CHAPTER IV
The afternoon after the warriors' departure, Eliana sat alone in the banquet hall, surrounded by luxurious dishes whose fragrances tempted the senses. Vernizel sat across from her, watching her eat without moving an inch.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Eliana asked.
Vernizel suddenly bowed his head, then lifted it again with a wide grin and narrowed eyes.
"I don't need to eat. But if you insist, I will."
He picked up a large piece of roasted meat. His mouth suddenly opened unnaturally wide and swallowed the food in a single bite. Eliana, who had been holding a spoon, froze in shock and accidentally dropped it.
She quickly regained her composure and called a servant to bring a new spoon.
Eliana pulled a tissue from the silver box beside her and wiped her mouth and the table, erasing stains that were never truly there.
Then she asked again,
"About the tattoo on my left shoulder… did you make it? Because if you did, this could be taken to court. Even though I don't want to cause you trouble, it's still—"
"You see both the beginning and the end. You cannot avoid it. That is what I bestowed upon you," Vernizel said calmly.
"What do you mean?" Eliana asked.
Vernizel fell silent again, frozen in place with the same flat smile.
Eliana, who was starting to grow irritated, suddenly panicked when a violent tremor shook the kingdom. Panic erupted as something burst up from beneath the ground, tearing through the thick snow not far from the city's outer gate.
A massive, long-bodied creature emerged—thick, enormous, and covered in dense white fur.
"A giant worm! A giant worm!" the gate guard screamed.
The people fled in chaos, running in every direction. Eliana rushed outside, her eyes darting around as she desperately searched for a way to save her city.
When her gaze found Vernizel, he suddenly leapt from the room. Since the palace stood atop a hill, he dropped straight down toward the city below. From afar, Eliana watched in disbelief as Vernizel sprinted toward the enormous monster—crashing through horse carts, leaping over merchant stalls, turning sharply at corners, running along walls, then surfing across a fallen wooden board. He rolled in front of the nearly closed city gate and kicked it open. Vernizel continued charging forward without stopping, while the giant worm lunged straight across the snowy ground.
Vernizel burst through a mound of snow and clenched his fist. His speed was so extreme that his cloak whipped wildly in every direction. Planting his left foot to halt abruptly, he launched a steel punch that split the clouds and snow before him.
All eyes were fixed on him.
In an instant, the giant worm vanished without a trace. No one even had time to cheer or applaud. Everyone stood frozen in silence.
From the palace, Eliana was just as stunned. Everything had happened far too quickly.
This was the grim reality the Kingdom of Notton now faced—especially in its capital. Since Orion's arrival, monsters that once appeared only rarely now descended as if drawn to him.
Similar incidents happened often. Usually, scouts would report the remains of massive monsters far from the city. No one ever realized that Vernizel was the one eliminating them—and not always with his fists. Sometimes, when Vernizel grew bored, he would simply command whatever attacked the capital to die… and they would.
This only deepened Eliana's curiosity about Vernizel, who now seemed to guard her as though he had taken over Kaizo's role in the kingdom.
---
A vast taiga forest stretched endlessly. Towering pine trees pierced the sky, hills obscured the sunlight, and the frozen ground below remained locked in unending cold.
Normally, at this hour, Fatih, Bones, Kirito, Zen, and Kaizo would be resting. But not tonight. The five of them were hunting one of the Seven Sinners—Velmora.
"So… are we hunting a ghost now? What does she even look like?" Zen asked while twirling his sword.
"There is no such thing as ghosts. The souls of the dead are taken directly to the heavens. They have no time to linger on earth. Our enemy this time is from the demon race," Fatih replied.
"Can't you just use magic to detect her, Kirito?" Kaizo asked.
"Magic is my specialty, but mysticism is not. From what I know, Velmora is a demon of the ghost-type—able to disguise her body temperature. It's nearly impossible to detect her unless you see her directly," Kirito explained.
"But magic itself is mystical, you know! Not just anyone can use it!" Bones argued.
"You've never even used magic. How dare you say that to the royal mage of the elf kingdom?" Zen shot back.
Suddenly, they crossed paths with a woman.
She had wavy black hair down to her shoulders, and cold maroon-red eyes. She looked to be in her thirties and wore a tight black robe.
Zen grabbed her hand and said,
"Hey, ma'am. What are you doing in the forest this late at night? Sorry to bother you, but we need to know."
The woman turned around, her face turning awkward. She answered while occasionally glancing at Kaizo,
"Ah… sorry. I'm looking for mushrooms. I'll head home right away."
Kaizo noticed her gaze and stepped closer.
"People rarely keep mushrooms in a portable pocket. They'd only dirty the other items inside," Kaizo said as he stared at her from extremely close range. Their eyes locked deeply.
Then Kaizo spoke,
"You… are Zamboss's replacement…"
Kaizo smiled. The woman smiled back.
The others instantly grew alert, ready for combat. Kaizo tried to defuse the tension, suggesting they simply leave since she showed no intention of fighting. Fatih agreed—but Zen, too fired up, charged forward and unleashed dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of rapid punches at her.
The storm of blows shattered the air. Flashes of light and thunderous impacts erupted like continuous gunfire.
Zen continued attacking relentlessly. The woman, however, merely smiled, dropping all defenses and allowing the blows to strike her body. Astonishingly, she did not move an inch—nor did she show the slightest sign of pain or exhaustion.
Zen finally leapt back, gasping for breath.
The woman lowered her head with a sly smile and introduced herself,
"My name is Maria. Remember it. We will meet again."
"Maria?" Kaizo muttered in surprise.
Maria pulled the ground beneath her body upward, wrapping herself in earth. In the next instant, it exploded. Maria vanished.
"You know her?" Fatih asked Kaizo.
"She… I don't know. Let's just continue our mission," Kaizo said as he turned—only to see something in the distance that reignited his battle spirit.
His grin widened. Blood surged. His pulse throbbed. His breath roared.
Kaizo drew his katana from his portable pocket. Zen unsheathed his father's black serrated hunter sword. Bones raised his battle axe. Kirito had already gripped his staff. Fatih prepared his crescent-shaped Oruman blade, its hilt carved like a wolf's head.
Velmora appeared in the distance. Her long, tangled, dull hair covered her face. Horns protruded from beneath it. She wore a wide, faded white robe that made her appear to float. From each sleeve, three chained weapons extended, all of different shapes.
Kaizo shot forward with the opening strike, deftly parrying every attack with his katana. Velmora retreated, sensing the danger. Kaizo exhaled sharply—and in an instant, thick black clouds formed overhead, crackling with thunder. Velmora evaded and launched all her chained weapons at Kaizo.
But they were shattered midair by Kirito's Sacred Forest Slash, a spell that temporarily erased the attacker's ability to harm their target.
Fatih opened two portals—one for Zen, one for Bones. Bones emerged from his portal only to be stabbed straight through the chest by one of Velmora's chained blades. Strangely, he remained alive and managed to rip one of the weapons completely from Velmora's grasp.
Zen unleashed countless invisible slashes at blinding speed. Velmora dodged several, but the overwhelming velocity cornered her against a tree.
She gasped for breath. Her face became visible: purple, pale skin, white eyes, and a strange line on her forehead. The line split open, revealing a crimson third eye filled with numerous pupils.
The five warriors froze.
This was Velmora's true power—Terrifying—a shock effect that paralyzed anyone within its range. Velmora exhaled, convinced the battle was over.
But as she raised her weapon to strike Kaizo's head, she suddenly jolted.
She was hanging upside down from a tree.
Fatih, Bones, Kirito, Zen, and Kaizo stood surrounding her.
"Let me go!" Velmora screamed shamefully, struggling in vain.
"Kaizo, you're too rough with women. Let me show you how it's done—" Zen said, before Velmora suddenly headbutted him and sent him crashing to the ground.
"All right, we'll give you a choice. Hand over your key, or we will… we will… uh… kill you?" Fatih tried to threaten.
"Hmph."
Velmora turned her head away.
"Perhaps we should let her speak calmly," Kirito suggested.
"What do you mean calmly?! She nearly killed me!" Bones protested.
"Wait—how are you even still alive, Bones?" Kaizo asked.
"My heart's on the right. My left lung is also on the right. Hehehe," Bones replied.
They lowered Velmora—still bound—and seated her on a wooden crate facing a campfire Kirito had built.
Zen sat beside her out of curiosity.
"So… what made you become… um… like this?" Zen asked.
"Lord Orion gave me power after my village ostracized me. Though we were the same race and looked similar, a prophecy spoke of a curse upon a red-eyed girl, and everyone blamed me. When things became unbearable, I sat outside alone in the cold, staring at the sky. That's when he came and offered me power. I accepted. I gained extraordinary reflexes and resilience—but I lost control. I unleashed all my hatred and slaughtered my entire village. Now I live in regret, trying to protect what Lord Orion entrusted to me," Velmora confessed.
"Zen's charm is unreal. She spilled her entire backstory just like that!" Kaizo muttered.
"Whatever the case, just hand over the key. We won't hurt you," Bones urged.
"Be patient. We can gain more from her," Fatih said.
"Like what?" Kirito asked.
"Velmora, do you know anything about Orion?" Fatih asked.
"No."
"What about the others? The other key holders?" Fatih pressed.
"Friends? They're not friends. They're filth. I hate them all," Velmora answered.
"Then tell us about them one by one. That would help us greatly," Fatih said.
Velmora then told them about the remaining six members of the Seven Sinners—those empowered by Orion who had lost their humanity and descended into true evil.
First, Katsura Takagi, the Black Samurai. A master swordsman from a hidden village beyond the forest. His power was Super Instinct, allowing him to sense danger from any direction at any speed. Combined with his skill, he was nearly invincible. After gaining power from Orion, he slaughtered his own village without mercy. He was once supposedly killed by another swordsman—the Red Ronin—who left a scar across his face. Now, Katsura seeks vengeance.
Second, Yelena Mardora, daughter of a noble family of Monosa. She engaged in a forbidden relationship with a demon. When she sought her family's blessing, her mother slapped her at a banquet, and her lover was brutally murdered. Yelena fled in grief and encountered Orion, who strengthened her ability to manifest shadow creatures. She returned and massacred her entire family—except her mother, whom she left alive in madness.
Third, Jonathan Wilson, a strange and lazy young man with psychopathic tendencies since childhood. He murdered his parents, was exiled, and continued killing livestock for amusement. Orion enhanced his power: energy spheres capable of rivaling half a supernova.
Fourth, Thomas Frontera Pargonos, a lava demon and former general. When Orion attacked the demon race, he betrayed his own kind and became Orion's hound. His power, Lava Frenzy, grants overwhelming strength and endless burning heat that can devastate entire cities.
Fifth, Akuma Hanzo, a mysterious ninja clad entirely in black, save for his deep blue eyes. His power, Shadow Illusion, allows him to create countless solid clones and transfer his soul into any of them.
Sixth, Turkan Ketepiroglu, a corrupt mayor under the Oruman Sultanate. A secret fugitive tied to Fatih's abdication. Shielded by Orion's name, he exploited his people, indulged in luxury, and ruled through terror.
After finishing her story, Velmora knelt before Fatih.
"I am a sinner filled with regret. I beg you to deliver me directly to God, O Sultan."
The four were stunned. Fatih alone remained calm.
He sat before Velmora, his gentle smile soothing all hearts. He laid a warm hand upon her head, and tears began to fall from her eyes.
"You have nothing left to atone for—if you accept my hand and walk the path of righteousness," Fatih said softly.
"You have no idea how deep my guilt is. Every night, I am haunted by the people I killed—the ones I never wanted to hurt. They all—"
SLAP!
"What are you doing, Fatih?!" Zen shouted as Fatih struck Velmora across the face.
Velmora collapsed in silence. Fatih stood tall, his cloak billowing beneath the moonlight.
"If you seek redemption, that was your redemption. If you seek death—ask it from God, not from me," Fatih declared.
Velmora burst into laughter—free, relieved—as though her guilt had finally been lifted and her victims had forgiven her. One by one, the others began to laugh as well.
The night ended in quiet happiness.