The SSS-rank Guide Doesn't Need Saving

The man everyone wanted to catch was right in front of them. It wasn’t just the bounty that tempted them. The thought of becoming famous for capturing the elusive and notorious commander of the Dark Knight Organization alone gave anyone the courage they needed to face him.

”Apologies, Admiral, but the credit for capturing or eliminating the Commander of the Dark Knights is not something we can simply hand over.”

Zeke frowned. He didn’t understand why the general of the imperial guards should think he was trying to take merit from this. ”That’s not what this is about—”

It was already too late. The general gave the signal, and the guards surged forward as one.

Nykos’s expression didn’t change. If anything, it grew colder and more detached, as though the men rushing toward him were nothing more than an inconvenience to be swept aside. Shadows spread from his form like ink bleeding into water, and within seconds, the general’s head rolled across the cracked marble floor, severed clean before anyone could react.

The remaining guards froze, horror bubbling through their ranks.

Nykos wiped a fleck of blood from his cheek with idle disinterest, glancing once more toward the path Aisha had vanished through, before melting entirely into the shadows and disappearing without a trace.

Silence descended over the corridor, broken only by the guards’ ragged breathing and the quiet moan of the injured man on the floor.

Zeke exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face before turning to the remaining soldiers.

One of the guards who had recovered from the earlier blow staggered upright, clutching his side. ”Admiral, should we pursue him?”

He directed a cold, piercing gaze at the guards.

”Fools. Is your head just decorations?” Zeke wasn’t making any effort to hide the disparaging tone in his voice. ”If you all had just listened and allowed me to fight him, would any of you be in this miserable state? Pursue him? Can you even do that when you can’t stop him?”

The imperial guards lowered their heads, experiencing the same harsh treatment the soldiers of the Association suffered whenever their admiral delivered scathing remarks for a mistake.

Zeke was a man of few words. However, he didn’t hold the title of Supreme Commander of the Association for nothing. He would never spare anyone from his blistering reprimands.

Whether they were from the Association, the imperial army, or the Federation, they wouldn’t be able to hide from his wrath.

He looked outside from the hole he and Nykos had created just from the blast of their psychic energies.

...

”So a fight broke out between you two,” Aisha said once Zeke finished, making sure her tone was casual. ”And he left just like that?”

That was different from what she thought Nykos would do. Before sensing Zeke, she’d expected him to come after her the moment she came out of the emperor’s residence. Yet, Nykos wasn’t there.

Zeke nodded. ”That’s right.”

”I’m surprised.” There was a note of genuine surprise in her voice as she spoke. ”You’re the Admiral and an SS-rank Sentinel. Shouldn’t you have been able to capture him?”

Zeke was quiet for a beat too long before answering. ”Even I have difficulty capturing him.”

”Why is that?”

He paused for a moment as if deciding whether he should say more.

”Because Nykos is also an SS-rank Sentinel,” he finally revealed.

Aisha’s steps slowed. She recalled the information she’d gathered after their encounter at the restaurant. With how her classmates had reacted upon seeing him, she decided to look at the official designation record. ”Wasn’t he registered as an S-rank?”

Zeke shook his head. ”His record was incorrect. He’s an SS-rank, the same as me.”

When Nykos awakened, Zeke had been one of the people who looked forward to what rank he’d get. The two of them grew up to know each other both as rivals and friends. And when Nykos received an evaluation of S-rank, that came as a surprise to Zeke, who had dueled him countless times, and not once did he win, nor did Nykos win against him.

It was undeniable that their psychic energies were equal. The only difference was the path they took after they grew up. And Nykos had left the Association long before they could reevaluate him.

”But that’s not what makes him truly dangerous.”

Aisha abruptly stopped herself from walking once she realized that Zeke was giving her more information than she wanted. She didn’t know whether this was a good thing or if it was something that would rope her into a complicated situation, but it was already too late before she could realize it.

”He also carries a Bloodline.”

***

”Commander, are you sure this is okay?”

Nykos hopped onto a flying shuttle that had appeared out of nowhere, located in the backyard of the imperial palace.

From his seat in the shuttle, Vince stared at the commander in pure awe, wondering exactly when he’d get to look that cool. Just watching Nykos take a leap and sit on top of the flying shuttle like it was some tame beast never ceased to amaze the young man.

Suddenly, he wanted to come out of the flying shuttle and do the same thing his commander just did. But a hand grabbed him by the back of his collar, almost choking him out.

Amar glared at Vince before reprimanding their commander. ”Please, try to be a normal person for once and use the door.”

Before this, Nykos had told them he had something he needed to see in the palace. As his loyal subordinates, they trusted him and went through his plan. But who knew it would be as crazy as blasting through the walls of the imperial palace?

When he recalled how sudden and impulsive Nykos had been, Amar almost thought his heart would stop.

”Doors are overrated.” Nykos glanced back at Amar, that familiar smirk tugging at his mouth. ”Besides, it’s not my fault that the walls happened to be in the way.”

Then, his attention shifted to Vince. ”You. Stay inside. This is too early for a child like you to learn.”

”But commander...”

”Where are we heading next?” Amar ignored Vince’s whining and turned his attention to the navigator.

Nykos looked into the distance and smiled. ”Go on ahead. I’ll head somewhere else.”

”Wait! Where are you going?” Amar shot his gaze up to look at Nykos, but the latter had already melted into the shadows again.