Gin moves closer to the armored man, lying on his stomach and unconscious, who has been swung to the bottom of the prison by Ao, and puts on the automatic handcuffs he was wearing earlier, and locks them

Ao: Walk closer to Gin “Do you have to capture the whole troop?“
Gin: Turns back to Ao “Yes, they're wanted for destroying a nearby village in the kingdom of Kamelott“

Silver Fang, destroying a village?
That's not something they would do.. Looks at the unconscious man in armor

Ao looks puzzled, and takes a moment to reflect
while Gin waits patiently in front of him
Ao: Looks at Gin “How long are you going to wait for me?“
Gin: Looks at Ao with admiration, eyes shining and a smile plastered to his cheeks “Hihihi I'm waiting for big brother Ao to show me how we're going to capture them”
Ao: Exasperated “Uuuuuuuuuuh..“

Well.. I wanted to try to make a “soft” capture without hurting anyone, but if I take into account the actions of the man in armor, and the news about the destruction of a village
Zack must have lost control of his group.. or even worse

Ao: Grabs Gin by his shirt “I told you I was going to help you, and that's what I'm going to do!“
Gin: “Why are you grabbing me all of a sudden?“
Ao: Gently lifts Gin “Prepare yourself!“

Ao releases his powerful aura, which also surrounds Gin and levitates their hair and clothes
He raises his head, his eyes glowing azure blue-white, and peers through the prison ceiling

Ao and Gin are at the Silver Fang prison, in the basement
Several bandits are sitting around a table drinking beer, on the ground floor
Provisions, including food, weapons and armor, are stored on the tower's 1st floor
The leader of the Silver Fangs is at his desk on the 2nd floor of the bandit tower, admiring the full moon from his round window

Ao dashes with his legs, then crosses the stone ceiling of the prison, still dragging Gin by his shirt
The two find themselves directly on the first floor of the Silver Fang bandit tower, and surprise the thugs during their party

Gin is stunned and lifted in all directions by Ao, who seems to be holding him as if he were a weapon

Gin: Spinning in the air “WoOoOow WooOoOoOow SsTOooOp It I'm GooOonna voOoOmit!!!“
Bandit #1: Stunned, pulls a knife from his pocket and shouts
“What do you think you are doing, clowns?!!“
Ao: Spinning Gin in the air “Call Zack, I need to talk to him!“

The front door of the tower behind Ao opens suddenly, and a troop of guards intervenes
Guard: “What the hell? Prisoners escaping?“
Ao turns back to the troop of guards, while continuing to spin Gin, who is screaming
Huh... Who are these guys ?! I don't recognize them from the classic group

Bandit #2: Starts to approach Ao “Come on, back to your cells, rats!“
Ao: Turns to the bandit, wields Gin's body like a nunchaku and shouts like a famous martial artist “Ouuuuuuuh!!!”
Bandit #1: Points Ao with his knife “Beat that fucking monkey!!“

The Silver Fang bandits all runs at Ao, and..
Ao: Chops Gin by the ankle and whirls him around and onto the bandits
“ORA! ORA! ORA !!!“
Gin slams his head into the bandits at high speed, who are slammed into the tower walls
Additional guards enter the tower through the door behind Ao, armed with blunt swords and worn iron armor

Gin: Tries to break away from Ao “I'm going to puke!!“
Ao: Releases Gin on the ground while sneering “I just wanted to have a little fun!“
Gin, immediately after being released, heads to a corner of the tower, and vomits from the turbulence he's experienced
Pfft.. Maybe I did go a little overboard with him Hides his mocking smile with his hand
Armored guard: Dashes at Ao with his sword and yells “You're a dead man!!!“

The guard attempts a sideways blow to Ao's back of the head, but the sword breaks on impact, and inflicts no injury..
Guard in armor: Shocked “WHAT..?!“
Ao: Turns to the guard, and gently approaches him, smiling
“Are you going to call your boss, or end up slammed in the wall?“

The guards seem frightened by Ao's aura, and throw their weapons to the ground as they slowly back away
Then, sounds of footsteps echo up the stairs and throughout the tower
A person slowly descends the stairs towards the first floor, and everyone watches the staircase intently, waiting impatiently..

It's probably Zack..
The armored guards at the entrance all move to the side of the staircase and kneel down
Armored guard: Places himself forward, kneels shakily
“M.. Master Silver, we've been waiting, how do you feel?“
The footsteps fade.. then, silence..
...
Suddenly, the armored guard's head is cut off by a fast-moving black silhouette that immediately disappears
As the guard's body falls to the ground, the other guards behind him realize the scene, and start screaming

Guards: Panicked and frightened, screams “LET US GO MASTER!!!“
No no, don't shout!
Ao: Whispers “Shut up, all of you! You'll upset hi..“ Gets interrupted
The other panicked and frightened guards also have their heads cut off by the silhouette, who disappears once more..

Ao gets into fighting position and searches for him
Damnit.. Zack's definitely lost it this time!
How's the kid doing? Turns his head towards Gin

Gin saw the whole thing, and his face shows all the terror that he feels
He, who had never been outside the Kingdom's walls on his own before.. finds himself in the middle of a terrible carnage..

Ao: Whispers “Gin, look the other way! Hey! listen to me!“
Gin can't look away from the battered bodies of the guards
He sees the blood running down the stone floor of the tower, and his body begins to tremble
As terror takes hold of him more and more, he begins to open his mouth, and is ready to scream

NO !
Gin: Crying out “DAD, HELP ME!“
Suddenly, the silhouette appears in front of Gin, and prepares to chop off his head at very high speed
Ao: Appears very quickly in front of Gin to protect him “ZACK STOP!!!“
The figure sends a powerful blow at Ao, who counters it with difficulty with his two arms and sends a great shockwave through the whole area

The stones shake, and dust comes out, foreshadowing that the tower is about to collapse
Ao, having countered the blow, holds back a hand full of veins and sharp black nails
And the figure is revealed

Ao: “Zack! Fight it! Don't let the dark power take you!“
Zack Silver, leader of the Silver Fang gang and Ao's friend
A young man of the same age, with silver-white hair and a face full of kindness, now has a face full of black veins and two small horns that have grown out of the top of his head
His eyes aren't completely black yet, as if he's struggling to maintain control, but..

Zack: Growls and speaks in a demonic voice “Help me.. Ao..“
Ao: “Concentrate on good memories!“
Zack: “Isabella..“
Ao: “Yes, that's it, think of your wife ! What would she think of you in this condition?!“
Zack: “Those damn Pendragons.. THEY TOOK HER AWAY FROM ME!“ Shouts and shakes the tower
Ao: “You'll make them pay sooner or later, Zack! But first, you've got to regain control!“

Zack grunts and suffers as he tries to regain control
And slowly, the black veins begin to disappear from his hands and face
But.. Just as he was about to regain control, a man from the Silver Fang troop who'd been trapped in the tower wall unstuck himself earlier..
He panicked, grabbed a blunt sword from the ground and struck Zack in the back

Ao: “FUCKING IDIOT!!“
Zack quickly turns on the man.. and the dark power takes over again
Zack: Demonic scream “UUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!“
The tower shakes and is quickly collapsing

Ao: Grabs Gin “Let's get out of here!!“ Dashes through the tower wall
Ao and Gin escape from the tower, which collapses soon after, and continue running at great speed through the forest to get further away

Gin: On Ao's back “Stop, Ao! I've got to capture them“
Ao: “Are you blind? Their leader has been touched by dark power, you won't be able to capture him!“
Gin: “The what? What's all this about dark power?!“

Is he kidding me?! How does he not know..
No.. It's certainly what I've noticed in his aura that has to do with his ignorance..
Ao: Stops by sliding on the ground “Gin, go hide!“
Gin: Descends from Ao's back “What are you going to do?!“
Ao: “I'm going to stop him!“
Gin: “But we're a long way from..“ Gets interrupted
Zack appears in front of Gin and is about to put his fist through his heart, but is pushed back by Ao

Ao: “Do as I say!“
Gin: Panics “O.. Okay” Runs into the forest to hide
Ao: Gets into fighting stance “Zack! Wake up, you bastard!“
Zack (Demon): Bestial scream “UUUUUEUUUUUUGHHHH!!!! Releases a great shockwave

He's almost at the end of the transformation.. He's got to regain control or it'll be too late!
Zack is transforming into a demon, his skin covered in black veins, his teeth hooked and his eyes completely black with white pupils
His face shows he's in immeasurable pain, his body trembles and an evil aura emanates from him

He lunges at Ao and starts hitting him from all sides
Ao: Against Zack's blows
“Wake up, Silver Zack! We've got a revolution to lead! Have you forgotten?!!“
Zack suffers and screams while punching harder and harder
He sends such a powerful punch into Ao's face that he gets pushed back and retreats near a tree

Ao: Touches his forehead and sees blood “Ahah.. You haven't lost your right, have you Zack?!“
Zack: Suffers and starts crying, while speaking in a demonic voice “Ao..“
Ao: “It's just a scratch, Zack! Come on, pull yourself together!!“
Zack: Screams “Ao.. Kill me..“
Ao: “Hey! I know you want to get back to your wife, but won't you stay with me for a while?“
Zack: Relaxes from his fighting stance, arms flailing “I won't last.. Euuugh..“
Ao: “Push it out! Come on, you can do it!“
Zack: Kneels down and shouts, raising his head to the sky “KILL ME!!!!“

The transformation is soon complete..
Ao: “Is that what you really want, Zack?..“
Zack: Looks down at Ao, crying “Please.. do it..“
Ao: “.. Okay Zack” Prepares his fist ”I'll go on 3“
Zack: “Make.. them.. pay.. for me!“

Ao: “I will.. Goodbye, my friend..“
“1.. 2.. “Sends a punch through Zack's heart “3..“

Ao holds Zack's head on his shoulder, and gently falls asleep in peace..
I hope your wife is waiting for you somewhere..

Ao: “You can come out now, Gin, It's over..“
Gin: Exits from his hiding place next to a tree, sad “I.. I'm sorry.. Ao“
Ao: “Don't worry, it's all right..“
Ao removes his arm from his friend Zack's body, and lets the body fall to the ground..
And the rain begins to fall

Ao: Comes up to Gin with empty eyes and puts his hand on his shoulder
“Come on, I'll take you home. Looks at Silver Fang's body
“We'll take Silver Fang's body with us, you'll certainly get your promotion, you'll just have to say that it was you who killed him“
Gin: Starts crying
Ao: “We'll go back near the tower, see if we can get what's left of the group, you'll have to tell me where Camelot is, though“

Ao and Gin returned to the tower to collect the badges from the bodies of the Silver Fang Group..
There were no survivors of their leader's terrible transformation into a demon
Ao then escorted Gin to the northern entrance of Kamelott, under a rainy night lit by a full moon
The journey took a few hours, accompanied by Zack's body carried by Ao
Ao: Walks with Gin towards Kamelott's northern gate “You haven't forgotten our deal?“
Gin: “No, I haven't“
Ao: “Be sure to tell them my full name, Aotahi, or ‘Blue light’ as you like, okay?“
Gin: “You can count on me“

Ao and Gin walked for a few more minutes, then stood in front of Kamelott's northern gate
Ao: Drop off Zack's body “I'll leave you here, Gin“
Gin: “You.. I can introduce you to my guild if you want?“
Ao: “Ahah, do it for me, will you ? I've got people calling me about something urgent!“
Gin: “Okay..“ Disappointed, lowers head
Ao: Lays his hand on Gin's shoulder “Don't worry, kid, we'll see each other again, right?!“
Throws Gin a kind smile
Gin: “I.. I hope so! And I'll give you a taste of my father's favorite recipe!“
Ao: “Hihi, I can't wait! Go on, make your report, third-class warrior!“
Gin: “Yes.. and thanks again Ao“
Ao waves, then runs very quickly and disappears into the forest

Gin: Shocked at his speed “How does he do all that..“
North gate guards: Closes in on Gin “Halt!“
Gin: Garde à vous
“Aspirant Warrior Gin, I'm bringing the remains of the Silver Fang bandits to Kamelott's justice!“
North gate guards: “And their leader?“
Gin: “I have his body.. I had no choice.. he almost killed me” Sad look
North gate guard leader: “Rest warrior, very good work
Expect a nice promotion!“
Gin: releases his guard “Uh.. Thank you, sir“

Gin has empty eyes on his face, thinking that he would have preferred to end this otherwise
The guards at the north gate take the body of the Silver Fang leader, and head with Gin into Kamelott's adventurer management office

----- Ao's side ----

Ao stops for a moment and perches on a tall tree in the forest to get a better view of the Kamelott kingdom
The kingdom is rounded by ramparts, classic architecture for a Pendragon kingdom, it's pretty well lit and guarded despite the late hour..
But clearly.. My suspicions are confirmed, it's a Pendragon nest in there!
Releases a frightening, angry smile

Ao climbs down from the tree, and runs even further to see a cave lit by a wood fire, where 3 people dressed in a long black hooded poncho with an embroidered gold logo are waiting for him
What else are they going to ask me?

Ao: Stops in the lighted cave and approaches the fire “Thomas, Lirin, Teshi“
Lirin: Female voice “Did you have some fun, Ao?“
Ao: “You call this fun?“
Lirin: “You're used to killing demons now“
Ao: “I'm not psychopathic enough yet to call it fun, unlike you“
Thomas: (Red-haired man): “Come on.. don't get carried away, Ao.. I know he meant a lot to you“
Ao: “He was.. a very good friend“
Teshi: “That's life..“
Ao: “Do you think that's normal?“
Teshi: “What? We can't help it, the dark power is taking over the continent!“
Ao: “Yeah.. And the best solution we have is to kill the people who are infected..“
Teshi: “Because you might have a better solution, genius?!“
Ao: “... Tss“
Teshi: “Yeah, that's what I thought!“
Thomas: “Have you finished?“
Ao: “I'm listening, Thomas.. what are you calling me about this time?“
Thomas: “We've got a new assignment for you“
Ao: “No kidding“
Thomas: “An inter-kingdom tournament is taking place in 2 weeks' time in the red desert of Artand
We've prepared a false identity for you. Take part in the tournament and win!
A very big client absolutely want to win the tournament prize“
Ao: “A Pendragon?“
Thomas: “We can't tell you who he is, but I know you don't want to work for them“
Ao: “Well?“
Lirin: “He's not a member of the Pendragon alliance“
Ao: “...“ sigh “Okay, it's as good as done!“
Thomas: “As always Ao, you never disappoint!“

What's the mess they've gotten themselves into again..

While Ao is about to embark on a mission of the utmost importance, Gin heads for the adventurers' management office
Little did they know.. that their paths would soon cross again