The two sat quietly at their table, the low chatter of the restaurant filling the space with a warm hum. Blaze rested his chin on his hand, eyeing the menu with the seriousness of someone choosing their final meal.
SK raised her hand. "Sir Blaze, are you ready?"
"Yeah. Go for it," Blaze said, serious as ever.
The waiter approached, calm smile in place. SK pointed at the menu.
"Ah yes. I'd like three orders of these… and these," she said, gesturing to several dishes. Then she leaned forward slightly. "And also—please don't make mine too spicy."
Blaze snorted. "Wow. An elite Empire soldier can't even handle a little spice?"
SK huffed. "It's just my preference, sir."
"Is that all?" the waiter asked.
"Yes," SK replied.
"Your food will take a moment. Please enjoy your stay at our restaurant," the waiter said politely before turning away.
A quiet moment passed.
SK was the first to break the silence.
"Sir Blaze…"
"Yes?"
"…What are you going to do now that you officially joined the Empire?"
"Not officially," Blaze corrected casually.
"But why not?" SK leaned closer. "The Empire can give you anything you want. It's a great deal!"
Blaze sighed, shaking his head. "SK, don't be blinded. You're a soldier of the Empire—so you must know what they're capable of."
"What else can I do…?" SK said quietly. "I'm indebted to the Empire. They saved me when I was trapped here. Without them… I wouldn't have survived."
Blaze's gaze softened. "Then here's some advice: don't be afraid to accept help from others… even if it comes from the resistance."
Blaze paused, then added lightly,"Though… I still don't really know your story yet."
SK blinked. "What? My story, sir?"
She straightened slightly. "Like I said—I was a lone player back then. After the end of the Great War, I was suddenly transported into this world."
Blaze tilted his head."So it trapped you here too… just like the other players?"
"Yes, sir," SK replied. "I don't know the exact count or timing, but every month—or given enough time—the Code pulls in new players… sometimes even entire games. Once they arrive, there's no escape."
She looked at Blaze."You didn't know?"
Blaze shook his head slowly."No. That's why I was surprised to see players outside of SkyRealm. I didn't know the Code could pull in other games too."
SK lowered her gaze, realization clicking.
So that's why he was surprised when he saw Ryze…A Countless Star player…
"Yes," SK said. "And these days, almost everything is connected online. That means almost everyone is affected. Anyone could be pulled in… eventually."
Blaze frowned slightly.
"But during my time in SkyRealm," he said, "I never heard of a player named SK. Or 'the Reaper.'"
SK hesitated.
"That's because I earned that name after I was trapped," she said. "I trained. Fought. Became stronger. I climbed the ranks of the Empire."
She paused."It's been three years since I was pulled into this world."
Blaze leaned back slightly, processing it all.
"I'm still confused," he admitted. "The Empire… the Resistance… this whole structure."
SK sighed."You weren't even listening during the meetings you attended, were you?"
Blaze smiled unapologetically."I don't listen to boring things. Not information I didn't ask for."
SK shook her head.
"The Resistance," she explained, "is a group of players who oppose the Empire's rule. They believe the Empire enforces order by force—controlling cities, regulating movement, absorbing other factions whether they want it or not."
She continued, more firmly now.
"Some Resistance members were former Empire soldiers. Others came from games that refused to submit. They don't want conquest disguised as 'peace.'"
Blaze nodded slowly.
"And what happens," he asked, "if an Empire soldier and a Resistance member become friends? Or companions?"
SK stiffened.
"Sir… what are you getting at?" she asked cautiously.
Blaze didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his expression darkened slightly.
"I've got a bad feeling," he said. "About Ryze."
SK frowned. "Sir… what do you mean?"
"Something's off," Blaze replied. "I can feel it."
SK crossed her arms."So what? You want me to help her again?" she argued. "For the record—we're not even friends!"
Blaze glanced at her.
"But that's not what I see."
SK opened her mouth to argue—then stopped.
The table went quiet.
Blaze pointed with his chin toward the kitchen. "Oh. Our food's here."
The waiter served the dishes. The aroma filled the air.
"Well… let's eat first," Blaze said. "Food getting cold is a crime."
For a few peaceful minutes, the two of them ate in silence.
Blaze picked up his chopsticks again.
"For now," he said calmly, "let's eat."
SK exhaled slowly… then followed suit.
Then—
SLAM!
The front door flew open.
Loud footsteps thundered inside.
"Hahaha! I'm starving—anyone here? I'll have my usual!" a booming voice roared.
The waiter near the counter slumped. "Ugh… not him again…"
"That's Ragna," SK muttered, biting into her food with annoyance.
"Who?" Blaze asked.
"Just… ignore him. A hired mercenary."
Ragna's armored boots clanked as he approached, his dual swords glinting at his hips. His towering frame blocked the light behind him.
Then he spotted SK.
"Ohhh? SK? Hahaha! So it's true—you're alive!"
"Can you keep it down? We're eating here!" SK snapped.
"Oh come on, don't treat your friends like that," Ragna laughed.
"Friends? Since when did I ever consider you my friend?" SK shot back.
"Haha! Same old SK."
Ragna's grin faded when he noticed someone sitting with her—a hooded man calmly eating.
"Huh?" Ragna tilted his head. "And who's this?"
Blaze didn't respond.
Didn't even look up.
He simply kept eating.
Ragna raised a brow.
"…Not much of a talker, are you?" he said with a crooked smile.
Then his eyes drifted downward.
And stopped.
At Blaze's sword.
Ragna's expression sharpened—not anger, but interest.
"Hey," he said lightly. "That sword."
Blaze still didn't answer.
Ragna chuckled. "Oh? You wanna play that game, huh?"
He stepped closer, smirk widening.
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed Blaze's shoulder.
"Ragna! What the hell are you doing? He's an Empire officer!" SK barked.
But the mercenary didn't care.
"Alright then—take this."
The moment his hand made contact—
The air shifted.
A heavy, crushing pressure flooded the room.
Blue energy rippled outward like a silent shockwave.
Ragna's smirk vanished.
"—Gh?!" He staggered back a step, boots scraping against the floor.
SK shot to her feet. "Sir Blaze?!"
Is he angry?
Is he really about to fight here—inside the restaurant?!
Ragna steadied himself, eyes wide now—not with rage, but disbelief.
"…Aura pressure," he muttered. Then he laughed under his breath.
"So you really do have something special."
He straightened, rolling his shoulder like he'd just been tested.
"Relax," Ragna said, raising a hand. "I'm not here to start a mess."
Then he looked straight at Blaze.
"You want to tell me about that sword?"
Blaze finally looked up.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"You want to know about it?"
"Yes," Ragna replied immediately.
Blaze wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"…Wait here. I need to use the bathroom."
"What—wait, seriously?" Ragna blinked.
Blaze stood, casually unhooking the sword and tossing it toward him.
"Hold onto it," Blaze said as he walked away. "If you don't believe me."
Ragna caught it on instinct.
"Huh?!"
"Just don't break it," Blaze added over his shoulder. "I'll be back."
Ragna stared at the blade in his hands.
"…You're kidding me," he muttered—half amused, half stunned.
SK rounded on him instantly.
"What the hell was that?! You just grabbed him!"
Ragna glanced at her, still staring at the sword.
"Heh," he said quietly. "Yeah… that explains a lot."
"What the hell just happened?!"
"And why would you almost start a fight over a sword?!"
Ragna puffed out his chest. "Well… this is beyond your clearance, SK the Reaper."
She glared. "Try me."
He shrugged. "Fine, a quick story then. You know CosmoW3, right?"
"Of course. Famous SkyRealm blacksmith. Everyone knows his name."
"Right. National teams use his weapons. Even pros. He was a Legend among The SkyRealm community But—he quit. Disappeared."
SK blinked. "…Don't tell me—"
"Yes. I think Blaze's sword was made by CosmoW3 himself."
"So you're basing this on 'I think'?" SK deadpanned.
"Hey, I trust my gut."
"Then let's just wait for Sir Blaze to return."
Ragna raised a brow. "Sir Blaze? You calling HIM sir? You've changed."
"What do you mean? I always—"
"Nope." Ragna smirked. "SK… you only say 'sir' to high-ranking commanders."
SK froze, flustered.
Ragna teased, "And you outrank him, so HE should be calling you sir."
"That's not true!" SK snapped.
"Really? Then what really happened in the void?"
"That's… confidential."
"Oh come on—"
"Look, Blaze is back!" SK cut him off quickly.
Blaze took his seat again. "Alright. Your turn to order. I'll keep eating."
Ragna waved the waiter over. "Yeah, yeah—my usual!"
Volt, carrying the tray, wanted to scream internally.
Great… SK… Blaze… AND Ragna?!
This day can't get any worse, Volt thought.
Please… PLEASE let Ryze still be alive…