After that conversation, the decision seemed implicit.
The training hall would be opened.
No one had stated it clearly, but there was no longer any real doubt. Mo-Zus had not refused. He had not tried to dissuade them either. He had simply… laid out the facts.
And now—
it was up to them to choose.
Hinata left the dining room without adding a word.
Her footsteps echoed softly through the vast corridors of the villa, accompanied by that same strange sensation that had not left her since her arrival. Everything seemed in place. Too in place.
She eventually reached her room.
The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Silence.
A real silence, this time.
Hinata slowly walked to the bed, then let herself fall onto it, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Tomorrow.
She would begin her training.
That was decided.
But despite that certainty—
her mind refused to settle.
Mo-Zus's words came back.
Again.
And again.
> "There exist… creatures that even I cannot defeat."
Her fingers tightened slightly on the sheet.
Creatures… more powerful than him?
It was… difficult to conceive.
She had seen what Mo-Zus was capable of. Even without seeing him fight seriously, he gave off something… fundamentally above.
So—
what could exist in that hall?
And above all…
why?
Her gaze drifted for a moment.
The waiver.
They would have to sign a waiver.
That alone—
made the situation even stranger.
At worst…
if one of them died in that hall—
everything would end there.
No more duel.
No more reward.
Nothing.
So why offer this?
Why create an environment where even the participants could disappear before the final confrontation?
It made no sense.
Or rather—
it made too much sense.
Hinata slowly closed her eyes.
A thought imposed itself.
Maybe the real objective…
was not the duel.
Silence.
Tomorrow.
She would see.
She would understand.
Or maybe not.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound echoed against the door.
Hinata opened her eyes again.
A slight sigh escaped her.
— Another guard…?
She sat up and stood without rushing, walking toward the door.
Her hand rested on the handle.
She opened it.
And froze.
— Zerath…?
Her gaze fell on him, surprised.
— What are you doing here?
But she didn't have time to get an answer.
Zerath walked in directly.
Without waiting.
Without asking.
As if it were normal.
And behind him—
— Hey, kid!!
Kert walked through the door with a big smile.
Hinata stood frozen for a second.
Then—
her face turned red.
— Y-You…!
She took a step back, visibly flustered.
— You don't have the right to come in like that! This is my room!
Her voice rose slightly.
— And besides… you're boys!!
Zerath, already settled, pulled a chair near the desk and sat down calmly, crossing his legs as if the place belonged to him.
Kert, meanwhile, dropped onto the bed without the slightest embarrassment, placing his hands behind his head.
— Relax.
He glanced around the room.
— We're not going to do anything.
Then he turned his head toward her, a smirk forming.
— Besides, you're not really my type, if you want to know.
Silence fell for a second.
Hinata blinked.
Then her blush disappeared almost instantly.
— …
She slightly looked away.
— Good.
A brief silence.
Then she crossed her arms.
— Well… then?
She looked at them one by one.
— What are you doing here?
Zerath spoke, calm.
— We are a team.
His voice was steady. Direct.
— And a team must function together.
He slightly turned his head toward her.
— We are not going to face Mo-Zus each on our own.
A brief silence.
— It will be a three-person fight.
Hinata did not respond.
But she was listening.
Zerath continued:
— I had thought of inviting you to our room.
A slight pause.
— But I assumed you would find that… inappropriate.
Kert chuckled lightly.
— You assumed right.
Zerath ignored the remark.
— So we came here.
Simple.
Efficient.
Hinata remained silent for a few seconds.
Then her gaze lowered slightly.
He was right.
They would have to cooperate.
Adapt.
Understand each other.
Otherwise—
they had no chance.
Not against Mo-Zus.
And even less against what awaited them before.
She slowly raised her head.
Her expression had calmed.
More serious.
— Alright.
She took a few steps in the room, then stopped.
— So…
A slight silence.
— What do you want to talk about?
Kert raised a hand without moving from the bed.
— Already?
He raised an eyebrow.
— No plan, no strategy, straight to "we talk"?
An amused smile stretched across his lips.
Zerath, meanwhile, observed Hinata carefully.
— We can start with something simple.
A brief silence.
— The training hall.
The word hung in the air.
Kert slightly turned his head.
— Ah… that.
His smile returned.
— The thing with the monsters that even Mo-Zus can't beat.
Hinata did not respond immediately.
But her gaze—
hardened slightly.
Zerath continued:
— There is an inconsistency.
Hinata raised her eyes toward him.
— Which one?
Zerath interlaced his fingers.
— If these creatures truly exist…
A pause.
— Why are they still there?
Silence.
Kert narrowed his eyes slightly.
— You mean… why hasn't Mo-Zus eliminated them?
Zerath slowly nodded.
— Exactly.
A brief silence.
— A fighter like him would not allow an uncontrolled threat to exist… in his own space.
Hinata remained still.
Her thoughts accelerated.
It was true.
It didn't add up.
Kert let out a small laugh.
— Or…
He sat up slightly.
— Maybe he really can't beat them.
A wider smile.
— And in that case…
He stared at the ceiling.
— That makes it interesting.
Hinata clenched her fists slightly.
A strange sensation ran through her body.
Not fear.
But something close.
— Or…
Her voice was lower.
Both boys turned their heads toward her.
— Maybe the goal…
Silence.
— …is not to defeat them.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Zerath stared at her.
For a long moment.
Then—
a slight smile.
— Interesting.
Kert, meanwhile, remained silent for a second.
Then his smile slowly widened.
— Okay.
He straightened up completely this time.
— Now… you're starting to interest me.
Silence.
Then—
something changed.
Nothing visible.
Nothing concrete.
But in the room—
the atmosphere seemed… different.
As if—
without them knowing—
something…
had begun.