Rain drummed softly on the infirmary windows. Ardy sat silently on the hospital bed as a nurse carefully wrapped the bandages across the deep gash carved across his chest—Leo's final strike from the jungle.
He didn't flinch from the sting. His mind was elsewhere.
His eyes clouded, drifting back—back to the moment when the mask broke and revealed a face he hadn't seen since the grave.
Leo's face.
The same smirk. The same eyes. But behind them... something else.
He remembered Leo stepping closer, gently touching his face.
"I won't kill you, Ardy. You saved me once. But next time... I'll make sure you see hell."
Ardy's voice had been soft. Sad.
"Leo... Master Lee once told me—people aren't bad. Circumstances make them bad. So just tell me—what happened? I'll help you."
Leo's eyes had dimmed.
"That's a lie. People are motherfucker . That's all."
And then—he walked away.
Now in the present, Ardy stared at the rain against the window.
"Is he really Leo? Or a clone? A trick? No... it was his body. Same aura. But something… something's wrong. His aura's twisted. His mind—darker. What do I do?"
In the next ward, Kael stood beside Master Lee, whose legs were propped up in casts.
"You idiot," Kael muttered, arms crossed. "Why'd you use that skill? You can't even walk now."
Lee gave a tired smile. "I'll manage. I've lived worse."
"You haven't changed."
Lee turned. "So… who was the masked one?"
Kael's expression tightened. "Only Ardy knows. He didn't say a word after returning. I assumed it was the wound."
"Call him. I need to hear it from him."
The team assembled around Lee's bed: Akumo, Zero, Edward, Sumi, Ruka... and Ardy.
Master Lee didn't waste time.
"You brought the broken mask. So tell me, Ardy. Who was he?"
Ardy looked down.
Kael stepped in. "What happened, Ardy? Does something bother you?"
"...No," Ardy answered. "But what I saw... I don't want to believe it."
Lee's tone was calm. "Then say it, Ardy. Who was he?"
Ardy's voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Leo."
Everyone went still.
Akumo's voice cracked. "What? No… are you sure? We buried him. His body..."
Ardy nodded slowly. "His face was burned... It could've been a trap."
Sumi's hands trembled. "If that's true... then what about Eno?"
Ardy shook his head. "Her body was real. Only one hand was missing."
Kael exhaled. "I don't care if he was once a student. If he's turned against us, he'll be treated as an enemy."
"No one touches him," Ardy snapped. "I'll handle him myself."
Kael's gaze narrowed. "Fine. I'll count on you. But don't think about joining him. If you do..."
"...Then I'll be your enemy too," Ardy finished.
Lee watched them quietly. "I've got nothing to say. Not this time."
In a cave beneath the mountains, No. 1, No. 2, and Ryū waited. The air pulsed with magical wards.
Leo walked in silently.
No. 1 looked up. "Where's your mask?"
"Ardy broke it."
Ryū frowned. "Who is he?"
No. 1 interrupted. "Ryū... you're No. 4 now. We've got three stones. But we need the map."
He turned to Leo. "You'll retrieve it. We'll stay here, ready to support you. Though... I doubt you'll need us."
Nearby, a soldier hidden in the trees had overheard everything. Silently, he slipped away to warn the Kingdom.
Back at the Training Grounds, Akumo and Zero sparred with full force, blades crossing, magic sizzling.
Between strikes, Akumo asked, "Why do you think Leo's doing this? He was Ardy's closest friend."
Zero parried and replied, "Maybe revenge. Or maybe... he wants Eno back."
"That's impossible," Akumo said. "Maybe there's another reason.
Edward leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching from a distance.
"Ardy said don't touch Leo—only he'll handle him. Hmph... then I'll handle the others."
Sumi stood under a tree, perfecting her magic with arrows of light. Rain began to fall, soaking her hair as she stared into the sky, silent... focused.
The soaking soldier finally reached the capital. Breathless, he knelt before the Emperor and shared everything he had seen.
Ruka stepped forward.
"Father, assign this mission to us. We've trained. We can stop him."
The Emperor's jaw tightened.
"It's dangerous. So take General Kael with you. I'll order preparations to retrieve Oscar... and prepare for war. I don't know what they want with the stones, but it won't be good."
He turned to his butler. "Make the arrangements."
By the riverside, Ruka found Ardy, soaked in the storm, staring at the current.
She approached slowly.
"Father accepted. We're going... to stop Leo."
Across the lands, Leo stood at the cliff's edge, rain rolling off his hood. His hand rested on his sword, eyes locked on the clouds above.
In perfect unison, across miles of sky and storm, they both whispered:
"No matter what happens... I'll win."