"Sage Delman!"
The owner of the Spring Flower Pavilion, Greta, shouted as she rushed back from the southern part of Tazar City. She had initially set out to buy supplies, but upon hearing about the commotion in her pavilion, she abandoned everything and hurried back.
When she arrived and saw the destroyed second floor, rage consumed her. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the scene, only to witness Sage Delman in a pitiful state—being mercilessly beaten by a young man.
Without a second thought, Greta dashed forward to help Delman. He was her most valuable connection and the secret guardian of her pavilion.
Just as she was about to reach him, Flare stepped forward, gripping her dagger tightly and moving to block Greta's path.
However, before she could act, a woman suddenly appeared in front of her. She wielded a sword, her long black hair flowing elegantly in the wind. Her presence was striking, her beauty undeniable.
Of course, this woman was Tarra.
"Get out of my way!" Greta roared.
Tarra, however, remained unfazed. Without a word, she raised her sword and executed a swift slash.
A blade of wind shot forward, striking Greta's neck—severing it instantly.
Her head tumbled to the ground, blood spraying from her neck. Even in death, her face was frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
In the distance, Sage Delman—beaten and barely holding on—witnessed the brutal execution. Trembling, he lifted his hand, staring at Tarra with wide, fearful eyes.
"Y-You... You're that master who attacked me..." he stammered.
In a desperate attempt to gauge her strength, he tried to sense her martial realm.
Martial Warrior... Stage 2... 3... 4... 5…
His pupils dilated in horror.
He couldn't sense her limit at all. But he knew—it was far beyond Stage 5.
A cold chill crept up his spine as despair swallowed him whole.
'Why? Why is there such a powerful master here?!'
'Is the world truly against me? All I did was kidnap some normal humans… some low-level martial apprentices… experiment on them with my group, the 'Nine Rats'—was that truly enough to deserve this? They are just like ants!'
His thoughts were abruptly cut off—
BAM!
Xenon's fist slammed into Delman's face, sending him flying once more.
"Hey, we're still fighting!" Xenon smirked.
Delman didn't resist. He had no will to fight anymore.
With a powerful Martial Warrior standing before him, what was the point?
His broken body collapsed to the ground. Bloodied, humiliated, and mutilated—he could barely move.
He knelt—or at least, he tried to. With both feet severed, he looked more like a pitiful, writhing slug.
Desperation clung to his voice as he pleaded, "Please! Let me live! I'll do anything you ask! I'll even reveal the secrets of the Nine Rats! We've already developed powerful puppet soldiers—I can tell you everything! How to make them, anything! Just let me live!"
Xenon tilted his head, then glanced at Flare.
"Hey, he's yours now. Oh, and by the way—what's your name?"
Flare's grip on her dagger tightened as she stared at Delman.
"My name… is Flare," she murmured.
Xenon smirked. "Do whatever you want with him. Don't worry—he won't fight back. My Tarra is here."
Then, with a chuckle, he added, "And don't forget your payment for me tonight."
Leaving those words behind, Xenon turned and walked toward Tarra.
Flare hesitated for a moment but then nodded. Slowly, she shifted her focus to Delman and stepped forward.
Delman's entire body shook in terror.
He remembered.
He remembered what he had done to Flare.
What he and his organization had done to her life.
And now… his fate was in her hands.
"P-Please… spare me," he whimpered.
Flare didn't respond. She simply stared down at him, her expression cold and unreadable.
Then, she spoke.
"Stick out your tongue."
Delman blinked in confusion.
'Is she… trying to humiliate me? No matter… I'll do anything to survive!'
Slowly, hesitantly, he extended his tongue.
And in the next instant.
With a swift, merciless motion, Flare's poison-laced dagger sliced through it.
"AAAAHHHHHH!"
Agony erupted in Delman's throat. The poison burned like fire inside his mouth, amplifying the pain tenfold.
His screams filled the air.
"AAAAAHHHH—!"
Flare's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile.
Lowering herself, she gazed into Delman's tear-filled, pain-stricken eyes.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.