I was running along the collapsing edge, trying my best not to trip over Leonhart's stupidly long legs again, when something finally clicked.
Wait a second.
Why was I the only one flapping around like a discount carnival with ten flags bouncing at my hips?
Zeref? Cool and broody with his fiery cape thing. Not a flag in sight.
Kael? Lounging under a tree like some smug panther. No flags dangling off him either.
I skidded to a stop, dirt flying under my boots. My brain screamed at me.
"WHERE are their flags?!"
I narrowed Leonhart's eyes, heightening my vision with one of his passive skills. The world zoomed.
And there.
Hidden right beneath Kael's little napping spot, a stash of flags. Twelve of them. Neatly piled, practically glowing.
I clapped a hand over my mouth to stop the squeal. "Ohhh, you sneaky, handsome bastard."
Then I swung my gaze at Zeref. That fiery menace didn't even bother to hide his haul. The pile of ten sat brazenly beside his feet like some trophy display.
It hit me then. They weren't running around like parade floats because they'd stashed everything!
And here I was, playing the human maypole.
A wicked grin spread across my face.
I pulled up Leonhart's menu of skills, scrolling through like a madwoman until my eyes landed on it.
That one. The nuclear sunbeam move I'd tucked away earlier. The one that had reduced entire fields of slimes into glowing ash.
Perfect.
"Ohhh Kael," I whispered, clutching the sword as golden light gathered at its core. "You're not my target. But let's just pretend you are."
I raised the blade high, channeling power. The air hummed, vibrating. Even the collapsing earth seemed to pause. Then, with all the drama of a vengeful goddess, I brought it down.
BOOOOM.
The world exploded in gold. A blinding beam cut across the battlefield, ripping apart Kael's tree like it was paper.
Kael leapt aside in a blur, thinking I was after him. But no.
When the dust cleared, all twelve flags were gone. Reduced to sparkling motes of ash.
The leaderboard flickered. Shadow Reapers: 12 → 0.
My triumphant giggle burst out before I could stop it.
"Ohhh, he's gonna kill me."
Kael's head whipped toward me. His assassin mask couldn't hide the fury burning in those eyes. His whole body moved with a predator's rage as he launched forward, daggers gleaming.
I squealed, spun on my heel, and ran.
The chase was on.
But why stop at one enemy when I could anger two?
Heart pounding, I sprinted straight toward Zeref's high ground. He smirked, twirling a fireball in his palm like he already owned the world.
"Come closer," he taunted, his voice carrying through the smoke.
"Oh, don't worry," I chirped sweetly. "I'm just here for your feet."
His brows furrowed. "My...what?"
Too late.
The golden beam tore from my blade again, aimed not at him, but at that cocky little pile of flags lounging beside his boots.
KA-BOOOOM.
The ground shattered. The flags disintegrated. The leaderboard flickered again.
Flame Hearts: 10 → 0.
My manic laughter echoed across the battlefield.
Zeref's smirk snapped off his face so fast I thought it cracked. His entire aura flared into a fiery storm, rage radiating like a bonfire about to devour me.
Kael was still chasing me with the determination of a bloodhound. Zeref's eyes locked on me like I was tinder.
And me? I was running for my life, clutching ten stupid flags while the entire world screamed at me.
Back at the guild halls, chaos erupted.
Shadow Reapers' hall was in meltdown. "WHO LET HIM?!" "TWELVE FLAGS! GONE!"
Flame Hearts? Screaming. Utter screaming. Cups thrown. Chairs flipped. Someone probably fainted.
And Black Vultures… oh, they were cheering. At least at first.
"Leonhart did it!"
"He's a genius!"
"He's...wait. What is he doing now?"
Because I, in my infinite panic, realized something.
These flags.
These shiny, jingling, traitorous flags. They weren't just slowing me down. They were making me a glowing target.
Zeref's fireballs locked on to them. Kael's daggers sliced toward them like magnets. Every swish of fabric was another death sentence waiting to happen.
So I did the only logical thing.
I destroyed them.
Slash!
Boom!
Zap!
One by one, nine flags went up in smoke until only a single one remained, tightly tied to my belt.
The leaderboard flickered again. Black Vultures: 10 → 1.
Kael froze mid-step. Zeref's fireball fizzled in his hand.
They both stared at me like I'd just confessed to arson.
Kael's voice cut through the stunned silence. "What the hell are you doing, Leonhart?"
Zeref snarled, fire spitting from his clenched fists. "Are you out of your damned mind?!"
I just giggled, hands clasped behind my back, shifting my weight like a child who'd gotten away with stealing candy.
"One flag," I said brightly, raising my chin. "One flag is all it takes to declare a winner. And this…" I patted the belt. "…is the only one left."
Dead silence.
Then, with all the faux grace I could muster, I activated Leonhart's emote. His body straightened, one hand on the hilt of the sword, the other raised in an honorable knight's stance.
My chin tilted skyward, expression noble, like I was some legendary commander standing tall against impossible odds.
To the outside world? Leonhart looked like a warrior ready for the final battle, a beacon of pride.
Inside my head?
"OH MY GOD I'M DOOMED! I'M DOOMED! THEY'RE GOING TO FRY ME ALIVE AND STAB ME INTO A PINCUSHION AND..."
But no one needed to know that.
From the guild halls, the cheers erupted again.
"Leonhart! The strategist!"
"The last flag hero!"
"Black Vultures forever!"
Meanwhile Kael and Zeref both advanced, their auras clashing in a storm of heat and shadow, daggers and flames gleaming.
And there I was, standing between them with my one pitiful flag, pretending I wasn't about to be murdered by the two deadliest men in the game.
Four hours left.
One flag.
Two furious hotties.
And me, screaming on the inside.