Hazel glanced over her shoulder while running through the maze of roaring machines.
"Orion!" she shouted. "Be careful! Don't get caught in the machinery!"
A layer of emerald-green energy spread across her body like a second skin.
The next second, she vanished.
Thud!
A guard was sent crashing into a stack of wooden crates.
Another rushed toward her.
Hazel grabbed him by the collar and hurled him straight into a row of explosive barrels.
Boom!
The barrels burst apart, throwing smoke and splinters across the factory floor.
Without slowing down, Hazel drove her fist into another guard's face before spinning into a powerful kick that sent a third man sliding across the concrete.
Gunfire erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets slammed into the green barrier surrounding her, creating ripples of light but failing to pierce it.
She ducked beneath another volley, seized a guard by the throat, and slammed him into the ground hard enough to knock him unconscious.
Her movements were ruthless.
Punches.
Kicks.
Backflips.
Palm strikes.
Every attack flowed into the next as if she had rehearsed the battle a thousand times.
On the other side of the factory, Orion found himself surrounded.
Several guards opened fire.
He dove behind a massive machine.
Bullets ricocheted off the rusted metal.
Without hesitation, Orion stretched out both hands.
Water bullets shot from his palms at incredible speed.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The compressed streams struck the guards one after another, knocking them into the machinery.
Some crashed through wooden crates.
Others collapsed where they stood.
Blood trickled down Orion's cheek.
Breathing heavily, he stepped out from the machinery section and hurried toward Hazel.
She was crouched beside one of the surviving guards, gripping his collar.
"Tell me," she said coldly.
"What part of the city is this?"
The terrified man swallowed.
"...North..."
Hazel narrowed her eyes.
"So we're exactly where I wanted."
She looked toward Orion.
"Anything else you want to ask him?"
Orion shook his head.
"No."
Hazel released the guard's collar.
Before the man could even breathe in relief—
Bang!
A water bullet pierced his shoulder, knocking him unconscious.
Hazel stood up and glanced around the ruined factory.
Broken machines.
Shattered crates.
Unconscious guards.
Blood stained the concrete floor.
She clicked her tongue.
"What a pathetic security force."
"I didn't even need to draw my sword."
She spat onto the ground before turning toward the factory exit.
The workers stood frozen.
None of them had ever dared fight the government's soldiers.
Now every guard lay defeated in front of them.
Orion caught up with Hazel.
"Why did you ask him for directions?"
Hazel silently raised a finger.
She pointed straight ahead.
"Our destination."
Orion followed her finger.
At the edge of the floating land...
There was nothing.
Only an endless abyss beneath them.
The black mist swallowed everything below.
The wind howled upward from the void.
Orion's eyes widened.
"S-Sis..."
"You don't mean..."
Hazel smiled.
"We're jumping."
Orion's face instantly turned pale.
"You know I'm terrified of heights!"
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You had plenty of courage while beating those guards."
"Now you're scared?"
"Those are completely different things!" Orion protested.
Hazel ignored him and continued walking.
A few minutes later, they reached the very edge of the floating land.
Beyond it stretched only darkness.
Behind them stood the silent factory.
Ahead of them...
The endless void.
Orion stared down and instinctively took a step back.
"I... I really can't do this."
Before he could finish—
Hazel placed a hand against his chest.
Push.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Orion disappeared over the edge, screaming as he fell into the endless darkness.
A small smile appeared on Hazel's face.
She walked to the cliff and looked down.
Orion's terrified screams echoed upward until they were swallowed by the void.
Hazel spread her arms.
Without the slightest hesitation...
She stepped forward.
And jumped.
Hazel and Orion landed safely on another floating platform.
Orion slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he simply stood there in silence.
His eyes widened.
"What... is this?"
The world before him had changed completely.
Hazel adjusted the hood of her cloak.
"This is the Noble District."
"They're completely different from the people below."
Orion looked around in disbelief.
Just minutes ago, they had walked through ruined streets covered in ash and smoke.
Now...
Everything looked like paradise.
Rows of magnificent cherry blossom trees lined the stone roads, their pink petals drifting gently through the air. Crystal lanterns hung from elegant wooden poles, glowing softly even in daylight. Luxurious shops displayed priceless antiques, silk clothing, enchanted weapons, and rare medicines behind spotless glass windows. Every street was polished until it reflected the blossoms overhead.
Government soldiers patrolled every corner with disciplined precision.
Their polished armor gleamed beneath the dim sunlight that filtered through the smoke-covered sky.
Orion couldn't stop looking around.
"It feels like heaven..."
Hazel's expression remained cold.
"Heaven for the rich."
"Hell for everyone else."
Both of them pulled their black cloaks tighter, hiding their faces beneath the shadows of their hoods.
Without drawing attention, they walked calmly through the empty streets.
No one recognized them.
No one even looked twice.
After several minutes, Hazel stopped beneath a large cherry blossom tree.
"From here..."
"We split up."
Orion nodded.
"What should I do?"
Hazel pointed toward a tall government residence standing beyond a marble fountain.
"See that mansion?"
Orion followed her finger.
"I see it."
"Good."
She lowered her voice.
"When Amos arrives..."
"Every guard's attention will shift toward him."
"That'll be your chance."
"Slip inside."
"Search every room."
"Especially the Elder's private office."
"Find anything suspicious."
"But remember...
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Do not fight."
"If someone notices you..."
"Run."
"Ignore every guard."
"The mission comes first."
Hazel handed him a small communication device.
"We'll stay in contact through these."
Orion accepted it and clipped it beneath his cloak.
"Understood."
He turned to leave before suddenly stopping.
"Sis..."
Hazel glanced sideways.
"What?"
Orion scratched the back of his head.
"But... what are you going to do?"
"I mean..."
"You told me my job."
"What about yours?"
For a brief moment...
Hazel didn't answer.
Then...
A slow smile appeared on her face.
Not a warm smile.
Not a comforting one.
It was the kind of smile that made even the wind feel colder.
An evil smile.
"I have..."
"...a different role to play."
Orion blinked.
Before he could ask another question—
Hazel had already turned away.
"Go."
"Leave the rest..."
"...to me."
Orion swallowed, nodded once, and disappeared into another street.
Hazel remained standing beneath the falling cherry blossoms.
Her emerald eyes slowly lifted toward the magnificent government palace rising in the distance.
The corners of her lips curled a little higher.
"Let's see..."
"...how long your perfect world can stay peaceful."