"What?" The scent of unfamiliarity suddenly disappeared.
"Timba… but his smell is different. How is this possible?" Yemen glared at his soldiers, his rage evident.
"They used six soldiers to deceive us twice. Find them...now!" Yemen stormed into the blacksmith's shop, his eyes burning red, his ears hot as if they were exhaling smoke like a chimney.
"How can I help you?" the blacksmith asked, focused on sewing something.
"Where are they? What did they take? Tell me everything. If you try to hide even the smallest detail, I will hang you," Yemen thundered, slamming his hands on the table.
"Ohhh....… I guess something bad happened. Are they traitors?" The blacksmith paused, setting aside his work.
"Just answer my question." Yemen's gaze was unblinking, his voice sharp.
"So, this is where we part ways?" Oliver asked, looking at the vast field stretching beyond the gates of Solvana.
"I think so," Ethan replied, glancing at Livio.
Livio, however, was fixated on the slope of the mountain, his eyes brimming with tears. Memories of Sebastian, Viktor, and the others echoed in his mind. A single tear rolled down his cheek. Sensing Ethan approaching, he quickly wiped it away and forced a smile.
The teardrop hit the ground just as Athena sat alone in her bakery. The absence of her staff made the space feel hollow. She stared at the empty benches, her mind drifting to memories of Eero and Elena.
"Hey, manager, join us!" Elena had once called out cheerfully.
"I'm working," Athena had replied, immersed in her writing.
"Come on!" Elena had extended her hand toward her.
"Fine." Athena had reached out.....but just before their hands met, Elena vanished. The room darkened, and Athena was alone once more.
She turned abruptly. Livio stood behind her, smiling.
"Livio….. I missed you so much." She rushed toward him, but in her haste, she slipped. Picking herself up, she lunged forward, embracing him.
"I…...." Livio smiled....then disappeared.
"No! No….....You're a liar! Livio!" Her scream echoed in the empty room, swallowed by darkness.
Outside, the streets were in chaos. Merchants and townsfolk were pushed back by soldiers as they rallied in protest.
"Calm down!" the soldiers ordered.
"We want justice! Justice for the soldiers who were framed!" The people chanted, their voices rising in anger.
"Kill the higher-ups who acted without proof! Kill that bastard!" Some held flying lamps, their flames flickering ominously.
From a bench beneath a tree, the old man wrapped in bandages observed in silence.
"This is human duality," he murmured. "Yesterday, they called for punishment. Today, they cry for justice."
"Hey, Livio." Ethan placed a hand on Livio's shoulder.
"Yeah?" Livio turned to face him.
"What were you thinking about?" Oliver joined in.
"Nothing...just about your plan." Livio forced a smile.
Flashback:
Livio gripped his katana, his Pbv activated. "Hey, guys, soldiers are here."
"I can feel them...seven, standing outside the gate," Oliver noted, looking up.
"Among them, one....Timba.....has the ability to pass through nonliving objects and hide his Pbv in the process. Perfect for assassination," Livio muttered, studying his katana.
"Livio, how can you...…?" Oliver trailed off as he met Livio's gaze.
"What now?" Ethan asked, sensing tension.
"I have a plan," Oliver said, his expression hardening.
"What is he saying? I can't hear it," the blacksmith muttered, eyeing them with suspicion.
"So, you're saying we'll use three soldiers as bait and escape wearing their armor?" Livio asked, surprised.
"Yes. But first..." Ethan turned to the blacksmith.
The blacksmith quickly hid his supplies behind a wall. "What now?"
"Hey, old man, got anything that can make us sky high?" Oliver asked casually.
The blacksmith chuckled. "Ahhh...… I never knew you had it in you to try that sort of thing. But I do have something…... It'll send you straight out of the universe!" He shuffled toward a wall filled with glass bottles of herbs, searching for something.
Oliver divided the herbs into six equal portions.
"So, we're ready…...." Livio exhaled, sweat beading on his forehead.
"To pull this off, I need to set a condition first." Oliver wiped his brow.
The shop walls wavered like jelly. None of them noticed....until a lance struck Ethan from behind.
"What the hell…?" Ethan gasped, looking down in shock.
"Ethan!" Livio and Oliver shouted.
"You bastard…" Livio spun around.
"Where is he?" Oliver's eyes darted around. But there was no one in sight.
"Good. They can't sense me. " Unseen, two human eyes drifted inside the wall, silent and unnoticed.
"I'll take them out one by one." The eyes narrowed.
"Oh my….... I expected more from you, young man. But you are a disappointment," the blacksmith mused, watching Ethan kneel in pain.
It was the signal. The remaining five soldiers stormed inside.
Oliver turned his back to Timba. Sensing an opportunity, Timba lunged at full speed.
"This is it. Now die!" He drove a knife into Oliver's back.
"Now you can't beat me. My backup must be here." Timba phased into the wall again.
"Wait.....please, don't kill me!" Livio fell to his knees.
"What? And why shouldn't I?" a voice echoed from the walls.
"Finally, we're here, Timba." The remaining five soldiers surrounded Livio.
"Please, have mercy," Livio begged.
Timba emerged from the wall. "Capture him. We'll take this one alive."
A sudden surge of energy.....Shesha activated, engulfing them all.
"What?! Who did this?" Timba recoiled.
"Kill him!" he shouted. But when he looked at Livio, he was gone.
"Surprised?" Livio's voice came from behind. He stood poised, katana gleaming in the dim light.