Welcome to the Innocent World

The room was filled with the echo of clashing energy and the scorch of flames as Zeta charged toward Fluga.

She darted forward, faster than ever, her fists blazing as she met Fluga's fiery assault head-on. His flames erupted, filling the space with an intense heat, but Zeta dodged, jumping through the inferno with practiced grace.

Fluga's fists ignited with raging flames as he swung at Zeta, the heat from his aura radiating through the room in pulsating waves. But Zeta was agile, barely a blur as she dodged his attacks, slipping past the flames with effortless speed.

"You're faster than I expected," Fluga taunted, the flicker of a smirk playing on his face. "But that won't help you forever, little shadow."

Zeta shot him a grin in return, her gaze piercing. "Fast enough to keep dodging you, it seems."

Fluga snarled, his temper flaring. He clenched his fists tighter, the flames intensifying around his hands, growing in ferocity.

He hurled another wave of flames at her, the fire roaring as it surged toward her like a blazing tidal wave. Zeta leaped, twisting mid-air to avoid the scorching heat, landing deftly behind him and aiming a strike at his back.

Just as she was about to connect, Fluga whirled around, blocking her fist with his arm. Their eyes met, and a wicked grin spread across his face. "Got you."

He slammed his fist forward, aiming a fiery punch directly at her. Zeta leapt back, avoiding the full impact, but the edge of the flames caught her shoulder, singeing her tight leather jacket. The scent of burnt fabric filled the air, but Zeta didn't flinch.

The clash of energy intensified, the sounds of their battle reverberating through the hall. Alpha, standing beside me, cast a worried glance my way, her brow furrowing.

"What if the noise alerts the other knights?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with concern.

I offered her a confident smile, watching the battle intently.

"No need to worry, Alpha," I replied. "I've already taken care of that. I deployed an invisible veil around the building. No sound is getting out."

She nodded, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. "As expected from Master Zero," she murmured to herself, a faint smile gracing her lips.

The battle raged on, Zeta's movements growing faster and fiercer as she kept Fluga at bay. But Fluga wasn't holding back either. He dodged her strikes, countering with brutal fire attacks that filled the air with heat and light.

Then, in a swift, brutal move, Fluga blocked one of Zeta's kick, catching her leg in an iron grip.

"Time to end this," he sneered.

Before she could react, he drove his fist, wreathed in flames, straight into her stomach. The force of the impact sent Zeta hurtling backward, crashing into the wall with a heavy thud. She slid to the ground, gasping for breath, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Alpha's eyes flicked to me, a hint of worry breaking through her usually composed expression.

"Will she be alright alone, Master?" she asked. "Or should I step in?"

I held up a hand, my gaze steady. "Don't worry, Alpha," I said firmly. "She'll be okay. She'll win."

Alpha looked at me, her doubt melting into resolve as she saw the calm in my eyes. She gave a small nod, her trust in me unshaken. "If that's what you say, Master Zero, then alright."

But inwardly, my mind raced. I'm saying this without really knowing the outcome, I thought, keeping my calm facade for Alpha's sake. But roughly....she should be okay. She's strong. She'll pull through..right?

I watched Zeta struggle to her feet, her eyes blazing with determination even as she wiped the blood from her mouth. She faced Fluga, her expression defiant, but as she took a step forward, he struck again, landing another brutal punch to her ribs. Zeta staggered, clutching her side, her face pale as she stumbled backward.

Rigbt, Zeta? You won't die, right? I thought, feeling a prickle of sweat at my temple, though I kept my face calm and collected in front of Alpha.

Fluga's mocking laugh echoed through the room. "Is this the best you've got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "And you were the one who killed Kiri? Pathetic."

Zeta gritted her teeth, forcing herself upright. She looked battered, bruised, and yet…unyielding.

My heart clenched, seeing her struggle. Hand in there, Zeta. But I couldn't stand by any longer.

I took a step forward, my voice reverberating through the air in an eerie, commanding echo. "Arise, my Shadow Mystic. Zeta." I said. "You are a strong girl."

At the sound of my voice, Zeta's eyes widened, something flickering in their depths.

Her past flashed before her—memories flooding her mind in a surge. She saw herself, younger, weaker, living in the shadows of the slums, her small form bruised and hungry as she was mocked and bullied by others.

And then, a memory surfaced, clear as day. She saw a man standing before her, cloaked in shadows, his hand extended. His voice, calm and powerful, resonated through her mind.

"You're a strong girl, Zeta," he had said, his tone warm yet firm.

She looked up at him, wary but hopeful. "Who are you?"

The man had smiled, a gentle, reassuring smile that was full of confidence and strength. "My name is Zero."@@novelbin@@

The present returned, and her eyes snapped open. Fluga's mocking laugh echoed around her as he raised his fist, flames swirling around it, building into an inferno of deadly energy.

"This is it for you!" he sneered, charging his fist with a wave of raging flames. He aimed it directly at her, the air around his hand distorting from the heat as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

But before his attack could connect, Zeta vanished, her form dissolving into shadows. Fluga's fist swung through empty air, his expression twisting into confusion.

"What…? Where is she?"

He whipped around, sensing a dark, pulsating aura behind him. Zeta had reappeared, her aura transformed into a flowing silver-black energy that shimmered like liquid darkness. Her eyes were emotionless, her gaze cold and piercing, devoid of the playfulness she once held.

"Looking for me?" she said, her voice low and chilling.

Fluga spun to face her, anger flaring in his eyes. "You—"

She moved before he could react, her fist crashing into his jaw with a speed and strength that left him reeling. He staggered back, clutching his face.

Their battle reignited with a ferocity that shook the very room. Zeta's movements were precise, calculated, each strike connecting with brutal efficiency. Her speed was unmatched now, her form moving with an ethereal grace as she dodged Fluga's attacks, her aura flaring around her like a storm of shadows.

Fluga swung his fists wildly, flames engulfing his arms as he tried to land a blow. But Zeta was relentless, her strikes swift and unforgiving. She weaved around him, her aura clashing against his flames in bursts of dark energy and fire.

With a swift, fluid motion, she ducked under his punch, delivering a powerful uppercut that sent him sprawling backward. He stumbled, blood dripping from his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Impossible…" he gasped, his voice shaking as he struggled to his feet. "You're… just a shadow…"

Zeta didn't respond. She simply dashed below him, lowering her stance, her eyes fixed on him with unblinking intensity.

Then, in one explosive movement, she launched a kick upward that collided with Fluga, the impact sending him flying upwards, crashing into the ceiling with a bone-jarring force.

The room shook, cracks splintering through the stone as Fluga's form was battered against the ceiling, blood splattering from his mouth as he choked out a gasp.

From below, I watched, a thrill of admiration filling me. "She's… indeed strong," I murmured, a smile tugging at my lips as I marveled at her power.

Alpha's gaze followed mine, her expression a mix of awe and respect.

Above us, Fluga struggled to move, his eyes wide with terror as Zeta on the ground pulls herself down. Her aura pulsing with raw, unstoppable energy. She bent her knees, gathering every ounce of her power, and then launched herself up, her fist cloaked in the shimmering silver-black aura.

*BOOM*