Zain leaned casually against the crumbling outer wall of the ruined train station.
He was still. Watching. Waiting.
Then—
Footsteps.
Multiple. Fast. Heavy.
His eyes narrowed.
He didn't move—just dropped slightly into a crouch, fingers twitching.
He activated both Quick Step and Quiet Step to go to the nearest shadow.
Then he activated Fading in the Dark.
His form flickered, slipping into the shadows of a half-collapsed support beam.
His presence was erased in an instant.
He listened.
The footsteps grew louder.
Then he saw them.
A squad of six heroes emerged over the cracked ridge above the station entrance.
All lightly armored. Caution in their steps.
At the front—broad-shouldered, flame-trimmed combat gear, and a smoldering expression carved into a stone face.
Blazren.
Zain's eyes narrowed sharply.
Blazren? What the hell are you doing here?
The veteran A-Rank stood tall, raising a clenched fist.
