"Let's get some rest. Tomorrow, we leave for Alpha Dawn," Crimson said, his voice firm as he addressed the group.
Lilith hesitated, her gaze darting toward the tunnels. "Okay, but… I think I need to talk to Gale. We still need him."
Crimson nodded, though his expression was uncertain. "You can try to find him, but don't push it. He'll come around. For now, get some rest when you can."
Nox stretched her tone. "You can handle that. Sebastian and I are heading to bed." She grabbed Sebastian's hand, pulling him toward another tunnel without waiting for a response.
The silver glow of moonlight filtered faintly through cracks in the cave ceiling as Lilith wandered through the tunnels, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone. Her eyes scanned every shadowy corner, but there was no sign of Gale.
"Where the hell could he have gone?" she muttered under her breath, frustration building with every step.
Eventually, she returned to the central chamber, where Crimson lay on a makeshift bed, staring up at the jagged ceiling of the cave. His eyes glimmered with quiet contemplation.
"Crimson," Lilith said, her voice low and laced with concern. "I can't find Gale anywhere."
Crimson shifted his gaze to her, his expression calm but resolute. "Don't worry, Lilith. He'll come around. Right now, he's probably off raging somewhere, letting off steam. Leave him be. Get some rest—you'll need it."
Reluctantly, Lilith nodded and lay down on the other makeshift bed beside Crimson. She glanced at him briefly, then closed her eyes, her mind still buzzing with unease.
Nox led Sebastian into her room, her grip firm but her movements uncertain. The small space was dimly lit by a faintly glowing crystal embedded in the wall. She released his hand and sat down heavily on the edge of her bed, her pink eyes staring at the ground.
"Why did you bring me here?" Sebastian asked, his voice soft but tinged with confusion.
Nox hesitated, biting her lip before answering. "I don't know. I just… Sebastian, what if we ran away?" Her words came out in a rush, her tone almost pleading. "Right now, while they're asleep. We could leave all of this behind and pretend it's in the past. Isn't that what you said? Forget the past, live in the present, embrace the future?"
Sebastian's brows furrowed as he stepped closer, his presence steady and reassuring. "Stop it, Nox," he said, his voice firm but gentle.
She looked up at him, startled by the sudden intensity in his tone.
"I said we should forget the past," Sebastian continued, sitting beside her on the bed. "But that's exactly why I allowed them to stay here. Because we're choosing to live in the present. If we run now, what does that make us?"
He reached for her hand, holding it between his own. "We have the chance to do something that could change everything. And if they fail, knowing we could've helped but didn't? I can't bear that, Nox. Taking this risk is better than living with regret."
Nox stared at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Sebastian leaned closer, his voice softening. "And more than that," he said, his tone tender, "I want to see you smile and laugh each and every day. I'll do whatever it takes to protect that."
His lips brushed against hers, a gentle yet passionate kiss that left her breathless. She leaned back, lying against the bed as he moved over her, their gazes locked.
"I love you, Nox," Sebastian whispered, his eyes full of sincerity. "And I'll always do whatever it takes to protect you."
Her lips parted to reply, but he silenced her with another kiss, deeper this time. The world outside faded as the night embraced them, the soft glow of the crystal casting their shadows on the walls of the cave.
The first light of dawn seeped through the cracks in the cave, painting the jagged walls in soft, golden hues. A beam of sunlight hit Crimson square in the face, pulling him from restless sleep. Groaning, he raised a hand to block the glare and sat up, sighing deeply.
"Today's the day," he muttered, rising to his feet and stretching.
He glanced over at Lilith, still fast asleep on her makeshift bed. Deciding not to wake her, Crimson quietly made his way out of the chamber and deeper into the cave. The cool morning air greeted him as he stepped onto a narrow cliff overlooking the valley below.
Leaning against the rocky ledge, Crimson rubbed at his eyes, stifling a yawn. "Hmmm… I didn't even see Gale last night," he muttered. "Where could he have gone?"
As he gazed out over the horizon, a shape in the distance caught his attention. A ship. Its silhouette grew larger as it approached, cutting smoothly through the air. Crimson narrowed his eyes, curiosity prickling at his thoughts.
"Maybe it's just passing by…" he murmured, though unease began to coil in his chest.
He turned his back to the ledge, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms when a sudden boom shook the entire mountain. The cave trembled violently, dust and small stones raining down from the ceiling.
"What the hell was that?" Crimson muttered, spinning back toward the ledge.
With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a spyglass and raised it to his eye, focusing on the ship in the distance. The sleek, metallic vessel came into view, its black-and-silver hull gleaming menacingly in the morning light. Crimson's breath hitched as he recognised the design—it was unmistakably a Xeno Corpse ship.
"What would they be doing here?" he murmured, extending the spyglass to get a better look.
As the image sharpened, Crimson's stomach dropped. Standing on the deck of the ship was Grey, the ruthless commander of the Xeno Corps. But beside him, Crimson spotted another figure—one with unmistakable red hair and a familiar build.
"Gale?" Crimson's voice was barely a whisper as the spyglass slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the rocks. His heart raced as disbelief turned to confusion and anger. "Why the hell is he with the Xeno Corpse ?"
Behind him, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the cave. Sebastian, Nox, and Lilith appeared, their expressions tense and alert.
"Crimson, what's going on?" they asked in unison.
"I… I don't know, but—" Crimson began, but his words were cut off by a deafening whoosh above.
The air seemed to ripple as an invisible force sliced cleanly through the mountain's peak. A thunderous crack followed as the entire top of the cave was severed, the jagged edges crumbling away. Sunlight flooded the exposed chamber, illuminating the group as they shielded their eyes from the sudden brightness.
"Everyone, get—!" Sebastian started to shout, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of engines overhead.
A massive Xeno Corps battleship hovered directly above the now-open cavern, its sheer size casting a long shadow over the mountainside. The corpse's crest—a silver skull encased in a black shield—gleamed ominously on its hull.
Before anyone could react, figures began dropping from the ship. Soldiers clad in black-and-silver uniforms descended in perfect synchronisation, their weapons gleaming as they landed in formation. The ground shook slightly with the impact of their boots as they spread out, encircling the group.
"Damn it," Crimson hissed, conjuring his blade in a flash of light and stepping protectively in front of Lilith. "Stay behind me!"
Nox's pink eyes flared with energy as she took a defensive stance. "This is bad," she muttered, glancing at Sebastian.