"In the heart of darkness, true light only appears when the warrior faces his greatest challenges."
A sakura leaf gently falls from a pink tree, landing softly on the still water below. Suddenly, a red, mysterious eye appears from the darkness, opening slowly after being closed.
A few hours earlier, Erian and Lara were walking along their path, concern etched on their faces. Lara hesitates for a moment and asks:
"Are you sure we should have left him?"
Erian replies, "He convinced us, but it's dangerous for him to go alone."
As they continue, they notice a group from the Camp of the Fire Bow heading toward a distant area. Lara stops and says,
"Larios... he went into a battle alone."
They exchange worried looks before rushing toward the direction where they left him.
Larios walks alone through a forest in the daylight, his thoughts racing:
"Who are these two warriors? And what do they want from me?"
Soon, he spots a red bridge stretching across a river, surrounded by sakura trees. He cautiously approaches, hearing the faint crackle of smoke. Suddenly, two masked figures appear. One is seated on a rock, while the other stands beside him, staring intently at Larios.
The seated figure speaks
"You've arrived... Now, what is your decision?"
Larios raises his head with confidence:
"I've made my choice. I refuse to go back with you."
The seated figure sighs:
"How unfortunate. I had hoped you'd choose the right path."
The standing masked warrior steps forward, raising his hand. In an instant, a powerful beam composed of black strikes shoots toward Larios, tearing through the air with a menacing roar.
Larios narrowly dodges, but one of the strikes grazes him, throwing him against a tree. He collapses, clutching his side in pain. Despite this, he grips his sword tightly and rises again.
The seated masked figure remarks:
"You're nothing but a pawn in our game. Don't resist—it's your destiny."
Angered, Larios presses his hand against his sword, a crimson aura emanating from his eyes. A drop of blood falls from his brow as he readies himself, surging toward the masked warrior.
Larios engages the standing masked warrior in a fierce exchange of blows. The masked figure moves with blinding speed, his attacks leaving deep gashes and overwhelming Larios. The ground trembles beneath them, the clash of their weapons echoing like thunder.
At a critical moment, Larios channels his inner strength, gripping his sword to unleash a powerful light. The strike shatters the masked warrior's armor, sending him tumbling into the river.
The other masked warrior rises slowly, observing the scene with a smirk:
"You defeated my brother, but can you handle me?"
Though weakened, Larios charges at him with a final blow. However, the masked warrior effortlessly blocks it and vanishes, leaving behind these chilling words:
"Don't think this is the end. We will meet again."
Exhausted, Larios collapses after the battle. Moments later, a team from the Camp of the Fire Bow arrives, carrying him back to the camp for treatment.
In a dark, shadowy location, the remaining masked warrior stands before a swirling black figure. It is Caligula, the leader of the church, who speaks in a deep, ominous voice:
"Your brother's loss was anticipated. He was merely a tool. Continue to watch Larios closely. Soon, I'll send more bearers of the stone symbols to complete the mission."
The masked warrior replies:
"He showed the power of light… Perhaps he is from that rare lineage."
Caligula responds:
"That's possible, but time will reveal the truth. For now, follow your orders."