Six months had passed since the mission that nearly ended in blood and silence.
The Assassin Federation had returned to its usual rhythm—cold stone halls, silent corridors, and the faint metallic scent of weapons being sharpened somewhere in the distance. Yet beneath that calm surface, something had changed. The trainees who once walked these halls like uncertain shadows now carried themselves like blades still being forged.
Morning light filtered weakly through the narrow windows of the training hall, casting pale streaks across the floor. Dust floated lazily in the air, disturbed only by the occasional echo of footsteps from distant chambers.
Inside one of the smaller training rooms, a young assassin sat impatiently on a wooden bench.
Neo's leg bounced up and down restlessly as he stared toward the figure lying lazily across the instructor's chair.
"Zero Sensei, when do I get another mission? It's been six months."
There was a clear hint of excitement in his voice—almost childlike anticipation. To Neo, missions weren't merely tasks assigned by the Federation. They were proof. Proof that he was finally worthy of standing among real assassins.
But the man he addressed didn't share the enthusiasm.
Zero slowly removed the black sleeping mask covering his eyes, revealing a tired gaze that looked like it had witnessed far too many foolish requests.
He barely moved his head before replying.
"Never."
The single word fell into the room like a stone dropped into still water.
Neo's face twitched.
"Tsk… asshole."
Silence followed.
Then Zero's voice came again, slower this time.
"I'd like you to repeat that again."
Neo immediately looked away, pretending to inspect the training weapons hanging on the wall.
"...I said nothing."
Zero leaned back in the chair again, arms behind his head like a man who had absolutely no intention of doing any real work that morning.
Neo sighed loudly before speaking again, frustration bubbling out of him.
"Why can't I go on missions like my fellow graduates?" he said, his voice carrying more irritation now. "Shiro's already completed three assignments… and even Reinhard is already moving up the ranks."
The name Reinhard lingered in the air for a moment.
In the past six months, that name had begun circulating around the Federation like a quiet storm. Stories of impossible balance, strange techniques, and the mysterious Systematical Book whispered through the halls.
Neo clenched his fists slightly.
Meanwhile, Zero didn't even look impressed.
"You aren't ready."
His voice remained flat.
"You're still an F-rank assassin, buddy."
Neo's expression darkened instantly.
He stood up from the bench, pointing accusingly at his instructor.
"You do know that's your fault, right?" he said. "You never let me go on missions. Instead, you keep me here training my Metro all day. You might actually be the worst sensei in the Federation."
The room went quiet again.
Then—
Zero slowly stood up.
The lazy posture vanished, replaced by something sharper.
He chuckled softly.
Not the relaxed chuckle of someone amused.
But the quiet laugh of a man who had just heard something extremely interesting.
"If you think you're that ready…"
His voice carried a faint edge now.
"I'll send you on your second solo mission."
Neo's eyes lit up instantly.
"Yes!"
The excitement in his voice echoed through the training room.
But Zero raised one finger.
"Only if you beat one of your fellow graduates."
Neo froze.
The joy drained from his face as quickly as it had appeared.
He slowly looked down at the floor.
"...Really?"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"All of them are like five times stronger now because they've been going on missions…"
Neo muttered under his breath.
"That's completely unfair."
Zero shrugged lazily, already walking back toward his chair.
"Do you want the mission or not?"
Neo looked up again.
His expression wavered between frustration and determination.
Zero simply chuckled and pulled his sleeping mask back over his eyes.
Within seconds he had already leaned back in the chair.
And just like that—
he returned to sleep.
Leaving Neo standing there alone in the training room, staring at the floor, realizing something very important.
If he wanted that mission…
He would have to fight someone far stronger than himself.
Neo slowly clenched his fists.
And for the first time that morning, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"...Fine."
He whispered to himself.
"Then I'll just beat one of them."
The corridors of the Assassin Federation were quiet that morning, the kind of quiet that felt deliberate, as if the walls themselves had learned to respect the silence of killers. Long lanterns cast pale, steady light across the stone floor, and every step Neo took echoed softly through the passage.
Neo walked with his hands loosely behind his head, his posture relaxed, but his mind churned with restless thoughts.
Six months…
Six entire months had passed since his last real fight. Six months of endless training under Zero's watch—Metro control exercises, meditation, breathing cycles, and techniques repeated so many times that Neo could perform them in his sleep.
And yet, none of that felt like a real battle.
Considering I haven't really fought anyone in six months…
Neo frowned slightly.
I might actually be rusty.
The thought irritated him far more than he expected.
He kicked a small pebble across the corridor. It bounced twice before sliding across the smooth stone floor.
Heck… maybe even Hlanya could land a blow on me now.
Neo immediately shook his head.
"No, no, no," he muttered quietly. "Let's not exaggerate."
He straightened his back proudly.
"Maybe a lucky hit."
After a moment, he added under his breath, "…a very lucky hit."
Still, doubt lingered.
While he had been trapped in training for half a year, the other graduates had been sent into the outside world—into real missions where hesitation meant death and mistakes were paid for in blood.
Missions sharpened assassins in ways training never could.
Neo sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"But still… I know a lot more about Metro now."
That much was undeniably true.
Metro—the mysterious energy flowing through the body of every assassin—had become almost familiar to him. He could sense its currents now, guide its flow, even compress it into brief bursts of power.
Zero had drilled those techniques into him relentlessly.
But knowing something and proving it in battle were two completely different things.
Neo sighed again, louder this time.
"That doesn't mean the others didn't improve too…"
His mind immediately jumped to the most obvious name.
Reinhard.
Neo's expression stiffened.
"…Yeah, no."
He waved a hand in the air as if dismissing the idea entirely.
"At this point Reinhard is probably XS rank or something ridiculous."
Images flashed briefly through his mind—the strange calm Reinhard carried, the impossible balance he demonstrated during their last mission.
Neo shivered.
"If I fight that guy, I'll die in one hit."
He continued walking.
"Maybe Shiro…"
Neo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
But after a few seconds, he shook his head again.
"I heard he got way stronger."
Shiro had already completed multiple missions—missions that forced assassins to adapt or die. If the rumors were true, his Metro control had grown frighteningly precise.
Neo groaned quietly.
"Why is everyone becoming monsters?"
His footsteps slowed as another possibility surfaced.
"Tian Yu…"
Neo's face brightened slightly.
"That lazy bum might work."
He nodded to himself confidently.
"Yes. Fighting Tian Yu sounds fair."
But the confidence lasted exactly three seconds.
"…Actually no."
Neo scratched his head awkwardly.
"Even lazy bums go on missions."
Which meant Tian Yu had likely gained real combat experience too.
Neo sighed dramatically, his shoulders drooping.
"This is so unfair."
He walked a few more steps before another name suddenly appeared in his mind.
Ilion.
Neo stopped.
Then slowly smiled.
"That might actually work."
Unlike the others, Ilion hadn't gone on a mission yet.
Not because he wasn't capable—but because Lady Hina had personally denied him permission every time.
No one really understood why.
But the result was simple.
Ilion had remained inside the Federation.
Just like Neo.
Neo nodded to himself.
"Yes… this might actually be doable."
And then—
Thud.
Neo walked straight into someone.
The impact wasn't strong, but it was enough to snap him out of his thoughts instantly.
Neo blinked and rubbed his forehead.
"…Ow."
Then he looked up.
Standing directly in front of him was a tall young man with dark hair and calm eyes.
Ilion.
For a moment, the two simply stared at each other in silence.
Neo blinked again.
"…Oh."
Ilion tilted his head slightly.
"…Oh."
The corridor remained silent.
Neo scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Well… this saves me some trouble."
Ilion raised an eyebrow.
"Trouble?"
Neo stretched his arms lazily.
"Yeah."
Then he said casually, as if asking about the weather—
"Wanna spar?"
Ilion stared at him for a moment.
Then he chuckled quietly.
"That's funny."
Neo frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Ilion stepped back, rolling his shoulders as he spoke.
"Because I was about to ask you the exact same thing."
Neo blinked.
"…Wait, seriously?"
Ilion didn't answer.
Instead, he calmly slid one foot back and lowered his posture slightly.
His stance shifted.
Subtle.
Controlled.
Ready.
A faint ripple of Metro flowed through the air around him like an invisible tide.
Neo stared at him for a moment before sighing dramatically.
"Well… I guess the universe really wanted this fight to happen."
Ilion smirked faintly.
"You're the one who walked into me."
Neo pointed at him immediately.
"That was clearly a tactical collision."
Ilion's smirk deepened.
"Sure."
Neo rolled his neck slowly.
Crack.
Then he lowered into his own stance.
For a brief moment, both of them stood there in silence.
Two graduates.
Two assassins who had spent six months growing stronger in completely different ways.
Metro slowly circulated through Neo's body, responding to his focus.
Across from him, Ilion's presence sharpened like a blade leaving its sheath.
The air between them grew heavier.
Somewhere down the corridor, a passing trainee noticed the scene and immediately stopped walking.
"…Oh."