Amal: "This better be good, Tai."
Tai: smirks "Xei, that beast—was it stronger than the Huntress?"
Xei: "Not even close."
Tai: "Good. Then we'll finish this fast. My plan — a fusion of Sai's flames, Amal's ash, my poison, and your blade. Together… we'll unleash the biggest strike this mountain's ever seen."
Xei: "You want me to slice the top?"
Tai: "Exactly. Cut the mountain's crown — let's bury the beasts beneath it."
Xei: pauses, noticing Tai's face "Master… why do you look so sad?"
Shi: quietly "Because, Xei… I'm afraid I must leave all of you."
Sai: "What? Why?"
Shi: "My time of use has passed. You all saw it out there."
Sai: "That's not true! We won because of you!"
Shi: shakes his head "No, Sai. You won because of Xei… and Tai."
Tai: "Shi—"
Before he can finish, Amal steps forward, looking at her godfather's tired eyes and the scars cutting deep into his arms.
Amal: "Let him go. Can't you see? Since we arrived, he's been bleeding, pushing past his limits. Please… let him return to his island. Let him rest… and read his weird old books again."
The group falls silent.
The fire crackles softly.
One by one, they nod.
When morning comes — Shi is gone.
---
Tai looks down at the mountain's misty slopes.
Tai: "He told you something… didn't he?"
Amal nods without speaking.
Sai: "This is good, right?"
Amal: "It is."
Xei: "What did he say to you?"
Amal: "He gave me a letter… told me to read it to all of you."
Tai: "Then read it."
Amal: "Shut up."
Tai: "You forget — I'm a king."
Amal: "Of snakes."
Sai: "Amal, just read it."
Amal: "Not now."
Xei: "Why not now?"
Amal: "Shi said I must read it after we reach the Snake."
Tai: "You mean Queen."
---
Far above them, at the mountain's peak, a chamber of gold shimmered under torchlight.
Bastar, the Golden Beast, sat on his throne, swirling wine in a jeweled cup.
Bastar: "Why are you here?"
A shadowed figure stood before him, voice calm and cold.
Figure: "To tell you that you will lose."
Bastar: snarling "Lose? How do you know that?"
Figure: "The flame boy listens to his fire. The plan is already in motion."
Bastar: "What plan?"
The figure chuckled softly. "Oh… you don't know?"
Bastar: "Tell me."
Figure: "For a price."
Bastar's eyes narrowed. "Greed. How much this time?"
The figure slowly removed his mask — revealing hair green as jade, eyes dark as polished emeralds, and a sharp, confident smile. He wore a black vest, a white shirt, and golden rings on his fingers. A single coin spun between them — flipping effortlessly, cling… cling…
Greed: "Half. Half of your gold."
Bastar's grip tightened on his goblet. "You're insane."
Greed: grins wider "Insanity is free. My services are not."
He caught the coin mid-air, flicked it once more, and said,
Greed: "Three beasts. Three minutes. Three survivors. If you value your crown, send them at dawn."
Bastar: "That's not honorable."
Greed: "I'm the Sin of Greed. What part of me looks honorable to you?"
Greed turned to leave, his footsteps echoing like clinking coins.
Greed: "Oh, and Bastar — if my gold's not ready by the time I return…"
He smiled thinly. "Your head will pay the debt."
As Greed vanished into the shadows, Bastar's calm broke. He hurled the goblet, wine splattering across the golden walls.
Bastar: furious "Greed… I'll see your gold melt with your soul!"