October 30th
My name is Arche.
Once, I was nothing more than a thief.
Not the ordinary kind who steals for greed, no—I stole from thieves themselves.
I reclaimed what had already been stolen and returned it to its rightful owners.
Sometimes, when the nights were cold and the stars merciless, I took from the rich to feed the poor.
A foolish attempt at justice, perhaps. But it was all I knew.
That all changed the day I met her—a witch of impossible beauty.
Back then, I had given up on myself.
A thief is still a thief, no matter the intention.
A crime is still a sin.
I believed I was beyond saving.
But she…
She told me redemption was possible. That no matter how deep the darkness, there was still a way back into the light.
Since that day, I have walked a different path. A path of wandering, of atonement.
I became a ghost upon the roads, chasing redemption with every step.
I met countless souls, witnessed life and death, joy and despair.
I even learned to release the pain I carried—bit by bit, like blood dripping from an old wound.
But peace is a fragile thing.
There came a moment when the past clawed its way back.
The organization that shattered my life—tore my mother from my arms—that threatened the very home of the girl I love…
I will destroy it.
No matter what it takes.
And when the time comes—I will face DEATH itself.
And I will kill him.
We were hidden deep in the forest, just beyond the reach of moonlight, inside a secret base carved into the earth.
The trees loomed tall around us, and in the distance, a massive castle towered over the night—a grim fortress known as the headquarters of Lunar Ascendance.
Everything was silent… waiting.
"Ready?" Arthur's voice was low, muffled by the tension in the air.
I didn't answer right away. My eyes scanned the mercenaries lined up behind us, each one locked in, breath held, hearts steady.
Then, I started the countdown.
"Ten…"
The sound barely left my lips.
"Nine…"
The minute hand of my watch ticked into place. In exactly nine seconds, it would strike 9 a.m.
"Eight…"
Zack stepped forward, silently unsheathing his knife. The metal gleamed like a fang under the moonlight.
"Seven…"
Lycaon's bones cracked and shifted. In seconds, he was no longer human—his werewolf form towering, breathing heavily.
"Six…"
Arthur held the hilt of his legendary sword and took a deep breath.
"Five…"
Murphy took off his glasses. The reflection of the castle vanished from his lenses.
"Four…"
Valeria grinned—a slow, savage curve of lips that promised destruction.
"Three…"
Chronia tightened her tool belt, her fingers twitching in anticipation.
"Two…"
Oris lowered his stance, spear in hand, muscles coiled like a spring.
"One…"
Theresia took aim, the tip of her arrow crackling with fire as Cathy enchanted it mid-flight.
The arrow soared.
A second later—boom.
The invisible sticky bomb ignited in a blazing inferno. The shockwave tore through the air.
Chain explosions followed—one, two, five—erupting across the courtyard. Screams echoed, then silence.
The castle's main gates blew open, reduced to twisted metal and splinters. Smoke billowed into the sky.
Then we saw them.
Soldiers of Lunar Ascendance poured out, weapons drawn, barking orders—panic in their eyes.
But we were already moving.
Hundreds mercenaries charged through the fire, heading straight for the front lines.
Tonight, Lunar Ascendance falls.
Three figures darted forward alongside the wave of mercenaries, slipping into the chaos like arrows loosed from a bow.
Theresia, Cathy, and Oris.
"This team selection was way too random," Theresia muttered, her tone dry as she notched an arrow.
"Ugh... I'm scared. Can I just go home? I already regret everything..." Cathy whimpered, hugging her wand like it might vanish and take her with it.
Oris, ever the calm in the storm, led the way without hesitation.
He reached back, gave Cathy a gentle pat on the head. "Don't worry. I'm here."
"That doesn't help at all, you know," Cathy snapped, eyes wide with fear.
"At least I tried," he said with a soft grin, never breaking stride.
The clash began.
Mercenaries crashed into the front lines of Lunar Ascendance soldiers.
Steel met steel, magic lit the air in violent bursts. Screams and war cries blurred into one overwhelming noise.
But it was clear—the mercenaries were struggling to hold the line.
Theresia held back from the front, her eyes sharp, calculating.
She loosed arrow after arrow, each one finding its mark between joints of armor or through exposed throats.
Her hands moved like clockwork—fast, efficient, merciless.
Cathy, still trembling, planted her feet. She closed her eyes and whispered an incantation under her breath.
A swirling barrier of wind erupted around her like a dome.
The soldiers who dared cross its threshold were hurled back with bone-snapping force, their bodies flung into the trees like ragdolls.
From the eye of the storm, she shouted, "I really hate this! I really hate this!"
And yet—her magic didn't falter.
Theresia smiled faintly. "You're doing fine, coward."
"I'm not a coward! I'm just... very survival-oriented!" Cathy retorted as another soldier was launched through the air by a gust of wind.
Oris moved like a phantom through the battlefield, spear dancing in a deadly rhythm.
Each thrust was precise, brutal. He protected the mercenaries, intercepting attacks before they landed, always just in time.
The odds were against them, but with every arrow, every gust of magic, every sweeping strike—the tide began to shift.
Oris hurled his spear forward, the tip piercing through the gut of the soldier in front of him.
Blood sprayed as the man collapsed, lifeless. More soldiers surged in from every direction, a sea of blades closing in.
Without hesitation, Oris spun his spear in a deadly arc. The sheer force of the motion sent the surrounding soldiers flying like ragdolls, their armor clanging as they hit the ground.
From behind, a relentless barrage of arrows rained down—each one precise, each one fatal.
Theresia, hidden in the chaos, picked off any soldier daring to flank Oris.
Sensing danger, she suddenly ducked, her eyes narrowing. She had read the thoughts of a soldier sneaking up behind her.
In a flash, she loosed an arrow straight into his thigh. The man howled, crumpling to his knees.
Theresia stepped onto his shoulder, her eyes cold and merciless-then drove a second arrow down into his skull, ending him without a word.
Meanwhile, Cathy advanced calmly through the battlefield, a whirlwind of protective wind swirling around her.
Every soldier who dared approach was hurled back by its invisible force.
When she reached the heart of the skirmish, Cathy unleashed the storm.
With a wave of her hand, the wind exploded outward—scattering soldiers and mercenaries alike like leaves in a hurricane.
Oris dug the tip of his spear into the ground, anchoring himself as a fierce shockwave tore through the battlefield. The blast nearly sent him flying.
Clinging tightly to his arm was Theresia—her boots skidding on the dirt, nothing else to hold onto.
"A-Ah! Sorry!" Cathy called from behind, bowing frantically, her wind magic still crackling in the air.
Theresia smirked, brushing dust from her cloak. "Ohohoho… not bad for someone screaming a minute ago."
"Cathy. Behind you," Oris said, voice suddenly sharp.
Cathy froze, then turned.
Three figures dropped from above, landing in perfect formation. The air changed—heavy, charged, dangerous.
"Waaah!!" Cathy yelped, scrambling backward in pure terror.
The first woman, her crimson eyes gleaming, inspected her nails lazily.
"Tch. Sudden battle? Really ruins my night routine. I haven't even finished my makeup yet."
The second was silent. Her long black hair draped over her shoulders like a shroud, and her eyes—deep, black voids—stared through them all without emotion.
The third, with hair like ice tipped in snow, gave a carefree shrug.
"Well, at least we not unemployed anymore. That's something."
Crimson Eyes cocked her head, eyeing Oris. "Wait… Aren't you that king? Uh… what was the name of your kingdom again?"
Oris took a step forward, spear raised, eyes fierce.
"I am Oris the Golden Emperor—King of the Kingdom of Golden Sands!" His voice rang out with pride.
Then, with a grin: "And I've been dying to meet you, Boomera."
The woman with light blue and white hair raised a brow. "You really have a thing for gold, huh?"
Boomera scoffed. "Hmph. Meet me, then."
With a snap of her fingers—BOOM.
An explosion erupted around her, flames and smoke engulfing the clearing.
When the haze lifted, Boomera was gone.
"Tch. I leave them both to you!" Oris barked, already sprinting into the smoke, his figure swallowed by the fading embers as he chased after her.
Cathy whimpered beside Theresia, trembling. "Wh-what do we do now?"
Theresia gave her a wink. "We survive. Stylishly."
"U-Uh…" Cathy turned slowly, dread curling in her chest as the two women stepped forward like reapers cloaked in elegance and danger.
Theresia narrowed her eyes and tilted her head with a smirk. "Oh? And here I thought introductions were polite."
"You two weren't taught any manners? Tch… how rude. Fufufu."
The light blue-haired woman scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Arrogant, are we? Fine then—call out our names when you're begging for mercy."
"I'm Gravina," she said with a grin sharp enough to cut. "And the one beside me is Noira."
Noira remained silent, her obsidian-black eyes locked onto them like twin abysses.
"We are captains of Lunar Ascendance," Gravina continued, voice laced with pride.
"And our general is none other than Zepharion. Remember that name… if you survive."
Theresia stepped forward, her bow already half-raised.
"Theresia the Sunpiercer," she declared, voice unwavering. "Try to remember it when you're bleeding out."
Cathy peeked from behind her, nervously clutching her staff. "A-And I… I'm Catherine the Lonesome Witch…"
Gravina burst into laughter. "Lonesome Witch? What kind of third-rate title is that?! That's adorable—no, pathetic!"
WHIZZ
An arrow sliced the air, passing so close to Gravina's ear that it split a lock of her hair.
The laughter stopped.
"Don't you dare mock her," Theresia said coldly, lowering her bow.
Gravina's eyes widened, fury bubbling behind her grin. "You'll pay for that."
Theresia glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "Let's take her down, Cathy."
Cathy nodded, her hands trembling—but her eyes were lit with something else now.
Determination.
Meanwhile, I led the way through the back entrance of the fortress—less guarded, just as Chronia predicted.
The few soldiers who tried to stop us never stood a chance.
Our blades cut through the silence, and their bodies fell with it.
Without wasting a moment, we climbed the narrow staircase, boots echoing against the cold stone walls.
On the second floor, we split into teams. Arthur, Zack, and I stuck together.
"Arche," Arthur said, adjusting the sword on his back, "our target's on the top floor, right?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Chronia said so."
We charged upward, each step bringing us closer to the heart of the enemy.
Elsewhere, on the battlefield below, Theresia and Cathy stood side by side—facing off against Gravina and the ever-silent Noira.
Theresia moved first, loosing a flurry of arrows with swift, trained precision.
But the arrows… dropped.
Midair.
Clattered to the ground like they were made of lead.
"What the—?!" Theresia blinked, eyes darting in disbelief. "What's going on?!"
Gravina smirked, extending a single hand. "Oh, did I forget to mention?" Her voice dripped with mockery. "I control gravity."
The words hit harder than a punch.
Cathy's instincts kicked in. With a shout, she raised a swirling barrier of wind around them.
"Cathy?" Theresia glanced at her, surprised by the speed and clarity of her reaction.
"We can't take this lightly," Cathy said, her voice unusually firm. "Her power isn't something we can underestimate."
Theresia stared at her for a second. Cathy—the nervous, trembling girl who once hid behind her—was now focused, sharp, resolute. A quiet flame burned in her eyes.
A smile tugged at Theresia's lips.
"If I'm with you" she muttered, "we can win this."
She raised her bow again, a new arrow nocked and glowing faintly with enchantment.
"Let's do this together, Cathy."
Cathy nodded once, wind swirling at her fingertips. "Yeah. Let's end this."
Inside the swirling barrier of wind, Theresia and Cathy huddled close, whispering quickly—forming a strategy as the air shimmered with tension.
Outside, Gravina crossed her arms, tapping her foot with growing annoyance.
"Ugh… are you two planning to camp there until this war ends? How boring."
She pointed lazily toward her companion. "Noira. Do your thing."
Noira gave a single, silent nod—cold and unreadable.
Cathy, having just finished explaining her idea to Theresia, took a deep breath. Then, with a swift motion of her hands, she dispersed the wind shield.
The moment the barrier dissolved, they saw—Nothing.
Gravina and Noira had vanished.
Cathy's eyes darted around. "Where are they…?"
Before Theresia could respond, a crushing weight slammed down on both of them—an invisible force pressing against their shoulders, knees, spines, like the very air had turned to lead.
Theresia gasped and stumbled.
Cathy's eyes widened. "Gravity field—!"
Acting on instinct, she reached out and yanked Theresia back, just in time to avoid a concentrated burst of gravitational energy that cracked the stone floor in front of them like glass.
"Stay low!" Cathy shouted, holding her wand tight as sparks of wind danced around her again.
As they turned, they saw them, Gravina and Noira—standing silently in the distance, like phantoms rising from the shadows.
"Are you done?" Gravina asked, her voice cold and taunting.
Theresia didn't answer. Instead, she fired a barrage of arrows without pause, each shot aimed with lethal precision.
Gravina dodged, but it was pointless.
Theresia had already read her mind. She knew exactly where Gravina would move.
But it didn't matter.
With a flick of her hand, Gravina activated her gravity manipulation.
The arrows stopped mid-air, then crashed to the ground as if the earth itself had swallowed them.
"Noira, take care of the quiet one," Gravina said with a smirk. "The blonde is mine."
Noira nodded once, silently, and began walking forward slowly, deliberately.
A dark, suffocating aura radiated from her, swallowing the battlefield in dread.
Cathy froze. Her body trembled uncontrollably. In a blink, the world around her shifted.
She was no longer in the chaos of battle.
She stood before a small, weathered house in a peaceful little village.
Cathy's breath caught in her throat. Her knees shook.
"This... this is..." she whispered, her voice cracking. "My old home..."
She saw two children playing tag, they were Cathy and the boy she used to like.
"Why.. am I here..?" Cathy mumbled.
They then approached Cathy, "Look! That's the adult version of me!"
"She looks so pathetic doesn't she?" Cathy the boy immediately laughed mockingly.
"Locking herself up because of a trivial matter!" The boy laughed.
Hearing her being ridiculed by herself and the boy once liked made her mentally devastated.
"She's better off dead!" They tried to stab her with knives but she immediately came to his senses.
She shot a spell that sent them both flying, and in an instant she was back in battle.
Noira stood silently staring blankly at Cathy, beneath her lay two knives.
"I-Illusion huh.." Cathy muttered.
Theresia who was fighting Gravina looked back, "Are you okay, Cathy?!"
Cathy nodded hesitantly, she saw her hands were shaking. "Yes.."
Before Theresia could respond, a barrage of stones shot toward her. She narrowly dodged, regaining focus on the enemy ahead.
Gravina showed no mercy. Rocks, wooden debris, and broken fragments hurled toward Theresia in a relentless storm, forcing her to constantly move-ducking, leaping, sliding.
Theresia jumped onto one of the flying rocks, using it as a stepping stone—but Gravina reacted instantly, hurling the stone skyward with a wave of her hand.
Theresia was launched into the air, completely exposed.
Cathy, watching from below, knew she had to act fast. She hurled a vial into the ground, and upon shattering, it burst into a blinding flash of light—temporarily blinding Noira.
"Theresia! Jump! I'll catch you!" Cathy shouted, running beneath the floating stone.
Gravina, unfazed, launched sharp wooden stakes toward Cathy, but Cathy raised her wind barrier just in time—splinters crashing harmlessly against it.
Trusting her completely, Theresia leapt from the sky.
Cathy focused her magic and caught her mid-air with a gust of wind, gently guiding her down to safety.
But Noira wasn't done. From behind, she twisted reality again—warping the space around Cathy. She wanted to isolate her, to cut her off from Theresia.
Theresia turned, seeing Cathy frozen in confusion. "Cathy...?" she called out, concerned.
"Don't get distracted, you idiot!" Gravina's voice tore through the chaos, followed by a volley of flying swords aimed straight at her.
Theresia twisted and rolled, barely dodging-but not unscathed. Blades grazed her skin, tearing through fabric and flesh.
Bleeding and breathless, she landed on her feet-barely standing, but still defiant.
In Cathy's vision, she found herself standing alone in a desolate void—a barren world with nothing but a single, endless path stretching forward into oblivion.
"Where... am I?" she whispered, her voice barely audible in the crushing silence.
Then she felt it.
A chilling weight crept up her spine—guilt, anguish, and a piercing, intangible pain that clawed at her very soul.
It wasn't just fear. It was shame, grief and self-loathing—all twisted together in a storm of emotion she couldn't explain.
She turned around slowly, dreading what she might see.
Behind her, a swarm of shadowy smoke twisted and writhed, forming grotesque hands that reached for her—long, clawed fingers desperate to drag her in, to pull her back into the darkness.
They pulsed with a sickening familiarity, like the embodiment of every regret she'd ever buried.
Panic overtook her.
With a gasp, Cathy turned and bolted down the path, her lungs burning, her legs shaking beneath her.
She tried to call on her magic, to summon anything-but her power was gone. Stripped. Hollow.
She ran faster. Her breath came in sharp gasps. Cold sweat soaked her skin. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
And then. Nothing.
The ground vanished.
She plunged downward, the wind tearing past her. There was no sky. No end. Just the endless sensation of falling.
Terror clawed at her chest.
I've felt this before, she thought. This isn't real. This is a dream...
A sudden clarity struck her.
She forced her eyes open—and reality came crashing back.
Cathy was falling. A real, gaping hole beneath her yawned wide.
Acting on instinct, she summoned her broom and shot into the air just in time.
Her breaths were shallow. Her hands trembled.
Above, Noira stood, staring down at her with lifeless eyes—cold, unreadable, inhuman.
"You're quieter than a dead stingray," Cathy muttered with a shaky grin, forcing herself to stay upright.
"But I've figured you out..."
But Noira didn't answer. She dissolved into the shadows without a sound.
Cathy's heart pounded as her eyes scanned the battlefield, senses on high alert.
She was still being hunted.
Meanwhile, Theresia was locked in an intense duel with Gravina, arrows flying in rapid succession like streaks of lightning.
"You really underestimated me, huh?!" Theresia shouted, loosing arrow after arrow.
But each one was yanked to the ground before it could reach its target, as if the earth itself had claimed them.
Gravina stood firm, manipulating gravity with a flick of her wrist.
"What the hell is this?!" Theresia growled.
Then she paused—eyes narrowing. Her quiver was nearly empty.
She clicked her tongue. "You're a gravity user, right? Wouldn't it be easier to just pin me to the ground and finish this already?"
Gravina flinched.
The shift in her expression didn't go unnoticed.
"Huh?" Theresia tilted her head mockingly. "What's the problem?"
"I wish I could do that!" Gravina snapped. "This damn power—I can't even control it perfectly!"
Theresia blinked, mildly surprised.
Gravina's hands trembled slightly as her voice rose, cracking under pressure.
"Unlike Noira... my ability wasn't something I was born with. It was forced on me... by Sir Zepharion!"
"When I first got this power, I was thrilled."
"I thought I could finally be useful… finally be someone." Her voice dropped. "But it's a curse."
Theresia rolled her eyes. "Oh no. Are you starting to tell your tragic backstory now?"
"Shut up!" Gravina snapped, her power spiking—the ground beneath her feet cracked and trembled.
"The more emotional I get, the stronger this ability becomes! So if you keep pushing me—!"
"—You'll lose control," Theresia finished, aiming another arrow. "Good. I like my chances when things get messy."
Unbeknownst to Gravina, Theresia had already crafted a plan to end her.
In an instant, Theresia lunged forward like a shadow unleashed.
She aimed her bow, appearing ready to strike Gravina directly—yet Gravina swiftly raised a barrier of scattered wooden planks to shield herself.
But the shot was never meant for her.
The arrow soared past the wood and struck the hanging lamp above.
A sharp crack echoed through the room as the light fixture came crashing down.
In that chaotic moment, Theresia vanished from view—only to reappear right behind Gravina.
"Thanks for the teleportation gem, boss!"
Gravina's hands were too busy, controlling the wood and deflecting the falling lamp.
She didn't even notice the arrow until it had already pierced her back.
Theresia laughed, sharp and cruel. "This is all the captains can do? Pathetic!" Her laughter echoed, that same iconic cackle that marked every moment of her madness.
But then, everything changed.
A sudden weight pressed down on her. Her body refused to move, like she was being restrained by something invisible. And then, an explosion roared in the distance.
"Get away from her!" came a voice—Cathy's voice, laced with fury.
Before Theresia could react, something wet splattered across her face. She blinked.
She was buried beneath a pile of stones.
Above her, Cathy stood with one hand raised, lifting the debris with magic.
Her eyes burned with both urgency and confusion.
"...Cathy?" Theresia's voice trembled. Her entire body ached.
"It's okay," Cathy replied. "You were under Noira's spell... the Gravina you fought wasn't even real."
As Theresia turned her gaze to her hand, horror gripped her heart.
Her arm had detached, and she could see it clearly—only bone remained, a grotesque, bloody stump where her limb should have been.
A scream ripped from her throat, pure terror. Cathy stared at her, fear flashing across her face.
"...Why are you distancing yourself from me... Cathy?" Theresia's voice cracked, trembling with desperation.
"Stay away from me! Monster!" Cathy screamed, her voice laced with terror, before turning and fleeing.
Theresia's eyes darted around, her breath shallow. She caught sight of a mirror lying on the floor.
She stared into it, and what she saw sent a chill down her spine.
Her once beautiful face was now horribly mangled, twisted beyond recognition.
The scream that tore through her was guttural, filled with despair and raw fear.
Blood streamed from her eyes as she cried, "Please! Why am I like this?!"
And then, suddenly, a sharp slap echoed through the air.
Her head snapped to the side, the pain jolting her back to reality.
She blinked rapidly, her body shaking as she looked down at her arm and face, whole and intact once more.
Beside her stood Cathy, holding her trembling hand. "Theresia... you're awake."
Theresia recoiled, instinctively stepping back. "What... what are you...?" She was still dizzy, disoriented, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
"I'm the real one. What you saw earlier was just an illusion created by Noira." Cathy's voice was gentle but firm.
"The reason you were so easily manipulated is because she didn't bother to think."
"She just targeted your weaknesses."
"You relied too much on your mind-reading ability, Theresia!" Cathy's words cut through the confusion, sharp and pointed.
Theresia fell silent, her mind a storm of fragmented thoughts. Cathy... there was truth in that, she realized.
Cathy and Theresia crouched behind the broken wall, catching their breath as chaos unfolded around them.
Cathy peeked over at her companion—only to find Theresia unusually quiet, her gaze distant, her shoulders heavy with unease.
"A-Ah?! I–I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you!" Cathy panicked, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry—ugh, I'm the worst!"
"No…" Theresia shook her head, voice low. "It's nothing."
Cathy bit her lip, guilt rising. Her eyes dropped to Theresia's quiver—only three arrows left.
Theresia stood slowly. "Let's get back to it."
"But… before we do," she turned to Cathy, "can you explain Noira's ability?"
Cathy hesitated, organizing her thoughts. "She… she can trap people in an illusion. It feels like—like a dream. But not a nice one."
"Like sleep paralysis?" Theresia offered.
Cathy's eyes widened. "Y-Yes! Exactly! If you suddenly feel strange, or if your body won't move, fight it!"
"Try to wake up—if you manage to hurt her, the illusion breaks!"
Theresia gave a small nod. "Got it."
Then, gently, she reached out and held Cathy's trembling hand.
"Let's do this together, Cathy."
Cathy blinked, stunned for a moment by the warmth in Theresia's voice.
She nodded slowly, relief softening her expression. "Yes… thank you."
But just as they prepared to move, a chill ran down Theresia's spine.
Her limbs felt lighter… too light. A haze blurred the edges of her vision.
Cathy caught it immediately. "Theresia? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine…" she murmured, blinking to clear her sight. "You're a good girl, Cathy."
There was a hint of a smile. "No wonder Murphy likes being around you."
Cathy smiled, "Of course."
Without hesitation, Theresia thrust an arrow straight into Cathy's stomach.
"W-What are… you…?" Cathy gasped, eyes wide with shock as she stumbled backward.
But Theresia didn't falter—she leapt away, eyes sharp. "Cathy would never accept that compliment with a smile… She'd deny it while stuttering!"
In a flash, the figure before her shimmered, twisting and warping—until it was no longer Cathy at all.
It was Noira.
"Where is the real Cathy?!" Theresia demanded, bow drawn and ready.
"H-Here!" a voice called out.
Roots burst from the ground, coiling around Noira's limbs like serpents.
From the shadows, the real Cathy emerged, her hands glowing with magical energy. "You're amazing, Theresia!"
Cathy rushed to Theresia's side with a relieved smile. But before she could say anything more—
"No wonder Murphy's so attached to you," Theresia teased with a smirk.
"W-W-W-What do you m-mean?!" Cathy squeaked, face turning bright red as she flailed her arms in embarrassment.
Suddenly, Gravina stepped from behind Noira's bound form, her expression smug.
"Wow… you're so easy to fool, Theresia. Did you really think this little trick would work for long?"
Her gaze scanned both of them with disdain. "Is this really all your team has to offer?"
Theresia scoffed, aiming an arrow directly at Gravina's face. "Please. You think we're serious already?"
She grinned, her eyes burning with excitement. "We're just getting started."
Oris gritted his teeth as he faced off against Boomera, who was getting more and more skilled with her explosive abilities.
The air around them crackled with tension. Boomera snapped her fingers with a wicked grin.
In an instant, an explosion erupted behind Oris, sending him tumbling forward through the air, his body crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring thud.
But Oris wasn't down for long. He forced himself up, shaking off the pain, his eyes locked on Boomera.
From behind him, a group of mercenaries rushed in, weapons drawn.
Some slashed with swords, others fired crossbows and threw knives—an all-out assault.
Boomera didn't even flinch. With a flick of her wrist, she created a ripple of explosive force around her.
Explosions erupted, sending mercenaries flying in every direction like ragdolls.
Screams echoed through the air as bodies were thrown across the battlefield.
"You're all in my way!" Boomera's voice was like a battle cry as she wiped out the mercenaries with ease, her power unstoppable.
Oris lunged forward, his spear aimed straight for Boomera's head, hoping to land a decisive blow.
But Boomera merely tilted her head to the side, dodging effortlessly, and then, with a mocking grin, reached out and slapped her palm against Oris's stomach.
"See you, old man." Boomera's voice was taunting as she shoved him backward with a casual flick of her wrist.
Before Oris could react, a white blur shot down from above.
A swift, powerful kick landed squarely on Boomera's face, sending her staggering back.
The force of the blow left a crack in the ground beneath her.
Boomera blinked, disoriented, and then grinned, her eyes narrowing with excitement. "Well, well, looks like we've got a party."
The white-haired girl landed with cat-like grace in front of Oris, standing tall and defiant.
She looked over her shoulder, giving Oris a wry smile. "Hah! You owe me, brat!"
"I don't need your help!" Oris snapped, glaring at the newcomer. "Shouldn't you be helping that woman?"
"Chronia can handle herself with the mercenaries. They'll be fine." Valeria's voice was steady, but her presence was undeniable.
Her hair, once a soft silver, began to turn a fiery red, slowly rising in intensity.
The color deepened until it was a burning crimson, and her body began to grow, her form shifting, becoming larger, stronger, more imposing.
Oris could only grunt, crossing his arms. "Without me, you'd be crying right now, brat."
"You talk too much, old brat," Oris shot back, his tone sharp, but there was a flicker of respect in his eyes.
Boomera's grin widened, and she wiped the blood from her lip. "Two against one?"
"Oh, this isn't fair! But I'm not afraid!" she roared, her fists clenched. "Let's see if you two can keep up!"
The air around her began to vibrate with an ominous energy as she prepared for her next move.
But Valeria stepped forward, her fists igniting with fiery power, and Oris tightened his grip on his spear.
The ground beneath them trembled as the battle escalated into chaos. It was no longer just a fight for survival—it was a fight for dominance.
Boomera cracked her knuckles, grinning wickedly. "This is gonna be fun."
As Valeria had predicted, Chronia cut through the soldiers who dared to stand in her way, her movements swift and ruthless.
However, not all the soldiers were vanquished by Chronia's hand alone.
She had given the order to the mercenaries, commanding them to carry out the bulk of the work.
Even so, Chronia couldn't help but be impressed. The soldiers she faced were no slouches—each one was surprisingly formidable.
"If I'm not mistaken, Arche used his grandfather's name to pay you all, right?" Chronia asked, her voice cutting through the tense air as she addressed the mercenaries.
"Y-Yes," one of them stammered, clearly unsettled by the question.
"I didn't think your boss was the grandson of our general's old friend..." one of the mercenaries murmured to his companion.
"Well, you pay us generously, so the general sends his best," another mercenary replied with a sense of pride, though there was a nervous edge to his voice.
"We save up and work hard just to afford your services," Chronia said coldly, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at the group of men.
"But if you prove useless to me... this will be the last place you breathe."
The mercenaries visibly stiffened at the threat, knowing well the kind of power Chronia wielded.
They exchanged anxious glances, realizing that their fates rested on her whims.
"Alright, enough chatter," Chronia said, her tone suddenly lighter, "Let's keep moving."
With that, she turned on her heel and led the mercenaries forward, her presence commanding, their unease lingering in the air behind her.
Elsewhere, Lycaon, in his formidable werewolf form, raced through the corridors, his claws clicking against the floor as he searched for a girl named Cerise.
His powerful limbs moved swiftly, but Murphy, who was clinging to his back, was having a hard time keeping up.
"AHH! LYCAON! SLOW DOWN!" Murphy yelled, his voice shaking with panic.
Lycaon growled in response, his voice low and fierce. "Shut up! This is the fastest route!"
Murphy groaned, clutching his head as dizziness began to overwhelm him. "M-My head... feels dizzy..."
The third floor. The dizzying rush of movement was too much for Murphy to handle, and with a grunt, he fell from Lycaon's back, crashing onto the floor.
"HUH?! Lycaon! Wait!" he called out, but his voice was swallowed by the sound of Lycaon's footsteps, already fading into the distance.
Murphy, now lying prone on the cold floor, let out a heavy sigh, his frustration mounting. "I'm so unlucky…"
Meanwhile, Arthur, Zack, and I were fighting our own battle.
The soldiers were relentless, pouring in from every direction, but we were determined to hold our ground.
I slashed at the oncoming soldiers with my dual blades, my movements precise and fluid, cutting through the chaos.
Arthur, who had been hesitant to strike earlier, was growing more confident with each blow.
The blade of his sword was slick with blood, and he breathed heavily, wiping his forehead as he spoke.
"Huff... there's so many of them, huh?" Arthur muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
Zack, ever the opportunist, darted behind one of the soldiers, his knife flashing through the air.
With a swift, practiced motion, he drove the blade into the soldier's throat, silencing him in an instant.
"Well, this is just a warm-up," Zack said, his voice almost casual as he wiped his knife on the soldier's uniform.
One soldier, his legs severed from the knee down, collapsed to the floor, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at me, trembling.
"Please! Don't kill me! I have a family at home!" he begged, his voice cracking.
I gave him a cold look. "If you didn't want to die, you shouldn't have joined this organization, fool."
With a swift motion, I severed his head, and it tumbled to the ground with a sickening thud.
I paused for a moment, listening.
"I can hear Murphy from here," I mumbled, recognizing his frustrated voice from down the hall. "Let's go."
We began to move, but as we turned to continue our run, Arthur suddenly cried out in pain.
A chain wrapped around his legs, pulling him to the floor before lifting him off the ground and dragging him into a nearby room.
"Arthur!" Zack and I shouted in unison, rushing toward the room, panic rising in our chests.
Cathy launched the battle with a surge of earth magic—pillars of dirt erupted beneath Gravina, slamming her upward.
But Gravina reacted instantly, snatching wooden debris midair and forming makeshift platforms beneath her feet.
On the other side of the battlefield, Noira cast an illusion upon Theresia.
In the blink of an eye, Theresia's surroundings melted into the familiar comfort of her old bedroom in the palace.
"Theresia! You're such a clever and sweet girl," her parents cooed, smiling warmly.
"Ugh... that voice disgusts me," Theresia growled. Without hesitation, she drove an arrow straight through their heads.
The illusion shattered.
With a twisted smile, Theresia readied the same blood-stained arrow and fired it directly at Noira.
Cathy didn't miss a beat—she infused the arrow mid-flight with searing flames.
The arrow blazed through the air, screaming toward Noira, but just before it struck, Noira vanished into shadow, her form dissolving like smoke.
Without pause, Cathy redirecting the fiery arrow toward Gravina, who was just descending from her wooden perch.
Gravina's eyes widened as the arrow curved toward her.
She tried to stop it with her gravity magic, but Cathy's control overwhelmed it.
The arrow pierced her shoulder.
This wasn't an illusion. This time, it was real.
A bloodcurdling scream tore from Gravina's lips as fire scorched her flesh. The scent of burning cloth and skin filled the air.
Then, without warning, the battlefield shifted.
A roaring desert tide crashed around them—an illusion, conjured by Noira once more, buying time to reach her injured friend.
They were in the desert now, the heat bearing down on them, the sun blazing with an almost palpable intensity.
"Theresia," Cathy tapped her on the shoulder.
Theresia nodded, her expression sharpening as she began to focus, searching for thoughts in the air around her. Finally, she locked onto one.
This hurts so much! Ah! Damn it! I shouldn't be thinking anything!
It was Gravina's voice, a cry of agony and frustration. Without hesitation, Theresia drew an arrow and aimed it at a nearby cactus.
Cathy stepped in, speeding the arrow's trajectory, sending it hurtling through the air.
The arrow struck with deadly precision.
The illusion shattered, and what was left in its place was Noira, her abdomen impaled by the very same arrow.
She crumpled to the ground, a futile attempt to shield Gravina in her final moments.
"Noira!" Gravina screamed, her voice cracking with raw emotion as she rushed to her side.
Noira collapsed to her knees, blood dripping down her torso. Gravina rushed to her side, yanking the arrow out with trembling hands.
"Noira!" she screamed, voice raw with despair as tears streamed down her face.
Theresia and Cathy stood frozen, watching the scene unfold.
Guilt gnawed at their hearts—but they couldn't afford to falter. Noira and Gravina were still enemies.
Then, impossibly, Noira rose to her feet once more.
Her eyes met Gravina's—silent, steady. A final signal.
End this.
Gravina nodded.
Together, they stood, side by side.
Theresia and Cathy instinctively readied themselves, but their hands trembled.
Noira let out a scream—inhuman, ear-splitting, primal.
The sound echoed with such force it climbed through the building's structure, reaching the upper floors like a ghost's wail.
"What... was that?" Chronia muttered, frozen on the second floor, a chill crawling up her spine.
Oris and Valeria, locked in combat with Boomera, stopped mid-motion.
"What kind of scream was that?" Valeria asked, eyes wide.
"Hehehe... looks like they're finally getting serious," Boomera chuckled darkly. "Better start carving two gravestones for your friends."
Back in the nightmare, Theresia and Cathy found themselves no longer in a desert—but in a scorched, writhing hellscape.
The ground had turned jagged, broken, veins of lava pulsing between molten cracks. Heat shimmered in the air, burning the edges of their vision.
Then—something stirred.
A massive figure emerged from the lava, its body forged from molten rock and obsidian.
A golem.
Its roar shattered the air—deep, thunderous, and unnatural.
Theresia staggered back, her breath caught in her throat.
Cathy's legs trembled uncontrollably.
This wasn't a battlefield anymore.
This was hell.
They were barely holding on.
Theresia's breath was ragged, Cathy's knees scraped and trembling. The heat, the weight of the air—it was crushing. Every second felt like a lifetime.
Then the golem moved.
With a deafening roar, it hurled a massive punch toward them, the sheer force of it tearing through the air like a storm.
"Cathy, move!" Theresia shouted, but Cathy couldn't. Her body refused to respond.
Instinctively, Theresia lunged and yanked her out of the way just in time—the golem's fist slammed into the ground with an earth-shattering impact, sending debris flying.
They hit the ground hard. Cathy dropped to her knees, trembling, tears streaming down her dirt-smudged cheeks.
"Cathy..? Stay with me!" Theresia urged, gripping her shoulder.
"I'm sorry... I-I just can't take it anymore," Cathy choked out, hastily wiping her eyes. "Let's—"
Her words were cut off by a sudden, vicious downpour of stones.
Cathy reacted in a panic, throwing up a magical barrier. Stones clattered violently against the shield like hail against glass. The ground quaked. The noise was deafening.
As the rain of destruction finally ceased, the golem struck again—this time smashing the rocky platform they stood on.
"Theresia!" Cathy screamed as they were both launched into the air.
She reached out, fingers desperate—and caught Theresia's hand mid-air.
Without wasting a second, Theresia summoned her broom. They clambered on quickly, Cathy clinging to her from behind.
"Theresia, try to find them!" Cathy urged, voice trembling but determined.
Theresia nodded, eyes scanning the warped landscape—but it was impossible to concentrate. The golem didn't let up.
One, two, three attacks—massive blasts of molten force. Theresia swerved, ducked, twisted, Cathy holding on for dear life.
"This is impossible!" Theresia growled, gritting her teeth as another blast nearly clipped the edge of the broom.
They were exhausted, overwhelmed—and yet, they had no choice but to keep flying.
The ground shattered.
Both of the golem's massive fists came crashing down, splitting the earth beneath them.
Shards of stone exploded into the air, jagged debris slicing past with terrifying speed—mere inches from tearing them apart.
"Theresia! Are you—" Cathy began, but the words caught in her throat.
The golem suddenly snapped its massive finger toward them with brutal speed—like swatting an insect.
Cathy barely had time to raise a barrier.
The impact was devastating.
The protective shield cracked and flared as they were blasted backward through the air.
Theresia lost control, her vision spinning, her breath ripped from her lungs.
They crashed hard—knees hitting the ground, dirt and blood mixing under them.
Theresia gasped for air, her hands trembling.
Cathy was kneeling beside her, sweat and dust coating her face as she raised another barrier, shielding Theresia from the next shockwave.
"Cathy—I can't do this... not from this far!" Theresia shouted, voice nearly drowned by the rumbling earth.
"What?!" Cathy turned to her, startled.
"Get me closer to that thing! Please!"
Cathy hesitated. Her lips parted in protest—but then she saw the fire in Theresia's eyes. She nodded, gritting her teeth.
She pulled out her broom, and in a blink, they leapt on.
The wind howled in their ears as they soared into the air, the ground rapidly shrinking beneath them.
Cathy tightened her grip and surged forward, eyes locked on the towering golem ahead.
The monster reacted instantly.
Boulders—entire chunks of the battlefield—came flying at them with murderous intent.
Cathy swerved hard, dodging left and right, heart thundering in her chest.
The stones rushed past like meteors, screaming through the air. Theresia held on tightly, focusing her power.
Then—a massive fist reared back.
Too fast.
Too close.
They couldn't dodge in time.
"Damn it!" Cathy growled. She made a split-second decision.
She raised her wand—her last line of defense—and gathered every ounce of magical energy into its tip. The air shimmered. Sparks snapped in the wind.
There was no more time to think.
Only to strike.
Then—everything changed.
The hellish battlefield, the scorching heat, the monstrous golem—it all vanished in a blink.
Cathy blinked, breath caught in her throat. The world around her had shifted.
Now, standing before her… was him.
The man she once loved.
His soft brown eyes held a warmth she hadn't felt in years, and his hand—gentle, familiar—was reaching for her.
"Catherine," he said, smiling like nothing had ever changed, like time had stood still. "Come with me. Let's leave all of this behind."
For a heartbeat, Cathy froze. Her eyes locked onto that hand. Her chest rose and fell, and a soft smile touched her lips—melancholic, but resolute.
"…Sorry," she whispered, her voice cutting through the illusion. "But I've given my heart to someone else now."
With that, she raised her wand.
A pulse of pure magical energy exploded from her fingertips, a beam of light ripping through the false world.
The illusion shattered like glass, and reality came crashing back—fiery, chaotic, and brutal.
The ground rumbled.
Before her, the colossal stone hand of the golem had been obliterated, reduced to chunks of rubble scattering through the air like cannon fire.
Cathy stood firm, eyes blazing with power. Behind her, Theresia grinned in awe.
"Nice shot," she muttered, before kicking the broom into motion again.
They soared forward, weaving through the flying debris, racing toward the beast's massive head.
Cathy tightened her grip, her pulse thundering. "Theresia! Now!" she shouted.
Theresia's expression sharpened, her senses flaring open. She reached out—not with her hands, but with her mind. And then—clarity.
Voices. Thoughts. Panic.
How?! That woman… she destroyed the golem's hand!
It was Gravina.
Theresia's eyes snapped open. "Got you," she muttered, lips curling into a smirk.
But before they could act, the golem roared.
The sound was inhuman, an earth-shaking bellow that ripped through the air like a storm.
The shockwave hit them like a tidal wave—unstoppable.
They were thrown.
Spiraling. Crashing.
Cathy hit the ground hard, tumbling through the dust and ash.
Her glasses flew off, shattering upon impact. Theresia followed close behind, slamming into the scorched earth, gasping in pain.
For a moment, there was silence—only the sound of crumbling rock and the distant growl of the beast that still stood, waiting.
Bruised, battered, and shaken, the two girls lay amidst the chaos.
But it wasn't over.
Not yet.
Theresia pushed herself up, her limbs trembling, her breath ragged.
Blood stained her lips, dirt clung to her skin, and pain screamed from every inch of her battered body.
But still—she stood.
She reached down with shaking fingers and grasped the last arrow lying half-buried in the ash.
Her bow, cracked but still intact, waited for her hand. She gritted her teeth.
"They're… in its eyes," she muttered. "Both of them."
Cathy groaned, forcing herself to rise. Blood trickled down her forehead, clouding one eye, but she didn't flinch. Not now.
"Got it," she said hoarsely.
With the last of her strength, Cathy summoned a shard from the rubble—the remains of the golem's own shattered hand—and shaped it into an arrow. It gleamed like obsidian in the infernal light.
She handed it to Theresia.
Theresia took it, nodding slowly. Then she inhaled—deep, calm, steadying herself against the agony coursing through her body.
"This is it," she whispered. "The end of you."
She notched the twin arrows—her own, and Cathy's creation. Her aim was sure, unwavering, as Cathy whispered an incantation behind her.
Flames coiled around the stone arrow, turning it into a blazing comet.
Then she fired.
The two arrows shot through the scorched air like wrath made manifest, streaking toward the golem's towering form.
Its remaining eye gleamed with rage as it moved to block the attack with its last intact hand.
But Cathy, drained and barely standing, raised her wand one final time.
A surge of raw magic exploded from her wand and slammed into the golem's arm. The stone shattered—completely. Rubble burst outward like shrapnel.
The path was clear.
The twin arrows, guided by precision and fury, found their mark.
One.
Two.
The golem froze.
Its roar echoed through the ruined landscape—a sound of agony, of defeat, of a titan brought low.
Then—collapse.
The great beast fell, crumbling into dust and fractured stone, its body disintegrating beneath the weight of its own death.
Silence followed.
Cathy collapsed to her knees, every ounce of magic drained from her body.
She watched through bleary eyes as the dust began to settle, and the heat of battle finally faded.
Theresia stood, bow lowered, eyes locked on the ruins.
They had won.
Their gazes shifted back to the inside of the organization's palace.
The dim light flickered, casting eerie shadows over the scene before them.
There, in the center of the room, lay Gravina and Noira—both slumped together, arrows lodged deep into their stomachs.
"Noira..." Gravina whispered, her voice trembling.
This was the first time anyone had heard her speak since the battle had started. "I'm so sorry…"
Noira, with a faint, pained smile, exhaled one final breath. Her body went still, and Gravina's heart shattered.
Tears filled Gravina's eyes as she cried out, "This is all my fault..."
"No, Gravina…" she whispered, her voice growing fainter, "You were… the best friend I ever had."
Gravina gently cradled Noira's lifeless body, her hands trembling as she whispered, "When others insulted me for lacking any real ability, you were the only one who still chose to be my friend."
She pressed Noira to her chest, the pain of loss heavy on her heart.
"Thank you... Noira," Gravina murmured, her voice cracking.
Noira's lips curled into the faintest smile as her final breath left her.
For a moment, Theresia and Cathy stood in silence, watching the exchange.
There was nothing they could say, nothing they could do. This had been Noira's and Gravina's wish—to die together.
And so, they let them be, offering their silent respect.
Theresia leaned against the wall, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Cathy stood beside her, equally exhausted from the battle.
They had fought with everything they had.
"We… we actually managed to defeat them, huh?" Cathy muttered, her voice soft and slightly in awe of what they had just accomplished.
Theresia smiled, the tension easing from her body for a moment. "Well... I admit it, you did the most of the work," she said, her tone light but full of admiration.
She turned to Cathy, her expression softening. "You're the greatest woman I know."
Cathy's cheeks flushed, the words catching her off guard.
"Y-You! Stop praising me so much!" she stammered, a shy smile breaking through her embarrassment.
Theresia chuckled softly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "By the way, earlier I heard you say that your heart has already been given to someone else."
Cathy froze, her face turning crimson. "W-What? You heard that?!"
Theresia grinned. "Come on, it's obvious. Did you forget I can read minds?"
Cathy's embarrassment deepened as she hugged her knees tightly, her face still bright red. "D-Do you really think so?"
"Mhm, 100% sure!" Theresia replied with a confident nod.
Before Cathy could respond, they heard the sound of rushing footsteps. "They're injured! Let's hurry!" a medic called out.
Both Theresia and Cathy exhaled in relief. "Looks like we might be the first ones to get help," Cathy said with a small smile.
"Well… this is a bit embarrassing," Theresia admitted, her usual confidence faltering just a bit.
The medics quickly got to work, tending to their wounds. Theresia's head gently rested on Cathy's shoulder as they both tried to relax for a moment.
Elsewhere, Zack and I were rushing to help Arthur, who was bound by chains held by a woman.
"Long time no see, Ravenna," I greeted her, my voice serious.
"I missed you too... Arche," Ravenna replied, her tone playful.
"Disgusting, don't ever say that to me again," I spat, my blade flashing as I darted forward and cut the chains binding Arthur.
Arthur quickly broke free, running to our side. "Thanks,, Arche."
Meanwhile, Oris and Valeria were locked in a fierce battle with Boomera.
The surroundings were beginning to crumble from the sheer intensity of the fight.
"You guys are pretty good…" Boomera taunted, grinning through the blood staining her face.
"We're just getting started," Oris muttered, determined.
"Come here, you little bitch!" Valeria screamed, charging forward with a wild fury.
The two of them clashed again, the battle far from over. There were still many enemies to defeat, and they weren't about to stop now.