TRENCHES
Chapter 103 — WORLD ISSUE
The news spread across Mavaria before the sun had completely risen.
It began as a whisper in the royal districts.
Then it reached the merchants.
Then the soldiers.
Then the villages.
By noon, every major city on the continent had heard the same name.
Moro Kim Jama.
A wanted man.
A fugitive.
A threat to Mavaria.
And now…
A man with a bounty on his head.
THE WORLD NOBLES' DECISION
Inside the Golden Castle, the great hall was filled with silence.
Seven enormous thrones surrounded a massive black-and-gold table. Above them hung the ancient symbol of Mavaria's ruling nobles—the Scales of Balance.
On one side of the scales was a golden crown.
On the other was a dark stone representing disorder.
The High Nobles stood beneath it.
One noble slowly unrolled a large parchment.
"Moro Kim Jama," he announced.
The room remained silent.
"Seventeen years of age. Origin: Junkskye. Confirmed involvement in the defeat of the Celtic Highs. Confirmed Matrix abilities. Survived confrontation with Special Commander Scaro."
Another noble leaned forward.
"And now he has escaped the Cherubiums."
A murmur passed through the hall.
That fact alone was embarrassing.
The Cherubiums were considered among the greatest forces under noble authority.
Yet Moro had escaped.
One of the nobles placed a golden seal onto the parchment.
"Effective immediately, a bounty shall be placed upon Moro Kim Jama."
Another asked,
"How high?"
The first noble smiled.
"High enough that every hunter, mercenary and bounty guild in Mavaria will begin searching for him."
The number was announced.
The chamber went quiet.
It was enormous.
Moro was no longer simply wanted by the government.
The entire continent now had a reason to hunt him.
THE CHERUBIUMS
Far away, seven figures stood on a mountain ridge.
Their silver armor reflected the morning sun.
The Cherubiums had not stopped searching.
Their leader looked across the distant mountains.
"Spread out."
The six warriors immediately moved.
Their bodies transformed into streaks of brilliant light.
Within moments, they disappeared across the horizon.
The hunt continued.
SCARO
Back inside the Golden Castle, Scaro stood alone in the Great Hall.
He had listened to the nobles' decision without protest.
But there was something different about his expression.
A smile.
A small, confident smirk.
He slowly adjusted his sunglasses.
Then he looked toward the massive windows overlooking Mavaria.
"JJ..."
He paused.
"Your son's end is near."
Lightning quietly crackled around his fingers.
Scaro's smile widened.
"You should have never left him wandering in this world."
THE MOUNTAINS
Meanwhile, several miles north of Yutan, Moro and his friends had found temporary shelter within a mountain range.
The location was hidden between enormous cliffs and thick forests.
No roads led there.
No villages existed nearby.
For the first time since escaping the Cherubiums, the group could breathe.
But their victory had come at a price.
Moro sat against a large rock.
His breathing was heavy.
His body was still suffering from the battle with Scaro.
The wounds had closed considerably, but the exhaustion remained.
His hands trembled slightly.
Kaya noticed.
"Moro."
"I'm fine."
"You aren't."
Moro looked away.
Yaya was lying nearby.
Her eyes were closed.
Her breathing was steady, but she was completely drained after pushing her Cheetah Aura beyond its normal limits to save everyone.
Kiro sat beside her, watching quietly.
Steven stood near the mountain entrance, keeping watch.
Herbet examined his equipment.
Nobody spoke for several minutes.
Then Moro finally broke the silence.
"They're getting stronger."
Kiro looked at him.
"The Cherubiums?"
Moro nodded.
"First Scaro."
He clenched his fist.
"Then the nobles."
His eyes lowered.
"Now the Cherubiums."
His voice became quieter.
"How many more?"
Nobody answered.
MORO'S DESPAIR
Moro stared toward the distant horizon.
For the first time in a long while, his confidence seemed to disappear.
He remembered Scaro.
The lightning.
The overwhelming pressure.
The moment he realized that even Ultra Fusion could not guarantee victory.
Then he remembered the Cherubiums.
Their speed.
Their intangibility.
The helpless feeling of watching his friends struggle.
Moro lowered his head.
"What if I'm not strong enough?"
Kaya looked at him.
"Moro—"
"What if I can't protect everyone?"
His voice cracked.
The others became silent.
Moro had always been the one who stood at the front.
The one who declared himself the Pillar of Justice.
The one who refused to surrender.
But now that confidence was beginning to crack.
He looked at his hands.
"I keep telling everyone I'll protect them."
His fingers tightened.
"But every time we fight someone stronger, somebody gets hurt."
Kiro slowly stood.
"Moro."
Moro didn't respond.
Kiro walked over and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Moro finally looked up.
Kiro continued.
"You're our captain. Not our shield."
Yaya opened her eyes slightly.
"He's right."
Her voice was weak but determined.
"You idiot..."
Moro stared at her.
"You saved us too."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"So stop acting like you're the only one fighting."
Kaya smiled softly.
"We're here because we chose to be."
Steven crossed his arms.
"And because watching you make reckless decisions is strangely entertaining."
Herbet laughed.
"That's definitely one way to put it."
For the first time that day, Moro smiled.
Only slightly.
But it was enough.