THIRD PERSON'S POV
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LOCATION: UNKNOWN
TIME: UNKNOWN
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Another scream.
Another crow.
More blood.
More bodies.
It went on for so long that no one could tell where it had truly begun.
Huge frog-like creatures—Fromilets—dragged away what remained of the corpses littering the ground.
At the center of the field stood a skinny-looking demon, trembling violently. Its long crooked fingers fidgeted endlessly with the torn rags hanging from its body. A thread-like tail curled tightly around one leg that looked more bone than flesh.
Malnourished.
But that was the least of its problems.
It avoided looking up at the towering dark castle looming overhead.
Avoided looking toward the silhouette hidden within the shadows above, where only a pair of pale hands remained visible.
A bow and arrows crafted from the bones of enemies rested nearby.
A raspy croak escaped the nearest Fromilet.
The demon immediately recoiled, tears spilling from its sunken eyes and rolling down its pale face.
"Please, my Lord... spare me, I beg of you... I couldn't bring myself to do it..."
It collapsed to its knees, shoulders trembling violently as it struggled to suppress its sobs. Its voice sounded neither masculine nor feminine.
A faint glint flashed from the castle above.
The demon instantly sprang to its feet and ran.
No one stopped it.
But an arrow followed.
A sharp cry pierced through the darkness moments later.
"Prepare the others."
The deep voice rumbled from the silhouette before retreating back into the shadows.
"Yes, my Lord."
The Fromilets croaked in unison.
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Country A
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Every billboard.
Every poster.
Every glowing advertisement.
One name dominated them all.
ALL-STARS.
Country A's teenage pride:
three girls,
three personalities,
one dream.
Among the luxurious buildings towering across the district, Gifted Records stood proudly above the rest. Sunlight reflected against its glass walls, spilling down onto the busy streets below.
Inside one of the executive suites on the highest floor sat a masked girl, quietly reviewing several drafts spread across the table before her.
Three girls sat opposite her, waiting anxiously.
"Denied."
All three frowned immediately—each reacting with varying levels of frustration.
"Oh, come on!"
"You can't be serious."
The masked girl calmly watched them, patiently waiting for the complaints to die down.
"G, you can't be serious. We spent months working on those. How can you hate all of them?"
The tallest among them folded her arms across her pink jumpsuit. Multiple ear piercings decorated her ears, contrasting sharply against her freckles, hazel eyes, and shoulder-length blonde hair.
The other two nodded vigorously in agreement.
A petite girl with waist-length blue hair walked over and dropped beside the masked girl dramatically. Jewelry clinked softly against her black shorts and oversized blue shirt with every movement.
"G, can't you consider at least one? Not even Kenzie's? They're pretty good, you know."
Kenzie folded her arms tighter, openly glaring at the masked girl.
The blue-haired girl—Brianna—pouted before turning toward the last member.
The final girl immediately rushed over to the masked girl's other side.
"Babe, G, my love, our favorite songwriter..." she whined dramatically. "We really tried this time. Please don't tell Madam Park. Pleeeaaasssseeeee."
Not a single tear appeared in her dark eyes despite the performance.
Her pink hair flowed freely down her back, contrasting against the white floral dress and flip-flops she wore.
The masked girl frowned.
"Fine. I'll review them again. Stop clinging to me."
All three girls sighed in relief as she gathered the drafts and slid them neatly into her backpack.
"Thanks, G. You're the best. Let me give you a kiss—come on, don't be shy."
The pink-haired girl, Ryun, leaned closer and cupped the masked girl's cheeks.
"Get off me, weirdo."
"Come on, just one."
"Ryun."
"Fiiinnnneeeee."
Ryun reluctantly released her.
The masked girl sighed softly and stood.
"Leaving already?" Kenzie asked.
"Yeah. Busy schedule. I'll email the demos by tomorrow evening."
The girls nodded and accompanied her downstairs, with Brianna and Ryun still attached to both her arms while Kenzie followed quietly behind.
After exiting the elevator and reaching the company entrance, they waved goodbye as she mounted her motorcycle and sped away.
The three girls had barely taken five steps before their phones buzzed simultaneously.
Everyone paused to check the notifications.
*Gifted Records songwriter "G" spotted leaving the company. Could ALL-STARS be preparing another hit release?*
The girls groaned in unison.
"Damn. They're fast," Brianna muttered.
"Paparazzi," Kenzie sighed. "Come on. Let's train before Madam Park decapitates us."
She gently shoved the other two back toward the elevator.