The rhythmic thud of marching boots filled the air as the army advanced toward the Major Gate.
The scent of damp earth mixed with the lingering iron of blood as mana fluctuations pulsed intermittently, radiating from the assembled soldiers.
Far behind them, a lone figure stood, his posture relaxed yet oddly detached from the chaos around him.
Zhuo.
His dark eyes, like pools of an endless abyss, reflected nothing but calm amusement.
His hands remained lazily tucked into the pockets of his long coat as he watched the scene unfold before him.
Then, without urgency, he took a single step forward.
---
"Let's walk and talk."
---
A flickering blue light hovered beside him.
The Veil Interface came to life, its translucent screen pulsing gently in the air like a living entity.
Then, it spoke—
---
[I don't have legs, but okay.]
---
Zhuo let out a quiet sigh.
---
"Right… I should've expected that kind of answer."
---
His voice carried an air of exasperated amusement.
The Veil had an odd way of responding—sometimes logical, sometimes sarcastic, but always oddly alive despite its artificial nature.
He took another step forward, his boots pressing into the soft ground as his eyes drifted toward the moving army.
Their figures were getting smaller as they advanced.
But his mind was elsewhere.
---
"It's been… how many years now?"
---
His voice was soft, almost as if speaking to himself.
A small, almost nostalgic grin pulled at his lips.
---
"I can't even remember the last time I saw mortals fight."
---
The Veil flickered, processing his words.
---
[Master, do you mean before your slumber?]
---
Zhuo's grin deepened, his black eyes flickering with something ancient—something from a past long forgotten.
---
"Before that. Long before that."
---
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
His gaze lifted to the horizon, where the army's figures continued to march forward—determined, ready for battle.
Zhuo's expression was one of mild interest.
---
"This will be… interesting."
---
He mused, half to himself.
Then, his eyes shifted slightly, focusing on one particular figure at the front of the army.
Seraphine.
Her raven black hair cascaded behind her, contrasting sharply with the dark armor she wore.
She moved with purpose, her presence commanding yet calmly resolute.
The soldiers followed her lead without hesitation.
Zhuo's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke again.
---
"That little girl… Seraphine."
---
The Veil flickered, as if sensing a shift in his tone.
---
[You seem curious about her, Master.]
---
Zhuo's grin softened, his fingers tapping lightly against the fabric of his coat.
---
"From all the people I've encountered since I arrived on Earth, she's the strongest so far."
---
He paused.
Then, his voice carried a faint note of interest.
---
"But I want to see exactly how strong she is."
---
It wasn't just idle curiosity.
Zhuo had always been observant by nature—a habit formed from eons of existence.
Even when he had stood above gods, he had taken the time to watch, to assess, to understand.
Because potential was something that had always fascinated him.
And Seraphine…
She had potential.
A flicker of something dangerous yet intriguing lurked beneath the surface of her otherwise composed demeanor.
And he wanted to see it firsthand.
---
A Sudden Concern
As Zhuo continued his leisurely stroll, the Veil Interface flickered erratically, as if hesitating to say something.
Zhuo immediately noticed.
His instincts, honed by millennia of experience, were razor-sharp, even in this weakened state.
He tilted his head slightly, amusement dancing in his black eyes.
---
"Hmm? You're acting weird,What is it?"
---
The interface dimmed slightly, its light pulsing faintly.
Then—
---
[Master… I… I think you need to change your attitude.]
---
Zhuo raised an eyebrow.
A slow smirk crept onto his lips.
---
"Oh? And why is that?"
---
There was no hint of anger in his tone.
Only pure amusement.
The Veil hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
---
[W-Well… I've noticed something about how you address people.]
---
Zhuo remained silent, waiting.
The Veil flickered again, gathering its thoughts before continuing.
---
[You keep calling humans 'kids,' 'little girl,' and 'boy.']
[Which… I mean, technically, you're not wrong, considering your real age, but… um…]
[Since you're in an 18-year-old's body now, calling people older than you 'kid' might make them think you're… weird.]
---
Zhuo blinked.
Then—
---
"Pfft—"
---
A short laugh escaped him.
His shoulders shook slightly in genuine amusement.
---
"Hah! So that's what's been bothering you?"
---
The Veil hesitated.
---
[Uhm… yes?]
---
Zhuo chuckled, rubbing his chin as he considered it.
---
"Now that you mention it… you do have a point."
---
He had gotten so used to calling everyone "child" or "kid" that he hadn't even considered how odd it sounded now.
Even Seraphine was older than him in this current form.
Yet he had casually called her "little girl."
…Yeah.
That would make him look weird.
---
"Hmm, I suppose I should stop calling people that, huh?"
---
The Veil flickered.
---
[I mean… it would be for the best, Master.]
---
Zhuo let out a dramatic sigh, though the grin on his face never faded.
---
"Tsk, tsk. Mortals and their fragile egos. Back in my day, I could call a godling 'child' and no one would bat an eye."
---
The Veil let out a soft beep, almost as if sighing in exasperation.
---
[Yes, Master. But this isn't 'back in your day.']
---
Zhuo chuckled, shaking his head.
---
"Alright, alright. I'll 'try' to stop."
---
The Veil immediately picked up on his word choice.
---
[Try?]
---
Zhuo shrugged playfully.
---
"What can I say? Old habits die hard."
---
The Veil flickered in silent frustration.
But before it could protest further, Zhuo had already slipped into the shadows, his figure blending seamlessly behind the marching army.
Unnoticed.
Unbothered.
Just watching.
---
"Let's see what you're capable of, Seraphine."
---
And with that, he disappeared into the night, waiting for the chaos to unfold.