(S1) Chapter 15 The Transcendent Battle

“What do you want? Are you also looking to meet the same fate as hers?” The Nameless Man queried.

Janus responded with silence. His eyes fixated on the Nameless Man, as the smoke from his cigarette kept flowing through the air. It felt as if time was put on pause. And Janus’s gaze was the only thing proceeding. While this sent chills down Serene’s spine, the Nameless Man found it amusing.

“Also not a talker, huh?” He taunted, his resolve firm. Janus already knew the Nameless Man wouldn't care enough to wait any longer. He calmly blew out a puff of tobacco smoke as he closed his eyes.

“I’m not here to fight. But leave the girl alone.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? And how dare you order me to do something. The people of Helmvel do not deserve to live. Besides, you don’t seem like someone from around here… Where did you come from?”

“I come from a place, very far away.” Janus responded, his voice growing deeper, as the tension kept on rising. The Nameless Man’s eyes squinted, his demeanor laced with skepticism. “Why are you so fixated on this girl?”

“That is none of your concern.”

“Heh… you’re amusing, aren’t you?” He replied, shifting his gaze back at Serene, who was the whole time shivering in fear, as sweat broke, pouring down from her forehead, slowly swallowing in fear, her eyes widened.

“Serene, teach him a lesson for me, will you?”

“Y- yes… m- master…”

“What is it? Are you hesitating on my orders?!”

“No, no… it’s just…” Serene stammered, as she glanced at Janus, who stood still, his face shadowed, but his demeanor expressing absolute compentency. His eyes fixated on the faraway view of the sea, as he kept one hand in his pocket.

“I don’t think I can fight him, master…”

“Fine, if you won’t fight him, I will make him fight.” The Nameless Man exclaimed. Shifting his cold gaze back at Haywin, lifting his arm back up as he held his gun, not hesitating for a moment, he shot his gun at point blank range, aimed at Haywin’s forehead.

Bang!

…..

Every person standing on the scene remained motionless. Serene was still shivering, the Nameless Man held his gaze downwards towards Haywin in disbelief, and Janus did not change his position or his gaze. He kept his eyes fixed on the sea, as something inexplicable just happened.

At the very moment when the bullet was about to strike Haywin’s head, another gunshot rang out. It changed the trajectory of the bullet, causing it to strike the surface behind Haywin, flustering her hair with the wind pressure.

“I think that’s enough.” A voice interrupted from behind Janus, who remained unfazed by what had just occurred. Emerging from the shadows was Dark, his eyebrows furrowed, as Haywin turned her head towards him.

“Dark…”

Without wasting any time, a strong gust of wind covered the area as Dark leapt from the ground and landed between the Nameless Man and Haywin with great velocity, causing the Nameless Man to back down.

It was at that moment when Janus’s expression grew even more intense. His eyebrows fully furrowed, as his eyes shifted from the sea view to Dark.

“You…”

Dark gave Janus a rightful glance back, indicating that the two of them knew each other. Something had caused them to express this level of hatred and hostility towards one another. Dark's face was only slightly furrowed, but his demeanor serious. The Nameless Man responded,

“You must be Dark, I have heard many stories about you.”

“The same goes for you. The one who betrayed Helmvel, and went on the side of Aether. I know you very well.” Dark responded. He followed up by reaching his hand towards the Nameless Man as his legs stood planted onto the ground,

“We either safely leave this place and nobody gets harmed even further, or we battle it out, and atleast one of us will die.”

The Nameless Man hesitated, fully aware of Dark’s capabilities, and how he could easily rival his own powers. He took the wise decision, and answered Dark,

“...Hm.” Turning his back, his cloak fluttered in the winds, walking from the scene as Serene followed him. Leaving the three individuals behind. Haywin started to lose consciousness, her head dropping onto the ground. Dark shifted his gaze to Janus, who quietly gazed back at him. They both engaged in a staring contest for a number of seconds as the wind fluttered through their hair, Janus holding his cigarette in his left hand.

“You’re as sturdy as ever, Dark.”

“The same goes for you, Sagittarius.”

In the meantime of their stare contest, a phenomenon happened that the mortal eye could not witness. Their bodies moved at a speed beyond the concept of speed and time. Their silhouettes displayed them both engaging in hand-to-hand combat, both exchanging powerful blows from right to left, all whilst they both stood still in front of each other. It was only a few seconds after their transcendent battle that a destructive wind blasted the entire surface. Leaving a deep hole in the ground right in between their positions. Janus put his cigarette back into his mouth, and held both of his hands in his pockets, walking into the shadows, before passing on a final message,

“The time will come.”

…..

One week later

Haywin slowly opened her eyes to find herself lying on a hospital bed, she squinted her eyes as she looked at her bandaged arms. She covered her eyes as soon as she shifted her head to the left where a window stood, permitting a shiny beam of sunlight that hurt her eyes.

“Oh, I should have closed the curtains. My bad, Haywin.”

As she slowly descended her arm from her view sight, she saw Dark standing at the window, dressed in a black shirt, paired with black jeans. He held a three-piece set of rings on his left hand. It was clear that there was no apprehension at that moment, with Dark expressing relaxation. He looked down on Haywin with a soft smile on his face.

“Dark…?”