# Chapter 27: The Hunter's Void

  ## I. The Silence After Death

  The sound of the rain was the only lament. There were no more screams, no distorted roar of the Black Moon, only the final, dry, and definitive *clack!*, echoing in the void that followed. Tobi's head, severed from his body, lay a few meters away, his eyes still open, fixed on a sky that no longer belonged to him. The blood, thick and dark, ran across the earth, mixing with the rainwater that tried, in vain, to wash the scene clean.

  Zack was kneeling. Not in reverence, but in collapse. The weight of the sword, which he still held loosely, was insignificant compared to the weight of that silence. The Black Moon, which moments before had been an uncontrolled fury, was inert, withdrawn to the depths of his soul, leaving only a cold, cutting emptiness.

  "I want to die..."

  The voice was a hoarse whisper, repeated like a broken mantra. It was not a wish for suicide, but the realization that life, at that moment, was an unbearable pain. He had killed his brother, his friend, the only anchor that connected him to a less somber past. Tobi's betrayal was a fact, but the pain of loss was the only truth that remained.

  ## II. The Arrival and the Questioning

  The first to arrive was Orpheus. He did not come running, but walking, with slow, heavy steps, as if he knew exactly the horror he would find. His eyes, usually filled with an almost childlike curiosity, were burdened with a sadness that seemed to have aged his soul by decades. He saw the body, the head, and finally, Zack.

  "Master..." The word barely escaped.

  Orpheus felt no anger towards Zack. He felt only the confirmation of Lyra's fear: the Hunter's path was a path of blood and irreparable losses. He approached, but stopped at a safe distance. The aura of despair emanating from Zack was almost palpable, a cold mist that prevented any comfort.

  K arrived shortly after, materializing with the cold precision of a ghost. She analyzed the scene in seconds. Tobi's body, the cut pattern, the residual energy of the ritual. Her expression, always controlled, wavered for an instant.

  "The ritual has been undone," K declared, her voice low and technical. She looked at Tobi's head. "He... he was involved... But why? He didn't have the profile of a fanatic."

  Orpheus, ignoring the technical analysis, looked at Zack, then at the body. "He had to kill his brother, his friend, a long-time Hunter... What a brutal world this is, K? Is this the path I must follow?"

  K did not answer Orpheus. Her focus was on Zack, whose Black Moon, though inert, still pulsed faintly, a wounded heart that refused to stop.

  ## III. The Baby and the Decision

  A sharp, incessant cry tore through the silence.

  The sound came from a makeshift crib, hidden under a torn tarp. The baby, approximately three years old, cried with a strength and innocence that contrasted brutally with the death around him. His eyes, when K approached, were a **pure gold, almost liquid gold**, a disturbing and beautiful detail.

  K, the pragmatic, the cold, the skeptical, hesitated for a millisecond. Then, with the efficiency of someone dealing with a time bomb, she picked up the child. The crying did not cease, but the warmth of the small body was a screaming reminder that life persisted.

  "Death (Tobi) is dead, the ritual has been undone," K said, looking at Orpheus. "But this baby... he is the focal point. He is the legacy of betrayal and innocence. We need to get him out of here. Now."

  K walked towards Zack, holding the baby.

  ## IV. The Silent Confrontation

  "Zack!" K's voice was a whip.

  Zack did not move. He continued repeating the mantra of death.

  K stopped a few steps away, the baby crying in her arms. Orpheus tried to intervene, but K stopped him with a look.

  "Your pain is real, Hunter," K said, her voice now carrying a calculated harshness. "But the threat is greater. Tobi made his choice. You made yours. And now, you have other choices to make."

  She used the cruelest and most necessary words.

  "Lyra and Mira need you. They are recovering, but they need their master to survive. If you sink into this grief, what Tobi did will have been in vain. The ritual master is still out there. And this baby," she pressed the child against her chest, "cannot stay here."

  The mention of Lyra and Mira was the first blow that broke through Zack's catatonia. The image of their pupils, the fear in their eyes, their need for him. Zack's pain was an ocean, but the urgency to protect them was a tiny island he could cling to.

  He finally raised his head. His eyes were empty, but the emptiness was beginning to be filled with a cold fury.

  ## V. The Master's Trail

  K tried to talk, seeking information about Tobi, the ritual, the baby, and their past. But Zack did not respond. He stood up, staggering, and walked to Tobi's body.

  "Don't touch him," Zack's voice was a command, not a request. "I will bury him. Alone."

  Orpheus and K exchanged glances. They understood. Zack needed that last act of loyalty, to keep the promise of giving a dignified burial to his friend, even if that friend had become a traitor.

  "We will take the baby to the hideout," K agreed, the pragmatic one yielding to the Hunter's grief. "Come back to us. You are the only one who can guide us now."

  Zack merely nodded, taking Tobi's body in his arms. He ignored the head, which K, with a sigh, covered with the tarp.

  He walked for hours, climbing a steep, desolate mountain, where the peak seemed to meet the black moon. Upon reaching the top, he dug the cold, wet earth with his bare hands, an act of penance and despair.

  As he placed the body in the grave, he noticed something. A small notebook, hidden in the inner pocket of Tobi's jacket, protected from the rain.

  With trembling hands, Zack opened the notebook. It was full of annotations, symbols, information about the ritual, and what appeared to be a coded diary. Tobi had left a trail of breadcrumbs, knowing he would die.

  Zack flipped through the pages, absorbing the pain and the information. On the last page, in hurried handwriting, it was written:

  > "I warned you, Zack, we would have to fight to the death.

  > the drink at the bar was wonderful, it was one of the best things that ever happened in my life."

  The air left Zack's lungs in a silent sob. He remembered the night, years ago, when they drank until they dropped, laughing at Tobi's silly jokes, dancing embraced like brothers. The phrase, "Not in the face so as not to spoil the funeral," which they used in play fights, had become a brutal prophecy.

  Zack cried. Not with screams, but with silent, warm tears that streamed down his face, mixing with the rain. He couldn't spoil the funeral. He couldn't fail his friend's last wish.

  Tobi was not just a traitor; he was a pawn. A pawn who, in the end, tried to leave one last gift: the truth.

  ## VI. The Broken Promise

  Zack closed the notebook, burying it alongside Tobi's body. He covered the grave, marking the spot with a rough stone.

  The pain had not vanished, but it had transformed. The catatonic despair gave way to a **cold, focused fury**.

  He stood up, the Black Moon pulsing again, but this time, under an iron control. Zack's promise to forgive the world, to seek peace, was broken.

  He looked out at the horizon, where the city lay under the rain.

  He would train Orpheus. He would take care of the golden-eyed baby. And he would destroy everyone who manipulated and distorted his friend's mind. Nanashi, the Polyhedron country, the true ritual master, **Skull**.

  The hunt had changed. It was no longer about survival or justice. It was about annihilation.

  The Hunter's Void had been filled by the **brutal determination of a King**.

  ***

  The Price of Farewell

  ## I. Three Years of Solitude and Training

  Time, for some, is a river that flows smoothly; for others, it is a relentless tide that carves out pain. Three years had passed since the battle that rewrote the landscape of the Red City. The spiritual energy released in the clash between Tobi and Zack not only healed but transformed the population, channeling a collective faith and strength towards a single point: **Ygon**.

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  Ygon was a force of nature. Nearly three meters tall, with skin black as night and red eyes that looked like burning embers, he was the personification of brute force. His body was a map of scars, and an imposing lion tattoo covered his back. Dressed in hunter's clothes, he was neither a noble nor a follower of the Vision, nor did he care about Skull. No one knew his origin, but his firm, dry, and calloused hands told the story of one who had reached the top from the lowest rung.

  The Red City, once a bastion of the Vision, now swore allegiance to Ygon. His discourse was a sweet poison to the oppressed: he sought not peace or unity, but the hunt. Ygon preached the inversion of the order: the oppression suffered by the red and black eyes would become the sustenance to oppress those who, once, hunted them. The hunt for black and red eyes was over, but the war, he promised, was just beginning. The world did not know it, but Ygon had prepared for years for a war where only the strongest would survive.

  Far from the city's turmoil, the life of Zack and his group had settled into a fortress-home. On the edge of the Black Lake and nestled in the Red Forests, a simple house of wood and brick served as a refuge and training ground.

  ### The Boy

  The focal point of this new life was **The Boy**. At six years old, he was a child of surprising emotional intelligence. His golden eyes and golden hair, a secret that could not be revealed, were kept disguised as black thanks to **K's Illusion Scroll**.

  Zack was a tough master, but his love and concern were the foundation of every lesson. Training began early, with a small dagger, evolving into sword techniques and hand-to-hand combat. Zack took him on long walks, teaching him the history of the world, the philosophy of the Vision and Skull. The frequency of these moments strengthened the connection between them.

  Once, The Boy, with the innocence and insight of his age, questioned:

  — Zack, where did I come from? Who is my family?

  Zack's smile was always the same: light, but burdened with a sadness that The Boy, in his premature maturity, sensed. He crouched down, his gaze level with the child's.

  — It's not the time to know yet, kid. But one day, I will tell you everything. And no matter what happens, I will always be by your side.

  The Boy, happy to have Zack's promise and love, no longer questioned. He understood the situation. Before returning home, Zack always reminded him:

  — You were trained to use your body and the sword. Your power must be hidden at all costs. Never show it.

  The Boy, without knowing the exact reason, obeyed, trusting that it was for his own good.

  ### The Price of the Black Moon

  The Black Moon was not just a sword; it was an ally, a tool of vengeance, and, above all, a curse. Zack refused to abandon it, accepting the nightmares as the price to pay.

  The nights were torture. Zack woke up in a start, fragmented memories and forgotten recollections assaulting his mind. Lyra and Mira, his women, who slept by his side and loved him deeply, perceived the punishment. His energy fluctuated, changing as if he were hunting someone in his sleep.

  On one particularly cruel dawn, Lyra woke up and saw Zack sitting in a chair, staring fixedly at his hand. A dark, dense energy enveloped him. As she approached, Zack screamed, a hoarse and desperate sound:

  — Don't come near!

  Mira woke up with the scream and, in a panic, drew her pistol. Lyra, however, kept her gaze fixed on Zack, prepared for whatever came. Zack smiled, a smile burdened with an abyssal sadness.

  — My hands are full of blood, Lyra.

  They didn't understand.

  — I just want to die, but I can't... Was I really such a bad person?

  Lyra began to cry. Mira tried to remain firm, but the pain of seeing the man she loved suffer so much was unbearable.

  — Do you really want to die, Zack? — Mira asked, her voice choked.

  Zack nodded, confirming.

  Lyra, wiping away her tears, spoke with a trembling mouth:

  — We will end your suffering, Zack. Just endure a little longer. The children need you, and so do we.

  — I don't want to see you suffer for me — Zack said.

  Mira countered, determination replacing sadness:

  — We are already suffering, Zack. But I won't abandon you anymore. Lyra and I will die with you.

  Zack stood up, but Lyra was faster, jumping into his arms.

  — That's enough, Zack. We decided when you came back.

  Mira followed immediately, hugging him tightly. In that moment, the bond between them grew even stronger, a true love forged in pain and mutual acceptance of the darkness.

  ### Orpheus and K

  Orpheus, now 1.88m tall, with long red hair, was strong, but arrogant and rebellious. Saved by Zack from slavery, he yearned to follow in his master's footsteps, save people, and see the world. He wanted to leave.

  He confided his reasons to K, Lyra, and Mira, asking them not to tell Zack. He didn't want to create hope; if he failed, he didn't want to tarnish his master's name and legacy. Although they disagreed with his departure, they supported Orpheus.

  K, pragmatic and tactical, took care of The Boy and his disguise, teaching him camouflage techniques and how to maintain his appearance. She was the cold mind of the group, the silent strategist.

  ## II. The Challenge and the Alliance

  The confrontation came on an afternoon of training. Orpheus, impatient, confronted Zack, demanding his freedom.

  — Master, I need to go. I need to do what you do.

  Zack, with the Black Moon at rest, looked at the young man with a mixture of pride and concern.

  — You want freedom, Orpheus? I'll give it to you. But with one condition.

  — Which one?

  — If you defeat me, you are free. — Zack pointed to the sword. — Show me what I taught you. If you don't beat me, you won't be ready for the world out there.

  Orpheus understood the test. He knew that, alone, he had no chance. He sought out K, Lyra, and Mira.

  — I need your help. It's the only way I can gain my freedom.

  The alliance was formed out of love for Orpheus and a silent desire to test their own growth. Zack accepted the 4-on-1 fight, out of love for his disciple and to test the group's coordination.

  ## III. The Start of the Combat: The Coordinated Attack

  The isolated training ground was bathed in the cold light of the **Black Moon** (the real moon). The air was dense, charged with expectation.

  **K** initiated the combat. Her tactic was invisibility. Using her Presence Suppression, she positioned herself in a blind spot. She was the brain, the pressure point. In a quick movement, she activated her ability: **"Fraco"** (Weakness). The goal was to unbalance Zack's attributes, exchanging his strength for K's weakness.

  Simultaneously, **Lyra** sprang into action. Her agility was superhuman. She used her Gravitational/Adhesion Manipulation to run up walls and the ceiling, transforming the field into a three-dimensional plane of attack. Precise and deadly daggers were thrown from unexpected angles, forcing Zack to move and break his defensive posture.

  **Mira** followed, in a controlled frenzy. The Yellow pistol fired energy bursts while she manipulated dozens of energized cards, turning them into projection blades. She focused on area attacks, a shower of projectiles to overload Zack's defense, maintaining fine control to avoid her allies.

  **Orpheus** was the spearhead. He activated **Dog's Blood (Level 1)**, and his speed and perception increased exponentially. With the Koyote, he attacked with superhuman movements, aiming for the moment of distraction created by the others.

  Zack, in the center of the chaos, was restrained. He used the Black Moon to create shields of dark energy, blocking and deflecting the coordinated attacks. He analyzed, testing the growth of each one, a barely perceptible smile on his lips.

  The group's coordination was almost perfect. Lyra trapped him with gravity, Mira overloaded him with the card shower, and Orpheus, taking advantage of the opening, managed to land a glancing blow. The crucial moment came when K's **"Fraco"** ability hit him squarely. Zack staggered, and the group felt victory within reach.

  ## IV. The Turn and the Revelation of the King

  The group's coordination had worked. Zack was losing.

  It was then that the **Cold Fury** manifested.

  Zack unleashed his power. The Black Moon, which until then had only been defending, shone with an intense black light. K, who felt her attributes being exchanged, realized the fatal error: her ability only worked on living beings. The Black Moon was a non-living entity, and Zack's power was intrinsically linked to it. The attribute exchange was not working.

  The black energy exploded, engulfing the training ground. The red trees of the forest turned black, the red moon in the sky turned black. The environment changed, transforming into a tangible nightmare.

  **K** was the first to fall. Her mind was swallowed by the Black Moon's darkness. She felt despair, fear, death. Her body trembled, her legs went weak. The vision was terrifying: she saw her friend hanged, tied to a dry, dead tree. K saw her child self, laughing loudly while holding the rope. She pulled the rope, choking her friend even more, who gasped in pain. K screamed in despair, but her adult body joined the child K, pulling the rope, and she liked it. K began to cry and laugh at the same time, pulling the rope that was hanging her friend.

  Orpheus, Lyra, and Mira saw K paralyzed, in a trance, laughing and crying. The Black Moon had swallowed her mind. Orpheus shouted for Zack to stop, but he didn't answer. Lyra and Mira looked at Zack, but Zack didn't stop.

  — Do you think that by leaving, people won't attack what you care about most, Orpheus? — Zack's voice was cold, cutting.

  Orpheus saw K, her eyes wide, laughing and crying. Zack's anger, the anger that he didn't understand the danger, made Orpheus explode.

  — **Technique Level 3: Blood Eclipse!**

  The environment turned red. A crimson energy blossomed on the battlefield, different from Zack's darkness. It was hope, it was life. The energy gave positive feelings to Lyra and Mira, and awakened K from her trance. Orpheus's body radiated a red heat, and his katana shone with pure blood.

  In an instant, Orpheus disappeared, attacking Zack from all sides, floating in the air. Zack countered with the Black Moon, the attacks clashing in black and red sparks.

  Lyra used her gravity power to stop Zack's movements, slowing him down. Mira used her deck, throwing all the cards around Zack, creating a giant dome of cards with explosive energy. Lyra used gravity to make the cards lighter, and Orpheus did the same. A perfect combo, all united to stop Zack.

  K, from afar, was stunned. She understood the horror.

  *He's holding back... My God.*

  ### Zack's Technique

  The final demonstration of power was cinematic.

  Zack stopped countering. He raised the Black Moon and, in a quick movement, created a **shockwave** of dark energy that dispersed the group. He moved with a speed and precision that surpassed Orpheus's, dominating the field. His power was not just brute force, but absolute control over horror.

  With a precise blow from the Black Moon, Zack disarmed Orpheus. The sword flew and stuck into the ground.

  He immobilized Lyra with a pressure of dark energy on her, forcing her to her knees, unable to use gravity.

  Mira, trying to react, felt the pressure of the dark energy on her body, forcing her to retreat to the point of bleeding from the nose, the limit of her power usage.

  Zack stopped. He did not seriously injure them. The lesson was given.

  ## V. The Brutal Difference in Power

  Silence fell over the training ground. The black trees returned to red, the black moon returned to its original hue. K, Lyra, and Mira stood up, exhausted and terrified.

  Zack, victorious, sheathed the Black Moon.

  — Strength is not the ability to hit harder, Orpheus. Strength is the **unwavering will to protect what you love**. You fought well, but you still don't understand the true cost of war. The world out there won't test you; it will kill you. And if you can't beat me, you won't be able to protect anyone.

  Orpheus, now humble, understood the depth of Zack's power and the weight of his solitude. He knelt, not in defeat, but in respect.

  — I understand, Master. I understand the price.

  The farewell was bittersweet. Lyra and Mira hugged him, K gave him a map and a communication scroll.

  — Come back alive, Orpheus — Lyra said, tears streaming down her face.

  — And don't tarnish the Master's name — K completed.

  Orpheus left, taking with him the brutal lesson and the love of his family.

  Zack returned to the hideout. **The Boy** was waiting for him, sitting on the doorstep, with the small dagger in his hand.

  Zack approached, sat down next to him, and hugged him.

  — Did he leave, Zack?

  — Yes, kid. He left.

  Zack looked at the horizon, at the darkness that the Black Moon had brought and taken away. The promise of vengeance and the need for protection for The Boy were stronger than ever. He was the King of Horror, and the world would pay the price for everything he had lost.

  The chapter ended with Zack looking at The Boy, the future and the darkness in his eyes.