As silence enveloped the room, Jake's voice echoed once more—deep, firm, and commanding.
The air itself seemed to tremble with every word he spoke.
"Listen carefully. I'm dividing the teams now. Our first mission begins: find that mysterious woman. She's no ordinary person—and I'm certain she's connected to all of this chaos."
The soldiers exchanged glances. A suffocating tension pressed against their chests like a storm waiting to explode.
Torchlight flickered against the stone walls, reflecting in their eyes—determination mixed with fear.
"Search the entire area. She can't have gone far."
---
Meanwhile, beyond the trees not far from the old castle, the woman stood calmly within the shadows of the night.
Her hair swayed gently in the wind, a faint smile playing on her lips—beautiful, yet deadly.
Her eyes gleamed like demonic jewels ready to devour the world.
"So… the game of hide and seek begins," she whispered softly, her lips curling into a lethal smile.
"I like this."
---
Outside the gates of Sena City, the world had become a battlefield from hell.
The Indosvara forces were still fighting desperately against relentless waves of monsters.
The sky burned crimson from raging flames, the ground trembling beneath pounding feet and savage roars.
Isabela deflected the attack of a monster that suddenly leapt toward her.
Her blade slashed through it, sending a spray of thick blood into the cold air.
"Ahhh… damn it, that was close!" she gasped, breathing heavily.
Her eyes suddenly shifted—Ken was surrounded in the middle of a swarm of monsters.
"Ken's surrounded!" she shouted, eyes widening.
Without hesitation, Isabela charged forward, breaking through soldiers and monstrous bodies flying around her.
A blow struck her shoulder, knocking her down—but she rose again without a second thought.
"I can't be too late!"
She dashed toward Ken. As a monster lunged at him, Ken's sword pierced its chest—but from behind, several more monsters attacked at once from every direction.
Ken panicked, overwhelmed—
Craaaash!
Isabela's slash tore through the air, cutting down the monster that was about to pounce on Ken. Blood splattered across the ground, glinting beneath the red sky.
"Isabela… thank you," Ken said between ragged breaths.
"No need," she replied coldly. "It's my duty to protect my comrades, isn't it?"
But the monsters kept coming—more than before.
They surrounded them from all sides, like a wave of darkness swallowing the last light.
Their eyes turned toward the line of soldiers slowly being pushed back.
"Damn…" Ken muttered, blocking another strike.
"If this keeps up, we won't be able to handle their unpredictable formations!" Isabela shouted amid the chaos.
"We have to hold on! I've already sent a signal to Jake for reinforcements!" Ken yelled back.
---
Ken remembered earlier that dawn—one in the morning.
"How do you handle it if monsters suddenly appear?" Ken had asked.
Jake looked at him seriously.
A blue glow emerged from a magic crystal in his hand, pulsing softly.
"If monsters appear, I'll order all forces to retreat with me. At a predetermined position, I've prepared an energy barrier—a powerful shield that will hold back any monsters pursuing us."
Jake's voice grew heavier.
"But the risk is high. If the monster is intelligent enough, it might order others to attack Sena City… since our forces won't be there."
"Then what should I do if that really happens?" Ken asked firmly.
Jake extended the softly glowing blue crystal.
"Take this. Press it if you're in danger. I'll receive your signal and send help immediately.
There are still several powerful mages stationed at Brama Hill—they'll assist you when things become truly desperate.
But hold out as long as you can until they arrive."
Ken accepted the crystal and nodded resolutely.
---
Back to the present.
"Reinforcements?" Isabela asked, still cutting down monsters relentlessly.
"Yes," Ken replied. "Just hold on a little longer! Help is coming!"
The soldiers' cries echoed across the battlefield.
Then suddenly—
BOOOM!!
A red light blazed above the city gate.
Two figures in crimson robes and masks appeared, standing proudly atop the nearly ruined fortress wall.
Their magical aura was so intense that the air vibrated—and the monsters below froze momentarily in fear.
"They're here! Reinforcements have arrived!!"
The entire army erupted in cheers of relief.
The two legendary mages stood beneath the crimson sky, their robes fluttering as fiery magical energy swirled around them.
For everyone watching, victory suddenly felt possible.
---
Meanwhile, inside the old castle, Jake stood before his elite forces.
"For Group One, the frontline assault team: Asta, Elias, Kael, Evelyn, Ryu, Yusuke, Hana, Tajima, Hilda, Rikou, Ethan, Julian, and Alexandra."
He paused, scanning their faces one by one.
"Group Two: support and rear line—Victoria, Daichi, Nicholas, Maki, Chloe, Jasmine, Kiyomi, Masaki, Leo, Hayato, Ren, Sophia, Saki, Yui, Emma, and Hanna."
"The remaining forces will form Group Three—medical, supply, and reserves. Stay ready at all times."
Bootsteps echoed rhythmically across the stone floor.
"Group One—you'll move with Akira."
Akira let out a long sigh. "Geez…"
"Group Two—with Zen and Sora."
"Hahaha! I'll teach you all discipline!" Sora shouted loudly, making Group Two tense instantly.
"Group Three will be led by Haruto. Aurora and Shimizu remain here to guard the castle."
Jake raised the glowing blue crystal.
"Use this crystal if you discover anything… or if you're in danger."
"Yes, sir!!" the elite forces shouted in unison.
"Very well. The search begins!"
A horn sounded.
The forces split into three large groups, moving toward the southern and northern forests, their steps fading beneath the trees' shadows.
---
Group One
"Hey, keep your eyes open. Report anything unusual," Akira said calmly.
Ryu walked in the middle line, Evelyn behind him—still visibly annoyed.
Trying to lighten the mood, Ryu whispered,
"Evelyn, you know… you look really beautiful when you're mad. Are you sulking because of me? Hahaha."
"Typical man… all the same," Evelyn muttered irritably.
Ryu immediately turned pale.
"Ah—hehe…"
Asta glanced at him coldly. "Focus."
Ryu nodded quickly.
Suddenly Tajima pointed ahead.
"Captain Akira, look! Over there—by the river!"
All eyes turned.
Across the river stood a woman—wearing a black tank top and a long robe covering her thighs.
Her hair flowed in the wind, her gaze sharp yet mesmerizing.
"Damn… is that her?" Tajima muttered, blushing.
"Pervert!" Hana and Hilda shouted simultaneously, smacking his head.
Akira narrowed his eyes. The woman was… too calm.
Evelyn noticed Ryu staring and glared at him, faint jealousy visible on her flushed face.
Kael and Elias stood silently, captivated by her strange beauty.
"You're all too loud," Yusuke said coldly. "If you keep this up, we'll be discovered."
Akira signaled.
"Quiet. Move slowly."
They crept between the trees—but suddenly, the woman turned and looked directly at them.
Instantly, everyone pressed themselves against tree trunks.
"Damn, did she see us?" Tajima whispered.
When they peeked again… she was gone.
"Where did she go?!" they panicked, rushing toward the riverbank.
---
"Ryu…"
A soft, seductive voice whispered near his ear.
Ryu froze, looking around wildly.
"Is something wrong?" Akira asked.
"You didn't hear that voice?" Ryu shot back.
"Voice?" Akira frowned. There was nothing but wind.
"Oi, are you hallucinating?" Tajima teased.
"But I heard it!" Ryu insisted.
"Ryu… I really want to talk to you…"
The voice echoed again—soft, alluring, yet deadly.
Ryu's eyes widened.
"What do you want to say?!" he shouted.
"Is he crazy?" Alexandra muttered half-jokingly.
Kael and Elias rushed to calm him.
Akira analyzed the surroundings carefully.
Evelyn and Leon approached, worried.
"Ryu, what kind of voice?" Leon asked seriously.
Evelyn hugged him gently.
"Calm down…"
For a moment, it worked.
But as Ryu walked slightly behind—
"Ryu… don't you want to know who caused this disaster? Who killed your family? Hehehe…"
The voice pierced his heart.
"Show yourself, bastard!" he shouted.
"Are you ready to accept the truth, Ryu?" the voice teased.
"If I reveal myself… and tell you the painful reality you seek."
A chilling laugh echoed.
"What do you mean…" Ryu whispered.
"Look up… to your left."
Ryu slowly turned.
There—sitting atop a massive tree root—was the woman, smiling like a demon.
Her legs swung casually as she stared directly at him.
"Hiii, Ryu~" she greeted playfully.
"That's her! Capture her!!" Akira shouted.
The woman—Velista—only laughed softly, her voice echoing coldly through the forest.
"Hahaha…"
To be continued…