An elderly Orden grandmother sits in her snug, timeworn cottage, knitting a masterpiece on a silk canvas— a map of Ordan. Her cheerful hums weave through the air like threads, filling the lonely space with life. Pausing to glance at a mirror by her side, her eyes meet the reflection of a woman whose youth has long ebbed away. A flicker of sorrow touches her features, accentuated by the green and white dirndl dress she wears. But the melancholy vanishes as a knock echoes from the door. She rises, her curiosity piqued, and finds herself face-to-face with two figures— one dear, one unfamiliar.

Beside her granddaughter stands a young Ordan man clad in battle-scarred armor. Scratches, dents, and punctures mar the surface, complementing his rugged demeanor. His untamed finned hair sweeps in chaotic strands, a wild mess like seaweed caught in a storm. In stark contrast, Margaret radiates youthful innocent charm in her pristine red summer dress, her feathered finned hair framing her face like a gentle breeze.

Gala "So, you must be Jaco... rather peculiar attire for such peaceful times, don’t you think? Or perhaps you have a penchant for brawling like some delinquent."

Jaco "As due to respect to you, Madam, this noble armor has accompanied me through countless battles—

Margaret "Oh, enough of your tall tales, Jaco! Everyone knows you put those ‘battle scars’ there yourself. I caught you doing it during break— scratching away in the bathroom."

Jaco "W-W-W-Wh-What?! That's a major breach of rules, Margaret!"

Margaret "Hehe, no one saw me. So, what’s your move, Sir Knight?"

Jaco "I... er... fine. You’ve bested me this time."

With his pride visibly wounded, Jaco turns his face away, sulking.

Gala chuckles softly, her thoughts betraying her amusement at how endearing the two are together. She ushers them to the dinner table, where Margaret suddenly halts in wide-eyed shock.

Margaret "Wait... is this... IS THIS LEVIATHAN STEAK?!"

Gala "No need to shout, pumpkin. Yes, it’s Leviathan steak, a gift from an old buddy of mine."

Jaco "A feast worthy of a valiant knight! Meat so mighty, it sings to my soul!"

Gala leans near to Margaret...

Gala "[So this is what you meant by him being a ‘knightly’ fellow?]"

Margaret (lets out a small chuckle) "Just bear with it. He’ll wear himself out eventually."

Jaco (raising his fork high) "I shall devour this flesh! Its strength shall fuel my service to the great country of...

As Jaco's stream of rambling finally winds down, the girls exchange amused glances, letting his words fade into a shy silence. The last bites of their leviathan steaks vanish from their plates, and a contented stillness settles over the room.

Breaking the stillness, Gala settles herself in the center of a cozy, well-worn bed, patting the spot on her left as Margaret slides in beside her. Together, they glance toward Jaco, inviting him to take his place on the right. For a moment, hesitation flickers in his eyes— a knightly instinct to maintain propriety, perhaps. But then his gaze falls on the book in Gala’s hands, and a spark of unrestrained joy lights his face. With a burst of excitement, he hops into bed without another thought.

Jaco "Is that the legendary tome of true tales from the great heroes of old?!"

Gala (smirking) "Indeed, it is. Ready to dive in? Oh, and I assume Margaret has been keeping you up to speed on the current act?"

Jaco (nodding earnestly) "Lady Margaret has enlightened me with such wonders, far richer than the falsehoods paraded in schools and libraries. For that, I owe her a debt of gratitude."

Gala (chuckling softly) "I see... well then, let us continue where we left off."

The Guardian presses his broad, tired back against the unyielding stone door, his mighty shield braced tightly against it. With each thunderous strike from the monstrosity on the other side, cracks race across the ice barrier he’s conjured. Yet, the frozen wall repairs itself relentlessly, defying the beast’s assault. Beads of sweat slide down his face, dripping onto the stone floor— a testament to hours of unyielding strain and resolve... When will this end?

Beside him, his partner crouches, intently fiddling with a peculiar gray metal sphere. The object is smooth, save for a central button and two etched grooves running along its upper and lower hemispheres. They wait, breath held, for the briefest lull in the relentless onslaught.

The moment comes. The pounding halts, the silence heavy with anticipation.

Adrian seizes the opportunity, gripping his shield tight. With a guttural roar, he charges forward, punching through the ice barrier and slamming the stone door wide open.

Adrian "Now!"

Noah presses the button on the sphere and hurls it through the gap with practiced precision. Adrian slams the door shut and summons another wall of ice, sealing them off once more. A strange, high-pitched ringing fills the air, escalating into an otherworldly hum. Then, countless sharp, electrifying sounds ripple through the space, not unlike the clash of lightsabers meeting in battle—

The cascading noise gives way to something more primal— agonized cries echoing from countless beings, reverberating through the air. And then... silence.

Noah, with a deep breath, kicks down the icy wall and cautiously nudges the stone door open. The scene beyond is unnerving... the pile of bodies is gone, leaving only a mass of grotesque, sanguine arms, neatly diced into perfect square patches. Noah marches triumphantly and gives one of the chunks a sharp kick, his face filled with satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Adrian crouches beside the strange organic remains, inspecting them for any lingering signs of life. His gloved hand probes the flesh, but the verdict is clear— it’s dead. He scratches his head, mulling over what use the bizarre substance might hold. Just as he’s about to rise, a sloshing noise catches his attention.

Turning, he spots Noah holding one of the crimson cubes, squeezing it with both hands to extract its blood, which he then pours over both their torn coats. His expression is one of utter disgust, but he continues without hesitation.

Adrian "What are you doing?!"

Noah (shrugging) "That thing was clearly the alpha predator of this place! Smearing its blood on us should make us much scarier than whatever else lurks out there!"

Adrian (sighs) "You do realize you could just dip the coats into the puddles of blood already on the ground, right? No need to give me a heart attack."

Noah (grinning) "Relax, would you? Actually... we need to take a breather. This place is seriously messing with my head."

Adrian (smirking) "What happened to all that conviction you had a day before about wiping out these ‘abominable masses’?"

Noah (leaning against the blood-stained wall) "Even the greatest warriors need to rest, Adrian. Not just the body— but the mind, too."

Adrian (pausing and surprised) "That’s... surprisingly profound. Didn’t expect that from you."

Noah (chuckling lightly) "There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Adrian. Not even Sarah’s ever learned about the real me."

Adrian (turns away) "Must be nice, being in a pair, eh, Noah?"

Noah "What do you mean by that? Aren't you and Diana also in— Oh... wait a minute. Now that I think about it, you and Diana didn’t really seem that close during our time in the app."

Adrian (chuckling with a dry expression) "Yeah, well... one of us is a nerd raised in a library by a sentient robot, and the other’s a buff, gorgeous gymnast who could probably bench-press me a hundred times over."

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Noah (grinning) "Wow, you’re quite honest about that. But I’m guessing you’d never say it to her face, would you? I get it, though."

Adrian "I thought it’d be easier for you since you and Sarah hang out so much."

Noah (leaning onto the floor) "As I said before, my whole creepy, edgy shtick was just an act. Building a relationship on a lie is asking for trouble. I’ll confess when she knows the real me."

Adrian (raising an eyebrow) "So tell me, what’s the ‘real Noah’ like?"

Noah (with a wistful smile) "Just a timid, shy kid from the Canadian countryside. I grew up in a cozy cabin with my lovely, caring parents. They raised me to value virtue and knowledge—Heck, we even had a room filled with books."

Adrian (laughing) "Well, at least it wasn’t an entire lighthouse stuffed with them."

Noah (laughs along) "Yeah, we're kinda alike."

Adrian (shaking his head) "Not quite. After spending a few days with you, I’ve picked up on a few things."

Noah (leans up from the floor) "Creepy, but go on."

Adrian (with a stern stare) "Despite your whole rejection of the edgy persona, I think part of it still clings to you. Your facade left some residue, Noah. You’ve got a bit of a conflicted mind."

Noah (startled) "Wha— I don’t get it!"

Adrian (points to a cube across from them) "Remember when you kicked that cube of flesh earlier? You looked pretty happy about it."

Noah (backs away) "That was just a victory kick!"

Adrian (raises a finger) "Yes, but you must remember—that thing was once a living breathing creature. What you did wasn’t any different from punting a lifeless corpse. Yet, in that moment, you were completely unfazed. Even now… your face doesn’t seem particularly bothered."

Noah (clamps his teeth) "Okay… maybe some of Sarah’s obsession rubbed off on me. Wait! I was disgusted when I squeezed that thing onto our coats! So some part of me is still there!"

Adrian (raising an eyebrow) "Yet you did it for the sake of survival, fully aware there was a far less messy— and significantly less edgy— option of just dipping it into the puddle of blood right below us. It’s a perfect display of the superego at work."

Noah (blinking) "Superego?"

Adrian (leaning against his shield) "The fine line between conscious and subconscious thought— a fascinating concept, though perhaps a bit too heavy to unpack right now. My point is, that you’re conflicted. You say you love Sarah and want to confess your true self to her, but… wouldn’t it just be easier to lean fully into the edgy persona and confess that way? Or… is something holding you back?"

Noah (pausing, then gives a determined look) "It’s my parents… well, my dad. I don’t want to change— not yet. Not until we go back, and I see him again."

Adrian (nodding thoughtfully) "Ah, so it’s a clash of expectations. That’s rough, but if that’s your choice, then I’ll help you shed the edgy influence Sarah’s brought upon you."

Noah (snorting) "You sound like a priest accusing Sarah of witchcraft. So, what’s the grand plan, big man?"

Adrian (smiling) "As a man of unwavering virtue and self-restraint, I’ll spot every moment you stray from your true self. When that happens, I’ll knock you back into place— whether it’s with words or, if necessary, my shield."

Noah (smiling back) "That’s nice and all, but… what if we reunite with Sarah, and I’ve forgotten how to act edgy?"

Adrian (smirking) "Wouldn’t that make it easier to confess with your real self?"

Noah (pausing, then nodding slowly) "Yeah… but I don’t want to rush it. I like to take things slowly."

Adrian (shrugging) "Fair enough. When the time comes, I’ll be there to help."

Noah "Thanks, Adrian. Let’s keep moving."

Adrian collects the remaining cubes with care, stowing them into his inventory, while Noah travels back toward the exit. Seeing that the path is clear, they climb out of the bunker and glance out over the barren landscape, taking in the sight of countless deformed creatures locked in conflicts that seem far more twisted than the eye can fully comprehend. A sense of unease gnaws at the air as the Purger’s grip tightens around his axe, his hesitation palpable as he considers whether to engage these foul creatures. Adrian, ever the reassuring presence, pats him on the back, his comforting smile a reminder of their larger goal— the Great Heart, the potential source of this grotesque and corrupt realm.

They march southward, in search of another structure, more clues to unravel the twisted mysteries surrounding them.

Suddenly, the ground trembles beneath their feet.

Without warning, twelve massive, worm-like creatures burst from the earth, their flesh wriggling and undulating with an unsettling rhythm. Each of their enormous bodies ends with a single, unblinking eye with slitted pupils— staring directly at them. Adrian raises his shield instinctively, bracing for a fight, his eyes tracking the movements of the strange creatures. But the worms' heads lower, eyes fixated on the blood-soaked coats draped over both of their backs. A shudder runs through their bodies, and with an eerie, synchronized motion, they retreat into the ground, leaving behind jagged holes as dark as the abyss itself.

Noah watches the holes with an inexplicable urge to jump in, drawn by the mysterious darkness beneath them. Adrian, however, notices this and swiftly snaps him out of it with a sharp knock to the side of his head.

Noah "Ouch! What the heck— Wait, didn’t you just hurt me?"

Adrian "Yeah, that was pretty obvious."

Noah (puts out both of his hands) "No no no! Wait! What about your pacifism?! Why didn’t that curse activate?!"

Adrian (rubs his chin) "... That’s odd. I think maybe, since my intention was for your benefit, it counts as pacifism. My curse is more specific and gracious than I initially thought."

Noah (shows a relieved smile) "Well, at least I don’t have to worry about you getting knocked out anytime soon."

They march forward and a large creature is in the distance.

Adrian and Noah march forward, spotting a large creature in the distance. It is a giant, humanoid head with acid-green skin, its face contorted into a constant frown. The creature moves by rolling on its side, crushing everything in its path. As it rolls over its victims, their bodies stick to its flesh, dissolving into green slime that seeps into its skin.

Suddenly, the creature pauses. Twelve worm-like creatures emerge from the ground, blocking its path. Adrian scans the situation quickly, his mind racing. The massive head, known as 'The Hollow Head', has a hollow interior where everything it crushes is sucked into an acidic void within. This increases its size as it absorbs more creatures. It can then expel the remains of its victims as massive, floating constructs that follow its every command and can rain down acid on its enemies.

Adrian observes the worms— "Optical Legions". They share a collective intelligence, using advanced pack tactics. Their slimy bodies are tougher than steel and resistant to extreme temperatures. As Adrian continues his analysis, he encounters a series of "???"— his powers are unable to reveal more about these creatures. He sighs, pulling out his handbook, and flipping to the back pages to record the new information.

Adrian (muttering to himself as he writes) “I’ll need to document everything about these creatures.”

The tension builds as the Hollow Head trembles, its enormous maw widening as a grotesque mass begins to writhe out.

The Optical Legions, previously unflinching, back away in fear, but no matter how far they retreat, they are overshadowed by the monstrous construct. Its acid rains down, dissolving half the worm pack in mere seconds. The remaining half manages to burrow into the earth, escaping the downpour.

Adrian, disappointed by the quick destruction, is ready to close his notebook when Noah suddenly shakes his shoulder, pointing to two rumbling patches of earth that flank the enormous creature. Its enormous eye flicks between the two spots, an unsettling sense of anxiety visible in its swaying movements.

The Optical Legions emerge once more, but now their bodies are plated in the very earth they stand on, Adrian realizing they are now immune to the acid. He notices their eyes are no longer affected by the acid. The creature's face twists into a nastier frown upon this sight, its teeth grinding as it jumps up and down. Each slam causes the construct above it to rain down bloated corpses that explode upon impact. Only one worm on each side remains, yet... the worms do not act.

Before the creature can strike again, the ground trembles. A burst of red energy explodes from behind it, striking the Hollow Head. The energy rips the green color from its body, leaving it motionless. The burst continues, destroying the acid and goo surrounding the Head's constructs, causing the hundreds of corpses to collapse onto the ground. From the earth, an entity far larger than the Hollow Head emerges— a gargantuan worm, its body covered in clean, diamond-shaped scales, crowned with horns resembling torn veins. A crudely carved scar in the shape of a heart marks the exposed flesh on its crown.

The Lord of the Worms eyes down the helpless creature, releasing a beam of red light.

From the impact spot, its body begins to divide over and over again until the pieces are the size of worms which then transform into more Optical Legions just as small. A grotesque sea of worms spreads out and devours the fallen, growing up into an adult in mere seconds. Feeling the danger, the pair begin the sprint in the opposite direction until they eventually the very feet of the D-shaped continent.

Once they reach the cliffside, panting and exhausted, they lie down, gazing into the abyss below.

Noah (with both hands to the side) "Shit, what do we do now?! You saw how many there were! And that fucking tattoo! That thing is clearly working for the Great Heart!"

Adrian (grabs Noah's shoulder) "Calm down and take a deep breath, Noah. The situation may seem dire... hopeless even. But there’s always light at the end of the tunnel."

Noah (returns his gaze to the abyss with a frown) "I see where we’re looking! Just a pitch-black abyss! Does your power give us something useful?!"

Adrian (nervously grinning) "Kind of. It says that the abyss is home to enormous creatures called 'Leviathans.' My powers tell me they are solitary hunters, very intelligent creatures. Some of them are even capable of speech."

Noah (his jaw drops) "No... you can't be serious! Are we really going to ask them for help?!"

Adrian "Yes, because it says they are not only negotiable, but... tameable."

Noah (facepalms) "Tameable?... Are you out of your mind?! We’ll be dead long before we can even say 'hello'!"

Adrian (smirking) "But wouldn't it be cool to show Sarah that you've tamed a Leviathan?"

Noah (blushes) "Okay, fine. I’m in. But I assume you have a plan, right? We're not just gonna jump in blind, right?"

Adrian "Naturally. But I need Claire's help for this to work."

Noah nods in agreement and the pair takes out their black token, entering the group chat.