Despite the suspicions, Lucia chose to ignore them, while the soldier sent a message to the sovereign of the GASP Empire, informing him that Sergeant Victoria was in possession of the Mykael ring.
The sovereign immediately ordered that the sergeant be brought in. The soldier agreed and prepared to carry out the command. Lucia returned with Victoria and Nova, urging them to move quickly, warning that they were being watched.
As they walked, a figure appeared in their path—a man dressed in black, with dark wings streaked in red, a shadowed face, and glowing eyes.
—"Umm… could you step aside?"
—"I'm afraid I can't."
—"Why not?"
—"Because… I FINALLY FOUND YOU!"
The stranger pulled out a weapon and attacked the trio, but Lucia intercepted the strike. She shouted at Nova and Victoria to run, insisting she would hold him off.
Nova and Victoria managed to escape—or so they thought. The soldier from before appeared again, ordering the sergeant to go to the empire and finish the mission. Of course, she refused. The soldier saw this as treason and drew a rocket launcher.
Victoria ordered him to lower the weapon, but he fired the missile anyway. At the very last second, both she and Nova ducked, narrowly avoiding the blast. With no weapons to defend themselves, they had no choice but to run as the soldier gave chase.
Back with Lucia, she unleashed a storm of fiery attacks, but the dark figure evaded them with ease.
Lucia charged, striking fiercely, but he blocked and countered with a brutal punch to her face, leaving her gravely wounded.
—"H-how… how did you bring me down so easily?"
—"Hahaha… it was simple. After all, I am Sombrius."
—"Wait… you're…"
Before she could finish, Sombrius drove a lethal strike into Lucia's core, ending her life—for now.
Meanwhile, Nova and Victoria ran with everything they had. They reached a forest and, with no other choice, rushed inside. The soldier pursued and opened fire, but his bullets missed. Suddenly, a massive tree shifted, crashing down and crushing the soldier, killing him instantly.