[DARIAN FORTRESS]
The Extravagant hid behind a crumbling wall near Darian Fortress. The night air was cold, and tension filled the silence.
Vria knelt down and opened the case he was carrying. Inside was a set of sleek, metallic devices—Decoders, used for private radio communication.
He handed one to each member, including Jeonne and Nico.
Nico (excited): "Whoa, cool! Are we like agents or something?"
Everyone turned to stare at him.
Nico (awkwardly): "Ah… s-sorry."
Jeonne smirked, holding back a laugh.
Vria stood and addressed the team.
Vria: "Let me quickly rebrief you all about this mission. Dansleif and I will do a short sweep of the prison to confirm the map and the wall structures. Once we return, Jeonne and Nico will help Dansleif locate Kana."
He continued, pointing to each member in turn.
Vria: "I'll enter through the front and keep the staff distracted. Mira will be stationed on the high ground as our eyes—our lighthouse. After we retrieve Kana, we regroup and escape together."
Vria (firmly): "Let's begin."
As the others moved into position, Nico leaned closer to Jeonne.
Nico (quietly): "I still can't believe this. Seeing you here... this all feels unreal. How is this even possible?"
Jeonne: "All I know is—every time I fall asleep, I end up in this world. And when I wake up, I return to the real one. I've even set a timer to wake up... because last time—"
Nico: "Last time what?"
Jeonne fell silent. He was about to say that he hadn't woken up for four days, leaving his real body inactive. His thoughts flashed to the people he met in the village.
Jeonne (softly): "Let's talk after the mission."
Vria and Dansleif returned.
Vria: "The map's accurate. Kana should be just below us. Time to move."
Vria broke off to enter through the front gate.
Dansleif: "You two—grab my hand."
Jeonne: "Huh?"
Dansleif: "I can phase others through walls. Just hold on."
Jeonne (impressed): "No way!"
Dansleif: "Shut up. Let's move."
Nico: "Damn! We are speedsters!"
Dansleif activated his sigil. The three of them shimmered and phased through the fortress wall, bypassing the heavy defenses.
Once inside, Dansleif split off.
Dansleif: "You two—look for a key labeled SRE-071 in that room. I'll search the next one. If anything goes wrong, use your comms."
He disappeared into the adjacent room.
As Nico and Jeonne walked toward their assigned area, Nico started to panic.
Nico: "Jeonne, I don't think I can do this."
Jeonne paused, looked him in the eye, and gave him a steady nod.
Jeonne: "Nico, right now, you look like someone who can do something great. You can be a badass. This is your moment to change your life."
Nico stared at him, feeling something stir in his chest.
Nico (softly): "Okay. Let's do it."
Nico (internal monologue): I don't know why... but Jeonne gives me courage.
(Meanwhile, at the front lobby…)
Vria entered with an effortless swagger. The guards barely glanced at him before returning to their posts, but the receptionist—a woman with sharp eyes and a curled bun—noticed him right away.
Vria leaned casually on the desk, flashing his signature smile.
Vria: "Good evening, miss. I must say, this place is far too dim to match how radiant you look tonight."
Receptionist (blinking): "Oh—uh... I—I haven't heard that one before."
Vria (grinning): "Then I'm honored to be the first. You know, I travel a lot, and I've been to royal halls and grand banquets—but I've never seen someone manage a front desk with such... charm."
She blushed, flustered.
Receptionist: "W-Well, thank you. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Vria (tilting his head): "Maybe. But honestly? I just came here to see the most beautiful part of this fortress."
He winked, and she nearly dropped her pen.
Receptionist (laughing nervously): "You're terrible!"
Vria (smiling): "Terribly honest."
Behind the flirtation, Vria's eyes were scanning everything—the hallways, the cameras, the exits. Every word he spoke bought time for the team.
Jeonne finally found the key marked SRE-071. He quickly reported it through the comms.
Soon, he, Nico, and Dansleif made their way to the prison wing—quiet, dim, and lined with old metal bars. They passed rows of cells holding murmuring prisoners and the occasional criminal glaring at them from the shadows.
But Kana wasn't there.
Dansleif contacted Vria through the comms.
Dansleif: "Vria, we're in the cell block—but Kana's not here."
Vria's voice crackled back through the earpiece.
Vria: "You're in the right prison. She should be there. Keep looking."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
??? "Who are you?!"
The three spun around. A prison officer stood at the end of the hall, gun raised.
Dansleif raised his hands.
Dansleif: "Wait—we're not here to cause trouble. We just want to talk."
Dansleif (internal monologue): I could phase through a bullet... but they're right behind me. Dammit, I can't risk it.
Before anyone could move, Nico stepped forward.
Nico (commanding): "Officer! Help us!"
A faint glow shimmered in Nico's eyes—his sigil had activated.
The officer's stance changed. His expression slackened, and his voice turned obedient.
Officer: "As you wish. What do you need?"
Nico: "Where is prisoner Kana being held?"
Officer: "The Black Orb member? She's in the underground prison."
Nico: "Underground? Where's the entrance?"
Officer: "Follow me."
The man holstered his weapon and began walking ahead without question.
Dansleif looked at Nico with wide eyes.
Dansleif: "Holy shit. That's one hell of a power you've got."
Jeonne (grinning): "That's my friend. It was the right call to bring him."
As the officer led the group deeper into the entrance of the underground area, the flickering lights above cast long shadows down the empty corridor. Just before they reached the concealed entrance to the underground section, a figure stepped into their path.
It was a man in a long coat, armed and alert. Ghaland Trevor.
Jeonne stiffened.
Jeonne (tense): "Oh, shit. That's the bounty hunter who tracked us with Kana. What the hell is he doing here?"
Dansleif: "What?"
They exchanged a glance, but tried to walk past him casually, trusting the officer in front of them to keep suspicion low.
But Ghaland stopped, narrowing his eyes as he turned slowly toward the group.
Ghaland: "Hey. You—on the right. Have we met before?"
Jeonne (awkwardly): "Uhh, I don't think so..."
Ghaland took a few slow steps toward them, studying Nico's face.
Ghaland: "No, no. I know that face. Just can't place where. A patrol unit with an officer in front... A familiar face... A noble-looking man walking around a place like this... and a tall guy who clearly knows how to fight. Something's off."
None of them replied.
Dansleif subtly nudged Nico with his elbow.
Dansleif (whispering): "Do your thing. He's watching you."
Nico inhaled quietly and stepped forward, eyes calm, posture straight. Ghaland's attention locked onto him.
Ghaland (suddenly polite): "My sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
Nico (in a poised, noble tone): "Yes, there is. We're conducting a surprise inspection. Checking if the guards here are doing their jobs properly."
Jeonne (internal monologue): Whoa—what the fuck?
Ghaland raised a brow, nodding slightly.
Ghaland: "So... you're part of the patrol?"
Nico (confidently): "You are correct."
Ghaland: "And what concerns may I assist you with, sir?"
As Nico stood there, something clicked. Memories flooded back—of lavish halls, obedient servants, and the identity he once carried. Lord Nico Dunebarren, heir of the Dunebarren estate.
He straightened his posture and looked down at Ghaland with cold authority.
Nico (sternly): "My concern... is you. The way you speak to me—so casually. Have you forgotten your manners?"
Ghaland squinted at Nico, unsure if he had just heard a joke or a serious declaration.
Ghaland (confused): "…Dunebarren? Are you serious?"
Nico stood his ground, trying to hold the persona. But the response wasn't what he expected. Instead of suspicion or obedience, there was an awkward pause.
Then Ghaland burst into a laugh.
Ghaland: "Alright, sir. I apologize for the unfitting behavior. It won't happen again. But... I do need to confirm your identities."
Without hesitation, Nico activated his sigil. A faint glow shimmered across his body. He raised his hand and pointed toward Ghaland with shaky confidence.
Nico: "I order you… to become my subordinate!"
Everything stopped for a second.
Ghaland's smile vanished.
His voice dropped, dark and threatening.
Ghaland: "…Did you just order me?"
Nico (internal monologue): OH FUCK—HE'S A SIGIL USER?! I SHOULD'VE KNOWN—
Ghaland (furious): "That's it."
Ghaland's sigil flared. Chains of energy burst from his arms, whipping toward the group. They wrapped around Nico, Jeonne, and the officer in an instant. One of the chains coiled around Nico's neck, tightening fast.
Nico choked, his feet lifting off the ground.
But suddenly—CRACK!
Danselif was a military officer. He grabbed the chains, his body flickering, and landed a solid punch straight to Ghaland's chest. The bounty hunter flew back, crashing into the corridor wall.
Dansleif (shouting): "Go! Save Kana! I've got this bastard!"
Nico gasped for air and nodded. He, Jeonne, and the officer sprinted toward the hidden entrance while Dansleif faced off with the bounty hunter.
Ghaland (growling, getting up): "Handle me? Who the fuck do you think you are?!"
\[Outside the Prison – Simultaneously]
Dansleif's voice came through Vria's earpiece.
Dansleif (urgent): "Vria! They're onto us! But Jeonne and Nico are heading to save Kana!"
Vria: "Oh, shit. Roger that."
She immediately contacted Mira.
[Mira's Location – Rooftop]
Mira, hearing the call, kicked off from the edge of a nearby building. She slid down a support beam, bounced off a wall, and parkoured her way to the prison perimeter.
Landing quietly, she moved toward a nearby crowd of civilians outside the prison gate.
With a flick of her wrist, she splashed a cup of water at one man, then quickly pointed to someone else.
Mira (accusing loudly): "Hey! What the hell's your problem?! Why'd you throw water on him?!"
The two strangers began arguing. Mira, already gone from that spot, repeated the act with another group.
In moments, a full-blown riot began erupting in front of the prison.
[Ground Floor – Secret Pathway, Inside the Prison]
Ghaland, still wrestling with Dansleif, activated his comms.
Ghaland: "All units! We've got intruders inside! I repeat—intrud—"
Silence.
No response.
All officers were outside, dealing with the sudden chaos. And back in the front office—Vria, now posing as a dispatcher, calmly disabled all outgoing communication lines.
Vria (smirking): "Not today."
[Ground Floor – Secret Pathway, Inside the Prison]
Dansleif staggered back. His attempt to phase through Ghaland's chains had backfired—he realized the chains were not a physical object at the last second.
Dansleif (gritting his teeth): "Shit… I can't phase through sigil-generated objects…"
The chains hissed like serpents, recoiling and clanging against the stone floor. They struck again—fast. He barely dodged, blocking one with his kneeguard, then rolled to the side and tapped his comms.
Dansleif: "Vria, I can't take him. His sigil—it's chains, and they're sigil-generated. Good thing I brought my armor. I'm gonna lead him to you and help save Kana!"
Vria (annoyed): "What?! So you're just gonna pass him to me?!"
Clang! A chain smashed down toward Dansleif. He blocked it with his forearm, only for another chain to whip around his arm and tighten.
Ghaland: "You fell for it, fool!"
He yanked the chain—but Dansleif didn't budge.
Ghaland (confused): "What?"
Dansleif grinned.
Dansleif: "You idiot."
With a sudden burst of strength, Dansleif pulled Ghaland toward him instead. Their bodies collided, and Dansleif slammed Ghaland into the stone wall. Without missing a beat, he sprinted down the corridor.
Ghaland growled, struggling to regain control. He summoned another chain and hurled it toward Dansleif's back—but at point-blank range, Dansleif phased through the wall ahead. Seeing Danslief escape, Ghaland realized there was no point trying to chase him. So he decided to turn his back and target the Jeonne and Nico instead.
Just when Ghaland thought Danslief would never come back, Danslief appeared from a wall and punched Ghaland. Danslief went through walls again, and then performed another surprise punched at Ghaland. Danslief said, "You're too weak to handle me!", provoking Ghaland more.
Ghaland says, "Stop hiding you coward!"
Danslief: "It's called using the brain you idiot! Oh, wait, you don't have any!"
Ghaland: "You're fucking dead!"
Danslief appeared at the entrance of this underground hallway. His provocations to Ghaland made Ghaland chase after him towards Front Office.
[Front Office]
They exploded out into the Front Office, knocking over chairs and smashing through a desk. Paper scattered. Guards jumped back in shock.
Dansleif (panting): "Hey Vria… Tag, you're it."
Dansleif immediately stood up, shaking off the debris clinging to his coat. Blood ran down his arm, but he ignored it. Without looking back, he bolted down the corridor, chasing after Jeonne and Nico.
Ghaland (groaning, rising): "Why do you think I'd let you go?"
Before he could take a step—
Vria (firmly): "You will let him go... because you're fighting me now."
Ghaland froze mid-step.
Vria (coldly): "Leader of the Black Orb. You heard me."
The atmosphere shifted. Ghaland slowly turned his head, eyes narrowing as he locked onto her.
His smirk returned—tighter, more dangerous. "So you're the one stirring all this filth."
He cracked his knuckles as his chains began slithering around him like predators.
Ghaland: "Good. I was hoping to break someone important."
Vria (raising his weapon): "Try me."
Character Highlight:
Name - Danslief Wayward
Height - 6'0
Hobby -
Distinct Trait - Physically fit, a body made for fighting, buzzcut hairstyle