"I want you all to get ready," said Arya firmly.
Dina turned suspiciously. "Ready for what?"
"Why, big bro?" asked Gamma, also anxious.
Arya didn't explain further. "Just don't let your guard down. Teleport!"
In an instant, the three of them appeared in the middle of a forest near the city of Oiter.
Gamma looked around. "Where is this…?"
Dina folded her arms. "Why do we have to teleport, Ar?"
Arya pointed behind them. "Look over there."
A small rumbling sound could be heard. A woman's figure appeared from behind the bushes. Her long hair was messy, and her expression looked annoyed.
"Where is this?! Why am I suddenly in a forest?!" Venus shouted in panic. "Damn it! You can use teleportation magic?! You're a terrifying group!" She raised her hand. "Water Cannon!"
"Everyone, dodge!" shouted Arya.
Gamma slipped to the side. "Wah!"
"Thank you, Sis Dina," she said gratefully.
"You're welcome," Dina replied quickly. Her eyes stared sharply at Venus. "So she's the one named Venus?"
Arya nodded. "Yes. She's been staring at us… with lust."
"Lust? Gross!" Dina snorted.
"W-why is Kak Venus attacking?" Gamma muttered uncertainly.
Venus looked at Gamma with a bitter expression. "Reisa-chan… I care about you and considered you like my little sister. But turns out you're a traitor from Exone, huh?"
Gamma shook her head quickly. "That's not it, Sis! Sis Arya… can we not kill Kak Venus? She's helped me a lot. We've been together for quite a while…"
Arya sighed. "Don't kill her? If we let her go, we might be the ones who get killed."
Venus looked at him angrily. "What are you saying, Reisa-chan? We're enemies!" She launched a Water Ball at Gamma.
"What?!"
"Swap! Ice Shot!" shouted Arya.
The water heading toward Gamma instantly froze.
Gamma stood frozen, her body trembling. "Sis… Venus… why did you try to kill me? I… I trusted you…"
Venus lowered her head. "You betrayed us, Reisa-chan…"
"I didn't betray you… I just… couldn't stay silent seeing people being tortured!"
Dina stepped forward. "How dare you attack Gamma? Wind Step! Fire Slash!"
Venus dodged while chuckling. "Ara~ such a fiery young girl."
Arya raised his hand, stopping Dina. "Hold on. Gamma, this is your decision. If you want to save her… make her surrender. But if she makes any suspicious moves… I won't hesitate."
Gamma nodded. "Alright… I'm sorry, Kak Venus. I'll stop you… not kill you."
Venus narrowed her eyes. "Ara~ if you don't want to kill me, then you'll be the one who dies! Water Cannon!"
But at that moment, she turned slightly, hesitant. In her heart: Dodge it, Reisa-chan…
"Vanish!" Gamma disappeared.
Venus frowned. "She vanished, huh? But only for five seconds…" She prepared to release another Water Ball.
But suddenly—
"String Binding!" Gamma's voice came from behind.
Fine threads wrapped around Venus's body.
"W-what is this? Isn't it supposed to be five seconds?!" Venus cried out in panic.
Gamma looked at her flatly. "False information is more deadly than ignorance."
Venus froze. "You… lied to me from the beginning?"
"I'm sorry, Sis…"
Venus took a deep breath, then gave a bitter smile. "Kill me! You've won!"
"No," Gamma answered firmly. "You held back just now, didn't you? You didn't really want to kill me."
"We're enemies! Why would I hold back?! Kill me!"
"I know… how terrifying you are when facing an enemy. But just now, you hesitated. You didn't want to kill me, right?" Her voice softened. "I knew it…"
"Why are you showing sympathy toward me?!" Venus snapped. "Hey, young man!" She looked at Arya. "You're their leader, right?! Kill me!"
Arya took a deep breath. "I don't want to make my little sister cry. And you… you also consider her a sister, don't you?"
"N-not at all!!" screamed Venus, tears starting to fall. "She's not my sister! I… also wanted… to have a sister…"
Gamma looked at her gently. "Kak Venus… would you like to be my eldest sister? Because I also think of you as one."
Venus froze.
"What?!" Dina exclaimed. "That perverted woman is Gamma's sister?!"
Arya slowly turned. "Alright, Venus. But you must be watched. There will be a contract."
Venus narrowed her eyes. "A contract?"
"Contract magic," Arya replied. "From dark magic. I read it in an ancient book."
"You can use that kind of magic too?!"
"It's simple. You must not hurt or betray us. And you must leave Seven Eclipse."
Venus looked away. "You think I'm a traitor?! Never!"
"Then what do you want to do?" Arya asked flatly. "Join Gamma… or stay with Seven Eclipse?"
Venus trembled. "Just kill me! I… have nowhere to return to. If not with Seven Eclipse… then who am I?"
"Sis Venus…" Gamma whispered. "You're not alone anymore. You're with us now."
Silence fell.
Then Venus exhaled. "Alright… But don't blame me if I change my mind someday…"
Arya nodded. "Then… prepare yourself. Soul Chain!"
From the air, purplish-black light descended and bound Venus's body like spiritual chains. The contract spell was completed in two minutes.
Venus let out a soft sigh. "So now… I belong to you all, huh?"
Arya shook his head. "Not belong. But part of us."
Gamma immediately hugged her while crying. "Sis Venus!"
Dina sighed. "Alright… I'll allow it too. But if you ever hurt Gamma… I won't hesitate."
"Where are we going next, Ar?" asked Dina.
"Like the original plan. To the eight cities we've already saved," Arya answered firmly.
Venus chuckled softly. "You guys are really crazy… Going against the whole kingdom with just three people."
"Hahaha! Don't praise us too much!" Arya grinned proudly.
"Praise, huh?" Venus raised an eyebrow.
Gamma giggled. "Hehehe…"
"Hahaha!" Dina laughed, joining in the warmth that was beginning to grow among them.
At the Seven Eclipse headquarters…
Noctis stared blankly out the window. A faint smile crossed his face.
"So… Venus chose that path." He closed his eyes. "A wise choice… my little sister."
Of the seven members of Seven Eclipse, now only two remained as enemies.
And the game… was far from over.