Zachary rushed forward without thinking, his body moving before his mind could catch up.
His fist tightened, muscles tensing as he aimed straight for the creature gripping Eleora's leg.
But—
"No, Zach!" Eleora shouted, her voice cutting through everything.
Her leg was still bound, the metal wires coiling tighter with every small movement she made.
"This is my fight!" she added, her tone firm—but not angry. More… determined. "I'm a level 15 Support, remember?"
Zachary hesitated mid-step.
Not because he wanted to stop—
But because of how she said it.
Eleora didn't wait.
She reached down, grabbing the wires wrapped around her leg.
The metal was cold, almost unnaturally so, but she didn't flinch.
Her grip tightened, fingers digging into the twisted strands.
Then—
She pulled.
The wires bent.
Not easily—but enough.
With a sharp twist of her body, she forced the grip loose, tearing her leg free in one quick motion.
She landed lightly, immediately pushing off the ground and leaping backward.
The creature reacted instantly.
It let out a harsh, scraping creeeek, its body shifting as the wires that made up its form stretched outward. Then it lunged again, one of its arm-like extensions slamming down where she had just been.
Crash!
The ground cracked slightly from the impact.
Eleora dodged just in time, her body moving almost on instinct.
She pivoted, turning the momentum into an attack as her foot snapped forward—
Thud!
Her kick connected, forcing the creature to slide back a few feet.
Not defeated.
But pushed.
She didn't stop there.
Closing the distance again, she stepped in and drove her fist forward with everything she had.
Impact—
The wires jolted violently, the creature's structure destabilizing for just a second too long.
That was enough.
The twisted body collapsed inward, the wires loosening and falling apart, clattering softly against the ground as whatever was holding them together… disappeared.
Silence.
Eleora exhaled, her shoulders dropping slightly as the tension left her body.
She brushed her hands against her jacket, dusting it off like it was nothing.
Then she smirked.
Zachary and Cole rushed over immediately.
"Are you okay?" Zachary asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
There was real worry there—hard to hide.
"I'm fine, Zach," she said, waving it off lightly.
She let out a small chuckle, like it wasn't a big deal. "It's my first dungeon after all."
Zachary blinked.
"…Your first dungeon?" he repeated, clearly surprised—though he kept his tone controlled.
"Yeah," Eleora nodded. "I just got evaluated a few days ago."
Zachary looked at her for a moment longer than usual, something unreadable passing through his eyes.
His brows furrowed slightly, like he was thinking through something.
"Just so you know," he said calmly, "one monster doesn't tell you how hard a dungeon is."
Eleora tilted her head slightly.
Then narrowed her eyes just a bit.
"You know, Zach…" she said slowly, studying him. "Something's changed about you."
Zachary paused.
"…Me? Changed?" he replied, acting confused—but he knew exactly what she meant.
"You're more…" she hesitated, trying to find the right word. "Protective."
She crossed her arms lightly.
"Like the kind of person who knows they're strong."
Zachary let out a small laugh, brushing it off like it didn't matter.
"Yeah, sure," he said, already turning away. "Let's keep moving."
Cole followed him quickly, glancing back at Eleora for a second before leaning closer to Zachary.
"Zachary," he whispered, lowering his voice, "what was that about?"
Zachary didn't look at him.
"I can't tell her yet," he muttered back quietly.
Cole blinked.
"…Can't tell her what?" he whispered again, more confused now.
Then—
Eleora suddenly jumped forward, throwing her arms over both their shoulders.
"Mmpt—!?" both of them reacted at the same time, their bodies jolting slightly from the sudden contact.
"Don't leave me out of things," she said, narrowing her eyes playfully—but there was curiosity underneath.
The three of them kept walking.
Side by side.
The city stretched endlessly around them, empty cars left scattered across the roads in no real pattern. Some doors were open, others shut.
Papers drifted across the ground, carried by a faint, inconsistent breeze like slow-moving tumbleweeds.
Everything felt… paused.
"So, uh…" Zachary started, his voice awkward as he tried to break the silence.
It dragged on longer than he liked.
Then—
Flicker! Flicker! Flicker!
The streetlights buzzed louder.
And then—
One by one—
The windows of the empty buildings lit up.
In order.
Row after row.
Floor after floor.
Like something—
Was turning them on.
"W-what the…?" all three of them said almost at the same time, their eyes widening as the dead city suddenly… came alive.