The night air was thick with the lingering scent of smoke and blood as Raxa and Junes carefully lifted Zilant's unconscious body from the ground. His arms hung limply at his sides, and the bruises on his face stood stark against his pale skin. His breathing was shallow, but steady. That was the only assurance that he was still alive.
Larry, barely managing to stay upright, took slow, unsteady steps toward the car. His body screamed in protest, muscles aching with every movement. His balance was completely off, forcing him to stop every few steps just to catch his breath. But no one reached out to help him—Raxa and Junes knew better than to insult him with assistance he wouldn't accept.
Still, Raxa cast him a glance. "You're taking too damn long."
Larry gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move. "Shut up. I'm getting there."
By the time he reached the car, his hands were trembling from exhaustion. He pulled the door open and dropped into the backseat beside Zilant, exhaling sharply as his body finally gave in to the pain.
"Drive," Raxa ordered.
Junes didn't need to be told twice. The car roared to life, and in seconds, they were speeding down the highway, the neon lights of the city blurring past them.
Inside, the silence was heavy.
Larry leaned his head back against the seat, eyes half-lidded as he let out slow, measured breaths. His ribs ached with each inhale, and his knuckles were raw from the fight. Every part of him felt like it had been through a shredder.
Zilant, still unconscious, hadn't moved an inch.
Raxa, sitting in the front seat, glanced at the rearview mirror but said nothing.
Junes focused solely on the road, pushing the car to its limits. The Gamblo residence wasn't far, but in moments like these, even a short drive felt like an eternity.
When they finally arrived, the tires screeched against the pavement as Junes hit the brakes. The moment the car stopped, the mansion's front doors flew open.
Hime rushed out, her breath catching in her throat as she spotted Junes stepping out of the car. Relief flooded her features, but then her eyes darted past him—to the backseat.
"Junes!" she called, running forward.
She grabbed onto him before he could take another step, wrapping her arms around him. Junes tensed but didn't push her away.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
Hime pulled back, her hands gripping his arms as if making sure he was real. But her gaze quickly moved past him. She saw Larry groaning, his face twisted in pain, and Zilant lying completely still.
"Get them inside," Junes said.
Raxa and Junes lifted Zilant once again, carrying him toward the entrance. Larry, despite his injuries, forced himself out of the car. His legs were wobbly, but he managed to stand on his own.
"You should sit down," Hime said.
Larry smirked weakly. "Rather lie down, to be honest."
They wasted no time. Inside the mansion, Zilant was placed on a bed, and Larry was guided to another. The room smelled of antiseptic, clean sheets, and the faint traces of blood that still clung to their clothes.
Minutes later, the doctor arrived. He was a sharp-eyed man with a no-nonsense demeanor, carrying a small medical kit. Without wasting time, he assessed Larry first, his fingers pressing against bruised ribs and torn flesh.
Larry winced as the doctor cleaned his wounds, stitching the deeper ones with precise movements. He didn't complain, though—the pain was nothing compared to what they had just survived.
Once Larry was patched up, the doctor turned his attention to Zilant. He checked his pulse, his pupils, then nodded.
"He'll wake up soon," the doctor confirmed. "Nothing serious."
A collective breath of relief filled the room. The tension that had been thick in the air finally eased, if only slightly.
With the worst of the injuries taken care of, everyone was left standing in silence.
Arashi and Blond had been waiting by the door, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
"What the hell happened?" Blond asked.
Raxa didn't answer. He wasn't in the mood to rehash the night. "We'll talk later."
"But—"
"Later," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
With that, the night finally came to an end. One by one, they left the room, exhaustion overtaking them.
As the early morning light crept through the curtains, Zilant stirred. His fingers twitched first, then his eyes fluttered open.
His head was foggy.
The last thing he remembered was—
He exhaled, shifting slightly, his body protesting the movement. He turned his head, scanning the room.
Larry was asleep in the bed beside him, his face relaxed for the first time in hours. The rise and fall of his chest was steady, his injuries carefully bandaged.
Zilant sat up slowly, his movements careful. He didn't plan on staying here.
He reached for a piece of paper and scribbled a note.
But before he could stand, a voice stopped him.
"Do you have no confidence in my power?"
Zilant froze.
From the shadows of the room, Raxa stepped forward, his face impassive.
Zilant exhaled sharply. "It's not that." He clenched his jaw. "You don't have any idea whom you picked a fight with."
Raxa didn't blink. "No matter who it is, be it god or anything else, I'll kill them all."
Zilant scoffed. "You don't know—that's why you're so calm."
A groan came from the other bed.
"He's right."
Larry had woken up, stretching slightly before wincing at the pain in his side. He sat up, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Raxa's done a lot of insane things," Larry said. "He took down Team Rocket in one go, remember?"
Zilant shook his head. "That doesn't amount to anything when talking about Infernum."
Raxa's expression didn't waver. "You need to trust me and our team, Pandion. I won't let them lay a finger on you."
Zilant stared at him for a long moment. He had seen many people make bold promises before. Most of them ended up dead.
But Raxa—
There was something unshakable about him.
For a moment, Zilant sat in silence, his fingers tightening against the sheets. Then, finally, he exhaled.
"Fine," he said. "I'll trust you guys."
Larry grinned. "Now that's what you should sound like!"
Raxa smirked. "Then it's settled. From today onwards, our goal is to destroy Infernum once and for all. To claim their title of power."
Zilant nodded.
Larry clenched his fists. "Hell yeah."
At that moment, there was no doubt in Larry. No hesitation unlike his past self.
And for the first time, Zilant felt something he hadn't allowed himself to feel before—hope.
Infernum had ruled unchecked for far too long.
But now, things were about to change.
The war against Infernum is about to begin.