Somewhere deep in the jungle, far away from the bustling market, the crowded streets, Razeal and Levy finally stood, facing each other.

Razeal though just stood there, wearing his usual cold expression, as if he didn't know how to interact with people. Honestly, the most he could manage was saying a few words, and even then, it was all just cold.

Yeah, maybe except systems, he can't manage or just doesn't bother to speak more than two sentences to anyone.

Now, he was just staring at Levy with that same expression, making Levy feel even more weirded out.

The tension in the air was thick, but it was Levy who finally broke the silence, his voice hesitant yet straight. "So, what do you want now?" Levy paused, his eyes locking with Razeal's. "Well, if it's business, I'm afraid I can't help you right now."

He hesitated, then added with a slightly sheepish look, "It's not that I don't like you... though, I won't lie, that's part of it but right now, things are different. because you just revealed your true face... and saved me. Now, I'm a criminal too."

Levy let out a frustrated sigh. "So yeah, no business for me right now either. And if you're here to apologize.."

"I want you," Razeal cut him off, speaking in a calm, controlled tone.

Levy blinked, taken aback, and shook his head immediately. "Nope. I don't want any part of that."

Razeal didn't seem surprised. "You don't have a choice anymore," he said flatly. "Like you said, the worst criminal in the Empire just helped you. And don't forget the Pillar Family behind your back now. You have no chance."

With a fluid motion, Razeal shed his black robe, revealing a sharp, tailored suit beneath.

"Arghh.. All because I fucking worked with you... who knew you were him?" Levy almost screamed, a black line appearing on his forehead in frustration. He threw his hands up, clearly exasperated. "Seriously, this is a fucked up."

Razeal simply stared at him, not a hint of emotion in his expression.

"One question," Levy said, raising a finger as he locked eyes with Razeal, his gaze serious. "Would you really have declared war on a Rock family?"

"Maybe," Razeal replied.

They stared at each other for a long time, neither breaking the silence.

And then

Levy, exasperated, finally let out a deep sigh. "Alright. Fine. What's the job this time?" His words were resigned, knowing full well that he had no other choice. The weight of the situation was pressing down on him, and despite his desire to escape, he knew he had no way out. If he didn't play along, things would get even worse.

Razeal's lips curled upward slightly, a smirk playing on his features. "Good. That's why I like intelligent people."

"We're going to the Ocean," Razeal continued, his voice as steady as ever.

---

Millions of miles away from the Empire of Aetherion, deep within a ravine, darkened and unseen by the masses...

A tall woman stood at the edge of a massive ravine, her long purple hair flowing behind her like the winds themselves obeyed her. The abyss before her was so deep that even the light could not fathom its depth.

Her piercing violet eyes stared at the wretched form of a Ghost Clan member wriggling in her grip. The aura around her was nothing short of cold. Her voice was a chilling whisper, cutting through the silence with surgical precision.

"Who asked the Ghost Clan to assassinate my son?" Merisa's voice broke the silence, soft but cutting. Her gaze locked onto the ghostly figure of the 8th ranked assassin she held in her hands, her eyes a chilling, emotionless void.

The ghost, bound by her power, squirmed in her grip, fear radiating off its being. It was powerless, a mere whisper of a threat now, yet still it fought for freedom. But Merisa's grip was unrelenting.

Her eyes flashed with a cold purple glow, and the ghost's desperate writhing only intensified the suffocating silence. She spoke again, her voice an implacable force.

"Not this base, either."

With that, a deep purple fire ignited around the ghost's body, an unholy flame that consumed it entirely. The ghost screamed, but Merisa didn't care. She watched with impassive eyes as the fire burning, purging the creature from existence.

Without a second glance, she let the burning, agonizing form slip from her fingers and fall into the ravine below. The sound of its descent was a distant, haunting echo, but Merisa didn't care. Just disappeared from the place as if she never existed.

Just after she vanished, a few seconds later

Booom

From deep within the ravine, a massive pillar of purple light shot upward, reaching into the sky like a jagged spear. It cracked the earth around it, sending shockwaves that reverberated across the land. The ground trembled, splitting open as the energy raged upward.

Everything in its path.. everything was obliterated. A void of nothingness left in the wake of the purple fire. The light that pierced the heavens burned so intensely that it seemed as though it could destroy the very fabric of the world itself.

Destroying everything around it, as the ground beneath turned to cosmic dust, annihilating any life if it even existed.

----

Back in the Empire

Levy blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear his head. "Ocean?" His voice was laced with disbelief, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up his spine. He didn't want to question Razeal, but the idea of going to the ocean was absurd to him. He couldn't quite wrap his head around it. "Just… why?" He couldn't help but think out loud, wondering what's he planning or what this is all about. Like... why would anyone even wanna go there?

"Ocean Black," Razeal replied calmly.

Levy's expression looked even more confusion. "That old legend?... the one spread by the crazy old man 60 years ago?" His voice trailed off as he processed the absurdity of it all. "If I'm right, it was something about a dark spot in the ocean where dead monsters and their cores gather... all because of the flow of the ocean, right?" His eyebrows furrowed. "But wasn't it just a myth? Just some bullshit from that old man who lost his mind?"

Razeal remained silent, but his eyes said everything.

Levy's expression grew even more puzzled. "What the hell is wrong with your head?" he snapped, unable to hold back his disbelief. "Do you even know how dangerous the ocean is? And the Black Ocean? It's not even real! It's just a myth, a damn legend! And even if it were real, how are you going to find it? The ocean is vast.. no one even knows how big it is! Wait does it even have an fixed location for it! And if I remember correctly, according to that crazy old man, the 'Ocean Black' moves. It shifts every year. It doesn't stay in one place! How are you going to track it down?" Levy had a weird expression on his face as he looked at Razeal, as if he had finally accepted that the rumors were true. This dude was really crazy...

"We will... I..." Razeal was just about to answer when his eyes suddenly went cold. In an instant, he disappeared in front of Levy, startling him.

Levy's heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened, caught completely off guard. What just happened? He looked around, disoriented, and then

Thud.

A sharp sound cut through the air, followed by the crashing of something against a tree. Levy spun around

Razeal had reappeared in a blur, His hands holding Maria by the neck, her back slammed hard against the rough tree bark. His grip was firm, unwavering, as he looked down at her with cold, calculating eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Razeal's voice was as emotionless as ever, but there was an unmistakable edge to it now. He pushed her harder against the tree, his face inches from hers, his cold gaze locked onto hers.

Maria gasped, struggling to breathe under his hold. Her body trembled, yet she tried to force a smile despite the suffocating pressure. "Do you treat all girls like this?" Her voice was strained, barely a whisper, but there was a trace of defiance in her eyes as she tried to stare him down.

Razeal didn't flinch. His grip tightened even more, making her squirm. "I treat all my enemies like this," he said, his voice soft, almost detached. "Tell me.. what are you doing here? Spying on me?"

Maria's face twisted in discomfort, but she didn't answer immediately. She was gasping for air, trying to push his hand away with weak hands.

Razeal's expression darkened, his patience wearing thin. "Tell me," he growled, his grip tightening even further, "before I really kill you."

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Hey everyone, your lovely author here! I just want to send a huge thank you to our beautiful butterfly, Yuri_IsNTR, for the Golden Gachapon! 🦋✨

Always appriciate it 🫂

Also, if you guys enjoyed the book, please don't forget to add it to your library and cast your vote for it in the WSA! 🫂❣️

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