To save Mara, Yunsa, and Pasito…
a man in a white coat stepped out from the shadows.
He wore black glasses, and at first glance, he looked completely unfazed—
as if nothing in the world could trouble him.
Yet, his face carried no emotion at all.
With one hand casually tucked into his pocket, he walked through the dense bushes and took his first step onto the battlefield.
There was a strange curiosity in his movements…
almost like a child observing something new.
But the moment his eyes scanned the battlefield—
a faint smile appeared on his face.
He slowly removed his glasses.
And in that instant…
everyone froze.
Because it was none other than—
Ajina.
In a calm voice, he murmured,
"Should I use the Eagle Cannon this time…
or finish it with something simpler?"
His gaze then shifted—
toward a figure lying unconscious on the ground,
one hand still reaching toward Mara.
Then, his eyes moved again—
toward a cluster of roots near a tree.
Two figures were hiding there, watching everything.
"…Could those be Alpha and Jeron?" he thought.
"Or are these fools trying too hard to appear clever?"
Suddenly—
his expression changed.
Above them, in the air—
a figure appeared.
Wearing a mask like an angel,
it hovered silently, supported by its wings.
Suddenly—
the winged figure released Yunsa's head.
Yunsa dropped straight to the ground.
Ajina glanced at him and said calmly,
"…Looks like he's done."
The three of them still had no idea what kind of force they were facing.
Then—
Ajina slowly pulled one hand out of his pocket.
Maya's eyes fell on his wrist.
She froze.
"…Look… his hand… it's blue…"
Lina narrowed her gaze.
Who is he…? she thought.
Before anyone could react, Vikar spoke with excitement,
"This is our king! The great warrior of thunder! He's like a friend to us!"
Ajina turned toward him—
and gave a faint smile.
That single expression was enough to shock everyone.
Then Ajina said softly,
"Ekani… Diamond."
Slowly—
a blade began to form in his hand.
Not forged…
but created.
In the next instant—
he moved.
His speed—
was like lightning itself.
Before anyone could even blink, Ajina dashed forward and struck toward the flying figure's neck.
But—
the attack stopped.
The winged man caught the edge of Ajina's blade with his bare hand.
For the first time—
Ajina looked surprised.
A faint trace of anger flickered in his eyes.
Then—
one of his eyes turned deep blue.
As if sending a silent signal…
directly to the one before him.
But the winged figure—
couldn't understand it.
In the next moment—
Ajina stepped forward.
With the speed of lightning, he delivered a powerful kick straight into the airborne figure.
The impact echoed through the battlefield.
Everyone stood frozen.
Vikar's eyes widened.
"…Now that's something."
But then—
something unexpected happened.
From the back of the winged man, a long spike suddenly extended outward.
Seeing this, Vikar smirked slightly.
"Looks like he's even stronger than I thought."
Ajina calmly pulled his leg back.
Maya, still staring in shock, spoke hesitantly,
"…Wait… was that spike… hidden in Ajina's shoe?"
For a moment—
silence.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
"…Incredible…" Maya whispered.
Lina narrowed her eyes.
"I've never seen someone like him before."
Vikar grinned.
"Now this is what I'm talking about."
Then—
the winged figure, who had been floating moments ago…
slowly descended to the ground.
Without wasting a second—
Maya, Artha, and Lina rushed toward Mara.
Carefully lifting him, they began to run.
Their breaths grew heavier with every step,
fear chasing them from behind.
They didn't dare look back.
After a short distance—
they stopped near a large tree.
Quickly, they hid themselves behind its thick roots, trying to stay out of sight.
Maya tightened her grip on Mara.
"…We can't let him die," she whispered.
Lina peeked from behind the tree, her eyes fixed on the battlefield.
Artha clenched his fists.
"…Ajina will handle it," he said quietly.
But even then—
none of them felt safe.
But Vikar…
was completely lost, watching Ajina.
His eyes were filled with admiration, as if he couldn't look away.
Seeing this, Artha noticed him lagging behind.
"…Where did you get stuck now?" Artha muttered.
Without wasting time, he grabbed Vikar's arm—
and forcefully pulled him along.
"Move!"
Vikar stumbled for a moment, still trying to look back at the battlefield.
But Artha didn't let him stop.
The winged man still stood there—
unmoving.
The battlefield fell into complete silence.
Ajina's eyes hardened as he spoke coldly,
"Your worth… is no more than the dust beneath my feet."
Suddenly—
the man emerging from the ground raised his hand.
In the next instant, a glowing sphere—larger than a bullet, radiating intense light—shot forward and struck Ajina directly in the back.
A massive explosion followed.
The ground trembled.
Dust filled the air.
But when it cleared—
Ajina stood there… untouched.
"…Armor made of Blue Diamond," he said calmly.
"Far more dangerous than you think."
His gaze shifted slowly toward the man who had attacked him.
For a few seconds—
he simply stared.
Then—
his attention snapped elsewhere.
Maya's voice broke the silence,
"His wings… they've gone back inside… and he's falling!"
Ajina turned instantly.
Without hesitation, he swung his blade—
striking the masked figure in midair.
The mask shattered into two pieces—
falling to the ground.
For the first time…
his face was revealed.
But in that very moment—
the ground-born attacker seized the opportunity.
His arm stretched unnaturally long—
rushing straight toward Ajina.
This time—
Ajina moved.
With a single, precise motion, he cut through the extended arm—
splitting it into two.
But then—
another explosion erupted.
Louder.
Stronger.
More violent than before.
The blast was so powerful—
that blood began to flow from Ajina's ears.
For a brief moment, even he staggered.
He drove the tip of his blade into the ground, using it as support—
steadying himself.
The battlefield rang with a deafening silence.
Ajina slowly looked around.
Pasito… Yunsa…
blood was streaming from their ears as well.
He raised his hand to his own ear—
and stared at the blood on his fingers.
For a second…
everything went still.
Then—
he pulled his blade free from the ground.
The faint smile on his face…
was gone.
Replaced by something far colder.
Something silent.
His eyes shifted forward.
Beneath a nearby tree—
the man who had fallen earlier…
suddenly opened his eyes.
And began to rise again.
The man rose once again—
his presence now far more dangerous,
as if he was ready to unleash a battle that could destroy everything around him.