A black car sped past a puddle on the road, splattering water everywhere.

  Inside the car sat Nico Reeves. Her brows were knitted, and her chin rested on her hand.

  'Where did he go all of a sudden?' she thought, as the memory flashed before her:

  "Van?" Nico called, surprised, as she stared at Van, who stood outside the car with his eyes fixed on the sparks flying in the air.

  "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly ask the chauffeur to stop?" Nico asked, glancing at the sky.

  "Shit," Van muttered, his eyes widening.

  "What?" Nico said, alarmed.

  "Uh, Nico, I'm really sorry," Van said. His gaze lowered to her. "I gotta go."

  "Eh?" Nico blurted in shock. "Now? What about our date?"

  "Maybe another time," Van replied, turning away.

  "Wait, at least tell me what happened!" Nico screamed.

  "I'll hit you up on it later," Van said hurriedly as he disappeared into an alley.

  "Ohmigosh," Nico exclaimed and turned back to the sky, staring at the fireworks in a mix of confusion and disappointment.

  ...

  "He could've at least told me what happened," Nico grumbled. 'Am I not important enough?' she worried.

  ...

  Meanwhile, on the other side of town.

  "Who do we have here? Glock Harbinger!" Van said, beaming and waving. "Man, I didn't know you still existed," he added, his voice filled with mock concern.

  Glock blinked, visibly bored and uninterested. His gaze shifted, locking onto Terror before moving back to Van.

  "Can't blame me, man," Van shrugged. "Even though it's against my philosophy to bully the weak, I find it hard to follow it when the person wants me to—"

  "You talk too much," Glock cut in coldly.

  "Eh?" Van paused.

  "I'm not here to listen to your crap," Glock muttered, stepping forward. His tone deepened as a dark, malevolent aura cloaked him.

  "I heard you took on a new guild member," he said. "The only survivor of the Teron Forest incident."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Oh, you knew?" Van said, surprised.

  "I arrived soon after you left," Glock replied. "And luckily, there was a souvenir blood left for me."

  He grinned.

  "You must've already known that the Vesta barrier has been breached."

  "Yeah, pretty old news," Van replied, waving dismissively. "Quite the paradox if you ask me," he added. "The barrier can't be opened without the key, yet the first layer was opened?"

  "Shocking, isn't it?" Glock muttered. "Who knew a drop of blood would possess such power? Power enough to override the ancient seals that keep demons separated from humans."

  Van's gaze darkened. "So, what you're saying is..." He started.

  "There's no longer one key," Glock finished. He slowly raised his hand, pointing his finger at something behind Van.

  "That kid's blood is the second key."

  Van's eyes rolled, sighting Code's remains.

  Glock's lips curled. "Van Ackerman. What're you doing hiding a zero?"

  "Haha, you got me," Van chuckled and admitted. "However, you think I'll let you take him because of that?" He asked, raising his palm.

  "Haha, we don't have to go that far," Glock chuckled. "At least, not yet."

  "The true war is just about to begin!"

  "Huh?" Van muttered.

  "My letter should've reached old man Zoldrak by now."

  "You've two options," Glock announced. "One, the Sorcerer-general surrenders the key he hides, or two: you surrender that kid."

  "Surrendering both doesn't sound so bad either," he smiled.

  "And if I don't pick any option?" Van said.

  "Simple," Glock chuckled mischievously. "I'll forcefully shatter the barrier."

  "At the expense of your life?" Van whispered.

  "One lifetime out of thousands makes no difference," Glock replied.

  "You should already know what'll happen if the barrier is shattered. I mean, you and your cousin experienced it firsthand twelve years ago." Glock's grin widened, his eyes slitting ominously. "The day the Ackerman Family was wiped out, and thousands of civilians were murdered."

  "Tch," Van clicked his tongue, anger bubbling in his eyes.

  "Just do as I say, and I won't involve civilians," Glock warned, turning away as the wind flayed his coat. A blue sorcery circle appeared beneath his foot, and beneath Terror.

  "One last thing, Ackerman," Glock called before his body finished dematerializing. "We both know what'd happen if W.A.S finds out you're hiding a zero."

  "Is that a threat?" Van replied, gaze hardened.

  "Interpret it as you like," Glock said, and with that, he and Terror disappeared as the blue circle faded.

  A soft wind blew across the terrain, flaying Van's hair aside.

  ...

  World Association of Sorcerers Headquarters, Hazen.

  "... you've two weeks to decide," Arthur Smith read from the letter. He stood before the Sorcerer-general of Eldrid: Sir Zelazny Zoldrak, who sat in his imposing leather chair.

  "Yours faithfully... Harbinger Glock," Arthur finished.

  "So Glock is declaring war on Eldrid, huh?" Sir Zoldrak muttered, caressing his temples.

  "According to the contents of this letter, he's asking for the only key that opens the Vesta barrier," Arthur replied.

  "The one entrusted to me by the Ackerman and Welles' houses," Sir Zoldrak whispered, his brows furrowed. "Harbinger isn't the type to bluff," he said.

  "That's right, sir," Arthur nodded. "And his time manipulation prowess is not human. It could be fatal if we take him on."

  "Goddamn it," Sir Zoldrak clicked his tongue. His eyes narrowed, and he came to a decision.

  "If Glock wants war, then we'll give him that!" he shouted, rising to his feet.

  "Summon every sorcerer ranking from the fifth-tier grade to first-tier!" he commanded. "We're having a meeting."

  "Also, Arthur, start prepping emergency shelters across Eldrid. We may need to evacuate civilians.”!"

  "Yes, sir," Arthur said, spinning on his heel as he walked out of the room.

  "Hmm," Sir Zoldrak hummed, falling back into his chair.

  'Arrggh, I'm just an old man,' he sighed, rubbing his forehead. 'For Aethrauzon's sake, why can't I just have a peaceful time at work before retirement?'