Trio

The flames intensified.

Crimson fire danced wildly around Tresia, consuming the village in its frenzy.

Panic had broken loose—people scrambled for higher ground. Some climbed onto their rooftops, others hoarded and rationed food. A few, angry and desperate, took up arms and marched toward the Chief’s headquarters, demanding answers.

In the chaos, Fred yelled, "Mary, hurry up! We’ve been granted access to the Chief’s bunker. It’s safe there!"

Mary, trembling with fear, clutched a small brown sack filled with necessities. She walked cautiously toward the door.

"I hope Sunflower is doing all right..." she whispered, voice cracking with worry.

"Don’t worry about her. I know my girl—she’ll come through. She always does, Plus she will achieve another achievement in this battle like always" Fred replied, trying to reassure her.

“Always?” Mary teased. “How many feats do you think she’s pulled off?”

They both chuckled, a small bubble of laughter amid the burning village, as they rushed toward the bunker.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest...

Arnold's scream tore through the trees, echoing so loudly it reached even Sunflower—locked in a brutal one-sided battle.

Sunflower, bruised and cut along both shoulders, was down on one knee, her dagger lying beside her on the green grass. She was wounded, but not broken.

Reality stood tall, holding a crimson fireball in her right hand. She looked smug, confident, dominant.

"Is that all the Golden Assassin has?" she mocked.

Sunflower, fueled by the memory of Dawn’s death, stood once more. Her dagger glinted in her hand.

But before she could fully rise, the fireball came hurtling toward her.

Boom!

Dirt and Sunflower flew in opposite directions from the blast.

"This is a real battle. You think I’ll let you do whatever you want?" Reality snarled.

Sunflower remained still, choosing to listen. She needed to recover—needed time.

Reality clapped joyfully. “Let’s make this interesting. How about a game?”

She paused, then added, “But wait, a game needs three people. Don’t worry—I thought ahead.”

With a snap of her fingers, a magical projection appeared. It showed Fred and Mary entering the Chief’s bunker.

Sunflower blinked. Her eyes widened in horror.

“Oh, you’ve met this couple before?” Reality laughed cruelly. “Perfect. Makes introductions easier.”

Sunflower leapt to her feet in an instant. "How did you—?"

Questions flooded her mind, but she pushed them aside. Her focus sharpened. She vanished in a blink—reappearing behind Reality, blade raised to strike.

But Reality turned around, smiling wickedly.

And then—vanished.

Before Sunflower could react, a hand gripped her shoulder—from behind.

Reality’s hand.

Elsewhere, deeper in the forest...

Lance stood tall, Arnold’s sword in hand. Arnold lay nearby, still screaming in pain. Julie and Andy were frozen in shock, fear gripping their hearts.

"Andy! Take position!" Julie called out, her instincts as an archer kicking in.

Andy, emboldened by her command, snapped out of his daze. He ran to form up, shouting as he did: “Arnold, get back here, you idiot!”

Lance inspected the sword with curiosity.

“Not bad,” he muttered.

Then he turned—his eyes meeting Commander Rock's from behind the bushes.

Commander Rock’s pupils dilated. He quickly signaled his ten men to retreat.

The threat was worse than he’d expected. He hadn’t anticipated someone like Lance hiding in these woods.

As the soldiers pulled back, Lance smirked.

“Cowards.”

He then looked at the writhing man at his feet. “How annoying.”

Lance raised his blade to finish Arnold off.

Julie noticed and let loose a barrage of arrows. Andy, hammer in hand, charged at full speed.

Lance leapt high—more than eight feet—dodging both the hammer and the arrows.

Perfect for Andy, who grabbed Arnold during the chaos. But in doing so, he accidentally squeezed Arnold’s severed shoulder.

The pain was unbearable.

Arnold screamed, thrashed, and convulsed—his cries like a child’s wailing.

Julie fired upward again, hoping to intercept Lance mid-air—but this time, he twisted away and dodged.

Then he dove.

Straight for Arnold.

Andy and Julie tried to intervene, but Lance effortlessly weaved through their attacks.

One clean stroke.

Arnold’s head snapped off. Blood and pus sprayed outward as the forest fell silent.

Lance turned his back on the pair.

Andy, seeing Julie paralyzed with horror, charged once more—trying to protect what remained.

But this time would be his last.

Lance spotted a weakness in Andy’s helmet—a small slit in the visor.

He struck.

The blade slid into the gap, severing Andy from the inside. The giant fell, lifeless.

Julie stared, wide-eyed. Her bow dropped to the ground.

These were her lifelong friends. Her brothers.

Gone.

She clenched her fists, staring at Lance with a mix of hatred and sorrow.

"I give up. Please, don’t—"

But her plea shattered halfway.

Lance didn’t listen.

He drove Arnold’s sword straight through her skull.

Julie collapsed.

The trio was dead.

And with them—their dream.

Lance turned away from the bodies and began to walk.

Toward Tresia.

The village in flames.