"What is happening to them right now?"

  In the kingdom's streets, Paola was tending to the other children, who were still reeling from the high-pitched noise. But just as she finished helping them... BOOOOM!! From deep within the city's alleys, the roar of an explosion thundered through the air. The groups of children trembled at the sound; Paola pulled them into a protective embrace, her own heart racing from the blast.

  'Could that explosion be... no! What if the boy switches consciousness with that entity?' Paola thought, dreading the worst.

  She stared at the massive plume of smoke, her mind racing. Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder. The faint clink of gear and the presence of a massive axe cut through her spiraling thoughts.

  "You look worried." The voice was calm and steady, possessing a soothing quality that could quiet any storm.

  Appearing beside her with effortless grace and a piercing gaze, the Captain exhaled a breath of frost with every sigh. His crimson hair and noble attire made his status and overwhelming power clear to all. "Red!" Paola gasped, startled by his presence. "What are you doing here?" "We Captains are on high alert. The other two have already mobilized to scout the perimeter for threats," Red explained, his strategic breakdown easing the tension. "But tell me... why do you have that look on your face?"

  Paola was caught off guard, touching her cheeks as if trying to mask her anxiety. "It's the boy!" she cried out, desperation taking over as she gripped the redhead's arms. "He was kidnapped by a hooded group. They headed straight toward the smoke!" She pointed toward the maze of alleys.

  With a solemn nod, the man showed a flicker of empathy. "I see..." He drew his axe and stood tall, his gaze hardening. "I'm heading out immediately!"

  With one lightning-fast blur, Red vanished! The human eye couldn't track his speed; all that remained were his footprints on the ground, frosting over as the temperature plummeted.

  Down in the ancient dungeon, Frey and Giyo stood frozen. They clung to each other in terror, trembling as they stared at the knight's body, which appeared to have stopped breathing. "I can't believe this..." Frey collapsed to the floor, cradling the knight's head to try and help him. "Neru! You're alive, right? Please!"

  'He sacrificed himself without a second thought, knowing this would happen? How is this even possible! His organs... his final breaths...' Giyo thought, clamping a hand over his mouth and recoiling from the visceral sight.

  ". . . Haa. . . HAAAAA!!" The knight suddenly let out a sound, startling them both. "NERU! TALK TO ME!" Frey cried out in desperation, leaning in close to catch whatever he was trying to say. "Haaaaaa!" he roared in agony, writhing as his hands brushed against his own exposed innards. "This hurts like hell!"

  "H-how are you still alive?" Frey's tears flowed uncontrollably. Her heavy sobs now carried the weight of both relief and the sheer horror of his condition. The knight looked deep into the demi-human's eyes, a carefree smile spreading across his bloodied face. "Princess... alive... Neru... happy..." As the words left his lips, his consciousness began to fade. Yet, his heart continued to thrum and blood still pulsed through his veins, proving that despite the impossible nature of his wounds, he was still clinging to life.

  In the midst of that brief relief, the witch's laughter erupted from the rubble. The stones crumbled into dust, and the girl reappeared before them, her face flushed as she writhed and gasped for air.

  "Haaa... this is so exciting!" Her hands roamed over her own body maniacally. "Death is truly a beautiful thing. How about we all die together next time? I'll have the pleasure of showing you all the love I carry inside me!"

  "Don't you ever stay dead?!" Frey barked, her frustration peaking. As her rage boiled over, her beastly form took hold; her muscles swelled, fur sprouted, and she foamed at the mouth, baring razor-sharp claws. "I'll personally see to it that you die, you witch!"

  Dropping onto all fours, the beast lunged. With a brutal swipe, Frey tore through the witch's stomach; her entrails spilled out and blood sprayed everywhere... but within seconds, it all knitted back together! The witch smiled and, with a mere flick of her finger against the demi-human's forehead, sent her crashing into the wall with devastating force.

  "Do you really think you can kill me? Only that useless knight is capable of such a feat," Aurelion mocked, closing in with delicate steps and a widening grin. "I'll admit... if he managed to strip me of my power, I'd be in a world of trouble, HAHAHAHA!" she cackled, tapping her forehead in a bizarre gesture.

  With a predatory glint in her eyes, Aurelion shifted her focus to the boy, swaying her hips with a hypnotic, unsettling rhythm.

  "How about I have a little chat with my new pet?" The witch leaned in, playfully tapping Giyo's nose in a mocking gesture. "Hey, hey... tell me: you're the Devil, aren't you? This aura, this fear, this form... IT'S INCREDIBLE!" Aurelion finally closed the distance, wrapping the boy in a tight embrace. "I never imagined I'd find a demon in the flesh. It makes me want to touch myself... SO, SO, SO, SO, SO MUCH! HAHAHAHA!"

  Giyo was trembling uncontrollably; her volatile personality and the way she writhed in ecstasy left him paralyzed with dread. He glanced to the side, seeing Frey slumped over the rubble, wounded and unresponsive. Aurelion gripped the boy's chin, forcing his gaze back to hers as her voice turned deathly serious:

  "Listen to me: it's just you and me. No distractions—" "HEY! LOOKS LIKE YOU TWO ARE HAVING QUITE A TIME, AREN'T YOU?"

  Aurelion whipped around, but before she could react, the blade of a heavy axe was already coming down toward her skull. Upon impact, the redhead swiftly snatched the sawed-off shotgun the knight had dropped. He fired a point-blank blast into the woman's neck, severing her head completely, before burying his axe into the nearby wall with a powerful throw.

  "Who would've thought we'd stumble upon one of the Witches down here?" Stepping over the debris, Red extended a hand to the demi-human. "Are you two alright?"

  "More or less... I got banged up a bit," Frey said, trying to steady herself. "I-I don't even know what to say..." Giyo was still visibly shaken, but he managed a nod. "Haaaa..." The knight was still groaning in pain, though somehow, he seemed to be stabilizing.

  When Red finally noticed the man on the ground, his eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock. "HOLY CRAP! THE GUY IS LITERALLY IN TWO PIECES?!" The bluntness of his outburst drew a faint, nervous laugh from the pair, but the moment was short-lived.

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  "How dare you..." Aurelion’s voice rasped from her severed head, still pinned by the axe. "You humans always ruin the fun!" "My apologies, but we don't take kindly to witches around here. Unless you're with the Church, of course," Red mocked.

  "The Church? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Is that a joke?!" Slowly, her body began to reconstruct itself in a grotesque display of bone, skin, and muscle. "The Witches of Sin would never stand with the Church! We worship our true gods. THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, SUPREME!"

  "Seven Deadly Sins? I'll take that as a valuable piece of intel," Red said, his humor fading as his gaze turned icy once more. "Your time is up. Die slowly and rot for the destruction you've caused."

  In a blur of motion, Red buried a fist into the witch’s gut, followed by a leg sweep that sent her crashing down. Reclaiming his axe, he drove it deep into her back. Aurelion shrieked in agony as frost surged through her veins, paralyzing her, yet she still managed one last manic laugh.

  "HAHAHAHA! You irritating humans... mark my words: in a few days, I will return to take what belongs to me... AND I WILL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!"

  Finally, her body froze solid. With a heavy kick, Red dislodged his axe, and the frozen remains of the witch shattered into a thousand jagged shards.

  The air grew still now that the threat was dealt with, but the man on the ground suddenly coughed up blood, writhing in agony until, finally... his breath failed him.

  Frey noticed the sudden silence and rushed over to help. But with a sudden flash of light, the man’s body seemed to "purify" itself. His missing half began to regenerate in painstaking detail: skin, bone, muscle, and nerves knitting back together.

  "Damn... I really thought I was a goner this time," Neru muttered, waking from a fatal wound that had already completely vanished. "NERU!" Frey lunged at him, throwing her arms around him with all her might, sobbing with relief. "I thought I'd never see you again..."

  "I believe you owe me an explanation," Red cut in, his eyes narrowing. "How did you recover from wounds like that? It’s humanly impossible!" "I see..." Neru stood up slowly, leaning against his companion for support. "So, the Captains have finally taken notice of me. Don't you think it’s a bit rude not to introduce yourself first?"

  "I am Red, Captain of the Second Division. You are to accompany me to the castle for questioning..." Red’s gaze then shifted to the boy standing nearby. "You as well! I believe the more witnesses we have, the better." "WHAT? ME TOO?!" Giyo gasped, realizing just how much trouble he had managed to get himself into once again

  A few hours later... At the Great Castle.

  The hall was vast and hollow, with a massive crimson carpet stretching from the throne to the entrance. Candles flickered, casting long shadows that weighed heavy on the room, while open curtains revealed the dying light of the day.

  "I want to know why we're even here. I mean, it makes zero sense for us to see the King!" Frey grumbled with every step, her irritation clear. "I agree. They'll likely have more questions for me than for you, so just keep your mouths shut, got it?" Neru seemed on edge, though he knew how to carry himself in extreme situations. "You do realize I can hear every word you're saying, right?" Red sighed in disappointment; their "secret" planning was anything but subtle.

  As the heavy oak doors creaked open, a chill of suspense ran down their spines. An elderly man walked down the long red carpet, accompanied by another man dressed entirely in white, adorned with golden cross symbols. Their pace was slow, agonizingly so, until the King finally reached his throne.

  "My King!" Red’s demeanor shifted instantly as he dropped to one knee, bowing his head in a show of absolute respect. "I bring before you these three individuals: on the left, the man who calls himself a knight and adventurer; beside him, the demi-human, his companion; and lastly, the boy, a student from the H.I.R.O. academy."

  The old man raised his hand, signaling that he understood. The command for silence in that single gesture was absolute, forcing Red to shut his mouth and cast his gaze toward the floor.

  "Red... explain yourself. Why have you brought these civilians before me?" the elder asked. "Sire, please listen closely. These three were involved in the massive explosion near the guild. While there, I detected the presence of a woman calling herself a Witch. I believe this knight may share a connection with that lady." "HEY!" Neru snapped, enraged by the suggestion that they were linked.

  "Hmm..." The King stroked his long beard, pondering the situation. "I shall allow you to step forward and recount every detail."

  The King’s air of superiority grated on all three of them. Frey made a face of pure disgust; Neru took a step forward, while Giyo remained still, obeying the command. "If you think I’m going to take orders from a disgusting old man like you, I’m sorry to tell you, but you’re dead wrong," Frey spat. "Watch your mouth!" Neru barked, trying to reign her in.

  The King gave a slight nod. Instantly, Red sprang up and drew his axe. With a swift kick, he knocked Frey to the ground and leveled his blade directly at her throat. Neru reacted on instinct, drawing his sawed-off shotgun and aiming it straight at the redhead.

  "Answer the King’s question, or she dies," Red commanded, his blade unyielding. "Try it, and I’ll end your life right here and now!" Neru’s finger tightened on the trigger, ready to fire at point-blank range. "H-hey... we're not actually going to kill each other here, right?" Giyo stammered, his nerves frayed as he watched the standoff.

  "I believe you are ill-informed as to who I am. I am Arthur Pendragon, the rightful King of this realm," the old man declared with crushing authority. "If you think my subordinate will hesitate to kill the girl, you are sorely mistaken. He has full permission to execute her should this knight keep his weapon raised." The King gestured coldly. "Red! Give them a five-second count."

  "One..." The count began. The redhead showed no sign of doubt or hesitation. "Stop this!" Neru growled, his aim steady even as cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. "Two..." Red continued, unfazed. "Hey, hey, hey! Just tell them already! It’s not worth it!" Giyo, overwhelmed by terror, sank to the floor and covered his ears, trying to shut out the suffocating tension. "Three... Four..."

  At the very last second, the knight lowered his gun. "My name is Neru. I am a knight of the Animal Kingdom. I served forty years ago, during the war against the Witches of Sin..." Neru turned to look the King dead in the eye. "That woman has a name: Aurelion, the Witch of Wrath. And as for me... I am the legendary Hunter of Witches and Sins!"

  After the crushing tension, the old man gave another signal, prompting Red to stand down. Rising from his throne and stepping toward those gathered before him, the King carried himself with towering pride and a predatory gaze. In that moment, there was no doubt as to who ruled that hall.

  "A wise decision, my noble knight. I trust you won't hold a grudge against me," Arthur said, crossing his arms, visibly intrigued. "So, you’re saying the Witches' cult was never truly destroyed? It makes sense. After the fall of the last Witch, there were no reports of the seventh; it was foolish of us to let it slide." With a weary sigh, the King grew pensive. "So, you are the famous Witch Hunter? I am honored by your presence in my kingdom. I know we started with threats and a show of dominance—allow me to apologize for the lack of courtesy shown to a historical figure."

  "I'm certain you're after more than just information. What is it you're really looking for?" Neru brushed off the apologies, cutting straight to the chase. "HA HA HA! Short and to the point," the King said, patting the knight on the shoulder. "Well, it so happens that we are short one Captain in our divisions. We’ve been searching for qualified candidates among all our options, but none were fit for the role... until you showed up."

  "Are you inviting me into this system of orders and slaughter?" "HA HA HA, precisely! If you accept, I will grant you every possible resource to hunt down this Witch who has tormented you your entire life! And perhaps... you could share some of your knowledge? A small price to pay, don't you think?" "Neru! Don't listen to him, let's just go..." Frey said, standing up after the crushing weight of the confrontation.

  His companion's words echoed in his head, but they were drowned out by more haunting sounds: the agonizing screams of the innocents caught in the crossfire, the cries of women being tortured, and the echo of his own greatest sin... it all began to overwhelm his heart once more.

  He looked back and saw Frey already heading for the exit, but he knew he couldn't just walk away. Turning his attention back to the old King, he clenched his fists and took a deep breath to steady his voice. "I... accept your proposal."