Silence.
Not the kind born from peace—
But the kind carved out by destruction.
The battlefield no longer resembled a dungeon.
It was a grave.
Cracked stone stretched endlessly beneath them, shattered pillars leaning like broken bones. The ceiling had long since collapsed, exposing the dim, ashen sky above. Embers drifted in the air, remnants of power that had no right to still exist.
And at the center of it
She stood.
Rio.
Barely.
Her breathing was shallow.
Her body trembled with every step she forced forward.
In front of her
Allure.
No longer a monster.
No longer a threat.
Just… fragments.
Her once terrifying form was unraveling, her body breaking apart into glowing crimson particles that drifted upward like dying embers.
Her many mouths
Silent.
Her blades
Gone.
Her presence
Fading.
Rio's light blue eye dimmed slightly as she stared.
Not in triumph.
Not in relief.
But in confirmation.
"…It's over."
The words barely left her lips.
Allure's body flickered once—
Twice—
Then
Collapsed into dust.
Gone.
Rio took a step forward.
Then another.
Her legs shook violently.
The strength that once surged through her
Gone.
The cost of Bloodmoon's Resonance had arrived.
Her muscles screamed.
Her vision blurred.
Her balance
Failed.
She collapsed forward but never hit the ground.
"Got you."
Ryota.
His voice was strained, but steady.
He caught her before she fell, one arm supporting her weight as he steadied himself with the other.
"…You always do this at the worst timing," he muttered, half-exhausted, half-relieved.
Rio let out a weak breath.
"…Shut up."
But she didn't push him away.
Not this time.
Together
They walked.
Slow.
Unsteady.
Toward where Allure had fallen.
At the center of the destruction
A single object remained.
A gem.
Dark.
Crimson.
Pulsing faintly with lingering energy.
Rio's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…That's it."
The core.
The drop.
The proof of victory.
With trembling fingers, she reached out
And grabbed it.
The moment her hand touched the gem
A faint pulse echoed.
Then
Silence.
She opened her inventory.
And stored it.
No hesitation.
No announcement.
Just… done.
From a distance
They watched.
Elias stood quietly, his sword resting against his shoulder.
Fayzan beside him.
Kiraya, leaning slightly but standing.
Hinabi.
Magumo.
And the remaining survivors.
One of the members spoke hesitantly.
"…Leader… is it okay for them to just… take it?"
A pause.
Elias didn't even look at him.
"We have honor."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
Unshaken.
"She's the only reason we're still alive."
A beat.
"We don't get to claim what we couldn't earn."
Silence followed.
No one argued.
No one dared to.
Kiraya crossed her arms, a faint smile on her face.
"…Rio, huh."
Her eyes followed the girl in the distance.
"…What an interesting person."
A notification flickered in front of Elias.
His eyes shifted slightly.
Then
A small smile.
"…Looks like it counted."
Fayzan raised a brow.
"What?"
Elias turned the interface slightly.
"Eternity Lions… Guild Level 8."
Fayzan let out a quiet chuckle.
"…Guess all that nearly dying paid off."
Hinabi approached, brushing dust from her sleeves.
"Well," she said lightly, "since we're still alive… we should talk about rewards."
Magumo followed behind her, unusually quiet.
For once.
No complaints.
No arrogance.
Just… silence.
Elias nodded.
"Right."
He looked at everyone.
"Allure's drop belongs to Rio and Ryota."
No objections.
"Beyond that"
Hinabi continued smoothly.
"We split everything else evenly."
A glance around.
"Any objections?"
None.
"Good."
She smiled faintly.
"We estimate around two hundred copper worth of loot from open chests alone."
Fayzan whistled.
"…Not bad."
Kiraya added,
"And one item each from the loot room for Rio and Ryota, if they want it."
Elias nodded.
"Agreed."
A pause.
Then he turned to the remaining members.
"…Start clearing the loot room."
Only thirteen remained.
Out of one hundred twenty-nine.
No one needed to say it.
This wasn't a victory without cost.
Meanwhile at the edge of the battlefield
Ryota carefully helped Rio sit on a broken slab of stone.
She exhaled slowly, leaning back.
"…I hate this part."
"The part where you almost die?"
"…The part where I can't move."
Ryota sat beside her.
"…Fair."
For a moment
They just sat there.
Breathing.
Alive.
Then
Ryota stood.
"…Stay here."
Rio didn't argue.
Didn't have the energy to.
He walked back into the battlefield.
Through the wreckage.
Through the remnants of everything they destroyed.
His eyes scanned the ground.
Broken weapons.
Shattered armor.
Fragments of spells long faded.
Then
He found it.
Iron Steve.
Or what remained of it.
The blade—
Gone.
Broken into pieces.
The hilt—
Cracked.
Barely holding together.
Ryota picked it up slowly.
His grip tightened slightly.
"…Yeah…"
A quiet breath.
"…You did your part."
No dramatic speech.
No grand farewell.
Just acknowledgment.
He tucked it into his inventory.
Carefully.
Respectfully.
Back at the stone—
Rio watched him return.
"…Find it?"
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…It's done."
She nodded.
"…Good."
Silence settled between them again.
But this time
It was different.
Not heavy.
Not oppressive.
Just… quiet.
A quiet earned through survival.
Far above
Unseen.
A faint ripple passed through the air.
Like something watching.
Something waiting.
And somewhere
Far beyond their reach
A familiar, distorted laugh echoed faintly.
Soft.
Amused.
Unfinished.
The game wasn't over.
Not yet.
The battlefield had quieted.
Not healed
But settled.
Like a storm that had already taken everything it wanted.
Rio leaned back against the broken slab of stone, her breathing slow, controlled, but still strained. The crimson glow that once surrounded her had long since faded, leaving behind only exhaustion and the dull ache of survival.
Ryota sat beside her, one arm resting on his knee.
"…So," he muttered, glancing sideways, "we just pretend that didn't almost kill us?"
Rio let out a faint breath.
"…We'll pretend later."
A pause.
"…After I can actually stand."
Ryota smirked faintly.
"Fair."
The air between them was lighter now.
Not carefree
But real.
Earned.
Then—
A sound shattered it.
BANG.
A gunshot.
Loud.
Sharp.
Too close.
Both of them froze.
Their heads snapped toward the direction of the loot room
Where the remaining members of both guilds were gathered.
Another shot.
Then another.
BANG. BANG.
Rio's expression changed instantly.
"…That's not right."
Ryota was already on his feet.
"…Yeah."
Near the loot room
Chaos.
Screams echoed through the broken chamber.
Bodies dropped.
Three members of Eternity Lions
Down.
Two from Burning Pride
Gone.
Blood stained the stone.
Elias turned sharply, his blade halfway raised—
"…What the hell?!"
Standing at the far end—
Figures.
Armed.
Familiar.
Burning Pride members.
But not just any.
Hinabi's eyes widened.
"…Those are—"
Her voice cut off—
"Magumo's men."
Before she could say another word—
A blade pierced through her torso.
From behind.
Her body froze.
Blood spilled from her lips as she looked down
At the sword embedded in her.
"…Magumo…"
Behind her
He smiled.
Twisted.
Satisfied.
"…Sorry, Vice Leader."
A soft laugh escaped him.
"…Didn't think it'd happen this early either."
He yanked the blade free.
Hinabi staggered forward, barely staying upright.
"…You… traitorous rat…"
Magumo chuckled.
"Ah, come on."
His tone was casual.
Mocking.
"I had plans, you know?"
A shrug.
"I was going to take your position first."
His eyes shifted.
Toward the battlefield.
Toward Rio.
"But then…"
A grin stretched across his face.
"I saw her."
A pause.
"And I realized…"
"…Why aim small?"
Before anyone could react—
Five more figures appeared behind him.
Gunfire erupted.
BANG BANG BANG BANG
Elias raised his blade too slow.
Kiraya moved too late.
Fayzan tried to step forward
But his body refused.
They were drained.
Completely.
Unlike him.
Magumo hadn't fought.
Hadn't bled.
Hadn't risked anything.
He was fresh.
And now—
He was striking.
Hinabi coughed, blood dripping from her lips.
"…You… would throw everything away…?"
Magumo glanced at her.
Cold.
Unbothered.
"I don't need Burning Pride anymore."
A beat.
"…I don't need you."
He raised his weapon.
Aimed directly at her.
Pulled the trigger—
—but the shot never landed.
CLANG.
Kiraya.
She burst from behind cover, her shield raised—
Blocking the bullet meant for Hinabi.
"…You piece of—!"
She lunged forward, blade drawn—
Magumo stepped back, smiling.
"Still kicking, huh?"
Fayzan gritted his teeth.
"…Kiraya!"
Elias tried to move, His legs buckled.
The aftermath of HellBlitz still chained him to the ground.
Magumo lifted his massive blade.
"Don't worry."
His voice was light.
Cruel.
"I'll end this quick."
He swung
A killing blow
CRACK.
A fist slammed into his side.
Magumo staggered.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Huh?"
Ryota stood there.
Breathing hard.
Eyes burning.
"…You talk too much."
Magumo stared at him
Then smiled.
"…Good."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"…I was hoping you'd show up."
Ryota's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
Magumo raised his hand.
The ground beneath Ryota shifted instantly.
Stone rose.
Wrapped around him.
Locked him in place.
[Warrior Skill: Earth's Tremor]
CRASH.
An earthen cage formed around Ryota, trapping him completely.
He slammed against it.
"Tch! Damn it!"
Magumo stepped closer.
"…You're annoying."
A tilt of his head.
"So I figured…"
"…Separate you."
His gaze lifted.
Toward Rio.
Far.
Alone.
"…From her."
Ryota's eyes widened.
"…No!"
Magumo smirked.
"…Yeah."
Back at the battlefield
Rio stood.
Barely.
Her legs trembled.
Her body screamed.
But she stood.
Because she had to.
Around her—
Figures emerged.
One.
Five.
Ten.
More.
Twenty-five.
Weapons raised.
Guns aimed.
Directly at her.
Her grip tightened on the Crimson Bloodmoon.
"…So this is it."
No fear in her voice.
Only acceptance.
And resolve.
A man laughed.
"Look at her—"
"…She can't even stand."
Another raised his rifle.
"Doesn't matter."
"Boss said to kill her."
"Or take the weapon."
Rio steadied her stance.
Even as her body failed her.
"…Try it."
They fired.
BANG BANG BANG
Rio moved.
Barely.
Twisting.
Dodging but not enough.
A shot hit her leg.
She dropped to one knee.
Blood spread beneath her.
The men laughed.
"Pathetic."
"Finish it."
"RIO!!"
Ryota's voice echoed from afar.
He slammed against the earthen cage.
Again.
And again.
"—MOVE DAMN IT!"
He raised his hand—
Scalular Impact forming—
Magumo lifted his fingers slightly.
"…No."
A small click echoed.
Above Ryota—
A charge.
Explosives.
TNT.
Detonated.
BOOM.
The ceiling collapsed.
Rocks rained down.
Crushing.
Burying.
Sealing him further.
"—GH—!!"
Dust filled the air.
Silence followed.
"…Stay there," Magumo muttered.
"…And watch."
Back to Rio—
The men raised their weapons again.
"End it."
Triggers pulled.
Bullets fired.
Time slowed—
Just slightly.
Enough for her to see it.
To know—
This was the end.
Then—
Light.
Faint.
But real.
A single figure appeared.
Between her and death.
Steel moved.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Again.
Every bullet—
Cut.
Deflected.
Destroyed mid-air.
The sound of metal clashing echoed—
Precise.
Effortless.
Perfect.
The men froze.
"…What—?"
The figure stood in front of Rio.
Back facing her.
Blonde hair.
Worn armor.
A presence—
Familiar.
Reliable.
"…Sorry I'm late."
Auram.
His blades lowered slightly.
Eyes locked forward.
"…Lady Rio."
A faint breath escaped Rio.
"…You're supposed to be resting…"
Auram smiled faintly.
"…I was."
A pause.
"…But it seems you needed me."
His stance shifted.
Blades raised.
"…So I came."
The air changed.
Again.
The battlefield—
Wasn't over.
Not yet.