Night was falling when Arya and Dina stopped under a large tree on the edge of the rocky road.
"I got some information from Gamma," said Arya, staring at the night sky. "Neptune, the Ice One, is chasing us."
Dina turned her head. "Then who's going to fight him? Just me?"
"Do you want to try fighting him?"
"Of course! I also want to fight one of them. So far, I've only fought ordinary guards!"
Arya raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure you can do it alone?"
"Don't underestimate me! You think I'm weak, huh?!"
Arya laughed. "Hahaha! There's no way I would think you're weak."
Dina folded her arms. "This time, which ruler is our target?"
"To the west. The city of Tazer."
"How many days will the journey take?"
"They say four days."
Dina nodded slowly. "Oh."
Arya looked ahead again. "I want to take action immediately and enter the mansion."
Dina looked at him suspiciously. "Why?"
"Considering they're already chasing us, it means our information has been leaked. So there's no need to move quietly anymore."
"If we're not being quiet, then what are we going to do?"
"We'll leave clear traces so they'll chase us directly. The sooner we meet them, the sooner their numbers will decrease."
Dina frowned. "But why rush?"
"My instincts tell me they're building something. Look, after Mars died, they immediately filled his position. They're forming a great power. And when they're truly ready, they won't let any of their own die again."
"So... they're preparing something bigger?"
Arya nodded. "Exactly. We just have to wait for the report from Gamma. But before that, we have to take the initiative first. If we keep hiding, they will grow stronger... and when that time comes, we won't be able to take them down."
He stared intently into the distance. "From now on, we play aggressively. We force them to come to the place we choose. And we finish them off one by one."
Dina sighed. "Huuuh... My head hurts just thinking about it. So... what kind of trail are we going to leave behind?"
Arya grinned slightly. "Provocation. For example,'Our target is the King of this country! Protect him if you can, you bastards!' The fanatics will definitely be furious and hunt us down."
Dina rolled her eyes. "That's childish." Her gaze was cynical.
"Wahahaha! But it's guaranteed to be effective. Praise me!"
"You're so weird."
Four days later, they arrived in the city of Tazer.
"Ugh... It's so hot here! What's with the temperature in this place?" Dina complained, wiping her sweat.
Arya looked around. "This city is tormented by the cruel heat. The people are starving. Houses are collapsing, water is scarce, food is almost non-existent. The rulers are truly barbaric."
"How about we appear in public right away?" asked Dina.
"Hm... interesting idea. If we cause a commotion, our identities will definitely reach Seven Eclipse faster."
"The more often we appear, the faster they will come. And the faster we can finish them off."
Arya chuckled. "Sometimes you're pretty smart, you know."
"I am smart!"
Tok!
"That's a hollow sound," Arya teased, tapping Dina on the head.
"What did you say?!"
Arya laughed and stepped into the middle of the road. "Let's cool things down here first. Give them water and food."
He raised his hand. "Freeze!"
The air slowly turned cool. The heat disappeared. Then:
"HELLO EVERYONE! THERE IS FREE FOOD AND WATER HERE! COME HERE! EVERYTHING IS FREE!"
He took food supplies out of storage.
"Earth Craft!" The ground rose, forming a pool.
"Water!" Clear water gushed out, filling the artificial pool.
"Water! That's water and food!"
"I haven't eaten in days! Please!"
"My child... he hasn't eaten anything..."
Arya smiled calmly. "Calm down! Take one at a time. Everyone will get some."
"Don't push! Someone will get hurt!" Dina shouted, calming the residents.
A few minutes later, the food and water were distributed evenly.
"Thank you, son!"
"You saved us!"
Arya and Dina just nodded awkwardly, surrounded by grateful residents.
"Can we go now? We have other business. We'll leave the food there," Arya finally said.
"Thank you! May you be blessed!"
They left the crowd and headed for the ruler's mansion.
"What was that..." Dina's voice trembled. "Seeing them fighting over food... it's clear they haven't eaten for days."
Arya stared at the sky. "What a cruel world. If God really exists, why does evil continue to exist? And if God doesn't want to destroy them, then let us do it."
He clenched his fists.
Nighttime...
Arya took out two pistols. "Let's go in together."
Dina pulled two daggers from her back. "Ready."
In front of the gate, Arya shot two guards. The bullets pierced their heads without resistance. The gate was forced open.
"Who are you?!"
Bang! Bang! Two more guards fell.
"You have no right to know," muttered Arya.
Dina moved quickly. Slash! The guards' bodies were cut, their heads thrown, their arms and legs severed.
"Hey, Ar! This place is so luxurious! Long corridors, chandeliers, statues, red carpets... so different from the fate of the people outside!"
"You can rage all you want. I'm looking for the ruler and his family." Arya closed his eyes. "SEARCH!"
Upstairs. Four people. Probably the family.
Arya kicked the door upstairs.
"Who are you?! Don't you know who I am?! I am the honorable ruler! Show me some respect!"
"Respect?" Arya laughed coldly. "For what?"
Bang! Bang! The ruler's son and wife collapsed instantly.
"Rulers are supposed to bring prosperity to the people, not misery." Bang! A bullet pierced the man's head.
The next day...
Arya stood in the large hall of the mansion, now empty of its ruler.
"Where should I put the provocative writing? On the wall or the floor?" he muttered as he looked around the room.
"The wall might be better," replied Dina, sitting on a long table.
"All right." Arya wrote in large letters on the hall wall:
"OUR TARGET IS THE KING OF THIS COUNTRY. PROTECT HIM IF YOU CAN, YOU BASTARDS." From : -EXONE-
Arya grinned smugly. "It's done. Now there are just a few more things to take care of."
"What else?"
"Call the surviving servants."
"What for?"
"Just do it."
A few moments later, Dina returned with a neatly dressed old woman.
"This is the head servant," said Dina.
The woman bowed. "Ha... hello. How can I help you?"
Arya looked at her. "Auntie, do you have any suggestions on who would be suitable to lead this city?"
The butler was taken aback for a moment. "I-if I may suggest... what about the former ruler's nephew? He's a good kid, often comes here and openly disagrees with his uncle's way of ruling."
"Can you call him here?"
"He lives quite far away. It might take three days."
"No problem. Tell him his uncle is dead. And tell him... Exone killed him."
The head servant swallowed hard. "O-okay... I'll call him right away."
Arya nodded. "Thank you. Dina, let's go to the field."
In the city field...
Arya stood on a wooden box.
"HELLO EVERYONE! PLEASE GATHER HERE!"
The residents began to arrive, recognizing the small figure who had given them food the night before.
"What is that?! The little kid from last night... what does he want now?!"
Arya took a deep breath. "AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THE RULER OF THIS CITY IS DEAD. AND YES,WE ARE THE ONES WHO KILLED HIM!"
He threw the ruler's head on the ground.
The crowd fell silent. Some murmured in panic.
"What?! They killed the ruler?!"
"Thank God he's dead... But... what is their goal?"
Arya raised his hand. "Calm down! We are not heroes. We are not saviors. We are... executioners! We will kill every corrupt ruler, from the palace gatekeeper... to the highest king of this land,Sekius Belmera IV!"
"Then... what do you want from us?" asked one of the residents.
"Good question. We only want one thing,spread our name. Our identity. Our characteristics. And in return... we will revive this city. We will help you."
"That's all?"
"Yes. We want to lure out the organizations under the king. We declare war on them."
"But... you're just two kids!"
Arya laughed loudly, confidently.
"HU HA HA HA! YES, WE ARE KIDS! BUT STRENGTH IS NOT MEASURED BY AGE, BUT BY DETERMINATION! EVERYONE HAS STRENGTH, BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS THE DETERMINATION TO USE IT! SPREAD OUR NAME! LET THOSE CORRUPT PEOPLE TREMBLE IN FEAR! LET THE KING KNOW,THE WAR HAS BEGUN!"
The crowd fell silent. Some shivered. Some whispered,others cried.
Arya continued. "For the next ruler of this city, the chief servant suggests the nephew of the former ruler. Do you agree?"
"The nephew?! But... isn't he also part of the family?!"
"He is known to care about the people! He once debated with his uncle!" exclaimed a man from the middle of the crowd.
"And if he turns out to be as depraved as his uncle..." Arya's voice turned cold, "...I will kill him too."
"Y-yes! We agree!"
Arya smiled. "Good. First, let's start with housing. Men who are still strong, please fetch wood from the nearby forest!"
"We can do it!" they shouted.
Dina tilted her head. "Why use wood? Can't you build it with earth magic?"
"Let them learn. And now let's make a water channel." Arya raised his hand.
"Earth Craft!"
The earth rose, forming an artificial river.
"Water!"
Water gushed out, filling the channel to the brim in five minutes.
The children cheered. The women cried tears of joy.
"Dina, try looking in the mansion. Are there any paper and writing instruments?"
"Always giving orders..." she protested. But Arya had already handed her some food.
"Here, your payment."
"Thank you very much!" Dina left immediately.
Arya smiled slightly. "You greedy girl."
A few moments later...
Dina came back with a roll of paper and ink. "Here."
Arya immediately started drawing.
"This is a blueprint for a simple house. It's easy to build, even for beginners."
A few hours later, the men returned with wood. Arya distributed his designs.
"Build according to this. Here are nails and other tools. If anyone has any questions, just ask."
The residents began to work. Their faces lit up with enthusiasm.
Three days later...
A young man arrived in a hurry.
"W-what is this?! A river?! New houses?!"
Arya turned his head. "You... are the ruler's nephew?"
"Yes, my name is Pirlo. And... who are you?"
"Arya. Or... Exone."
"E-Exone?! N-nice to meet you..."
"Let's get straight to the point. I received a letter from the butler. Can you lead this city?"
Pirlo hesitated. "I... I'm not that great..."
"You don't have to be great. I'll help you in the beginning. But remember, if you betray the people... you know what will happen."
Pirlo swallowed hard. "I-I understand. I'll do my best!"
"Good. Here's the plan." Arya handed him sheets full of agricultural schemes, fertilizers, and distribution systems.
"W-what is this?! It's so complicated!"
"I've already prepared the fertilizer and rice fields. You just need to continue. Can you do it?"
"Of course! Thank you for your trust!"
"I've also given the residents blueprints for houses. Now go, welcome them."
"Yes! Thank you!" Pirlo ran towards the residents.
Dina watched from the side. "He seems like a good person, right?"
"Yes... hopefully he'll be consistent."
A week later...
The city began to revive. Houses were built, water flowed, and there was enough food from hunting.
Arya and Dina got ready to leave.
"Alright, everyone. Don't forget our agreement," said Arya as he tightened his bag.
"We're leaving now!" added Dina.
"Thank you so much, Exone! Be careful!" shouted the residents and Pirlo in unison.
Arya and Dina smiled, then left the city of Tazer.
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
Neptune stood in the middle of the forest.
"Where the hell did they go?! Damn it!"
He looked up at the sky.
"Why are there only trees?! Where's the city?! Damn Exone!"
Neptune kept exploring, lost, because of one simple thing... He was directionally challenged.