The atmosphere around Odion was tense and oppressive.
He lay on the wooden road, his armor cracked and stained with blood. Every breath sounded painful. His chest rose and fell unevenly, and several nearby players watched with concern as Ayame poured healing magic into his body.
The soft violet glow around her hands brightened as she increased the flow of mana.
"Stay with me," she said quietly.
Her voice remained calm, but there was strain beneath it.
Odion's injuries were severe.
Far more severe than anyone expected.
Standing nearby, Fayzan slowly rose to his feet.
The shift in his demeanor was immediate.
The relaxed negotiator who had spent the afternoon bargaining with Rio was gone.
The casual officer who joked with Sumi was gone.
Only cold focus remained.
His eyes settled on Ayame.
"Ayame."
She didn't look up from her healing.
"I know."
Her hands continued glowing.
"Keep him alive."
"I will."
A brief silence followed.
Then Fayzan spoke again.
"I'm going ahead."
Ayame clenched her jaw but didn't argue.
Someone had to move immediately.
Someone had to reach Sumi.
"...Bring her back."
Fayzan didn't answer.
He simply turned.
His body lowered slightly as mana surged through his legs.
Then he activated a skill.
[Warrior Skill: Blazing Dash]
Flames erupted beneath his feet.
The wooden road cracked under the sudden force.
Heat exploded outward.
Before anyone could react, Fayzan vanished.
A streak of fire tore across the night like a blazing comet, racing toward the eastern plains.
The crowd stood stunned.
Even Rio watched the trail of flames disappear into the darkness.
After several seconds, she opened her system interface.
Her fingers moved quickly across the menu.
A short message appeared.
Message Sent
"Something came up. I'll be a little late."
Recipient: Ryota
The message disappeared.
Rio closed the window and turned toward Ayame.
Without saying anything, she opened her inventory and removed a small blue vial.
She extended it toward her.
Ayame blinked.
"A mana potion?"
Rio nodded.
"You'll need it."
Ayame looked down at the potion for a moment.
Then she accepted it.
"...Thank you."
Rio gave no response.
Her attention had already shifted elsewhere.
She looked toward the distant plains.
Toward the direction Fayzan had gone.
Then she began walking.
Not running.
Not panicking.
Simply moving with purpose.
Because she understood something Fayzan didn't.
If Burning Pride had planned this properly, then every second mattered.
And by the time Fayzan arrived—
the situation might already be worse than anyone expected.
High Plains
The wind was much stronger outside the city.
Cold gusts swept across the rolling grasslands beneath the night sky.
Fayzan raced through the darkness without slowing.
Flames continued trailing behind him as Blazing Dash propelled him across the terrain.
His thoughts were focused on one thing.
Sumi.
The moment Odion mentioned Burning Pride, everything had changed.
Then he saw them.
Bodies.
Several bodies.
Scattered across the field.
His heart sank.
Seven players lay on the ground.
Armor shattered.
Weapons broken.
Health bars hanging dangerously close to zero.
Members of Eleo.
His people.
"...Damn it."
The curse escaped through clenched teeth.
Then he spotted her.
Sumi stood alone.
Barely.
Blood covered one side of her face.
Her right arm trembled from exhaustion.
Cuts and bruises covered her body.
Her HP bar was critically low.
Yet despite everything—
she was still standing.
Her dagger remained raised.
Her stance remained firm.
And surrounding her were seventeen players.
They formed a loose circle around her, preventing any escape.
At the center stood their leader.
A tall man with blackish-gray hair and brown eyes.
Magumo.
His grin immediately irritated Fayzan.
The man looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"So this is Eleo?" Magumo called out.
His voice carried easily across the plains.
He spread his arms dramatically.
"This is your elite squad?"
Several Burning Pride members laughed.
The mockery spread through the group.
Magumo shook his head.
"Pathetic."
More laughter followed.
Sumi remained silent.
Her grip tightened around her dagger.
"You don't deserve the hidden dungeon," Magumo continued.
His tone grew louder.
"It belongs to Burning Pride."
Cheers erupted behind him.
His guildmates eagerly supported every word.
Magumo looked back toward Sumi.
"You hear that?"
He pointed toward his group.
"That's what real strength sounds like."
He took another step forward.
Slowly.
Confidently.
"Not whatever joke you call a guild."
Sumi's arm trembled from fatigue, but she didn't lower her weapon.
Magumo stopped directly in front of her.
"All eight of you fought."
He smirked.
"And you couldn't even scratch me."
Then he moved.
Fast.
His hand shot forward and grabbed Sumi by the throat.
Her feet left the ground.
She gasped for air.
Magumo lifted her effortlessly.
"Look at you."
His grin widened.
"Still trying."
His grip tightened.
Sumi struggled.
Her hands clawed at his wrist.
Magumo leaned closer.
"You're cute."
The Burning Pride members laughed.
"Why don't you leave that pathetic guild?"
His voice became almost conversational.
"Join us."
Then his grin darkened.
"Better yet..."
He lowered his voice.
"Be mine."
Sumi's eyes widened slightly.
Magumo moved even closer.
"I'll show you what real strength looks like."
For a brief moment the battlefield fell silent.
Then Sumi spat directly into his face.
The saliva struck his cheek.
The laughter stopped immediately.
"Never."
Her voice was weak.
But unwavering.
"I'd rather die..."
She struggled to breathe.
"...than admit defeat."
For one second, nobody moved.
Then Magumo's expression twisted with anger.
At that exact moment—
something fell from the sky.
[Warrior Skill: Hellfire Chariot]
A blazing mass descended like a meteor.
BOOM!
Fire exploded across the plains.
The ground shattered.
A wave of heat swept outward.
Burning Pride players were forced backward.
Magumo released Sumi and jumped away.
She hit the ground and collapsed onto one knee, coughing violently.
Flames surged.
Dust filled the air.
And from the center of the inferno—
Fayzan emerged.
His cloak billowed behind him.
His eyes burned with fury.
He didn't speak.
He didn't check on Sumi.
He moved.
Immediately.
His fist shot forward.
Magumo barely raised his arm in time.
The punch landed with enough force to shake the ground.
Magumo slid backward.
Fayzan followed.
Another punch.
A right hook.
A left jab.
A knee strike.
An endless chain of attacks.
Each one delivered with brutal precision.
Magumo blocked the first.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The impact of each strike echoed across the plains.
Neither man gave ground.
Fayzan pivoted.
His leg whipped around.
This time the kick connected.
Magumo was launched backward several meters before digging his boots into the dirt and stopping himself.
Silence followed.
Then Magumo smiled.
"...Looks like the main act finally showed up."
The battlefield became illuminated by fire.
Embers drifted through the night air.
The scorched ground crackled beneath their feet.
At the center stood two warriors.
Neither willing to retreat.
Neither willing to yield.
Fayzan attacked first.
Again.
His fist shot toward Magumo's jaw.
Blocked.
Another punch.
Blocked.
A third strike.
Blocked.
Magumo absorbed everything.
"You're fast," he admitted.
"I'll give you that."
Fayzan ignored him.
He shifted his stance.
Mana surged.
[Warrior Skill: Blazing Dash]
Fire exploded beneath his feet.
He disappeared.
An instant later he appeared behind Magumo.
A kick followed.
Magumo turned just in time to block.
Even so, the force sent him stumbling forward.
The ground cracked beneath his boots.
Magumo clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
Yet he was still smiling.
That smile bothered Fayzan.
Something felt wrong.
He pressed harder.
More punches.
More kicks.
More pressure.
Magumo continued blocking.
Continued defending.
Continued smiling.
Finally Fayzan spoke.
"Why are you smiling?"
Magumo chuckled.
"Because you're strong."
He rolled his shoulder.
"Stronger than I expected."
Fayzan narrowed his eyes.
"Then why aren't you taking this seriously?"
Magumo laughed outright.
A genuine laugh.
"Who said I'm not?"
Suddenly he lunged forward.
His fist slammed into Fayzan's guard.
The impact pushed Fayzan backward.
Magumo attacked again.
And again.
For the first time since arriving, Fayzan found himself defending.
Their fists collided repeatedly.
Shockwaves erupted with every exchange.
The earth trembled beneath them.
Dust swirled around their feet.
Yet something still felt wrong.
Fayzan's instincts screamed at him.
This wasn't a battle.
It was a distraction.
He created distance and stared at Magumo.
"What are you planning?"
Magumo stopped.
Then his grin widened.
"Planning?"
He shrugged.
"Nothing complicated."
His eyes gleamed.
"I don't need to win."
Fayzan froze.
"What?"
Magumo spread his arms.
Relaxed.
Casual.
As though discussing the weather.
"I only need to keep you here."
A pause.
"Away from her."
Fayzan's stomach dropped.
"Her?"
Magumo's grin sharpened.
"The crystal girl."
Everything clicked.
Ayame.
Back in town.
Healing Odion.
Low on mana.
Separated from the guild.
Vulnerable.
"No..."
Magumo stepped directly into his path.
Blocking any chance of retreat.
"Too late."
Fayzan's aura erupted.
Flames exploded around him.
"MOVE!"
He charged.
Magumo met him head-on.
Their fists collided.
The shockwave blasted outward.
Fayzan attacked again.
Magumo intercepted.
Again.
Blocked.
Again.
Intercepted.
Magumo wasn't trying to defeat him.
He wasn't trying to overpower him.
He was simply delaying.
And that realization was worse than anything else.
Because somewhere behind them, far away in the Town of Beginnings, another part of Burning Pride's plan was already in motion.
Ayame was still healing Odion.
Most of Eleo's fighters were scattered.
And whatever threat was heading toward the town—
it was already moving.
The clash between Fayzan and Magumo continued across the burning plains.
But now Fayzan understood the truth.
This battle had never been the real objective.
It was only the bait.