"I was always empty inside—too trusting, easily influenced. A coward who ran from his problems," Ito muttered, his voice low but resolute. "But not now. No one's influencing me. This feeling... this need to help—it's mine."
Rushed footsteps echoed through the thick veil of black smoke.
Ito let out a deafening shout, drawing the attention of the hollow beasts away from Sara and the others.
"Why are you here?! Run, Ito! They'll kill you!" Sara screamed.
Ito's breath caught in his throat, legs frozen as the beasts closed in—claws scraping the earth, fangs glinting in the dim light.
Suddenly, a blur slammed into him from behind. He crashed to the ground, tumbling hard as a vicious snarl ripped through the air where he had just stood.
Coughing through the dust, Ito looked up. A figure stood between him and the beasts.
"T-The First Squad Captain… Zeth?" Hyman's voice cracked, disbelief etched across his face. "Those white hairs and crimson eyes—there's no mistake. But why is he here?"
Everyone stood in stunned silence, words frozen in their throats.
A pained groan broke the stillness.
"Ugh… can someone tell the world to stop spinning?" Ito muttered, still sprawled out on the ground. "Or at least help me up?"
"I didn't see it clearly… but I think the second hollow beast cut the captain's hand," Zaydan said.
Sara turned, her voice trembling, "Vice-Captain… what just happened?"
"I think… that was Captain Zeth's Zone Technique," Hyman replied, his voice hushed in awe.
Another beast lunged, but the result was the same—it was crushed by an invisible force.
One by one, the beasts collapsed under the pressure.
The group saw an opportunity to escape, but Ito got to his feet and sprinted toward the hollow tree to rescue trapped students. The vines began to move again, lashing toward them.
"Expanding lungs… inhaling through the mouth," Zeth muttered, leaving them stunned.
"Zone—Kneel Down."
A sudden burst flared in the sky, a massive dome forming and spreading wide—covering nearly half the continent.
"What now…?"
In seconds, the beasts and the hollow trees were crushed to the earth.
"Hurry—before the tree regenerates!"
Ito pushed forward. "Now's my chance. I have to move."
"What happened? Why are you just standing there? Hurry!" someone shouted.
Zaydan hesitated, staring at the lifeless forms. "They're already…"
"Already what? What are you trying to say?" Ito asked.
"They're already hollow."
Silence fell over the group like a heavy curtain.
Ito clenched his fists, voice trembling. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault. If—If I had gotten here sooner… if I wasn't so useless…"
"Stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault," Sara said firmly.
"She's right," Hyman added. "We did everything we could."
"But still… if I had just tried harder—"
"If you have time to regret, then use it to run. That thing is growing again!"
Sara grabbed Ito's hand, and the group took off together.
"Every time you try to grow… I'll crush you, you empty piece of garbage," Zeth muttered.
The tree whipped a vine forward. Before Ito could react, a sharp force pierced into his chest.
Blood trickled from his body.
"What… what just happened? I can't hear them… why is everything so blurry? My body… it feels numb. Am I… dying?"
"KEHAHAHA! Where am I?" a distorted laugh echoed.
"KEHAHAHA! Who's laughing…?"
"Huh? Why am I floating? What is this place? Am I… dead?"
"KEHAHAHA!"
"Hey! Weird laugh—can you at least tell me where I am?"
Suddenly, a voice cut in—"Moshi moshi—hello?"
"That voice… Captain Zeth?! But I can't see anyone… it's just… blank."
"KEHAHAHA!"
"Okay, seriously, are you going to keep laughing like a creep?!"
Still no response. And Ito realized—he couldn't move his body.
"Huh? Why am I falling—?"
His eyes shot open.
The sound of chains clinking echoed around him.
"So you've finally decided to wake up," a composed voice said as Ito blinked away the haze.
A man stood before him, dignified and sharp-eyed.
"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Velthorn Blake, Chief Executive of the Supreme Knights of the Kingdom of Yonor."
"Sir… are they all safe?" Ito asked immediately, ignoring his own condition.
Velthorn raised an eyebrow. "What a strange boy. Still worrying about others before himself…"
"Are you talking about your friends? Sara and Zaydan are safe. Thanks to your bravery, the casualties were minimal. Only three students were seriously injured, but they're receiving treatment and will recover soon."
Ito's voice trembled slightly. "C-Can you tell me who those three were?"
Velthorn's expression turned unreadable. "And what will you do with that information?"
Ito had no answer. He simply looked down in silence.
"Very well," Velthorn said. "Their names are Marco Galdius, Barame Winton, and your classmate, Mary Elpar."
Ito lowered his head, regret heavy in his eyes.
"You feel responsible for what happened to them, don't you?"
"Y-Yes... I do."
Velthorn's tone softened, filled with a quiet strength. "Listen closely. A knight's duty is to protect others. But there will be times—no matter how hard you try—when you won't be strong enough. That doesn't mean it's over. As long as you're alive, there will always be despair… and hope. People will come and go. If you truly want to protect others, then keep moving forward. Become stronger. Even if no one else is there—be strong for yourself."
Ito's eyes widened as if something within him had just clicked into place. The weight of confusion and guilt began to lift.
"Chief Executive, sir—"
"Just call me Sir Velthorn."
"Okay… then, Sir Velthorn, why am I in prison? And why am I chained?"
Velthorn's eyes narrowed. "You mean you haven't noticed yet?"
"Huh? Noticed what?"
"The black aura surrounding your body."
Ito blinked in confusion. "Black aura? What are you talking about? I don't see anything."
"So he can't see it yet…" Velthorn murmured. "Interesting."
A pause passed before Velthorn spoke again, more serious now. "Ito, do you remember what happened before you lost consciousness?"
Ito nodded slowly. "Something pierced my chest. It was fast… sharp… I thought I was going to die."
Velthorn met his gaze. "That's because you did die, Ito."
"…Ah."
Twenty-four hours earlier
"Is there nothing we can do, Vice-Captain Hyman?"
"Captain Zeth, your Zone power—can't it help him?" Zaydan asked, desperation in his voice.
Zeth's expression was grim. "If I could save him with my power, I would have. But he's stopped breathing. Healing won't work anymore."
Suddenly, a strange black aura began to engulf Ito's lifeless body.
"Everyone, step back!" Zeth barked. "He's about to become a Hollow!"
"No!" Sara cried out. "He's not—!"
"This isn't the time to argue, girl!" Hyman snapped. "Wait… if he is becoming a Hollow, why hasn't the tree regrown? What is this?"
Then—Ba-dump… ba-dump…
Ito's heart beat once, then again, steady and strong. A soft breath escaped his lips. The black aura vanished. Silence fell. Everyone stood frozen.
Back to the present
Ito's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling, the sterile scent of antiseptics filling his nostrils. A dull ache throbbed in his chest. He whispered, "So… I really died. But I don't feel different at all."
Velthorn, seated beside him, leaned forward with an intense gaze. "Did you see anything? A vision? A dream?"
Ito searched his memory, shaking his head slowly. "No… just darkness. I don't remember anything."
Velthorn exhaled, the weight of unspoken thoughts evident. "There's much I want to ask you, but for now, you need rest."
Ito's hand shot out, grasping Velthorn's wrist. "Wait… one last thing," he said, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Are you really from this world?"