The village had already gone quiet by the time the sun started setting.
Orange light covered the rooftops while the cold wind slowly passed through the streets.
Most villagers already returned home after hearing the explosions from earlier.
Honestly…
I couldn't blame them.
I sat quietly on top of the T-80 tank while cleaning my rifle.
Click.
Reload.
Check scope.
Adjust barrel.
Repeat.
The familiar routine helped clear my mind a little.
But even then—
I still couldn't stop thinking about what happened earlier.
More specifically—
Sylph's reaction.
I glanced toward the workshop nearby.
Sylph sat alone outside on a wooden crate.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Still thinking about what happened earlier.
Or more specifically—
About Blaze.
Even now, remembering that pressure made her uneasy.
That wasn't normal strength.
That wasn't even top-player level anymore.
It felt closer to standing in front of a disaster.
And yet—
Blaze himself acted completely casual afterward.
Like nothing happened.
That honestly scared her more.
I noticed Sylph sitting alone and slowly walked over.
"…Still thinking about earlier?"
Sylph looked up slightly before sighing.
"…A little."
I quietly sat beside her.
For a brief moment neither spoke.
Then Sylph suddenly asked—
"How strong is he exactly?"
I already knew who she meant.
"…Honestly?"
"I don't know."
Sylph looked surprised.
"You traveled with him this long and still don't know?"
I nodded slowly.
"Every time I think I understand his limits…"
"He does something even crazier."
She remembered Blaze Void Monsters.
Surviving the Void.
That terrifying aura from earlier.
And the strange feeling whenever Blaze became serious.
Like something dangerous was hiding beneath the surface.
"But…" Ryze continued quietly.
"He's still Blaze."
Sylph glanced toward her.
"…You trust him that much?"
I paused for a second.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
"Even if he used to be connected to the Empire…"
"Even if his memories are missing…"
"I trust him."
Sylph quietly stared at Ryze for a moment before smiling faintly.
"You really care about him huh."
Ryze immediately froze.
"…W-What?"
Sylph laughed softly.
"Relax."
"I'm not teasing this time."
Ryze awkwardly looked away.
"…It's not like that."
"Mhm."
"It's not!"
Silence returned between us.
Until footsteps approached nearby.
Axell casually walked over carrying several supply bags over his shoulders.
"Well this looks.. Weird?."
"Thanks for ruining the mood," I replied flatly.
"You're welcome."
Axell dropped the bags near the tank before sitting nearby.
Then his expression became slightly more serious.
"You guys should probably prepare yourselves mentally."
"Hm?" Sylph looked toward him.
Axell crossed his arms.
"Once word spreads further about Ryze's bounty…"
"…Things are gonna get ugly."
My expression immediately hardened slightly.
"…You really think it'll spread that fast?"
Axell looked at me like the answer was obvious.
"Ryze."
"Your bounty is already absurd."
"Two hundred fifty million credits."
"That alone attracts attention."
"But after the Factory Incident?"
"After escaping the Empire?"
"After the Void Incident?"
He shook his head.
"Now people are gonna get interested."
"Very interested."
I quietly gripped my rifle slightly tighter.
Sylph spoke next.
"And it won't just be Empire soldiers."
I looked toward her.
She continued calmly.
"Strong bounty hunters from all over the New World will start moving."
"Cross players too."
"People from completely different games."
"With different systems."
"Different abilities."
"Different combat styles."
Axell nodded.
"You'll run into people who don't fight like anything you've seen before."
"Some use pure tech."
"Some manipulate terrain."
"Some specialize in traps."
"Others are practically monsters themselves."
"And trust me…"
"The dangerous ones aren't always famous."
That honestly sounded reassuringly terrible.
I sighed.
"…Great."
Axell looked toward me seriously.
"I'm not trying to scare you."
"I'm warning you."
"Once someone realizes your bounty is real…"
"You stop being just another Resistance soldier."
"You become a target."
The cold wind blew quietly across the village.
And honestly—
I already knew he was right.
Back then, I could still move somewhat freely.
But now?
After the Empire publicly connected me to the Void Incident—
Everything changed.
Sylph suddenly looked toward me.
"Do you regret it?"
"Hm?"
"Leaving Countless Star."
"Joining the Resistance."
"Everything."
I thought about it quietly.
The Empire.
The battles.
The Void.
Everything that happened until now.
Then—
I slowly shook my head.
"…No."
Even after all the danger.
Even after all the fear.
Even after losing people.
I still didn't regret leaving.
Because for the first time in my life—
I actually felt alive out here.
Axell smirked slightly.
"Sounds like a real Player now."
I rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
He laughed quietly.
Then suddenly—
BOOM.
Something heavy dropped nearby.
We all turned instantly.
Blaze stood there holding an entire engine component over one shoulder casually.
"…Where does this go?"
Axell stared at him blankly.
"…How are you carrying that."
Blaze looked confused.
"…Normally?"
Sylph quietly stared at him again.
Still remembering earlier.
Meanwhile Blaze simply walked toward the tank completely unaware of the atmosphere.
Honestly—
That somehow made him even scarier.
Volt suddenly appeared from inside the garage carrying tools.
"Perfect timing!"
He pointed toward Blaze dramatically.
"Big guy!"
"Lift this."
"…Again?"
"Yes."
"You're basically our construction equipment now."
Blaze sighed but still helped anyway.
As the evening continued—
Everyone focused on final preparations.
Fuel reserves.
Food supplies.
Spare ammunition.
Medical kits.
Repair tools.
Everything needed for a long journey.
The T-80 itself looked far more intimidating now fully loaded with equipment.
Heavy armor plating reinforced its sides.
Storage crates lined the back.
And Volt somehow even attached additional lighting and external storage compartments.
"…You modified it again?" I asked.
Volt grinned proudly.
"Of course."
"If we're traveling into Empire territory—"
He patted the side of the tank.
"Then we travel in style."
"Or explode spectacularly," Axell added.
"That too."
Sylph looked toward the T-80.
"…Try not to destroy my tank."
"No promises," Volt answered instantly.
"Volt."
"Kidding. Mostly."
As night slowly arrived—
The village became quieter once more.
The group eventually gathered near the tank one final time.
Tomorrow—
They would leave.
And once they did—
There was no guarantee things would stay peaceful like this again.
Empire territory ahead.
Unknown enemies.
Bounty hunters.
Cross players.
And whoever Volt secretly planned to meet.
I glanced toward Blaze standing quietly beside the tank.
Still calm as ever.
Honestly…
That calmness helped a little.
Even if he was terrifying.
Eventually Sylph stretched slightly before speaking.
"You guys should get some sleep."
"Tomorrow's gonna be rough."
Volt immediately yawned loudly.
"Finally."
"My beauty sleep."
"You don't have beauty," Axell replied instantly.
"Rude."
One by one, everyone slowly headed inside for the night.
I stayed outside slightly longer.
Quietly staring toward the dark road beyond the village.
The road leading deeper into Empire territory.
Toward danger.
Toward whatever waited ahead.
Then behind me—
I heard Blaze's voice.
"You nervous?"
I glanced back slightly.
"…A little."
Blaze walked beside me quietly.
Then looked toward the distant road too.
"…We'll manage."
Simple words.
But somehow—
I believed him.
Eventually, we both headed back inside.
And under the quiet night sky—
The group prepared to rest.
Before the next journey began.