"I was always empty inside... too trusting, too easily influenced."
Ito's voice was low but steady, each word spoken more to himself than anyone else.
"A coward who ran from his problems."
But then, he looked up.
"Not now. No one's influencing me. This feeling—this need to help—it's mine."
Smoke choked the air as rushed footsteps echoed in the chaos. The battlefield trembled with the growls of Hollow Beasts closing in.
Ito shouted with everything he had, his voice tearing through the black haze. The beasts turned their heads—attention locked onto him.
"Why are you here?! Run, Ito! They'll kill you!" Sara's voice cracked with panic.
His legs froze. The beasts lunged. Claws scraped the ground. Fangs gleamed in the dim light.
Then—SLAM!
A blur tackled him from behind.
He hit the ground hard, just as a beast's jaws snapped through the air where his neck had been.
Coughing, Ito glanced up.
A lone figure now stood between him and the monsters.
White hair. Crimson eyes.
"T-The First Squad Captain… Zeth?" Hyman whispered, stunned. "Those colors… there's no mistake. But why is he here?"
No one answered.
No one could.
Everyone was frozen, caught between awe and disbelief.
A groan broke the silence.
"Ugh… can someone tell the world to stop spinning?" Ito muttered, dazed on the ground. "Or at least help me up?"
Zaydan's voice pierced through the haze. "I didn't see it clearly, but… I think the second Hollow Beast managed to cut the captain's hand."
Sara turned to Hyman. "Vice-Captain… what just happened?"
"I think… that was Captain Zeth's Zone Technique," he answered, almost reverently.
Another beast charged—then was crushed by an unseen force.
Again. And again.
Beasts fell like puppets with strings cut.
"Now!" someone shouted. "We can escape!"
But Ito didn't run.
He darted toward the Hollow Tree instead, toward the trapped students.
The vines reacted, writhing, slashing toward him.
"Expanding lungs… inhaling through the mouth," Zeth muttered, barely audible.
Then he declared it—
"Zone: Kneel Down."
A flash exploded into the sky.
A dome of pressure burst outward, spanning far beyond what any Zone Technique had ever reached—covering nearly half the continent.
"What now…?"
The Hollow Beasts dropped. The tree cracked. All was crushed under the unseen force.
"Hurry—before the tree regenerates!"
Ito pushed through the chaos. "Now's my chance. I have to move."
But then—hesitation.
Zaydan stood motionless, eyes on the fallen students.
"They're already…" he began.
Ito turned to him. "Already what?"
"They're already Hollow."
The words hit like a thunderclap.
Silence fell.
Ito's hands trembled. "I'm sorry… this is all my fault. If I had been faster… if I wasn't so useless—"
Sara grabbed his shoulder. "Stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault."
"She's right," Hyman added. "We did all we could."
"But if I'd just tried harder—"
Zeth's voice cut in coldly.
"If you have time to regret, use it to run. That thing is growing again."
Sara pulled Ito by the hand, and the group broke into a desperate sprint.
Behind them, the Hollow Tree thrashed wildly.
Zeth's gaze was fixed on it, cold and unflinching.
"Every time you try to grow... I'll crush you. You empty piece of garbage."
The next moment—WHIP!
A vine pierced through Ito's chest.
Blood splattered. His breath hitched.
What… just happened? Why is everything blurry…? Why can't I hear them…? My body… it's numb…
Am I… dying?
Darkness.
"KEHAHAHA! Where am I?"
Who's laughing…?
"KEHAHAHA! Who's there?!"
Why am I floating…? Is this death?
"Hey! Weird laugh! Can you at least tell me where I am?!"
Suddenly, a new voice echoed through the void.
"Moshi moshi—hello?"
Ito's eyes widened.
That voice… Captain Zeth?! But… I can't see anything. It's just blank…
"KEHAHAHA!"
"Seriously?! Are you gonna just keep laughing like a creep?!"
No reply. No direction.
And then—
He began to fall.
Huh?! Why am I falling—?!
CLINK.
Chains rattled.
Ito's eyes flew open.
A cold ceiling. Iron cuffs on his wrists.
And a man—tall, refined, and sharp-eyed—stood before him.
"So you've finally decided to wake up."
Ito squinted, still dizzy.
"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Velthorn Blake, Chief Executive of the Supreme Knights of Yonor."
Ito ignored the title, voice hoarse.
"Sir… are they all safe?"
Velthorn raised a brow. "Still worried about others before yourself, I see."
He folded his arms.
"Yes. Sara and Zaydan are safe. Because of you, the casualties were minimal. Only three students were seriously injured. They'll recover soon."
Ito's breath hitched.
"C-Can you tell me who they were…?"
Velthorn stared, unreadable. "And what will you do with that information?"
Ito had no answer.
"…Very well. Marco Galdius, Barame Winton, and your classmate—Mary Elpar."
Ito lowered his head.
"I'm… sorry. I should've done more…"
Velthorn's voice softened.
"A knight's duty is to protect others. But no matter how strong you become—there will be times when you fail. That doesn't mean you give up. Despair will follow you. But so will hope. If you truly want to protect others… then become strong. Even if no one's left—be strong for yourself."
Ito's eyes widened.
Something in him shifted.
The shame didn't disappear—but it no longer ruled him.
"Chief Executive, sir—"
"Just call me Sir Velthorn."
"…Sir Velthorn, then. Why am I in prison? Why am I chained?"
Velthorn's gaze sharpened.
"You mean… you haven't noticed yet?"
"Noticed what?"
"The black aura surrounding your body."
Ito blinked. "Black… aura?"
"He can't see it yet," Velthorn murmured. "Interesting."
He leaned forward.
"Ito… do you remember what happened before you passed out?"
Ito nodded slowly. "Something stabbed me. I felt it go through my chest… I thought I died."
Velthorn didn't flinch.
"That's because you did die, Ito."
Twenty-Four Hours Earlier
"Is there nothing we can do, Vice-Captain Hyman?!"
Zaydan's voice was shaking. "Captain Zeth, your Zone power—can't it help him?!"
Zeth's expression was grim. "If I could, I would. But he's already… stopped breathing."
Suddenly—black aura surged from Ito's body.
"STEP BACK!" Zeth barked. "He's about to turn Hollow!"
"No!" Sara shouted. "He's not—!"
"Not the time to argue, girl!" Hyman snapped. "Wait… the tree isn't regenerating. What is this…?"
Then—
Ba-dump…
Ba-dump…
Ito's heart beat. Once. Then again.
A breath.
The black aura faded.
And silence fell.
Back to the Present
Ito opened his eyes to a sterile room. His chest still ached, but he was alive.
So… I really died. But I don't feel different.
Velthorn leaned forward.
"Did you see anything? A vision? A dream?"
Ito searched his memory, brows furrowed.
"…Just darkness. I don't remember anything."
Velthorn's expression darkened. "I see… There's much I want to ask. But for now—rest."
Ito sat up slightly, voice serious.
"Wait. One last thing."
He met Velthorn's gaze.
"Are you really… from this world?"