Capítulo 797: Following Jack Jack’s fingers tightened around the odachi. “If I stay, more people will die,” he said. “They will keep sending people. Stronger ones. Crazier ones. And when Father comes…” He shook his head. “Cromwell will be wiped out before I can even blink.” He forced himself to meet Nox’s gaze directly. “So I will make a choice,” Jack said. “My choice. Not his. Not theirs.” Nox’s stomach sank. Were they really that powerful? He thought to himself quietly. They had repelled the demons and the Order of the Flaming Rose as well. Just how powerful was this unknown family? “Jack—” Nox called out, but he was interrupted. “I will go.” The words came out calm. Too calm. It felt like he had stabbed himself. Nox stared at him. He suddenly hated how calm Jack looked. “That is not what I meant,” Nox said. There was a sharpness in his voice that he rarely showed. “You do not have to—” “It is because you said those words,” Jack interrupted, a small smile appearing, “that I can walk forward.” Nox fell silent. “If I was still alone,” Jack said quietly, “I would just run and hide. Or I would give up. Or I would explode in anger and do something stupid.” He lifted his free hand and lightly tapped Nox’s chest. “But now I have someone who will be angry for me,” he said. “Someone who will not forget me. Someone who will not let me stay broken.” He stepped back. “So I can go,” Jack said. “Because I know that even if I fall back into that hell for a while… there is someone outside who will drag me out again.” Nox’s heart clenched. “What nonsense are you saying,” he muttered. Jack laughed softly. “That is my line,” he said. Soren clapped slowly. “Well said,” he commented. “Very touching. Father will be pleased to know your little heart has grown so much.” Serene rolled her eyes. “Enough talk,” she said. “So, big brother, are you coming home or not?” Jack looked at them. Then he looked at Nox one more time. “Take care of Cromwell for me,” Jack said. Nox’s jaw locked. He wanted to refuse. He wanted to grab Jack by the neck, throw him back into the kingdom, lock the gates, and tell everyone to deal with it. But the image of his people dying under a casual wave of some old monster’s hand would not leave his mind. Logic and emotion clashed inside him. It felt like something was being torn apart from both sides. At last, Nox exhaled. “…Fine,” he said, his voice hoarse. Jack blinked. “But listen carefully,” Nox said slowly. “I am not agreeing to give you up. I am only… postponing the problem. For now.” Jack smiled faintly. “That is good enough,” he said. Nox stepped closer, leaned in, and lightly knocked his fist against Jack’s chest. “Do not die,” he said. Jack grinned. “I was about to tell you the same thing.” Soren cleared his throat. “As much as I appreciate this emotional little moment,” he said dryly, “Father is not a patient man. We should go.” Serene spun her swords and stretched lazily. “I am bored already,” she complained. “Let us leave before I decide to kill more of these cute beasts.” Several Beast Tamers flinched at her words. Jack’s eyes hardened. “That ends here,” he said, an edge to his tone. He turned to the injured beasts and Tamers. “I am sorry,” Jack said simply. “I will… take care of it.” They did not understand, but they nodded. Soren made a lazy gesture with his hand. The destructive aura that had been faintly pressing down on the district slowly faded. Serene sheathed one of her blades and hopped over a broken stall. “Let us go, big brother,” she said cheerfully. Jack gave Nox one last look. Then he moved. Step by step. Away from the dragon. Away from Cromwell’s soldiers. Away from the people who had become his responsibility. Each step felt heavier than the last. Nox watched him walk toward Soren and Serene. Watched as Jack’s back straightened, his posture shifting from relaxed laziness to something colder and sharper. The way he used to be, maybe, before he ran. ‘This is wrong,’ Nox thought. Every instinct screamed at him. But his mind… his mind could not deny the logic. If Jack stayed, more would die. If Jack went, Cromwell would gain time. Time was precious. Time to grow. Time to prepare. Because even if he pretended to accept this for now, there was one thing that would never change. He would not abandon Jack. Besides, he still needed to pay back those two for what they did to his mother. Soren, Serene, and Jack began walking toward the entrance of the capital city. The crowd parted instinctively. No one dared to block them. Soon, they exited the kingdom. For a heartbeat, the street remained frozen. Nox raised his hand. The dragon lowered its massive head beside him. Golden eyes met his. “We are going after them,” Nox said. The dragon snorted, as if it had expected nothing less. Serena reacted first. “Wait, you are chasing them?” she asked, startled. “But you just—” “I agreed that he would leave,” Nox said calmly. “I never said I would stay behind.” Akira blinked. Nyx’s lips parted slightly. “That is…” Serena began. “…unbelievably reckless,” Akira finished. But there was a hint of approval in her voice. Nyx stepped forward. “Nox,” she said quietly, “do you need us to come with you?” Nox shook his head. “Someone has to stay behind and stabilize the kingdom,” he said. “Grandfather will need support. The Beast Tamers will need guidance. Master Eve is not here. If all of us leave, Cromwell will fall apart at the first attack.” He placed a hand on Nyx’s shoulder. “I am entrusting it to you,” he said. “All of you. Protect this place. Grow stronger. When I come back with Jack, I want Cromwell to be even better than it is now.” Nyx swallowed. Then she nodded, her eyes firm. “Bring him back,” she said simply. “Although he has quite the lousy mouth, he is kind of interesting.” Nox gave a small smile as he replied. “That is exactly what I plan to do.” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺 He climbed onto the dragon’s back in one smooth motion. The massive beast spread its wings, sending gusts of wind tearing through the street, scattering dust and loose stones. People shielded their eyes. Nox looked once more in the direction Jack had left. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, his eyes burning with determination. “Wait for me, Jack,” Nox muttered. “You are not escaping that easily.” FWOOOSH. The dragon launched into the air, soaring upward in a powerful arc before banking sharply in the same direction Soren, Serene, and Jack had gone. Far above the streets of Cromwell, a single dragon streaked across the sky, chasing after the fading trail of a friend walking back into hell.