Yuri woke up and soon after, Bina entered her room. Bina climbed onto the bed and sat beside her. Noticing Bina’s damp hair, Yuri commented, “Your hair is soaking wet.” Bina sighed, saying it was hard to dry it completely. Without hesitation, Yuri grabbed a towel and started drying Bina’s hair.
As she worked, Yuri asked, “Has Ein woken up yet?”
Bina shook her head. “Not yet.”
Yuri frowned. “Is something wrong with him? Why is he still asleep for so long?”
Bina smirked. “You’re really worried about him, aren’t you?” Then, trying to distract Yuri, she suggested, “Why don’t we prepare some food for him?”
Yuri’s face brightened. “That’s a great idea!”
Bina clapped her hands. “And while we’re at it, let’s go shopping too! We haven’t been out in a while.”
Yuri hesitated. “Isn’t it dangerous to go out without Ein?”
Bina reassured her. “We’ll be fine. There’s no danger for us.”
Meanwhile, Zoid and Ead were deep in conversation. Ead studied Zoid closely before speaking. “I can tell you’re holding a lot of anger toward someone.”
Zoid narrowed his eyes. “What are you getting at?”
Ead smirked. “I can help you deal with that problem.”
As Ein slept, he was trapped in a nightmare. Memories of his past resurfaced, and he found himself reliving the harsh days he spent with Zoid during their missions. Back then, Zoid treated him cruelly. He remembered when Zoid handed out the mission rewards, only to sneer and say, “You don’t deserve any of this money. You should be grateful I even let you stay.”
Another painful memory struck him—being left at the mercy of wild hounds. He shuddered, realizing that if he hadn’t met Yuri, he would have died back then.
Suddenly, in his dream, a twisted version of himself appeared. This doppelgänger bore gruesome scars from the hound attacks, its body torn and disfigured. It stared at him with cold, lifeless eyes and whispered, “You’re nothing but trash that doesn’t deserve to live.”
The monstrous figure stepped closer, its voice dripping with malice. “You only survived by luck—nothing more. You obtained the Eye of the Spirit by chance. You never worked for this power. No matter how much you try, you’ll always be the same weak, pathetic garbage.”
Ein gasped and woke up in a panic, drenched in sweat. Beside him, Ursula was watching him closely.
Taking a shaky breath, he muttered, “I don’t remember anything after meeting the king.”
Ursula gently placed a hand on his shoulder. “You overexerted yourself. That’s why you slept for so long.”
Ein sat up, rubbing his temples. “Where’s Yuri?”
“She went to the market with Bina to buy supplies,” Ursula informed him.
Ein sighed in relief. “That’s good, right?”
Ursula nodded. “I’m keeping an eye on them from a distance. If anything happens, we’ll step in immediately.” Then her expression softened. “You were crying in your sleep.”
Ein hesitated before admitting, “I had a terrible nightmare.”
Ursula tilted her head. “A nightmare?”
He exhaled deeply. “If I hadn’t met you all, my fate would have been sealed inside the stomachs of those hounds. Isn’t that right?” He clenched his fists. “I don’t have real strength. I only have power because of you and Yuri. I was never strong. I just got lucky. I’m still the same trash that Zoid said I was.”
Back with Zoid and Ead, she studied his expression carefully before speaking. “I can harm the one you hate so much.”
Zoid’s interest piqued. “How?”
She smirked. “Are you familiar with the Eye of the Spirit?”
Zoid tensed. “What about it?”
Ead’s grin widened. “Ein possesses one. That’s where his power comes from.”
Zoid’s eyes darkened. “I knew something was off about him. There’s no way he got this strong naturally.” He clenched his jaw. “He shouldn’t be allowed to keep that power for long.”
Ead nodded in agreement. Then, her voice dropped to a whisper. “Would you like to have one too?”
Zoid’s breath hitched. He turned to her, his desire evident. “I want it more than anything.”
A wicked smile spread across Ead’s face as she revealed a glowing eye in the palm of her hand. Without hesitation, she pressed it against Zoid’s forehead.
An agonizing pain tore through his skull as the eye fused into him. His body convulsed, rapidly transforming. His skin darkened, his limbs stretched unnaturally, and his strength surged beyond anything he had ever known.
Ead watched in satisfaction. “Now, go.”
Zoid shot into the sky, his body feeling lighter than ever. “This power… I feel unstoppable.”
As he soared above the city, he looked down and spotted Jolen standing with a warrior—the same man who had once humiliated him. A cruel grin formed on Zoid’s face.
Without hesitation, Zoid dived down and, in one swift motion, bit off the warrior’s head. Jolen gasped in horror, stepping back.
“Zoid…” she stammered.
He turned to her, his monstrous form still recognizable. “Hello, Jolen.”
Her body trembled. “What happened to you?”
Zoid took a step toward her, the hunger in his eyes unmistakable.
Panicked, Jolen blurted, “I’ll go to the guild! I’ll tell them everything—that I was the one who cast the paralysis spell on Ein!” She pointed at the headless corpse beside her. “I was never your lover! He forced me to be! But if you let me go, I swear I’ll be yours again!”
Zoid’s expression twisted with pure disdain. “Too late.”
In an instant, he ended her life.
Meanwhile, Yuri and Bina were strolling through the marketplace when Yuri suddenly stopped in her tracks. A serious expression crossed her face.
“I don’t want to be protected anymore,” she declared. “I need to help Ein.”
Before Bina could respond, a deafening explosion shook the entire area. Chaos erupted as terrified citizens screamed and ran in every direction. Smoke and fire filled the sky. Amidst the panic, a small child was caught in the chaos and fell to the ground, injured.
Without hesitation, Yuri rushed to his side, her hands glowing as she cast a healing spell. The child’s wounds vanished instantly. She helped him to his feet.
“Run! Get to safety!”
The child, still shaken, looked up at her. “But what about you?”
Yuri reassured him. “I’ll escape soon, but I need to help others first.” She urged him to run before turning to aid the wounded.
Meanwhile, Ead turned to Zoid, her expression serious.
“Forget about the insects. Your real focus should be on the spirits,” she advised. “Without his spirits, Ein will return to what he once was—weak and powerless.”
A wicked grin formed on Zoid’s face. “Then let’s bring him back to his former self.” His eyes locked onto Yuri.
As Yuri finished healing one of the injured, a chilling presence made her turn around. Zoid loomed over her, his monstrous form towering. Before he could strike, Bina appeared just in time, forming a protective barrier around Yuri. Grabbing her hand, Bina pulled her away.
“Run!” she urged.
Zoid growled in frustration and tried to shatter the barrier, but it held firm.
Ead scoffed. “How can you not break such a simple shield?” she taunted. “It seems you need to use your new power—Anti-Spirit Art.”
Taking her advice, Zoid unleashed his ability, focusing his energy on the barrier. This time, it shattered effortlessly. With his path now clear, he dived toward Yuri and Bina once more.
Bina hurriedly raised another shield, but Zoid destroyed it with ease, sending her flying. Stunned, she realized just how powerful he had become.
Yuri stepped in front of Bina protectively. “Run!” she commanded.
But Zoid was faster. He grabbed Yuri by the arm, sneering.
“You’re the fool who gave Ein your power,” he spat. “Now you need to die.”
He lifted his arm to strike her down—but at the last second, Ein arrived, blocking the attack. The impact sent Yuri tumbling to the ground, but she looked up with relief.
“I knew you’d come,” she whispered.
Ein quickly turned to her. “Inside my eye. Now.”
Yuri and Bina obeyed, vanishing into his spiritual domain. Taking a deep breath, Ein activated his appraisal ability on Zoid. His expression hardened.
“This is dangerous. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he muttered.
Zoid lunged at him, but Ein swiftly countered, sending him crashing into a building. Zoid wasted no time and launched another attack, but Ein deflected every strike. Seeing an opening, Ein summoned a barrier—however, Zoid shattered it instantly and landed a blow that left Ein slightly injured.
Ead smirked. “Such a weak barrier will never stand against my Anti-Spirit power,” she declared. “This is where Ein dies.”
Zoid sneered. “Is this all you’ve got, trash collector?”
Ein’s eyes widened. “How do you know that name?” Then, recognition dawned. “That voice… Zoid? Is that you?”
Zoid chuckled darkly. “So you finally recognize me,” he said. “I’ve obtained the spirit’s blessing and evolved—just like you.”
With that, Zoid struck again, sending Ein crashing into another building. Before Ein could recover, Zoid prepared to land another devastating blow, but Ein dodged just in time.
Zoid attempted to ensnare him with the thorned appendages on his back, but Ein evaded them with quick reflexes. Suddenly, Zoid appeared beneath him, striking upward and sending Ein soaring into the sky.
Zoid followed him, grinning. “What do you think of my power? Isn’t it incredible?”
He studied Ein closely. “You also have strange power, don’t you? Why not use it to its full potential?”
Then, he gestured toward Jolen’s lifeless body.
Zoid’s voice was cold. “She betrayed you too. Everyone did. But now, with this power, all the pain you once felt is meaningless. Just like me, you suffered, didn’t you?”
Hearing this, Ein’s fury ignited. His body tensed, and his aura flared wildly.
Zoid smirked. “You want revenge on me, don’t you? For everything I did to you in the past?”
Ein clenched his fists. “That’s not true!”
But then, his nightmare returned. His darker self appeared before him, whispering cruel words.
“Everyone mocked you for being from a lowly class. You were always just a trash collector.”
The figure grinned wickedly. “And now, you and this monster before you—you’re the same.”
Zoid echoed the sentiment. “We’re not so different, Ein. You and I—we have no dignity, no pride. Even if you’ve gained strength, at the end of the day, you’re still just a garbage collector.”
Yuri’s voice rang out, cutting through the tension. “Don’t listen to him, Ein!” she shouted. “You’re not like him! You’re kind, strong, and you never wish harm on anyone!”
Bina’s voice followed. “Ein, you’ve grown stronger, and I’m not talking about just power—I mean your heart.” She looked at him seriously. “Tell me, have you ever hurt someone weaker than you?”
Ein shook his head.
Ursula smiled. “Because you’ve always helped those in need. That is who you are.” She reminded him, “You once promised Yuri that one day you would repay her kindness. That courage you have—it wasn’t given to you. It was inside you all along. And now, the world sees it too.”
Ein’s dark counterpart sneered. “Don’t listen to them. I know you better than anyone.”
Yuri stepped forward, her voice filled with conviction. “I am here because I chose to change my fate! I wanted to meet my family, and it was because of you, Ein, that I was able to do so!”
Ein clenched his fists. “Have I really become stronger?”
Zoid scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself. You’re still worthless.”
His dark reflection smirked. “Zoid is absolutely right. We’re just like him.”
Ein took a deep breath, his expression firm. “It’s easy to admit weakness,” he said. “For so long, I saw this world as cruel because it dictated our fates. I was weak. I was nothing. But Yuri and the others… they gave me strength. I spent so much time doubting myself, even when everyone believed in me. But now, I refuse to let them down. I will protect them!”
At that moment, flames erupted around him, consuming his dark counterpart and reducing it to ashes.
Zoid’s eyes widened in shock. “What is this power?”
Ursula smiled. “You’ve finally become a true Guardian. It took you long Einugh to realize it.”
Ein nodded. “I won’t hesitate anymore. I’ll become stronger to protect everyone.”
Ursula placed a hand on his shoulder. “You now have complete freedom to use the power of the Spirit Zone—100% of it.”
Zoid roared and charged at Ein once again, but Ein easily deflected his attack, sending him crashing to the ground. Without giving him time to recover, Ein advanced toward him.
Zoid, enraged, launched another attack, but this time, Ein conjured a powerful barrier—one that Zoid couldn’t break.
Ursula turned to Zoid. “You only possess 10% of Ein’s strength. That’s why his barrier is impenetrable to you.”
Zoid growled in frustration. “Ead! Give me more power! I need more!”
Ead smirked and infused him with an even greater surge of energy. Zoid’s strength skyrocketed as he lunged at Ein once more.
But this time, Ein drew his sword. A calm determination settled over him. “This ends now.”
As Zoid charged, Ein swung his blade in a single decisive strike. The power behind it shattered the spirit eye within Zoid, bringing him down completely.
As Zoid lay on the ground, dazed and broken, Ein extended his hand toward him.
Zoid stared at him, his voice trembling. “Why…? Why do you do this every time?”
Ein smiled gently. “There’s no reason. Helping others doesn’t need a reason.”
Zoid clenched his fists. “How can you act like the strong when you’re so weak?”
Ein shook his head. “Should only the strong help others? Should the weak live in fear forever? No. Even the weak can reach out their hand to someone in need.” His expression softened. “You can change—just like I did. You have the power to do it. All you have to do is take the hand in front of you.”
Tears welled up in Zoid’s eyes. For the first time, he understood. Slowly, hesitantly, he reached out and grasped Ein’s hand.
At that moment, the city guards arrived, surrounding them. They moved swiftly, restraining Zoid for the destruction he had caused.
Ein watched as they took him away. “Someone exploited his weakness,” he muttered. “Someone gave him the power of the spirits. But who… and why?”
Meanwhile, Ead stood in the shadows, holding the shattered remains of the spirit eye in her hand. A sinister smile spread across her face.
“The plan is progressing smoothly,” she whispered. “I’ve gathered Einugh data on Ein’s power.”
Her eyes darkened. “The only unexpected factor was Zoid’s defeat… but I sealed away his memories before he could expose the truth about his transformation.”
She held the fragments of the eye closer, her voice dripping with anticipation. “It was a clever move—using Yuri’s purification power against him in that final strike.”
Then, her expression turned eerily serene.
“Wait for me, Makan.”
With that, she vanished into the night.
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