CHAPTER 297: NO LONGER HEROES

Zain stepped in, calm and confident.

He saw them.

Zelia and Savra.

He smirked.

"Big sister Zelia. Savra. Long time no see."

Zelia’s eyes widened.

She stood up so fast the chair behind her shook.

She rushed across the room and threw her arms around him.

"Zain... you’re really here. You’re actually here."

Zain gently returned the hug. His hand rested on her back for a moment.

"I’m here," he said quietly. "Took a bit of time."

Savra stayed back.

She crossed her arms, watching the scene. Her lips twitched.

"I still don’t get it," she said. "How can you even be here?"

She walked closer, her red hair swinging behind her.

"The last time I saw you, you were still just an A-rank hero. Not even close to Supreme Island level."

Her eyes narrowed.

"It’s not that easy to come here. Most can’t even find a way in."

"And you did it... in less than a year?"

Zain chuckled.

"Well, I’m not most people."

Savra raised an eyebrow.

"Then explain."

Zain leaned against the wall, his arms crossed now.

"There was a teleportation platform," he said.

"Hidden. Not part of the Hero Association’s network. I found it by chance."

Zelia looked up.

"You used an illegal gate?"

Zain nodded.

"Yeah. Took a risk. But it worked."

Savra’s eyes slowly widened.

"So you didn’t go through the Hero Association?"

"Nope."

"Then... you weren’t tracked."

Zain smirked again.

"Exactly."

Savra stepped forward now, close enough to look him in the eyes.

"Figures," she said.

"Only someone like you would find a backdoor into the most secure place in the world."

Zain tilted his head.

"You sound impressed."

"I’m very impressed," she said. "And a little annoyed."

Zain blinked.

"Why are you annoyed?"

"Because you found us so fast," Savra said.

"And we were trying so hard to stay hidden."

Zelia turned and walked back to the bed.

Her fingers brushed the edge of the blanket.

"You weren’t supposed to be here," she said softly.

"We thought... we’d meet you later. Not now."

Zain walked toward her and stood beside her.

"Later wasn’t good enough," he said. "I had my reasons."

Zelia looked up at him. Her eyes were calm, but full of emotion.

"I’m glad you’re here," she whispered.

Zain nodded, giving her a small smile.

Savra stretched her arms and leaned against the wall.

She crossed one leg over the other, eyes narrowing a little.

"By the way, Zain," she said, "who is that girl? Velra?"

Zain looked toward her.

Savra pointed toward the door.

"I’ve been watching her. That power, her speed, her style... it finally clicked."

She raised an eyebrow.

"She’s the Velvet Demon, isn’t she? That AA-rank villain from the lower zones."

Zelia turned sharply at that.

"What?"

Savra crossed her arms.

"Why are you with her?"

Zain paused.

He looked at both of them, then scratched the back of his neck.

"Right... I forgot you don’t know the full story."

He pulled a chair and sat down in front of them.

"Let me start from the beginning. In the lower zones, things didn’t go the way I planned."

He looked straight at them.

"And I’m no longer a hero."

Zelia’s lips parted slightly.

Savra blinked.

"What?"

"I said," Zain repeated, "I’m no longer a hero."

"Officially, I’ve been labeled an AA-rank villain."

Zelia looked stunned.

Savra tilted her head.

"Wait... what?"

Zain pointed at the door.

"Velra, the Velvet Demon. She was mine before anyone even knew her name."

"She made her debut under my orders. She’s not just with me. She’s my slave."

Savra blinked again.

"Slave?"

Zain nodded once.

"She wears a collar. One that can’t be removed. I marked her. She obeys only me."

Zelia’s eyes widened.

"You’re serious?"

Zain looked calm.

"I’m always serious."

Savra laughed a little.

"So... let me get this straight. You were the man behind the Velvet Demon’s attacks?"

"Yes."

Savra smiled.

"So you were a double agent all this time?"

"You could say that."

Zelia leaned forward slightly.

"What about the ones that attacked us back then?"

"The villain group that tried to ambush us near the plaza?"

Zain’s face turned serious.

"They weren’t mine. They were random thugs trying to stir things up."

"Trying to ruin our name."

Savra looked at him with sharp eyes.

"Our name?"

Zain nodded.

"They tried to damage our reputation."

Zelia slowly nodded, thinking.

"And what happened to them?" Savra asked.

Zain smirked.

"Velra handled it. Clean and quick. No one left to talk."

Savra shook her head slowly.

"You really changed, Zain."

Zain leaned back in the chair.

"Did I?"

Zelia smiled faintly.

"You always had this in you. You just stopped pretending."

Zain looked at both of them.

"I didn’t come here to play hero."

"I came here to build something of my own. A real sect. A real power."

Savra stretched again and grinned.

"Well, then. Looks like things just got interesting."

Zain leaned back in his chair and nodded.

"Yeah, it got really interesting. Especially you."

Savra raised a brow.

"What about me?"

Zain looked at her and sighed.

"You’re not even a hero anymore. Now you’re a cult leader."

Savra gave a light laugh and casually flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"Hehehe. Surprised?"

Zain let out a slow sigh.

"You even dragged my big sister into that cult."

He turned his eyes toward Zelia.

Zelia sat quietly on the bed, her eyes calm.

Savra lowered her arms and gave a small smile.

"About that..." she said softly. "I’m sorry."

Zain tilted his head.

"That’s the only way I could reach Supreme Island," she continued.

"I needed to give us power. The only way to protect Zelia... was to lead something strong."

Zelia nodded.

"I agreed with her. It was the best choice at the time."

Zain looked at them both for a moment. Then he nodded.

"I see. So, in the end... we’re not that different."

Savra stepped closer and smirked again.

"No. We’re not."

Zelia stood up, her voice gentle.

"But now, we’re together again."

Zain crossed his arms and smiled.