The morning sun slowly rose over the village.
Today was our last day here.
After everything that happened—from Havoc, to Axell's bounty hunt, to Sylph's spar against Blaze—it almost felt strange that we were already leaving.
The peaceful village had become a temporary home.
A safe place.
Something that was becoming increasingly rare nowadays.
I stood beside the T-80 or the Massive tank beside me while checking our supplies one last time.
Food.
Water.
Fuel.
Medicine.
Ammunition.
Repair kits.
Extra clothing.
Camping equipment.
Everything we could possibly need for a long journey.
Volt was currently inside the tank organizing storage compartments while Blaze casually carried another crate toward the vehicle.
Meanwhile Axell and Sylph helped secure several supply boxes to the rear storage rack.
Honestly...
Without them we probably would've left with half the supplies we needed.
"Looks good," Volt said while climbing out of the tank.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"We should be ready."
For a moment we simply watched everyone working.
Then Volt suddenly looked at me.
"So..."
"Hm?"
He smirked.
"It looks like you've given up."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Given up on what?"
"Recruiting Blaze."
I froze.
"..."
"..."
"Oh."
Right.
That.
I had completely forgotten.
Back then he was mysterious.
Strong.
A survivor from the Void.
Someone who could change the balance of power.
And honestly...
Someone I thought the Resistance desperately needed.
But ever since then...
So much had happened.
The Empire.
The Void Portal.
The bounty.
Havoc.
Traveling together.
Somewhere along the way I stopped trying.
Volt noticed immediately.
"You forgot or give up?"
"...Maybe?"
Volt laughed.
"Unbelievable."
I crossed my arms.
"It's not like I didn't try."
"He rejected me."
"Multiple times."
"Fair point."
I sighed.
Truthfully...
I already knew Blaze's answer.
If I asked him again right now—
He'd probably still say no.
Blaze wasn't interested in joining factions.
He wanted to travel.
To explore.
To find answers about himself.
And honestly...
I couldn't blame him.
If that was what he wanted...
Then it was his choice.
Even if...
A small part of me didn't want him to leave.
I quickly pushed that thought away.
Volt immediately noticed.
"Oh?"
"Don't."
"I didn't even say anything."
"You were about to."
"I absolutely was."
Before I could throw something at him, Blaze walked past carrying a metal crate over one shoulder.
Axell followed beside him.
Still looking annoyed.
"I still don't understand how you're carrying that."
Blaze looked down at the crate.
"...It's not that heavy."
"It weighs more than me."
"Oh."
I couldn't help smiling.
Blaze noticed and waved.
I waved back instinctively.
Then he continued walking.
Volt silently looked between us.
I immediately pointed a finger at him.
"Not. One. Word."
Volt grinned.
"Understood."
He absolutely did not understand.
Several hours later the preparations were finally complete.
The T-80 stood ready.
Fully supplied.
Fully fueled.
Ready for the road ahead.
The realization made my stomach tighten slightly.
Because once we left...
We'd be heading deeper into Empire territory.
Closer to danger.
Closer to whatever awaited us.
I found Volt checking communication equipment near the tank.
"Any updates from HQ?"
Volt frowned.
"No."
That immediately caught my attention.
"What do you mean no?"
"I mean no."
"No messages."
"No contact."
"No signals."
I blinked.
"That's impossible."
Normally the Resistance maintained communication whenever possible.
Even short-range updates.
Even simple status reports.
Something.
Anything.
Yet apparently—
Nothing.
Volt looked concerned.
"At first I thought it was interference."
"But it's been too long."
My stomach suddenly felt heavier.
"Do you think something happened?"
Volt remained quiet.
"...I don't know."
That answer worried me more.
For a brief moment a bad feeling crept into my mind.
Something wasn't right.
The Resistance being silent felt wrong.
Very wrong.
But eventually I shook my head.
Maybe I was overthinking.
There could be dozens of explanations.
Communication failures.
Technical issues.
Distance.
Anything.
"...We'll find out eventually."
Volt nodded.
"Hopefully."
The afternoon passed quickly.
Before long—
It was finally time.
The T-80's engine roared to life.
A deep mechanical rumble echoed through the village.
Everyone gathered outside.
Even several villagers came to watch us leave.
Sylph stood near the road with her arms crossed.
Axell stood beside her.
Looking surprisingly serious.
I climbed down from the tank.
"Well..."
"I guess this is goodbye."
Sylph smiled.
"For now."
I smiled back.
"For now."
The two of us stood there awkwardly for a moment.
Then Sylph suddenly spoke.
"You know..."
"You're always welcome back here."
The words caught me slightly off guard.
"...Thanks."
"I mean it."
I nodded.
For some reason...
That meant more than I expected.
Then suddenly—
"RYZE!"
"Huh?"
Something flew through the air toward me.
I barely caught it.
Looking down—
I found a small silver charm resting in my hand.
It looked handmade.
Simple.
Yet strangely beautiful.
I blinked.
"What's this?"
Sylph smiled.
"A good luck charm."
I stared at it.
"...Seriously?"
"Yep."
"Keep it."
Then she pointed at me.
"But return it when you visit again."
Again.
Not if.
When.
I smiled.
"...Deal."
Sylph grinned proudly.
Meanwhile Volt was already sitting inside the driver's seat.
"Alright everyone!"
"Time to go!"
Axell waved lazily.
"Try not to die."
"That's your farewell?"
"It's a dangerous world."
"Fair enough."
I climbed into the tank.
Blaze followed shortly after.
Then slowly—
The T-80 began moving.
The tracks rolled forward.
The engine roared.
And little by little—
The village disappeared behind us.
I looked back through the rear hatch.
Watching Sylph and Axell grow smaller in the distance.
Still waving.
Eventually—
They vanished beyond the horizon.
The journey had begun.
Far behind them.
Back at the village.
Sylph continued staring toward the road long after the tank disappeared.
"...I hope they don't run into trouble."
Axell remained unusually quiet.
Which immediately caught her attention.
"...Axell?"
"Hm?"
"You've been quiet."
Axell sighed.
Then crossed his arms.
"Ryze's bounty is massive."
Sylph nodded.
"Yeah."
"And honestly..."
He looked toward the horizon.
"I hope they don't encounter him."
Sylph frowned.
"Him?"
"Wait..."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You're talking about that bounty hunter?"
Axell slowly nodded.
The expression on his face suddenly became serious.
"Yeah."
"Him."
For the first time all day—
Sylph looked genuinely worried.
Because if that particular bounty hunter had already noticed Ryze's bounty...
Then the journey ahead was about to become far more dangerous than any of them realized.