John carefully lifted Nick onto his shoulder.
Blood continued dripping from the wound in Nick’s side.
Every second mattered.
If he didn’t receive treatment soon, he could die.
John’s jaw tightened.
In both his lives, very few people had remained loyal to him.
Nick was one of them.
He refused to lose him.
As he hurried through the dark streets, he suddenly noticed a man standing nearby.
The man looked terrified.
Completely frozen.
As if he had just witnessed something impossible.
John stopped immediately.
“You.”
The man flinched.
John stepped closer.
“You saw him, didn’t you?”
The man swallowed nervously.
“I-I…”
John’s voice became colder.
“Where did you see him?”
The fear in the man’s eyes only grew.
“I saw everything.”
John’s eyes narrowed.
“Everything?”
The man nodded repeatedly.
“T-That man…”
His voice trembled.
“He wasn’t human.”
John remained silent.
The man continued.
“He moved so fast.”
His hands shook as he spoke.
“I couldn’t even see him properly.”
The description matched perfectly.
John immediately asked,
“Which direction did he go?”
The man slowly pointed toward the south.
John’s eyes sharpened.
South.
If he moved now—
There was still a chance.
A small chance.
But then he looked at Nick.
His friend was barely breathing.
John clenched his fist.
For a brief moment, he hated the choice in front of him.
Then he made his decision.
He grabbed the frightened man’s shoulder.
“Listen carefully.”
The man nodded rapidly.
“Take him to the royal palace.”
The man froze.
“The royal palace?”
John nodded.
“Tell the guards that this is Sir Nick.”
The man’s eyes widened. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“Sir Nick?”
For the first time, he realized who he had been helping.
Then confusion appeared on his face.
“W-Who are you?”
John glanced toward the south.
Then answered simply.
“A friend.”
Without waiting for another question, he handed Nick over.
The man struggled under Nick’s weight but managed to support him.
“Go.”
The man nodded and hurried toward the royal district.
John watched until they disappeared.
Then he turned south.
And began running.
Night covered the kingdom.
The further John traveled, the more isolated the surroundings became.
Soon the city disappeared behind him.
Only darkness remained.
Then—
Smoke.
John immediately noticed it.
A small fire burned somewhere ahead.
Without hesitation, he moved closer.
As he approached, voices reached his ears.
John hid behind a tree and observed.
Several injured men sat around a campfire.
Bandages covered some of them.
Others still carried bruises from their battle with Nick.
John recognized them immediately.
They were the survivors from the warehouse.
“So that knight was a monster.”
“Yeah.”
“He took down almost everyone himself.”
Another man spat into the fire.
“If the boss hadn’t arrived, we’d all be dead.”
The others nodded.
John’s eyes grew colder.
So these were definitely the people responsible.
One of the men suddenly stood up.
“I’m going to take a piss.”
The others laughed.
The man wandered away from the camp and entered the trees.
The moment he stepped into the darkness—
A hand covered his mouth.
His eyes widened.
CRACK.
John twisted his neck.
The body collapsed instantly.
Without making a sound.
John lowered the corpse to the ground.
Then he returned toward the camp.
His face showed no hesitation.
No mercy.
Only purpose.
One by one.
The men disappeared.
One went missing.
Then another.
By the time the survivors realized something was wrong—
It was already too late.
Screams echoed through the forest.
Blood stained the earth.
And before long—
Silence returned.
The campfire continued burning.
Surrounded by corpses.
John stood alone among them.
Then—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
The sound came from the darkness.
John immediately turned.
A familiar figure stepped into the firelight.
The dagger user.
The mysterious man smiled.
“Bravo, Prince.”
John’s eyes narrowed.
The man continued clapping slowly.
“I knew you would come after me.”
His smile widened.
“But this quickly?”
He shook his head.
“I didn’t expect that.”
His gaze moved toward the bodies.
“You did a good job.”
Then he shrugged.
“Though those guys were useless anyway.”
John’s hand slowly moved toward his sword.
The mysterious man’s expression remained relaxed.
Almost amused.
Finally, John spoke.
“Who are you?”
The smile remained.
“What are you doing in my kingdom?”
For the first time, the man’s eyes became slightly serious.
But only slightly.
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that.”
John remained silent.
The man looked directly into his eyes.
Then he smiled again.
“But…”
His hand moved toward his dagger.
“If you defeat me…”
The blade reflected the firelight.
“…I might tell you.”
The forest became silent.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Two dangerous men stood facing each other beneath the night sky.
And both knew—
The next few moments would decide everything.