The air in the cathedral was thick with the smell of burning flesh and sulfur. The Monarch—the ominous black marble statue—stood in the center, unmoving, but his presence was suffocating. The ground around him cracked and warped as spiraling flames erupted from the craters he summoned. Zombies, twisted and grotesque, poured out from the depths of Hell itself. Ryzen, breathing heavily, gripped his scythe, its blade glowing with black and red energy.

Espen's voice rang in his head, loud and excited, like a child who had just been handed a pile of candy. "Oh, hell yeah! Look at all those freaks! This is gonna be fun!" Her laughter was manic, chaotic, and filled with pure excitement. "Come on, Ryzen, let's slice these bastards up! I'm Espen by the way."

"Huh? Where are you talking from?!" Ryzen exclaimed. "And how do you know my name?"

"Uhhhh I'm the scythe, duh. Don't you have eyes?"

"So weird…everything's happening so fast! Why was I lured into a marriage with a dog?! Why am I holding a scythe?! Why is there a horn in my eye?! Am I…a god? Have I finally ascended to the realm of godhood?!"

"Okay you're being super dramatic now."

Ryzen was already moving, darting forward with blinding speed, the scythe trailing behind him like a shadow. He launched himself at the first wave of zombies—fast, snarling creatures with animalistic limbs and glowing yellow eyes. One of them had the head of a wolf, its body covered in twisted, blackened fur, while another had the wings of a bat, its torso fused with human arms.

"Why am I acting insane…? Am I enjoying this?!"

"Haha! Don't worry! Just a small effect of using me! You kinda take on my personality! It's alright!"

Ryzen spun mid-air, slashing his scythe in a wide arc. The red energy from the blade cut through the wolf-headed zombie first, severing its head clean off. Blood sprayed in a wide arc, drenching the ground. Before the body could hit the floor, Ryzen was already kicking off a crumbling pillar, launching himself toward the bat-winged creature. He brought the scythe down with brutal force, cleaving through its wings, leaving it to crash to the ground in a heap of twitching limbs.

Espen cackled in his head, her voice full of mischief. "Ohhhh, that was a good one! But don't slow down, dumbass! There's more of 'em coming!"

"Yeah, I noticed!" Ryzen shouted back, his voice strained as he dodged to the side just in time to avoid a massive clawed hand swiping at him.

'This is batshit crazy! I'm actually super strong now…now I can definitely use this to earn more clips! I'm actually thinking about clips right now?! Out of all times?! I was so used to not having anything during the apocalypse, nobody even wanted to help me, or get involved with me. It was during the apocalypse…I hated the loneliness. Gotta break this habit.'

A chimera-zombie—this one with the body of a bull and the head of a snarling lion—charged at him, its hooves cracking the stone floor with every step. Ryzen leapt into the air just as the creature barreled past him, his body twisting mid-air as he brought the scythe down in a vicious overhead slash. The red and black energy from the blade cut deep into the zombie's back, and the creature let out a deafening roar as it collapsed, its flesh rotting away within seconds.

"I fight so good!" Ryzen exclaimed happily. "What's up with me?!"

'Easy way to make clips at this level. There I go again. Focus, Ryzen. Don't die. Got a business to run.'

"You're badass like me now! Focus!"

Ryzen landed with a roll, immediately launching himself back into the fray. His movements were fast, almost too fast to follow, as he darted between the zombies with deadly precision. Every strike of the scythe was brutal, every kill stylish and bloody. He spun, slashing through one zombie's chest, then flipped backward, kicking another in the face before slicing off its arm with a quick, fluid motion. Blood sprayed in all directions, painting the once-holy cathedral in crimson.

Espen's voice was loud and gleeful. "Yeah! That's it! Rip 'em apart! You're a goddamn monster, Ryzen!"

Ryzen gritted his teeth, slashing through a zombie with a single, sweeping motion. The black energy from the blade caused the creature's flesh to rot away instantly, and it collapsed into a pile of bones and goo.

'I can see why these bastards cause so much trouble for the Berserkers…this was the level they're fighting at constantly..and there I was fighting the weakest zombies known to man.'

Suddenly, the ground shook as another crater opened up, flames spiraling out of the earth. The Monarch had moved again, his black marble body twisted into a new position, one arm pointing directly at Ryzen.

BOOM.

From the new crater, a massive, grotesque zombie beast emerged. This one was a twisted fusion of several creatures—its body was a horrific mash-up of animal and human parts. It had the torso of a gorilla, the head of a crocodile, and its arms were long, skeletal, ending in razor-sharp claws. Blackened, rotting flesh hung off its body in chunks, and its jagged teeth dripped with black saliva.

"Oh crap, that's ugly," Ryzen muttered, his eyes wide.

Espen's voice was practically vibrating with excitement. "Ohhhh, hell yeah! That's the stuff! Come on, Ryzen, let's take this freak down!"

Ryzen grinned, his heart racing with adrenaline. "Let's do it."

'Am I really enjoying this?'

He dashed forward, closing the distance between him and the beast in an instant. The creature swung one of its massive arms at him, but Ryzen ducked under the blow, using his momentum to slide between the creature's legs. He spun around, slashing upward with his scythe, the blade cutting deep into the zombie's thigh. Blood sprayed across the floor, but the creature barely flinched, roaring as it swung its other arm down at Ryzen.

Ryzen rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. He kicked off the ground, launching himself into the air, and brought the scythe down in a vicious arc, aiming for the creature's head. The black and red energy from the blade exploded on impact, the force of the blow causing the creature's skull to split open with a sickening crack. Blood and brain matter splattered across the floor, and the monster let out a final, gurgling roar before collapsing in a heap of rotting flesh.

Espen's laugh was loud and maniacal. "That's what I'm talking about! You're a damn killing machine, Ryzen!"

Ryzen landed on the ground, breathing heavily, his muscles burning from the constant movement. But he didn't have time to rest. More zombies were pouring out of the craters, some of them fusing together into even more grotesque, twisted beings. One of them was a mass of writhing, blackened limbs, its body constantly shifting and contorting as it moved. Another had the body of a snake, but with multiple heads, each one snarling and snapping at the air.

"Seriously, what the hell are these things?!" Ryzen shouted as he darted forward, slicing through the snake-zombie's heads with a series of quick, precise strikes. Blood sprayed in all directions as the heads were severed, but the creature kept moving, its body writhing and twisting in unnatural ways.

Espen's voice was gleeful. "Hellspawn, baby! Straight from the pits! You better keep up or they'll turn you into one of 'em!"

Ryzen growled, spinning on his heel as he delivered a brutal combo to the writhing mass of limbs. He slashed through its arms, then kicked off the ground, launching himself upward to deliver a downward strike that split the creature in two. Blood and guts sprayed everywhere, but Ryzen didn't stop. He darted forward, his movements a blur, as he cut down zombie after zombie with a mix of brutal slashes and acrobatic kicks.

He flipped over a zombie with the body of a centipede, slicing through its back with a single, clean motion. As he landed, he performed a spinning kick, sending another zombie flying into a nearby wall. Before it could recover, he darted forward and drove the scythe through its chest, pinning it to the stone.

Espen's voice was chaotic and excited. "Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about! Keep it up, Ryzen!"

Ryzen grinned, his heart pounding in his chest. "How do I stop the Monarch?"

Espen's voice was mischievous. "Oh, easy! I was waiting for you to ask!"

"YOU COULDN'T JUST TELL ME FROM THE START?!"

"I was having too much fun! And You just have to , keep your eyes on him! Then try and get close! He doesn't move if you keep looking at him! But if prompted and attacked, he'll move fluidly like us! That's why a killing blow is crucial! You got this!"

"Wait, what?!" Ryzen shouted, slashing through another chimera-zombie. "That's your plan?!"

"Yes! Don't doubt me now, you didn't even know you were dead until I saved your behind!"

Ryzen's eyes widened. "Wait… I died?"

Espen's voice was filled with playful glee. "Yup! But I got your back, buddy!"

'No way..I was really that weak…? Fuck I was like an ant to them!'

Before Ryzen could respond, the Monarch moved again. This time, his body was twisted, his head turned toward Ryzen, and his arm pointed directly at him. BOOM. Another crater opened, and from it erupted a massive wave of shadows and hellfire, spiraling toward Ryzen like a drill.

Ryzen's eyes widened. He didn't have time to react.

'It's gonna hit me—!'

The hellfire hit him dead on, the force of the impact sending him flying across the room. He crashed into the stone wall, the air knocked from his lungs. His vision blurred as pain shot through his entire body. Blood poured from a gaping wound in his side, and his arm was gone—completely obliterated by the blast.

"AGH!" He yelled.

As the smoke cleared, Ryzen struggled to his feet, his breathing ragged. Espen, in her zombie girl form, lay on the ground in front of him, bleeding but still grinning wildly.

"I told you… I'd save you," she muttered, her voice weak but still filled with chaotic energy. "I'm cool like that.."

Ryzen's heart raced as he stared at her, his mind spinning. "Why did you do that? Risking your life so loosely for someone like me? You just met me. N-Not saying I'm grateful or anything.."

Espen coughed, blood dripping from her lips. "Because I'm your totally OP Zombie Maiden, that's why. The complete reverse of those glowing beautiful Maidens your used to." She flashed him a bloody grin before leaning forward and planting a quick, playful kiss on his cheek. "Now stop whining and get back in there. We've got a Monarch to kill."

The cathedral lay in ruins, its once-grand structure now a scorched battleground of craters, spiraling flames, and rotting corpses. The Monarch stood at the center of it all—an enormous, black marble statue. His body never moved like a human's, but his presence was suffocating, like a weight pressing down on the very air.

Ryzen, bleeding but alive, stood tall, his scythe pulsing with dark energy. Espen, now already manifested in her zombie girl form, clung to his back, her arms draped lazily over his shoulders, fingers brushing against his chest. Her voice was as loud and chaotic as ever, her energy unshaken despite the carnage surrounding them.

"Alright, Ryzen, you ready for this?" she chirped, her tone gleeful as if they were about to dive into a game rather than a life-and-death battle. "We're gonna kick that marble bastard's ass!"

Ryzen was still catching his breath, but he couldn't help smirking at her unrelenting enthusiasm. "Yeah, yeah. I'm ready." He took a step forward, his eyes locked on the Monarch, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

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'This is different from my usual baby contracts from earlier. It's faster, more deadly, more fun? Can't believe I'm finding this enjoyable..'

Espen pumped her fist in the air, nearly smacking Ryzen in the face. "Let's goooo! Time to show this statue what happens when it messes with us!"

As they moved forward, Ryzen made sure to keep his eyes glued to the Monarch. He knew the second he blinked or looked away, the statue would teleport again, and another crater of fire and monsters would erupt. The Monarch didn't move unless prompted—either by an attack or a lapse in focus.

"So, real quick, what happens if I just... attack him while keeping eye contact?" Ryzen asked, his voice casual despite the high-stakes situation.

Espen grinned, her chin now resting on Ryzen's shoulder, her breath tickling his ear. "Oh-ho! Well, if you attack him now, he'll fight back directly. But here's the catch—his craters can only open after he teleports like a bitch somewhere else. See, he's gotta move first before those flames start spewing out zombies. Right now, he's just a sitting duck. This is the perfect time to strike! Make sure it's a killing blow! Aim for his body!"

Ryzen's eyes narrowed, his grin growing. "So, he can only move once provoked?"

"Exactly! He's basically stuck until you give him a reason to move. But once he does, he'll try to teleport somewhere all dramatic-like," Espen explained, her voice brimming with excitement. "And when he does, that's when you really need to watch out for those craters. Each time he teleports, he opens up new ones, bringing out more of those nasty beasts."

As they neared the Monarch, Espen went on, her voice dropping into a more serious tone, though still laced with her usual chaotic energy. "You saw those zombie animals and monsters earlier, right? The ones with the wings and claws and all that grotesque stuff? That's the Monarch's doing. They've been spreading their zombie blood all over Earth, corrupting anything they touch. Animals, creatures, even some humans. The Monarchs can use the likeness of anything they've influenced. It's why they're so damn hard to kill. They have an endless supply of twisted creatures to throw at you. That's a power only Monarchs can do, and can manipulate it however they want."

Ryzen raised an eyebrow. "No wonder the Berserkers have trouble killing them, and here I am..standing toe to toe with one for this long…i'm gonna rub it all in their faces!"

Espen chuckled, her breath warm on his neck. "Yup! But here's the good news—I'm too OP for this. I know how to kill every Monarch. I've got insane amounts of lore tucked away in this genius brain of mine, and I'll be happy to share it with you... after we win, of course. We're better than those Berserker."

Ryzen let out a laugh. "That's what I've been waiting to hear."

"Damn right!" Espen declared, puffing out her chest proudly, though from her position on his back, it just made her head bounce against his ear.

'I don't feel so lonely right now…' Ryzen thought to himself.

As they approached, Espen suddenly reached down and touched Ryzen's missing arm—or rather, where his arm used to be. A warm, tingling sensation spread through his body, and before he could process what was happening, his arm began to regenerate, flesh and muscle knitting itself back together in mere seconds.

Ryzen stared at his newly grown arm, flexing his fingers in disbelief before grinning like a madman. "Oh shit, I'm immortal!"

Espen, still clinging to his back, leaned in close, her voice buzzing with excitement. "We're immortal, dumbass! I'm the one who made that happen!"

Ryzen rolled his eyes, his grin unwavering. "Yeah, yeah, we're immortal. Whatever. I'm still the one doing all the fighting."

Espen playfully ruffled his hair, her voice teasing. "Sure, sure, brat. Keep telling yourself that. But let's be real—you'd be zombie chow without me."

"Uh-huh," Ryzen muttered with a smirk. "Thank you."

That caught Espen off guard, as she felt the genuine tone in his voice. But she said nothing.

Before their banter could continue, a low, rumbling voice echoed through the cathedral, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. It was deep, malevolent, and cold—yet somehow filled with a strange, unsettling intention.

"After I kill your host, I'll hump you, Espen. You were supposed to die in hell. Where all inferiors beings like yourself belong until the True One calls you forth as earth fodder."

Ryzen and Espen both froze mid-step, their heads slowly tilting to the side in unison, expressions of confusion plastered on their faces.

"What the hell did he just say?" they said in perfect sync.

Espen, confused, her face scrunching up in a mix of disgust and disbelief. "Did... did that statue just say it's gonna hump me?"

Ryzen's brow furrowed, utterly baffled. "Why would a statue even want to—"

KATHOOM!

In the blink of an eye, the Monarch had moved. Ryzen, without realizing it, had blinked—and now the black marble figure was standing directly in front of him, a massive stone fist already swinging toward his face.

But Ryzen's reflexes kicked in. With a snarl and a wicked grin, he reached up and caught the Monarch's fist mid-swing, the impact sending cracks through the stone floor beneath them. The force of the blow was immense, but Ryzen held his ground, his muscles straining as his grip tightened around the statue's hand.

"Not today," Ryzen growled, his eyes flashing with a dangerous, malicious gleam.

'It's happening again..'

Before the Monarch could react, Ryzen yanked him forward by the fist and, with a roar, slammed the statue's head into the ground with brutal force. The stone cracked and shattered beneath the impact, the entire cathedral shuddering as debris rained down from the ceiling. The ground beneath the Monarch's head caved in, forming a crater from the sheer force of the blow.

Espen whooped in delight, her arms still wrapped around Ryzen's neck. "YEAH! That's what I'm talking about! Smash his stupid face in!"

'He's impressive...' Espen thought. 'He lured the Monarch to attack him…that way he can react in a way that allowed him to be prepared. He noticed the Monarch aimed for the upper body when doing a killing blow last time, and used that to his advantage to prepare to intercept anything around the top of his body…'

The cathedral, already reduced to a battlefield of flame, rubble, and blood, was on the verge of total collapse. The Monarch stood in the distance, his black marble body towering and ominous, his dark energy warping the very air around him. Cracks snaked along the floor, and the once-majestic stained glass windows were shattered, casting jagged shards of light across the chaos.

Ryzen, his muscles tensed and his eyes gleaming with something savage, stood at the ready. His scythe pulsed with an unholy glow, but it remained strapped to his back. This was going to be personal. He didn't need a weapon for this.

Espen was still latched onto him, her arms dangling over his chest, legs wrapped loosely around his waist, her chin resting on his shoulder. She was practically buzzing with excitement, her chaotic energy infectious. "Oh, shit. This is gonna be good!" she laughed, her voice filled with anticipation. "You ready, Ryzen? Time to show this marble bastard what happens when he messes with us!"

Ryzen's grin was wide, malicious, and full of dark intent. "Let's do this."

And then he was off, sprinting toward the Monarch with blinding speed, the stone floor cracking beneath his feet. Espen held on tight, her body melding with his as they charged forward. There was no hesitation, no fear—just pure, brutal intent.

The Monarch moved first, his massive fist swinging down like a hammer. It came fast, too fast for most to react—but Ryzen wasn't most people. With a snarl, he ducked under the blow, his body moving with inhuman agility. The fist slammed into the ground, sending stone flying in all directions, but Ryzen was already countering. He threw an uppercut, his fist colliding with the Monarch's jaw, sending cracks splintering through the marble.

CRACK.

The sound echoed through the cathedral as the stone fractured, but the Monarch didn't flinch. His other hand came swinging down in a brutal arc, aiming to crush Ryzen. This time, Ryzen didn't dodge. He let it hit.

BOOM.

The fist connected with Ryzen's side, crushing his ribs and sending him flying across the battlefield. He slammed into a crumbling pillar, the stone shattering on impact. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his body crumpled to the ground, his arm hanging limp and broken.

But even as he lay there, coughing up blood, his grin never faded. His body twitched, and then—*snap*—his bones reset themselves. His arm twisted back into place, and before the Monarch could even take another step, Ryzen was already back on his feet, his wounds healing in real-time. His body was mangled, but with every passing second, it repaired itself, flesh knitting back together, muscles reforming.

Espen's voice rang in his head, her words somehow both gleeful and logical. "You feel that? Every time I'm latched onto you like this, our souls touch. That's why you're healing so fast, big guy. We're combining our strength. I'm from Hell, remember? This is what I *do*! Your body's regenerating because we're sharing power—hell, my soul's basically stitching you back together. So go nuts! You're practically invincible!"

Ryzen spit out a mouthful of blood, his malicious grin wider than ever. "I'm immortal."

Espen laughed, her arms tightening around his chest as she hugged him from behind. "*We're* immortal, dumbass!"

Ryzen rolled his eyes, still grinning. "Okay, fine, *we're* immortal."

The Monarch moved again, this time faster. He swung both fists down in a devastating attack, but Ryzen was ready. He dashed forward, dodging the blow and driving his fist into the Monarch's abdomen with enough force to send cracks rippling through the stone.

CRUNCH.

The Monarch's body buckled under the impact, but Ryzen wasn't done. He leapt into the air, his fist slamming into the statue's face, shattering part of its jaw. Blood sprayed from Ryzen's knuckles as the stone cut into his skin, but he didn't care. His body was already healing, the wounds closing almost as fast as they appeared.

The Monarch retaliated with a backhanded swing, catching Ryzen in the side. His arm was torn clean off, blood spraying across the battlefield as he was sent crashing into a nearby wall. But even as he hit the ground, his grin never wavered. His severed arm twitched, and then—**snap**—it began to regrow, flesh and bone reforming in seconds.

Ryzen stood up, flexing his newly regrown arm. "You're gonna have to try harder than that."

The Monarch lunged, but Ryzen met him head-on. Fist collided with fist, and the ground beneath them shattered with the impact. The two were a blur of motion, exchanging brutal blows with such force that the very air seemed to crackle. Every time the Monarch landed a hit, Ryzen lost something—an arm, a leg, even part of his chest—but it didn't matter. His body healed faster than the Monarch could inflict damage.

Blood poured from his wounds, but it was always temporary. His flesh would tear, his bones would crack, but within moments, everything would be whole again. And through it all, Ryzen smiled like a man possessed, the malicious gleam in his eyes never fading.

They moved through the cathedral like two titans locked in battle. Ryzen ducked under a punch, then countered by grabbing the Monarch's arm and twisting it, the stone cracking under his grip. He kicked off a crumbling pillar, using the momentum to drive his knee into the Monarch's chest, shattering more of the statue's body.

Espen's voice was practically singing in his head. "That's it, Ryzen! Tear him apart! You're a freaking monster!"

Ryzen grabbed a chunk of broken stone from the ground and slammed it into the Monarch's face, sending shards of marble flying. The Monarch retaliated with a brutal punch to Ryzen's stomach, sending him crashing through a wall, but even as he flew through the air, his body was already repairing itself. He landed in a crouch, blood dripping from his mouth, but his grin was still there—twisted, wild, and filled with bloodlust.

The fight continued, a brutal dance of destruction. They used everything around them—the broken pillars, the crumbling walls, even the debris littering the ground. At one point, Ryzen grabbed a massive chunk of stone and drove it into the Monarch's chest, shattering his torso. The statue retaliated by ripping off one of Ryzen's legs, but before he could celebrate, the leg regrew, and Ryzen was back on the attack.

It was a montage of carnage, a relentless back-and-forth of pure brutality. Blood and stone mixed on the battlefield, and through it all, Ryzen grinned like a madman, reveling in the violence.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of destruction, Ryzen decided to end it.

He pretended to stumble, his body slumping as if the fight had finally taken its toll. The Monarch, sensing weakness, lunged at him, aiming to finish him off. But it was a trap.

Ryzen's eyes flashed with deadly intent as he kicked upward, his foot slamming into the Monarch's chest with enough force to send cracks splintering through the stone. But he didn't stop there. With a wicked grin, he twisted his body, using his still-embedded foot as leverage. He spun upward in a fluid, brutal motion, his leg tearing through the Monarch's body as he flipped.

CRACK.

The sound of splitting stone filled the air as Ryzen completed the motion, his foot still inside the Monarch. With a final, violent twist, he extended his legs, sending the Monarch's body splitting in half. The statue's upper half flew into the air, crashing to the ground in a heap of broken stone.

Ryzen landed in a crouch, his chest heaving with exertion, blood dripping from his wounds. But he was alive. He was whole. And he had won.

With a primal battle cry, he threw his head back and screamed into the heavens, his voice echoing through the ruined cathedral.

The Monarch was dead.

As the dust settled, Espen slipped off Ryzen's back and stood in front of the fallen Monarch, her hands on her hips, a wide grin on her face.

"YEAH!" she screamed, stomping on the dead Monarch's remains. "How's that for 'humping,' you piece of shit? HUMP THIS!" She kicked a chunk of the statue's shattered face across the room, her laughter echoing through the cathedral.

Ryzen, panting and covered in blood—both his own and the Monarch's—watched her with a mix of amusement and confusion. She danced around the fallen statue, stomping and kicking the pieces, her energy seemingly endless.

As she continued her victory dance, Ryzen's eyes lingered on her. For the first time, he really looked at her—at how she moved, how she laughed, how she seemed so alive. She looked… good. Really good, actually. For a zombie girl. But why was she so ridiculously excited?

Before he could dwell on it any further, Espen turned around, her grin still wide, and without any warning, she grabbed Ryzen by the collar and pulled him into a kiss.

Ryzen's eyes widened in shock, his entire body going rigid as her lips pressed against his. His mind went blank for a moment, and then, suddenly, it was flooded with a million thoughts.

'Agh! Behdveehbdfbebebe! What the hell is happening? Why is she kissing me? I've never kissed a girl before! Is this normal? What do I do? Am I supposed to kiss back? What if I mess it up? Is my breath okay? Is—'

In the middle of the kiss, Espen—still locked onto his lips—somehow managed to toss a handful of confetti into the air. Confetti. It rained down around them, sparkling in the dim light of the ruined cathedral.

"Yippee..." she mumbled against his lips, her voice filled with chaotic glee.

Ryzen, completely flustered and overwhelmed, pulled back slightly, blinking in confusion. "W-Where the hell did you get confetti?!"

Espen grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Party store! Duh! Earth's got some cool shit, you know?"

Ryzen blinked again, still trying to process everything. "Wait, you've been raiding party stores?"

Espen shrugged, still grinning. "Hell yeah! I'm fascinated by Earth! You guys have the weirdest, most amazing crap. Confetti, balloons, piñatas—I'm obsessed!" She tossed another handful of confetti into the air for good measure. "Yippee!"

Ryzen couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "You're insane."

Espen flashed him a wink. "Damn right I am."

The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and Ryzen finally allowed himself a moment to breathe. He glanced around at the ruined battlefield, at the shattered remains of the Monarch, and then back at Espen. "So… are you going to explain everything now? You said you'd tell me after we won."

Espen crossed her arms, her grin turning sly. "Yeah, yeah, I will. But this place? Nah, it's too messy. I know a better spot—somewhere more... appropriate for a lore dump."

Ryzen raised an eyebrow, still confused but willing to go along with it. "Alright, lead the way."

Espen spun on her heel, tossing one last handful of confetti into the air. "To be continued!"