Nightfall
The campfire flickered weakly, offering little warmth against the chill wind rolling through the charred plains where Dracarys once stood. Ryo sat in silence, his armor removed, his hands still stained with soot and dried blood.
Lucien, the knight, stared blankly into the flames, clutching a piece of blue fabric — his sister's sash. Selene, the priestess, murmured prayers too broken to finish, her hands shaking as she tried and failed to summon a healing light.
And Lyra, the elf archer, stared at the sky, her face stained with tears that wouldn't stop.
Aria, the fox-eared mage, sat close to Ryo. Her fluffy ears drooped low, and her eyes were empty. She had lost her entire village. Her tail curled around her legs like a child seeking comfort.
Ryo reached over and gently held her hand. Aria flinched—then squeezed his hand back with all the strength she had left.
"Ryo," she whispered, voice cracking. "I don't want to hate them… but I do."
He didn't reply. Words felt useless now.
So instead, he pulled her into an embrace.
Their lips met — not in passion, but in mourning. A fleeting moment of warmth in the endless cold.
Ryle's Office
Thea dusted off a small shelf in Ryle's artifact room, which looked more like a chaotic museum of chaos than a journalist's workspace. She muttered curses under her breath as she avoided blades, glowing orbs, and one suspiciously pulsing eyeball in a jar.
She paused in front of two items:
One was a black book made with some kind of human skin, pulsing faintly.
The other, a crimson glass orb, cracked and swirling with faint mist.
She raised a brow. "Noctis Vitae… and The Half-Blood Orb?"
"Why do you even keep these?"
Ryle, reclining in his chair with a steaming cup of tea, smirked.
"I revived Sylvaris with Noctis Vitae."
Thea look look tired."Oh yeah"
She eyed the Half-Blood Orb. "And this one?"
"Collection"
"How did you even do blood harvest"
Ryle's gaze darkened. He held up two fingers and tapped beneath his eye.
"Dragons can copy any magic they see… and corruption's easy if you train. Especially with the right artifact."
Thea looked at him with a weird mix of admiration and concern.
"You're terrifying sometimes."
He grinned. "I try."
Knock. Knock.
Thea turned, ready to grab her sword.
The door opened — revealing Ryo Takahashi and his surviving party.
Ryo's face was stoic. Lucien and Selene stood behind him. Lyra kept her gaze down, eyes dead.
Ryo's voice was low.
"We're going to destroy Dragon Mountain."
He stepped forward. "Join us."
A long silence followed.
Ryle and Thea exchanged a glance.
She nodded slowly.
Ryle smirked.
"We'll help."
Telepathic Link
Ryle: "Dravenith. Sylvaris. They're coming for the mountain."
Dravenith: "Understood. A barrier will be formed."
Sylvaris: "Should we evacuate?"
Ryle: "No. Just in case… we'll crush them ourselves."
Near Dragon Mountain
The narrow trail winded between sharp crags and ancient trees twisted by dragonfire. Ryo's party moved silently, eyes burning with vengeance and purpose.
Ryo led the march, his Hero Sword glowing faintly.
"We end this. No more sacrifices."
Suddenly—
Slice.
A scream echoed. Blood sprayed across the cliff wall.
Aria — the fox-eared mage — collapsed, lifeless. Her throat cleanly cut.
Behind her, a figure stood.
Thea.
Blood coated her twin swords. Her hair fluttered in the wind, face devoid of emotion.
"The strongest one's gone," she said coldly.
Ryo's eyes widened.
"No… ARIA!"
He rushed toward her, only for Lucien to charge forward.
"TRAITOR—!"
SWISH.
Ryle appeared behind him.
Lucien's head rolled off cleanly, his body collapsing in a heap.
Ryo dropped to his knees, sobbing.
Selene screamed, light magic trembling in her hands. Lyra pulled an arrow but hesitated.
Ryo stood, eyes burning with fury.
"WHY?!"
He lunged at Ryle, sword raised.
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"
Ryle parried lazily, then pushed Ryo back with a single palm strike.
"Too slow."
Ryo trembled, grief overtaking his stance.
"Answer me! Why?!"
Ryle tilted his head.
"No real reason."
He stepped forward.
"Just protecting my family…"
He suddenly reached toward Ryo's waist and snatched the Hero Sword in a blur.
"…and stealing the hero sword."
Ryo stumbled back, wide-eyed, unarmed and broken.
Ryle raised the glowing blade, inspecting it like a toy.
Thea walking slowly toward the rest of Ryo's party… swords dripping red.