A DARKER DARK FOREST

Jolie alights from the bus and begins to run as fast as she can, trying to reach the others to warn them.

In the dark forest, Mari starts to speak.

Mari: Get serious and say what you...

Suddenly, Mari senses a grave level of animosity.

Mari (yelling): Guys, get away from here!

As he shouts, the group scrambles to move—but a huge explosion rocks the area.

A while later, Mario slowly opens his eyes. He finds himself on the ground with dirt covering his clothes; his ears are ringing, and he's tempted to take off his mask.

Mario: What was that? I thought today was Ruhe day.

Struggling to his feet, he picks up Dark Nemesis, which luckily is right by his side.

Mario: Where are the others? I hope they made it in time. I have to find them.

With determination, Mario begins to forge ahead, searching for his teammates.

Elsewhere, Humberto and Yash lie on the ground, side by side. Humberto gets up and taps Yash.

Humberto: You alive? Talk to me.

Yash coughs as he rises.

Yash: Ouch. I think I landed wrongly.

Humberto: There was an explosion. I don't think you could have landed in a better way.

They both rise and start looking for clues about their whereabouts.

Yash: My memory may be fuzzy, but I don't recall reacting fast enough to escape the explosion.

Humberto: What makes you say that?

Yash: The smoke is coming from way over there.

Yash points toward the distant source of the smoke.

Humberto: I guess we were lucky? Whatever the case, we have to head over there. We'll have a greater chance of finding the others if we do that.

Yash: Good idea.

They begin walking toward the smoke. After a while, Yash suddenly stops.

Humberto: What is it?

Yash: I'm not the smartest of people, but isn't something kinda off?

Humberto, raising his voice: We're in a creepy forest, communications are down, and we barely survived an explosion. I'm afraid you're gonna have to be a bit more specific!

Yash: We've walked past that creepy tree three times now.

Pointing at an awkwardly bent pine tree, Yash emphasizes his point.

Humberto: You have a point. Don't tell me we've been moving in circles all this time...

Suddenly, a voice sends both of them into panic.

Mundo: I'm afraid you're right.

Humberto and Yash exchange shocked glances as they lean against each other, each facing the opposite direction.

Humberto: Who's there?

Mundo slowly emerges from behind a tree, his blue robe and hood concealing part of his face.

Mundo: Greetings.

He smirks as he removes his hood, revealing bright blue eyes.

At the same time, Renard and Mari find themselves miles away from the explosion site, standing at opposite ends of an open field with short grasses covering the ground.

Mari: What do you think you're doing?

Renard: What I always do. Whatever I please.

Mari: Are you insane? There was an explosion! I was going to move them all out of the explosion range, but you intercepted me and made me come here.

Renard: Move them out of the explosion range? Can you hear yourself? Junior hunters should be able to sniff out danger and protect themselves from an explosion of that magnitude. I brought you here to report what I discovered while I was alone. There are demons here.

Mari: Yeah, no kidding. Even the trees out here can already tell that! Just get out of my way. I'm going to find the sane members of my team.

Mari zooms off, only to soon return to find Renard still standing there. He begins to laugh.

Mari: Is something supposed to be funny?

Renard: You didn't let me finish my report. While I was alone, I found out that someone—or something—had tampered with the forest.

Mari: What do you mean "tampered"?

Renard: The forest has been turned into a maze. It's no problem for a hunter of your caliber, but it would take at least thirty minutes to find a way around it. Even for you. I suspect a demon did this.

Mari: That's impossible. Rarities don't have unique abilities.

Renard: Believe what you want, but wouldn't it be better for someone who already knows his way around these woods to lead you, or at least show you the way?

Mari: Yes, it will. And that's why you're going to show me the way.

Renard: Am I?

Instantly, Mari's mood shifts.

Mari: What are you insinuating?

Renard starts to walk around as he continues.

Renard: We've only ever fought once. It was a duel—a hell of a fight, but you won.

Mari: I remember. We were junior hunters back then. I told you the error you made that led to my victory. What about it? You might want to hasten up because I'm running dangerously low on patience.

Renard: Such an epic duel deserves a rematch, don't you think?

Mari: No, I don't. I don't fight my 'comrade' just for fun—especially not when I have no idea where the others are. Forget it. I'll find a way out myself.

Renard: I do have a clue about what's happening right now. They're separated—searching for you and fighting whoever did this. I've gone through their records. The others may survive the next hour, but the handicap... I'm not so sure. I heard you've taken quite an interest in him. What was his name again? Uhm... Mario, was it?

Visibly angry, Mari retorts.

Mari: All right. You'll get your little duel, but it's gonna be hard to keep you in a shape where you can show me the way out. No more games after this, or I swear I'll make you regret it.

Renard: Oh? So, it is true. You never learn, do you? And here I was thinking you wouldn't get close to any other hunter. I mean... you do remember what happened to Carmen, right?

Renard smirks behind his mask as an infuriated Mari closes the distance between them, aiming to land the first hit. He strikes, then steps back and turns around.

Mari: That's it. Now, pick yourself up and show me the way.

A burst of indiscriminate laughter from behind forces Mari to turn around once more in disbelief. Renard stands unscathed.

Renard: Silly you. I knew you'd go for a swift victory. How do you like my latest technique? I call it Mari proof—named after you. It's a great technique for defending, and then counterattacking.

Mari: You can't be serious. Quit this now. Do you realize that your teammates may very well lose their lives this very minute?

Renard: See if I care.

Meanwhile, Yash and Humberto, though terrified, are holding their own against Mundo. They coordinate their abilities—Humberto forms a force field to repel attacks while Yash transforms his hands into blades. After persisting for a while, they finally land an attack that cuts off Mundo's left arm. Mundo instinctively moves backward, putting some distance between himself and the duo.

Mundo: Congratulations, boys. You finally landed a hit. Now, I can get serious.

Discarding his robe, Mundo charges toward them with malice.

At that moment, Mario—hampered by the deceitful nature of the maze—hears a distant scream.

Mario: That voice... Don't tell me...

He runs toward the source of the sound, clutching Dark Nemesis in his hand. Despite finding his way through the maze, he soon discovers Humberto and Yash in bad shape. Both lie unconscious, seated and leaning against a tall tree, with ropes tightly tied around their necks in an execution-by-hanging setup.

Gasping in shock, Mario looks around, checking if anyone else is nearby.

Mario: What happened here?

He dashes toward them, attempting to loosen the ropes, but is interrupted by Mundo, who makes his presence known by clapping from above while sitting on a tree branch. Mario retreats and assumes a defensive stance.

Mundo: I was hoping someone else would show up.

Mundo jumps off the branch and lands on the ground.

Mundo: Great stance you have there. But you and I both know that you're at a disadvantage. I have two of your friends set for hanging. I'm fast enough to carry this out and strong enough to stop you from intervening. Your friends are so beat down that they won't even be able to free themselves. Plus, those ropes you see are extra special—it would take a great deal of effort and time to undo them. Time which, sadly, you do not have.

Mario: Why are you telling me this?

Mundo: Fortunately for you, I'm bored at the moment and willing to remove these disadvantages.

Mario: How?

Mundo: I'm willing to let you go unscathed—you and any one of your friends. Any one of your choosing. You get it, don't you?

With a cold seriousness, Mundo's expression hardens.

Mundo: I'm asking you to choose who lives and who dies.