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  # Chapter 28: The Man Worth a Billion Gold Coins

  ## I. The Walk Beneath the Red Moon

  The world's darkness was a constant, a void that seemed to have swallowed the light itself. The sky displayed the red moon, and the air, heavy and dense, was the burden carried daily. That morning, Zack and K walked the roads leading to the Red City, just thirty minutes from their fortress-home. They passed the Black Lake, whose waters reflected the sky's melancholy, and the Red Forest, whose trees seemed to silently observe the pair.

  It was one of the rare times K had the chance to be alone with Zack. Initially, she felt a reverential fear. Zack's deeds had turned his name into a legend of terror. "Zack" was a common name, but the **Black-Eyed Hunter** was a moniker that belonged to only one man, a man whose head was worth the astronomical bounty of **one billion gold coins**.

  Three years by his side had dismantled the image of the monster. K noticed the kindness, the love, and, most importantly, the guilt he carried for past mistakes. He had a strong, undeniable aura, but inside, he was a man who felt he had never truly accomplished anything.

  As they walked, K observed Zack. He carried the Black Moon on his back, disguised beneath a dark cloak to conceal the sword and his identity. His black eyes were fixed on something K couldn't see, a line on the horizon only he perceived.

  — Zack, can I ask you something personal?

  — Sure...

  K hesitated, looking at Zack's tired face. His black eyes, deep and lusterless, spoke volumes about the weight he carried.

  — Orpheus left a month ago. You know you can talk to me. I'll be here. I know I'm not Orpheus, or Lyra or Mira. However, I'm here to listen, and I won't judge you.

  Zack stopped and looked at K. The brunette woman, with red eyes and curly hair, was for the first time treating him as a friend, without the fear that enveloped him like a shroud.

  Zack resumed walking, not answering. K felt uncomfortable, thinking her attempt at closeness had failed.

  But then, Zack replied, his voice low, almost a whisper to the wind:

  — I'm going back to my hometown, K. **The Polyhedron Country**. The people, my old friends, are there. The truth, K, is that the fight against Tobi, my great hunting brother, affected me deeply. I discovered a lot of information, and in a way, I feel like I'm in a *loop*. It feels like I've lived this before and I'm just starting over.

  K was surprised to see Zack open up. Her tactical mind struggled to keep up: Zack, loop, Polyhedron Country. It was too much information.

  — Why do you feel that way? Did the fight unlock memories in you, Zack?

  — Yes. In fact, Tobi told me everything. The truth is he was used and discarded by someone we both loved very much and whom I thought was dead.

  — My God — K replied, her voice full of empathy. — Your life isn't easy, Zack. I'm so sorry.

  — It's okay, K. We all had a difficult life. I know about your friend, and I also know about your past.

  ## II. The Black Moon's Confession

  K grabbed Zack's arm, stopping him abruptly. They both turned and looked at each other.

  — How do you know, Zack?! — K shouted, surprise quickly turning into fury and betrayal.

  — I saw your memories during our battle, when you helped Orpheus.

  — How?

  — The Black Moon read your mind. And now I know too. I'm sorry, K, but I have no control over it... The sword consumes and absorbs all your fears and weaknesses.

  K felt sick, betrayed, humiliated. The pain of having her most intimate secret exposed, the memory of her hanged friend, was the burden she carried. Her fists clenched, rage boiling in her red eyes.

  But, in a matter of seconds, she felt a hand on her left shoulder. Zack took off his hood, revealing his face. The smile he gave was the most loving side K had ever felt, a smile that disarmed the King of Horror. He apologized to K and looked deeply into her eyes.

  — As long as you're suffering, I'll be by your side to help you. That's what friends do.

  The anger in K's eyes, the clenched fists, slowly transformed into lightness. The most feared man in the world was showing his gentlest side to her.

  K hugged Zack in an act of connection. It was the first strong embrace between them, an embrace that sealed the beginning of a true friendship, forged in shared pain and mutual acceptance.

  ## III. The Barrier and the Messiah

  Upon reaching the Red City, they were stopped by a barrier. It was invisible, but to Zack and K, who could sense the energy, it was palpable. Only strong people felt and looked at that barrier, created by Ygon to sense the presence of anyone entering the city. He wanted to know everything that came in and went out.

  — I can't go in, K. You'll have to do the shopping.

  K looked at Zack, confused.

  — Why not? You always come with Lyra, Mira, and The Boy.

  — Yes, I come, K, but I don't go in. If I go in, you might be in danger, and I don't want to draw attention.

  K remembered that three years ago, before Ygon dominated the city, Zack was seen as a messiah, treated like a deity.

  — But Zack, they love you...

  — Not anymore, K. Ygon manipulates the city, the religion, the army. His speech is beautiful, but he's afraid of me. Imagine how the population would react if they saw me. They would support me and be on my side. I am the one Ygon cannot take away from the people. I am the messiah for the red citizens.

  K finally understood. Wherever Zack went, everything changed. She nodded, her face and body firm, ready for the task.

  — I'll go in, do the shopping, and leave quickly. Wait for me out here.

  — Right, K. Be careful and lower your aura level. Your power might draw attention.

  K simply nodded and crossed the barrier, heading towards the red wooden gate and black stones. The gate was thirty meters high, guarded by several soldiers in red armor with the symbol of a large eye on it. The soldiers looked at K, and she looked back, passing through calmly.

  Inside the city, the houses had changed. The red architecture and red streets were slowly being replaced by black. Ygon was gradually stripping the place of its identity.

  — You kill the culture and soon you kill the memories. That way, the people don't know what they're fighting for — K said to herself.

  The city, which was prosperous, remained even more prosperous. No one went hungry, markets were open, and there were stalls selling everything. Mercenaries, assassins, thieves, and hunters were everywhere, but there was a clear law imposed by Ygon: if anyone killed, stole, or did anything against the order, they would be burned alive in the central square. Ygon gave freedom for any human trash to enter, but there were rules. Everyone followed them, as Ygon had killed thousands of people who did not comply.

  K passed through the square and saw giant wooden stakes with bodies placed on them. Several people were dead, crucified, and others had already been burned, leaving only charred remains. There were people crying, others laughing and enjoying the view.

  — So this is the equality he seeks — K said. — Terrifying.

  ## IV. The Leaky Mug Bar

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  From afar, K spotted the bar where, three years ago, she had been with Tobi, Zack, and others from the group. She thought: *I'll buy drinks for Zack. He really loved drinking at this bar, and I think it will be a great gift.*

  The bar was called **The Leaky Mug** (*Caneca Furada*). K headed towards it, crossing the central square, a journey that felt like passing through hell.

  The Leaky Mug was built in an extreme Gothic style, occupying what was once a chapel. Ogival arches supported a high ceiling painted with frescoes depicting ancient battles between red-eyed warriors and creatures of darkness. Decorative gargoyles perched on column ledges, observing customers with expressions frozen in malicious smiles or grimaces of pain.

  The lighting came from wrought-iron chandeliers and blue-flame lanterns, creating a hypnotic play of light and shadow that danced across the dark stone walls. Massive tables of carved wood filled the main space, each surrounded by high-backed chairs that resembled small thrones.

  The bar counter itself was a work of art: a single slab of petrified black wood, polished to an obsidian sheen, carved with scenes of ancient battles and forgotten rituals. Behind it, shelves displayed an impressive collection of bottles containing liquids of every imaginable color — some glowing from within, others emitting smoke or slowly changing hue. The decor was completed by human and unknown creature skulls, some turned into mugs or lamps, others simply arranged on the shelves as silent trophies of untold stories.

  The bar was crowded. The clinking of mugs, loud conversations, and occasional laughter created a cacophony that contrasted with the somber atmosphere outside. Card games were underway at several tables, with high stakes won and lost in seconds.

  From afar, K noticed the same bartender. Behind the counter was **Vex** — a tall, thin man, with intense red eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. Bald, with ritual tattoos covering his skull and neck, he wore a leather apron over simple black clothes. His hands moved with impressive precision as he mixed drinks.

  Vex recognized K and raised a mug, catching her attention. K went over and sat on the stool, leaning against the counter.

  — Do you remember me, Vex?

  — How could I forget such a beautiful brunette.

  They both laughed, and the mood became more pleasant for K.

  — Where is Zack? I miss him.

  — He couldn't come. I believe you know why, Vex.

  — I do... — Vex looked intently at K.

  — I'm going to take some drinks for him, and I want you to set aside the best ones he loves.

  Vex showed a huge smile.

  — It's my pleasure. You won't pay anything, it's on the house. He's a brother.

  K didn't understand why people loved Zack so much, even knowing he was considered a monster.

  — Why don't you fear him or hunt him for the bounty, Vex? What's wrong with this city? They love Zack.

  Vex used his skills in a blend of agility with glasses, bottles, and acrobatics.

  — It's simple... **He founded this bar and saved this city many times.**

  K's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open in surprise.

  — No way! You're kidding me.

  — Many years ago, Zack arrived. He was just a boy, looking for help, a home, desperate for scraps. His black eyes made no difference here. We treated him, cared for him, and gave him a home. The city welcomed him without even knowing his name or where he came from.

  Vex continued, his voice grave:

  — This city was attacked by monsters from the red continent. People died every day, children were the most affected because they were easy targets. The city was rapidly shrinking. The monsters increased, and the creatures began to develop thoughts, speech, and consciousness.

  K questioned:

  — The stories say that the creatures of the void always maintained balance over the red continent and never attacked humans.

  Vex laughed, a genuine laugh, and cried with laughter, as if it were a joke. He handed K a red cup with black liquid and a napkin, while wiping his eyes.

  — Then... everything changed, K. The creatures didn't enter the city. The population didn't understand why this change, until one of the elders said that Zack, every night, hunted the creatures that entered the city. His presence, the energy he emanated, his aura, made all the creatures, who are now conscious, afraid to attack the population. In the end, K, **Zack disciplined the monsters to fear the consequences.**

  K took a gulp and drank her entire drink. Her eyes shone. That was the coolest story she had ever heard.

  — Zack is a fucking badass — K replied, toasting Vex.

  They both smiled upon discovering that their mutual friend was not the monster worth a billion gold coins, but their savior.

  A New World

  ## I. Ambush at The Leaky Mug

  The atmosphere at The Leaky Mug bar was one of rare relaxation for K. Between sips of a crimson drink, she exchanged information with Vex. The bartender, with his hypnotic agility, prepared the bottles Zack loved so much, while telling jokes and stories about the bar's old regulars. K felt, for the first time in a long time, at peace.

  *Clack!*

  The sound of splintering wood cut through the bar's cacophony like thunder. Before K could process the noise, an explosion of speed hit her. A red leg, moving like a blur, struck the side of her head. The impact was devastating. K's body tore through the bar's concrete wall, being violently thrown into the street.

  K struggled to stand. Her hunter's outfit—the brown skirt over black pants and the dark cloak—was in tatters, revealing skin bruised by the impact. She dug her hands into the ground, her fingers scraping the soil as her body still dragged backward from the inertia of the blow.

  Her red pupils moved frantically, trying to track the aggressor. From above, a bodily whirlwind descended towards her, aiming to crush her skull. K reacted by instinct, crossing her arms over her head to mitigate the impact. The red foot hit her forearms with the force of a hydraulic hammer. Her feet sank into the ground, creating a crater beneath her, but she resisted.

  However, the attack was coordinated. Before her, a silver sword flashed, lunging towards her abdomen. K forced her feet down, summoning an earth barrier that rose instantly. The silver blade collided with the solid rock, stopping mere millimeters from her body.

  The two aggressors retreated, maintaining a cautious distance. Both wore red cloaks adorned with a giant eye pendant—Ygon's symbol.

  — I'm a hunter! — K shouted, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. — Why the hell are you attacking me?

  — Where is Zack? — The voice that answered was cold and devoid of emotion.

  The crowd in the street quickly dispersed. The citizens of the Red City knew how to recognize the scent of imminent death. The energy emanating from the three combatants was dense enough to make breathing difficult.

  — Now I get it — K hissed. — You're hunters too. You're after the billion.

  Vex appeared in the middle of the battlefield, his eyes wide.

  — Do you realize what you're doing? Attacking inside the city? If Ygon finds out, you'll be dead in less than a day!

  The two aggressors removed their cloaks. Vex took a step back, his face paling.

  — What the hell is going on here?! — the bartender shouted.

  — We were waiting for Zack's next visit — one of them said. — But it seems his scent is on you. Funny... we've been analyzing that same scent for months. Before it was women and a man. Now it's you.

  K felt a chill. They were not amateurs; they had been preparing this hunt for months.

  — Get out of there, Vex! — K shouted. — Or they'll kill you!

  Vex was trembling. He recognized those faces.

  — They are generals of Ygon's army... But what the hell is this? Zack is a hero of this city!

  One of the figures stepped forward. She was a woman of stunning and lethal beauty. Skin black as night, short black hair adorned with piercings and ritual tattoos that trailed down her neck and arms. Her clothes were torn, covered by a red cloak that dragged on the ground. When she spoke, her voice had a vibrant, almost musical tone that caused a disturbing pleasure in those who heard it.

  — Cover your ears! — Vex shouted at K, desperate.

  Without understanding, K obeyed. But, in seconds, Vex himself, with glazed eyes, drew a dagger and lunged at K's neck. She dodged with a perfect acrobatic move, feeling the wind of the blade pass by her throat.

  — Damn it, Vex! She's controlling you! — K realized the trap. The woman, **Nati**, was moving her lips in a continuous whisper, words of power that K couldn't hear, but which bent the will of anyone within range.

  ## II. The Reflection of Blood

  Far away, Zack waited on the edge of a small lake. K's delay was eating at him. He knew she was capable, but the time that had passed since she crossed the barrier was excessive. The red moon reflected in the water, giving the lake the appearance of a pool of fresh blood.

  Zack threw stones into the water, watching the ripples expand, when he felt a presence. K was by his side.

  — You scared me, K! — Zack jumped forward, falling into the water and soaking his clothes. He let out a sincere laugh, trying to ease the tension. — Are you crazy? I almost peed my pants!

  But the laugh died in his throat when he looked at her. K's clothes were torn, her body covered in bruises, and her mouth was bleeding. Zack's expression changed instantly. His body became rigid, the aura of amusement replaced by a cold fury.

  — I was delayed — K said, but her eyes lacked their usual sparkle. They were dull, empty.

  — Who attacked you? Where are they? — Zack was already reaching for the hilt of the Black Moon.

  K looked fixedly into Zack's eyes and said, in a voice that didn't sound like hers:

  — Behind you...

  At the same instant, a silver sword emerged from the lake's waters, aiming for Zack's heart. He dodged by pure instinct, pulling K with him to protect her. But the moment he held her, he felt a hand crushing his throat. K threw him to the ground with brutal, killing force.

  — Damn it! — Zack shouted, the impact opening a crater in the ground. Blood gushed from his mouth. — You're being controlled, K!

  Nati appeared in the sky, descending like a meteor. Her red leg struck Zack's chest, sinking him further into the hole. She and K retreated, positioning themselves side by side.

  — Use your strongest ability now! — Nati ordered.

  An overwhelming purple energy emanated from K, exploding into a column of light that touched the sky. The man with the silver sword, **Zuko**, looked at Nati with admiration and fear.

  — My God, she's a fucking strong one. That bitch must have a Dragon-level ability!

  — Keep her under control, Nati! — Zuko shouted.

  K activated her ability: **"Fraco"** (Weakness).

  Zack felt the world spin. His attributes were instantly drained. All his energy, strength, and agility were transferred to K, while he received her weakness.

  — Shit! — Zack roared, forcing his body out of the hole in an explosion of rocks and dirt.

  Nati smiled, a cruel glint in her eyes.

  — Now Zack can be killed. His power is ours. Let's kill him now! Attack with everything, Zuko!

  ## III. The Silence and the Sentence

  Zuko advanced, his silver sword gleaming with a sinister light.

  — **Technique Level 3: Silence!**

  A deafening sound of weeping and wailing filled the air. The sound distorted space and the environment, directly attacking the minds of those who heard it, evoking the worst traumas and pains.

  Zuko wielded the weapon with both hands, preparing the final blow. Zack, retreating, felt the weight of K's weakness in his limbs. He knew that if he didn't resolve this in seconds, he would be dead.

  He drew the **Black Moon**.

  The black blade collided with the silver sword, blocking Zuko's attack. To the general's surprise, the wailing sound of the "Silence" technique did not seem to affect Zack.

  — You think that crying scares me? — Zack's voice was a whisper from the abyss. — My life is much worse than a crying sword.

  Zuko felt his pride shattered. Being humiliated by a man who should be weakened was too much for him. In a fit of rage, he changed strategy, attacking with all his brute force.

  Nati screamed for him to stop, realizing the mistake, but it was too late.

  In a movement that human eyes could not follow, the Black Moon described a perfect arc. In seconds, Zuko's head was severed from his neck. Nati watched, paralyzed, as her ally's head rolled onto the blood-stained ground. Ygon's general had been killed like any animal.

  Zack wiped the blood from the blade, his black eyes fixed on Nati.

  — Nati... — Her name came out like a death sentence. — I'm going to kill you, you wretch.

  **END OF CHAPTER**