[Reader warning: This chapter contains sensitive content surrounding children and women, including child abuse, rape, and torture. You have been warned.]
{Nita!!}
J and his friends stood before the cave.
"This... this is the cave—the cave of those savages," the Chief exhaled, his body shaking.
Haruto nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Thank you for leading us here. And as promised, we'll bring the captives back no matter what."
The others nodded.
J turned towards Haruto. "Hey, Haruto, shouldn't we make plans right about now? We aren't gonna rush in like mindless zombies, right?"
"I mean, yeah. Why'd we do that? Making plans will increase our chances of victory, won't it?" Haruto said, dumbfounded.
"So why are we wasting time, you meathead?" J exclaimed.
"Guys, can we start the plan-making a little later? I need to talk to the Chief for a second," Star said.
Haruto nodded. "No problemo. But make it quick... the captives are waiting."
J narrowed his eyes. "Really, you're procrastinating now of all times?"
"J, let Star talk to the Chief, would you?" Nita added calmly.
Then Star turned towards the Chief, her tone apologetic. "I'm sorry for my brother J. He wasn't always like that, though—not until our mother died, at least." With a faint smile, Star continued, "All I can say is... even if he sounds cold and distant, he's a good guy—and he'll do everything to save your children."
The Chief shook his head. "No, I don't mind Sir J's behavior. He acted just like any other soldier would. He was calm and reassuring, so please don't apologize."
Star gave a faint smile. "I see. Please go back to the village safely, and we'll bring your children."
"Hey, Star, how long do you intend to procrastinate? Come here already, we've got a plan," J said while cleaning his ears.
Star sighed, "Really, didn't I tell you to wait a minute?"
J rolled his eyes. "Whatever, like I care. Haruto, can you please explain the plan to this dimwit?"
Haruto held his sword tight, his gaze sharp. "J, don't joke around when lives are at stake." Then he turned towards Star. "Star, listen carefully, okay?"
Star shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head. "Well, there isn't any point in arguing, is there? So go on, I'm listening."
Haruto spread out his feet, his voice cutting through the air. "Me, J, and Eclipse will be the melee fighters, attacking any goblins that we come across." He pointed towards her and Nita. "You two will stay in the back, taking care of the rest and supporting us. But please don't use any explosive spells—the cave may collapse on us."
Star nodded and smirked. "That's so easy. Leave the backline and support to us."
"Guys... should we go now..." Nita said, her breath heavy.
"What's—"
Haruto cut off J mid-sentence. "Nita, is there a problem? You're breathing heavily."
J narrowed his eyes, annoyed.
Nita raised her hand. "No, I'm alright. Just a little nervous and worried, that's all."
"If you say so," Haruto said.
Then they slowly walked inside the cave. Nita spread her fingers and whispered, "Glow." A ball of light flickered in her palm, lighting up the cave just enough for them to see.
J bit his thumb and murmured, "Eclipse." Once more, time around him seemed to stop as black smoke swirled around him, slowly taking the form of Eclipse. Then, like every other time, everything returned to normal.
J and his friends walked slowly, looking around. The cave was silent, a foul stench filled the air, and faint mourning sounds echoed, as if someone was crying for help in silence.
As they went deeper, they saw a green goblin barely the size of a nine-year-old child. It had a pointy nose, a set of sharp ears, a row of jagged teeth, and a skinny body. As soon as the goblin saw them, it ran deeper into the cave with a loud shriek. Eclipse tried to charge toward the running goblin.
"Don't," J said, his voice commanding.
Eclipse stopped in his tracks and kept following J and his friends. After a few seconds, around fifty goblins surrounded them, each equipped with stone and bone daggers, sly grins on their faces...
Haruto looked over his shoulder, his voice barely above a whisper. "Be careful. Don't rush in."
J waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah."
J retrieved a silver blade from his black cloak, a smirk on his face as he rushed toward the goblins with Eclipse. J closed his distance with one of the goblins. He swung his blade, cutting through the goblin's skin and flesh. The goblin cried out in pain, but it didn't last long as its neck snapped under Eclipse's jaw. Eclipse swung around, hurling the goblin's body toward its comrades as they crashed to the ground.
Haruto closed his eyes for a moment as a faint red aura wrapped around him. Then… he opened them, moving at incredible speed while analyzing the goblins' weak points.
He took a battle stance, sword pointed at the enemies, his grip tightening. Haruto stepped back, then dashed forward, piercing through the goblins with surgical precision.
Meanwhile, Star and Nita stood before the remaining goblins. Star crossed her fingers and whispered, "WOB."
In the next moment, air swirled around her and surged forward like a flurry of invisible blades, slicing through the goblins like butter.
Beside her, Nita raised her hands like she was holding a rifle and pointed them at several goblins, blasting them away with bursts of light.
Star sighed, "Well, looks like it's over, huh?!"
As J and his friends started to relax, a tall figure loomed behind Star.
J's eyes widened. He rushed toward her, shoving her out of the way just as the giant swung down.
"You idiot! Why did you let your guard down?" J shouted, raising his hands in a practiced stance.
Haruto grounded his right leg, bringing his sword close to his shoulder. Then… he dashed forward, swinging his blade — but it only tore through the giant's ragged clothes.
The giant laughed, covering its face with one hand. It slammed its fist on the ground, then lifted a massive club onto its back and spun like a tornado, narrowly missing Nita and Haruto.
"Hey, can you guys keep this big oaf distracted for a few minutes?" J asked, fading slowly into the shadows.
Haruto gave a confident smile. "Sure."
Star crouched and gently pressed her hand against the ground. Spikes erupted upward, piercing the giant's leg. It let out a thunderous growl, sending shivers down everyone's spine as thick blue blood trickled from the wound.
Seizing the opportunity, Haruto and Eclipse moved in unison. Haruto thrust his sword into the giant's other leg, twisting it deep. Eclipse lunged at the giant's face, striking its eyes.
The giant grabbed Eclipse with its massive hand, slamming him hard to the ground. Eclipse's body trembled as he struggled to rise.
The giant looked around — but Haruto was gone.
Then Haruto leapt onto its shoulders, lifting his sword to strike the giant's neck. But before he could, the giant snatched him by the leg and slammed him on top of Eclipse.
Haruto grunted in pain, feeling like his spine had been shattered. He rolled across the ground as Eclipse turned back into black smoke.
The giant raised its club, ready to strike again, but its focus shifted when Nita raised her hand to cast a spell. A sweat droplet slid down the giant's cheek as it charged at her, ignoring its injuries.
"Nita!!!" Star screamed.
Before Nita could react, the club struck her, sending her crashing into the cave wall. Blood dripped from her head, her vision blurred, her body trembled, and her lungs nearly collapsed as she coughed violently.
Just as the giant moved to finish her off, Star raised a protective wall around Nita and Haruto, both to shield and heal them.
The giant turned and snarled, grinding its teeth. It hurled its club at Star and charged after it. Star barely dodged the club — but the giant was too close, ready to crush her under its massive palm.
She covered her face and closed her eyes, bracing for the impact… but nothing came. The giant was frozen, its claw inches from her face.
J stepped out from the shadows, an owl-like creature with black feathers and blue stripes hovering over his head.
"That was close, wasn't it? You almost got yourself killed," J said, sighing in relief.
Star didn't answer. She rushed to Haruto and Nita. Their wounds had mostly healed, but they still couldn't move properly. Using wind magic, Star carried them to a corner and began healing them, golden light glowing from her hands.
J walked up to the giant with a faint smile. "Hey, big oaf… do you know why you can't move?"
The giant growled.
J shrugged. "Because you're gonna die soon. See Miro here? He creates shadow fields that can paralyze enemies. But it takes time to form."
J unsheathed his sword and slowly dragged the blade across the giant's flesh, carefully avoiding vital areas. The giant groaned in agony, its screams echoing through the cave.
J tilted his head. "Do you know why I'm doing this to you?"
He paused.
"Welp, it's because of what you did to my bro… and my love. You understand now, right?"
He plunged his blade into the giant's throat and yanked it out as blood splattered across him.
---
After some time, Haruto and Nita began to recover, thanks to Star's healing magic. They tried to stand up.
"Really, just rest, would you?" J sighed, slumping against the wall. "There aren't any monsters left in this cave, so we can relax a bit."
"That may be," Nita replied, "but what about the captives? We have to get them to the village."
J shrugged, looking away. "If you say so. But it's not pretty — so brace yourself."
Haruto stood slowly, lowering his gaze. "J… I'm sorry. Eclipse… he's dead. He turned into black smoke and vanished."
J grabbed his stomach and chuckled. "You meathead. Eclipse isn't dead. He just went back to his original form — he took too much damage, that's all."
Haruto sighed in relief. "That's good to know."
After taking a little time to rest, J led the group to the captives. A pile of vomit lay at the entrance. The group instinctively covered their noses as they walked forward...
J pointed toward two cells, his voice low and heavy.
"There they are… suffering in silence."
The group froze — all except J, who had already seen it.
Inside one of the cells were many women. They wore hardly any clothing. Their eyes… were lifeless. No glow, no warmth — only silence and hopelessness. Bruises and bite marks covered their bodies. Their skin had turned a reddish-pink, and they flinched at even the faintest sound. Some were missing limbs. Some had chunks of flesh torn away, as if ripped out.
But one thing was common among all the female captives:
They were all covered in an unknown white, sticky substance.
In the other cell were several children — or what was left of them.
At least some were still alive.
Their eyes… no one should ever have to see eyes like those.
Where a child's gaze should be full of life, these were empty.
Emotionless.
They had all their limbs, but they couldn't move them.
Their fingers, joints, and bones were broken.
Some of their bodies were scorched and burned…
The state of the captives was beyond words.
Even saying this much… already said too much.
Nita grabbed her head and collapsed to the ground, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Star's stomach clenched. She vomited, tears running silently down her face — and no words came out.
Haruto… couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't even hear.
He was frozen in place. His body trembled as his mind raced.
And J…
He looked away, disgust twisting his face.
"Damn it…" he muttered. "No matter how much I try… I can't stay calm. Annoying… annoying… annoying.
Why can't any world be a peaceful one?
In my world, there's war and suffering.
And here… it's worse.
Worse than Earth."
He stormed out of the cave, his voice trailing behind him.
"I'll get the villagers."
Haruto remained frozen, while Star rushed to Nita's side, still struggling to process what she had just seen.
---
J ran through the forest, lungs aching as he gasped for air. He took a deep breath, gritting his teeth.
"How… how am I supposed to tell them?
How am I supposed to calm them down when they see their loved ones like this?"
He shook his head and kept running toward the village.
The sky was bright. The leaves rustled gently.
Birds sang.
It was as if the world was pretending nothing had happened —
As if nature itself was trying to hide the truth.
It felt like the calm before the storm.
---
J finally reached the village, breathless and drained.
The villagers — along with the chief — ran to meet him.
With hopeful eyes, the chief called out, "Sir J! You're back!"
Then he looked behind J.
"Where are your friends? Where are our children and daughters?"
....