As the battle between the half-brothers raged on—
Another clash between siblings was about to begin.
Arlo stood still, the wind circling faintly around his body as he stared at Arthur and Azura.
Arthur adjusted his glasses and gave a light chuckle.
"You're a new one."
He tilted his head slightly.
"I recognize the big oaf."
He clearly meant Roe.
"But last time I checked, your group only had the boss, the deer mask, and the rabbit mask."
A grin spread across his face.
"Well, I guess the rabbit left you all."
He shrugged.
"Though I'm pretty sure that was supposed to stay a secret."
Arlo's expression didn't change.
"I'd prefer you stay quiet."
His voice was low.
Cold.
"I'm here for Azura."
Azura blinked.
"Me…?"
Slowly, Arlo reached up and removed his mask.
The moment she saw his face—
Her breath caught.
"…Brother?"
Tears instantly welled in Azura's eyes.
"Is it really you?"
Her voice trembled.
"How…? Why are you here?"
Arlo stepped toward her.
"I came to save you."
His gaze hardened as it shifted toward Arthur.
"To save you from these filthy adventurers who've been using you as a meat shield."
His fists clenched.
"And look at this."
He gestured at her waitress outfit with obvious disgust.
"They even have you dressed like some servant."
His expression darkened further.
"Probably some twisted fetish."
Azura shook her head quickly.
"No!"
She stepped forward desperately.
"Brother, you've got it all wrong!"
Her ears trembled as tears continued running down her face.
"River saved me from cruel adventurers!"
Her voice rose in panic.
"They've all been kind to me!"
She pressed a hand to her chest.
"Celestia ripped off my chains because she hated seeing me treated like that."
She looked toward Arthur.
"And even Arthur comforted me when I was crying."
Her voice softened.
"There are terrible humans, yes…"
A pause.
"But these ones…"
She looked directly at Arlo.
"…they've been kind to me."
Arlo's expression twisted with frustration.
"You can't trust them."
His voice sharpened.
"They're using you."
He pointed toward Arthur.
"These humans always pretend they're on your side."
His eyes burned with bitterness.
"So they can mistreat you when it matters most."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
His tone was amused.
"And what about the humans you're working with?"
Arlo didn't hesitate.
"They're a means to an end."
His voice was flat.
"When I get the chance, I'll either leave them…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"…or kill them."
Arthur let out a low whistle.
"Well. That's refreshingly honest."
Arlo ignored him and turned back to Azura.
"Listen carefully."
His voice softened slightly, but stayed firm.
"I'm taking you with me."
He pointed toward the ground near her.
"So sit there quietly and wait."
Arthur smiled.
But there was something sharp beneath it now.
"…Such a rude brother."
He adjusted his glasses again.
"Your sister is a strong, capable woman."
He stepped slightly in front of Azura.
"You really shouldn't treat her like a child."
Arthur adjusted his glasses and smiled.
"Clearly, big bro…"
Black sand began to gather around his hands.
"…you need a beating."
The swirling grains condensed rapidly, folding into shape with impossible precision.
"This is my unique magic."
Arthur's smile widened.
"Metallica — The Unforgiven."
A heavy six-shot revolver materialized in his hand.
Arlo's eyes narrowed instantly.
He had never seen a weapon like it before.
But his instincts screamed the same thing—
danger.
Arthur's unique branch of magic, Metallica, fused earth and metal into weapons unlike anything found in this world. Metal formed the body, earth became the powder, and together they created tools that could punch through defenses most magical barriers were meant to stop.
Arlo reacted immediately.
"Sky Control!"
The air around him hardened into a barrier.
Then Arthur fired.
BANG.
The sound was violent.
Unnatural.
The bullet froze in midair, hovering only inches from Arlo's leg.
But the air barrier cracked.
A spiderweb of fractures spread through it.
If his defense had been even slightly weaker—
His leg would have been blown apart.
"…It's fast," Arlo muttered.
Arthur didn't stop.
"Metallica — Harvester of Sorrow."
He lunged forward, black sand shifting again, reforming into a massive shotgun in his hands.
He pointed it straight at Arlo.
"Get a stronger barrier."
Arthur smiled with unsettling cheer.
"This one will rip your leg off."
Azura's face went pale.
"Arthur, wait!"
She stepped forward desperately.
"Don't hurt him!"
Arthur let out a small sigh.
Then, at the last moment—
He deliberately shifted his aim.
BOOM.
The blast missed Arlo.
But the result was somehow worse.
Arlo's eyes widened as he looked past Arthur—
Toward the barrier that had trapped the three of them.
It had been shredded.
Completely.
The walls of solid air had been torn apart by the shotgun's spread like paper.
For the first time since arriving—
Real fear crossed Arlo's face.
"If I were actually a bad guy, you'd already be dead," Arthur said with a light chuckle.
He rested the shotgun over his shoulder.
"There's no way I'd listen to your sister begging me to spare your leg if all she ever was to me was some worthless meat shield."
Arlo stayed silent.
Still stunned.
Still shaken by how easily Arthur had torn through the barrier.
Arthur gave a casual wave as he stepped back.
"Now then, I'm going to let you two talk peacefully."
His orange eyes gleamed behind his glasses.
"But if anything not peaceful gets said…"
A grin spread across his face.
"…I bring out the big guns."
He laughed softly.
"It's been a while since I've had a reason to use The Blackened."
With that, he moved aside.
Not far.
Just far enough to give them space.
And just close enough to remind Arlo that he was still there.
Before Arlo could collect himself—
Azura suddenly wrapped her arms around him.
Her hug was tight.
Desperate.
"Please, brother…"
Her voice shook.
"They're good people."
She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes.
"And don't worry about this outfit."
She gestured awkwardly at the waitress uniform.
"It's just because I was helping my friend with his date…"
A tiny pout formed.
"…the date you are currently ruining."
Arlo blinked.
"…Sorry?"
His ears were still ringing from Arthur's shots.
His thoughts hadn't quite caught up yet.
Azura sighed, then looked him over carefully.
"So…"
Arlo rubbed the back of his neck.
"…You look okay."
A pause.
"…Actually, you look more than okay."
He gave a small, awkward smile.
"You even look well-fed."
Azura brightened a little.
"I've been good."
She nodded quickly.
"I play games with Celestia a lot."
Her smile softened.
"And our party leader, River…"
There was clear warmth in her voice.
"He's really strong."
"He's always protecting me."
She looked down for a moment.
"Even when I wish I could help him more."
Then she glanced toward Arthur.
"And Arthur tells me bedtime stories from his homeland sometimes."
A small smile returned.
"Apparently they have towers made entirely of glass there."
Arlo stared at her.
Then slowly exhaled.
"…That sounds nice."
His shoulders loosened just a little.
"I guess…"
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"…I let my anger and worry for you get the better of me."
Azura's expression softened.
"Tell me about what you've been through."
She took both of his hands in hers.
"I'm sure it was painful."
Her ears lowered slightly.
"It was hard for me too, until I found them."
She squeezed his hands gently.
"But I need to hear it."
Arlo was quiet for a few moments.
Then he spoke.
"…I spent the last three years being sold from one master to another."
His voice was flat.
Exhausted.
"They used me."
His grip tightened unconsciously.
"Beat me."
"Made me fight for them."
A pause.
"Sometimes they used me as bait for monsters."
Azura's eyes widened, but she said nothing.
Arlo continued.
"I've been through seven different dungeons across the world."
His orange eyes darkened.
"Even the Verdant Abyss."
His voice dropped.
"The one that appeared in our homeland."
Azura swallowed nervously.
"…How was it?"
A beat.
"…Home, I mean."
Arlo looked away.
"The city is gone."
His words came quietly.
"Humans took it."
"The dungeon twisted everything."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Our beautiful forest…"
His voice tightened.
"…turned into an ocean nightmare."
"Water pours endlessly from the dungeon now."
He looked back at her.
"It's fused with the World Tree."
Azura's breath caught.
Arlo's expression became distant.
"Even our house…"
A pause.
"…is nothing but ruins now."
"I want to help River clear this dungeon first…"
Azura held her brother's hands tightly.
"But after that…"
Her voice softened.
"…do you think we could explore the Verdant Abyss together someday?"
Arlo looked at her for a long moment.
Then he let out a slow breath.
"I don't know."
His answer was honest.
"Saving our homeland…"
A faint, bittersweet smile crossed his face.
"…that would be nice."
He lowered his gaze.
"But honestly…"
His voice grew quieter.
"I don't know if I can handle going back."
Before Azura could answer—
A voice cut through the moment.
"How touching."
Cold.
Amused.
Cruel.
"I was rather hoping Arthur would be dead by now."
Elric stood just outside the barrier, watching them with open disappointment.
Arlo's head snapped toward him.
Then—
A bell rang.
A single, beautiful sound.
And instantly, Arlo's expression shattered.
He staggered, clutching his head.
"Ghk—!"
Black tears began pouring down his face.
Elric smiled calmly.
"Remember."
He gently rang the bell again.
"These humans cannot be trusted."
His crimson eyes remained fixed on Arlo.
"They are all evil."
Another ring.
"To truly protect your sister…"
His smile deepened.
"…the easiest solution would be to break all of her limbs and keep her bound."
Azura froze.
Elric's voice remained as calm as ever.
"Happiness and survival are not the same thing, you only need one."
The bell rang once more.
Miserable September.
One of Pharos's Thirteen Masterpieces.
A cursed artifact with many horrors tied to it.
But its most infamous ability—
Was to drag out the darkest thoughts hidden in a person's heart…
And twist them into something worse.
Arlo screamed.
The black blood running from his eyes thickened.
He dropped to one knee, fingers digging into his skull as if he wanted to tear the pain out with his bare hands.
"Brother?!"
Azura stepped forward in panic.
"Are you okay?!"
Arlo looked at her through tears of black.
"Please…"
His voice cracked.
"Get away from me…"
He convulsed, then vomited thick black sludge across the floor and onto Azura's shirt.
"Kill me…"
He trembled violently.
"I don't want to hurt you…"
His eyes widened in terror.
"…or your friend…"
Arthur moved instantly.
He grabbed Azura and pulled her back before Arlo could lunge.
"All… humans…"
Arlo's body shook as he forced himself back to his feet.
"…must die…"
His breathing turned ragged.
"That's right…"
The black tears continued to spill.
"To protect my sister…"
His hands gripped his own hair so tightly it looked painful.
"…I need to kill them all."
Azura stared at him, tears welling in her own eyes.
"What do we do, Arthur?"
Her voice broke.
"He's suffering…"
Arthur's eyes stayed locked on Arlo.
"We knock him out."
His voice was firm.
"There's no way an artifact like that can keep this up forever."
Black dust began to swirl around his hands.
"If we can restrain him before he hurts himself—or anyone else—the effect should wear off."
Azura took a shaky breath.
Then nodded.
"…Alright."
Her expression hardened despite the tears.
"Please help me."
She wiped her eyes.
"I'll be the one to knock him out."
Her ears trembled slightly.
"I need to be the one to save my brother."
Arthur gave her a short nod.
"Then let's save him."
The black dust around his hands thickened, forming the early shape of a weapon.
Across from them, Arlo stood trembling, completely lost inside the artifact's influence.
"I'll kill all of you…"
His voice was raw.
Broken.
"All of you vile humans…"
He laughed weakly through the pain.
"Then I'll lock Azura away…"
His fingers dug deeper into his hair.
"Far away…"
"…where no human can ever hurt her again."
And with that—
The fight for Arlo's mind began.