Morning broke gently over the horizon, casting warm light across the trees. The party had slept well, their exhaustion eased for the time being. Birds chirped lazily in the distance, and dew clung to blades of grass.
Dante approached with his usual calm demeanor. "Are you ready to join us?"
Jace nodded, stretching his shoulders. "Yeah, I'm in."
Finn grinned. "Welcome aboard, comrade."
Zane turned away, already walking. "Then let's move. We don't have the luxury of wasting time."
"Give me just two minutes," Jace called after them.
He turned and jogged back toward Nick and Eve, who were finishing breakfast near the smoldering remains of the campfire.
"Hey guys… take care while I'm gone. I'll be back soon."
Nick gave a reassuring wave. "Don't worry about us."
Jace smirked and looked at Eve. "Would you mind keeping an eye on him? He always finds a way to get into trouble."
Eve crossed her arms playfully. "I won't mind."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Hey, I can take care of myself. And for the record, I'm the senior adventurer here."
They laughed together, and for a moment, things felt light.
But from behind, Rihanna watched the exchange quietly. Her gaze lingered on Jace and Eve, lips slightly parted. She said nothing, but the look in her eyes was clear, something unspoken weighed heavy in her chest.
Jace returned to the group, and together, they began their journey toward the southern edge of the Demon Lands, the last known location of the Cult of Vrag.
On the road...
Jace walked beside Dante, his voice casual but curious. "So… why are you guys personally handling this cult? I get that they're dangerous, but this seems a bit above my pay grade. You're the Vice Commander of the Special Forces, after all."
Dante's expression darkened. "They might not be powerful now, but in the past, they nearly brought the world to ruin."
Finn chimed in, adjusting the strap of his satchel. "General Lennox once told me... they sparked the First Great War. Demon. Elf. Human. It all started because of them."
Dante nodded. "They ignited the flames between demons and humans. The elves sided with humanity because, back then, the demon armies threatened all living lands."
"But," Jace said, brows narrowing, "didn't the humans betray the elves in the end? Struck them down after the demons were weakened and claimed victory for themselves?"
Rihanna blinked, startled. "Wait—what? Is that really true?"
Finn frowned. "That… doesn't sound like what we were taught."
Zane shrugged with indifference. "So what? The weak rely on strategy to survive. That's nature. If betrayal wins the war, then it's still a victory."
Dante's gaze drifted toward the horizon, distant and heavy. "I was just a boy when it happened. I remember my mother whispering to me, 'One day, Dante… you'll grow up and protect people, just like our king did. You'll save them from the demons.'" His jaw tightened. "Right or wrong… if it brings a smile to her face, I'd do it ten thousand times."
Rihanna placed a hand on his arm. "Your mother would be proud of the man you've become, Sir Dante. And… she'll get better. I know she will."
Dante offered her a small smile. "Thank you, Rihanna."
He paused, voice lowering. "But the real reason we're here… it's worse than any of you think."
Finn leaned in. "What do you mean?"
"It's about their leader," Dante said, his tone grim. "If the informants are right… then he's returned."
Jace's eyes widened. "You mean… Zen."
Dante nodded solemnly. "They say he commands power on par with the Demon King himself. If he's truly back... the world could burn all over again."
Zane's eyes gleamed with a strange excitement. "Then we might actually get to fight someone worth our strength."
A beat passed, and then everyone chuckled softly, the tension eased just for a moment.
Ivy nudged him with her elbow. "You'll never change. Always looking for your next brawl."
Zane smirked. "And what's wrong with that?"
Finn laughed. "At least we can always count on him."
Zane rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
The group shared a brief laugh, a fragile moment of warmth before the darkness ahead.
At last, their destination appeared in the distance . A jagged landscape of scorched earth, twisted trees, and the faint, flickering lights of cultist activity. The ruins of an old demon outpost loomed in the shadow of the mountains.
To be continued…