THE HERO LEAGUE

Spring in a tropical land had always been Halley's favorite season for a holiday. It was much easier to enjoy back when he was still on Earth. These days, finding a vacation spot requires a planet close enough to a sun, but not too close. It had to have multiple continents with different climate zones, a safe aquatic system, non-toxic air, and a stretch of wild land with only minimal danger.

Finding a planet with all those features wasn't easy. Often, Halley stumbled upon places that only met one of his criteria or none at all.

Luckily, this time, he found the perfect place. He was now napping beside a beautiful waterfall. Fresh water flowed from a hill above, cascading into a warm lake with smooth, flat rocks lining its shore. The jungle around him was painted in shades of yellow and red, and the trees bore edible, delicious fruit. No predators had been spotted—only harmless prey swimming in the lake.

Halley lay on the soft rocks at the lake's edge. Gentle waves lapped at his waist, and the warmth of the water soothed his feet. With his arms folded behind his head, he drifted into a peaceful slumber, lulled by the cool breeze.

It was a rare moment of peace after a dangerous day on the job. For once, Halley was truly at rest—until he sensed someone approaching.

He didn't move but sharpened his awareness. The sound of footsteps suggested two figures approaching. They stopped behind his head. One of them spoke.

"Are you the mercenary from the Yalea Company?"

Hearing his company's name, Halley tilted his head back. He saw two alien girls standing there. They had humanoid bodies and wore tight-fitting space suits that emphasized their figures. Their helmets completely covered their heads, although the oversized rings around the helmets made them look bulkier than necessary.

After giving them a quick once-over, Halley responded.

"Depends. Who's asking?"

.

.

Halley was eventually forced to leave his peaceful spot to speak with the clients. Not far from the waterfall, they sat together on a carpet he had laid over the brownish grass. The alien girls removed their helmets, setting them beside them and revealing their faces.

There wasn't much in the way of refreshments—just fruit Halley had picked from nearby trees. He munched on them while the guests didn't seem interested.

The silence stretched a bit too long. Halley finally broke it.

"So, what's up?"

"Greetings," one of them said. "We're from The Stellar Vanguard. My name is Ilma, and this is my colleague, Linga."

Halley raised an eyebrow at the name. He'd heard of The Stellar Vanguard. It had come up in news broadcasts, and other mercenaries talked about it constantly. Despite being a newer hero league in the space federation, TSV had earned an impressive reputation across the galaxy. Their heroic acts had caught the attention everywhere.

To civilians, TSV was a symbol of hope. To mercenaries, it was a popular topic of gossip. Most saw it as an elite group for the wealthy nobles only. Yet when recruitment opened, those same critics rushed to apply. Many left their guilds just for a shot, only to fail and return to their gossip.

Halley never cared for hero leagues. Even now, he wasn't tempted.

The pink-skinned Ilma gestured toward her partner, Linga, who had long, bright yellow features. Linga gave Halley a polite nod.

"We're looking to hire a mercenary for our next mission," Ilma continued. "We heard Yalea has some of the best."

"S'what they say."

"The manager said you're currently available. What's your name?"

"Name's Halley."

"Good. We'd like to hire your services. What's your price?"

"Usually 500,000 Antz."

"We'll take you for 100,000."

"You're with TSV and can't afford 500k?"

"500,000 Antz is ridiculous for a simple guard."

"This 'simple guard' risks his life to protect you, y'know?"

"There's no reason for you to risk your life. You're only here for support."

"That 'support' could mean anything. What exactly do you need from me?"

"To accompany us on our mission."

"Why would a hero league need a mercenary for that?"

"You'll understand after we make the deal."

"Fine. 500k Antz."

Ilma's tone snapped. "Listen here, you—!"

Before she could finish, a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. Linga gave her a serious look. "Ilma. Just pay him. That's why we're here."

Irritated but outnumbered, Ilma transferred the payment. Halley grinned as he received it, then followed the girls to their base

.

.

.

Reaching the Stellar Vanguard base only took two jump holes from Halley's current location. Their base was on a planet called Halocia, which was orbited by a thick ring of asteroids. From space, Halocia was swirled in violet, blue, and white hues. A quarter of the lower hemisphere appeared gray, with scattered black spots. The asteroid ring shimmered in tones of cream, gray, and dust.

As they neared the atmosphere, Ilma and Linga put on their helmets. The planet might have toxic air. Halley activated his suit's shielding system just in case.

They descended into the lower atmosphere, greeted by a surprisingly beautiful view. The skies above them were violet and blue, scattered with white clouds. The surface below was a highly advanced metropolis. Halley spotted all sorts of architectural marvels—buildings of every shape, floating homes in the sky, and flying cars zooming below their ship. He always imagined cities like this as golden palaces, hidden behind thorns.

Eventually, they approached a large cave, the TSV base. A landing pad awaited them inside. Their ship docked safely and was pulled deeper into the facility.

Once inside, the three disembarked and made their way toward the upper levels, where the heroes were gathered.

The heroes of The Stellar Vanguard were gathered on the top floor of their base. They all turned in unison as the door slid open, revealing two trainees and the mercenary they had just hired.

"Greetings, sir and madam," Ilma said formally. "We've brought the man you requested."

At the far end of the room, someone stood from his seat. He wore a full mask of polished metal, and his golden armor gleamed with every step he took. His movements were composed, proud—like a paladin from some long-forgotten legend.

He approached Halley with open arms and a calm tone.

"Welcome to The Stellar Vanguard," he said. "I am Stolloc, the current captain of this league."

Halley looked him up and down. "So you're the big guy in charge, huh?"

"That's right. And you must be the mercenary from Yalea."

"Here I am," Halley replied flatly. "What does a hero league want with a merc?"

"Oh, we just need an extra hand," Stolloc said. "Also, someone who can set an example for our apprentices during the mission."

"An example? What am I, a guinea pig?"

"Hopefully not," Stolloc said with a chuckle. "Let's just say... we're counting on your experience."

"Riiiight."

"What should I call you? Entity Halley? Merc Halley? Oh—you're human, right? Human Halley?"

"Just Halley."

"Very well, Halley. Let me introduce you to the rest of the team. This is Maun."

Halley looked to his left and saw a massive stone figure. Maun had a humanoid torso, complete with a horned head and two extra arms protruding from his waist. From the waist down, his body resembled a scorpion's. With his arms crossed, Maun gave Halley a nod, radiating the raw strength of a Viking warrior.

"Beside him is Dresic, our tech expert."

Floating next to Maun was a navy-blue crystal the size of a man. Dresic hovered using telekinesis and possessed no visible face, yet he could see, hear, and speak through the magic flowing within him. A dark, smoky essence pulsed in the center of his body—his core of sentient energy.

"And finally," the golden-armored man said with a smile, "our heroine—Ellera. You'll love her. She's our strongest member and has the kindest heart."

From across the table, a floating woman observed Halley with a smirk. Her hair resembled a swirling nebula, and her violet-metallic skin shimmered under the lights. Three glowing eyes—like distant stars—rested on her face. From the waist up, she floated effortlessly, while her lower body ended in sharp, articulated legs that moved like machinery.

If Halley had to describe her in Earth terms, she looked like the kind of celebrity men drooled over on TV or in magazines—glamorous, powerful, and surreal.

She greeted him with a nod.

After the introductions, Stolloc pulled out a chair for Halley. Ilma and Linga took the remaining seats around the large meeting table.

He returned to his place at the head.

"Now that introductions are out of the way, let's move on to the reason for this meeting," he said.

A 3D hologram map of a mountainous terrain flickered to life in the center of the table. Using motion sensors, he shifted the map to focus on a specific area.

"I've been monitoring the Hillgra Mountains. TSV has been investigating this region for several months due to a strange anomaly detected near a town hidden in one of the valleys. We sent a search team. They haven't returned in over two weeks—but they did manage to leave behind some reports."

The hologram shifted to display a town nestled between cliffs. Despite its isolation, the town looked well-developed, almost like an 1850s settlement from Earth. At first glance, everything seemed peaceful.

Dresic floated forward, expanding the next holographic slide.

"These were taken during the search team's stay. Photos and video footage of the town and its people. Standard observation."

Numerous images flickered through—locals, shops, town architecture, and street life. But then the images changed.

The next sequence showed distorted, grotesque figures attacking the team. The final report showed blurry footage of the search members being hunted in the dark, dragged away, screaming.

"Any survivors?" Ellera asked.

"Very few," Dresic replied. "This was their last transmission."

A grainy video played. Three aliens were huddled in the darkness, begging for help.

"This is why I called this expedition," the leader said. "We don't leave our people behind."

The team nodded solemnly.

Ellera studied the footage. "Do we have any clue what the anomaly is?"

"Only what we've seen in these visuals," Dresic said. "We'll have to investigate further on-site."

"Bring the weapons pack!" Maun growled. "We need to prepare for an ambush."

"There's no need for a full combat loadout," Stolloc countered calmly. "We'll take a DroneBot, shield magnet, and a blend-in pack. We're going in undercover."

Everyone nodded, though Maun let out a frustrated sigh.

With the plan set, the team prepared for departure later that day.

.

.

The journey to the Hillgra Mountains took only five hours.

From the spaceship window, the mountains looked bleak and cold. Gray ridges stretched endlessly, and fierce winds howled as if they could tear buildings from their foundations. Halley scowled at the sight. Just hours ago, he'd been relaxing in a warm, sunlit jungle. Now, he was stuck on a frozen rock with zero charm.

As Halley watched the gray landscape blur past, Stolloc called Ilma aside for a private word.

"Ilma," he said quietly, "I want you to keep an eye on Halley."

Ilma blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry, sir?"

"It's not that I don't trust him," Stolloc clarified. "But we can't afford distractions on this mission, especially from someone who wasn't trained under our command. Keep an eye on him. Make sure he follows orders and doesn't wander off."

Ilma straightened. "Yes, sir."

"Good. That's my girl." He gave her a firm pat on the shoulder, and she blushed lightly at the praise.

When the ship landed on one of Hillgra's rocky hills, the crew began setting up a perimeter. Barriers were deployed to protect the ship from local threats. While the others got to work, Halley found a boulder, leaned against it, and sat down with his arms crossed like he had nothing better to do.

Ilma spotted him immediately and was not pleased.

She marched over with an irritated scowl. "Every member should have their job what to do, including a temporary member. What are you doing?"

"I'm sitting," Halley replied flatly, not even looking at her. "Why?"

"Get your butt up and inspect the surrounding."

"Diamond guy's already doing the inspection," Halley said, pointing lazily toward Dresic, who was indeed scanning the area.

"Don't shove your responsibility on someone else!"

"He told me to stay out of the way."

"Well... that doesn't give you an excuse to act like a sloth!"

Halley's patience snapped. He leaned forward and stared down at her like a noble scolding a servant. "Kid. You're not making any sense. Your superior told me to stand down. Shouldn't you, as his trainee, respect that and leave me alone?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm in charge of you!"

"Oooh. And that gives you the right to boss me around?"

"No! It gives me the obligation to keep you in line!"

"If you wanna supervise me, maybe wait until I cause a problem. All I'm doing right now is sitting."

"You're doing a terrible job! Lazing around is prohibited in the field. Have you ever read a work policy?"

"Hey, is everything alright over here?"

A voice interrupted their bickering. Both turned to see Stolloc approaching. His tone was casual but carried weight.

"Nothing to worry about, sir!" Ilma said quickly, standing up straighter and trying to sound official. "I was just explaining the Halley the rules for—"

But Stolloc walked right past her and spoke to Halley directly.

"You ready to go?"

"Have you finished the inspection?"

"Just now," Stolloc nodded. "Oh—and one more thing. Ilma will be your partner in this mission, it's to give her an experience in a field with a stranger partner "

Halley frowned. He bit back a retort and sighed instead.

Stolloc turned to Ilma and gave her a small nod. "Get the team ready. We're heading into the valley."

With no further protest, Halley stood up from his seat on the rock. The team formed up and made their way toward the gates of the mysterious valley town.

To their surprise, the valley town was lively and welcoming.

The streets were colorful, lined with flowers and cheerful townsfolk. Children played in the roads, laughing and running around like kids anywhere else in the galaxy. Some of the locals even waved at the crew of The Stellar Vanguard, offering fruit and handmade goods as they passed. Nothing about the place felt hostile.

Just beyond the gates, a voice rang out warmly from the distance.

"Hohoho! Welcome! Welcome!"

The crew turned to see a plump man with the face of a toad waddling toward them in an extravagant noble's suit. The outfit exposed his chest, where a golden, gleaming heart-shaped ornament sat embedded—a symbol of pride he clearly loved showing off.

While the others ignored it, Halley's eyes sparkled with interest. He'd seen that exact item in a collector's catalog once—its origin unknown but valued at a high price by artifact hunters. And now, here it was, dangling from the chest of a snobby-looking mayor.

"Welcome in our lovely town. May I offer you refreshments at our finest tavern to ease your travel fatigue?"

"Thank you for the offer," Stolloc replied. "But what we need first is an inn that can accommodate seven people."

"Certainly!" the mayor said. "Our inns can hold more than fifteen guests, but the best view and most comfort is this way. Please follow me!"

As they walked, the mayor chatted eagerly.

"Pardon my rudeness—I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mayor Greease. I've managed this town for over sixty years!"

"I'm Sayor," the captain said. "These are my crewmates. We heard about your town's scenery and decided it was time for a little vacation from work."

"Ohohoho! Then you've come to the right place! We have many attractions for visitors like yourselves—Saint Waterfall, Enchanted Garden Forest, Spirit Lake… not to mention the Sky Night Festival, which is held every evening. You'll also enjoy the Green Field, our picturesque farms, and the bustling local markets. There's always something cooking!"

"Thank God," Maun chimed in. "I have nine stomachs."

"Ohohoho! Then this town will treat you very well indeed!" Mayor Greease laughed.

"We even have theater shows in the entertainment district," he continued. "You'll enjoy your stay so much, you'll forget to go home!"

"I'll keep that in mind," Stolloc said with a polite smile, glancing at the charming town around him

.

They arrived at an inn called Shallow Charm. The name was odd, but the building itself was large, with three floors and plenty of rooms. TSV booked individual rooms for each member—except Ilma and Linga, who agreed to share.

Halley was pleased with his room. Despite being a "single," it was spacious and bright. Stylish decorations lined the walls, and a clean, soft bed with oversized pillows awaited him. A bowl of fresh fruit sat on the table, and a service bell rested beside the bed.

It felt like a five-star hotel.

Excited, Halley jumped onto the bed. It was firm yet soft, wide enough for him to roll around comfortably. The town's atmosphere was genuinely pleasant. No ominous energy, no red flags. If the mission wrapped quickly, he might even return here someday for a real vacation.

That peace didn't last long.

The door swung open with a click. Ilma stood in the doorway, looking irritated.

"The captain wants to speak with you. Now."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left. Halley sighed deeply, rolled out of bed, and followed.

.

All members of The Stellar Vanguard gathered in Stolloc's room. He leaned against a table, arms crossed, while the others stood or sat around him, except for Halley, who had claimed a spot on the king-sized bed, far from the rest of the group.

"Alright," Stolloc began, "we're dividing up to investigate. I suspect the disappearances are happening to tourists; everyone we've seen so far looks like locals, including the mayor."

"You're right," Ellera nodded. "They all resemble him. No visitors seem to stay here for long."

"One of those missing tourists was our last troop," Dresic added.

"So, we're just hitting up all the tourist spots?" Maun asked.

"Yes," Stolloc confirmed. "We'll split into pairs. Ellera and I will inspect the waterfall and the forest. Dresic, Maun, and Linga—you'll cover the lake and the fields."

He looked to Ilma, who perked up slightly. Halley remained motionless.

"As for you two, Ilma and Halley, you'll explore the shopping district and the festival grounds."

Everyone nodded. No one raised objections. After the plan was laid out, the team dispersed to rest for the night.

...........................................

At sunrise, the group split and headed toward their assigned locations.

Stolloc and Ellera strolled along a flower-lined trail near the Saint Waterfall. From a distance, they looked almost like a couple on a date. At one point, Stolloc plucked a flower and gently tucked it behind Ellera's ear. She blushed, and he smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

Elsewhere, Dresic and Linga were busy analyzing water samples from the lake. Maun used the open field to exercise, running laps with surprising speed for someone so massive.

Meanwhile, at the shopping district, Ilma pushed her way through a bustling crowd alone.

"Where the heck is that guy!?" she yelled in frustration.

Halley, as it turned out, wasn't at the shopping district at all. He had wandered to the festival grounds, curious about the upcoming Sky Night Festival. Food stalls were already open, lined with exotic snacks and decorative trinkets. Clothing, accessories, and entertainment were sold in every corner of the square.

At the center of it all was a large stage, freshly built for that night's show. A banner fluttered above it: "Valley Town Hero." The title caught Halley's attention.

He made a mental note to return later to watch the performance.

As he explored deeper into the festival, he reached its edge. A rusted sign leaned on a low fence that bordered the area. It read simply: "Rest Area."

Behind the fence was a narrow path. Though it looked neglected, it wasn't marked off-limits. Curiosity got the better of Halley, and he stepped through.

The trail led to a grassy clearing, almost like a backyard. In the center sat a large stone well, wide enough to fit fifty people inside. But it had no roof, no crank, no bucket, not even a rope. Just an open pit.

Stranger still, the inside of the well was pitch black. It didn't appear to have a bottom. Even when Halley tossed a pebble into it, he heard nothing.

"Like the pipes in Mario Bros," he muttered to himself, peering over the edge.

He wanted to investigate further, but something about the area gave him a strange feeling. A presence. Not quite danger. just... wrong.

Halley backed away, deciding to return during the festival.

.............................................

By the time Halley returned to the inn, it was already noon. He hadn't realized just how long he'd been wandering.

A maid greeted him at the door and informed him that the rest of the TSV team had already come back and were having a meeting in the living room.

He followed the maid and stepped into the spacious, beautiful room, where the others sat on soft couches. Stolloc, Ellera, Dresic, and Maun were discussing their investigation while waiting for Halley. Ilma and Linga sat side by side, though only one of them greeted him kindly.

Halley took a seat directly across from Ilma. The glare she gave him could have cracked a mirror.

Out of a sudden, Ilma shot to her feet.

"Where have you been!?" she demanded.

Halley didn't even flinch. "Where have you been?"

"Don't repeat my question! You were supposed to explore the shopping district with me! What if something happened to you—or worse, to me—because you ditched your assignment!?"

"Who said I needed your help?"

"You—!"

"Yeah, Halley," Stolloc interrupted, his tone calm but pointed. "Where did you go?"

Halley looked at the armored man two seats down. His expression wasn't angry—just disappointed.

"You were assigned with Ilma," Stolloc continued. "She's your partner. Yet you went off on your own and did who-knows-what."

"I went to the festival first," Halley explained, casually slicing into his meal. "Then I headed over to the shopping district later."

"So... the opposite route from Ilma?" Ellera asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She was too busy yelling about me not being around to notice, I guess."

"I went to both places and didn't see you at either!" Ilma snapped.

"Did you care more about finding me or completing your investigation?" Halley asked, not even looking up.

"Of course I cared about the investigation! How dare you—!"

"Did you find anything interesting?" Stolloc asked, cutting her off before things escalated.

Halley took a moment to chew before answering. "Not much. The festival was crowded. There's a stage play tonight called Valley Town Hero. Kinda curious about that. But there was one thing that bugged me—a huge well in the so-called rest area. It didn't look right."

The room fell silent.

Whispers passed between the team members. Ilma forgot her rage for a moment, listening as Linga leaned in and whispered something. Stolloc remained quiet, thoughtful.

Finally, he spoke. "Just as I suspected. From all our findings, we've discovered a pattern: each tourist spot has some kind of hole—a well, a tunnel, something hidden."

"At the waterfall," Ellera added, "Stolloc and I found a strange hole beneath the falls."

"Could just be the deeper part of the lake," Halley shrugged. "Most waterfalls carve out a center pit."

"Maybe," Ellera said, "but shouldn't there be a warning sign if the area's dangerous?"

"They probably forgot. Pretty dumb for a tourist site, though."

"That's what we thought, too—until a guy jumped off the top into the center. No one stopped him. We tried to help him, but we nearly got pulled into the hole ourselves. It was... unnatural."

"And when we asked a guard about it," Ellera added, "he dismissed it. Said it was nothing."

Dresic floated forward. "Linga and I dove beneath the lake. What we found was... disturbing. A giant, tunnel-like hole beneath the surface. It resembled a nest. The water pressure nearly sucked us in. We wouldn't have made it back without Maun."

"I was heading back to report on the well I found near the field," Maun added, still chewing.

"Did anyone ask the locals about these holes?" Linga asked.

"I did," Maun said. "One of them told me the well had been there a long time. Nothing more."

"So it's old, but no one knows why it's there..." Ellera's eyes narrowed. "What's our next move?"

Stolloc turned to Halley. "You said there's a stage play tonight?"

"Yeah. About the town's history, probably."

"If you had to pick a place to investigate again, where would you go?"

Halley shrugged. "Back to the play. I want to know what they're showing."

"Exactly," Stolloc said, nodding. "If this play is about the town's origin, there might be clues buried in the story. Let's all go tonight. If the play's connected to the missing troop, it'll show up somehow."

Halley frowned. He hadn't planned to bring the whole crew with him.

He was hoping for a quiet night, maybe even a little fun.

Instead, it was about to become a mission.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By nightfall, the festival had transformed into a riot of color and noise. Crowds flooded the streets. Lights glowed from every stall. Music echoed between buildings. Laughter filled the air.

The food stalls were the most crowded. Maun, of course, couldn't resist. He carried ten different dishes in both arms, each from a different vendor.

"Must you really carry all that?" Dresic floated beside him, unimpressed. "We're here to watch a play, not host a buffet."

"These are snacks, not meals," Maun replied. "And if you don't want me snoring through the show, you'll let me eat."

The group arrived at the outdoor theater only to find most of the seats taken. The best they could manage were spots in the very back. Halley didn't even get a chair—he had to sit on a wool carpet at the edge of the crowd.

"If you hadn't spent so long at the food stalls, we'd have front-row seats," Halley grumbled, shooting a glare at Maun.

Maun grinned. "Got a problem with a foodie? What if I get hungry during the play?"

"How about learning some timing—?"

Before Halley could finish, Ilma grabbed his arm and yanked him down.

"Shut up," she hissed.

He snorted and took his seat.

Halley bit his tongue and leaned back, glancing around. None of the TSV crew intervened. Not even Stolloc. That said enough.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TThe play started... and it was bad.

The actors' voices were faint, their movements stiff—like puppets operated by an amateur. The battle scenes were laughably slow. The story itself told of a man who escaped slavery and gathered lost souls to build a town in the valley.

But the acting was flat, robotic. Halley couldn't understand why everyone else—including his teammates—watched with such intensity.

Growing bored, he glanced around and spotted something odd near the edge of the festival.

Two native men were carrying an unconscious woman toward the rest area.

Halley narrowed his eyes. Something felt wrong.

He stood up to follow—but the crowd suddenly burst into applause as the play ended. Mayor Greease waddled onto the stage, basking in the praise. The golden heart on his chest gleamed under the lights.

Halley's hands twitched with the urge to steal it—but now wasn't the time.

Just as he was about to slip away, Ilma grabbed his leg. She didn't say anything—just shot him a warning glare. Stolloc also gave him a silent look that clearly meant: Do not leave the group.

Halley sighed and sat back down.

On stage, the mayor spoke cheerfully. "Hohoho! It is always delightful to see so many people enjoying the story of our beautiful town! Building this place was no easy task, let me tell you—but it was worth it, wouldn't you agree?"

The crowd laughed and clapped.

"But tonight's fun isn't over yet!" he announced. "Next, we have a magic show and a performance by our very own circus troupe. Until then, please enjoy the festival!"

The audience began to disperse, heading toward the food stalls and other attractions. TSV members stood up, ready to move.

"I'm going to have a word with the mayor," Stolloc said. "The rest of you—fan out and see if anything seems... unusual."

The group nodded and scattered.

Halley immediately peeled away from the others and made a beeline for the rest area.

He arrived just in time.

The two native men were standing at the edge of the large, dark well. The unconscious woman draped between them.

Halley didn't jump in to stop them. Not yet. Instead, he stepped closer, just enough to be noticed.

"What are you doing with her?" he asked calmly.

One of the men turned. "None of your business."

"Really? 'Cause tossing someone into a bottomless pit looks like my business."

"We're just taking her back to her inn," the second man said. "This is a shortcut."

"Oh, a shortcut?" Halley raised an eyebrow. "Where's it lead? Why's it pitch black? And why does your 'shortcut' look like a death trap?"

Neither man responded.

Halley stepped forward again, eyes narrowing. "You're really bad at lying, you know that?"

The two natives started trembling. Their eyes widened, and their breathing grew erratic. They weren't communicating anymore—just mumbling nonsense. Their minds looked scrambled, like something had snapped.

Suddenly, one of them slipped.

His foot landed wrong on the edge of the well, and he tumbled in—dragging the unconscious woman with him. The second native, still holding her other arm, was pulled in too.

Halley lunged, but it was too late. The three of them vanished into the abyss.

He stood frozen, staring into the silent, black hole.

"Halley!"

A familiar voice called from behind.

He turned to see Ellera, flanked by Ilma and Linga, approaching fast. Ellera looked curious. Ilma looked furious.

"What are you doing?" Ellera asked, calmly but firmly.

"I'm going into this well."

Ilma exploded. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Easy," Ellera said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "There's no need to rush. Yes, there's something wrong with these wells. But we don't go in without preparation."

"I just saw three people fall into this one," Halley said. "We should be going in."

"And what if it's a trap?" Ellera asked. "Do you care about your own safety?"

"I don't have time to care about myself when people are disappearing right in front of me."

"Then we go together. No one dies alone."

"For how long?" Halley asked bitterly. "Until Stolloc's done chatting? Until Maun finishes throwing up? Forget it. I'm going in."

Ellera hesitated—then gave a small, dangerous smile.

"Fine. Go."

Her tone carried an edge.

"Your death will be a good example for the trainees."

It was a warning. A dare. A challenge.

But Halley wasn't afraid.

He leapt into the well without hesitation, disappearing into the dark.

Ellera didn't flinch. She turned her back.

"Come," she said to the girls. Linga followed without question.

Ilma hesitated, glancing back at the well.

Worry flickered in her eyes.

Then she turned and followed the others.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That night, after the festival, everyone returned to the inn—except for Stolloc and Halley. Stolloc was still in conversation with the mayor, so only Ellera, Dresic, Maun, Ilma, and Linga made their way back.

Maun had completely passed out. Dresic said he had eaten too much, which wasn't surprising to anyone. Using his floating magic, Dresic dragged Maun toward their room. Ellera returned alone, and Ilma and Linga headed back to theirs.

"You seem off. Are you still thinking about Halley?" Linga asked with concern.

"No, I just… I just don't understand why he did that," Ilma replied helplessly.

"A man has his own mind. He probably won't survive. Meanwhile, we have our supervisors to guide us. We just need to follow orders."

Although she didn't fully agree, Ilma nodded weakly. She closed her eyes and went to sleep after Linga turned off the light.

.

Ilma woke up around midnight. Something outside her room felt... off. She sat up in bed and listened closely. Faint footsteps passed by her door, followed by the muffled sound of arguing.

Curious, she quietly got up and peeked through the small opening in her door.

It was Maun and Dresic, walking out of their room. Dresic seemed to be arguing, while Maun responded with short, vague answers. That made Ilma even more suspicious.

She turned and gently shook Linga, who was still asleep beside her.

"Linga, wake up. Please."

Linga slowly opened her eyes, groggy. She whispered, still half-asleep, "What is it?"

"I just saw Maun and Dresic leaving the inn. They were talking about the festival. Wanna check it out?"

"Miss Ellera will get mad if you act on your own like Halley."

"But don't you want to know what's going on? We should be there to assist our supervisor, right?"

After a moment of hesitation, Linga sighed, then got up and followed her. Quietly, the two tailed Maun and Dresic through the streets, keeping their distance.

At first, the path the two were taking seemed random, like they were just wandering without a clear destination. But despite the casual pace, Dresic appeared to be following Maun, not the other way around. Maun walked with purpose—eyes locked forward, never glancing back.

Eventually, they reached their destination: the festival rest area.

It was still dark and cold, lit only by the lamp near the well. Ilma and Linga exchanged confused looks. Why come to a place like this at this hour?

They watched as Maun and Dresic stood by the well and talked for a few minutes.

Then, suddenly, Maun pushed Dresic into the well.

He fell in—and vanished without a sound.

Shocked, Ilma and Linga ran out from hiding, but it was already too late. Dresic was gone. They rushed to the edge and looked down, but the view was pitch-black. The well swallowed everything.

Ilma turned to Maun, trembling. "Why would you do that!?"

Maun didn't answer. He stood completely still, eyes blank—like a statue. But the way he stared at her felt... wrong. Like a monster studying its prey.

Ilma instinctively stepped back.

Then, Maun blinked, and his usual expression returned.

"Relax, Ilma. Nothing serious happened. In fact, I'm glad you're here. You too, Linga. We're going on a mission."

"A mission? What kind of mission?"

Before he could answer, a voice interrupted them.

Ellera had arrived—standing a short distance away, her expression tense. It wasn't Linga or Ilma she looked at. Her eyes were locked on Maun.

"What are you doing here, Maun?"

"I've developed a theory," Maun replied calmly. "There's something hidden beneath this town. People have been going into the well with no explanation. I think we should go down and see what's inside."

Ellera stared at him, eyes wide.

"It could be that Halley was right," Maun continued. "There is something off about this well."

"But Stolloc hasn't returned yet," Ellera said firmly. "We can't execute a mission without his lead."

Maun tilted his head. "Since when do we move according to his lead? We're a team of heroes—not sidekicks following a single captain. Besides, we're already gathered here. Dresic is at the bottom."

Ellera was quiet. She considered his words for a long moment. Then she nodded.

"Fine. But we stay together and back each other up."

Maun smiled. "Of course."

One by one, the four of them jumped into the well. It was surprisingly wide—even someone Maun's size could slip through. They swam downward, letting the current pull them into the depths.

Ilma struggled to keep up with the others, especially with Ellera and Maun ahead. But Linga stayed close, grabbing Ilma's arm to help steady her as they descended.

Eventually, they were pulled into a massive open space at the bottom.

They landed on their feet—except for Ellera, who floated gently above the surface using her energy.

They scanned the area.

It was clearly a sewer, filled with flowing water that rose up to their knees. Massive walls arched overhead like a dome, and distant holes in the stone let water trickle or rush in from other directions.

The entire sewer was covered in flesh.

It oozed along the floor and walls like creeping vines—squishy, pulsing, alive. Some of it writhed in the shallow water, like small creatures swimming beneath their feet.

"Let's go," Maun said, leading the group forward.

"Do you know where we're going?" Ellera asked.

"From what I can see, the only clear path is straight ahead. So that's where we're headed."

"What about Dresic? Shouldn't we look for him first?"

"I told him to go on ahead of me," Maun said without turning. "We'll meet up with him soon."

His answer left no room for argument. The others nodded and followed.

Ilma said nothing, but her stomach twisted as she stepped into the moving flesh.

.

They had been walking through the gutter for two hours. Ilma kept observing the flesh around them as they moved. She began to notice faces—faces embedded in the larger clumps of the red tissue. At first, she thought it was just pareidolia, but the faces looked too vivid, too real.

They wore the same sorrowful expressions—eyes wide, gazing directly at her. Most of them resembled the town's native citizens, but she also recognized a few foreign faces.

As they walked deeper, the faces grew more numerous. And it wasn't just Ilma noticing anymore—everyone saw them.

After another hour of walking, they began hearing sounds.

At first, they assumed it was just part of the sewer system... until they realized the sounds were coming from the flesh itself.

The faces were moaning.

Ilma, still just a trainee, had never encountered anything like this. Her legs wobbled with fear, but she kept walking. She didn't want to fall behind.

Then Ellera froze.

Among the twisted, groaning faces, she spotted one she recognized. Her eyes widened as she raised her light to scan it more closely.

"Maun! Wait!" she called out suddenly—but Maun was nowhere to be seen.

Ilma and Linga rushed to her side. "What happened, Miss?" Ilma asked.

Ellera expanded her light, casting it across the walls.

Then they saw it—a massive lump of flesh, as large as a pool, embedded in the sewer wall. Dozens of faces covered its surface. Maybe fifty. Maybe more.

But five of those faces stood out.

They recognized them immediately.

They were the missing team—the previous troop that had disappeared in this town.

"Dear universe..."

"It's them..."

"We're close..."

Their bodies had fully merged with the flesh. Only their facial structures remained, stained red and laced with thin, pulsating veins. Their eyes, teeth, and hair were all gone. Their mouths hung open in silent cries of pain. Their faces were locked in an expression of eternal sorrow.

Ilma trembled from head to toe. Her knees buckled and she nearly fell into the sewer water, but Linga grabbed her and held her steady—even though she was shaking, too.

It wasn't just horror they felt—it was grief. The victims on that wall had once been their friends.

"Maun! I found the last troop! Come here!" Ellera shouted into the shadows.

No answer.

She tightened her grip on the girls beside her, trying to stay composed—but her fear was visible.

"MAUN! WHERE ARE YOU!?" she shouted again, now furious.

"I'm here," a familiar voice echoed from the darkness.

A huge figure stepped into view.

It was Maun—but his appearance had changed drastically.

His once dark-brown skin was now marked with pale red patches. They covered his face, neck, shoulders, torso, and even his massive scorpion-like body. Some of the red spots had formed tumor-like growths on his forehead and arms. His tail was coated with fleshy veins. Worst of all—his cat-like pupils were gone. His eyes were completely white, threaded with red.

It was clear.

Maun had merged with the flesh.

"Maun... you..." Ellera whispered.

"What is it you want?" he snapped.

He walked toward them, glaring at the light they had aimed at the lump of flesh. But he didn't react the same way they had.

"That's why..." he muttered.

"Maun... what happened to you?" Ellera asked, stunned.

"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Maun's smile froze everyone. "They've merged with their creator. A few more steps, and they'll become one deity."

"What are you saying...? Maun...?" Ilma murmured.

"Ellera," he said, stepping forward. "Join me. You belong here—with me, with the trainees—in this Eden of life. We're ascending to a new world... a world as one."

"You're talking nonsense," Ellera said, backing away.

"I'm speaking facts. Truths no one dares to face. But I've awakened, Ellera. I've made my choice. I'm sure Dresic did too. Why not you?"

Ellera stood still, then shook her head.

"I refuse," she said firmly. "I won't give up who I am—not even through suffering."

For a moment, Maun said nothing.

Then his eyes widened with rage.

"Well then... I GUESS THERE'S NO POINT IN KEEPING YOU ALIVE!"

With a roar, he lashed his scorpion tail at them. The girls managed to dodge, but the impact sent shockwaves through the sewer, knocking them off their feet.

Ellera retaliated, dodging his strikes and firing back with bursts of light.

Ilma and Linga scrambled to their feet and fired their weapons, but their attacks barely scratched Maun. He didn't flinch. With a sweep of his four arms, he smashed the sewer floor, sending debris flying.

The girls were thrown into the air. Ellera kept shooting, but Maun's next blow landed hard—slamming her to the ground.

He turned to Linga, wrapped her in his tail, and lifted her off the floor. She struggled as he dragged her toward one of the flesh mounds.

He was about to throw her in—until a beam of light exploded through his torso.

A massive hole tore through his chest and belly.

Maun collapsed, dead.

Linga fell to the ground, free.

Ellera pushed herself up, panting. Ilma stared in disbelief.

Then a familiar voice spoke from the shadows.

"Glad I made it."

It was Halley—standing near the flesh mound, holding a high-powered weapon.

Ilma's eyes lit up. "Halley! You're alive!"

"Kicking as ever," Halley replied. "Hey... was that Maun?"

"Yeah," Ellera said. "He got infected by the flesh. How did you survive?"

"Fighting, of course."

But Ellera didn't smile.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure you're even Halley?"

Halley raised a brow. "What kind of question is that?"

"Let me ask you something. What do you think of this place?"

Halley hesitated, then shrugged. "Stinks. Lots of flesh. Creepy."

"Do you want to merge with it?"

"Eww, why would I?"

"Oh, I don't know," Ellera said sharply. "Maybe you've decided to become one with your god."

Halley blinked. "What god? This is just... a bunch of squishy nonsense growing underground."

That response almost convinced her. But she still raised her scanner and swept it across his body.

"Hey! Stop it already," Halley grumbled. "I'm not infected!"

"But how did the flesh infect Maun? His defense is stronger than all of ours."

"He ate too much," Halley replied.

They all blinked.

"Wait," Ilma said. "At the festival... Maun bought tons of food for the theater."

Linga's eyes widened. "Don't tell me..."

"Oh yes," Halley said, arms crossed. "The food had parasites in it. Came straight from the flesh."

Ellera went pale and covered her mouth, trying not to gag.

Ilma stepped forward. "But Mr. Dresic didn't eat anything—and he was with Maun before we came here."

"Dresic's dead," Halley said flatly. "I saw him fall and get crushed. Looked like he was pushed."

The girls were stunned.

"That's impossible," Linga said. "If he died, where's his crystal? We didn't see any shards. And he can't merge with flesh—he's made of artificial magic."

"The flesh... wrapped around the crystal," Halley muttered. "I saw it happen."

The three girls fell silent, frozen in place. Ilma and Linga trembled. Ellera placed a hand on their shoulders, steadying them.

"Get a grip. We're not done yet," she said. "I'm going to contact Stolloc. He'll lead us to safety. But we're not going back up—we're pressing forward until he arrives."

The apprentices nodded.

Ellera took the lead, moving deeper into the sewer. Ilma and Linga followed close behind.

Halley stared at her for a moment.

Then he smirked and followed.

.

They had been walking through the sewer gutter for over an hour. As they went deeper, the amount of flesh surrounding them increased rapidly. It became harder to pass through—sometimes they had to squeeze between thick, pulsating tissue, always afraid it might grab them and pull them in.

Then, after a long and tense walk, Ellera, the acting leader of the group, suddenly stopped and pointed ahead.

"Stolloc?"

Everyone looked up in shock.

They pushed through the flesh and jogged toward the clearing ahead.

They emerged into the largest space they had seen so far—not just a dome, but a massive cave deep beneath the town. At its center loomed the largest lump of flesh they had ever encountered, towering and wide, with hundreds of faces embedded in its surface.

Standing before it—silent, steady—was Stolloc, high and mighty as always.

Ellera's face lit up, relieved. She hurried toward him.

"Stolloc! You're here too?"

Stolloc turned around, surprised to see them. "Ellera?"

"Were you pushed in as well?"

"I was with the mayor... until he left me alone," Stolloc said, frowning. "So I wandered. What are you doing here?"

"We've discovered the source of the disappearances," Ellera explained. "The townspeople are the ones behind it. They've been placing parasites into certain foods to infect tourists—so they'd be consumed by this flesh."

Stolloc nodded slowly. "Thank you for telling me. I had a suspicion... I think the mayor intended for me to be merged too. Looks like I was right."

"What should we do?" Ellera asked.

"We need to find the core of this flesh and destroy it."

"Why don't we just blow the whole thing up?" Halley spoke up from behind the group—he had been silent until now. "It doesn't even look like it has a core."

"Blowing it up might be risky," Stolloc warned. "We don't know if it can regenerate. If it does, we'll be in more trouble than before."

"I killed Maun. It didn't regenerate."

"You killed my friend?!" Stolloc snapped, eyes wide with anger.

"The parasite got to him," Ellera said quietly, bowing her head. "He was lost."

Stolloc went silent for a long moment. Then he spoke again.

"This flesh can take over corpses and reanimate them. Once it does, they become something worse than before—stronger, mindless, deadly. We have to stop that from happening again. We need to find the core of this organism and destroy it—before it turns more bodies into vessels."

"You have any idea where that core is?" Halley asked, still skeptical.

"Yes," Stolloc replied calmly. "I heard a heartbeat coming from within this main lump. I believe the core is inside. There's a passage right here."

He pointed to a narrow tunnel between the folds of flesh.

Everyone hesitated.

But eventually, one by one, they followed him.

Thankfully, the tunnel was just wide enough to allow passage—even for someone as large as Stolloc. But the bigger members had to crouch slightly to get through.

As they walked deeper, Halley, who was just ahead of Stolloc, suddenly heard him whispering something under his breath.

"It's beautiful."

Halley thought he misheard Stolloc—until he repeated it.

"These faces... they're beautiful."

"What did you say?" Halley stopped and turned to face him, eyes serious and locked onto the man behind him.

"The expressions on their faces carry so many emotions. Sadness, sorrow, regret, gratitude... even happiness. All mixed into one. As if they're pleading to stay, to be forgiven—because how wonderful it must be to merge with their god."

Stolloc spoke softly, almost like he was muttering, but Halley heard him loud and clear.

And he still couldn't believe what he'd just said.

"Do you even know what you're saying?" Halley asked, stepping closer.

Stolloc slowly turned to him. "Yes. I do. I envy them."

"Envy? Why?"

"I wish I could be as happy as they are. I wish I could cut myself off from responsibility... from my role as a hero. From being a savior," Stolloc said, briefly casting a glare toward the girls ahead of them.

Something in his tone made Halley suspicious—but he didn't say it aloud.

"I just don't want to be alone," Stolloc added, returning his gaze to Halley. "I want to be with my friends—in a world where we can stay together."

Up ahead, Ellera noticed that the two men had stopped moving. She turned around and called to them.

"Stolloc? What's going on?"

Ilma and Linga turned back too, watching quietly, though they didn't understand what was being said.

Halley squinted. "Are you saying..."

Stolloc cut in before he could finish. "How about you join me, Halley? I know I've been rough on you as a leader. But I swear I can give you a better life—inside the creator, here."

Ellera stepped closer. "Why aren't you moving? What's going on?"

"Ellera," Stolloc said gently, "let's end this expedition."

"What?"

"The last troop died long before we even arrived. There's no point in saving anyone anymore. And trying has only cost us more lives. I'm tired, Ellera. Tired of being a hero. All I've ever wanted... was to marry you."

Ellera gasped.

Suddenly, Stolloc dropped to his knees and took her hand in his. Halley stood nearby, his face tightening in irritation.

"I've been planning to ask for your hand ever since we launched this expedition," Stolloc said softly. "You're the light of my life. My partner in eternity. I want nothing more than to stay with you and travel the galaxy—side by side."

"Stolloc..." Ellera blushed, despite the horror around them.

"But I've realized... we can't stay together without risk. There's always danger—something that could tear us apart. So, I ask you to merge with me. Let us become one inside this flesh. One with god. That way, we—"

Suddenly, Halley noticed a spark of golden light flicker inside Stolloc's armor.

Without hesitation, Halley raised his right arm and fired a cannon blast straight into the ceiling.

The explosion tore through the largest lump of flesh, blowing it apart in a rain of blood and viscera. The walls, the water, and all remaining flesh were drenched. The blast shook the entire cave.

When the smoke cleared, the TSV members stood stunned at the destruction—right in the center of the newly formed crater.

Halley lowered his smoking arm.

But it was Stolloc who looked the most shaken.

He stared at the blood-soaked cavern, blinking rapidly. Then slowly turned toward Halley.

His breath trembled. His fists clenched. His body trembled with rage.

He stared at Halley as if something precious had just been ruined.

"Halley..." he said through clenched teeth.

Halley didn't respond—just stood his ground, bracing for what came next.

Then, without a word, Stolloc began removing his armor.

He dropped his gauntlets. Then his breastplate.

Underneath, embedded in his chest, was a gleaming golden heart.

Everyone froze.

It was the same kind of heart the mayor had worn.

"I'm getting that heart..." Halley murmured.

Stolloc charged at him in an instant, swinging his fist. Halley dodged, barely keeping his balance. The others watched in shock, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Stolloc launched a flaming punch, which Halley narrowly avoided before sprinting away. But Stolloc didn't let up—he used all four limbs to launch a relentless series of attacks. Halley dodged each strike, staying just out of reach.

Stolloc delivered a powerful kick straight at him, but Halley bent backward to let the leg pass above him, then swiftly rolled aside. In one motion, he activated the cannon on his right arm, aimed, and fired.

The blast hit Stolloc squarely and sent him flying.

Ellera gasped and ran between them, releasing glowing magic planets from her hair and taking a defensive stance in front of Halley, as if protecting him.

Stolloc stood again—laughing like a madman.

Then, from the base of the sewer, the flesh of the victims rose, forming massive tentacles. The corrupted tissue merged with Stolloc's body, transforming him into the monstrous head of the flesh.

With his new tentacles, he struck at his own teammates.

Halley and Ellera pulled Ilma and Linga to safety and regrouped in the center of the battlefield.

"SEPARATE!" Ellera shouted.

Ilma and Linga split off at high speed, vaulting across the writhing flesh. They fired relentlessly at the tentacles, their shots targeting the faces embedded in the mass. Every hit destroyed a face.

Ellera unleashed her magic planets, blasting craters into the creature—but the flesh quickly regenerated.

Halley leapt from one tentacle to another, slicing through them with his blade.

Stolloc watched as Ellera took out five tentacles with a supernova blast. He responded by launching two tentacles toward her.

She saw one approaching and exploded it with another supernova—but the second managed to grab her by the waist and pull her in.

Face to face with Stolloc's grotesque, armored head, Ellera trembled.

"MERGE WITH ME," he growled.

She shook her head violently. "No…"

But he gripped her shoulders and forced the flesh into her body.

"No… no… please…"

Before anyone could react, Ellera's body merged with the mass. Her skin turned light red, from toe to head.

"MISS ELLERA!!" Ilma and Linga screamed.

They rushed toward her, dodging every tentacle aimed at them. But then—

"Ilma!"

"What?!"

Ilma turned around—and saw Linga impaled by a tentacle. The blow had pierced her stomach and chest, killing her instantly. Her body dropped to the ground, only to be swallowed by the crawling flesh. Ilma ran to her in desperation, not realizing another tentacle was about to strike her.

She was too slow.

But just before it hit, a force slammed into her and dragged her away. A blade slashed through the incoming tentacle. Ilma looked up and saw that serious expression.

"Halley…?"

"Stay here," he said, laying her down in a safe spot. Then he turned and ran back toward the battlefield.

He leapt from tentacle to tentacle, closing in on Stolloc. The infected hero seemed thrilled by the challenge.

Ilma, still trembling, watched him from the ground.

"Halley…" she whispered, tears falling.

As Halley got closer, both he and Stolloc prepared their final moves. Halley charged his cannon fist with maximum power. Stolloc opened a hole in the flesh, ready to trap him and force him to merge.

Halley jumped, aimed his cannon—

CRACKKKKK!!!

Suddenly, all movement stopped. Every tentacle froze. A massive sword pierced Stolloc's neck—beheading him instantly. His body collapsed. The tentacles fell limp, crashing into the sewer floor. Halley, standing on one of them, was pulled down as they crashed. Ilma ran across the collapsing flesh, desperately trying to avoid being crushed.

Stolloc's head hit the ground and rolled.

Then, the sword that had ended him was slowly pulled free. A figure emerged, holding the sword. Covered by a cape, they were tall—broad—and silent. They stepped onto Stolloc's back and grabbed his shoulder… then took the golden heart from his chest. Halley watched, stunned, his anger rising.

"HEY! THAT'S MINE!"

But the figure didn't respond. They didn't even acknowledge him. They strapped the sword to their back and walked away, disappearing as the flesh around them crumbled into the water. Halley fell along with the wreckage. The light-red tissue turned pale gray as it died. He scanned the area—and spotted Ilma trapped beneath a tangle of tentacles. Without hesitation, he rushed to her, pulled her out, and carried her in search of an exit. He looked up at the sewer ceiling. Dozens of holes had opened above them—corpses were pouring down from every one. It was like a river of bodies flooding the gutter.

Halley struggled to dodge the waves of dead citizens. He searched for a hole that wasn't spewing bodies, but it was no use. The corpses kept falling. The flood rose. Soon, Halley wasn't even touching the floor—he was running on the corpses. The gutter was nearly 70% full. One more wave, and he'd be crushed. He raised his cannon, now holding his final charge. Aimed at the ceiling—

BOOM!!!

The explosion blasted the ceiling apart, rubble flying everywhere. Halley shielded Ilma in a pile of corpses to protect her from the debris. A hole opened above them. Sunlight poured through. Halley emerged from the wreckage and saw the sky. He fired a grappling hook upward, wrapped his arm around Ilma's waist, and launched them into the light. They landed in a vast field. The first thing Halley saw was the townspeople—wandering like zombies. They stared blankly at him and Ilma.

Then, suddenly, the citizens began surrounding them.

Ilma clung to Halley in fear.

Halley scanned the area—but there was no way to run. So he jumped into the crowd, carrying Ilma, stepping on their heads one by one like platforms.

When the space ahead cleared, he dropped to the ground and ran.

Strangely, the zombies didn't chase them.

Instead, they turned and walked toward the hole, falling into the sewer like lemmings.

Halley and Ilma could only stare.

Back at the Valley Town gates—the same place where the mayor once greeted them—Halley stopped.

Ilma stood beside him, fidgeting nervously. She was shaken.

She felt guilty. She had treated Halley like a burden—lecturing him, bossing him around. And now, he had saved her life.

"Halley… I…"

He looked at her, face blank.

"I'm… sorry."

There was a moment of silence.

Then Halley said, "My job here is done."

Ilma's eyes widened. "You're leaving?"

"I'm going home. You should too."

"You'll… leave me?"

"You've got your spaceship in the woods."

"But… what if I want you to come with me…?"

"I already said it. My job's done. I'm not your rookie anymore."

"But… I'm alone now…"

"Not my problem. Go back to your base."

As Halley walked away, Ilma reached out and grabbed his jacket, tears falling from her eyes.

"If you won't come with me… then let me go with you!"

"Hah?" Halley looked back, confused.

"I… I can't go back to the base… I'm not fit to be there. I let everyone die. I couldn't save them. But with you—I can learn. I can grow stronger. So please… let me go with you… Take me as your student. I'll follow you through anything. I won't let you down… So please—!"

"I refuse."

Ilma froze.

She looked up, stunned.

Halley's face showed disappointment.

"I don't need a runt following me around."

"I won't slow you down! I promise I'll do my best! Even if it's hard—!"

"And you think sharing my paycheck and food isn't dragging me down? I'm not like your organization. I don't give out facilities. If you want to follow me, you'd better pay for your own food, have your own transport, and earn your own keep."

Ilma stood speechless.

"If that doesn't scare you... then be my guest," Halley said. "If it does—I suggest you go back."

He walked away.

No goodbye. No "take care."

He simply left her.

A few minutes later, his spaceship landed at the spot he'd marked earlier.

The doors opened, welcoming him.

Halley stepped inside, started the engine, and left.

His next adventure had begun.