Deep in the forest, two lights were moving at an incredible speed. They had a worried look on their faces. Behind them was a 20-year-old boy who was following them at a much faster speed. This young man had an evil smile on his face and it felt like he was going to eat them.

  The two people were Zaheer and John. They were both trying to run away from Nail as fast as they could. But the chained boy was really fast. As you would expect from someone on Half Step 2.

  "Come on, slow down a little! You're making me work for it!!!"

  Zaheer and John could only grit their teeth at the man's words. This man was strong, and it didn't take a genius to realize that if he caught them, he would do something bad to them.

  But Zaheer and John knew that no matter what they did, they would be caught. The man was too fast and too strong. There was almost a layer of difference between them.

  The two of them kept moving forward without giving up, but at that moment, Zaheer had other things on his mind.

  "John..."

  Zaheer's voice was so calm that even John was startled. How could he speak so freely at such a moment?

  A naive smile appeared on Zaheer's face.

  "If he continues like this, he will catch both of us.... But one of us has to tell the academies about this..... Before it's too late...."

  John saw the look on Zaheer's face and his eyes widened in surprise. After a few seconds he realized what Zaheer meant. He was about to protest when Zaheer interrupted again.

  "Don't argue, John. I am stronger than you and you have more potential than I do. Eventually you will surpass me, but for now let me do what I have to do..."

  'One day you will be a memory in everyone's eyes....

  Do your best to be one of the good ones...'

  The words that went through John's mind were what Kai had said to Zaheer on the day they were camping. When he looked into Zaheer's eyes, there was a sparkle. But it wasn't the will to live.

  It was the will to protect the people you love!

  Zaheer suddenly grabbed John and threw him forward. As John flew forward, he could only turn around for a moment to see Zaheer's face. Zaheer looked happy. But was he really? Even then, John was sure that Zaheer was trying very hard not to wet himself.

  Who would knowingly throw himself to his death? Why would he do that? John wanted to ask Zaheer all these questions, but he couldn't. The same thing had happened when they had marched on the academy and the hunters had attacked them. Cia had deliberately thrown herself to her death, taking what little chance she had to save John.

  'Why are you doing this?!'

  "ZAHEER!!!!!"

  A tear fell from John's eye, but he couldn't turn to help Zaheer. His heart and mind wanted to, but his body knew what he had to do. He had to go.

  John's tears flowed and he quickened his pace, but at that moment Nail's eyes were on John instead of Zaheer.

  "Where do you think you're going?"

  Nail suddenly stretched his two chains forward. A staff appeared in Zaheer's hand, and although Zaheer was able to block one of them, the other chain was headed straight for John's back.

  Zaheer was worried. Would he not be able to save John even now?

  As the chain moved toward John's back, John turned his head and looked at it with a look of hatred and anger.

  "PURE LIFE ICE!!!"

  In an instant, John's clothes were torn off, revealing the Pure Life Ice of the Ice Land covering his body like a jacket. John waved his hand as the chain rushed toward John, and the Pure Life Ice collided with the chain.

  CRACK!!!

  Even though the chain was shattered, John was not in a very good condition. He vomited a handful of blood and quickly wrapped the Pure Life Ice around his body again. Even though his body began to heal with the help of the Pure Life Ice, his anger still remained. He wanted to fight, but the only thing he could do was run.

  Zaheer looked at John's rapidly advancing figure and then turned his gaze to Nail. Thanks to his rage, John had just reached the peak of the Beginning of Purple Lightning. But even if he could fight now, it was too late. They still couldn't resist Nail.

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  "You really let him escape. But I really didn't expect him to become a king. It's a surprising development."

  Nail didn't say anything more because countless Zaheer had rushed towards him and each of them was filled with killing intent towards Nail.

  "Hahaha, trying to escape like that? Do you think I'm stupid?!"

  The chain on Nail's back suddenly grew and cut through all the Zaheers like a moth. It cut so easily that for a moment Zaheer thought there was something wrong with his technique.

  Zaheer suddenly threw himself back, using dozens of Zaheers to protect himself. But Nail was too fast and too strong.

  "Purple Sunflower Art!!! 9 Petal Sunflower!!!”

  In an instant, the Zaheers were scattered on all 9 sides of Nail, and a purple light exploded in the palm of each hand. The attacks moved in a pattern and even Nail couldn't move. But there was no trace of surprise on his face. Only curiosity.

  Within seconds, the 9 Petal Sunflower had completed its form, forming a sunflower several ten meters across around Nail. All of Zaheer's replicas were drenched in sweat. The real Zaheer was trying not to faint. As he formed the shape, he made a mistake in his weakness and the purple sunflower light bounced off and hit his leg. The deep burn on Zaheer's leg and the blood draining from his body proved to Nail how violent this attack had been.

  As Zaheer struggled to hold on, the Sunflower Lights finally merged. They began to interpenetrate, forming a ring within seconds. This attack could not have had a widespread effect since only one person could freeze. However, it was very useful for Zaheer right now.

  "Smash!!!"

  The rings suddenly vibrated and shrank. It looked like they were all going to crush Nail. But in contrast to all this, Nail's expression was very relaxed.

  "Stop stalling me, brat!"

  Suddenly the chains shot out of Nail's back and flew in all directions, colliding with the ring.

  Actually, it was hardly a collision at all. Nail sliced through Zaheer's technique. The chains suddenly accelerated and rushed towards Zaheer, who was dazed and weak.

  The chains that were about to pass through Zaheer were stopped at that moment by the arrival of hundreds of Zaheer. Each one rushed forward to protect Zaheer and fell victim to the chain, but it was still too fast. One by one, the copies of Zaheer disappeared. Raindrops slowly fell from the sky and soaked Zaheer's face.

  Zaheer turned around and began to walk. He moved with a limp. Each step was very slow and a lawn mower was following behind him. And he was now the tallest grass.

  'Dying here? Is this really going to happen?'

  Zaheer thought to himself, but he still tried to escape, pushing himself to his limits.

  Right now, the good character was supposed to awaken his powers or something. Maybe my purpose was different.

  'How much longer can I live?'

  Nail's look at Zaheer was devoid of even the slightest pity. He looked at Zaheer as if he were looking at a creature that didn't deserve to live. As Zaheer limped forward, Nail waved his hand and one of the chains moved with great speed and hit Zaheer's leg. Zaheer's face turned white and he coughed up a handful of blood as the sound of the bone breaking in his leg sent even the birds flying.

  "What a stupid bug. I expected you to use forbidden techniques to distract me. Even I was surprised that you could hurt yourself with such a simple attack."

  Zaheer's legs were broken and he was crawling on the ground, but when he heard Nail's words, he turned around and looked at Nail's face. A smile filled with bloody teeth formed on his face.

  "If I knew a forbidden technique, I would have sent you to hell long ago! But I did what I wanted to do, turn around and kiss my ass!"

  Nail's eyebrows twitched, and in a moment of rage, he punched Zaheer in the stomach. The earth beneath Zaheer crumbled and scattered. Before Zaheer could say anything, he had vomited a mouthful of blood. Blood poured from the corner of his mouth. He couldn't hold his head up and hit the ground.

  "I've wasted so much time with you, I can't follow the other one. I don't want any surprises."

  Nail finally took his head off Zaheer and started walking back the way he had come. Zaheer breathed deeply. His legs were broken and he seemed to be bleeding inside. Although his body was as strong as steel, he was weaker than tofu in the face of Nail's punch. The only thing he could do now was to rest for a while and then find John.

  KRANKKKKK!!!

  Suddenly, Zaheer's bones shattered and Zaheer's eyes widened in fear. There were 3 chains on his belly from 3 different places. Each one was stabbing him in places that could kill him. Zaheer didn't even realize what had happened.

  "Did you really think I would let you live? How pathetic. Even watching someone like you die is disgusting to me. You sacrifice yourself to save your friend, but you say it's to save people? What a nice guy.... I'm sorry I don't mind you dying like this. "

  Nail finally turned around and left Zaheer to die slowly in the rain. As the raindrops fell on Zaheer's face, Zaheer's life flashed before his eyes.

  "The world of developers is really different.... "I realized that the first time I got off the bus...."

  "If only I had known I was going to suffer so much."

  "Then I wouldn't have let myself have so many friends."

  "I'm sorry, Sarah.... I wish I could have stayed with you longer, you are the best student I ever had and the only student I will ever have."

  As the blood slowly spread through Zaheer's body, Zaheer turned his head slightly and rubbed his head on some dirt. He sniffed and inhaled the scent of the rain-soaked earth.

  "Kai..... You were really right.... If I'm going to be a memory in everyone's eyes. Why shouldn't I be one of the good ones?"

  "I'm sorry I ran away. I was just scared. I am... I'm still scared!"

  As Zaheer looked up at the sky, the drops that were falling from the sky now disappeared along with Zaheer's tears. Zaheer's face was now very white.

  "I don't want to die! Just let me stay, Yama! Let me continue to protect you!!!"

  Zaheer said nothing for a while. But the blood covered every part of his body and a small pool of blood formed underneath. Finally, Zaheer raised his hand forcefully and wiped where his eyes had been. Then he looked up at the sky again,

  "What the hell am I talking about? My time is up. I won't run anymore. I can rest in peace now..."

  Zaheer slowly started to raise his arm. His hand was shaking. He had lost so much blood that it was a miracle he could lift his hand at all. Zaheer tried to touch the raindrops with pure will. It was the last time he wanted to touch the rain.

  "I'm sorry Sarah... ..... Forgive me .... "

  Then Zaheer's hand fell and never rose again.