Haruto, still stunned by Serena's swift and brutal display, rubbed the small cut on his cheek, a souvenir from the whirlwind kick that had sent Sir Marcus flying. The crowd's cheering crescendoed, unfazed by the violence they had just witnessed. Sylvie shook her head, murmuring, "She's as foul-mouthed and violent as ever. I don't know why these guys always do this when the outcome is the same each time."
Serena glanced back at Haruto dismissively. "Get up! You look pathetic down there," she scoffed before turning away and merging with the crowd. Haruto, gathering himself, couldn't help but marvel at the insanity of it all. "Hey Sylvie, so that number... She's ranked 4?"
"Yep, that's Serena the Goddess of War. Master of weapons and hand-to-hand combat. Plus, she has the ability of foresight. Her reflexes and reaction speeds are so advanced she can almost predict the future a few minutes ahead," Sylvie explained with a hint of pride.
Haruto's eyes widened. "And she's only ranked 4?!" The idea of someone so formidable being less than the top rank was almost incomprehensible.
As more Vanguard members made their appearance, the crowd's excitement provided a running commentary. "Look! It's Number 7, Gor! His explosions are so cool—a true pillar of justice and always so fair."
"Bet the Twins can take him. Once they fuse, they're almost unbeatable. Kima and Twitch are the coolest."
Fusion? The concept intrigued Haruto. The world seemed filled with unimaginable powers. "Hey, they must have some crazy awakening stones, huh?" he asked Sylvie, eager to understand how their abilities compared to his own.
"Oh yeah, every member of the Vanguard has at least an Epic or Unique grade stone minimum. For the top four, though, no one outside of the King knows. But remember what I said about the ranking system—everyone's stone is a growth type. They've harnessed and morphed their magic until they became the powerhouses you see today."
Haruto pondered his own situation. If the Vanguard's stones were similar to his, what might he become?
His thoughts were interrupted as Sylvie suddenly shrieked with excitement. "Ahhh, big sis! You look so good!!!" Danity, strikingly similar to Sylvie but clearly more mature, waved to the crowd, her presence commanding and poised. Spotting Sylvie, she leaned in to whisper something that left Sylvie looking puzzled.
Before Haruto could inquire about the whisper, chaos erupted. The griffin he had encountered earlier landed heavily in front of him, its massive form stirring dust and leaves. Haruto, taken aback, prepared for battle, flames ready at his fingertips.
Sylvie screamed, "NO!" fearing an imminent attack.
As he braced to launch his fire, Haruto felt a gentle tug at his hands. Looking down, he saw two little girls smiling up at him, their innocent eyes wide with curiosity. He felt an odd, almost familial connection to them.
Suddenly, a woman appeared next to him, scooping up the girls. "Oh, I'm so sorry to startle you. These are my little ones, Yu and Mi." The children giggled, finding humor in the situation that Haruto couldn't see.
Sylvie, her face drained of color, began to back away slowly. "Haruto, that's no ordinary beast you're about to attack... That's Momo, and he belongs to Motar, the number 3 Vanguard!"
Haruto froze, his flames flickering out as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. Not only had he nearly engaged with a beast belonging to one of the most powerful beings in the kingdom, but he had also unwittingly drawn the attention of significant figures within the Warlord community. The implications of this realization began to sink in, setting the stage for a complex and dangerous path forward.