Journey to Become the Zenith

Thunder Beneath the Moon

”So you won’t tell me, well there are many other ways to make you talk.” Azriel, hearing Henrick’s reply, happily smiled as he slowly extended his hand towards Henrick.

A softness curled across Victor’s mouth when you first saw him.

Too gentle.

It stood out because of how fear took hold.

Red drops fell slow from bodies left where they dropped. Pools of wet shine blinked up under moon glow on cracked ground, yet air moved sharp with iron smell between trees.

Azriel gave a small tilt of his head.

”Come on now, don’t make things difficult.”

Out of nowhere, his voice carried a loose kind of calm. It settled in the air like it had nothing to prove.

”I’m already being very patient with you.”

Henrick’s body stiffened.

Patient?

He stood face to face with someone who killed many people while showing no emotion at all.

Backward shuffled the lone horse still standing, ears twitching at every sound.

The air itself felt heavy.

Azriel continued walking.

Step.

Step.

Footsteps landed without echo. Quiet pressed into the floor beneath each one.

Still, each noise hit deep, pounding against Henrick’s ribs. Inside his chest, the echoes settled heavy, one after another. A beat of silence never came. Each note arrived sharp, unwelcome, pressing into him like weight. The rhythm refused to fade. It stayed, constant, thudding beneath his breath.

Azriel sighed.

”You know... I really don’t enjoy wasting time.”

His eyes moved across the bodies lying still on the ground.

”I was planning on having a peaceful night.”

Back came the gold in his gaze, gradual like dusk folding into night.

”Then some insects started bothering my girl.”

A small stretch crept across his mouth.

”And now I’m here.”

Henrick’s throat moved.

A chill slid through him, drops tracing his skin. Sweat clung to his brow like mist before slipping slow.

”You...”

His voice trembled.

”W-what exactly are you...?”

Azriel blinked.

”Hm?”

Then he chuckled.

”What kind of question is that?”

He raised both hands slightly.

”I’m just Victor.”

A brief silence followed.

Then—

”The lover of the girl your people tried to hunt.”

When Henrick saw Azriel’s hand slowly reaching toward him, instinct screamed at him to run.

Run.

Escape.

Survive.

His body understood danger.

Every nerve in his body understood danger.

But strangely enough—

His legs refused to move.

No matter how hard he tried.

”No...”

Henrick gritted his teeth.

”Move!”

Nothing.

His knees shook violently.

He tried lifting his feet.

Nothing.

It felt like invisible chains had wrapped around his body.

Azriel looked down and laughed softly.

”Oh?”

He looked amused.

”What’s wrong?”

Another step.

”Your body isn’t listening?”

Henrick’s pupils shook.

”W-what did you do to me?!”

Azriel blinked innocently.

”Me?”

He pointed at himself.

”I didn’t do anything.”

Then his smile widened.

”Your instincts are just smarter than you.”

Henrick felt his entire body go cold.

Azriel’s fingers moved closer.

Only inches remained.

Then—

BOOOOOOM!!!

The sky suddenly exploded.

A deafening roar resembling heavenly wrath descended from above.

Clouds violently swirled.

Blue light illuminated the night sky.

The surrounding trees bent under the pressure.

Henrick’s eyes widened.

Mana.

A massive amount of mana.

The heavens themselves seemed to crack open.

Then—

”Celestial Wrath: Heavenbreaker Thunderfall!”

CRAAAAAACK!!!

A gigantic pillar of blue lightning descended from the sky.

The earth shattered instantly.

The forest exploded.

Henrick felt his body react before his mind could process it.

He threw himself away desperately.

BOOOOOM!!

The impact swallowed everything.

Rocks flew.

Trees shattered.

The surrounding area disappeared beneath blinding light.

Unfortunately for the knight beside Henrick—

He wasn’t fast enough.

For a brief moment his scream echoed—

Then vanished.

Gone.

Reduced to nothing.

Henrick rolled across the ground violently before crashing against a tree.

”Cough!”

Blood escaped his mouth.

His ears rang.

Dust covered everything.

For several seconds—

Silence.

Henrick slowly raised his head.

His eyes widened.

Victor was gone.

Nothing remained where he stood.

Only scorched earth.

Henrick stared blankly.

Then disbelief became excitement.

His face twisted.

”I...”

Henrick’s breathing turned ragged.

Every inhale burned his lungs. His entire body trembled from exhaustion, pain, and the lingering terror still clawing at his chest.

”I survived...?”

The words came out hoarse and broken.

For a second, he couldn’t believe it himself.

His eyes widened slowly as reality settled into him.

”I survived...!”

Relief crashed into him so hard his knees nearly gave out.

He was alive.

Somehow.

Against that monster—

He was still breathing.

Then suddenly—

”I got him! That was easier than I expected. He wasn’t such a big deal after all.”

Henrick froze.

That voice—

Familiar.

Cocky.

His head snapped toward the nearby trees.

Branches rustled lightly before a man stepped out proudly from the darkness.

Oliver.

Blue sparks crackled around his fingers, faint arcs of lightning dancing across his hands before fading into the cold night air.

The bastard actually looked pleased with himself.

”Hah!”

Oliver crossed his arms with a smug grin stretched across his face.

”So much for Shawn’s warnings.”

He laughed under his breath, completely relaxed.

Like the nightmare was already over.

Then he noticed Henrick’s expression.

Oliver frowned slightly.

”Why are you looking at me like that, Henrick?”

He pointed at himself with a grin.

”Surprised to see me beat that bastard for you?”

His tone carried shameless pride.

”It really wasn’t that hard. Honestly, it was exactly like we thought. Shawn was overreacting.”

He rolled his shoulders casually.

”All that tension for nothing.”

Blue mana flickered around his fingertips again as he scoffed.

”So?”

Oliver smirked.

”Aren’t you going to thank me?”

He spread his arms dramatically.

”I did just save your life.”

Henrick didn’t answer.

Couldn’t answer.

The blood draining from his face felt colder than the night wind itself.

Because behind Oliver—

Something moved.

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness between the trees.

Calm.

Unhurried.

Like a predator casually stepping out after watching children play.

Golden eyes gleamed under the pale moonlight.

Sharp.

Cold.

Amused.

Black hair swayed slightly as the figure walked forward.

Victor.

Not a scratch on him.

Not even breathing heavily.

As if everything that happened until now had meant absolutely nothing.

Henrick’s heartbeat nearly stopped.

No...

No no no—

Oliver was still talking.

Still smiling.

Still completely unaware.

Victor casually dusted his shoulder with one hand, almost looking bored.

Then he tilted his head slightly.

”Oh?”

A vicious smile slowly spread across his face.

”You were talking about me?”