I bowed again, lowering my head just enough to show respect but not so much that it might appear submissive. He could get angry if I didn’t.

  "Did you put Zion on restriction?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral, but I couldn't hide the curiosity. The answer, however, was anything but expected.

  Toda glanced at me, his expression unreadable for a moment, before he spoke, his voice calm but cold. "I did not. Restriction Level 0." He paused for emphasis, letting the words sink in. "Everyone, except civilians, will die. No mercy."

  I swallowed hard. There's going to be a slaughter. The kind that makes you feel the weight of each life being snuffed out, the inevitable chaos that follows when you let a force like Zion loose. I forced myself to respond, though I could barely find the words. "I bet you a hundred gold Zion conquers Hasfra within a day."

  Toda's lips curled into a slight smirk, but it wasn’t one of amusement—it was the kind of smirk you give when you're dead sure you're right. "I bet you a thousand he does it before nightfall." His eyes glittered with confidence. "He should've arrived in the city this morning."

  I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the mention of Zion’s arrival. "Why are you so confident in him?" I asked, a little unsettled by how sure Toda was of Zion's capabilities. This wasn’t the kind of confidence you get from a fluke win or a lucky break.

  Toda leaned back, resting his chin in his hand as he seemed to weigh his words carefully. He rubbed his chin, the motion almost absentminded, as if he were recalling something distant yet familiar. "I consider him to be our greatest asset." he said slowly. "I also consider him to be the greatest Mineral."

  It stung hearing that, a sharp prick in the chest. Not because I didn’t understand—far from it. Hearing it out loud, so casually, was a reminder of where I stood. I was only Rank Four because of my kill rate. If I was judged based on pure prowess, I’d be demoted to six.

  He cracked his neck, the sound a harsh snap in the quiet space between us. "He overpowered me once, and I bet he could do so again." His tone was matter-of-fact, like it was something as simple as a friendly competition, but the implication hung in the air like a cloud of smoke.

  I blinked, trying to wrap my head around what he was saying. What?! The thought of Zion having been able to overpower Toda—it just didn’t fit with the image I had of him. "Please tell me the story." I demanded, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

  Toda sighed, the sound a mix of exhaustion and resignation. "Sure," he muttered, his gaze shifting slightly, as though weighing the memory. "But I’ll leave out some detail." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck as if to prepare himself. "I’m going to the club after this." He seemed to shake himself from the dark thoughts of the past, like he was trying to distance himself from the story about to spill out. "It was four years ago..."

  One of my underlings burst into the throne room, panting and wide-eyed, cutting through the heavy, fragrant air that hung over the feast. He shouted, “Sir, Geralt is fighting some large blue-haired man in the city square! Maybe it’s Sun? Geralt’s losing!”

  I froze, my grip tightening around my goblet as I stared at him. "What? Geralt is losing? And some large man?" I demanded, my voice cold with sudden fury. The very thought was ridiculous—Geralt, a seasoned veteran, losing to anyone.

  The underling continued, his voice tinged with panic, “An assassination attempt, something. All I know is that Geralt won’t hold out for long. Whoever the man is, he’s taller than the Demon Buddha.”

  I couldn’t waste time here.

  I waved my hand dismissively, signaling my servants to leave me. They scurried away, eyes wide, leaving me alone with the growing fire in my chest. I cracked my knuckles, the sound like a warning. “Take me to him.” I ordered.

  The city square was a mess when I arrived—shattered stone, and chaos everywhere. The most shocking sight was Geralt. The second best swordsman in the world, a god to be reckoned with, was on the back foot, struggling with a man who looked like a living storm. The blue-haired giant loomed over him, moving with terrifying speed, his fists a blur of power as they crashed into Geralt’s swords. Geralt was on the defensive, dodging and blocking every heavy blow with his longsword, but the man's strength was overwhelming. How bloody was Geralt? His armor was dented, his breath ragged. The sight was nearly enough to make my blood boil.

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  I couldn’t stand by and watch. The damage to the city was already going to be monumental—Geralt’s defense was doing nothing but spreading chaos.

  I took off in a flash, moving faster than my men could keep up, and intercepted a punch thrown by the blue-haired giant with my shoulder. The impact rang through me like a gong, the sting sharp enough to rattle my teeth. “Geralt, retreat and get medical attention!” I shouted, my voice rising above the din.

  He nodded quickly, and in a blur, disappeared into the crowd. I turned back to the giant, my gaze locked onto him as I sized him up.

  The blue-haired man’s fist was still clenched, his stance wide and grounded. I stepped forward, grasping his fist in my hand. He tried to push forward, but I stopped him, my strength putting up a barrier he couldn’t break through. “Let’s get this started.” I said, a dark thrill rising in my chest. This would be a fight to remember.

  The man roared, and in the same breath, smashed the ground beneath us with a double hammerfist. The earth cracked and splintered like a shattered bowl. That power! I could feel his raw muscle beneath my palm.

  Before I could recover, he ducked low and tackled me. My body was caught off guard as he grabbed my leg and lifted me into the air like I weighed nothing. The world spun as he held me high. I kicked him in the nose with all my strength, but it was like kicking a stone wall—absolutely nothing. His face barely budged, and he didn’t even flinch.

  He grinned, his teeth glinting in the chaos, and threw me down with no regard for his own body’s elasticity. His arm whipped around, moving with an unnatural speed, and I crashed into the ground with bone-rattling force. The impact sent a jolt of pain up my spine, and I felt the sharp burn in my chest as I coughed up blood. My head spun, dizziness clouding my vision.

  That’s... his full strength.

  He let go, taking a step back, his breath heavy and uneven. I could feel the cold burn of pain settling deep into my body. He flexed his arm, which now seemed unnaturally stretchy, the muscles bulging and contorting with every movement. It looked like something straight out of a nightmare.

  I stood slowly, pushing myself up with my knee as leverage. This thing—this creature, as I had to start thinking of it—wasn’t just some random brute. No, it had purpose, and I could sense that.

  Alright, whoever you are. You are fighting with your life on the line. And now, so will I.

  I opened my left palm and slammed it into my right fist, a sharp crack ringing through the air. I let the force build inside me, feeling it emanate, a power that pulsed and thrummed with deadly intent. The creature, if it could be called that, recognized the danger almost immediately. It lunged forward, no hesitation, driven by something primal. But I wasn’t caught off guard this time.

  I punched once more, the air thickening around me as the power coiled, ready to explode. That should be enough.

  I tightened my fist, pushing my energy deeper, focusing it like a blade at the tip of a spear. My fist might break, but it would take him out. The creature didn’t know what was coming. It launched a kick, but it wasn’t even close to mastering the technique behind it. I caught it easily with my right forearm, locking the limb in place with a sharp twist. And then, with a deep, guttural growl, I released my full force into its chest.

  The impact was deafening. The creature flew back, crashing into a building with an explosion of rubble and debris, the entire structure shaking with the violence of the blow. It sprawled out on the ground, its chest rising and falling with labored breaths. That did it.

  I stood there, watching, my pulse racing as I realized what I had done. He wasn’t unconscious, but he wasn’t getting up anytime soon either. I could see him muttering under his breath, his voice low and strained.

  “Must... protect...”

  I furrowed my brow, confused. Protect? Who? What was he talking about?

  His voice came again, raspier this time. “Protect... family....”

  I glanced around quickly, scanning the area, my eyes searching for any sign of distress. It wasn’t like him to talk like this, especially after a fight. What did he mean by family? Was there someone else here? I looked closer, narrowing my gaze. There. Two citizens had stayed behind, watching in silence from the edge of the square. A young boy, his face pale with fear, and an elderly woman, her gray hair frail and wispy in the wind. If my theory was right…

  I turned my head quickly to the side, my stomach sinking. Behind them, two men in masks lay decimated, their bodies contorted in impossible angles just outside a door, weapons discarded beside them.

  Son of a bitch! This guy wasn’t some mindless fighter after all. He was protecting his family from burglars.

  Geralt, you idiot! If you had only asked…

  I couldn’t waste time now. This creature, this beast, had potential. And more importantly, I needed him. I needed him for the future. I would find a way to turn this to my advantage. I sat down in front of him, letting my posture relax as much as I could manage, trying to look non-threatening, almost playful in a way. I let the silence hang for a moment before speaking.

  "I'm sorry," I said, my tone softer now. "we thought you were an enemy."

  He didn’t respond, his breathing still heavy and labored, his eyes unfocused as if the world was spinning around him. He's upset. I need to turn this around.

  I dropped lower, crossing my legs as I sat directly in front of him. My voice was calm but deliberate. "You wish to protect, right?" His eyes flickered, a slight nod. It was all I needed.

  "Protect the city and your family?" I continued, leaning forward slightly. "Join me. All the luxuries, all the protection for your family. We will rule the world."

  His eyes sharpened for a brief moment, and I pressed further. "Without violence, there is no peace. Together, we can bring that peace." There it was. The spark in his eyes—the flicker of something that wanted more than just survival. I extended my hand, the invitation laid bare.

  Slowly, cautiously, he reached out and grasped it.

  And just like that, I had him.