The dimly lit meeting spot was tense with anticipation. Zero's group had gathered, each member keenly aware of the importance of this moment. They had been moving discreetly, avoiding unwanted attention, but it seemed their secrecy had failed them.
A slow clap echoed through the space.
"Not bad. For a bunch of misfits, you've managed to create quite the stir."
Sorin stepped forward, his smirk unwavering, flanked by a group of masked assassins. His demeanor was eerily calm, as if this was just another day of training. But Zero's sharp gaze caught the underlying calculation in his eyes.
"Didn't think you'd be the type to get your hands dirty, Sorin," Zero said with an amused smile.
Sorin sighed theatrically. "Trust me, I'd rather not. But some pests need to be dealt with before they turn into something troublesome."
At that moment, the assassins lunged.
Zero didn't move. Instead, his voice rang out, crisp and commanding.
"Five steps back, cover the flanks. He's using a pincer formation."
His group, already prepared, reacted instantly. Swords clashed, magic flared, and bodies moved in seamless coordination. Every command Zero gave turned the tide—redirecting attacks, exploiting weaknesses, ensuring minimal casualties. He was orchestrating a battle without lifting a finger.
Sorin's confidence wavered as his assassins faltered under the relentless counterattacks. The advantage they had counted on—the element of surprise—had been shattered. His opponents weren't just fighting wildly; they were fighting with precision, as if they already knew the assassins' techniques.
It was Zero's mind at work.
"Unbelievable…" Sorin muttered. "So this is what makes you dangerous."
A Broken Facade
Zero finally stepped forward, hands casually in his pockets. His gaze locked onto Sorin's."I had my doubts about you," Zero admitted. "You put on quite the act, playing the laid-back strategist. Almost had me fooled. But in the end, ants will be ants."
Sorin gritted his teeth, lashing out with a dagger aimed at Zero's throat. But before the blade could reach him, Zero sidestepped with infuriating ease, grabbing Sorin's wrist and twisting it with a brutal snap. The dagger clattered to the ground.
A strangled cry escaped Sorin's lips as he fell to his knees.
Zero leaned in slightly, his voice a whisper. "You thought you were hunting me. But you were already caught in my web the moment you walked in."
With a final, calculated strike, Sorin collapsed, unconscious.
The battle was over.
From the shadows, Elise Mortwain watched in silence, her expression unreadable. Beside her, Instructor Mireya Fenn folded her arms, eyes narrowing at the display."He's progressing faster than anticipated," Mireya remarked.
Elise tilted her head, her smile barely there. "Then it's time to inform the rulers. They need to know that the problem has only just begun."
Mireya hesitated before nodding. "What's our next course of action?"
Elise's eyes gleamed. "For now? We wait. But he will slip. And when he does, we'll be ready."
As they vanished into the darkness, the weight of their decision hung heavy in the air.
By morning, Zero and his group carried on as if nothing had happened. The night's battle was a mere footnote in their ever-growing list of encounters. There were no signs of distress, no whispers of what had transpired. If anything, Zero was as carefree as ever.The classroom buzzed with excitement.
Their instructor cleared his throat. "Attention, everyone. The time has come for faction selections. Choose wisely, for your future at this academy—and beyond—depends on it."
Zero smirked to himself. Another game was about to begin.
Class resumed as if nothing had happened the night before. The students of Ebonspire Academy remained oblivious to the silent battle that had taken place in the shadows, but Zero knew better. He sat in his usual spot, eyes half-lidded, feigning boredom while his mind processed the previous events. The rulers were aware of him now. The game had truly begun.His gaze shifted toward Reina Vaughn, the group's designated tactician. Unlike the others, who carried themselves with the fiery spirit of warriors or the quiet determination of assassins, Reina was eerily cold. Calculating. Merciless. She had the mind of a strategist and the heart of a machine. Zero had noticed her tendencies before—she always considered the long-term benefits, the acceptable losses, the sacrifices necessary for victory.
She was perfect.
After class ended, he approached her. Reina didn't so much as glance at him when he stood beside her desk. "Something on your mind?" she asked, her voice as even as ever.
"I need to talk to you about something important," Zero said, his usual air of nonchalance still present.Reina finally turned to look at him. "Then talk."
Zero leaned in slightly, keeping his voice low. "The current rulers of this continent… I plan to bring them down."
For the first time since he met her, Reina's expression faltered. It was a minuscule shift—just the slightest widening of her eyes before she quickly masked it. "That's a dangerous claim."
Zero only smiled. "It's not a claim. It's my goal."
Reina studied him for a moment before exhaling. "Then I suppose it's time I tell you something, Zero." She leaned back in her seat. "I am Reina Vaughn, granddaughter of one of those very rulers."
Silence stretched between them. Reina's words hung in the air, a challenge, a warning. Anyone else would have hesitated, would have seen this as a reason to back off. But Zero? He merely chuckled.
"I don't care."Reina blinked, caught off guard.
Zero's grin widened slightly. "I need you. The granddaughter of a ruler… and yet here you are, sharpening your mind instead of basking in privilege. That tells me you see the cracks in their foundation too."
Reina crossed her arms, intrigued. "And what makes you think I'd betray my own bloodline?"
"Because you want to be on the winning side." Zero's voice was calm, absolute. "And the rulers? Their time is running out."
For the first time in a long while, Reina found herself admiring someone. His confidence wasn't arrogance. It was certainty. He wasn't just dreaming—he was planning, step by step, and she could already tell that this wasn't a reckless crusade. This was a carefully constructed campaign.
"…Fine," she finally said. "I'll listen."
Zero nodded, satisfied. "That's all I need."
With that, he left, knowing he had just secured another invaluable piece in his grand strategy.
After class, Zero made his way to a secluded area where Reiner, his personal spy, was already waiting. The young informant was leaning against a wall, arms crossed, his ever-present smirk in place."You don't waste time, huh?" Reiner remarked.
Zero ignored the remark and got straight to business. "Your next mission. Elise Mortwain."
Reiner raised an eyebrow. "The Watcher? That's a risky target."
Zero's gaze darkened. "I need to know everything. Her movements, her contacts, her goals. Find out who she reports to. Monitor Instructor Mireya as well. They'll be making their move soon."
Reiner let out a low whistle. "Babysitting the most dangerous woman in this academy? You sure know how to keep me entertained."
Zero met his eyes with an unreadable expression. "This isn't entertainment. This is war."
Reiner's smirk faded slightly. He gave a small nod. "Got it."
With that, he slipped away into the shadows, leaving Zero alone with his thoughts. The pieces were moving, the board was set. The rulers may have taken notice of him, but by the time they fully understood the threat he posed…
It would already be too late.