The warehouse had become an inferno.
Flames crawled across broken crates while smoke swallowed the ceiling.
Nick stood in front of Nerf, his red aura flickering around him like burning embers.
Nerf wiped blood from his mouth and laughed weakly.
"You still think you've won?"
A fiery bubble formed in his palm.
Nick narrowed his eyes.
The bubble shot forward.
Before he could understand what it was—
BOOM!
The bubble exploded.
Nick was thrown backward.
Pain shot through his body.
He rolled across the floor before quickly standing again.
"So that's your trick..."
Nerf grinned.
Nick picked up a sword.
Nerf did the same.
Steel met steel.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew.
The two exchanged blows at frightening speed.
Nearby, Darven fought through the remaining gang members.
Gunshots echoed throughout the burning warehouse.
One bullet struck his shoulder.
Another pierced his leg.
Yet he refused to fall.
Meanwhile, Nerf secretly created another bubble.
The transparent sphere floated silently behind Nick.
Suddenly it wrapped around his arm.
Nick felt himself lifted from the ground.
Nerf jumped forward.
His fist rushed toward Nick's face.
Nick reacted instantly.
His leg shot upward.
CRACK!
The kick hit Nerf's wrist.
Nerf lost balance and crashed into the floor.
Nick landed and didn't waste a second.
A punch.
Another punch.
A knee.
A kick.
Then red energy gathered around his hand.
The air trembled.
Nick slammed the energy directly into Nerf's stomach.
BOOOOM!
Nerf felt as if thousands of fists struck him at once.
Blood exploded from his mouth.
His body flew backward and smashed through several barrels.
Nick raised both hands.
Multiple fireballs appeared.
They streaked across the warehouse.
Wood ignited instantly.
Flames spread everywhere.
Nerf tried to stand.
His legs failed him.
For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
The battle was over.
The remaining gang members looked at their defeated boss.
One by one they dropped their weapons and ran.
Darven limped toward Nick.
Blood dripped from his injuries.
Nick grabbed his arm.
"Let's leave."
They walked away from the burning warehouse.
Behind them, flames rose into the night sky.
The orange glow illuminated the jungle.
Nick lit a cigarette.
Darven rested a rifle across his shoulder.
For a moment, they looked less like heroes and more like gangsters walking away from an explosion.
Elsewhere...
Eyrx drove the buggy through the dark jungle road.
The containers rested on his lap.
His eyes suddenly widened.
The protective bubbles were gone.
He immediately stopped the vehicle.
Without hesitation, he opened the container.
The moment the green energy escaped—
It rushed into his body.
A powerful wave exploded through his veins.
His wounds healed rapidly.
Bruises faded.
Broken muscles recovered.
Green light covered his body before slowly disappearing.
Eyrx clenched his fists.
"My power..."
A smile appeared on his face.
Then he drove deeper into the forest.
Not far away, Vaeryn struggled to stay conscious.
Blood soaked her clothes.
The sword wound still burned.
Then suddenly—
Blue energy emerged from nowhere.
It rushed into her body.
Her stolen power had returned.
The familiar feeling spread through her veins.
She nearly cried from relief.
At that moment, headlights appeared between the trees.
A buggy stopped nearby.
"Eyrx?"
She whispered.
Eyrx jumped out and ran toward her.
Vaeryn smiled weakly.
Then collapsed directly into his arms.
Two Weeks Later
The castle garden had changed.
The training grounds no longer echoed with constant battles.
Instead, laughter filled the air.
Four chairs surrounded a small table.
Cards lay scattered across it.
Vaeryn slammed her final card down.
"I win again."
Eyrx pointed accusingly.
"You cheated."
Vaeryn crossed her arms proudly.
"Accept your defeat."
Eyrx pouted.
Nick rubbed his forehead.
Some things never changed.
"Can we go to town?" Eyrx suddenly asked.
"I want sweet bread. And ramen."
Nick stared at him.
"You forgot what happened last time?"
Darven chuckled.
"I want to see something too."
Nick sighed.
"There is a boxing tournament today."
"They're giving prize money."
Vaeryn immediately stood.
"I need books."
Nick realized he had already lost the argument.
"Fine."
Everyone cheered.
The town bustled with life.
Street vendors shouted prices.
Children ran between market stalls.
Fresh bread filled the air with a sweet aroma.
Musicians played near the central square.
For the first time in weeks, everything felt peaceful.
Darven headed toward the boxing arena.
Vaeryn marched toward the library.
Eyrx disappeared toward the food street.
Nick followed Vaeryn.
Someone had to stop her from causing trouble.
Inside the library, silence ruled.
Rows of books stretched endlessly.
Nick sat reading.
Across from him, Vaeryn flipped through a history book.
Then she suddenly asked,
"Is Hazel Valerian really Eyrx's sister?"
Nick looked up.
"Why?"
"And what do you mean 'really'?"
Vaeryn closed her book.
"If it's the same Hazel..."
Her voice became serious.
"Then she should be dead."
Nick slowly lowered his book.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
"What do you know about her?"
Vaeryn looked toward the window.
Sunlight reflected in her eyes.
"In the Twelve Realms, Hazel is famous."
"Everyone knows her story."
Nick remained silent.
Vaeryn continued.
"There was once a warrior named Ren."
"He secretly built an army against Robert."
"He wanted freedom."
"He wanted to end Robert's rule."
Nick listened carefully.
"Hazel loved him."
"But Robert discovered everything."
"He ordered Hazel to destroy the rebellion."
A painful expression crossed Vaeryn's face.
"She didn't know Ren was leading it."
"When she finally realized..."
It was already too late."
Nick remembered Hazel's strange words years ago.
Her sadness.
Her loneliness.
Everything suddenly made sense.
"She killed the person she loved."
Vaeryn nodded.
"After that she fought Robert directly."
"Legends say she nearly killed him."
"But she died."
Nick slowly looked down.
"Then somehow..."
"She survived."
Neither spoke for several moments.
The library felt strangely heavy.
Later...
Vaeryn stood inside a clothing shop.
"I want sixty percent off."
The shopkeeper almost choked.
"Sixty?!"
Nick covered his face.
Eyrx had arrived with food and immediately started laughing.
"She does this everywhere."
Ten minutes later...
The shopkeeper sighed in defeat.
"Fine."
Nick and Eyrx stared.
"How?"
Vaeryn proudly adjusted her new cap.
"Skill."
Soon they reunited with Darven.
His newly sharpened black-and-blue sword hung proudly at his side.
Before anyone could comment—
A familiar voice shouted.
"VAERYN!"
Everyone turned.
A teenage boy ran through the crowd.
Vaeryn froze.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
"My brother..."
She rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"Why did you leave me?!"
The boy looked confused.
"We didn't."
"We left you a letter."
"We thought you received it."
Vaeryn blinked.
"I never got any letter."
Her brother laughed.
"That explains everything."
Then he introduced himself.
"My name is Kaelen."
He greeted everyone politely.
That evening they met the entire trader group.
Travelers from different realms.
Merchants who crossed dimensions.
Collectors of rare treasures.
Explorers of forgotten worlds.
For hours they exchanged stories.
As sunset approached, one trader finally spoke.
"We need to leave."
"Siphra awaits."
The group began preparing.
A strange sadness settled over everyone.
Vaeryn looked at her friends.
Her eyes became watery.
"Thank you."
"I had fun."
Darven smiled warmly.
"You were like a daughter to me."
Vaeryn laughed through her tears.
"You finally accepted being old."
Darven pretended to be offended.
Eyrx grinned.
"Now we'll finally get some peace."
Vaeryn punched his arm.
"Shut up."
Everyone laughed.
Then the traders climbed into their vehicles.
The engines started.
Vaeryn leaned from a window.
Golden sunset light illuminated her face.
"I'll never forget you."
"If fate allows..."
"We'll meet again in another realm."
Nick raised a hand.
"We will."
The vehicles slowly disappeared down the road.
Toward Siphra.
Toward the Twelve Realms.
Toward another adventure.
The four friends watched until the last light vanished into the distance.
For a long moment nobody spoke.
Only the setting sun remained.
Painting the horizon gold.
Then Eyrx smiled.
"Let's go home."
And together, they walked back toward the castle as evening swallowed the world behind them.