"My name is Zero," I said, my voice steady and confident. "The leader of the Shadow Mystics. The one who lurks in the dark and protects the world from its own darkness."
The crowd murmured in disbelief, the name "Zero" rippling through them like a wave.
"Zero…" Nebula murmured, her voice as soft as the breeze after a storm, but it carried weight. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, her expression shifting to something unsettling—a mix of surprise, desire, and hunger. "Zero… and the Shadow Mystics…"
Her lips curled into a smile, and for the first time since her arrival, her cold demeanor cracked. A flicker of warmth—or something darker—played across her face.
I stood firm, gripping my sword, a confident smirk spreading across my face. I had no idea what she meant, but I wasn't about to let her see that. The weight of her gaze felt heavy, yet I met it head-on.
