"Hiii, Ryu~"
The coquettish voice echoed softly—sweet, yet piercing.
Its playful tone drifted through the air like dancing poison.
"There she is! Capture her!!" Akira shouted.
The woman—Velista—only looked at them with a faint smile. Her cold laughter echoed between the towering trees wrapped in thin mist.
"Fufufu... Hahaha…"
In an instant, her body shot forward—leaping over roots, swinging from branches, moving as fast as a shadow.
"Wait!" Ryu sprinted after her, breathing heavily but with sharp determination.
Akira and the entire first squad followed, crashing through bushes, stepping on wet leaves, and dodging the jagged roots jutting from the forest floor.
"Who are you?! Please stop!!" Ryu shouted as he ran between the trees.
Akira kept his gaze forward, voice firm and cold.
"Chase her! Don't let her escape!"
Velista glanced back slightly, her cynical smile illuminated by moonlight filtering through the leaves.
"Hahaha~ Ah, so I've been found."
Her tone was teasing—as if this deadly pursuit were nothing more than a game.
"Come on… try a little harder~!"
Her voice was light, yet arrogance pierced through her smile.
They kept running. The chase became a deadly dance within the jungle. Every step echoed like a heartbeat. Every breath mixed with the cold night air.
"She's too fast!" Tajima shouted.
"Keep chasing!" Akira barked.
Velista glanced back again, lips curling upward.
"Hmmm… if this is all you can do, it's boring. Fine—follow me if you dare. I'll show you somewhere more entertaining."
She shot forward even faster, leaving behind a faint trail of light.
Akira immediately pressed the blue crystal stone in his hand. It vibrated and glowed.
"Group Two, Group Three—move to our coordinates now!" he commanded sharply.
In the distance, the signal was received.
"Move! We support Group One!" Zen and Sora shouted simultaneously, leading their squads deeper into the forest.
Back at headquarters, Jake stared at his own crystal as it lit up.
"So… they've found her," he muttered.
Energy flared around him—then he vanished from sight, launching toward Group One's location.
At the Gates of Sena City
The sounds of battle thundered across the battlefield. Monster screams mixed with the crash of magic and steel.
The Indosvara forces were on the brink of collapse.
Then suddenly—two red-robed figures appeared atop the city gate.
Their faces were hidden behind masks. Their magical aura vibrated so intensely that the air around them distorted.
"They're here! Reinforcements have arrived!!" a soldier cried in relief.
One of the mages raised his hand—
In an instant, gravity shifted. Hundreds of monsters were lifted into the air, their bodies writhing helplessly.
The second mage stepped forward, unsheathing a blade of fire.
One slash—fwoosh!—and an entire line of monsters was split apart, blood and embers scattering through the air.
"Incredible…" Ken whispered in disbelief.
"They're… not ordinary humans…" Isabela murmured.
"Leave the rest to me," one of the masked mages said coldly.
Then—brakk!—he shot forward like a beam of light, slashing again and again.
Each movement was like a red phantom dancing through flames.
Monster blood sprayed into the air. For a moment, time seemed to slow—severed limbs floated, embers formed silhouettes, and the mage's cold gaze pierced the night.
More monsters leapt at him simultaneously.
He spun midair, evading with precision, then cut them all down in a single circular strike.
A glowing red arc lingered in the air before the monsters exploded into ash.
Meanwhile, the other mage drew a magic circle on the ground, trapping the remaining creatures.
"Now," he whispered.
The two mages soared into the sky. Their auras merged—burning bright red.
In seconds, they transformed into a massive vortex of fire that swept across the battlefield.
Monsters screamed. Blood, embers, and dust blended into a storm of destruction.
When it was over, silence fell.
Only heavy breathing remained—and two masked figures standing amid piles of ash.
The Indosvara forces erupted in victory cheers.
Some wept in relief. Others fell to their knees, grateful to still be alive.
Ken and Isabela approached and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your assistance."
One of the masked mages turned coldly.
"We came because Jake paid us. No thanks necessary. We simply completed our mission."
Ken frowned. "So… you're mercenary mages?"
They began to leave, but Ken stopped them.
"Wait! The Kingdom of Indosvara can pay. Join us. We need your strength."
One mage scoffed lightly.
"Tch. We're not interested in being bound to anyone."
Isabela stepped forward.
"We won't restrain you. Just cooperation—per mission, per price."
They exchanged glances. Finally, one extended a hand.
"Fine. But we work our way."
"Deal," Ken replied firmly.
Cheers erupted once more.
But as they began walking away, thin mist descended.
From within it, a man emerged—standing still with a chilling smile.
"Who's there?" one of the mages asked sharply.
The man's steps were slow, but his dark aura spread like poison.
"Ahh… so you're the ones who slaughtered my monsters," he said calmly, his voice like a demon's growl.
"You… their master?" the mages narrowed their eyes.
"Not the master. Just… the recipient of a gift," he replied flatly, chuckling.
"But you've piqued my interest. How about we… play a little?"
A thick purple aura enveloped him, forming a gigantic shadow behind him—just like the creature Jake once faced.
"So it was you…" one mage hissed.
The man smiled.
"Perhaps…"
In an instant—he vanished, then reappeared before them.
A massive explosion shook the ground, igniting a new duel within the mist.
Meanwhile — Group One
The chase ended in a wide clearing deep in the forest.
Velista stood in the center—graceful, yet her aura cold and lethal.
"You can't run anymore!" Akira dashed forward—brakk!—only to be violently repelled, crashing into the ground.
He coughed blood.
"An invisible wall…" he muttered.
"She's using some kind of energy barrier," Ryu said cautiously.
Leon's expression darkened. "Is she… a mage too?"
Akira nodded tensely. "Her power… feels on par with Jake's."
Suddenly, Velista's expression changed.
Her sweet smile vanished—replaced by a blank, cold, disgusted stare.
"Why do you fight so desperately for humanity and the kingdom?"
Her voice was soft, yet oppressive—each word felt like a blade.
The squad fell silent.
"Humans are the source of chaos," she continued.
"They create monsters from their own darkness—greed, lies, manipulation, hatred. They fear monsters, yet monsters are merely reflections of themselves."
Her words echoed among the trees, making the air feel heavy.
"Corruption. War. Rape. Murder. All born from human hands. This world rots because of humanity… yet you—"
She looked at each of them one by one.
"—still fight to protect them? For what?"
"Enough of your nonsense!!" a soldier shouted, though his voice wavered.
Velista lowered her head slightly, smiling faintly.
"You're pathetic. Fighting for those who will ultimately destroy you. Heroes? No. You're just tools preserving a false balance."
She stepped forward, faint energy flickering with each step.
"But I didn't come here to debate," she said softly.
"I came… for Ryu."
Everyone froze.
"What?!" Ryu stared at her.
Evelyn stepped forward, raising her sword.
"If you want Ryu, you'll have to step over my corpse first, you bitch!"
Ryu shouted, "What do you want from me?!"
Velista smiled—a thin, terrifying smile.
"Ahh… you really don't know? How amusing…"
Her eyes glowed purple.
"Can't you see… how similar I am to him?"
All eyes turned toward Ryu.
He shook his head quickly. "You're insane! I'm nothing like you!"
Velista approached slowly. Her aura devoured the air.
"Ryu… is me. And I am Ryu."
Her smile widened, twisting into manic laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha!!"
Everyone stood frozen.
Ryu trembled, eyes wide.
"What… do you mean…?"
Velista stared at him sharply.
"Welcome to the other side of your mirror, Ryu."
The mist slowly rose.
The wind froze.
The world seemed to stop.
—To Be Continued.