Chapter 58: Secret Agent

Sometimes, the wounds that hurt the most aren’t the ones that bleed — they’re the ones that deform faith itself.
In the darkness of a prison forgotten by time, betrayal, death, and pain have carved invisible scars into those still breathing. There is no greater enemy than the silence after a broken promise, nor a heavier burden than the dead we failed to save.
Edén, still covered in the blood of those who believed in him, walks under a weight that goes far beyond the physical. The chains are no longer on his wrists, but on his conscience. Each step echoes like a judgment. And though his feet move forward, his soul crawls, dragging guilt he never asked to bear.
Zero — a name that sounds like nothing, and yet holds everything. He watches, acts, and vanishes with the same ease others scream. His existence isn’t a statement, but a question: how far can one go before becoming what one swore to destroy?
And meanwhile, the gears of war refuse to stop turning. Puppet moves his strings from afar, playing god with other people’s bodies. Guayas, trapped in his delusion of grandeur, prepares a final sacrifice. There is no room for mistakes, no time for remorse. Only the present remains… and the choice to face it.
In this chapter, there will be no redemption without loss. No justice without rage.
Only truth — raw and unmasked.
And the silent vow to avenge, to free… or to die trying.

——————————————————————————————————————————

A rain of steel and shadow fell upon the corridor. The deformed bodies of experiments dropped like insects — split in two, in four — all in silence. The stranger moved so fast that the eye could barely follow him.
Edén, still panting from the run, stopped for a moment to watch.
“Who the hell is this guy?” he thought, his body still trembling under the pressure of the auras in the air. “I can’t even keep up with him… and he doesn’t look like he’s trying.”

Ahead of them, as if born from a collective nightmare, a horde of new experiments burst into view. Some crawled, others moved on limbs that defied all anatomical logic. Their eyes glowed with a mix of hunger, rage, and soulless obedience.
“Hey, hey,” the stranger said, lazily cracking his neck. “Are you kidding me? I didn’t think they had this many. What do they do, reproduce by spores or something?”
“What are they?” Edén asked, not taking his eyes off them.
“That’s a secret. Let’s just say they’re very dangerous.”
“That’s pretty obvious…” Edén thought, tightening his fists.
“Leave this to me,” the stranger said, turning his head slightly. “You keep moving forward.”
“What?”
“You wanted revenge, didn’t you? Then go. I’ll handle these. See you later.”
“But—”
“Relax, this isn’t a seinen manga. Supporting characters don’t die every two chapters.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Nothing important. Just move. You’d only get in the way here.”
Edén frowned.
“That was offensive.”
“And realistic,” the stranger replied with a lopsided smile.

With a resigned sigh, Edén nodded and ran toward the end of the corridor, vanishing among the dark catwalks.
The stranger was left alone — or so it seemed.
“That’s it. Do what you have to do…” he thought, lowering his gaze. “Besides, I don’t want you to see this.”

The sound of a sword dragging across the floor broke the silence.
The figure that emerged from the smoke froze the air for a heartbeat — a torn body, covered in dried blood, with eyes utterly hollow. No soul. No consciousness. Only a lingering energy, manipulated from afar.
“A zombie?” the stranger murmured. “No… this isn’t an American movie.”

Takemi — or what was left of him — lunged forward violently.
The stranger reacted at the last instant, blocking the attack with his blade. The clash shook the air.
“Tsk… he still has technique. But his Zenka energy is minimal. This level of control…”
The stranger’s sword began to glow with a violet density, as if it breathed darkness itself.
“Looks like I’ll have to get serious.”

In a blink, the room filled with flashes. The bodies of the experiments fell like broken parts from a useless machine.
“I hate you, damn puppet king… Puppet.”

A laugh arrived — smooth, cruel, almost affectionate.
“Well, well. I expected nothing less from the famous prodigy of the Revolutionaries… Zero.”
Zero lowered his blade, but not his guard.
“Looks like you’re everywhere, bastard.”
“The feeling’s mutual, dear. But I can’t blame you — we both have missions, don’t we?”
“So you were behind all of this?”
Puppet let out an elegant laugh.
“Don’t get it twisted. We’re not the ones responsible for the experiments or that man’s madness. Believe it or not… we’re not that insane.”
“What about Nork? Atlantis? The attack on Grek?”
“My, my. The Revolutionaries’ little dog is well-informed.”
“More than you think.”
“What a pity… I would have loved to face you in person.”
Zero smiled bitterly, with venom.
“Yeah… it would’ve been a pleasure to kick your ass, sweetheart.”
Puppet laughed.
“An honor to hear such words from you. But I don’t have time to play. That’s why I use puppets.”
Zero narrowed his eyes.
“How far do your cursed powers reach? Can they even copy your Zenka?”
Puppet raised a hand with graceful poise.
“Shall we play for a while?”

Takemi stepped forward… but no further.
“What’s wrong? Move, you bastard!”
“P-please… k-kill me…” Takemi whispered, voice shattered.
“Defective puppet! Obey your master!”
“H-help me…”

Zero lowered his gaze. Something inside him broke. The energy in his body exploded outward — a violet wave that made the air quake.
“Puppet… I swear. I’ll kill you.”
“I’ll be waiting for the day you become my puppet, dear.”

A blinding light engulfed the corridor. Takemi stood in its center, his body trembling.
“T-thank you…”

And then… everything exploded.

—What…? —whispered Edén, his eyes still fixed on the trail of light that had devoured the corridor.
In the distance, a voice broke the silence.
“Seriously… who was that guy?” murmured Guard 2, as if not expecting an answer.

Cut to Puppet, submerged up to his chest in a steaming bathhouse. His wide, lazy smile couldn’t hide his satisfaction.
“Well, well… looks like I lost the link with my puppet,” he said, massaging the back of his neck. “Oh well, at least it’ll help me refine the design for the next specimen.”
He closed his eyes for a moment.
“It’ll take time before that one falls under my control… but that’s fine. I love a good challenge.”
He rose from the bath unhurriedly, his silhouette wrapped in steam. The towel slipped from his shoulders as he stopped to gaze out from one of the hidden terraces of the complex, overlooking the destruction below.
“This will be… a new step forward for the experiments.”

In the ruined tunnels, among cracked walls and the corpses of experiments, a crimson sword gleamed alone on the ground. Beside it, Zero stood in silence.
“So this is where the most feared swordsman of the seas was hiding… Takemi, the infernal swordsman.”
He bowed respectfully and reached for the hilt. The instant he touched it, a wave of memories flooded into his mind like a raging current.
“Is this… your story?”

Behind him, a soft yet intense presence emerged from nowhere.
“Well, well… for someone so young, you’re not bad at all,” said a playful female voice.
Zero turned with a frown.
“Huh? Who are you?”
Before him stood the ethereal figure of a woman with fox-like features — long white hair like moonlight and eyes as sharp as they were kind.
“I am the Lack spirit that dwells within this sword. A kitsune. And you… are my new master.”
“M–Master?? EHHHHHH?!”
“You didn’t know?” she asked, tilting her head. “My previous master, as a token of gratitude, entrusted me to you.”
“Takemi?”
“That’s right.”
Zero frowned. His eyes clouded with questions he didn’t dare voice.

Then his other sword began to tremble violently. From it emerged a demonic figure with crimson eyes and short horns.
“What do you think you’re doing, you homewrecking cat?!”
“And who might you be?” asked the kitsune, still smiling.
“Who am I?! I’m the spirit of Master Zero’s sword! And you? You don’t even look like a high-tier Lack. Probably just a common, unclassified one.”
“Oh please, you’re calling me common? From the lowest caste of demonic weapons?” she replied with a mocking chuckle.
“What did you just say?! You damn fox!”
Zero sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“What the hell is going on here…?”
“Both of you, shut up!” he finally shouted.
The two spirits froze in surprise.
“I’d like to say I don’t want another weapon…” he continued wearily, “…but it was his will. And I won’t reject it.”
The demon spirit blinked, hurt.
“Master Zero…”
“Please…”
“…Fine. If that’s what you wish, so be it,” she said softly before fading away.
The kitsune followed, vanishing gracefully.

Zero lowered his head and closed his eyes.
“Well… looks like it’s time for the final act. I wonder how he’s doing.”

Edén was shown descending a staircase as if the world were collapsing behind him.
“How can this place be so huge? I’ve been going down forever. What the hell are you planning, Guayas?”
Without stopping, he jumped into the void. His body twisted in the air before landing heavily on a metal walkway below.

Before him stretched a vast network of catacombs. Stalactites hung like stone fangs over shadowed chambers.
“Where the hell am I?”
His steps slowed as he caught something — a faint sound. A broken breath.
“…No…”
He ran toward a solitary cell. Behind the bars, a woman chained and covered in wounds trembled weakly.
“Quil!”
With fury and desperation, Edén tore the bars apart and rushed to her side.
“This is bad… She hasn’t eaten in days. How long has she been here?”
He remembered the moment she came to his cell — her gentle tone, her determination.
“Since then…? How could she endure this?”
His eyes began to darken to an icy blue-black, the air around him vibrating.
He shattered the chains with one furious pull.
“I’m sorry… I never should’ve dragged you into this. But I swear… I’ll end him.”
Quil clung to him with the last remnants of her strength.
“Don’t… don’t go…”
“What?”
“Don’t go, please… I don’t want you to die.”
Edén looked at her, stunned.
“I’m not going to die. But first… I have to get you out of here.”
“I… couldn’t protect him…”
“Protect who?”
“M–my baby.”
Edén felt his breath stop.
“B–Baby? What are you talking about?”
“I wanted to tell you, but he…”

Through Quil’s tearful, pain-filled gaze, we travel into memories that should have never been remembered.

Flashback.

“What did you just say?!” roared Guayas, his eyes bulging with fury.
“I’m pregnant…” Quil whispered, her voice trembling yet resolute. “The kingdom of Santay will have a—”
A sharp punch cut her words short. The impact threw her to the ground.
“Kill it.”
Quil looked up, stunned.
“W–What did you just say?”
“I said kill it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?! That’s your child! Our child!”
“So what?” Guayas replied with disturbing calm. “Santay will never have another ruler besides me.”
“Do you hear yourself?! This isn’t about power — it’s about your own child!”
Guayas narrowed his eyes. His voice dropped to a glacial whisper.
“Didn’t you hear me? Kill it.”
“No…” Quil took a step back, her breath ragged. “I said no! I’m not going to kill my child because of your sick obsession with power! You’ve gone insane with this delusion of becoming a god. I don’t even know who you are anymore!”
In the blink of an eye, Guayas was right in front of her. His hand clamped around her neck like a claw.
“Until now… I let you speak.”
Quil kicked and clawed at his arm.
“But I don’t need you anymore.”
Her vision began to fade.
“L–Let… go…”
“Your Majesty!” shouted a voice from the entrance.
Guayas stopped. He dropped Quil as if she were a filthy rag.
“What is it? This better be worth it.”
“The informant is here.”
Guayas sighed in irritation.
“About time. Guard.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Take this woman away. Lock her in the dungeons.”
“What…? Did I hear that right?”
“That’s right. Or… are you challenging me?”
“No, sir. Right away.”
The guard chained her as she struggled to breathe. He dragged her off while another man entered the corridor.
“You may come in, rat.”
“Uh—yes, sir…” Amine replied, lowering his gaze.

Back to the present.

“I… I couldn’t protect anyone…” Quil whispered through tears. Her voice broke, her body trembling with suppressed sobs.
Edén stepped closer and held her tightly. For an instant, all was silent.
“I’m sorry… for not helping you sooner.”
“Idiot…” she murmured, fighting her crying. “You don’t have to apologize… you…”
“I’m sorry… truly.”
“Fool…”
Her tears fell freely now — as if she finally felt safe.

“Can I ask you to protect her?” Edén said, without breaking his gaze.
“Of course,” came a calm voice beside him. It was Zero.
He gently lifted Quil into his arms.
“So I wasn’t as well hidden as I thought…” he mused, as Quil looked at him in surprise.
“You’re…”
“Shh… that’s a secret. We’ll talk about it later.”
Edén nodded, his eyes burning with rage.
“I’ll kill him…”
Dark energy began to pour from his body, thick as cursed mist. The very air trembled under the weight of his fury.
“Your Majesty,” said Zero gravely, “we should leave this place.”
Without waiting for a reply, he vanished with Quil in a flash of speed.

Edén stood alone.
His breathing grew heavy.
His shadow stretched until it covered the walls.
“I’ll kill you, Guayas!”

Elsewhere — far beneath the visible world — Guayas stood within a circle carved in blood. An inverted star marked the center.
“The time has come… to become a god.”
A distorted laugh escaped his throat as a spiral of dark energy began to engulf his body. A vile, crushing aura spread through the chamber — as if hell itself had seeped through the cracks of the world.
And amid the chaos, his smile was no longer human.
It was something else.