The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 84: To Break a Kingdom – Rescue Arc Part 3 (Final)

Two Hours Later...

The underground was a graveyard of shadows.

Cells—empty.

Guards—slain.

Prisoners—freed.

And Zen? He stood in the heart of the bloodstained ruins, quiet, blade low, cloak torn, black mist still trailing from his back like fading smoke.

Two Skeletons stood behind him like loyal hounds.

Diliya leaned against a pillar, arms wrapped tight around two young girls she had freed. Her eyes hadn't left Zen since his transformation.

But her voice was steady now.

"...You didn't have to do all this for us."

Zen didn't answer right away.

"I'm not here to play savior." His voice was quiet, but final. "I just don't believe in cages."

---

Scene Cut: Kael's Route – The Storm Breaks

Kael burst through the north barricade like a bullet wrapped in rage.

Blood on his gloves. Lightning crackling from his blade. He wasn't subtle.

He had freed over sixty prisoners himself—and every one of them followed him now, makeshift weapons in hand.

"DILIYA!!" he shouted as they rounded the final tunnel—

And saw her.

Alive.

Standing.

Safe.

Kael dropped his sword mid-run and grabbed her in a hug so fierce it knocked the wind out of her.

"I thought— I thought I was too late—"

She smiled into his chest.

"You almost were, idiot."

Kael pulled back, frowning. "where's zen?"

---

• Above Ground: The Grand Clash

But Zen wasn't there.

Because above ground, dozens of mercenaries and Guild Knights had finally responded to the explosions.

Twenty carriages, battle mages, and a Sky-class Mage Enforcer from the capital had been sent to contain the situation.

Too late.

Zen had already opened the final gates.

Children and demi-humans flooded out, blinking into the sunlight.

The Guild Knights froze. They hadn't expected this. They were told it was a minor rebel raid.

Zen stood atop the outer arch, alone, bloodied, but radiating calm.

One of the capital officers pointed at him.

"That boy... he's not registered. He's the cause of this. He looks like a Demon....No,He is a Demon"

---

• Faceoff: The Enforcer vs Zen

The Sky Enforcer, a man wrapped in violet armor and flame-tethered cuffs, stepped forward.

He raised one hand.

"By royal decree, you are charged with rebellion, murder of officials, and unauthorized dark magic, a demon. Surrender, or face annihilation."

Zen sighed.

"...Nex."

[System Nex: Opponent Level – 41. Magic Type: Flame + Gravity. Weakness: Shadow Break. Estimated Win Chance: 55%.]

"I see."

He turned to the Skeleton beside him.

"Slot 1—detonate."

The skeleton charged forward—and exploded into a pillar of bone shards and cursed fire.

The Enforcer raised a shield—but too slow.

Zen was already mid-air.

Abyssonox Style: Dual Break – Bone Splitter Sever

He came down with a twist—two strikes crossing midair.

The Enforcer's helmet cracked.

But not enough.

He roared, slamming Zen back with a gravity pulse.

Zen hit the wall, bleeding.

---

[System: Uh-oh, life signs dropping.]

[System: Emergency! Automatically Skill Triggered – Bonebound Pact Successful. Welcome your spooky new roommate in Slot 3.]

[System: Slot 3 has been summoned.]

The third skeleton rose—this time in the form of a Giant Hound, stitched together from fallen demons of the prison's lower wings.

It tackled the Enforcer to the ground.

Zen pushed off the wall, panting.

He raised his sword.

"Let me show you why they call me the boy who walks beyond the end."

"Chronofreeze – Realmwalker's Step."

Time froze.

Zen moved.

One cut.

Then two.

Then seven.

Every weak point. Every fault. Every curse mark System could see.

When time resumed—

The Enforcer dropped to his knees, armor shattered, breath gone.

Zen stood above him, sword glowing dark purple.

"...Try and cage me again."

---

• Aftermath

With their leader down, the remaining guards backed away.

No one moved.

No one dared.

Zen stepped down, cloak rippling in the wind.

The fog broke.

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The darkness peeled away from his body, retreating like a tide. Horns dissolved into nothing. Crimson faded from his eyes. The black marks on his neck vanished, leaving only pale, trembling skin.

"The skeleton hound dissolved into shadow, swallowed by the retreating fog as if it had never existed."

He was returned to his original form again.

He was again. Just Zen.

The guards never saw what lay beneath. The monster faded before they could look too closely—before truth could leave a scar.

He staggered. The weight of it—of everything—pulling him down.

Kael was there in an instant with Diliya.

Kael dropped to his knees just in time to catch Zen as he stumbled forward.

He hadn't seen the monster. He hadn't seen the demon.

He only saw Zen.

His cloak was in tatters, soaked in blood—some his, some not. Deep gashes ran across his chest and arms, half-seared shut by magic. Burn marks etched his side where fire had kissed too close, and his left leg barely held weight. His breath came in sharp, pained rasps.

Kael held him steady, stunned by the sheer weight of what he saw—of what Zen had endured.

"You did all this... alone?" Kael's voice cracked.

Zen's head rested against his shoulder, too weak to lift it.

He exhaled slowly, voice barely more than a whisper.

"I didn't have time to wait."

Diliya stepped forward slowly, still staring at him.

"...What are you?"

Zen stirred faintly in his grip, but no words came.

He didn't have the strength to speak.

---

[System Update – New Title Gained: Bone Reclaimer | Class Advancement Eligible: ???]