How many surprises?

『Several Weeks Later』

-Dazai stood over a pile of lifeless bodies, the stench of death clinging to the air. He wiped the blood from his hands with a cloth, eyes glinting with satisfaction as he looked down at his latest work-

Dazai: "Time well spent... You all served your purpose to the end. Hope hell suits you... With this, I've finally grasped the core Carnage techniques... Or at least five of them. The others–ripped from history–but no matter. These will suffice."

-He smirked, stretching his fingers as the rush of progress settled into his bones-

-Maria approached from behind, her eyes drifting over the blood-soaked scene. She reached out, gently wiping a smear of crimson from his cheek with a silk handkerchief-

Maria: "Shall I dispose of the bodies, dear?"

-Dazai chuckled lightly-

Dazai: "No need. I'll handle it myself. You, however, contact Richard—the merchant. That fat fool must've already secured the Bio-Touch deal by now. Make sure he knows we're expecting results."

-Maria nodded, her eyes gleaming with quiet admiration as Dazai gathered the corpses and vanished into the forest-

『Astra Forest – Dusk』

–The crackling flames danced in Dazai's eyes as the bodies burned to ash. He stood still, arms crossed, but his senses remained sharp. There it was—that feeling. A presence. As though the air itself had grown eyes–

-He stepped away from the fire, but the gaze followed-

-With a sudden burst, Dazai dashed through the trees with blinding speed, his silhouette weaving between branches like a shadow. Yet still—they watched-

–Without warning, he flicked his wrist, sending a dagger whistling through the air. The unseen figure shifted—dodging with fluid grace–

-But as they turned, Dazai was already gone-

[Behind you]

-With a swift kick, he sent the figure crashing into the ground below, landing beside them as the dust settled-

Dazai: "You know... It's not very polite to stalk someone like that. So... Who are you? What do you want? Answer, or you won't live long enough to explain."

-As the dust cleared, his eyes narrowed-

-Before him stood a woman—tall and regal, her form cloaked in a flowing dark dress that hugged her curves without being ostentatious. Her skin bore a smooth, pale glow under the dim forest light. Her lips, painted a deep crimson, parted slightly as she met his gaze. Her eyes–green, like the heart of the forest–held both wisdom and threat. Her raven-black hair was tied back into a loose braid, strands gently framing her face. But it was the wings that truly captured him–dark, with a faint abyssal shimmer, like shadows spun into feathers-

-Dazai tilted his head, amused-

Dazai: "Huh… Interesting. You remind me of something... If you don't have a name, I'll just call you... Maleficent. Yeah, that fits."

-The woman's eyes narrowed slightly, though her composure remained-

Maleficent: "I am the Guardian of Astra Forest. And it is in danger... because of humans like you—drunk on power and greed."

-Dazai raised his hands mockingly-

Dazai: "Hey, relax. No need to get your panties in a twist. I'm asking why you were following me—not all of humanity."

-Maleficent's voice, rough yet refined, carried a subtle elegance despite the weight of her fall-

Maleficent: "After your battle with the men in black weeks ago... others came. When you left, they moved in. They now hold the forest hostage."

-Dazai's eyes sharpened-

Dazai: "Oh? Do go on."

Maleficent: "They've taken the temple at the heart of Astra Forest. There lies the Heart of the Forest—a core of ancient power. If they claim it, they will bend every creature here to their will. I followed you because... I felt your presence the moment you stepped into my domain. You are no ordinary human. That much is clear"

-She hesitated, then lowered herself to one knee, bowing her head-

Maleficent: "I ask for your aid... Please... Help us."

-Dazai stood in silence for a moment. His gaze drifted from her to the smoldering embers of the bodies behind him. He chuckled softly—low and measured-

Dazai: "Alright, alright... I'll help. But... I'll need something in return. Who knows how many surprises await? I don't work for free."

-Maleficent slowly raised her head, meeting his gaze once more-

Maleficent: "Fair... What is your price?"

-Dazai smirked-

Dazai: "We'll discuss that later. For now... Take me to this temple. Let's see what's waiting for us."

-As the flames behind them faded into the night, the two vanished into the depths of Astra Forest—where danger, secrets, and power awaited-