Chapter 109 - First Contact… That was Fast!

As the blinding white light faded, the familiar sensation of being transported settled in their bodies, and in an instant, the nine of them found themselves standing together once more—this time in an entirely different world. The transition had been smooth, seamless even, but the moment the group regained their bearings, the silence of arrival was shattered by an immediate, exasperated voice.

“Adam!”

Kazue's loud complaint rang through the air, her hands planted firmly on her hips, her expression contorted somewhere between disbelief and outright frustration.

“You mean to tell me that after everything we did to prepare, after all the training, after spending days planning, we forgot to name our team?!”

Adam blinked, his mind still adjusting to the new environment, but before he could even process where they were, Kazue was already in his face, fuming.

“We’re literally called ‘No Name’ right now, Adam. ‘No Name’! Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?!”

Adam, who had been so focused on everything else—the training, the strategies, the preparations—let out a slow exhale, rubbing the bridge of his nose as realization set in.

“Right… we never actually decided on one.”

Kazue threw her arms up in the air, exasperated.

“Yes! That’s what I just said!”

Katya, standing a few feet away with her arms crossed, let out a sigh before shaking her head.

“Honestly, I agree with her (of course). You were the one pushing all the planning, and you forgot something this basic?”

Drake, who had been rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, tried to intervene before the situation escalated.

“Alright, alright, calm down. It’s just a name—”

“It is not just a name!”

Kazue shot back immediately, turning to face him with all the force of a storm.

“Do you have any idea how embarrassing it would be if we run into the other teams and they ask us what we’re called?! ‘Oh yeah, we’re Team No Name, because our so-called strategist forgot to fill in a single box!’”

Adam groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Okay, okay, I get it, I messed up.”

“Oh, you definitely messed up. This is, like, peak Adam behavior. Hyper-competent with everything else but somehow still an absolute mess when it comes to the small things.”

Chloe chimed in from the side, a teasing smirk forming on her lips. She leaned in slightly, her tone turning even more mischievous.

“I mean, really? ‘No Name’? That’s something an edgy twelve-year-old would think is cool.”

Adam groaned again, louder this time, but before he could throw out any kind of excuse, Kazue spun on her heel and pointed at the others—the ones who had remained quiet throughout the argument.

“Sebastian! Li! Gregor! Emir! Back me up here—tell Adam he messed up!”

But there were silence… None of them responded.

And that was the moment when Kazue, along with the rest of the group, finally realized that something was off.

Sebastian, Gregor, Li, and Emir all stood frozen, their gazes fixed ahead, their faces blank with sheer awe. None of them had spoken a single word since they arrived. Even Emir, normally timid, stood utterly still, his mouth open as if unable to find the words.

“…Guys? What’s wrong?”

Kazue’s voice lost all its frustration, shifting into quiet confusion. It was then that they turned their attention to their surroundings—and all words, all breath, all coherent thought, were stolen from them… There were no words to describe it.

They were in a city unlike anything they had ever seen. A dream made reality. It was medieval in structure but grand beyond comprehension. Everything—every single inch of the world around them—was pristine, untouched by time or decay. The streets were lined with immaculate stone, polished so perfectly that they reflected the soft glow of sunlight as if the city itself was radiating an inner light. The buildings, towering and elegant, were constructed of smooth, white marble, their roofs adorned with golden tiles that shimmered like molten sunlight.

It was almost divine. Everywhere they looked, beauty reigned supreme. Ornate carvings decorated the walls of the structures, each detail so precise, so intricate, that it was impossible to believe they had been built by human hands alone. Grand archways connected buildings to one another, their curves flawless, their patterns symmetrical to an almost unnatural degree. In the distance, massive castles stood tall against the horizon, their spires reaching toward the heavens, gleaming like beacons of celestial craftsmanship.

The city was alive, but not in the way most cities were. There was no sense of grime, of struggle, of hardship. The streets were filled with people, yet there was no sign of tension, no hint of exhaustion or frustration. The citizens walked with a lightness in their steps, smiles gracing their lips as they moved about their day. Children ran freely through the streets, playing without a care in the world, their laughter ringing like the chime of bells in the air. Vendors called out cheerfully, offering goods that looked too perfect, too fresh, and too luxurious to belong to a simple street.

It was paradise, unlike anything they had ever seen, something beyond their comprehension, beyond the limits of what they had come to expect from the worlds they had encountered.

Every detail, every stone, every carefully placed structure seemed meticulously crafted, not just with skill but with almost divine precision, as if the city itself had been sculpted by the hands of gods rather than men. The sheer beauty of it was overwhelming. It wasn’t just that everything was clean—there was an unnatural level of perfection, as if dust itself had never been allowed to settle upon these streets, as if time itself dared not touch this place.

Kazue slowly lowered her arms, her frustration from before wiped from her face entirely. Her mouth hung slightly open as she took an unconscious step forward, as though drawn in by the sheer majesty before her.

“This place is…”

Her voice faded into nothing, unable to form the words. Adam didn’t respond. No one did.

Grand, wealthy, powerful, prosperous—these were words used to describe cities of legend, places built upon history and ambition, places that thrived upon conquest or innovation. But this? This was something else entirely. The white stone roads stretched before them in an intricate, mesmerizing pattern, polished to the point that they reflected the light above like mirrors of marble.

The towering structures that lined the streets bore no cracks, no signs of aging, no weathering from time. The golden rooftops gleamed in the sunlight, catching the light in a way that made them glow, not just shine, as though they had been imbued with something beyond the natural.

The city was vast, stretching into the horizon with breathtaking symmetry. Its architecture was reminiscent of a medieval kingdom but elevated to something beyond human craftsmanship. Every archway, every pillar, every curve of the buildings was designed with such immaculate detail that it was impossible to believe this had been built by mortal hands. No imperfections. No signs of construction. Just pure, untouched, flawless beauty.

And yet, it didn’t feel real… It was perfect. Too perfect.

The unsettling weight of that thought pressed down on Adam’s chest as he scanned the city again, this time with more scrutiny. The symmetry of the streets, the way every building seemed to complement the next, the uniformity of the people—nothing felt out of place. Nothing was broken. Nothing was struggling. There were no signs of accidents, no visible guards patrolling, and no hint of crime, conflict, or even disorder.

Was this place a utopia? An impossible one at that? His stomach twisted with unease. No… No place was this perfect, or could it be possible with divine intervention? It was obvious that they had arrived at the human empire, the one protected by a god. Was this it doing?

As he stood frozen, lost in his thoughts, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists. This wasn’t normal.

Adam’s mind, sharp and calculating even in the most unexpected of situations, quickly snapped back to focus as he took a steadying breath and assessed their circumstances. They had just arrived in this world, and already they were wasting time standing around, drawing attention to themselves like wide-eyed newcomers.

With how pristine and welcoming this city appeared, it was easy to get lost in the grandeur of it all. For now, however, he had to push that thought aside. They needed to move. Adam cleared his throat and addressed the group in a low, urgent tone.

"We should get moving before we start drawing too much attention. I need everyone to stay sharp. Something about this place is… off."

His gaze swept over the pristine streets, the glowing gold-tiled rooftops, the way the people around them moved with mechanical grace, all smiles and unburdened expressions, as if nothing in this world had ever gone wrong.

"The first team has already been here for a week. The chances of running into them this soon should be astronomically low, but we can't be reckless. We have no idea what they've been up to, and for all we know, they could already be looking for us."

However, before he could continue, Katya suddenly spoke up, cutting through his words with an unexpectedly blunt statement.

“That’s not entirely true.”

Adam turned sharply toward her, his brow furrowing. The others, sensing the weight of her words, also froze. Katya’s expression remained unreadable as she crossed her arms, her golden eyes fixated on Adam.

"During a collab scenario, all teams arrive in relatively close proximity to one another. The arrival times are staggered, but the locations are never truly random."

Silence immediately followed her revelation, thick and suffocating.

Every pair of eyes locked onto Katya, processing what she had just admitted. Even Kazue, who normally would have jumped in with a snarky remark, seemed momentarily stunned. For a long moment, no one spoke, the weight of that information pressing down on them like a vice.

If what Katya said was true, then the first team wasn't just out there somewhere in the world—they were close. And worse, if they had even a rough estimate of when the next team would arrive, they could already be searching for them or worse.

Adam exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples with both hands before letting them drop to his sides.

"That... changes things. A lot…"

He muttered, his mind racing to adjust their strategy.

"If they have a general idea of when and where we'd show up, it's likely that they've already been keeping an eye out. Hell, they might have even seen us already."

His jaw tightened as he glanced at their group—standing in the middle of a wide-open square, gawking at their surroundings like clueless tourists.

"Damn it, we’re making it obvious."

As he spoke, his voice gradually trailed off. His instincts screamed at him, his senses sharpening like a blade against a whetstone. Something felt off.

And then he saw it… His words stopped entirely as his breath hitched.

Just past the group, not too far from where they had been standing, he saw something floating above the golden rooftops—a system screen. It was a faint, blue-hued projection, hovering just a little too perfectly, too deliberately. Adam’s ‘Cursed Vision’ has allowed him to see an information window on apparently nothing, meaning that… Something was there.

His gut twisted, that was all the confirmation he needed. Adam's entire body tensed, his muscles coiling like a spring before he immediately acted.

“Get over here. Now.”

He ordered, his voice sharp and commanding. The others blinked in confusion, their attention snapping back to him.

"Adam? What’s—?"

Kazue tilted her head, but Adam didn’t wait. In an instant, he moved, grabbing the girl by the wrist and yanking her toward him with enough force that she stumbled slightly before being pressed firmly against his chest.

The reaction was instant and absolute chaos. Kazue went completely stiff, her entire face igniting in a violent shade of red as her brain seemed to short-circuit entirely.

“W-W-What?! A-Adam! W-What are you—!?”

Her hands shot up, flailing helplessly against his chest as she let out a noise somewhere between a shriek and an incoherent protest.

"W-Wait, I’m not ready for this—!!"

And that was only the beginning of the disaster. Katya, who had been watching the scene unfold, went rigid, her pupils shrinking as an almost tangible wave of murderous intent rolled off her like a storm. Her hands clenched into tight fists, veins appearing along her arms as her entire body twitched with restrained fury.

“What…”

She hissed, her voice venomous enough to curdle blood.

“Do you think you’re doing!?”

Chloe, meanwhile, had fully given up on pretending to be composed. A slow, wicked grin spread across her face as she leaned forward slightly.

“Wow, Adam, didn’t know you were such a smooth talker. Should I start pretending to be surprised more often?”

She purred, tilting her head in amusement. Gregor remained silent, merely raising an eyebrow. Li didn’t react outwardly, but his gaze flicked between Adam and the rooftop, taking note of the direction his eyes had been locked onto moments before.

Drake, ever observant, was the only one who immediately caught on to what Adam was actually doing. His gaze shifted toward the empty space his friend was looking at, and as soon as he put the pieces together, he moved. Before Katya could close the distance to Adam with what was very likely murderous intent, the blond casually grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into the already awkward huddle.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Hold that thought.”

He said smoothly, completely ignoring the absolute ‘I will kill you and everyone you love’ glare she shot at him. The addition of Katya only made things worse. Chloe dramatically covered her face with both hands.

“Oh my god, this is painful to watch.”

Sebastian, Emir, and Gregor exchanged glances of silent disbelief. Falk, watching from Sebastian’s shoulder, simply let out a low whistle.

“Thank you.”

Adam finally muttered, still tense.

“Now stay put and cover me.”

Without another word, his body dissolved into mist. His form vanished in an instant, evaporating into a creeping shadow that slithered across the ground, moving with silent precision toward the rooftops. The mist-like form surged up the walls, shifting seamlessly between the pristine architecture as he closed the distance between himself and the floating screen in mere seconds. The moment he reached the top, his body rematerialized, his form snapping back into existence without hesitation.

"I got you!"

The words left Adam’s lips with absolute certainty as his arm shot forward, his body already moving before his mind could fully process the sheer absurdity of the situation. In an instant, a massive, ghostly limb erupted from his body—a twisting, spectral manifestation of raw, pulsating energy shaped into a monstrous, oversized arm. It surged forward at a speed impossible for any normal human eye to follow, carving through the air like a streak of vengeful mist.

The floating system screen reacted. It flinched. It jerked to the side, attempting to escape as though it possessed some kind of instinctual awareness, but whatever force had been concealing it failed to keep up with the raw aggression behind Adam’s attack.

The spectral hand clamped down with merciless precision, fingers wrapping tightly around something solid—something hidden from sight, something that had been standing there unseen all along. And suddenly, there was weight. There was resistance. The very moment his grip tightened, a force tugged against him, but Adam had already committed. With a powerful yank, he tore his target from its concealed position, the sheer force of the motion causing his feet to lift from the rooftop. A strangled gasp, barely audible over the rush of air, escaped from the invisible entity as it was wrenched into the open. For a fraction of a second, Adam caught a glimpse of something—a shift in the air, a shimmer, the unraveling of some kind of cloaking effect as the shape of a human body was forcefully exposed. And then they both plummeted.

The descent was fast, too fast for any kind of mid-air correction. Adam braced himself just as they collided with the ground below. The impact was brutal. The pristine, flawless stone beneath them cracked violently upon contact, deep fissures spiderwebbing outward from the epicenter of their landing. A sharp, echoing boom resounded through the otherwise peaceful city square, a noise so out of place in this picturesque paradise that it sent a ripple of unease through the bystanders who had, up until this point, existed in a bubble of uninterrupted serenity.

Dust kicked up from the force of the collision, momentarily obscuring the aftermath. Adam barely felt the residual pain from the impact, but his focus wasn’t on himself. His eyes snapped downward, his spectral hand still pressed firmly against his struggling captive, pinning them to the fractured pavement. He could feel them twisting beneath his grip, attempting to free themselves, but the sheer force of his hold made escape impossible.

By the time the dust settled, the rest of the team had already started rushing toward the commotion. Their footsteps pounded against the stone, urgency clear in their movements, but none of them spoke just yet—because as the view finally cleared, revealing what exactly Adam had just captured, every single one of them was struck silent with shock.

The figure pinned beneath Adam’s massive spectral hand was no mere floating message. It was a person. A young man with silver hair, his form clad in sleek, dark attire designed for mobility, a black mask covering the lower half of his face. His body remained tense, his muscles coiled as though ready to spring into action at any given moment, but there was no immediate aggression in his posture—only calculation, only an intense, evaluating stare as he took in his predicament.

His sharp, keen eyes flickered rapidly, scanning his surroundings, processing his capture, measuring his captor. And in that frozen moment of realization, Adam, still catching his breath, tightened his grip just slightly, making sure his voice carried to the rest of the team now closing in.

Adam barely had time to register what had just happened before the silver-haired young man beneath him coughed and turned his head slightly, his masked face tilting upward in curiosity.

“Alright, alright. I’ll bite. How the hell did you see me?”

His voice was casual, almost amused, even though he was still pinned under Adam’s massive spectral hand. There was no panic, no immediate attempt to struggle, just a simple question asked as though they were discussing the weather. Adam, however, didn’t answer. His sharp eyes were fixed on something far more interesting, something that now hovered in the air in front of him.

The system window that had previously been hidden from view was now fully visible, and Adam’s gaze quickly ran over the information displayed.

[Name: Takeshi Fuma] [Team: "We need a team name… what do you mean it’s already recordi…"] [Race: Human] [Potential: D] [Threat Level: Low]

Adam narrowed his eyes slightly, then spoke the information aloud for the rest of the team to hear.

“Takeshi Fuma. Part of the first team.”

His voice was steady, cold, and deliberate. There was no doubt about it now. This guy was one of the people who had arrived a week before them. Takeshi let out a low whistle before clicking his tongue in annoyance.

“Ah, damn. I hate people with info-gathering skills. You guys are a real pain in the ass for ninjas like me, you know that?”

His tone was exasperated, but not hostile, almost as if he had resigned himself to being caught rather than feeling any real danger. That alone was enough to put everyone on guard.

The entire group stood in silence, processing what had just been revealed—everyone except Kazue, whose eyes suddenly lit up with almost childlike excitement.

"Wait, wait, wait! Did you just say ninja?!"

Her voice was practically glowing with enthusiasm as she leaned forward, her previous embarrassment over Adam grabbing her entirely forgotten.

"That’s so cool! I’ve always wanted to meet a real ninja!"

Takeshi let out a chuckle, clearly entertained by the reaction.

“Well, it’s always nice to meet someone with good taste.”

But before he could continue basking in the unexpected praise, a sharp, pained grunt escaped his lips as Adam tightened his grip. His ghostly fingers dug in just enough to remind Takeshi of his position, causing the young ninja to wince. Adam’s expression remained unreadable, but his voice was edged with steel.

“Where is the rest of your team? And what are you planning?”

Takeshi didn’t miss a beat. He inhaled, composed himself, and then, in the most casual tone imaginable, said.

“Oh, we’re probably having a picnic right about now. Maybe some tea, maybe some little sandwiches—though I keep telling them we should upgrade to sushi, y’know?”

Adam’s expression didn’t change. His grip, however, did. A sharp jolt of pressure made Takeshi hiss slightly.

"Try again."

Still unfazed, Takeshi let out a small laugh.

“Look, man, I’m just saying—it’s kinda weird seeing a bunch of newbies this strong.”

Adam raised a brow.

“What makes you think we’re newbies?”

Takeshi’s grin was practically audible beneath his mask.

“Because a real team would’ve killed me the moment they had the chance. Threatening someone for information usually doesn’t work, and from the looks of it, you guys are good people.”

That hit a nerve. No one spoke. No one even moved. There was something about the way Takeshi had said it—so matter-of-fact, so casual, like it was simply an objective truth—that sent a strange, uncomfortable ripple through the group. Even Adam, who had been fully prepared to extract information through force if necessary, found himself hesitating for the briefest of moments.

But not everyone was so conflicted. Katya, who had been standing slightly behind the others, stepped forward without hesitation.

“If no one else has the stomach for it, I’ll do it.”

Her voice was cold, decisive, and completely devoid of hesitation. The way she moved her hand, ready to summon her weapon, made it clear—she had every intention of disposing of the captured ninja then and there. But before she could act, Takeshi spoke again.

“That’s nice and all, but you guys might wanna start running. For your own safety.”

There was something about the way he said it—something completely devoid of sarcasm, something that carried an edge of real warning—that made everyone pause.

And then they heard it. A sharp, commanding shout from the distance. The distinct, piercing sound of multiple whistles cutting through the once-peaceful air.

Everyone turned at once, their eyes locking onto the approaching figures.

A unit of soldiers dressed in pristine white and gold uniforms was charging toward them with swift, disciplined movements. Their armor gleamed under the sunlight, every piece polished to perfection, almost blinding in its brilliance. But it wasn’t just the soldiers that sent a wave of tension through the group—it was what followed behind them.

Towering over even the tallest of the guards was a massive colossus, a warrior clad in a full suit of immaculate, radiant armor. Its sheer presence was suffocating, exuding an aura of absolute authority. The gleaming white and gold plating was so finely crafted that it looked almost ceremonial, yet there was no mistaking the deadly purpose behind it. The design was intricate, layered with divine symbols etched into the metal, radiating a faint golden glow that pulsed with raw power. In its hands, the giant wielded an enormous warhammer, the head of the weapon crackling with shimmering energy, as if it held the very essence of holy retribution within its core.

Adam’s grip loosened. Just for a fraction of a second… And Takeshi took it.

Like a breeze slipping through fingers, his body twisted in an impossible manner, contorting in a way that barely seemed human. In the tiniest gap of Adam’s hold, he slipped free, moving with a speed and fluidity that defied logic. By the time the boy realized what had happened, Takeshi was already putting distance between them, his movements light as air, his figure already beginning to blur into a fading gust of wind and scattering leaves.

"Don’t worry, if you survive, we’ll meet again soon!"

He called back, his voice carrying just the slightest hint of mischief. And then, just as his body was about to fully dissolve into the wind… Something happened.

A blur. A shift. A sudden ripple in the air above. Takeshi barely had time to react before an iron grip clamped onto the back of his collar, stopping his escape dead in its tracks. The wind that had begun to carry him scattered abruptly, his momentum stolen in an instant.

"Huh?!"

His startled exclamation barely had time to leave his mouth before he was yanked backward with surprising force. And standing behind him, his feet planted firmly atop the rooftops, was Drake.

The blonde had moved so fast, so decisively, that no one had even noticed his absence from the group. Using his [Heavenly Wind Step], he had positioned himself directly in Takeshi’s path, catching him the moment he tried to disappear.

"And where do you think you’re going?"

Drake asked, his grip steady, his expression relaxed but unwavering. Takeshi, for the first time since this entire encounter began, looked genuinely surprised.

However, the situation was dire, and Kazue was the first to shout.

“We need to run!”

Her voice was urgent, her instincts screaming that they had already drawn far too much attention. However, before she could so much as take a step, Li and Gregor both raised their voices in unison, their tones sharp and commanding.

“Don’t run!”

“Stay where you are!”

The sheer force of their words made everyone freeze for a split second, just long enough for them to process what they had just said.

“If we bolt now, we’re guilty.”

Gregor added, his voice low but firm. His sharp gaze flicked toward the approaching soldiers, his body tense as he evaluated their movements.

“Running is the same as admitting we did something wrong. If we turn the entire city against us, we’re screwed.”

Adam ground his teeth in frustration but didn’t argue. He dismissed his spectral hand, allowing the giant claw to dissolve into wisps of dark mist before pulling his arm back. He could still see the cracks on the pristine white pavement where he had slammed Takeshi down, a painful reminder that no matter how careful he tried to be, his abilities always left some kind of mark.

His instincts screamed at him to move, to do something before things escalated, but he forced himself to stay still. Would they really blame him for this? This city was too perfect, too controlled. Maybe—just maybe—this could be resolved peacefully. Maybe for once, they didn’t have to fight.

But that fragile hope shattered the moment one of the commanding officers pointed at him and roared.

“Black magic! He’s a vampire!”

The words sent a cold chill through the group, a sharp jolt of panic running down their spines. Adam felt his entire body tense as the weight of those words settled in… This was bad.

For a split second, his mind went completely blank, then immediately went into overdrive. They were in a holy city—a place where divine energy was woven into its very foundation. If they had already labeled him a vampire, there was no talking his way out of this.

His first thought was to run. He could disappear, leave the others behind, let them feign ignorance and pretend they were just bystanders caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe if he got far enough away, they wouldn’t be implicated in whatever punishment was coming his way.

But before he could move, the air shifted and a massive shadow loomed over them as something came crashing down from above.

The sheer force of its landing sent tremors through the ground, cracking the pristine stone beneath its weight. The earth groaned under the impact, a gust of divine energy washing over them like an oppressive tidal wave.

And then, standing before them, blocking any hope of escape, was a figure of absolute authority.

It was the colossal paladin, and he was unlike anything they had seen before, his sheer presence making the other soldiers pale in comparison. His armor gleamed impossibly bright, a radiant white trimmed with ornate golden engravings, each etching pulsating faintly with divine power.

It was a suit of armor that looked more suited for a god than a mere man, every inch of it shining as if it had never been touched by a single blemish. His helmet concealed his face entirely, a smooth, unbroken visage with only a thin cross-shaped slit where his eyes should have been, emanating a faint golden glow from within. Across his chest, the insignia of a grand order was emblazoned, a symbol Adam didn’t recognize but could instinctively feel the weight of.

And in his hands, resting heavily on the ground, was a warhammer so massive that it looked absurd for any normal human to wield. The weapon was forged from pure white metal, its head adorned with glowing golden inscriptions, humming with barely-contained energy. Holy power radiated from it like a beacon, thick and suffocating.

The paladin’s voice boomed through the street, shaking the very air around them.

“I am Gideon, Mid-tier Paladin of Arianka, goddess of humanity.”

Adam barely had time to register his name before Gideon’s glowing eyes locked onto him with unwavering judgment.

“I shall deliver divine retribution upon the forces of darkness that threaten mankind!”

The warhammer lifted, and then, in a single motion, it came crashing down.

A radiant light erupted from the weapon, splitting the heavens as golden energy surged toward Adam in a blinding pillar of divine wrath.

“Divine Smite!”

There was no time to dodge. No time to react. The holy energy consumed him entirely.

The impact was so immense that the very air exploded outward in a deafening shockwave. The sheer force sent everyone nearby flying, their bodies tumbling across the pavement like ragdolls. The soldiers were barely able to keep their footing, while even Kazue, Katya, and the others found themselves thrown backward. The only one who remained standing was Drake, his feet firmly planted, though even he had to grit his teeth and brace himself against the impact.

Takeshi, who was still in Drake’s grasp, flailed like a loose doll, his body flinching with every shockwave.

“Damn it, man, hold me steady!”

He protested, but his voice was barely audible over the divine explosion. And then, for a brief moment, there was only silence.

Then, as the dust began to settle, Gideon stepped forward, dragging his warhammer behind him with a slow, deliberate motion. His voice carried an air of certainty, an unshakable conviction as he proclaimed.

“The evil has been purged. Now, I shall cleanse his followers.”

He raised his hammer again, fully prepared to continue his holy crusade. But before he could take another step, one of the uniformed officers rushed forward, his voice sharp with urgency.

“Sir, wait! Look!”

Gideon’s movements halted. His glowing gaze shifted to where his attack had landed. And there, sitting on the ground, was Adam… Completely unharmed.

The young man was breathing heavily, his hands planted on the ground as if steadying himself. His body was perfectly intact—no burns, no wounds, not even a scratch.

Gideon stared.

“…Eh?”

A long, awkward silence followed. The towering paladin remained frozen in place, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Then, slowly, his massive head turned toward his soldiers.

“…Explain.”

One of the officers hesitated before swallowing thickly.

“Sir, Divine Smite is absolute. It purges all evil, and it is lethal to vampires, giants, and other impure creatures.”

Gideon turned back to Adam.

“…And yet, he is unharmed.”

The paladin remained still, the gears in his head visibly turning as he tried to comprehend what had just occurred.

“…Which means he cannot be a vampire.”

The conclusion hit him like a revelation from the heavens. If the divine power of the goddess had failed to harm him, then the answer was clear—he was not a creature of darkness at all. That meant the enormous spectral claw they had witnessed earlier was not black magic, but rather divine magic. And if that was the case, then the only explanation was…

Gideon suddenly straightened his posture, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant.

“I see!”

His voice rang with newfound conviction.

“It is clear now! This young man is not a monster, but one blessed by the goddess herself!”

Without hesitation, he took a step forward and extended a massive gauntleted hand toward Adam, his previous hostility entirely replaced with reverence.

“Forgive me, young warrior! I was blinded by assumption and failed to recognize the light within you!”

Adam, however, didn’t move. He couldn’t. The sheer presence of the paladin’s divine aura still weighed on him like a crushing force, making every fiber of his being scream in resistance.

The others remained frozen, trying to process what the hell had just happened. Because yes, there was definitely divine energy here—enough to make Adam physically uncomfortable… So why had the attack done nothing to him?