Night had fallen when Arya and Dina stopped under a large tree by the cobblestone road.
“I got information from Gamma,” Arya said while gazing at the night sky. “Neptune, the Ice one, is chasing us.”
Dina turned. “So, who’s going to fight him later? Me?”
“You want to take him on?”
“Of course! I want to fight one of them too. All this time, I’ve only fought regular guards!”
Arya raised an eyebrow. “You think you can handle him alone?”
“Don’t underestimate me! You think I’m weak?!”
Arya laughed. “Hahaha! I’d never think you’re weak.”
Dina crossed her arms. “So, who’s our next target?”
“West. The city of Tazer.”
“How many days of travel?”
“They say four days.”
Dina nodded slightly. “Oh.”
Arya looked ahead again. “I want to go in directly and storm the mansion.”
Dina looked at him suspiciously. “Why?”
“Since they’re already chasing us, it means our information has leaked. So, no need to move quietly anymore.”
“If we’re not being stealthy, then what’s the plan?”
“We’ll leave clear traces, so they chase us directly. The faster we meet them, the quicker we reduce their numbers.”
Dina furrowed her brows. “But why the rush?”
“My instincts tell me… they’re building something. Look, after Mars died, they immediately replaced his position. They’re forming a massive power. And if they finish preparing, they won’t let a single one of them die again.”
“So... they’re preparing for something bigger?”
Arya nodded. “Exactly. We’ll wait for more reports from Gamma. But before that, let’s take the initiative. If we keep hiding, they’ll grow stronger... and when the time comes, we won’t be able to bring them down.”
He stared sharply into the distance. “From now on, we play aggressive. We force them to come to the battleground we choose. And we take them down one by one.”
Dina sighed. “Huuuh... My head hurts just thinking about it. So... what kind of trace are we leaving behind?”
Arya grinned faintly. “Provocation. Something like—‘Our goal is the King of this land! Protect him if you can, you bastards!’ Their fanatics will be furious and hunt us down.”
Dina rolled her eyes. “Such a childish method.” Her tone was sarcastic.
“Wahahaha! But it’s guaranteed to work. Praise me!”
“Weirdo.”
Four days later, they arrived in the city of Tazer.
“Ugh... It’s so hot here! What’s with this heat?!” Dina complained, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Arya looked around. “This city is tortured by cruel heat. The people are starving. Houses are crumbling, water is scarce, food nearly nonexistent. The ruler is utterly wicked.”
“How about we just show up in public?” Dina suggested.
“Hmm... interesting idea. If we make a scene, our identities will reach the Seven Eclipse faster.”
“The more often we show up, the quicker they’ll come. And the quicker we can eliminate them.”
Arya chuckled. “Sometimes you’re actually smart.”
“I’m always smart!”
Tok!
“Hollow sound,” Arya teased, tapping Dina’s head.
“What did you say?!”
Arya laughed and stepped into the main street. “Let’s cool this place down. Give them water and food.”
He raised his hand. “Freeze!”
The air gradually turned cool. The heat vanished. Then:
“HELLO, EVERYONE! THERE’S FREE FOOD AND WATER HERE! COME ON OVER! IT’S ALL FREE!”
He pulled supplies from storage.
“Earth Craft!” The ground rose to form a pool.
“Water!” Clear water gushed out, filling the artificial pool.
“Water! There’s water and food!”
“I haven’t eaten in days! Please!”
“My child… she hasn’t eaten at all...”
Arya smiled calmly. “Don’t worry! Everyone will get their share.”
“Don’t push! Someone might get hurt!” Dina called out, calming the crowd.
Minutes later, food and water were evenly distributed.
“Thank you, child!”
“You saved us!”
Arya and Dina nodded awkwardly, surrounded by grateful citizens.
“Can we go now? We have other matters. The food is there for you,” Arya said at last.
“Thank you! May you be blessed!”
They left the crowd and headed toward the ruler’s mansion.
“What was that earlier...” Dina’s voice trembled. “Seeing them scramble for food... it’s clear they haven’t eaten for days.”
Arya looked up at the sky. “This is a cruel world. If God really exists, why does evil keep surfacing? And if God refuses to destroy them... then we will.”
He clenched his fists.
That night…
Arya pulled out two pistols. “Let’s go in together.”
Dina drew two daggers from her back. “Ready.”
At the front gate, Arya shot two guards. Bullets pierced their heads without resistance. The gate was forced open.
“Who are you?!”
Bang! Bang! Two more guards fell.
“You don’t need to know,” Arya muttered.
Dina dashed in. Slash! The guards’ bodies were sliced, heads flew, limbs torn apart.
“Hey, Ar! This place is super luxurious! Long hallways, chandeliers, statues, red carpets… so different from the people outside!”
“Go ahead and go wild. I’ll find the ruler and his family.” Arya closed his eyes. “SEARCH!”
Upper floor. Four people. Probably family.
Arya kicked open a door upstairs.
“Who are you?! Don’t you know who I am?! I’m the honorable ruler! Show some respect!”
“Respect?” Arya laughed coldly. “For what?”
Bang! Bang! The ruler’s wife and child collapsed instantly.
“A ruler exists to bring prosperity to his people, not misery.” Bang! A bullet went through the man’s head.
The next morning…
Arya stood in the large hall of the now ruler-less mansion.
“Where should I place the provocation message? On the wall or floor?” he muttered, looking around.
“The wall would be better,” said Dina, sitting on a long table.
“Alright.” Arya wrote in large letters on the wall of the hall:
“OUR GOAL IS THE KING OF THIS LAND. PROTECT HIM IF YOU CAN, YOU BASTARDS EXONE!
Arya grinned with satisfaction. “Done. Now, just a few more things.”
“What things?”
“Call the surviving servants.”
“What for?”
“Just do it.”
Moments later, Dina returned with an older woman in formal attire.
“She’s the head maid,” Dina said.
The woman bowed. “H-hello. How can I help you?”
Arya looked at her. “Ma’am, do you have any suggestion who might be suitable to lead this city?”
The head maid was momentarily stunned. “I-if I may suggest… how about the former ruler’s nephew? He’s a good boy, often came here and openly disagreed with his uncle’s rule.”
“Can you call him here?”
“He lives quite far. Maybe three days.”
“That’s fine. Tell him his uncle is dead. And tell him… Exone killed him.”
The head maid gulped. “V-very well... I will contact him immediately.”
Arya nodded. “Thank you. Dina, let’s head to the town square.”
In the city square…
Arya stood on a wooden box.
“HELLO EVERYONE! PLEASE GATHER HERE!”
People started coming, recognizing the small figure who had given them food last night.
“It’s that kid from last night... what’s he doing now?!”
Arya took a deep breath. “AS YOU’VE HEARD, THE RULER OF THIS CITY IS DEAD. AND YES—WE ARE THE ONES WHO KILLED HIM!”
He tossed the ruler’s head onto the ground.
The crowd fell silent. Some murmured in panic.
“What?! They killed the ruler?!”
“Good riddance... But... what do they want?”
Arya raised his hand. “Calm down! We are not heroes. Not saviors. We are... Executors! We will kill every corrupt ruler, from the palace guards... all the way to the supreme King of this land—Sekius Belmera IV!”
“Then… what do you want from us?” a citizen asked.
“Good question. We only want one thing—spread our name. Our identity. Our appearance. In return… we’ll revive this city. We’ll help you.”
“T-that’s all?”
“Yes. We want to lure the organization under the King. We declare war on them.”
“But... you’re just two kids!”
Arya laughed loud and proud.
“HU HA HA HA! YES, WE’RE KIDS! BUT POWER ISN’T MEASURED BY AGE—IT’S MEASURED BY WILL! EVERYONE HAS POWER, BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS THE WILL TO USE IT! SPREAD OUR NAME! LET THE CORRUPT TREMBLE! LET THE KING KNOW—THE WAR HAS BEGUN!”
The crowd fell silent. Some trembled. Whispers spread—some wept.
Arya continued. “As for the next leader of this city, the head maid suggested the former ruler’s nephew. Do you all agree?”
“His nephew?! But… he’s family too, isn’t he?!”
“He’s known for caring about the people! He once argued with his uncle!” shouted a man from the crowd.
“And if he turns out to be as vile as his uncle…” Arya’s voice grew cold, “…I will kill him too.”
“Y-yes! We agree!”
Arya smiled. “Good. First things first—let’s start with housing. All the able-bodied men, please gather wood from the nearest forest!”
“We can do it!” they replied.
Dina tilted her head. “Why use wood? Can’t you just use Earth magic to build?”
“So they’ll learn. Now let’s make the water system.” Arya raised his hand.
“Earth Craft!”
The ground lifted, forming an artificial river.
“Water!”
Water surged, filling the canal in five minutes.
Children cheered. Women cried in joy.
“Dina, could you check the mansion? Find some paper and writing tools?”
“Always bossing me around…” she grumbled. But Arya had already handed her food.
“Here’s your payment.”
“Thanks a lot!” Dina rushed off.
Arya smiled faintly. “Such a glutton.”
A short while later...
Dina returned carrying a scroll and some ink. “Here you go.”
Arya immediately began drawing.
“This is a blueprint for a simple house. Easy to build, even for beginners.”
A few hours later, the men returned with wood. Arya distributed the blueprints.
“Build based on this. Here are nails and other tools. If anything’s unclear, just ask.”
The villagers got to work. Determination lit up their faces.
Three days later…
A young man came rushing in.
“W-what is all this?! A river?! New houses?!”
Arya turned to him. “You... the former ruler’s nephew?”
“Yes, my name is Pirlo. And... who are you?”
“Arya. Or... Exone.”
“E-Exone?! N-nice to meet you...”
“Let’s get straight to the point. I received a letter from the head maid. Can you lead this city?”
Pirlo hesitated. “I... I’m not that capable...”
“You don’t need to be. I’ll help at the start. But remember, if you betray the people... you know what’ll happen.”
Pirlo swallowed hard. “I-I understand. I’ll do my best!”
“Good. Here’s the plan.” Arya handed him sheets full of diagrams for agriculture, fertilizer, and distribution systems.
“W-what is this?! It’s so complicated!”
“I’ve already set up the fertilizer and farmland. You just have to continue it. Can you do that?”
“Of course! Thank you for the trust!”
“I also gave the people blueprints for housing. Now go—welcome them.”
“Yes! Thank you!” Pirlo ran off toward the citizens.
Dina watched from the side. “He seems like a good person, huh?”
“Yeah... let’s hope he stays that way.”
A week later…
The city began to rise again. Homes were built, water flowed, and there was enough food from hunting.
Arya and Dina prepared to leave.
“Well, everyone. Don’t forget our agreement,” Arya said as he tightened his pack.
“We’re off now!” Dina added.
“Thank you so much, Exone! Take care!” the townspeople and Pirlo shouted together.
Arya and Dina smiled, then left the city of Tazer.
Meanwhile, somewhere else…
Neptune stood in the middle of a forest.
“Where the hell are they?! Damn it!”
He looked up at the sky.
“Why is it all trees?! Where’s the city?! Damn you, Exone!”
Neptune kept wandering—lost—because of one simple thing:
He had no sense of direction.