We return with the CEO: this time, he is in a vast, dark space illuminated only by rows of monitors glowing above, below, and on all sides. Dubh stands at a podium, addressing a large crowd gathered to see him.
Dubh appears to be standing on an altar, as if he were some kind of deity to be worshipped. He is about to deliver a speech into the microphone.
"Ahem… Royal Mechanic recruits: pay attention."
The recruits—all the people gathered there—fall silent and listen intently.
"Society has been tainted by the power of the Crystals. People have forgotten reality, using glittering trails and magical powers to cover their problems. If things continue like this, the Land of the Gem will soon become unsustainable," Dubh declares, his words gripping the crowd. "Those pathetic 'Crystal Warriors' do nothing but perpetuate useless dreams. People have forgotten how to keep their feet on the ground to build a better future."
Moved by his own words, Dubh clenches his fist, raising it before him, and his voice grows louder.
"But Royal Mechanic represents progress. Together, we will create a world led by technology, leaving no space for magical Crystals clouding our judgment. We will build a world of useful, visionary people! Only we can save the future. Are you with me?"
The Royal Mechanic recruits cheer and chant. Many carry painful pasts and genuinely love their leader.
"Very soon, gentlemen, we will witness the birth of a new world…"
Dubh releases a sinister smile.
"One led by me," he mutters to himself.
*
Back with our heroes: as morning arrives, Geal and Bredgy are flying together on Uruta's back. For some reason, Geal is crying loudly, mumbling incomprehensible words as she buries her face in her knees. Bredgy and Uruta, confused, are forced to interact.
"Hey, Bredgy, can you ask Geal what's wrong, please? She's been like this all morning—it's unusual for her," Uruta whispers to avoid being overheard. "Normally, I'd comfort her myself, but I think it's better for you two to talk. You might understand each other better as women."
"O-Okay…" Bredgy agrees, slightly uncomfortable.
"I don't know how to comfort someone…" Bredgy thinks, watching Geal sob. "But if I don't, I'll look like a bad friend. I can't let Geal lose trust in me—I-I have to do this for the mission's sake…"
Delicately, the punk girl approaches Geal, trying not to intrude. Poor Geal hugs her knees as she wails.
"H-Hey, Geal, are you o—"
Before Bredgy can finish her question, Geal grabs her jacket violently and shakes her like a ragdoll.
"I rejected him! I rejected Mathias! He confessed his feelings, and I didn't return them. That must've hurt him so much—boo hoo hoo…!" Geal cries, finally letting it all out.
Geal hugs Bredgy as they sit on Uruta's feathers. Bredgy, unsure how to react, awkwardly makes an effort.
"Uh… I see." Bredgy strokes Geal's head in a mechanical gesture, offering some semblance of comfort. "Boys think they're the only ones who get hurt when they confess their feelings, but it hurts us just as much to reject them."
Hearing this, Geal calms down a little, genuinely comforted by Bredgy's words.
"It's okay, Geal. You didn't hurt Mathias by rejecting him. He's a good boy—I'm sure he'll move on," Bredgy concludes, her tone surprisingly convincing for someone like her.
"Thank you, Bredgy. You're a little weird sometimes… but at the end of the day, you're a great friend."
Our heroine stops crying and seems a bit more cheerful. Bredgy is stunned by what she just heard. Not only did Geal call her a friend—she called her a great friend.
A moment later, Bredgy silently thanks the AI-powered earpiece hidden in her ear, which fed her the perfect lines to salvage the situation.
"We're here!" Uruta shouts.
With that, both girls lean forward to take in the view below. Not far from them, a giant holographic sign reads: "Sketch City." Unlike Paintbrush Village, this place looks like a far more advanced metropolis.
A few miles ahead, Uruta descends onto a quiet street. Our heroines dismount and take in the city: it's full of skyscrapers and vibrant lights, giving it a futuristic feel. The area is bustling, with dazzling colors everywhere.
"It looks like the future, doesn't it?" Geal remarks, awestruck by her surroundings.
"Meh… I'm used to big cities. This looks pretty normal to me," Bredgy replies.
"Oh! That reminds me…"
Geal suddenly has an epiphany and starts poking around a nearby alley—or more precisely, rummaging through the trash bins. She begins digging into one of them.
"I've heard cities have lots of these…"
Then Geal pulls out a cockroach, holding it between her bare fingers, smiling as if she's found treasure.
"Here it is! I was running low…"
"Eww! How can you touch that with your hand?" Bredgy exclaims, equal parts disgusted and shocked.
Ignoring her, our heroine starts placing several cockroaches into a small glass jar while humming cheerfully.
"Geal isn't grossed out by things others consider disgusting. Yeah, I was surprised the first time I saw it too," Uruta chimes in.
"We don't know what the second trial will involve, so I need to gather as many traps as I can to be prepared," Geal explains while collecting more bugs in her jar.
Not long after, a chubby man in a suit—his body shape resembling an egg—approaches them.
"You're tourists, aren't you? I can always tell when someone's visiting," the man says, inserting himself into the scene.
Both girls and the bird give him their attention.
"Uh… yes. We came here to take the Trial of Perseverance. Do you know where it is, sir?" Bredgy asks.
"Oh, of course! Head to the city center, and you'll see the trial's icon. It's huge—you won't miss it." His expression darkens. "But be careful! Rumor has it that Royal Mechanic is monitoring the city. They've been stealing Crystals from people. If you're not careful, you could be their next targets."
Geal's expression shifts at the mention of Royal Mechanic, while the man gives Bredgy a discreet, sinister look.
"Don't worry—just 'follow the script,' and everything will be fine…" the egg-shaped man says, his eyes shadowed.
The punk girl immediately understands the message, but Geal tilts her head, clueless.
"I'll keep that in mind, sir. Thank you," Bredgy says, forcing a smile.
"Good! Be careful and enjoy the city."
The chubby man walks away. Meanwhile, Geal looks a little anxious.
"What a weirdo, huh? But I'm glad he warned us about Royal Mechanic." She narrows her eyes like a meerkat. "We'll need to stay alert!"
With her gaze focused, Bredgy remains silent for a moment.
"I get it. That man is one of our recruits. If he's here, it means Royal Mechanic is up to something. What could Mr. Dubh be planning now?" she wonders, watching the egg-shaped man disappear into the distance.
*
After exploring the city, our heroes reach their next destination: Geal, Bredgy, and Uruta enter the trial site. Unlike the previous trial, which took place in a forest, this one is set on a massive concrete platform marked with square patterns reminiscent of the Two-Tone Crystal's hues—already a hallmark of these trials.
As expected, a large crowd is gathered, all waiting for the trial to begin. Many wield powerful Crystals, and the trial's icon hovers above them.
"Gi, hi, hi! We've made it to the second trial! So exciting!" exclaims Geal.
"I just hope we're not too exposed. We don't want Royal Mechanic to attack," adds Bredgy, scanning her surroundings for any sign of danger.
Descending on a floating platform is an elderly man dressed similarly to the previous master, sporting an exceptionally long beard. The trial master, a bald, bespectacled man with a prominent nose, draws everyone's attention as he appears.
"Greetings, aspirants! Welcome to the Trial of Perseverance! My name is Rhys, and I'll be your Master this year. Is everyone ready to begin?" Rhys announces.
"Yes! Yes! Let's start already!" Geal cheers, bouncing in place. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"Okay. As its name suggests, this round will test your determination in the face of adversity—an essential quality for any Chosen One," Rhys explains, piquing the participants' curiosity. "The trial is simple: you will be enclosed within four walls of magic-reinforced concrete. Your sole task is to break through and escape. You can use any tools, weapons, or magic—everything is allowed. Anyone who escapes these walls within 24 hours will pass the trial. Those who fail to break through in time will be disqualified and must try again next year. Is that clear?"
"Yes!!!"
"Alright! Let the trial begin. Raise the walls!" Rhys commands.
With a sweeping gesture, Rhys lifts his palm skyward. Suddenly, the ground begins to tremble and crack, causing a stir among the participants. Massive black blocks rise from beneath their feet, trapping them within the four walls.
Meanwhile, in the distance, the stout man from earlier watches the scene unfold, holding a phone with a sinister expression.
"Now," he mutters.
On his command, something strange happens: a drone bearing the "R.M" insignia appears at the site. It grabs Uruta with a mechanical arm and carries him off. The bird struggles to free himself, but the drone's metal grip renders his efforts futile. All this unfolds before the eyes of Geal and Bredgy.
"What the heck?!" Uruta squawks.
Despite his thrashing, the drone drags Uruta through the air. Before the wall fully encloses her, Geal catches sight of the entire scene. Bredgy sees it too, now understanding what's going on. However, neither the other participants nor the Master seem to notice what is happening.
"Mr. Dubh sent someone to abduct Uruta, but why?!" Bredgy wonders.
"I can't grow big! I can't fight...!" Uruta cries, pecking desperately at the drone's metal arm.
Seeing the chaos, Geal tries to rush to Uruta's rescue, but before she can move, the concrete walls rise around her, trapping her like the rest of the participants.
"No! No! No!" Geal pounds the wall wildly, hurting the sides of her fists in the process. "Lower the wall! Please! I need to get out! I have to save my friend!"
Despite her furious efforts, the walls remain unscathed. These reinforced structures are far too strong, and no sound escapes to the outside.
"Break! Break! Break...!" Geal pleads as she strikes the wall in vain.
What began as the thrilling start of a trial has turned into a nightmare for Geal. Desperate, she fights to escape by any means. Fueled by adrenaline, she continues to pound the walls, but when she realizes her efforts are futile, she pauses to take a deep breath and calm herself. After all, the trial has already begun.
"Calm down, Geal. Trying to break the walls without a plan is pointless. Breathe and think of something..."
With that, our heroine pulls a potion from her trusty backpack and drinks it slowly, wincing at the taste.
"So sour!"
Immediately, the veins in her arms and legs thicken. Her body grows visibly more robust, exuding raw power.
"Enhanced Strength Potion!"
Now infused with the potion's effects, Geal strikes the walls with full force. Dust begins to fall, and visible damage appears on the once-impenetrable surface.
"I've got this. If I want to save Uruta, I have to pass this trial no matter what..." Geal thinks, her determination igniting like a blazing fire. "Royal Mechanic, I'm coming for you!" she roars, slamming into the walls with every ounce of her newfound strength. Ready to give it her all.