Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: The Chaos Unleashed

“Don’t you all fucking dare to touch—” My voice, that of a girl, Cutipie…shifted suddenly, heavy with a cold, commanding tone of a man as I said. “—my girl.”

The words were simple, but the weight of them hit like a hammer. The atmosphere around me seemed to shift as my aura flared to life, a dark, swirling force that filled the air with tension. My clothes—white shorts and flowing jacket with the crop top—began to disintegrate in the face of the overwhelming energy surging through me. For a moment, I was nothing but raw power, my body flickering between states before absorbing my own energy.

In a flash, the aura solidified, and the cloak enveloped me, black as night. My hood fell over my face, shadows obscuring my features, but my presence had already changed.

I was no longer the sexy girl name Cutiepie…

“I am Zero!” I roared, my voice echoing through the arena like a crack of thunder.

The crowd collectively gasped, their astonishment palpable. Every pair of eyes—Darius, Seraphine, the hooded enemies, the announcer, and even the Queen—was locked on me. My black cloak, shimmering with an ominous aura, billowed dramatically as though alive.

“Zero…?” Seraphine whispered, her voice trembling. Her wide eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and I could see the flicker of betrayal etched across her face. Her mind raced, replaying our shared moments: the laughter, the nights we spent together on the bed, the promises we made.

But I cut her memories short with words that hung heavy in the air. “A knight’s duty isn’t to their past—it’s to protect the future. What will you choose, Seraphine? Redemption through lies or justice through truth?”

Her breath hitched as my words struck a chord. She blinked, the tears threatening to fall, and I saw her falter. Her thoughts recollected as she tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.

“Who the fuck you think you are!!” One of the hooded figures lunged toward me, trying to attack me as I was distracted. In an instant, I moved, sidestepping the attack with effortless grace. My body twisted mid-air as I landed a devastating kick to his face. The impact sent him flying backward.

Two more came at me, their movements synchronized. I ducked, spun, and delivered a sweeping kick, sending the first sprawling to the ground.

*Boom*

The second leapt back just in time, but I closed the distance in a flash, striking his ribs with enough force to send him skidding across the arena floor.

The crowd gasped in unison, followed by an electrifying “Woahhh!” as I sent three hooded attackers crashing to the ground effortlessly.

“Zero has stopped the hooded enemies who were going to attack Seraphine!” the announcer declared, his voice echoing through the arena.

Seraphine stood beside me, her wide eyes filled with both fear and gratitude as I straightened up, my gaze fixed on the fallen enemies.

“ZEROO!!!!” A scream ripped through the air, filled with raw, unrestrained fury.

The red aura burst forth from the throne like a storm unleashed. The Queen’s eyes blazed with rage, her regal composure shattered. Her power cracked the air itself, and debris rose and crumbled in her wake.

The crowd, paralyzed by fear, instinctively shrank back as the oppressive force washed over them. The announcer stammered, his voice lost in the chaos.

“FINALLY, YOU CAME!” the Queen bellowed. Her voice was a weapon in itself, cutting through the commotion.

She rose to her full height, her every movement charged with deadly intent. In one fluid motion, she unsheathed her sword—a magnificent weapon glowing with an ethereal red light—and leapt from her throne with the grace of a predator.

I tilted my head toward her, meeting her blazing eyes with a calm, defiant –Smirk. The energy around me surged, my black aura rising to meet her red.

She came at me like a hurricane, her sword slicing through the air with enough force to shatter stone.

“YOU ARE DONE HERE!!!!”

But I was ready. Raising my black sword, I intercepted her strike. The clash of our weapons unleashed a deafening thunderclap that reverberated through the arena. Sparks erupted from the impact, lighting up the battlefield in brief, fiery bursts.

“You!” she snarled, her teeth greeted as she pushed against my blade. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment? For you to show your face to me!!!??? Huhhh!!!”

“No, please, enlighten me,” I taunted, tilting my head mockingly at the Queen.

Her eyes burned with fury, and her grip on the hilt of her sword tightened. Without warning, she charged at me, slashing with unparalleled ferocity. But I was faster. I ducked low, the air rippling from the force of her swing, and propelled myself sideways with a quick burst of movement.

“Oye, watch out!” I teased, hovering just out of her reach.

“Come here!” she snarled, her voice echoing through the arena like a war cry.

I raised a hand, signaling her to stop. “Look around you. We have a bigger problem here.”

Her rage paused, her eyes narrowing in confusion. She glanced over her shoulder, and the sight froze her in place.

From the stands, shadows began to rise. Hooded figures, countless in number, stepped forward, their weapons gleaming under the dim light of the arena. Chains clinked ominously, swords glimmered with deadly precision, and their auras flared, suffocating the air with malice.

“Kill the Damascus girl!” one of them shouted, his voice cutting through the crowd’s stunned silence.

In an instant, the hooded figures launched themselves toward Seraphine, their intent clear: they wanted her dead.

Seraphine stood frozen, her wide eyes darting between the enemies converging on her. Confusion and fear flickered across her face, and for a moment, she seemed unsure whether to fight or flee.

From across the battlefield, Darius’s gaze locked onto Seraphine. His expression was unreadable—shock, guilt, or something deeper? His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” I muttered under my breath, launching myself in between of them.

The first hooded figure swung his chain toward Seraphine, but before it could reach her, I intercepted it mid-air. My black sword clanged against the metal, and with a single flick of my wrist, the chain shattered.

Two others leaped at me from the sides. I twisted in mid-air, delivering a bone-crushing kick to one and slashing the other’s weapon in half. Sparks flew as steel met steel, but none of them could match my speed or power.

“Zero!” the Queen bellowed, her voice dripping with venom. She lunged toward me again, her sword aimed for my back.

Without breaking my momentum, I glanced back at her. “Later…” I said, my tone serious.

Her teeth clenched in frustration, but she stopped in her tracks. She looked around, finally grasping the gravity of the situation. The hooded intruders weren’t just after Seraphine—they were threatening the very peace of her kingdom.

The Queen closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath to calm her rage. When she opened them, her gaze was sharp and decisive.

“My fellow knights!” she commanded, her voice ringing out. “Protect Seraphine and destroy the hooded cowards who dare to disrupt the peace of our land!”

In unison, her knights sprang into action. Their movements were swift and precise, their swords gleaming as they clashed with the intruders. The arena erupted into chaos. Steel clanged against steel, sparks flying in every direction. The air was thick with the sounds of battle—shouts, grunts, and the occasional scream.

Seraphine snapped out of her daze, her grip on her sword firm now. With a battle cry of her own, she joined the fray, her blade cutting through the enemies like a whirlwind.

From the stands, the crowd watched in stunned silence, their earlier cheers replaced by whispers of fear and awe.

“Who are these people?” the announcer stammered, his voice trembling. “What is happening here? This… this isn’t just a tournament anymore!”

Amid the chaos, a flicker of movement at the edge of the arena. High above, atop one of the towering walls, a group of figures stood, their silhouettes barely visible against the night sky.

Alpha and my other Shadow Mystics. They watched in silence, their cloaks billowing in the wind as they waited for my signal to attack.

The air above the arena was heavy with the tension of battle, and even from the heights of the arena’s towering walls, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta & Eta i.e :- Shadow Mystics observed the chaos below with a mixture of curiosity and restraint.

Beta, unable to contain her excitement, bounced on her toes, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. She grinned widely, practically vibrating with the desire to jump into the fray.

“I also want to fight with Master!! This is so cool!” she shouted, her voice filled with energy.

Alpha, ever the composed leader, shot her a sharp glance. “Calm down, Beta,” she said, her tone firm. “We don’t move unless Master Zero asks us to.”

Beta’s face fell, and she crossed her arms in a huff. “Ehhhh… this is no fun!”

Zeta, standing next to them, tilted her head slightly as she observed the unfolding chaos below.

“But this is crazy,” she said, her voice quieter, but still sharp. “The entire arena is the battleground now. The Queen’s knights are fighting, the hooded ones are everywhere—it’s pure madness.”

“Truly,” Epsilon added, her voice steady and calm as always. “I’ve never seen a fight escalate so quickly. It’s like they all decided to throw their lives away at once.”

Eta, standing a little further back, let out a small sigh, her arms folded across her large chest. “I don’t think we’re even needed here. When Master is here by himself, it’s more than enough to crush them.”

“Truly,” said Alpha standing ahead as everyone else nodded in agreement, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. “I also think so,” she said with a small smirk. “Master Zero doesn’t need anyone else to handle this. He’s…the strongest of all.”

Beta frowned again, clearly unsatisfied with her lack of immediate action. “But… it’s so cool!” she muttered under her breath, still itching for a fight.

Zeta placed a hand on her shoulder, her expression softening slightly. “I know, Beta. But sometimes, it’s better to wait. Master’s command is all we need to act.”

Beta pouted but ultimately nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Fine, fine. I’ll wait.”