The desert was eerily silent at dawn. The only sounds were the crackling of the campfire and the soft whispers of the wind, drifting across the endless desert and carrying grains of sand into the night.
Malakar sat cross-legged beside the fire, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim morning light. His twisted smile stretched unnaturally as he stared into the flames, lost in his own thoughts—visions of chaos, suffering, and vengeance playing like a gruesome spectacle in his mind.
It's so close now.
The screams. The terror. The destruction.
It has been 1620 years.
That's how long he had waited.
And soon, it would all begin.
His lips moved in faint whispers, his voice shaking with maniacal excitement.
Malakar grinned as he whispered. "Judgment is near."
Then—
A faint sound—a soft gasp.
His gaze darted to the bound girl beside him.
Amina's eyelids fluttered as she slowly regained consciousness. Her body ached, her wrists and ankles burning from the tight dark magic ropes that bound her.
Then—she saw him.
Malakar.
Sitting by the fire, watching her.
A chill shot down her spine as Amina gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. "You...!"
Malakar's grin widened as he chuckled. "Oh… Rise and shine."
Amina immediately struggled, twisting her arms, trying to free herself—but the dark ropes only tightened, digging into her skin. "What do you want?! What are you going to do to me?!"
Malakar tilted his head, amused.
Then, with a sharp, toothy grin, Malakar leaned forward, his voice dripping with mockery. "Oh, you poor thing… I'm just preparing you."
His eyes locked onto hers. "The meal… for my hungry friends on the other side of the Gate."
Amina's heart stopped. Her face went pale, and her breath caught in her throat.
And then—pure horror took over. Amina's eyes widened in panic. "LET ME GO!!!" she screamed.
She thrashed violently, pulling at her restraints, her breath coming out in quick, panicked gasps.
Malakar sighed, shaking his head.
Then, he reached out and placed a single, cold finger against her lips. Malakar's voice was soft, smooth, and disturbingly slow. "Hushhhhhh…"
His voice was smooth, eerie, unnatural.
His finger lingered too long, pressing gently before slowly dragging away at an agonizing pace. Malakar's grin widened as he whispered, "A meal doesn't talk."
Amina shuddered, her body frozen in terror.
Then, without warning—
Malakar lifted his right hand over her head, black mist swirling around his palm.
A dark pulse of energy crackled at his fingertips. Malakar's voice turned cold. "Say another word…"
The dark magic flared ominously as his eyes gleamed. "...And I'll blow your head off."
A sick smile stretched across his lips as he whispered, "Just like I did… to that pathetic guard."
Amina stiffened.
Qasim, he was already dead before she could do anything.
She bit her lip, hard, suppressing a sob, tears welled up, but she didn't dare make a sound.
She was trapped, powerless, and helpless.
Then—
She realized, she had failed.
She had managed to snatch the compass from Malakar back at the throne hall—but after taking a brutal blow to the back of her head, she blacked out, dropping it. She never got the chance to escape with it.
Amina's hands trembled as she thought. "I'm sorry, Shahira..."
"I'm sorry, everyone…"
Her vision blurred with tears.
But then—
One last face came to her mind.
Her lips parted, her voice barely more than a breath. "Ryo…"
Malakar smirked. "Not in the mood to talk anymore? How sad."
He lifted his left hand this time, black mist forming at his fingertips. "Sleep, little bird."
Amina's eyes snapped open in panic. "WAIT, WHAT ARE YO—!"
Before she could finish, her eyelids slowly closed, and her breathing grew slow and shallow.
And she fell—unconscious.
Malakar stood up, stretching his arms, rolling his shoulders, and cracking his neck casually. "Now then..." he said in a relaxed tone.
He turned toward the horizon, where the gate awaited. Malakar grinned, muttering, "From here, the gate is only 30 minutes away by speed running."
He looked down at Amina's sleeping form.
His twisted smile returned as he softly, mockingly whispered, "Shall we continue our journey… sleepyhead?"
Then—he lifted her effortlessly, throwing her over his shoulder like a ragdoll.
And with inhuman speed, he took off—running across the desert, vanishing into the sandy horizon.
The morning sun rose, casting shades of purple and orange across the sky. A cool breeze swept over the palace rooftop as Aladdin prepared the magic carpet for takeoff.
King Malik stood beside him, arms crossed, watching the young guard work.
Aladdin muttered. "The sun's already rising… Time's running out."
Then—
Footsteps, someone was coming up the stairs.
King Malik and Aladdin turned toward the entrance—
And then they saw him.
It was Ryo.
But not just any Ryo.
This was Ryo, clad in his signature trench coat, fully geared up looking like he was about to skydive into a war zone.
He had:
Aviation goggles strapped tightly on his forehead.
A bike helmet on his head.
A massive parachute bag on his back, looking like he was about to skydive from the clouds.
And a plastic bag in his right hand, filled with snacks.
The king and Aladdin stared at him, their brains short-circuiting.
King Malik blinked in confusion. "Umm… Mr. Detective, what's with the getup?"
Aladdin gave him a deadpan look. "Yeah… you really don't need all that, sir."
Ryo dramatically took a deep breath—
Then, he threw his arms out as if he's about to deliver the greatest speech of all time. He declared loudly, "THIS… IS TO KEEP ME ALIVE!"
Aladdin and the King: "…"
They tilted their heads in unison, completely baffled.
Ryo pointed at them with both hands, ready to lay down some hard logic. "Let me explain, because clearly, neither of you have any sense of survival."
He took a deep breath and went full professor mode. "First of all—WE… are about to fly on a damn fantasy-like vehicle—a FREAKIN WINDY MAGIC CARPET. That means NO SEATBELTS, NO HANDLES, NO SAFETY NETS. If I fall off? I'm dead."
Ryo patted his parachute bag on his back. "Boom. Solution. I got a parachute."
Aladdin crossed his arms. "You won't fall, sir."
Ryo ignored him.
He then pointed at his aviation goggles. "Second! This is to protect my eyes. We'll be flying at high speeds, and I don't want to get sand, dust, or—God forbid—BIRD POOP directly to the face."
King Malik and Aladdin cringed at the thought.
Then, Ryo slapped his helmet like it was the greatest invention of mankind. "THIS! Is a bike helmet. Because I don't trust Aladdin's piloting skills. If we suddenly crash into a random ancient ruin in the middle of the desert, at least my brain will stay inside my skull."
Aladdin looking offended. "I'm a great pilot, sir!"
Ryo ignored him again and declared. "Lastly—THE SNACKS."
He shook the plastic bag in his hand. "I packed breakfast. Because guess what? WE. HAVE. NO. TIME. We can't sit around and have a royal breakfast buffet while Malakar is out there planning Armageddon, and I'm not gonna fight on an empty stomach!"
He held up two sandwiches, two croissants, and two bottles of water. Ryo dramatically proclaimed, "This… is our survival ration."
He paused.
Then squinted at Aladdin. "Wait… do you even eat breakfast?"
Aladdin: "Of course I eat breakfast!"
Ryo narrowed his eyes. "You don't seem like a breakfast guy."
Aladdin grumbled. "I do eat breakfast, okay?!"
Meanwhile, King Malik just stared at the detective, blinking very slowly as if he was trying to process what he had just witnessed.
Then he sighed. King Malik muttered, "I feel like you're overthinking this… but I admire the effort."
Aladdin shook his head, then asked with curiosity, "Where did you even get the parachute?"
Ryo, looking expressionless. "The market streets sure sell some unbelievable stuff."
Aladdin's eyes widened in shock. "HUH?! I never knew they sold those there!"
King Malik stood at the edge of the palace rooftop, his hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on his city. His heart was heavy.
Everything—the fate of his kingdom, the safety of his people, and the rescue of Amina—depended on two men.
A detective with no magic.
And a guard named after a famous animated character.
He sighed. This is what it has come to…
Behind him, Ryo and Aladdin were having a serious discussion.
Aladdin asked. "Sir, do you have a plan to fight Malakar?"
Ryo leaned in and whispered his brilliant, top-tier strategy into Aladdin's ear.
As soon as he finished—
Aladdin's entire face went pale.
His eyes widened in absolute horror as he slowly turned his head toward Ryo, looking like a man who had just heard the craziest battle strategy ever planned.
Aladdin stuttered. "U-uhh… s-sir? A-are you… s-serious?"
Ryo grinned. "Yup, super serious."
At that moment, Aladdin's soul quietly left his body.
King Malik turned back and saw Aladdin looking as if all the color had drained from his face.
He raised an eyebrow. "...What's going on?"
Before Ryo or Aladdin could respond, footsteps echoed from the staircase leading to the rooftop.
Someone was running.
Then—
"RYO!"
Ryo turned and saw Shahira standing at the top of the stairs, panting heavily.
Ryo: "Oh hey, Sha. Good morning."
Shahira, catching her breath, declared, "I'm coming with you!"
Instant panic.
Ryo, Aladdin, and the king all reacted at once.
King Malik: "SHAHIRA, NO!"
Aladdin: "PRINCESS, PLEASE!"
Ryo: "WHOA WHOA WHOA, TIME OUT!"
It didn't take long to realize what happened—the king had already told her everything.
She knew that if she came along, Malakar would detect her immense magical power immediately.
She knew that it could put Amina's life at risk.
She knew that Malakar might kill Amina the moment he sensed her presence.
And yet—
Shahira still wanted to go.
Her hands clenched into fists. Her eyes burned with determination. "I don't care! I have to save Amina—she's my best friend!"
Ryo sighed and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Look, Sha, I know you're worried. But you're too powerful. Malakar will sense you the moment you get close."
Shahira bit her lip, she knew he was right.
But she still felt helpless.
She glared at him. "Then how are you even planning on fighting him? You're just a normal human with no magic! You didn't even fight when we battled Malakar before—you just hid!"
Ryo's hands dropped from her shoulders.
He smiled. "I have a strategy."
His voice was calm. Confident. "And don't worry—We'll stop the gate from opening and bring Amina back safely. No matter what."
Shahira stared at him for a long moment.
Then, she pouted and crossed her arms. "I don't believe you."
But there was no anger in her voice. Just worry.
She sighed and stepped forward, gently taking both of his hands. "Alright… but make sure you stay safe, okay? I'll be waiting for you" she said softly.
Ryo smiled. "You got it."
Then he grinned playfully. "Be sure to prepare us some good food when we get back. This kingdom's cuisine is delicious."
Shahira blushed slightly, her lips curling into a small smile.
She nodded.
Behind them—
Aladdin and the king watched in silence as Shahira held Ryo's hands, her expression soft, almost like a wife seeing her husband off to war.
Slowly, both men turned their heads toward each other.
Then, at the exact same time, they raised their hands to their mouths, whispered together. "Oh my…"
Ryo, still holding Shahira's hands, glanced over his shoulder at them. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke with suspicion. "What?"
Aladdin & King Malik: "Nothing..."
Aladdin turned to face the horizon and pointed northwest. "Sir, we'll be flying across the city first. We'll start slow and gradually fly higher and faster."
Ryo, already clutching the straps of his parachute bag, gulped. "Please give me a safe flight, Captain of Carpet Airlines."
Aladdin chuckled, his smirk full of confidence. "You got it."
But before they could take off, King Malik stepped in front of them, announcing their mission. "Mr. Detective, Aladdin, your mission is to retrieve the compass and prevent the destruction of this kingdom—and the world. There's no way to kill Malakar, so for now, we're only stalling for time."
Ryo and Aladdin, with determined eyes, firmly nodded in response.
And then… he bowed deeply.
Both Ryo and Aladdin froze.
Aladdin's eyes widened in shock. "Y-Your Majesty!?" he stuttered.
Ryo waved his hands in a panic. "Whoa, whoa, whoa—please lift your head! You don't need to bow out of nowhere!"
But the king remained bowing, his voice carrying a hint of desperation. "Please… get Amina back. She's precious to me…"
Slowly, he lifted himself up, his expression firm. "I know she's my personal attendant, but lately… it feels as though she's become like a daughter to me."
He turned his gaze to both Ryo and Aladdin, his sharp eyes full of trust and command. "That's why, Mr. Detective… Aladdin… I am counting on you. Bring her back home to us."
Then, after a brief pause, he turned to Shahira. he spoke softly, "…To Shahira."
Shahira's eyes widened, touched by her father's words. A soft, grateful smile spread across her face. "Father…"
With renewed resolve, Aladdin stepped forward, placed his right palm over his chest, and bowed with honor. "By your command, Your Majesty! As your royal guard, I swear upon my duty—I shall not fail!"
Ryo, far less dramatic, just saluted casually with two fingers. "You got it, King. Leave her to us."
The king nodded firmly.
With that, their mission truly began.
Ryo hesitantly stepped onto the carpet, his legs trembling as he carefully lowered himself onto his knees behind Aladdin. He slid his aviation goggles down from his forehead to his eyes.
Aladdin confidently grabbed onto the tassels at the two-front corner of the carpet, ready to take off.
Aladdin grinned. "Alright, sir! Fasten your seatbelt!"
Ryo gave a deadpan look. "…And where the hell is this so-called seatbelt?!"
Realizing there was none, Ryo let out a defeated sigh and just wrapped his arms around Aladdin's waist, gripping tightly.
Then, Aladdin cast his wind magic.
The air around them stirred, a gentle breeze swirling beneath the carpet. Then—like a leaf lifted by the wind—it began to levitate.
Ryo took a deep breath, exhaled sharply, and tried to calm himself.
Aladdin tilted his hands back, making the carpet drift slightly in reverse, preparing for takeoff.
Aladdin shouted. "HANG ON TIGHT, SIR!"
Ryo shouted back. "THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN D—"
BOOM!
Before Ryo could finish his sentence, the carpet launched forward at top speed, shooting across the city like a bolt of lightning.
King Malik and Shahira flinched in shock, their eyes widening.
Shahira gasped. "Wait—They're already gone?!"
Ryo and Aladdin were blasted by the wind pressure, their bodies pressing against the force of their own speed.
Ryo gritted his teeth, clutching onto Aladdin for dear life before screaming at the top of his lungs.
Ryo: "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Aladdin: "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"
Ryo squinted through the wind, still screaming, and realized—
He struggled to speak against the wind. "ALADDIN—WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SCREAMING?!"
Aladdin panicked. "I'M SORRY, SIR—I MESSED UP A BIT!"
Ryo: "WHAT?! I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE A GREAT PILOT?!"
Aladdin: "I USUALLY FLY ALONE! THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WITH SOMEONE ELSE—I MISCALCULATED!!"
Ryo: "ARE YOU FREAKIN SERIOUS?!"
Suddenly—
Ryo's eyes widened in horror. "BUILDINGS! BUILDINGS, ALADDIN, BUILDINGS!!!"
They were racing straight toward the tall buildings of the Arabian city.
Aladdin panicked. "OH CRAP—HANG ON!"
He pulled hard to the side, making the carpet swerve at the last second, narrowly dodging the towering domes and spires.
Ryo and Aladdin screamed together. "WOOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
They zipped above roads, rooftops, and market streets, dodging obstacles at top speed.
Finally, Aladdin managed to stabilize the flight as they reached an open space above the city.
Aladdin relieved. "SIR, WE'RE GOING HIGHER NOW!"
Ryo: "NO NEED TO TELL ME, IDIOT—JUST DO YOUR THING!"
With a swift motion of his hands, Aladdin tilted the carpet upward.
The carpet soared higher and higher, climbing through the morning sky.
Then, in one final burst—
Aladdin shouted dramatically. "LET'S GOOOOO!"
The carpet BLASTED INTO THE HEAVENS!
Below, citizens stopped in their tracks, watching in awe as the two warriors disappeared into the sky like mythical heroes embarking on a grand quest.
They pierced through the clouds, the mist swirling around them before dispersing into open air.
Then— silence.
The chaotic wind settled. The carpet leveled out, now gliding smoothly above the sea of clouds.
Ryo, still gripping Aladdin's waist, slowly opened one eye.
And what he saw took his breath away.
Before them, the morning sun was rising, its golden light bleeding across the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sky.
The clouds stretched endlessly below, forming a soft, rolling ocean of white.
Ryo shifted his goggles to his forehead and slightly parted his mouth.
In awe, he whispered. "Woah... I've been on plane rides, but this... this is something else."
It felt real. No windows, no engines, no steel walls—just him, the sky, and the wind.
The sight was breathtaking.
He reached out a hand and gently brushed against the sea of clouds below, feeling the cool moisture between his fingers.
Aladdin grinned. "Glad you like the view, sir."
Back at the palace, King Malik and Shahira watched from the rooftop, their eyes following the two as they soared into the morning sky.
A silent prayer rested on their lips.
King Malik: "Good luck, you two…"
Shahira: "Come back safe…"