The trio walks through the forest.
There is an unnatural silence.
Where there should be birds, insects, life—
there is nothing.
Only a suffocating stillness that presses against the ears.
Aphrodite clings tightly to Ignis' arm, her unease growing with every step.
Ares walks ahead, leading without hesitation.
The forest itself feels… wrong.
Even the air seems unsettled.
Ignis slowly moves closer behind Ares, her usual composure thinning.
He notices.
But says nothing.
"This forest is more unnerving than I expected," Ignis mutters quietly. "And yet… nothing is happening."
They continue forward.
Step after step.
Closer to the edge of the forest.
Then—
a shift.
Ares feels it first.
A change in the air.
A pulse—
of bloodlust.
His eyes narrow.
Too late.
The forest erupts.
Goblins.
Countless goblins burst from the brush.
From behind trees.
From beneath the ground itself, clawing upward through dirt and roots.
From everywhere—
and nowhere at once.
They surround the trio instantly.
Ares moves without hesitation.
His blade appears in his hand—
and he begins cutting them down.
One falls.
Then another.
Then five more.
But for every goblin he kills—
two more take its place.
They are endless.
They swarm him.
Climbing over his legs.
Clawing at his arms.
Trying to drag him down.
His power begins to rise.
Slowly.
Too slowly.
Not fast enough.
Ignis begins forming a spell, her hands weaving—
but she has no time.
A goblin strikes her from behind.
She collapses.
Unconscious.
"Ignis—!"
Aphrodite turns—
but she is too late.
She falls beside her.
The goblins move quickly.
Efficient.
They grab both women and disappear into the forest, vanishing into hidden paths beneath the earth.
Ares sees it.
His eyes widen.
"No—!"
He roars.
His blade moves faster.
Harder.
More violent.
But it is useless.
There are too many.
He cuts one down—
two replace it.
He tears through another—
three more climb over his back.
They cover him.
Dragging him down.
Biting.
Clawing.
His power grows.
He feels it rising—
fed by the conflict.
But not fast enough.
Not yet.
He stabs downward.
Cuts through his own limbs just to remove them—
but still they come.
Endless.
Until—
he is pinned.
Buried beneath them.
Unable to move.
He watches—
helpless—
as Aphrodite and Ignis are carried away.
Their forms disappearing into the distance.
Tears fall from his eyes.
For the first time—
he can do nothing.
And he knows it.
Darkness begins to close in around him—
not the abyss—
but something far worse.
Failure.
…
Ignis awakens slowly.
Her head throbs.
Her vision blurred.
"Aphrodite…?"
She looks up—
and sees her kneeling over her.
Hands glowing faintly with healing magic.
"You're awake," Aphrodite says softly.
Ignis exhales.
"…That's enough. Save your strength."
She pushes herself up—
and looks around.
Her breath catches.
They are underground.
A cell.
Surrounded by others.
Women.
Dozens of them.
And many…
are pregnant.
Ignis' eyes widen in horror.
"…No…"
Aphrodite looks at her, confused.
"Ignis…?"
Ignis swallows.
Her voice tight.
"This is how they did it."
Aphrodite frowns.
"…Did what?"
Ignis turns to her.
"Goblins reproduce unnaturally fast. They use other species to multiply."
Her expression darkens.
"With numbers like the ones we saw… they could overrun entire regions."
Aphrodite's eyes widen as the realization sets in.
"…They're building an army…"
Ignis nods grimly.
"Yes. And at that scale… even a place like Dreadspire Academy wouldn't be safe."
"We have to warn them," Aphrodite says immediately.
Then she looks at the others.
The prisoners.
"…We can't leave them."
Ignis hesitates.
Her jaw tightens.
"There are too many goblins. You saw them. If we try to move all of them…"
She shakes her head.
"…we won't make it out."
Aphrodite's expression hardens.
"I'm not leaving them here."
Silence.
Ignis exhales slowly.
Her strength faltering as she leans back slightly.
"…Then we'll have to rely on him."
Aphrodite looks at her.
Ignis continues, her tone uneasy.
"With the number of goblins we saw… and if he kept fighting…"
She pauses.
"…who knows how strong he's become by now."
For a moment—
neither of them speaks.
Deep within the forest—
beneath a pile of bodies—
something stirs.
And the sound of war—
grows louder.