Nightfall – Main Street, Sitler
The soft glow of the streetlights lit the cobblestone path ahead as Arsh and Luna strolled side by side, their steps unhurried under the star-painted sky. The sounds of the city had quieted, leaving just the distant murmur of the wind and the occasional rustle of leaves.
Luna glanced sideways, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "You know… Hikari said she likes you."
Arsh let out a quiet chuckle. "Yeah. I already figured that out. She's tried to tell me in her own way a few times, and I am the one who ignore her everytime."
"She's smart, cute, beautiful… and one of the most popular girls around," Luna said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Why didn't you give it a chance?"
Arsh shrugged lightly. "Because I don't feel the same. And I wouldn't want to lie to her—or myself."
Luna looked ahead, her voice softer now. "So… you believe in love, and that feeling what makes us to attract to someone, huh? Or not really?"
Arsh thought for a moment, then gave a half-smile. "I don't know. Maybe I do, maybe I don't. I think it's more about connection. If you truly like someone… something in you just shifts. You feel drawn. Pulled. You start acting differently—without even realizing it. means you starts affecting by someone, means you starts care him or her, you feels good with that person and many other things"
"Ohh… Have you ever felt that? That shift… that affection?" Luna asked, her voice hesitant, her cheeks deepening in color.
Arsh chuckled under his breath. "Maybe. Once… twice, tops. But I'm not telling you who. That's my little secret."
Luna folded her arms. "Fine. I'm not curious anyway," she mumbled, clearly flustered.
He grinned. "What about you? I've never seen you with any guy. Never heard you talk about dating."
Luna's eyes lowered, her steps slowing slightly. "I never had time for these dating things. My mom's been sick since I was little—she has brain tumor. Rare and aggressive. I started working early just to keep us afloat."
Arsh's playful tone softened. "...I didn't know. I'm sorry, Luna. How is she now?"
"She's stable. Hospitalized, but the doctors say she's okay for now," Luna replied, forcing a smile. "Still, it's been a long road."
Arsh nodded thoughtfully. "Well.., you know what this is the first time you've told me about your past."
Luna's eyes narrowed with a teasing glint. "Says the guy who's the biggest mystery in all of college. You've got that whole mysterious aura, vanish-on-command thing going. No one really knows you."
Arsh raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Everyone knows who I am, Don't you."
"Please," Luna said, waving a hand. "When we first met, you let those guys try to beat you and didn't even fight back. Then the next day, you somehow became their friend. And when you started the job on the café—you just disappeared. And your presence in a few seconds? It's like standing near a lightning storm."
Arsh blinked. "Wow… so you've been watching me pretty closely."
"I–I haven't! I mean—it's obvious!" she said, flustered again, while her cheeks becomes more red.
He laughed lightly, then extended a hand toward her. "Fine. Let me formally introduce myself. Hi, I'm Azura. I'm 23. I'm an orphan, but I have a sister who's basically my whole world. I swear I'm a normal student… and yes, I held back in that first fight because I didn't want to cause a scene on my first day. Ainz and I became friends because I helped them out when they needed it. As for my café 'disappearance'? Let's just say I'm faster than average. And about my appearance… I can't help how I look."
Luna hesitated, then took his hand and shook it gently. "So you are orphan… I'm sorry. And you never told me about your sister."
"You never asked," he said with a wink.
"Fair enough," Luna replied, then paused as they reached the dorm gates. "Well, I guess this is goodnight."
Before Arsh could reply, OSAI's voice whispered urgently in his mind.
"Alert: Shockwave detected. High-density demonic mana approaching rapidly from the south east, Ainz and Noar are there."
Arsh's expression turned cold. He stepped away from Luna with a calm smile. "Goodnight, Luna."
Then, Luna at the time when Luna entered in her Dorm, in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the shadows.
Same Night, Southern Back Street – Edge of the Forest
The night was shattered by the clash of steel and snarls of combat. Ainz and Noar stood bruised and bleeding in a narrow alley near the forest, their breaths heavy.
Noar's eyes narrowed. "Something's coming… fast!"
Before he could react, a blur streaked from the sky like a falling meteor. Noar crossed his twin blades just in time to deflect the impact, but the force sent him sliding back, blood trickling from a fresh wound on his shoulder.
"That thing…" he muttered. "It's an eagle. No. A demonic beast."
Ainz gritted his teeth. "It's too fast. And way too big to be normal."
"Based on its strength and speed, it's likely a Rank 3 Demon Beast," Noar growled.
"So what do we do? We can't outrun it—it's twice your speed! And we can't fly to attack him so how can we beat him!" Ainz shouted, narrowly dodging another slicing dive from the eagle's razor-sharp talons.
"We will dodge. Defend. Survive. Wait for an opening," Noar replied, but even his tone held doubt.
The eagle circled again, talons glowing with corrupted mana. Every pass it made tore through air and stone alike. Both boys were quickly accumulating cuts and bruises. Their movements slowed. Their energy waned.
"This won't work. We'll die if we keep this up," Ainz hissed through clenched teeth. "We need a plan."
He turned to Noar with sudden urgency. "Do you trust me?"
Noar nodded, eyes never leaving the sky. "Yeah. We've got no choice, do whatever you want."
"Then I need your full strength. Go into rage mode. Tap into your limit."
Noar tried to center himself, but the beast kept attacking, forcing him to stay defensive.
"I can't concentrate like this!"
"Then think of this," Ainz shouted. "If this beast kills us, it'll think it can kill Arsh too."
Noar froze. Then his eyes flared open—crimson and wild. Rage ignited in his chest like a furnace.
"This thing… will never be worthy to touch Arsh!" Noar roared, energy exploding around him.
Ainz grinned. "Perfect. Now, here's the plan. I'm going to launch you into the sky—up to its altitude."
"Launch me… how!?"
"Drones," Ainz said, summoning every combat drone he had, lining them in a vertical path.
"I've calculated the eagle's attack rhythm. We'll only get one shot. You jump from drone to drone with everything you've got. I'll create an opening when you're in range. You ready?"
What, but how will you make that opening from here? Noar asked his eyes are still doughtful.
Don't worry, that's my job, you just focus on what I told you to do, we have to start it, Ainz said with a Galance.
Noar nodded. "Say the word."
The eagle dived again.
"NOW!" Ainz shouted.
Noar leapt—using the drones like stepping stones. With each bound, he gained altitude, closing in.
Below, Ainz adjusted his visor and shouted, "OSAI—EMP blast, midair, on my mark!"
The eagle began to rise again—until it slammed into an invisible energy field, stunned momentarily.
"MARK!"
An explosion of light erupted, and as the eagle flinched, Noar dove in with both swords, cleaving through its neck in a clean, decisive slash. Blood splattered the air.
The beast's head dropped, its body spiraling downward. Noar landed heavily but safely on the last drone, then rolled onto the ground beside Ainz.
"We did it…" Ainz gasped, offering a shaky high-five.
But their celebration was short-lived.
The air turned cold. Heavy. A dark mist slithered in from the shadows.
A voice echoed, smooth and venomous. "So these are Arsh's disciples… intriguing. I thinks that you guys are perfect to test my next experiment, But you're stronger than I expected. I guess I shouldn't have underestimated his students."
A figure emerged—a tall, armored demon cloaked in shadow, his eyes glowing with hunger.
"Who—who is that?" Ainz whispered.
Noar's face turned pale. "Rank 2… Demon Commander—Greed."
Greed stepped forward, grinning. "And now, I have to kill you guys you… personally."
He vanished.
Noar moved to shield Ainz and said: Ainz run as fast as you can, there is no way we can stand a few seconds in front of this guy, but in a flash, Greed reappeared—already behind him. "You're not going anywhere."
Fear rooted Ainz in place. His body trembled as Greed raised a fist crackling with dark mana.
"Now die."
CLANG.
Greed's punch collided with a hand. Not Noar's.
Arsh stood between them—his expression calm, his gaze sharp. He had caught the demon commander's blow effortlessly.
Greed's eyes widened. "You—"
Arsh stepped forward, removing his heavy Osmium watch and holding that in his fist. His voice was cold steel.
"You want to fight someone who can't even survive your punch? Coward. If you're going to fight… fight me."
Greed smirked, then slowly backed into the shadows.
"I'm not foolish enough to fight someone like you unprepared," his voice echoed. "But don't worry. My preparations are nearly complete. We'll meet again soon, Arsh. And that will be our final meeting."
Then he vanished, leaving behind only the chilling trail of miasma.
Arsh looked down at Ainz and Noar, both injured, yet alive.
He exhaled, deeply.
"The next battle," he muttered, "is getting closer."