The moment was silent, with nothing but the sounds of crackling embers and the struggling grunts of Asahi being heard. It was as if time slowed down with Asahi staring directly through Phthonus' eyes.

A flash of memories burst into Asahi.

He remembered screaming at the others, though he never meant to. Moments flashed: slamming Drimi on the ground. Beating Phthonus to a pulp. Spewing his blood in the air and making everyone scream.

Waiting for a response, everyone watched as Asahi stared at Phthonus. The sun glistened and peeled out from the thick clouds, beaming on the two like a spotlight. Phthonus released a deep sigh and slowly took off his scarf. What was behind that fabric was no other than a bright grin.

"I know that wasn't you, but I respect you for being honest. It was my fault that I didn't tell you I saved your sister earlier…."

Asahi clenched his fist, released an exaggerated sigh, and interrupted.

"Yes… I know that. It wasn't my fault at all for exposing you in front of all these individuals. Even despite showing the worst of me, I…. can't believe that you still offered your hand."

Phthonus backed away and shook his head.

The atmosphere stayed silent. Phthonus tilted his head down and stared at his gold bracelet. Beautiful jewels were scattered across the shimmering chain. Suddenly, Phthonus heard a voice—a familiar one, echoing from long ago.

*"Please… dear Phthonus, no matter if it's a monster or a criminal, there is always a hint of love within each of their hearts. NO matter how evil they are, they always have a reason they are this way. Even if you are treated harshly, still persist in treating them with respect. And maybe someday, you might be treated the same as you treated them. Just have faith."

It was his long-lost lover's voice; the one that helped him when he was in the sands of Zomrack. A shimmering tear formed in Phthonus' eye as he imagined his lover's smile. He remembered all of her words and how they made him continue his life.

The moment continued; Phthonus stepped forward and touched the bracelet, saying calmly to Asahi about what it was.

"Long ago, I had a lover. She was such a nice and caring individual that I simply couldn't let go. When I lost her, I grew envious and cold. If it wasn't for her words, I wouldn't be in this state right now."

Phthonus nodded his head and wiped off a tear from his face.

He felt a tight grasp within his hand, followed by a gentle voice.

"I know what it is like to lose someone."

Phthonus slowly tilted upward and saw Asahi smiling and nodding to him.

He faintly whispered as he placed his hand over Phthonus' shoulder.

" 'Treat others how you want to be treated.' That's a quote that was passed down to me every time I visited a new world. Regardless of one's location, they will always be subject to the same rules. I'm glad you understand."

Asahi turned to The Kitsune and saw it whimper in pain, with flames over its head. He bit his lip, then tilted his head toward the rest of the group. Seeing all the colorful varieties of eyes staring at him, Asahi stepped forward and raised his voice with confidence.

"Everyone! I… apologize for what I did. I know it wasn't necessary. I know it was cruel and unjust to everyone. But now you know this, what you saw from me in the past was the worst I will ever be…

Asahi grabbed his blade and tightened his grip. His gray eyes reflected the glossy surface of the sword, as if it were a mirror. Asahi turned his head back to the group and took a step forward.

"Everyone has a worst side, but that worst side can be fixed if you learn from its mistakes. Like the edge of a sword, no matter how rusted and broken it is, it still has remaining pieces of its former self that make it whole…

He took a deep breath and swung the blade through the air. The three knights, Phthonus, Aletha, and the rest of the village, watched as he stepped up and stood in front of everyone, with the sun beaming down on his gleaming white hair. His voice echoed over the forest.

"Think of human lives as a sword! Though it might be broken physically, there would always be pieces to make you, you!"

A silence formed around the village.

No one spoke; all were shocked by Asahi's words. As Asahi slowly lowered his blade and turned toward the injured Kitsune, a loud, deep voice sounded from behind the group.

"Yeah, I trust this boy!"

Then, another.

"Such kind and thoughtful words… he redeemed himself."

"Your personality is as beautiful as your looks!"

The entire crowd cheered Asahi on, with Belial and Phthonus joining in as well. Aletha backed up and stared at her brother in awe, unable to believe what she heard.

"Those were the words from my brother?"

Suddenly, Drimi sprinted toward Asahi and slapped the back of his head with a loud chuckle. It was obvious that her 'masculine' personality returned to her. She yelled with a crooked voice.

"I knew you had a brain in ya'! Keep it up, and don't make those words go to waste!"

Sally clapped her hands, while the others bowed down in respect.

"That's what a god is…"

As Asahi blinked and cracked his knuckles, Phthonus walked up to Asahi, patted him on the back, and released a light chuckle. A genuine feeling of thought and respect was put inside that light chuckle from Phthonus, as if all of the bad thoughts were washed away.

"I accept your apology."

Asahi's eyes widened in shock; he believed that Phthonus had learn a lesson during the time they were in this forest.

"You… do?"

As Phthonus was about to finish his sentence, the beautiful aqua-haired woman walked over to Asahi and spoke to him in an elegant manner.

"I understand, and I forgive you for what you did in the basement. Your true self is different from what I saw. If you can keep this up, maybe one day you can relieve the citizens of Pladtioa from the corrupting rule of The Queen."

Though Asahi never knew what Marina meant, he nodded his head and kept that request in mind.

"Okay… I'll make sure to do--

Suddenly, Phthonus tapped Asahi's back and whispered while crossing his arms.

"Pretend that never happened. Forget what has been and focus on the present. You are a better young man than I thought you were. A brave soul, a learning soul that can pass through his problems. I suppose…"

As a small silence formed between Asahi and Phthonus, he raised his voice and stepped up with a tone of confidence surging around him.

"…I suppose that gods do have feelings just like humans."

Both the wanderers' eyes widened in shock. Hearing those words coming from Phthonus' mouth deeply paralyzed them.

Despite remembering the situation so clearly, Asahi was delighted to listen to those words from Phthonus.

While he turned away and gave a thumbs up, Aletha rolled her thumbs, slightly smiled, and whispered to Phthonus with a forgiving tone.

"Thank you… Phthonus. For forgiving my big brother, Asahi. I knew he was a better person than that, and I knew he learned from his mistakes."

"No problem…"

Just as they were about to stand up, a tremor shook the entire area. Suddenly, a wall of flames scorched the entire plain of grass, revealing a solid ancient stone platform beneath the scorched vegetation. The villages' buildings were demolished and tossed into the burning embers.

"What's that?"

All of them hastily turned to The Kitsune's position and saw that she wasn't there. Aletha shrieked.

"Where's The Kitsune?"

Then, from above, like raindrops falling from the sky, the Kitsune pounded the ground, forcing a massive pillar to rise from the stone plate. Chunks of rock splattered into the air and pierced through the dirt. The density of the fog increased, and embers and ice crackled around the area. At the center of the pillar was a sparkling, glistening object hovering over a stone plate.

There were trees surrounding the rectangular stone plate, as if it served as an arena. Asahi faintly mumbled as everyone backed away.

"What's… that?"

From out of the blue, a loud young voice pierced out from the mumbling crowd of goblin villagers.

"It's The Fruit!"

All Drimi, Belial, Sally, Phthonus, Marina, Asahi, and Aletha's eyes widened in surprise.

"HUH?!"

* * * * * * * *

All were surprised that the location of the rumored Fruit was nowhere but beneath their feet. Even Asahi and Aletha were shocked that this platform was hidden beneath the village all this time.

With each step the Kitsune took, another tremor shook the forest. The form of this beast was unimaginable. Its fur was mocha, striped red from belly to head. The arena's perimeter blazed, blocking any way in or out.

Asahi and Aletha realized they were the only ones inside the arena's borders.

Pivoting their footsteps, Asahi and Aletha slowly lift their blades up and quiveringly make eye contact with the approaching beast. Her eyes were engulfed in a bright crimson.

The view of eleven burning tails waved back and forth, as if it were gargantuan cornstalks swaying with the breeze. The Kitsune's size was noticeably larger than it was before. Her footsteps trembled and shook the arena, forcing the people to be knocked back from the perimeter with a massive, forced shockwave.

As Kitsune's nose leaned toward the wanderers, she raised her voice and lifted all of her tails up toward the scorching air.

"Flee, or face the wrath of the one who raises all."

Despite the warning, Asahi and Aletha stared into the Kitsune's eyes, blades raised toward the beast's head. The Kitsune slowly backed away as a deep, feminine voice screamed from outside the wall of flames.

"Asahi, Aletha, we can't get through these walls! You have to use up all your strength and slay the beast yourselves! Just… follow what your hearts tell you! Think about what this beast caused that led it and us to this point!"

Blistering flames formed a wall of fire. Anxiety, confusion, and shock eroded Asahi and Aletha's resolve.

The wanderers advanced, hands trembling as they locked eyes with the Kitsune's crimson gaze. Sweat streamed down their faces. Asahi gripped his blade, stepped into the Kitsune's path, and spoke.

"We won't! The villagers, the people, and Dreamtoe Cliff never deserved your punishments! It's just a false assumption fabricated by the lies you were told by your creator!"

The Kitsune bared her fangs and snarled. Her flames flared even brighter.

"How dare you mock my creator!? You two are the reason why my wrath is unleashed! As I said again, I have mercy on you two. LEAVE or face the consequences of my flames!"

Asahi and Aletha narrowed their eyes and clenched their swords, burning with rage. The fumes choked their minds, searing fury pulsed in their hearts.

As the Kitsune turned to the treetops, Aletha scraped her blade on the ground, sparking metal. A memory of the slain man flashed. Aletha gripped her weapon and mumbled, barely audible.

"No, he never deserved that…."

The journalist who searched for his children inspired Aletha to move forward.

As she got closer, Asahi looked down and remembered what he did to Aletha.

"What could this force do to others? How many lives has she ruined by heightening emotions?"

Asahi stepped forward, clenched his fists, and yelled at the Kitsune.

"You have caused so much pain with your mind-tangling forces!"

The Kitsune looked both visibly frustrated and furious at the two.

It seemed she never truly wished to kill them.

Despite the odds, the Kitsune swung her eleven burning tails overhead, opened her jaw, ignited her claws with white light, and sprang forward with a roar that echoed through the forest.

"Then face your punishment!"

In one complete bolt, the Kitsune teleported to Asahi and swung her tails toward his head.

The arena's burning aura screamed around him. He closed his eyes, dodged, pivoted, and swung at the Kitsune. A loud clang rang out. Asahi dodged fireballs and leaped over ash puddles.

"Pay for what you did!"

The Kitsune swung at Asahi. Aletha sprang up and attacked, her swift swing leaving a white streak. Overwhelmed by fumes, she inhaled sharply and collapsed to her knees.

"Not again…"

Asahi, breathless and determined, circled the arena, mustering his remaining strength. With resolve, he charged, swinging his blade and clashing with a Kitsune tail.

Sparks flew as he severed one of the Kitsune's eleven tails. White dust spurted from the wound. As she howled, the Kitsune lashed her tails, hurling Asahi into the air.

"AGH!" He screamed with his dust spilling from his leg.

Aletha lay on the floor, chest heaving, sweat soaking her, arm shaking from the heat.

"I can't…"

Aletha's grip weakened. She let her blade slip from her hand and felt the intense flames singe her hair, the ends curling away into the smoke.

Asahi kept fighting, wounds blistering. He struck, kicked, and dodged scratches.

The fumes lifted. Asahi remembered Aletha's crying face and, fueled by that memory, strengthened his attacks. He powerfully swung at the Kitsune's legs. Sweat and blood stained his face and hair.

The Kitsune leaped and swung; Asahi dodged, slid, turned, and struck. As he fought, Asahi whispered quiveringly to himself.

"You made me show my worst, you made many children disappear… You even…."

Ash and charcoal flooded his lungs—he coughed, staggered, and attacked. Shouting, he repeated the assault pattern. Aletha, face pressed to the molten ground, squinted up at the fight.

Exhaustion wore on Asahi. Dust evaporated as brown cyclones tossed him in all directions.

"ASAHI!"

Aletha slowly raised her head. Through a blurry haze, she saw Asahi striking, jumping, and leaping against the Kitsune—his Dust trailing every movement.

"Huh?"

Behind the beast, by the wobbling trees, stood a luminescent, tall, brown-haired man with a beard, clutching the same book. Aletha's eyes widened, her heart jumped. She faintly muttered, coldly.

"The… journalist?"

Suddenly, behind the phantom spirit appeared two children, with round, wide eyes and brown tunics—the same clothing the Journalist had described before he died.

Aletha most definitely knew who the ghosts were.

"The… children…?"

She heard Asahi yell. Aletha turned and saw him slide across the ground, wounds opening, staining with ash. The Kitsune struck him with burning tails, again and again, flinging him into the wall of flames until his heart stopped. His white hair was parched, stained with charcoal.

Despite his pain, Asahi forced himself up, using his sword for support. Seeing her brother rise, Aletha recalled the words and drawings from the Journalist's diary, and determination welled up inside her.

"I could see the sky flicker from night to day…."

She tilted her head and watched as the sky flickered—blistering daylight was replaced by calm moonlight. Aletha recalled the last words in the book.

"I hope everyone's safe; I hope the villagers are okay… I hope…"

The sentence was missing from the page and from Aletha's memory.

Aletha gritted her teeth, pushed herself, and grabbed her blade. While she saw the spirits of the Journalist wave to her, the same voice she imagined when she read that book, echoed over the forest.

"...that my children are at peace and smiling. Those were the last words. The page was torn…"

All the memories and motivation surged back to Aletha.

Memories surged: Asahi's anger, Phthonus and Drimi's help, and the drawings in the journal.

Memories flashing, Aletha slowly approached The Kitsune, gripped her blade, and screamed.

"Stop!"

Just before the Kitsune tackled her, a transparent shield quickly formed around Aletha and Asahi. An elderly, cranky voice screamed from the flames.

"Set us free!"

Asahi turned and saw the Journalist using spiritual energy to defend them. Trembling, he asked Aletha,

"Who are they…?"

Aletha staggered to her feet, wiped ash and blood from her lip, and pulled Asahi upright with her free hand. She clutched her blade, leaned in close to him, and whispered with renewed resolve.

"They are the spirits of Dreamtoe."

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