Sakura's voice carried an air of caution, "There is someone nearby."
Kavato's voice echoed, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, "Brother?"
Amid the charged atmosphere, Brother's voice sliced through with a touch of awe, "Impressive, so the rumours were true."
Sakura's tone held a promise of revelation, "There is more."
A menacing voice interjected, dripping with malice, "Hey, Kavato, hand over the formula, and your friends might survive." The lackey of the son of ALKI taunted.
Two daring rogues, poised for action, stood beneath his ominous command.
"Kiyoshi, what's the situation?" Frustration laced the speaker's words.
Kavato's brother cut to the point, "I don't have time for this futile game."
Toma's retort was swift and fiery, "You bastard, Silence if you value your life."
One of the rogues faltered, his voice quivering as he knelt, "Forgive me, my Lord. No disrespect intended. Spare me, spare my life."
Toma's gaze burned, his stance unyielding, "Stand, fool. Kavato can't muster strength beyond E-rank."
Kavato's brother Tora surveyed the trio, sensing an overwhelming mana pressure emanating from him. One succumbed, bleeding from the nose, ears, and eyes. Toma and his comrade fell, lifeless, staining the ground crimson, while the wounded kneeler escaped.
Tora's tone turned frigid, "I'm here to hand over the papers. from tomorrow, your nobility ends. Ramiya's family disowns you. You've failed."
Kavato's voice trembled, accepting his fate, "Perhaps it's for the best."
Crimson drops trickled from KAVATO's nose, a testament to the crushing pressure.
Kiyoshi queried with concern, "Who is he?"
KAVATO responded, his voice sombre, "He's my brother, Tora—the blazing sword of the Ramiya family, the firstborn son of our lord." As Kiyoshi's hand was stained with blood from his nose, the connection became clear.
Frustration tinged Kiyoshi's words, "I couldn't activate my Eye of Wisdom. His pressure trapped me."
KAVATO's strained voice inquired, "His rank?"
A weary reply came, "S-rank."
With a trace of nostalgia, KAVATO reminisced, "He held S-rank two years ago."
---
faraway in Jamna,
a place within Heraki—an island nestled between Elfior and Ramiya—
Within an A-rank Dongen under the AMO, four lifeless guards adorned the entrance. A cavern, seemingly crafted by a formidable hand, had been cleared six months prior, yet its secrets remained, untouched by time.
KARIRO vented, "Why the hell do we always draw the short straw? Even an amateur could handle this."
HOSOKI countered, "Think again, KARIRO. Beneath the surface, these 'unremarkable' tasks often house enigmatic secrets."
With practised ease, the duo manoeuvred past triggered traps, their expertise evident.
"did you find the passage, HOSOKI?" an eager inquiry.
HOSOKI, a formidable figure adorned with mystical relics, deciphered cryptic inscriptions through his lens. His imposing form—donning rings, necklaces, and enchanted items—held an air of mystique, accentuated by a tattoo on his right palm.
KARIRO, towering and slender, sported a distinctive nose and a vibrant green suit. Capable of reshaping his body, he bore the emblem of the Warisus gang on his attire.
HOSOKI's declaration came as a revelation, "This is it," deftly manipulating a wall-mounted wheel.
Curiosity struck KARIRO, "Why does the guild is blind of this?"
HOSOKI's wisdom shone through, "Someone adept in ancient languages like myself is exceedingly rare."
As the grand door swung open, revealing a vast hall, attention was captivated by the legendary centrepiece— the legendary hourglass.
HOSOKI's voice resonated with awe, "Encountering your kind here, the legendary Minotaur—truly, fate weaves intricate tales."