The flame had long cooled from the Ember Tyrant's throne, but the fire within Zero still burned—hotter and stronger than ever.
Days passed.
Whispers spread. Rumors flew.
"Someone soloed the Goblin King's dungeon?"
"Cleared an Elemental Dungeon—alone?"
"No one's seen his face… they call him the Phantom Ghost."
Zero walked the streets beneath a weathered hood, the Mask of Eclipse hidden beneath his cloak. His presence went unnoticed—but word had a way of slipping through cracks. Especially when guild agents, nobles, and even merchant houses started noticing: someone was clearing high-tier dungeons at a record pace.
Without a party.
Without a guild.
Without rank.
The kind of mystery that made people nervous. And curious.
Zero returned to the Guild Hall—not to chat, but to discreetly exchange dungeon cores and relics.
Instead, he was met by a crowd.
Not the cheering kind.
The watching kind.
At the front stood a woman in sleek white armor, a bow slung across her back. Her long silver hair was tied in a loose braid, and a gleaming badge caught the light on her chest:
A-Rank Adventurer – Vera the Phantom Arrow
Her name carried weight across three regions. Swift, ruthless, and undefeated champion of the Silverguard Arena, a public stage for testing and showcasing combat prowess.
"You're him, aren't you?" she asked, voice sharp and clear.
"The cloaked rogue. The dungeon ghost."
Zero said nothing.
"I challenge you," she continued.
"Ranked exhibition. Arena rules. No killing. Full gear."
She smiled slightly.
"Let's see if the stories match the man."
Zero simply walked past her without a word.
The air tensed.
"I didn't take you for a coward hiding under that mask," she called after him—tone calm, but cutting.
Zero paused. Then, with a slight smirk under his mask, he replied,
"Aiit. Since you wanna test that theory… let's duel."
THE SILVERGUARD ARENA
By evening, the arena was packed.
Magical projection screens lit up across the city. Announcers stoked the crowd. Bookies roared with numbers and odds.
"He's not even ranked A—this is suicide!"
"But what if he wins?"
"That mask's gotta mean something…"
Zero stood at the center of the stone ring, his cloak rippling gently in the breeze. No ornate armor. No dramatic stance. Just worn gear, the Emberfang dagger at his side, and the quiet stillness of someone used to being underestimated.
Across from him stood Vera, proud and poised.
The announcer's voice boomed:
"Combatants, ready—DUEL!"
Vera moved first.
Her hand blurred. The first arrow tore through the air like a bullet.
Zero shifted sideways—clean dodge.
Another arrow followed. Then another. Each faster than the last. Vera moved like a phantom, arrows flying in machine-like rhythm. Her quiver seemed endless.
Zero ducked, twisted, blurred through the barrage. His Speed stat, once mocked, now turned him into a shadow on the battlefield.
Then—she vanished.
Skill Activated: Phantom Shift
A shimmer in the air. Then—whumph!—an arrow from nowhere, aimed at his heart.
Zero spun and caught it between two fingers.
The crowd gasped.
Even Vera faltered. Her eyes narrowed.
"You were just lucky," she muttered.
She tried again. Once. Twice. A third time.
Each arrow—caught.
"Fine," she said.
She stepped back and placed her bow behind her.
Divine Weapon Unsealed: Skyfall Recurve
A bow of pure mana materialized in her hands, glowing with ancient runes.
The air dropped in temperature. Light crackled.
Vera drew the string. A single glowing arrow formed—pure energy. She loosed it.
It didn't fly.
It hunted.
Zero ran. The arrow followed, curving mid-air like it was alive.
A test of fate.
A race of instinct.
A moment of life or death.
Then—
Skill Activated: Shadow Veil
Zero vanished.
The arrow struck where he'd been—and exploded in a harmless shimmer of light.
He reappeared behind Vera.
With a whisper of movement, he tapped the hilt of Emberfang to her neck.
She froze.
Silence fell across the arena.
Then—
The crowd erupted.
MATCH OVER
AFTERMATH Backstage,
Vera stood across from him, sweat trailing down her temple. Her bow was unstrung.
"…You're terrifying," she admitted.
"That speed. That dodge. You're like a storm that never touches the ground."
Zero gave a small nod.
"Not trying to win titles."
She studied him.
"Then why fight?"
He turned slightly, gaze drifting toward the horizon—where darker clouds brewed.
"Because one day… it won't be a game. And I need to be ready."
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"If that day comes," she said softly, "I hope I'm fighting beside you. Not against you."
Fame Grows in Silence.
The next morning, guild boards across the city were plastered with a new notice:
"The Phantom Masked Adventurer"
Cleared multiple high-risk dungeons solo.
Unknown rank. Unknown guild.
Masked. Dangerous.
Status: Under Observation
And far above the mortal realm, the Goddess watched from her celestial plane.
"A little attention never hurt," she murmured with a knowing smile.
Then her tone shifted, faint as wind across stars.
"But soon… his real test begins."