Frostfire Legacy

"Pardon my intrusion, Master, but I have news."

The butler's voice was steady, though his posture was one of deep subservience. He stood in the doorway, bowing low and keeping his gaze firmly on the floor, keeping his eyes away from the scene before him.

What lay in the room could only be described as debauchery—no, "carnage."

Women's broken bodies, naked and unrecognizable, were all over the luxurious chamber. At the center of the chaos lounged the culprit, Wang Xu Chen's muscular frame, holding on to what was left of the last victim as he "played".

"What?" Wang Xu Chen growled, his movements ceasing for a moment. His voice was impatient, the deep timbre of his voice vibrating with threat. "Make it quick."

"Yes, Master." The butler straightened a little but didn't raise his gaze. "The observation team has successfully extracted the target, Aster Mistral, and is en route to the warp portal to return to our territory."

Wang Xu Chen looked completely uninterested, as if he had expected just that. His faith in the capabilities of his men was absolute. But then the butler said something that made his sharp eyes narrow.

"…But, at roughly the same time, we lost contact with Numbers 0 and 1, who were sent to delay the Captain of the Hit Squad."

"Ryuu and Yin?" Wang Xu Chen repeated, now incredulous.

It was an impossible development. Ryuu and Yin weren't just elite operatives—they were light years ahead of the rest of the numbers in both strength and strategy. Together, they were almost unstoppable, able to take on the entire ranks of the Numbers and emerge victorious.

"Yes, Master," replied the butler, his voice laced with trepidation. "We sent a team out to investigate, and we're still waiting for updates…"

He paused, his head tilting slightly as if he were listening in on a message relayed over an earpiece. After nodding briefly, he continued: "The field of their fight was left untouched. The aftermath was… devastating. Black pillars are all over, poking out of the ground. The remains of Numbers 0 and 1 were found… strewn about, as well."

Wang Xu Chen's face turned even darker. With one swift motion, he hurled the lifeless body from his arms as if it were nothing but trash. The air grew thick around him, his aura spiraling outward in violent gusts. His rage obliterated the bed, sending cracks rippling through the ornamented walls of the chamber.

"That damned mosquito!" He spat, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "To think he was hiding such a powerful card!"

Despite being bathed in intense bloodlust, the butler did not even flinch, calmly standing amid destruction. "Master, should we retaliate?" He asked, his tone measured. "If we do it now, we can take down Mayor Magnus at least."

Wang Xu Chen turned to the butler, mind racing. His temper was boiling but he tried his best to bring himself back on track. As he took an anxious breath, all the pent energy disappeared as sharply as it emerged.

No. We'll retreat," he said coldly. "If that Hit Squad Captain has already regrouped with Magnus, even I would have trouble beating them—not to mention you and the rest of our forces. Your next journey awaits at empire

Wang Xu Chen drew on a robe lying on the ground and wrapped it around his massive frame. Then, snapping his fingers, the room was filled with the glow of a portal, appearing without any warning.

Without a hint of hesitation, the two entered, leaving the destroyed room behind.

Silence prevailed in the room. Not a single trace of life was left.

---

*BAM!*

"That son of a bitch, Muscle Daruma…!"

On the top floor of Gravene Tower, Magnus Severin P. Noire, the mayor, slammed his fist onto his desk. The poor piece of furniture, unable to withstand his strength, shattered into hundreds of shards in an instant.

"Dear, calm down," a soothing voice came from behind him, Priscilla, approached with a calming presence.

"Yes, they kidnapped him, but they should understand how important Aster's life is. They wouldn't dare do anything reckless."

Aster was the only way the world could avoid falling into monsterification in the next few hundred years. Killing him would be the same as putting out the last glimmer of hope for humanity's survival.

"…No." Magnus's voice was steady, but his eyes burned with anger. "That bastard Wang Xu Chen wouldn't think about the world's best interests. He'll use Aster for his own agenda, no matter the cost. He won't care if the boy lives or dies as long as his goal is met."

Though his blood still ran hot with rage, Magnus took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair, forcing himself to calm down. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he continued, "We can't come up with a counterplan until everyone is here. Let's wait for the others to arrive before deciding our next steps."

"What about his party members?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"All the girls—and even his pet—sustained severe injuries," Priscilla said, her tone heavy. "But thanks to their healer, no one died."

She moved closer, placing a gentle hand on Magnus's cheek and patting his head softly as if soothing a child. "Still, my heart aches just thinking about how we're going to break the news of Aster's kidnapping to them once they wake up."

Magnus placed his hand over hers, offering silent reassurance. "This isn't your fault, so don't carry that guilt. But if it's too painful for you, I'll take on the burden of telling them myself."

"Dear…"

"Vivi…"

Slowly, their faces came closer to each other—but the tender moment was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a sharp cough.

"Ahem. Is this a good time, or should I come back in three minutes?" Vanessa asked with a playful smile.

Magnus sighed and rubbed his temples as if shaking off the awkwardness. "What's with that oddly specific timing…? Anyway, what's so important for you to pay a visit, Vanessa?"

She was not even a part of the Black Numbers or Hit Squad, she wasn't supposed to be here. With Aster being involved, though, she hadn't wasted one second after hearing that.

"It's about those bastards who kidnapped my Aster," Vanessa began, her tone venomous. "It seems their plan is to use him to create an army of mutants. These mutants would possess the strength of those who've undergone monsterification but retain their rational minds."

Magnus frowned deeply, her words striking a chord. "Are you saying… like the Anti-Human Movement's trump cards?"

Exactly," Vanessa agreed, nodding her head. "But unlike the monstrosities the Anti-Human Movement transforms into, these mutants would retain a human form."

Magnus's scowl grew deeper, sensing danger.

"This hasn't gone into implementation yet, has it?" Priscilla asked directly, cutting right to the chase.

"Not yet," Vanessa replied, shaking her head. "Thankfully, they're still in the experimental phase. I think we still have enough time for a rescue attempt."

"I see…" Magnus blew out a long breath, relief softening the sharp planes of his face.

But at the same time, he was getting worried. He wasn't sure how Aster's information leaked, despite his absolute efforts to keep him protected—hidden—from the rest of the world. In other words...

"…The other countries might make their moves, too," Magnus muttered, his voice low and grim. "And if that happens…"

"Another World War, is it?" Priscilla finished, her voice trembling with worry.

The idea hung in the air like a dark cloud. A World War fought over the custody of a single man: Aster. It was utter nonsense, sounding like a joke, but it represented a reality from which millions to billions of people were likely to face a disastrous tragedy.

Vanessa folded her arms across her chest, her piercing gaze flitting between Magnus and Priscilla.

"Then we'd better act fast," she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "If we're going to stop this madness, we'll need every ally we can get—we have no room for hesitation."

Magnus narrowed his eyes, suspicion flashing across his face. "You don't mean teaming up with the Aracelli Race, do you?"

Vanessa smiled faintly, shrugging her shoulders with deliberate nonchalance. "I'm just saying we should take the initiative. After all, I'd bet they're already planning to approach that little rabbit healer with the same idea in mind."