Ray navigated deeper into the underground labyrinth, his senses on high alert. The corridors were narrow and dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of damp stone. As he moved cautiously, Kai watched him through the screen, noting each careful step.

“He’s free to move. There's nothing CCTV in this world,” Kai thought, as Eva’s voice came through.

“Sir, I got the reports. As you predicted, they interrogated Jellal and found the princess’s location.”

A third screen appeared, showing Maximus, Hiro, and Justin flying to the location with Justin’s magic, knights following on horseback.

“That was fast,” Kai mused. “Good for Ray; backup is on the way.”

Kai continued to monitor Ray’s careful movements. The dimly lit corridors seemed endless, each step echoing ominously. Just as Ray turned a corner, Kai’s voice came through his earpiece, breaking the silence.

“Ray, go to the room at the end. That’s where Nino is.”

Ray nodded, moving cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound. As he reached the door, he looked around before slowly opening it. His heart pounded as he saw Nino, unconscious and tied to a chair. His breath caught in his throat as he rushed to her side. “Nino!” he called, his voice filled with worry.

Nino stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She saw Ray through a haze, her voice weak. “Ray…?”

His voice trembled with relief and urgency. He rushed to her, his hands working quickly to untie the ropes. The rough texture of the ropes bit into his fingers as he worked.

Nino’s eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she seemed disoriented. But as her gaze met Ray’s, a myriad of emotions flashed across her face—fear, relief, and overwhelming gratitude. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bit her lip to keep them from falling.

“Ray… you came, but why?” she whispered.

“Did you forget?” Ray replied, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “I promised I’d always protect you.”

As he said so, Nino watched him untie the ropes. Slowly, memories of her childhood started to come in her mind, watching her younger self playing with younger Ray. As the two sat by the flower garden, Ray promised her to always protect her.

Nino’s eyes started to tear up slowly. As the last of the ropes fell away, Nino threw her arms around Ray, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline. He held her tightly, feeling the rapid beat of her heart against his chest.

For a moment, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s embrace. Nino pulled back slightly, looking up at Ray with a mixture of awe and love. “How did you find me?”

Ray smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “There’s someone out there who always helps me.”

Nino’s eyes widened in surprise, but then she smiled—a genuine, heartfelt smile that made Ray’s heart swell. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “Thank you for coming to save me, Ray.”

Ray cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. “Always, Nino. Always.”

Kai watched the screen intently, a small smile playing on his lips as he saw Ray and Nino’s emotional reunion. “Seems half of my work is already done, huh,” he thought. But just as he was about to relax, his eyes widened in alarm. Multiple enemies were converging on the room, their dark figures filling the screen.

Panic surged through Kai. His heart raced as he quickly activated the comms, his voice urgent. “Ray, cover Nino! Enemies incoming!”

Before Ray could fully react, an explosion rocked the entrance. The force of the blast sent debris flying, and Ray instinctively moved, shielding Nino with his body as they dove to the side. The sound of the explosion echoed in his ears, and the acrid smell of smoke filled the air.

Ray looked up, his eyes narrowing as he saw the enemies flooding into the room. Reaching for his arquebus, his hand barely touched the weapon when the wall beside him shattered. A massive man burst through, moving with terrifying speed. Before Ray could defend himself, the man delivered a powerful punch to his back, sending him crashing into the opposite wall.

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Nino screamed, her voice filled with terror as she saw Ray slump to the ground, blood trickling from his wounds. “Ray!” she cried, crawling towards him, her heart pounding with fear.

Ray struggled to lift his head, his vision blurred from the impact. Pain coursed through his body as he saw the enemies closing in, their weapons drawn. The massive figure who had attacked him stood menacingly nearby.

Ray’s vision blurred as he tried to push himself up from the ground. Pain radiated through his body from the massive punch, but he forced himself to focus. "I can’t let them take her," he thought, gritting his teeth.

He glanced up and saw the massive man grabbing Nino, lifting her effortlessly. Nino’s terrified eyes met his, and a surge of determination coursed through him. Ignoring the pain, Ray reached for his arquebus, his fingers closing around the familiar grip.

With a swift motion, he aimed and fired at the nearest enemy. The shot rang out, and the enemy fell, but more were closing in. Ray rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a sword strike, and sprang to his feet. His movements were fueled by adrenaline and sheer willpower.

“Ray!” Nino’s voice was a desperate cry as the massive man started dragging her away.

Ray’s heart pounded. He couldn’t let her be taken. He charged forward, using his mana to enhance his speed. The corridor seemed to narrow as he fought his way through the enemies, each strike precise and deadly. His mind was a blur of tactics and survival instincts.

A sword slashed towards him, and he parried it with his arquebus, the clash of metal ringing in his ears. He countered with a swift kick, sending the attacker sprawling. Another enemy lunged at him, but Ray ducked and delivered a powerful uppercut, knocking the man out cold.

But the massive man was getting away with Nino. Ray’s eyes locked onto them, and he felt a surge of desperation.

"I can’t lose her! Not now! Not ever!"

“Get back here!” Ray shouted, his voice echoing through the corridor. He summoned his remaining strength and hurled a mana-infused projectile at the man. The blast hit the man’s back, causing him to stumble, but he didn’t release Nino.

Ray’s breath came in ragged gasps as he closed the distance. He could see the fear in Nino’s eyes, and it fueled his resolve. He had to save her. He had to protect her.

The massive man turned, his eyes filled with fury. He dropped Nino and charged at Ray, his fists like hammers. Ray braced himself, dodging the first punch and countering with a swift strike to the man’s ribs. The man grunted but didn’t slow down.

Ray ducked under another swing, his mind racing. He needed to end this quickly. He focused his mana, channeling it into his fists. With a roar, he unleashed a powerful punch with his wind magic, hitting the man square in the chest. The force of the blow sent the man crashing into the wall.

Ray didn’t wait to see if the man would get up. He rushed to Nino, pulling her into his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice trembling with concern.

Nino nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I’m fine, Ray. Thank you.”

Ray held her tightly, his heart pounding with relief. But he knew they weren’t safe yet. He glanced around, seeing more enemies approaching. “We need to move,” he said, helping Nino to her feet.

Kai could only watch as the two tried to escape, when he noticed something strange on the second screen. "Wait... that's him!" He wondered back in the room, as his voice came through the earpiece again, calm and focused. “Ray, quickly pull Nino away from the centre.”

Ray wondered what Kai meant but decided to follow his instructions. He took Nino away, his heart pounding in his chest. Gently, he pulled her back from the center of the room, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

Just as he moved Nino to safety, a deafening crash echoed through the underground room. The walls above them crumbled, and dust filled the air, obscuring their vision. Ray shielded Nino with his body, his heart racing.

As the dust began to settle, a figure emerged from the debris. Clad in a black cloak, the intruder’s eyes glowed a menacing red. The room fell silent, everyone staring in shock and confusion at the mysterious figure.

In the blink of an eye, the intruder moved with inhuman speed, rushing through a crowd of rebels. His clawed fist slashed through the air, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. The rebels fell one by one, their screams echoing through the room.

Ray watched in horror and awe as the intruder decimated the kidnappers. “Who is he…?” he whispered, his grip tightening on Nino.

The enemies quickly got into a defensive stance, their fear palpable. One of them shouted, “It’s Diark! Kill him!”

The name sent a ripple of fear through the kidnappers. They knew they were facing a formidable opponent. The majority surrounded Diark, determined to take him down.

Diark’s eyes glowed brighter, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He moved with lethal precision, his clawed fist tearing through the kidnappers with ease. Blood sprayed across the room, the metallic scent filling the air.

Ray, still holding Nino, glanced at a few enemies closing in on them. “What now!” he wondered, as Kai’s voice came through the comms.

“Ray, don’t worry. He’s on our side. Just take care of Nino and try to get out safely”

Ray nodded, looking around at the enemies. He picked Nino up, as she looked at him in surprise, with a hint of blush. A gust of wind covered them, as Ray jumped off with Nino in his arms. Looking at the side, he saw Diark taking down a number of enemies on his own.

Kai’s voice came through the earpiece again, calm and focused. “Ray, they are just decoy. The mastermind behind all this is still hidden. Our first priority is to save Nino. Leave the rest to the grown-ups.”

Ray nodded, his resolve strengthening. “Understood, Kai.”

The battle raged on, the room a whirlwind of magic and blood. Diark’s presence was a game-changer, his ferocity unmatched.

-To be Continued