorganizes.”

He stepped closer to her.

”Unless you plan to stay in Fantom City forever, killing every new shadow that forms... destroying it isn’t a solution.”

Videl’s killing intent flickered.

Then weakened.

Her shoulders sank slightly.

She understood.

She hated that she understood.

Her heart pulled in one direction.

Her mind in another.

”So...” she whispered, ”...you want to become what you despise?”

Victor shook his head.

”I want to control what cannot be erased.”

He looked past her at the city lights.

”If I take it over, I can reduce the damage. I can limit the tragedies. I can’t promise to eliminate them entirely... but I can minimize them.”

His voice wasn’t grand.

It was practical.

Videl’s hands trembled slightly.

Her love for him told her he was thinking ahead.

Her justice screamed that this was wrong.

She closed her eyes.

”I’m sorry, Victor.”

Her killing intent vanished completely.

”I shouldn’t have doubted you. I knew you had a plan... but hearing about burned villages and slaves—it was my first time hearing it like that. I couldn’t think straight.”

She bowed her head.

”Do what you wish to me. Kick me. Punch me. Burn me. I deserve it.”

Victor stared at her for a second.

Then frowned.

”What the hell is happening to you, Videl? It’s creepy.”

She blinked.

”You don’t need forgiveness,” he continued. ”We’ve been best friends since we were little. I already knew you’d react like that. I’d be worried if you didn’t.”

Her chest tightened again.

Not from conflict.

From relief.

She had doubted him.

He hadn’t doubted her.

”Victor...” she whispered.

Lane exhaled quietly.

Aria blinked between them.

She had expected violence.

Instead, they were talking.

Arguing like lovers. Like equals.

She had never seen anything like it.

Victor glanced around the alley again.

”So, Videl,” he said lightly, ”how about we take over Fantom City’s underworld?”

A pause.

Then—

Videl smiled faintly.

”Sure. Let’s do it.”

Lane’s expression remained neutral.

Inside, she felt the storm settle.

Victor looked at her.

”Lane. Any objections?”

She shook her head once.

”No.”

”Good.”

He turned toward Aria.

”We’ll drop you at the inn first.”

Aria startled slightly at being addressed.

”You don’t have to—”

”We do,” Victor interrupted gently.

Her heart fluttered.

He remembered her.

He considered her.

She nodded quickly.

”Yes.”

Victor then looked back at Videl.

”And Videl...”

She met his gaze.

He stepped closer.

Lowered his voice slightly.

”You were right to question me.”

Her breath caught.

”Justice without challenge becomes tyranny. If I ever cross that line... you stop me.”

Her eyes widened.

”Even if it means fighting me.”

The words hung heavy.

Her chest tightened again.

She loved him.

But she also feared what he might become if left unchecked.

She nodded slowly.

”I will.”

A faint smile returned to his lips.

”That’s why I keep you close.”

Lane rolled her eyes slightly.

But there was warmth beneath it.

Aria watched the exchange quietly.

Her heartbeat remained uneven.

She had fallen into chaos only hours ago.

Now she stood beside a man who spoke of controlling darkness instead of pretending it didn’t exist.

She didn’t fully understand his philosophy.

But she felt drawn to it.

To him.

Victor turned back toward the city.

Lanterns flickered.

Wind moved softly through narrow streets.

”Let’s move,” he said calmly.

Behind them, the last traces of smoke curled upward into the night.

Ahead of them—

A kingdom of shadows waited.

And Victor walked toward it without hesitation.