Inside the house, the night was eerily quiet.
Dong dong—
Erza, who had been sunbathing on the balcony chair, suddenly stirred from her light nap. She blinked, groggily looking around, trying to shake off the remnants of a haunting dream.
"Did I fall asleep?" she muttered to herself, her mind still clouded by the nightmare. The memories of her childhood purgatory returned, making her heart race with anxiety.
Dong dong—
The knock on the door came again, breaking her thoughts. Wiping the cold sweat from her brow, Erza took a deep breath and made her way to the door.
"Ken?" she asked, surprised to see him standing there.
Ken smiled warmly and suggested, "How about a walk outside? I heard the night view of the beach here is beautiful."
"Okay. Wait for me~" Erza agreed readily, her mood lifting slightly. A flash of light enveloped her as she summoned her armor, her usual battle-ready attire.
Ken, however, couldn't help but stare at her with a strange look. "What's wrong?" Erza asked, noticing his gaze.
Ken tilted his head. "There's nothing wrong, but don't you think it's strange? How can anyone walk on the beach in full armor with a sword?"
Erza, usually so confident, hesitated for a moment, a rare flicker of shyness crossing her face. "Armor... it makes me feel more at ease."
Ken's expression softened as he asked quietly, "Are you worried?"
Erza's gaze faltered, and for the first time, she seemed unsure of herself. "I..." Her usual confidence wavered, revealing a vulnerability she seldom showed.
Ken didn't press further, knowing that despite her tough exterior, Erza carried deep insecurities that she kept hidden from the world.
...
The two of them arrived at the beach, the moonlight shimmering across the dark waves. The majority of tourists had already left, leaving the beach eerily quiet with only a few distant lights flickering in the darkness.
Erza turned to Ken with a hint of annoyance. "Is this the beautiful night scene you were talking about?"
Ken scratched his head awkwardly. "Ahem... I just heard about it. Looks like I was deceived..."
He smiled sheepishly, but his eyes were sharp. The real reason he had invited Erza was to keep her safe, and as he scanned the surroundings, his instincts tingled. Something didn't feel right.
Suddenly, a ship appeared on the horizon, and a soft melody from a flute drifted across the air.
Ken narrowed his eyes, immediately noticing the strange movement. "Is it really here...?" he murmured to himself, more concerned now.
Erza, unaware of the danger, suggested, "How about we find a brighter place?"
Ken shook his head slightly and pointed towards the ship. "Do you see that ship?"
Erza squinted in the dim light. Even though it was difficult to make out, she saw the ship parked on the shore, and four cloaked figures began to walk in their direction. Faint magical energy radiated from them, sending a chill down Erza's spine.
"Them..." Erza muttered, her instincts kicking in. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her sword.
"Maybe they're coming for you," Ken said softly, his voice grim.
Erza froze. "Me?"
The cloaked figures drew closer, their intentions clear. Ken stepped in front of Erza, blocking her from their path. As the figures closed the distance to about fifty meters, the cloaked man on the far right raised his arm, and a red beam shot toward Ken's head.
Before Erza could react, a barrage of gunfire and bullets rained down on them.
"Ken!" Erza cried in panic.
Ken's body glowed with a fierce red light as he activated his Iron Dragon's power. His skin turned as hard as iron, blocking the barrage of bullets without a scratch. The attack had no effect.
"Steel Skin!" Ken muttered, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Erza let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, relieved for the moment.
"Stay here and don't move. I'm going to handle this," Ken said firmly.
With that, his body shot forward like lightning. He was already behind the cloaked man who had fired the red beam, and in the blink of an eye, he unleashed a massive jolt of electricity. The shockwave slammed into the man's back.
"Jaws of the Thunder Dragon!" Ken shouted as the powerful lightning coursed through his opponent, sending him to the ground with a scream.
The other three cloaked figures staggered, momentarily paralyzed by the intensity of the attack. But they quickly regained their composure.
One of the men, his face twisted in anger, pulled out a stack of magic cards from beneath his cloak. However, before he could do anything, a gust of wind hit his face, and the cards were shredded into pieces.
"What's happening?" The man's eyes widened in disbelief.
Ken, his chest expanding with energy, took a deep breath. "The Roar of the Storm Dragon!" he shouted, releasing a violent blast of wind from his mouth, hitting the man with full force.
Another cloaked figure withdrew a long whip from his waist, aiming to restrain Ken. "Be tied up obediently, meow~" he taunted as the whip lashed toward Ken.
Ken was faster. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a thick vine from the ground. The vine shot up like a living creature, binding the cloaked man's body before he could react.
"Wood Dragon's Roots!" Ken called out as the vines tightened, rendering the man immobile.
With the first three opponents dispatched, Ken turned his attention to the remaining cloaked figure, the tall man who had been standing at the back. His magic pulsed ominously, and Ken's vision started to blur. The air grew thick, and Ken felt his senses dull, as if the world around him had been muted.
"Dark Moment..." the tall cloaked man intoned, his voice cold and full of power.
Before Ken could react, the man appeared behind him, his hands glowing with dark energy. He aimed for Ken's head, but Ken didn't turn. Instead, with a sudden burst of speed, he vanished.
The tall cloaked man's eyes widened in shock. "What—?"
Ken's voice echoed in his ears, cool and calm. "Sorry, my five senses are sharper than most Dragon Slayers."
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Ken roared, his fist exploding with flames as it collided with the cloaked man's abdomen. The force of the punch sent the man flying, his dark magic dissipating as he was thrown back.
As Ken turned to survey the damage, he noticed the last cloaked man, still struggling in the vines. The man's face contorted with frustration.
"Erza! Don't kill us!" the man yelled desperately.
Erza's eyes widened in recognition. "M...Millianna!? Why is it you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Under the cloak, Millianna's tear-streaked face was revealed. Erza's heart clenched as memories of the past flooded her mind. She had once fought beside these people, and now they were enemies.
Millianna bit her lip, refusing to look at Erza. "Where have you been all these years?" she spat, her voice filled with bitterness.
Erza reached out, her voice breaking. "Of course, I want to live a good life outside the Tower of Paradise, sister."
As the scene unfolded, Ken stood guard, ever watchful. His eyes never left the remaining figures, but he allowed Erza the space to confront her past.
"Maybe there's some misunderstanding," Ken said, his voice steady. He stepped into the center of the group, his gaze unwavering. "But if any of you plan to hurt Erza, I won't hold back like I did just now."
The tension in the air was palpable as the beach fell into a heavy silence. Time seemed to stand still as the past and present collided under the moonlight.