— The Front Lines of the Forbidden Zone —
The private jet touched down smoothly on the Plateau Airport runway.
Moments later, the team transferred to a helicopter bound directly for the front lines.
Inside the cabin, the rotors thundered above like a raging storm. Ethan Cross, face taut, handed Eren a sealed folder stamped "SSS-Class Confidential."
"The situation's deteriorating fast, Mr. Kai." His voice cut clean through the noise.
"Another squad entered the black mist... and vanished."
Eren flipped through the documents, his eyes scanning the pages with sharp precision.
The source of the black mist—untraceable.
Its nature—unknown.
It spread like a sentient leviathan, swallowing entire villages within a radius of hundreds of miles.
All communications—lost.
Three elite GVA operation units had already gone in... none had returned.
And still, the darkness crept outward—slow, but unstoppable.
The case had now reached the highest threat level.
To restrain its advance, the GVA had deployed the Nine Palaces Mystic Gate Formation—an ancient Eastern energy matrix—barely holding the corruption in place.
Blue-Helmet troops surrounded the perimeter, sealing all access to what was now officially known as the Forbidden Zone.
The helicopter banked low, descending toward a makeshift command base.
When they landed, Eren jumped down—and froze.
The "mist" wasn't mist at all.
It was a black ocean, overturned upon the land, thick as ink, shifting and boiling as if alive.
The earth trembled faintly beneath its weight.
All around, Blue-Helmet soldiers stood in formation, weapons raised.
And beyond them—dozens of figures in dark cloaks, the Vigil, standing silent as shadows.
Together, they formed humanity's final line of defense against the unknown.
---
— Reunion at the Edge of Darkness —
Among those cloaked silhouettes, one massive man towered like a mountain.
Eren blinked, stunned.
"Holy crap... Johan? Big Bear?!"
Johan Svensson—his brother from the orphanage.
Over a hundred kilos of muscle and mischief, always the first idiot to charge into a fight.
A lifelong wuxia fanatic who once swore to "roam the world with a sword and a righteous heart."
And sure enough—he still carried that ridiculous wooden sword on his back.
"Eren, Big Bear's off to chase his dream. Watch my back when I return!"
That was his last message—three years ago.
Eren had never imagined their reunion would happen here—on the edge of a living nightmare.
The giant turned at the sound of his name.
Recognition flared. His small eyes widened.
"Eren?! No way—you're here?!"
Before Eren could respond, Johan barreled forward like a human tank, crushing him in a bone-breaking bear hug.
"Brother! I missed you so damn much!"
"Let go! You're gonna crack my ribs!" Eren gasped, struggling against him.
If not for his newly strengthened body, he might've actually broken something.
"Oops—got a little emotional." Johan sniffled... then wiped his nose on Eren's shirt.
"Ugh—still disgusting as ever." Eren shoved him back, scowling.
Johan blinked, stunned. "What the hell? When did you get this strong?!"
He focused instinctively—the Heaven's Eye flaring open.
Through that mystic sight, Eren's inner energy blazed like a roaring furnace. The density was unreal.
Aveline stepped forward, smiling faintly.
"So, you two know each other. Perfect. Eren's joining this operation as a special operative."
"Assisting?!" Johan's expression collapsed.
He grabbed Eren's arm. "No way. This zone's suicide. You're coming back with me—now!"
Eren only chuckled. "Relax. You're not the only one who's gotten stronger. The current me might surprise you."
"Oh, I'm sure," Johan huffed, "but this isn't a sparring match. You're not a Night Watcher—you don't belong out here."
"That's enough," Ethan interrupted, his tone sharp as steel.
"Mr. Kai's presence is essential. We didn't bring him here to die."
Johan exhaled through his nose, then crossed his arms, still glaring protectively.
"Fine. But he stays under my watch. I'm not letting him out of my sight."
Eren smirked. "Three years of silence, and now you're acting like my mom. What's next—you gonna cook me breakfast?"
Johan rolled his eyes but then leaned in, his tone shifting.
"But seriously… what happened to you? In my Heaven's Eye, your life force burns like a volcano."
"Heaven's Eye?" Eren raised an eyebrow.
Johan grinned proudly.
"Remember how I always had weird eyesight? The GVA noticed. Three years later—bam, Master Rank! Heaven's Eye awakened. I can see through lies, trace energy flows—all that cool mystic stuff!"
Eren's lips twitched. "Impressive. So why are you still hauling around that busted wooden sword?"
"What do you know?" Johan unsheathed it with dramatic flair.
"Roaming the world with a sword—that's the dream!"
---
— Talents and Eccentrics —
Just then, a young man sauntered over, lazily combing his hair while eyeing Eren with idle curiosity.
"Big Bear, who's the new guy?"
He wore the standard GVA cloak—paired with blinding floral beach shorts.
His hair was slicked back, his handsome face framed by peach-blossom eyes that could probably charm a stray dog into following him home.
If not for the shorts flapping in the wind, he might've passed for an ancient chivalrous hero reborn.
Johan grunted, "My childhood buddy, Eren. And this clown's my teammate—Slim Fox."
The man instantly exploded. "Damn it, Big Bear! It's Xunhuan Lee—Pleasure-Seeker Lee! Got it?!"
Before Eren could even blink, a dagger whistled through the air—
Thunk!
It buried itself squarely in Johan's pants.
Johan sighed with the weariness of fate. "See? That's why we call him Slim Fox. Quick... and petty."
"You padded your pants with wood again, didn't you?" Xunhuan growled.
Then he turned to Eren, flashing a practiced smile and extending a hand.
"Xunhuan Lee, at your service. Like my wuxia namesake—my flying blades never miss."
Eren shook his hand, impressed. He hadn't even seen the throw.
The GVA really was filled with monsters in human form.
Then—she appeared.
A woman glided forward, her steps so light she seemed to drift rather than walk.
Early thirties, slender, ethereal—features too refined to seem real.
Long lashes framed deep, sharp eyes, and a single tear mole at the corner lent her a haunting beauty.
Eren's first thought: a ghost out of an old legend.
"Are you done fooling around?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it sliced through the air like a blade.
Johan and Xunhuan froze instantly.
"Sister Nadia! Our apologies!"
Eren blinked. Who the hell is this woman? Even Big Bear's scared of her?
"Single-handed. Five thousand push-ups."
Her tone allowed no argument.
Both men dropped to the ground at once, one-armed push-ups turning into blurs.
Eren stared, dumbfounded.
A thousand would kill me. Five thousand? Are they even human?
Beside him, Aveline giggled behind her hand. "They never learn."
Ethan turned toward the woman, his voice low and respectful.
"Field Commander, what's the situation?"
The GVA's hierarchy was simple yet absolute—one Supreme Commander, five Hub Ministers, and fifteen Field Commanders.
Nadia Khan was one of the latter.
She gazed toward the seething wall of darkness in the distance.
"The situation is dire," she said softly. "Two Field Commanders are already trapped inside."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Won't the Supreme Commander intervene?"
"The Supreme Commander cannot abandon the core." Her tone didn't change—but something darker flickered beneath it.
"However... Black Boss has arrived."
Ethan stiffened. "He's here?" His voice carried both awe and fear. His gaze flicked around unconsciously, as if the name itself might summon the man.
Eren leaned toward Aveline. "Who's Black Boss?"
She smiled, teasing. "You'll never guess."
Eren sighed inwardly. If I could guess, I wouldn't be asking.
And then—
A shrill scream tore through the air.
A hundred meters away, the edge of the black mist convulsed—
A hole ripped open, and something burst out.
A pitch-black figure shot forth, faster than sight, leaving a streak of darkness in its wake as it hurtled toward them like a thunderbolt.
Eren's scalp prickled. His muscles tensed instinctively.
Enemy attack?!