The wildfire spread across the once peaceful and quiet plain. Flames licked the branches of trees, slowly consuming everything in their path. One by one, trees toppled, fueling the flames to rage on. The plain transformed into a sea of fire, shrouded in thick black smoke. The dark red sky was punctuated by flashes of light that dissipated into a thick fog covering the ground, choking anyone who bore witness.
"A girl walked slowly across a grassy plain. Her body weakened, drained by the events that had taken all her strength. Her consciousness was waning. Her vision narrowed, marred by wounds that covered her entire body. Dried bloodstains had soiled her clothes. Her legs were too weak to carry her any further, but an unyielding feeling compelled her to keep moving forward.
"This can't be happening, right?"
She saw someone standing in the center of the raging inferno that surrounded her. She looked around, shocked by what she saw. Her eyes couldn't believe everything that was happening before her.
"You're late," the person facing away from her said.
"You were supposed to be dead... why?" the girl said, staring at the person. Her body froze in place, unable to believe the sight before her.
"Do you always get this scared when you see me? Or is it because you're realizing everything around you?"
"That's not it..."
"Can't you see, Lilya? Look around you again! This is the result of believing in something above. You've been swept up in it until it made me act."
"...," Lilya was silent.
"You're all pawns, controlled by the gods, while I'm a foreign piece without a clear place in this world," the person continued.
Lilya held a camera on her head, a sword's blade protruded from the lens, and its hilt was clearly visible. She pulled out the sword, causing sparks of electricity and particles of light to burst out, filling the gloomy surroundings with light.
"No one can stop me, Lily. They've all surrounded you, burned with the friends you've made. It's over... no one can stop me except for you."
"Huh?" she said, taking a shallow breath.
"There's only you and me here, Lily, in your birthplace, now ravaged by fire. No one else can save you. The world has ended."
"The world hasn't ended! I know that. You're trying to play with my mind! That won't work on me anymore!" Lilya drew her sword and pointed it at the person.
"It seems like you really hate me, Lilya."
Lilya didn't answer. She stepped forward with her right foot, followed by her left foot. Her mouth was open, sucking in air. Sparks of electricity spread and met the wall of fire behind her. Vibrations continued behind her, but she didn't let it distract her from the person in front of her.
"I want us to end this, right now. Either you defeat me and become a hero, or you'll join them all, becoming part of my Dialopis collection."
Lilya closed her eyes. "I can't run anymore. This is all I can do to fight you," she said, opening her eyes and taking a fighting stance, unwilling to continue the conversation.
"An honor to fight a Bystander. Show me all you've been through, Lilya!"