Magus Supremacy

"It… it worked?!" Grey croaked out in disbelief as a wave of relief washed over him. His body ached slightly, and his mind felt exhausted, but the rush of accomplishment kept him alert.

"Talon! Are you okay?" One of the duo who had earlier charged at Grey suddenly dashed toward the injured man. Talon, however, did not seem to be in any real pain anymore.

His breathing was steady, and his eyes were clear, though still wide with a mix of disbelief and surprise as he slowly rose to his feet. He looked at his healed body, then back at Grey, who was leaning slightly from exhaustion, sweat streaking across his hooded face.

'Damn! That took a lot out of me, but mostly mentally. Physically, I'm only slightly drained,' Grey thought as he straightened up, stretching his stiff limbs with a low groan.

"Thank you so much." Dame croaked as he stepped toward Grey, clearly intending to hug him.

Instinctively, Grey leaped back, avoiding the hug, then paused with a raised eyebrow, slightly confused.

'Why did I just dodge that hug? He doesn't seem threatening, so why did I react that way?' Grey wondered, a small frown forming under his hood.

"Oh! Not the hugging type. My bad," Dame said with a click of his tongue and a small sigh. He turned to look at his friends, who were all standing now, unharmed and recovering.

"Seriously though, that was really kind of you. You had no reason to help us, yet you did, even though we were a bit rude to you. I'm really grateful for that." He bowed slightly, eyes bright and earnest, directed at the hooded figure standing before him.

"It's nothing," Grey said dismissively, waving his hand as he turned to leave.

"Wait!" Dame called out, making Grey pause mid-step. "How can I ever repay you for such a huge favor? What you did is a massive debt, and I would love to find a way to repay it."

Grey let out a soft sigh and turned slowly, fixing Dame with a faint frown.

"Can you create a human?" Grey asked bluntly. Dame blinked, brows furrowed in confusion.

"No?" he replied hesitantly, still uncertain of what Grey meant.

"Can I create one?" Grey asked again, voice steady but probing.

"I suppose not," Dame answered, more carefully this time, sensing Grey's intent.

"So why would I ask for money when I know that creating a human isn't possible? I did this freely, maybe out of instinct, and I don't need repayment in the form of gold or coins." Grey waved his hand dismissively, his tone final.

"But I insist! I have to repay your kindness somehow. Even if it's not monetary… wait! I just thought of the perfect way to repay you," Dame said, eyes lighting up as he straightened with a broad smile that radiated excitement and relief.

"Huh?" Grey muttered under his breath, confused but intrigued.

"We need to leave now. It's getting late," Thalos said finally, his voice calm but commanding, breaking the tension of the moment.

"Right," Grey said, turning with a casual wave toward Dame, his interest already fading.

"Please, meet me back here in two days. I'll have your gift ready," Dame shouted, his voice carrying over the small courtyard as Grey started walking away.

"Whatever," Grey muttered, uninterested, adjusting his hood and tightening his grip on the pendant that contained his newfound treasures.

"By the way! I never got your name!" Dame called once more, just as Grey was disappearing from view, his figure retreating into the shadowed streets of the abandoned city.

Grey didn't respond, though a faint curiosity flickered in his mind. Names could wait. Right now, survival, training, and regaining power were far more important than pleasantries.

"Just call me," Grey said as he halted his steps, turning around slightly. His face remained hidden under the hood, but a faint smile curved across his lips. "Supreme Magus." And with that, he exited the building completely, leaving the group of men staring after him.

"What a strange fellow," one of the men muttered under his breath.

Dame spun around, a grin spreading across his face as he looked at Talon. "How are you feeling now?" he asked.

"Like I just escaped death. If it wasn't for his help, I would have died by now," Talon said softly, letting out a deep sigh as he shook his head in disbelief.

"But who was he? Where did he come from? His clothing… it didn't look like anything from our world," the second man remarked, brows knitted in confusion.

"Nope! He's definitely from our world because I could sense Ki in him," Dame said thoughtfully.

"Yeah! He did use Ki on me while treating my wound, but I also felt another strange energy, almost like Ki but not exactly the same," Talon added aloud, his voice tinged with awe.

"Why did he say we should meet in two days? And what gift could he be preparing for him?" someone asked curiously.

"I already have the perfect gift in mind. But for now, let's head back before my father starts worrying," Dame replied, clapping his hands loudly to rouse everyone.

"Not like he really cares anyway," Talon chuckled, shaking his head as they all exited the building, heading down the worn cobblestone streets.

In the distance, a swirling portal glimmered faintly. One by one, the men stepped through it and disappeared from view, leaving Dame alone. He paused, staring back toward the abandoned building. "Supreme Magus, huh? I hope our paths cross again soon," he muttered. Surprisingly, the portal remained open, swirling faintly in the night, refusing to snap shut.

---

Meanwhile, after leaving the strange men behind, Grey and Thalos made their way back toward the spot where the magic circle's remnant still lingered.

"Why did you ask me to help them?" Grey asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

"Nothing. Just felt like it was the right thing to do," Thalos replied with a slight shrug.

"Hmm," Grey chuckled loudly, shaking his head. "Says the emotionless killing machine who beat me down and nearly sent me to hell. I'm shocked you can show even a little emotion." His laughter earned no reaction from Thalos, whose expression remained stoic.

'That kid from earlier… he reminds me of someone. But who?' Thalos thought, racking his brain while replaying Dame's face in his mind.

'The aura, the stance, the stare, the expression. It all seems familiar. It reminds me of him… or am I mistaken? Damn it!' he muttered with a frown, frustrated by the elusive memory.

"We are here. Do your thing," Grey said, pulling Thalos out of his thoughts. Without hesitation, the gargoyle pulled out his dagger and carefully began etching the return circle back to the cave.

Once the circle was complete, Grey summoned a beast core and placed it in the center, activating his mana within it. In seconds, a swirling portal opened before them, shimmering with energy. Without hesitation, they stepped through.

One second later, the portal snapped shut, leaving the abandoned city behind them.