Mara, Pasito, and the others move forward toward the fort.
There's a new energy in their steps today—
a sense of determination.
Suddenly, Mara stops.
"I think it's about to get dark," he says quietly.
Everyone looks up at the sky.
Pasito smiles.
"Look… our moon is visible. It looks beautiful."
Maya nods softly.
"Yeah… it's beautiful…
no matter how deadly its sand is."
Hearing this, everyone is taken aback.
Lina adds,
"And it's full of craters too."
Yunsa speaks calmly,
"You don't understand…
this moon protects us from massive rocks coming from space."
Artha frowns slightly.
"Then… do rocks fall on the Red Moon as well?"
Yunsa shakes his head.
"No."
Without another word,
the group continues moving forward.
Just then, Artha looks down at the ground.
"The soil… it's glowing faintly," he says.
"It feels so pure… and there's a strange fragrance coming from it.
Almost like it's sacred."
He pauses, observing it closely.
"And… it's completely red."
Pasito responds,
"It's red because… some people say many wars were fought here."
"And in the end, the soil turned red because of all the blood."
He continues,
"It's also said that when the world was divided,
Valmik's blood fell on this Red Moon."
"That's why it's been red ever since."
Mara frowns.
"Who is Valmik?
What division are you talking about?"
Everyone suddenly turns and stares at him.
Pasito looks surprised.
"You don't know Valmik?"
"He's the biggest criminal responsible for the division."
"A murderer… a traitor."
Mara narrows his eyes.
"Then why are you even talking about him?"
Pasito replies,
"Because he's the Divider."
"His story is bound to be told."
Don't you know?" Pasito says.
"A foolish man once caused the division."
"He may have been a king…
but he murdered a great man."
"Because of that, his kingdom was attacked.
Many people died."
"As punishment, he was forced to live like a servant…
and his descendants were given the same fate."
Mara's expression hardens.
"What are you even saying?"
"No one has that kind of power… to divide the world."
"And if such a person really existed…
then why are we here?"
"Why are we standing on something created by him?"
Pasito shrugs.
"We don't care about him."
"All that matters is his creation—
the souls… and reaching the fort."
Mara looks at everyone silently.
They're all selfish… he thinks.
Maybe they need to hear the truth…
Then he speaks firmly,
"I don't believe any division ever happened."
Pasito immediately challenges him,
"Oh really? Then explain this—"
"How did the Red Moon come into existence?"
"And how do the Moon and the Red Moon give us power?"
Mara pauses for a moment.
"My grandfather once told me…
that the Earth was born with a burst of light."
He looks up at the sky.
"And all of this…
is nothing more than a story."
Maya speaks firmly,
"This isn't the time to fight."
"And Mara… don't forget—
ancient texts from over five hundred years ago say that the division happened because of a sinner's desire for revenge."
Artha sighs softly.
"Everyone is just repeating what their own beliefs say."
"You can keep arguing…
but don't forget—"
He looks around cautiously.
"If a soul appears here at night…
it will wipe us out."
His voice lowers.
"At night, this place becomes worse than a graveyard."
Silence falls over the group.
Suddenly, Artha notices something.
He looks toward Yunsa—
who is standing… asleep.
Artha gestures to everyone quietly.
"Look… Yunsa is sleeping peacefully."
Mara leans closer and whispers,
"Let's move ahead… slowly."
One by one, they begin to walk forward carefully.
And then—
Mara suddenly slaps Yunsa lightly…
and runs ahead.
Yunsa suddenly opens his eyes.
He looks around—
no one is there.
He looks ahead and sees everyone running in the distance.
"What… they left me behind?" he mutters.
He immediately starts running.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Then suddenly—
He stops.
Without hesitation, he pulls off his slipper and throws it straight at Mara.
Thud!
It hits Mara's back.
Mara turns while running—
and notices something unsettling.
Behind Yunsa…
there is a dark shadow.
Yunsa quickly draws his sandalwood sword from its sheath and runs toward Mara.
His speed increases rapidly—
as if something has taken control over him.
In a flash, he overtakes Mara
and stops near the shadow.
With a sudden motion,
he strikes at its neck—
but the shadow disappears instantly.
In the very next moment—
Yunsa appears right in front of Mara.
Before anyone can react—
he drive his sword straight into Mara's chest
.A stream of blood begins to flow from Mara's chest.
At that moment—
the shadow slowly takes the form of a human…
as if that person itself is made of darkness.
Seeing this, everyone is stunned.
Suddenly—
Mara's eyes glow red.
In an instant, he draws his sword from its sheath
and tries to strike the figure.
But the figure moves swiftly—
dodging the attack with ease.
In the next moment,
it pulls the blade out from Mara's chest
and begins to dissolve into the darkness.
Within seconds—
it completely disappears.
Mara staggers,
losing his balance.