CHAPTER 144: ITS BEEN 5 YEARS...

The city of Clavara, once a thriving jewel of Danovia, now lay in ruin—half-swallowed by vines and scorched by the scars of war. The wind moaned through broken arches and shattered towers, carrying with it the scent of blood and ash.

Behind a collapsed stone column, a man in a tattered black robe crouched low, clutching a glowing rune-connector. Dirt streaked his face, and dried blood clung to his arm. His breaths were shallow, but steady.

"Captain... can you hear me?" he whispered.

A voice crackled through the rune-connector. "Yes, Rick. What’s the situation?"

Rick scanned the street with tired eyes. In the distance, four figures in black cloaks—emblazoned with the snarling insignia of the Black Hound Guild—marched forward with captives in tow.

"**Four of them, sir. All from the Black Hound Guild. They’re dragging three hostages—a man, a pregnant woman... and a little girl."

There was a pause on the other end. "Any chance they’re armed?"

Rick nodded grimly. "The man’s badly beaten... probably just a civilian. But the Hound members are all carrying shock chains and mana-blades. I’ll need at least four fighters to handle this."

But the response came with disappointment.

"We don’t have four units available right now. Everyone’s still returning from the western flank."

Rick’s shoulders slumped. "Then what should I do? If they reach the highway outpost, we’ll lose them."

Suddenly, another voice joined the channel.

"Sir, he just returned."

The captain turned to the voice. "He? Are you saying—"

"Yes, sir. The General. He’s back."

Footsteps approached from behind the captain. A calm, deep voice spoke.

"What’s going on, Veer?"

The captain stood straighter. "General Raj, sir. We just received a report from Rick. He spotted four Black Hound hunters in Clavara. They’ve taken three civilians hostage."

Raj’s expression darkened. "A child and a pregnant woman?"

"Yes, sir."

Raj gave a sharp nod. "Then I’m going."

"Sir!" Veer blinked. "Are you sure you want to go personally? You just returned."

"I’m rested. That’s enough." Raj cracked his knuckles with slow precision. "Besides... those dogs should know what it feels like to be hunted."

Back through the rune-connector, the captain relayed the update. "Rick, change of plan. The General is coming to assist you.

"

Rick froze. "Wait, General Raj? He’s coming himself?"

"Yes. Hold your position. He’s en route."

The rune-connector fizzled to silence.

Rick let out a slow breath. "I never thought... the General himself..."

Seconds later, a whirl of blue light shimmered in the air beside him. A glowing portal tore open, sending gusts of arcane wind in all directions.

From it stepped a tall man in his twenties. His jet-black hair was perfectly styled, with a single elegant strand falling over his brow. He wore a sleeveless, reinforced black uniform lined with copper plating, his knuckles wrapped in crimson threads.

Rick stood and saluted. "General Raj... you’re really here."

Raj gave him a calm look, eyes razor-sharp. "You must be Rick. Veer says you’re one of our best spies."

Rick swallowed hard. "It’s an honor to serve you, sir."

Raj stepped forward, scanning the ruins. His fingers flexed, energy swirling faintly beneath his skin.

"Where are they now?"

Rick pointed down the shattered avenue. "Two blocks east. Near the old cathedral ruins. They’re moving slow, probably due to the hostages."

Raj nodded. "Good. That gives me time to get warmed up."

Rick hesitated. "Sir... with all due respect, these men are brutal. They tortured a village elder last week. We couldn’t even find his—"

"Then it’s time they learned what real pain feels like." Raj’s voice was low and deadly.

"They call me the Emperor of Thousand Strikes for a reason, Rick."

He took a slow step forward, the very air pulsing around him as his aura rose.

"Today, the hounds meet the hunter."

Rick glanced sideways at the young man beside him—the one cloaked in legend, wrapped in calm.

"It’s been five years..." he thought. "Five years since Zorwath appeared... and the world turned into this hell. I’ve heard stories of General Raj, but never seen him fight. Maybe today, I finally will. Though... if even half of what they say is true—"

"Then this won’t be much of a fight."

Raj turned his gaze toward Rick.

"Rick. Where exactly are those hunters?"

Rick snapped to attention. "They’re resting about five hundred meters ahead, near a broken temple wall."

Raj narrowed his eyes. "You saw them directly?"

"No, sir. I use birds to scout. My pet crow is tracking them from the sky." Rick pointed upward. A black crow circled silently above, casting a faint shadow over the ruined stone path.

Raj gave a curt nod. "Impressive."

Without another word, the two dashed forward, their footsteps silent, blending into the ruins. The closer they got, the stronger the tension in the air became—like a wire pulled taut.

They crouched behind a crumbled stone arch. Just ahead, the hunters had made camp, surrounded by the skeletal remains of old homes.

Three members of the Black Hound Guild stood in view—grimy, armored in black leather. A fourth leaned against a pillar. Two civilians—a man and a young girl—were bound and gagged nearby. But the third hostage, a pregnant woman, stood surrounded.

One of the hunters let out a twisted laugh. "This is a good spot... how about we make you pregnant again?"

Another spat to the side. "Idiot. That might kill her. Let’s just play with her for now."

He reached out, grabbing her shoulder, tearing the upper fabric that covered her chest.

Rick clenched his fists, his stomach turning. "Bastards..." he hissed under his breath. "General, what should we—"

He turned—

But Raj was gone.

"No... did he just—"

Rick peeked back toward the camp—and froze.

Raj was already there.

His very presence shifted the air. The once-laughing hunters now trembled, the weight of his aura forcing their bodies to go rigid.

The pregnant woman stared in shock as Raj stepped forward and removed his long coat, gently placing it over her shoulders.

"Are you okay, ma’am?" he asked, voice calm but firm.

The woman looked up at him, eyes welling with tears. She nodded shakily.

Raj turned around slowly.

One hunter, teeth chattering, dared to speak. "W-Who... who are y—"

He never finished.

Raj struck forward—a single blow, precise and explosive, landed squarely on the man’s chest over his heart.

CRACK!

The hunter was launched into the air like a cannonball, slamming into a jagged rock formation with a sickening crunch.

He didn’t move again.

Raj stood still, eyes locked onto the others.

"I used to think humans couldn’t sink lower than beasts..." he said quietly. "I was wrong. You’ve proven me wrong."

"So now... I won’t regret killing you."

The remaining three hunters roared in anger and charged all at once.

But Raj didn’t flinch.

In a blur of motion, his fists moved like lightning—each strike surgical, clean, final. He hit pressure points with such force that bones shattered instantly, nerves severed before pain could even register.

One second. Three bodies dropped. All dead.

Behind the stone, Rick watched with wide eyes, unable to speak.

"He’s younger than me... but this strength..."

"It’s real. Everything they say about him... it’s real."

He stared at the calm figure walking back toward him.

"He really is the Emperor of Crushing Fists."

Raj walked over to the little girl who stood frozen, her arms still bound in rusty chains. Her small frame trembled, but her eyes—though wide—held no fear now, only confusion and hope.

He knelt down slowly, meeting her at eye level.

"Are you okay, little one?"

The girl looked at him for a second... then rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, big brother... for saving my mother. Is she okay?"

Raj blinked. Her voice was soft, but her concern wasn’t for herself—it was for her mother. He smiled faintly, reaching up to gently pet her head.

"Don’t worry. She’s safe. And it’s my job to protect people like you."

With a flick of his fingers, he broke the chains wrapped around her wrists, then carefully walked her over to her father, freeing him too, and finally returned to her mother, checking her pulse and covering her better with the coat.

He tapped his runecon.

"Rick, call the base. Tell them to open a portal. We’re bringing civilians out."

From a few meters away, Rick saluted. "Yes, sir!"

The girl looked up at Raj again, eyes still sparkling with wonder.

"You’re so strong, big brother!"

Raj chuckled softly. "Hm... yes, maybe. But not stronger than you."

She tilted her head. "But I’m not strong. I cried just seeing a dog..."

Raj smiled and leaned closer. "No, you’re strong. When I freed you, you didn’t cry for yourself. You thanked me for saving your mother... and asked if she was okay. That takes real courage."

The little girl’s eyes widened. Then she grinned brightly.

"So I’m strong?"

She jumped excitedly. "Yay! I’m strong! Meera is strong! Did you hear that, Mom? He said I’m strong!"

Raj blinked.

"Meera?"

The girl giggled. "Yup! That’s my name! Meera!"

Raj stood up slowly, his expression softening as a memory passed through his mind.

"...Then why wouldn’t you be strong?" he murmured under his breath.

Meera looked up. "Did you say something?"

Raj gave a rare warm smile.

"Nothing. Just that... I have a friend named Meera too. And she’s strong too... sometimes scary."

Meera gasped. "Ooooh! So she’s Meera too?! Is she like me?"

"She’s older than you... but yeah. Same spark."

The portal crackled to life behind them, glowing with warm light.

As the family stepped toward it, Rick gave Raj a curious glance. "Everything alright, sir?"

Raj nodded. But his eyes were still on the little girl, who waved to him just before vanishing into the light.

"She reminded me of our fire, Rick," he said quietly. "The kind of strength this world needs now more than ever."

End of Chapter 148