The morning sun glowed over the town of sengun in the rua city as the sky lit up with bursting firecrackers. The Mesonia Festival was in full swing. Streets overflowed with people children laughing, families eating together, music echoing through the alleys. Joy ruled the city.
Nova and Muscle moved carefully through the crowd, faces partially hidden beneath cloaks.
"Damn, it's so crowded, man," Muscle muttered, pushing past a vendor.
Nova nodded. "Yeah. First, we need to get out of the town. If we cross the border, we'll be safe."
"The Mesonia border's close. After that, it's Sylvaris," Muscle said, eyes scanning for guards.
They finally made their way out of the congested market after a grueling walk. Nova spotted a distant gate.
"There it is," he said, pointing. "We're almost free!"
But just as hope lit his voice, a massive explosion rang out behind them. A blast so loud it echoed across the sky. The ground trembled.
Nova whipped around. The city they just left... was in flames.
"Wh-What just happened?" Muscle gasped, his voice shaken.
Nova's eyes widened. "Rua City... it's getting wiped out."
"We gotta leave, now!" Muscle urged. "If we stay, we'll get blamed for this too!"
Nova hesitated. He looked down, fists clenched.
"There were kids in that market," he said quietly. "Families. Friends. All happy just a moment ago. Now... they're probably terrified or worse."
Muscle turned to him. "You seriously want to go back?"
Nova didn't answer with words. His eyes burned with resolve.
Meanwhile, inside the city, chaos reigned. The joyful streets had become a hellscape. Buildings burned, people screamed, smoke choked the air.
A man strolled casually through the flames. Thick yellow hair. Cigarette hanging from his lips. A twisted grin.
Polo.
"Bahahah!" he laughed, stepping over a fallen stall. "Look at 'em! Crying like ants in fire. This is what real joy looks like!"
He noticed a little girl sobbing beside her bleeding mother. He raised his blade.
"No witnesses," he sneered.
He swung the sword
A hand caught his wrist mid-swing.
"Bingo," said a voice. A fist slammed into Polo's face, launching him backward into a wall.
It was Muscle.
"Nova," he called, "you said we should save them, right?"
Nova smiled back. Without hesitation, he ran to the injured mother and carried her to safety. He scanned the area most people were injured but alive.
"We're lucky," Nova muttered. "No one died…"
An old man clutched his shoulder. "Please… save us from him."
"I will," Nova promised.
Meanwhile, Polo staggered up, spitting blood and cigarette ash. He charged at Muscle, his blade glinting in the firelight. Muscle blocked the strike but winced as the sword scratched his arm.
"Fast!" he hissed, stepping back.
Polo pressed the attack slashing, punching, grabbing. He kicked Muscle to the ground, then planted his foot on Muscle's chest.
"Why are you even here?" Polo snarled.
"Because my friend asked me to," Muscle groaned.
Polo laughed. "Your friend? That's pathetic"
Nova stepped between them, axe in hand. "Leave him alone."
"Oh? You again?"
Polo lunged. Nova blocked, but Polo's knee struck his ribs—blood sprayed from Nova's mouth. Nova retaliated with a flurry of punches, his axe swinging in controlled arcs.
He grabbed Polo, hammering him with blow after blow. Blood burst from Polo's nose. But Polo wasn't done he flipped a table, ducked low, and kicked Nova into a wall.
"Nova!" Muscle cried out.
Then Muscle sprang to his feet and channeled everything into one massive punch his fist collided with Polo's jaw.
CRACK!
Polo flew through the air, crashed into a stone wall, and dropped motionless. Blood trickled from his skull.
"We… we finally beat him," Muscle said, breathing hard.
But before they could breathe, a chilling presence loomed behind them.
A hand grabbed Muscle by the hair and hurled him aside like a ragdoll.
A figure stepped from the shadows, eyes glowing with quiet rage.
Zorlak Meson ,the prince of Mesonia had arrived.