Black smoke billowed thickly on the second floor of Alex’s house, the roof that once covered Alex’s room had now disappeared and was replaced by the night sky. A large figure wrapped in a black robe appeared in the middle of the black smoke inside Alex’s room.

One of its eyes glowed gold, and the figure waved away the thick black smoke with its right hand. Its head turned, scanning the room in search of Alex.

Every movement it made produced mechanical sounds. The black smoke was finally almost completely swept away by the night wind, while screams from the neighboring houses continued to echo after the attack that had blown up Alex’s room.

The attacker was finally visible. Its head was bald, with half of its face made of machinery, and its golden eye glowed from the mechanical half of its face.

The figure looked toward the corner of the room. There, a white shield could be seen covering something behind it.

The figure immediately pointed its right hand at the white shield. Its hand slowly made mechanical sounds as it transformed into a cannon.

An orange light began gathering into a ball of energy, ready to be fired.

Alex, who was behind the Changing Sword that had transformed into a shield, moved first before he could be erased by the orange energy ball.

Alex dispelled his shield, his face covered in soot as it disappeared. He quickly threw a flat stone infused with mana toward the attacker’s face.

A gust of wind could be heard as the stone flew toward the attacker’s face, but unfortunately, it did not head directly toward it. Instead, it passed beside the attacker’s face.

Alex, breathing heavily, immediately pointed at the stone he had thrown as it aligned with the attacker’s face. The stone began to glow, and a burst of blue fire exploded from it.

The figure staggered slightly as black smoke once again enveloped it. The gathering energy attack failed to strike Alex.

Alex gritted his teeth. He quickly stood up and channeled mana into his right leg, lifting it to kick the attacker.

But when his right leg kicked straight at the attacker’s body, he felt pain from colliding with something incredibly hard.

Every bone in his right leg screamed, and his expression twisted in pain.

’Damn... it’s like kicking a rock.’

Alex realized he couldn’t push the attacker back with the kick. He wanted to change his goal and create distance with his failed attack, but reality said otherwise.

The attacker’s right hand transformed back into a human-like hand and immediately grabbed Alex’s right ankle tightly.

Alex wanted to lift his left leg for a counterattack, but the pull from the attacker came faster. Alex was lifted into the air, causing his eyebrows to rise.

The attacker immediately threw Alex out of the house. A crashing sound was heard along with the sound of a car alarm.

The attacker turned around and started walking out of Alex’s destroyed room, but footsteps were heard in the second-floor hallway.

Alex’s father appeared at the doorway of Alex’s room. His black eyes looked at the room that had been completely destroyed, with the roof now gone. His gray hair was messy, and his heart was beating rapidly.

His eyes quickly scanned the ruined room, but he couldn’t find Alex.

His breathing became heavier as he stared at the attacker’s back with fury. He immediately pulled out a gray bow from his smart bracelet.

Alex’s father channeled mana into his bow and drew the string. A gray light appeared on the bow, forming into an arrow.

The attacker slightly turned back because of the gray light, but Alex’s father immediately released the gray arrow. The wind split as the arrow flew.

The distance between them was not far.

The arrow struck the attacker’s left shoulder.

An explosion sounded as it collided with metal. The attacker was pushed outside, but it quickly turned its body again, its right hand transforming back into an energy cannon and aiming at Alex’s father.

An orange energy blast shot directly at Alex’s father, followed by a huge explosion. The entire second floor of Alex’s family house was reduced to rubble.

Meanwhile, the attacker fell into the small garden of Alex’s house. Its black robe was torn where Alex’s father’s attack had struck, revealing black skin underneath that was slightly dented.

The attacker slowly stood up and heard the sound of a child crying. It turned toward the inside of Alex’s house through the glass door connected to the small garden.

There stood Alex’s mother and Aisy, both staring at it. Alex’s mother’s body trembled, but her face showed an anger that could explode at any moment.

The attacker aimed its right hand, still shaped like an energy cannon, at Alex’s mother and Aisy.

Alex’s mother instinctively shielded Aisy, but the attack never came. Instead, the sound of metal clashing rang out. She looked back at the attacker and saw White had appeared to confront it in the narrow garden.

A sound drew Alex’s mother’s attention. It was her husband’s voice.

Alex’s father came down from the second floor. His clothes were torn, blood was flowing from his forehead, his chest rose and fell rapidly, and his breathing was erratic.

Alex’s father gritted his teeth and approached his wife and Aisy, who was still crying.

"Ariana... you have to leave with Aisy..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Alex’s mother’s black eyes became watery as she looked at her injured husband.

"What about Alex?!"

Alex’s father swallowed hard as the sounds of White’s fight with the attacker continued.

"Alex will be fine. I’ll protect him. Take Aisy first. The city reinforcement troops should arrive soon."

An orange light appeared from the small garden of Alex’s house. Its glow entered through the glass door, growing larger until an explosion sounded and the glass door shattered.

Alex’s father immediately led his wife and Aisy out through the back door.

Meanwhile, White was thrown far away, crashing through a wall and into a neighbor’s yard.

His body trembled, and his breathing was unsteady. He looked at the attacker, who did not approach but instead aimed its energy cannon at White, who was still lying down.

White gritted his teeth. He wanted to dodge, but something surprising happened.

Above the attacker, something suddenly glowed, and when the light faded, a giant river stone appeared directly above the attacker’s head.

The attacker looked up, and its face immediately collided with the giant stone, causing a loud impact. Smoke billowed from where the giant stone fell.

White, still unaware of what had happened, remained frozen. But suddenly, something pulled his body across the ground. White looked toward the person dragging him.

It was Alex, limping slightly. Alex dragged White out of the neighbor’s house and onto the street in front.

The residential area was now empty. The residents had all fled for evacuation.

Alex looked at White, his chest still rising and falling rapidly, his face still blackened from the attacker’s assault and the smoke.

"Where are my father and mother?"

White exhaled and slowly stood up. Alex followed.

"Your father took your mother away first..."

Alex sighed in relief, placing his hand on his rapidly beating heart. He wanted to speak again, but another explosion sounded from his house’s yard.

The attacker immediately broke through the wall of Alex’s house and moved to the street where Alex and White stood. They now faced each other.

Alex’s eyebrows twitched as he could now see the attacker’s entire body since its black robe had been torn apart.

The attacker’s body was black, with dents here and there from the attacks it had received, while its face showed no expression. One eye still glowed gold from the robotic half of its face.

White patted Alex’s shoulder and sighed.

"Go... follow your father and mother."

Alex swallowed hard, glancing at White whose white robe was now dirty and torn in several places.

"I’d like to... but seeing you like this, I don’t think I’d be able to run peacefully for even ten meters..."

White shifted his gaze to Alex. They stared at each other.

"Damn... are you underestimating me?"

Alex wanted to answer and deny it, but the attacker suddenly charged at them.

The attacker transformed its left hand into a chainsaw and immediately thrust it toward Alex and White.

Alex gritted his teeth and dodged to the right, while White dodged to the left, causing the attacker to strike only empty air.

The attacker immediately shifted its gaze to Alex on the left and charged toward him.

Alex responded by summoning the Changing Sword from his soul.

The attacker, about to charge Alex, suddenly stopped, its neck seemingly bound by something invisible.

Behind the attacker, White appeared to be pulling at the air, restraining the attacker with invisible chains.

Sparks flew as the attacker tried to cut the invisible chains wrapped around its neck.

Seeing the attacker struggling, Alex immediately charged. He gripped the Changing Sword tightly with both hands as if holding something extremely heavy.

He channeled some mana into the Changing Sword, causing it to glow. In an instant, it transformed into a giant war hammer.

Veins bulged from Alex’s neck as he unconsciously shouted while swinging the giant hammer toward the left side of the attacker’s face.

The impact rang out loudly. The attacker’s head looked like it was about to be torn off, but unfortunately, it remained attached. Instead, the attacker broke free from White’s invisible chains, sending White backward and to the ground.

The attacker immediately transformed its right hand into an energy cannon and aimed it at Alex. Alex’s previous strike had nearly detached its head, but once again, it only left scratches.

An orange energy sphere reflected in Alex’s black eyes. He quickly transformed the giant hammer into a one-handed shield and lowered his body.

Just as the shield finished forming, an orange laser fired from the attacker’s cannon, the blast pushing air against Alex’s face.

Alex quickly ducked, avoiding the laser that struck the spot where his face had been moments before. He crouched like a cat ready to pounce, not using his shield.

After the attacker’s attack ended, Alex pushed his body forward and ran toward the attacker, gritting his teeth from the pain in his leg caused by kicking the steel body earlier.

At the same time, White got back up and charged from the side.

Alex’s heart pounded rapidly. Just as he was about to swing his one-handed shield, the attacker began charging its energy cannon again.

Seeing that, Alex immediately slid as another orange laser shot out, hunting for its target. The laser only struck empty air and a house at the end of the road.

Alex slid past the attacker’s legs and secretly attached one of his symbol papers to the attacker’s leg.

He then rolled across the street, extending one hand toward the paper attached to the attacker’s leg. The paper glowed, and a green kinetic explosion forced one of the attacker’s legs onto the ground.

Alex quickly stood and entered one of the empty neighboring houses while White directly struck the attacker’s head with his invisible axe.

Alex’s ears rang as he entered the small yard that looked similar to his own. His hands trembled uncontrollably, his breathing became erratic, and he swallowed hard as he returned the Changing Sword to its original form.

’Damn... how can we defeat a bastard like that... and he’s not someone contracted with a demon either, right, Krystal?’

Alex slowly entered the house. No one was inside, only darkness and some objects scattered around. The loud sounds of White’s fight with the attacker caused faint vibrations.

Alex’s vision began to blur. The sound of his heartbeat competed with the explosions he heard. His legs could no longer carry him, not because of his injuries, but because he was mentally exhausted. He collapsed on the stairs leading to the second floor.

He leaned his back against the stair steps. The hard, cold stairs should have made him uncomfortable, but instead, he felt strangely at ease. His eyes stared at the ceiling, blinking several times, while his chest rose and fell chaotically.

A rough breath escaped him. His dry lips felt as though they had never touched liquid.

"Let me rest, damn it..." his eyes slowly became heavy. The Changing Sword slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor. Even Krystal’s voice trying to wake him no longer reached him.

This time, he closed his eyes, and for the first time, he was the one who collapsed. He no longer cared about the explosions outside.

On the street in front of the destroyed houses, White was still fighting the attacker. Sparks flew as White and the attacker exchanged blows.

White wielded two axes, while the attacker still used the chainsaw fused to its left hand.

Several times, the attacker’s energy cannon fired at White, but White dodged, though he had to abandon his white robe. The attacker’s stray shots destroyed the surrounding houses.

White’s heart beat rapidly. Behind his mask, his white eyes could clearly see that he needed something with tremendous power to pierce the black steel covering the attacker’s body.

Because he would struggle if things did not change, and that was proven when one of his invisible axes began breaking under the attacker’s chainsaw. Losing one of his weapons, White was forced to retreat.

He could clearly see the attacker’s body.

There were dents in several places, but it still wasn’t enough to stop it.

Then something suddenly appeared in White’s vision. He saw something glowing above the rooftop behind the attacker.

The light was gray, and it flew into the night sky. White, who had seen that light before, immediately played his part.

He threw his invisible axe at the attacker’s face as it tried to attack him.

The axe flew quickly, and the attacker did not notice it heading for its face.

White’s axe struck the attacker’s face hard, while White pulled out a black ball from his smart bracelet.

White threw it to the ground near the attacker. The ball made a sound, and black smoke began to spread, covering the attacker.

Meanwhile, in the night sky, the gray light began splitting into dozens, then hundreds.

The gray lights turned and began falling.

They were Alex’s father’s arrows.

The hundreds of arrows rained down into the black smoke where the attacker stood, like rain falling to earth, but each arrow exploded upon impact.

White quickly moved away from the explosion site. He watched and heard it himself—hundreds of explosions without pause. Even the ground trembled endlessly.

After that, only silence remained, along with smoke mixed with dust from the shattered ground.

The thick smoke covered the street and surrounding houses. The smoke was clearly visible above one of the houses where Alex’s father stood, his gray bow still in his left hand.

His black eyes kept searching through the smoke, wondering if the attacker could still move.

His eyes twitched when something moved.

From within the smoke, something suddenly burst out toward White.

It was the attacker.

It had survived the rain of arrows.

But its condition was horrifying. It had lost one arm, and its body was almost destroyed. Its golden eye had dimmed, while its remaining right hand had transformed into an energy cannon aimed at White.

White stood frozen as the cannon pointed at him, because something was approaching quickly.

It was a gray arrow aimed at the attacker’s right hand. The arrow pierced and destroyed the arm instantly.

No explosion came this time. The only sound was both of the attacker’s knees hitting the ground.

The attacker knelt on the ground.

No screams. No words.

A set of footsteps approached from behind.

It was Alex’s father. He walked through the smoke, his gray bow aimed at the back of the attacker’s head.

Alex’s father fired his final shot.

The shot immediately blew off the attacker’s head.

His breathing rose and fell after releasing that attack. The blood on his forehead had dried. All that remained was heavy breathing and silence.

He immediately walked toward White to ask about Alex’s whereabouts.

The two of them did not speak much and directly went to the place where White last saw Alex.

They entered the silent, dark neighboring house. Alex’s father’s heart beat faster because he still did not know his son’s condition.

Both of them fell silent when they saw Alex lying unconscious on the cold, rough stairs.

Alex’s father simply stared. His breathing was still uneven. He checked Alex’s neck, and a sigh of relief escaped him.

He lowered his head and rubbed his forehead, while the sound of magical helicopters could be heard flying above the roof of the house.

White looked at Alex’s father, who was still staring at his unconscious son. He swallowed hard and tried to speak.

"His Majesty sent me here..."

Alex’s father’s ears twitched as he looked at White.

"What do you mean, Captain White?"

White adjusted his white mask, which no longer fit properly after the battle.

"It would be better if you speak directly with His Majesty. We will go to the palace tonight..."

Alex’s father’s black eyes widened. He did not know what was really happening. He did not know why his family had suddenly been attacked. He did not know why White had come as assistance. He also did not know why the king was summoning him to the palace.

He only looked at his unconscious son, then closed his eyes as a sigh escaped him.

’How heavy was the battle you went through... Alex?’