Vaelor was desperate to reach Serin and Perun, but the masked men closed in on him from every side. There were too many of them. He couldn't turn invisible—not here, not in front of so many eyes… and especially not in front of Alfred.
Blades of light slashed through the fog as the masked men attacked without pause.
Alfred, still disguised as a fragile old man, staggered and pretended to struggle—an act clearly meant for Vaelor.
But in that instant, a sharp thought struck Alfred's mind.
Even if my identity is exposed to him… what does it matter?
When I'm not in my real get-up, he won't be able to identify me anyway.
That hesitation vanished.
Alfred stopped holding back.
He moved like his true self—fast, precise, ruthless. He struck, dodged, and twisted through the air, evading the lightsabers as if they were moving in slow motion. Sparks lit the fog as attacks narrowly missed him.
Vaelor eyes kept searching for way to Serin and Perun.
He tried to move in their direction—but every path was blocked. More masked men poured in, surrounding him again and again. Frustration burned in his chest.
Then his gaze snapped back to Alfred.
For the first time, Vaelor really saw him.
The old man was fighting—not like an elder, but like a seasoned warrior in his prime. His movements were sharp, powerful, far too refined. He was taking down masked men with frightening efficiency, better than most young fighters.
Vaelor shouted over the clash of blades,
"Sir! Do you need any help?!"
Alfred didn't even look at him.
"Nah," he replied calmly.
But even as he said it, Alfred sensed it—more enemies were coming.
For a brief moment, hesitation crossed his face. Swallowing his pride, he said,
"We should run from here."
It was clear he hated asking that.
Vaelor shook his head immediately.
"I can't. My friends are there—at the shop. Sir, can you hold the situation for a while?"
Alfred turned sharply.
"No," Vaelor said at once. "I won't put your life in danger."
Yet inside, his thoughts were conflicted.
I don't want to involve him.
And I don't want to help him either.
The battle continued, steel and light cutting through mist, bodies falling one by one.
Then—A silhouette emerged from the fog.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
A commanding voice echoed across the battlefield, cold and absolute.
"Stop."
The masked men halted instantly.
Even Alfred and Vaelor stopped moving.
The man stepped forward. He wore the same steel mask as the others—but his black attire was different. More refined. More deliberate. Authority clung to him like a shadow.
He tilted his head slightly.
"How strange," he said. "Nothing seems to work on the two of you."
His gaze shifted between them.
"You, old man… and you, seems a fighter."
Then his voice sharpened. "Or should I say—Alfred of the Three Families Union… and Vaelor of Eagle Eye."
Shock rippled through both of them.
How does he know? Vaelor thought instantly.
But another realization struck him just as hard.
So his name is Alfred and he is from the Three Families Union… the same union Augustin mentioned.
Alfred straightened. His disguise no longer mattered.
"Who the hell are you, bastard?" Alfred snapped.
"And what do you want from me?"
The man in black spread his hands slightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
"I am Chalerence Dorothy," he said calmly. "A scientist or moreover a magician."
"That's all you need to know." "I am here for something… very specific."
Vaelor clenched his fists and stepped forward. "For what?" he demanded. "All these people are collapsed… and you did this just for a thing?"
"I am here to collect the Magma Stone," Clarence said calmly.
Vaelor frowned. "Magma Stone? What is that?"
The words triggered something deep inside Alfred's mind. A blurred memory surfaced—his childhood, standing inside Dr. Howard Stern's laboratory. Glass chambers, humming machines, and Stern's voice speaking about something precious… Transcend Stones. Among them was one called the Magma Stone. Alfred couldn't clearly remember its purpose, only that it was dangerous and rare.
Alfred looked at Clarence and Dorothy. "Why do you want the Magma Stone?"
Clarence answered without hesitation. "We are rebuilding Arcane."
Arcane was an old experimental organization—projects on humans, animals, forbidden research, even attempts at creating a time machine. Long ago, it was destroyed. Everyone involved was either imprisoned or executed. Still, a few survived… people like James of Ricardo Williams, one of the remnants of Arcane.
Alfred clenched his fist. "Then what's the point of creating chaos here? People are collapsing everywhere."
Clarence's eyes narrowed. "I am here for you as well."
Alfred stiffened. "Me? Why?"
Clarence stepped closer. "Don't you find it strange? You're breathing clearly in that fog. That means you carry something within you—something connected to Dr. Howard Stern. Arcane needs a genius like him. And you were the one who came in contact with him, isn't that true?"
Alfred's mind raced. How does he know all this?
Before Clarence could continue, Vaelor stepped forward. "Hey. I'm going to save my friend. You can try to stop me—but this time, I won't hold back."
Clarence smiled faintly. "I know. You destroyed Caeson Moon with your bare hands. You're one of the most skilled and strongest in Norus right now. That's why I wanted to recruit you for Arcane as well."
Vaelor and Alfred spoke together, their voices cold. "Do you really think you can—"
Clarence interrupted, unfazed. "What?"
They finished the sentence. "—handle us?"