The air shifted.
Tension—thick, suffocating—hung between the three.
Odion's breathing was still unstable, each inhale shallow, each exhale trembling like it might be his last.
Ayame didn't stop.
Couldn't stop.
Her hands glowed brighter, healing magic pouring steadily into his broken body.
"…Stay with me."
Her voice was calm.
But strained.
Fayzan stood.
Slowly.
Silently.
His expression had changed.
Gone was the composed negotiator.
Gone was the calm guild leader.
What remained—
Was something sharper.
Something dangerous.
"…Ayame."
She didn't look up.
"…I know."
A pause.
"…Heal him."
"…I will."
Another pause.
"…I'm going ahead."
Ayame clenched her jaw slightly.
But didn't argue.
"…Bring her back."
Fayzan didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
His body leaned forward slightly—
Then—
[Warrior Skill: Blazing Dash]
Flames burst beneath his feet.
The ground cracked.
And in the next instant—
He was gone.
A streak of fire cutting through the night.
Silence followed.
Rio stood there.
Watching.
Unmoving.
Then—
She opened her interface.
Her fingers moved quickly.
Precise.
Message Sent:
"Something came up I'll be a little late"
Recipient:
Ryota.
The screen closed.
Rio glanced once toward the direction Fayzan disappeared.
Then—
At Ayame.
Without a word—
She reached into her inventory.
Pulled out a vial.
"…Here."
Ayame blinked.
Just for a second.
"…Mana potion?"
Rio nodded.
"…You'll need it."
A brief pause.
Then—
Ayame accepted it.
"…Thank you."
Rio didn't respond.
Her gaze had already shifted.
Toward the plains.
And then—
She started walking.
Not rushing.
Not panicking.
But moving—
With purpose.
Because Rio already knew—
By the time Fayzan arrived—
It might already be too late.
High Plains
The wind howled louder here.
Sharper.
Colder.
Fayzan didn't slow down.
His body cut through the terrain at blistering speed, flames trailing behind him like a comet tearing across the night.
Then—
He saw it.
Bodies.
Seven of them.
Scattered across the ground.
Armor shattered.
Weapons broken.
HP bars barely holding on.
ELEO members.
His squad.
His people.
"…Damn it."
His eyes snapped forward.
And there—
She stood.
Sumi.
Barely standing.
A dagger clenched tightly in her hand.
Blood dripped from her arm.
From her forehead.
Her breathing was uneven.
But her stance—
Unbroken.
And around her—
Seventeen players.
Encircling.
Closing in.
At the center—
One man.
Tall.
Broad.
Blackish-gray hair.
Brown eyes.
And a grin that didn't belong in any normal situation.
"…So this is it, huh?"
Magumo's voice carried easily through the wind.
"…The great ELEO."
He spread his arms slightly.
Mocking.
"…And this is your elite?"
A chuckle escaped him.
Low.
Cruel.
"…Pathetic."
The players behind him laughed.
Voices overlapping.
Agreement echoing through the plains.
Sumi didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
"…You don't deserve it."
Magumo continued.
Stepping closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"…The hidden dungeon."
A pause.
"…That belongs to Burning Pride."
Cheers rose behind him.
"…You hear that?"
He tilted his head slightly.
Eyes locked onto Sumi.
"…That's what real strength sounds like."
Another step.
Closer now.
"…Not whatever joke you call a guild."
Sumi tightened her grip on the dagger.
Her arm trembled.
But she didn't lower it.
"…All eight of you…"
Magumo's voice dropped.
"…And you couldn't even scratch me."
He stepped in.
Fast.
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing her by the neck.
Sumi gasped.
Her body lifted slightly off the ground.
"…Look at you."
He smirked.
"…Still trying."
His grip tightened.
"…You're cute."
A pause.
"…Why don't you leave that pathetic guild?"
The players behind him chuckled.
"…Join us."
Another pause.
His grin widened.
"…Better yet—"
His voice lowered.
Darkened.
"…Be mine."
Sumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…I'll show you—"
He leaned closer.
"…what real strength feels like."
Silence.
Then—
She spat.
Right onto his face.
"…Never…"
Her voice was weak.
But unwavering.
"…I'd rather die…"
A breath.
"…Than admit defeat."
Silence fell.
For a split second—
Everything stopped.
Then—
Magumo's expression twisted.
And at that exact moment—
Something fell from the sky.
[Warrior Skill: Hellfire Chariot]
Flames erupted.
A blazing mass crashed into the ground between them—
BOOM
A shockwave of fire exploded outward.
The earth cracked.
Dust and embers filled the air.
Magumo was forced back.
Sliding.
Sumi dropped to the ground.
Gasping.
And from the flames—
Fayzan emerged.
His eyes burned.
Not with fire—
But with something far more dangerous.
He didn't speak.
Didn't hesitate.
He moved.
A punch—
Fast.
Direct.
Magumo raised his arm—
Blocked.
Another strike—
Right hook.
Blocked.
Left jab—
Blocked again.
Fayzan didn't stop.
He pivoted—
A kick.
This time—
It connected.
Magumo was sent back several meters.
Boots digging into the dirt as he stabilized himself.
Silence followed.
Then—
Magumo smiled.
Slowly.
"…Looks like…"
He cracked his neck slightly.
"…the main act finally showed up."
The wind howled.
The flames flickered.
And the battlefield—
Was just getting started.
The flames hadn't died.
They lingered—
Crackling softly against the scorched earth where Fayzan had landed.
Embers floated through the air like drifting fireflies, illuminating the battlefield in flickers of orange and red.
And in the center of it—
Two figures stood.
Facing each other.
Fayzan didn't speak.
Didn't waste breath.
Didn't waste time.
He moved first.
A sharp step forward—
Then a punch aimed straight for Magumo's jaw.
Magumo raised his arm.
Blocked.
The impact echoed.
A dull, heavy sound.
Fayzan followed instantly.
Left.
Right.
A flurry of strikes—
Each one precise.
Each one fast.
Magumo didn't dodge.
Didn't retreat.
He blocked.
Every single one.
"…You're fast."
Magumo grinned.
"…I'll give you that."
Fayzan didn't respond.
Instead—
He shifted his stance.
Lowered his center.
Then—
[Warrior Skill: Blazing Dash]
Flames erupted again beneath his feet—
And he vanished.
Reappearing behind Magumo in an instant—
A kick—
This time—
Magumo turned just in time.
His arm raised—
But the impact still pushed him forward.
The ground cracked beneath him.
"…Tch."
He clicked his tongue.
But—
He was still smiling.
Fayzan noticed.
And that—
Was wrong.
He pressed forward again.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Another punch—
Another strike—
A knee aimed at the ribs—
All blocked.
All absorbed.
Magumo slid back slightly.
Boots dragging across the dirt.
But that grin—
It didn't fade.
Fayzan's eyes narrowed.
"…Why are you smiling?"
Magumo chuckled.
Low.
Amused.
"…Because…"
He rolled his shoulder slightly.
"…You're strong."
A pause.
"…Stronger than I expected."
Fayzan didn't lower his guard.
"…Then why aren't you taking this seriously?"
Magumo laughed.
Actually laughed.
"…Who said I'm not?"
He lunged forward suddenly.
A punch—
Heavy.
Brutal.
Fayzan blocked.
The force pushed him back slightly.
Magumo followed up.
Another strike.
Then another.
For the first time—
Fayzan was on the defensive.
Their blows clashed.
Again.
And again.
Shockwaves rippled through the ground with every impact.
Dust rising.
Air trembling.
But even then—
Something felt off.
Fayzan's mind raced.
He's not trying to overwhelm me.
Not trying to finish this.
Another exchange.
He's… stalling.
Fayzan stepped back.
Just for a moment.
Creating distance.
"…What are you planning?"
Magumo stopped.
Just for a second.
Then—
That grin widened.
"…Planning?"
He tilted his head.
"…Nothing complicated."
A pause.
Then—
"…I don't need to win."
Silence.
Fayzan's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…What?"
Magumo spread his arms slightly.
Casual.
Relaxed.
"…I just need to keep you here."
A beat.
"…Away from her."
Fayzan froze.
"…Her?"
Magumo's grin turned sharp.
"…The girl with the crystal skills."
Time slowed.
Ayame.
The image flashed instantly in Fayzan's mind.
Back in town.
Healing.
Drained.
Vulnerable.
His eyes widened.
"…No—"
Magumo stepped forward.
Blocking his path.
"…Too late."
Fayzan's aura flared.
"…MOVE."
He surged forward—
But Magumo met him head-on.
A punch.
Blocked.
Another.
Intercepted.
Magumo wasn't holding back anymore.
Not to win—
But to delay.
"…You're not going anywhere."
He said it calmly.
"…Not until it's done."
Fayzan's fists clenched.
The flames around him surged violently.
His mind raced.
Calculating.
Distance.
Time.
Rio.
She was there.
But would she help us?
Another clash.
The ground shattered beneath them.
Fire and force collided—
And far away—
In the quiet town—
Something unseen—
Was already moving.
And Ayame—
Was alone.