Ray and Nino dashed out of the room, their footsteps echoing through the narrow corridors. Ray’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the urgency of their escape. He kept Nino close, his eyes scanning for any sign of danger.

As they rounded a corner, they came face-to-face with a tall man with a commanding presence. He wore an armor cloak that shimmered ominously in the dim light, and a great-sword was strapped to his back. Ray’s breath caught in his throat as he immediately recognized the man.

“So, the crown prince came to the rescue, huh?” the man remarked, his voice dripping with disdain. He began to walk towards them, slowly, his eyes fixed on Ray.

Ray instinctively shielded Nino behind him, his body tense and ready. Blood trickled from his wounds, and his vision blurred slightly, but he stood firm. “Stay behind me, Nino,” he whispered, his voice steady despite the pain.

The man’s presence was overwhelming, his aura of authority and menace palpable. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that,” he said, drawing his great sword with a menacing hiss. “But bravery won’t save you.”

Ray tightened his grip on his arquebus, his mind racing. He couldn’t afford to lose focus now. The man lunged, and Ray fired a shot from his arquebus, the bullet striking the man’s sword and deflecting it. But the man’s second attack came immediately after, and Ray wasn’t fast enough to block it. The surface of the blade hit Ray, as the force of the blow sent him flying backward, crashing into the ground.

“Ray!” Nino screamed, running up to him. She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she tried to help him up.

Ray struggled to his feet, his body screaming in protest. He couldn’t let Nino be taken. Not after everything they’d been through. He raised his arquebus and fired again, the shot echoing through the corridor. The man dodged, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed.

The man raised his blade, striking it towards Ray. Quick to notice, Ray quickly moved towards his left, holding Nino, even with all the injuries he had. The clash of the blade was deafening, creating a shock wave. As the smoke slightly covered the area, Ray took his chance and fired shot after shot, each one aimed with precision, but the man’s movements were swift and calculated, dodging all the bullets even in the smoke. He swung his great sword in a wide arc, clearing the dust. The blade slicing through the air where Ray had lied moments before.

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” the man sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice. “But this ends now.”

Ray’s breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to keep the man at bay. He fired another shot, but the man deflected it with his sword, the bullet ricocheting off the metal. The man raised his sword, and slammed it down to the ground. The impact was immediate and cataclysmic. The earth trembled violently, as Ray felt a sudden, paralyzing force grip his body.

“Binding Strike!” the man shouted, his voice echoing through the corridor. Ray’s body froze in place, his muscles locked by an invisible force. He struggled against it, but it was no use.

The man approached, his sword raised for a heavy blow. Ray’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the blade descend. With a final, desperate effort, he broke free of the binding spell, but not quickly enough. The sword was about to struck him, but Ray blocked the impact with his arquebus. But the force of the blow was too strong, breaking his arquebus, sending Ray crashing into the wall.

“N-No... Ray!” Nino’s voice was filled with fear and desperation. She watched helplessly as Ray slumped to the ground, blood trickling from his wounds.

Ray’s vision blurred, but he forced himself to stay conscious. He couldn’t let Nino be taken. He pushed himself up, his body trembling with effort. “Run, Nino,” he whispered, his voice weak but resolute. “Get out of here.”

Nino shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I’m... n-not leaving you.”

The man approached Ray, his sword raised for the final blow. Ray’s heart pounded, and he summoned the last of his strength. He had to protect her. He had to save her.

With a final, desperate effort, Ray stood up, his body trembling, raising his right hand towards the man. He faced the man, his eyes blazing with defiance. “You’ll have to go through me first,” he said, his voice steady despite the pain.

The man smirked, his sword poised to strike. “So be it.”

Ray’s body trembled as he gathered the last of his strength, channeling a massive amount of mana into his index finger. The tip of the finger glowed with an intense light, the air crackling with energy. He aimed at the man, his vision blurring from the effort. "This has to work," he thought, his heart pounding.

“Fatal Shot!!”

With a roar, Ray fired the powerful shot. The blast of mana surged forward, hitting the man square in the chest. The impact was immense, the corridor shaking from the force. Ray fell down again, holding his index finger, completely broken. "I did it...," he mused to himself, slowly looking up. But as the dust faded, Ray’s heart sank. The man stood unfazed, a smirk playing on his lips.

Ray’s body screamed in agony, his wounds bleeding profusely. He tried to steady himself, but his legs wobbled, barely able to support his weight. "Am I really this weak?" he wondered, despair creeping into his thoughts. "I couldn’t even put a scratch on him."

The man’s smirk widened as he approached. With a swift motion, he kicked Ray, sending him crashing into the wall again. Ray’s body hit the stone with a sickening thud, pain exploding through him. He slumped to the ground, his vision darkening.

“N-No… Why…,” Nino’s voice was a low, cracked whisper, filled with anguish. She watched, petrified, as Ray fought for her, each injury breaking her heart a little more.

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The man turned his attention to Nino, his eyes gleaming with malice. He started to walk towards her, his steps slow and deliberate. Nino’s breath caught in her throat, fear paralyzing her.

Ray’s consciousness wavered, the edges of his vision darkening. He could barely move, his body battered and broken. "I can’t let him take her," he thought, desperation clawing at him. But his body refused to obey.

Just then, Kai’s voice came through the earpiece, calm and steady. “Ray.”

Ray’s eyes fluttered open, his mind struggling to focus. “Kai?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“Everything’s fine now, Ray. They are here,” Kai said, his voice filled with reassurance.

Ray’s mind raced, trying to understand what Kai meant. Suddenly, a magical door-like portal appeared right next to him, shimmering with a soft, ethereal light. Ray’s heart leapt with hope as he saw figures emerging from the portal, their presence a beacon of salvation.

The man looked back, as his eyes widened looking at the figures coming through the portal. Ray forced himself to sit up, as he looked at the portal, and through it stepped Hiro, Maximus, and Justin. Their presence filled the corridor with a sense of power and reassurance.

Justin was the first to speak, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. “So, the mastermind behind all this was the former captain of the Magic Knights Squad, huh?” he remarked, his voice laced with disdain.

He walked over to Ray, kneeling beside him. “I don't know how you were able to locate them, but good work! Now, hang in there, Ray,” Justin said, placing a hand on Ray’s shoulder. A warm, soothing energy flowed through Ray’s body, and he felt his wounds healing, the pain vanishing. Ray’s eyes widened in surprise as he stood up, feeling strength return to his limbs.

Maximus, meanwhile, ran to Nino, his face etched with concern. He enveloped her in a tight hug, his voice gentle and reassuring. “Everything is fine now, Nino,” he whispered.

Nino clung to him, tears streaming down her face. “I w-was so scared, Dad...,” she sobbed, her voice trembling.

Maximus held her close, his heart aching at her fear. “You’re safe now,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “I’m here.”

The man who had attacked Ray stood still, watching the reunion with a cold, calculating gaze. Hiro approached him, his expression calm but firm. “Let’s talk somewhere else later, alright?” he said, placing a hand on the man’s back.

As Hiro pat on the man’s back, a powerful shockwave through the man’s body, and he started to fell to the ground, unconscious. Hiro caught him before he hit the ground, turning to Justin. “Do your work, Justin.”

Justin nodded, stepping forward. He raised his hand, and a magical circle appeared beneath the unconscious man. In a flash of light, the man was teleported away, leaving the corridor eerily quiet.

Ray looked around, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline. He glanced at Nino, who was still clinging to Maximus, and felt a wave of relief wash over him. They were safe. For now.

Hiro walked over to Ray, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You have a lot to explain later. But for now, you did well, Ray,” he said, his voice filled with respect. “Get some rest. We’ll take it from here.”

The knights entered the underground labyrinth, their armor clinking softly in the dim light. Hiro, Justin, and Maximus instructed them to search everywhere, their voices firm and commanding. Ray, still recovering from his injuries, watched as the knights spread out, their torches casting flickering shadows on the walls. But at the moment, something struck Ray's mind, as he looked over them and spoke up.

“Diark is here,” Ray said, his voice hoarse. The three turned to him in surprise, as Ray continued. “But he helped us escape the enemies.”

Hiro, Justin, and Maximus exchanged worried glances. They asked about what happened, as Ray explained in short and the three without a word, rushed to the area Ray had indicated. When they arrived, they found only the bodies of the dead, slain by Diark’s hand. The sight was grim, and a heavy silence fell over them.

The knights escorted Nino back, her small figure dwarfed by their protective presence. Ray watched her go, his heart aching with a mix of relief and sorrow. He wanted to follow, to make sure she was truly safe, but his body was too weak, still recovering. A few knights came to his aid, with a new pair of clothes and water for him.

As Ray was busy with the knights, Nino looked back at him one last time, her eyes filled with gratitude and worry. Their gazes met for a brief moment, and Ray gave her a reassuring nod. She turned away, following the knights out of the labyrinth.

Slowly, after some time, Ray made his way outside the underground rooms. He looked around at the number of people captured, their faces a mix of fear and relief. Hiro, Justin, and Maximus emerged from the labyrinth, their expressions serious.

Maximus approached Ray, his eyes filled with concern. “How did you get here, Ray?”

Ray hesitated, unsure of what to say. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible explanation. Just then, Kai’s voice came through the earpiece, calm and steady. “Make up a story, Ray. Don’t mention anything about me helping through the comms.”

Ray took a deep breath, nodding slightly. “I followed a lead,” he said, his voice steady. “I had a feeling something was wrong, so I was looking around when I noticed two strange people and followed them to investigate. I planned to safely escape with Nino, but didn’t expect to encounter so many of them.”

Hiro, Justin, and Maximus exchanged glances, their expressions softening slightly. “You did well, Ray,” Hiro said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Now let’s go back.”

Ray nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

The next day, news about the crown prince’s bravery to rescue the crown princess were sung among the people of the empire. A celebration banquet was prepared to held at night in the palace, awarding Ray for his bravery.

Inside the palace, both Maximus and Celestina thanked Ray for rescuing Nino. Mono too came up to him, thanking him to make sure her sister was safe. Ray was happy to see that Nino was safe, but sad at the same time that she didn't talk to him, looking away whenever their eyes met.

Sometime later, Ray found himself walking down a quiet corridor, pushing Kai’s wheelchair ahead. The grandeur of the palace seemed distant as they moved through the empty halls, the echoes of the celebration fading behind them.

Ray glanced down at Kai, his mind filled with questions. “Kai,” he began, his voice hesitant, “when are you going to tell me about the thing you put on my ear? And how do you have it?”

Kai’s voice came through the comms, calm and composed as he fixed his wig properly. “I will, Ray. Once the other thing is done.”

Ray frowned, confusion etched on his face. “What do you mean by ‘the other thing’?”

Kai’s response was immediate, his tone firm. “Don’t ask more questions, Ray.”

Ray sighed, as he chuckles. “I still can’t believe how this thing in my ear can become invisible and no one notices it,” he muttered, more to himself than to Kai.

Kai’s voice softened slightly. “I will soon explain everything, so don’t worry.”

Ray nodded, though his curiosity was far from satisfied. He continued to push Kai’s wheelchair, as Kai got a message through Eva, listening to which a smile formed on his lips.

“Ray,” Kai’s voice came through the comms again, as Ray looked over him.

“Can you bring me a glass of water?”

Kai asked, as Ray tilted his head in confusion. “Why don’t you ask any maid in here?” Ray asked, as Kai replied through comms.

“Do you see anyone here other than us?”

Ray looked around, seeing it was only the two of them walking around as he remembered that the maids were working in a rush for tonight’s banquet. He sighs, having no choice as Ray goes back to bring a glass of water for Kai. Kai just looks around the corridor, when he slowly turns behind him, noticing someone walking his way to him.

-To be Continued