The enemy was losing ground. Fast.
Earthlings tore through the ranks — giants made of bark, moss, and rage. Their fists crushed steel. Their roars cracked stone. One ripped a soldier in two with its bare hands, tossing each half in opposite directions like it meant nothing.
Another slammed its foot down — the ground splintered, and five men were swallowed whole by roots that writhed like snakes.
But they didn't come alone.
High above, a shadow streaked across the smoke-filled sky.
Dagi.
Wings spread wide, sharp feathers glinting like obsidian in the moonlight. Each flap sent wind gusts screaming over the treetops. But this wasn't just flight.
It was a dive.
And on her back — crouched low, war paint smeared across her face, Nine held tight.
Eyes narrowed. Blades drawn. Hair wild in the wind.
Her bare shoulders gleamed with sweat and blood under the moon. Animal-hide wrapped her chest and waist, tight and battle-worn, bone charms clinking as Dagi screeched downward — a sound that split the night open.
She didn't wait for landing.
She jumped.
Mid-air. No hesitation.
Nine dropped like vengeance.
She twisted in the air and landed on one of the invaders with a crack — both feet on his chest, bones snapping beneath her as she drove a curved blade through his throat.
He didn't even scream. Just choked. Died.
She was already gone before he hit the ground.
Moving with speed as a force raised in the woods.
Raw. Unpredictable. Terrifying.
An intruder came at her — tall, armored, heavy.
She ducked under his swing, spun around his side and sliced the back of his knees clean. As he dropped, she buried a second blade in his spine.
Another tried to tackle her. She leapt — feet planting against his shoulders — and flipped behind him, slicing his throat mid-air.
Blood hit her legs. She didn't flinch.
The ground shook again.
To her right, an Earthling tore up the floor, tossing enemy soldiers into the air with a single sweep of its root-covered arm.
To her left — Dagi screamed again.
But this time, the eagle flew low across the battlefield, feathers ripping from her wings like daggers — piercing enemy after enemy, each impact bursting into a spray of red mist.
Nine ran with Dagi above her — both moving in sync. One from the sky. One through the mud.
A soldier lunged with a spear — Nine slid beneath it and cut his Achilles clean, then stood and stabbed him twice — once in the gut, once in the neck.
She didn't roar.
She didn't cheer.
She just kept moving — lips tight, eyes cold.
-West Woods—
The battle still echoed somewhere in the distance.
But here, in this clearing soaked with blood and broken roots, time had stopped.
Two dragged himself forward—his leg barely responding, one arm limp at his side. His other hand clawed at the dirt, pulling his battered body inch by inch.
Each breath came ragged, scraping the inside of his throat like broken glass. His ribs shifted like cracked wood. His jaw trembled. But he didn't stop.
"Six…" he croaked, voice frayed beyond recognition. "Stay with me…"
Just a few more feet.
Then he saw him.
Six.
Laid out like a fallen star. His bow lay snapped beside him like a broken wing. Blood darkened the dirt around his side where the mage's poison had crept deep. His chest rose—barely. Too faint.
Two collapsed beside him.
"No—no, no, no," he whispered, trembling fingers reaching for him, lifting his head gently into his lap. "Six. Open your damn eyes. Say something. Curse me. Laugh. Mock me. Just—say something."
Only silence.
Only pain.
Then—
"Two…" a whisper. So faint it could've belonged to the trees.
Two's chest caved in.
"I'm here," he choked out. "I'm here, brother. I'm not leaving you."
He took his hand, held it tight. "We've survived worse. You remember Coldfang Valley? You had a fever and still fought off those mercenary band. You made me soup with a broken arm, idiot. You can survive this."
Six blinked, barely there. A smile ghosted across his lips.
Two's heart cracked open.
"I'm here," he said, clutching his hand. "I'm right here, brother. You're gonna be fine, you hear me? We've survived worse. We always survive. We're them, remember? We don't die." His voice breaking he could barely speak with the mucus from his nose and the flowing tears from his eyes.
Six laughed—a short, helpless sound. "Damn right. We don't die. That's our rule. That's our oath."
Then a cough, wet and sharp. Blood spilled from his mouth.
Two's hand trembled as he wiped it away.
Then—One appeared from behind.
Bloody. Bruised. Breathing like he'd run through fire.
He saw Six—and dropped to his knees, like gravity had betrayed him.
"No…" One whispered, eyes wide. "No—don't you dare do this. Not now."
Two looked up. Eyes hollow. "He can't die. Not him. I still owe him a rematch. He said he'd outrun me. He promised."
Six's lips twitched. "You'd lose…"
"I always let you win," Two whispered, tears falling. "You know that, right? I just… liked seeing you smile."
Six gave the faintest laugh. "Liar…"
Then—his lips parted one last time. But no sound followed. Only breath.
A final, slow exhale.
And then—stillness.
His body sagged.
His hand slipped from Two's grasp.
Two's face crumpled. "No. No. No, no, no—Six, come on—"
He clutched him close, shaking now. Rocking him like a brother, like a child, like a promise he couldn't let go.
"Come back. Just one more joke. One more damn smirk. Take it back. Take it back—please…"
One turned away—but the tears still came. He wiped them like they were shameful. But they burned through his fingers.
"You were our balance," One whispered, voice cracking. "You were the one who kept the fire from burning out. You were our shield… even when we didn't ask for it."
Two's head pressed to Six's still chest.
His thoughts were screaming:
> "You were better than me. You were calmer. Smarter. You knew when to speak, when to shut me up. You never chased glory. You were the heart of us. And now… you're just gone."
"I should've taken that hit, If only I was stronger than this I could have protected him," Two muttered. "god..!, I should've taken it, instead…." He sobs, his heart tearing apart.
One placed a shaking hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I arrived too late." One buried his face his palm as hot tears rolled down.
Sobs.
Only the wind now, and the distant cry of Dagi somewhere above the canopy.
Two sobbed into Six's shoulder. "I wasn't ready to say goodbye…"
One's eyes were red. His voice softer than it had ever been.
"None of us were."