Chapter 96 — An Unexpected Encounter
The bustling city of Helios Reach stood before them.
Known as the City of Trade, Helios Reach was one of the Empire's greatest commercial hubs, handling hundreds—if not thousands—of trades and transactions every single day. Merchant caravans arrived from every direction, while airships continuously landed atop the city's towering docks.
It was one of the finest examples of what players and NPCs could accomplish when they worked together.
The streets were alive with vendors shouting their prices, blacksmiths displaying enchanted weapons, and adventurers from countless worlds wandering the crowded marketplaces.
Blending into the crowd, the group kept their heads down as they walked through the busy streets, doing their best to avoid drawing Imperial attention.
SK crossed her arms as she looked at the others.
"So... let me get this straight."
She glanced toward Ryze.
"While I was gone..."
"You all somehow managed to defeat a Raid Boss?"
Volt immediately shook his head.
"I wouldn't exactly call it defeating."
He scratched the back of his head.
"More like..."
"It's... complicated."
Ryze nodded.
"We came to a mutual understanding."
"...That's the simplest way to explain it."
SK blinked.
"...A mutual understanding?"
She decided not to question it any further.
"And after that..."
"You managed to get food, equipment, supplies..."
"...from a tiny village..."
She paused before looking at Blaze.
"...and somehow ended up with a freaking tank?"
Ryze smiled awkwardly.
"...That's pretty much the whole story."
"And now we're here in Helios Reach to restock before heading west."
Volt nodded.
"If my memory serves me right, the western route doesn't pass through any major settlements."
"So we'd better stock up while we still can."
He looked around at the crowded streets.
"Back when I traveled alone, I barely carried anything."
"But now there are four of us."
"We'll need enough food, medicine, ammunition, and spare equipment for the journey."
SK slowly turned toward Blaze.
"So..."
"I never imagined I'd end up helping Resistance rebels."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"But what about you, Sir Blaze?"
"I'm pretty sure you have your own goal."
"You're not just helping Ryze... right?"
The question immediately caught Ryze's attention.
She quietly looked toward Blaze, waiting for his answer.
Blaze remained silent for a moment before replying.
"...Yeah."
"After this..."
"I'm planning to head toward Battle Net."
SK's eyes lit up.
She immediately stood at attention.
"Sir!"
"I'd like to request permission to accompany you."
Blaze couldn't help but smile.
"Well..."
"Be my guest."
Ryze's expression stiffened ever so slightly.
She quickly looked away.
Volt noticed immediately.
A grin spread across his face.
"...Hey."
"Try not to make it so obvious."
Ryze's face instantly turned red.
"W-What are you talking about?!"
"Shut up!"
Volt only laughed.
Ryze turned away before anyone could see the embarrassed expression on her face.
Why do I even care...?
If Blaze and SK end up traveling together...
Why does that bother me so much...?
She quickly shook her head.
Forget it.
I'm almost back at Resistance Headquarters.
That's what matters.
She walked beside Volt.
"Any luck contacting headquarters?"
Volt sighed as he checked the communication crystal one more time.
"...Still nothing."
"Just static."
He slipped it back into his pocket.
"But it'll be alright."
"We'll try again later."
After walking a little farther, Volt stopped near a crossroads.
"Alright."
"I need to gather supplies."
He pointed toward the city center.
"Let's meet back here in about an hour."
"We should leave before sunset."
"The longer we stay in Helios Reach..."
"...the greater the chance the Empire notices us."
SK looked down at her scythe.
"Now that I think about it..."
"I should have a blacksmith adjust my weapon."
"It'll only take a little while."
She walked off toward the forge district.
"See you two later."
Before long...
Only Blaze and Ryze remained standing together.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Neither knew what to say.
Blaze noticed Ryze avoiding eye contact.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"...Hey."
He casually gestured toward the bustling marketplace.
"Wanna walk around the city for a bit?"
Ryze looked up in surprise.
"...Sure."
-
The crowded streets eventually opened into Helios Reach's central plaza.
Merchants called out to passing customers while children ran between the market stalls. Travelers from different games wandered the square, giving the city an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the Empire.
But one thing immediately caught Ryze's attention.
Standing at the center of the plaza...
Was a colossal stone statue.
The Legendary Sword Hero.
His blade pointed proudly toward the sky as though protecting the entire city.
Ryze frowned.
"Legendary Hero..."
Something felt wrong.
She slowly looked around.
"...Where are the other two?"
The Legendary Bow Hero.
The Legendary Mage Hero.
Every memorial she'd ever heard of honored all three together.
Yet here...
Only the Sword Hero remained.
"...Why are you glaring at a statue?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.
"Ah!"
Ryze jumped in surprise before spinning around.
"Blaze!"
"You scared me!"
"Stop doing that!"
Blaze stood there with his usual calm smile.
"Sorry."
He tilted his head slightly.
"But..."
"Mind answering my question?"
Unlike his usual teasing tone...
This time he sounded genuinely curious.
Ryze let out a quiet sigh before turning back toward the statue.
"It's just..."
"You know the Empire..."
"And the Legendary Heroes are connected."
Blaze blinked.
"They are?"
Ryze stared at him.
"...Wait."
"You're serious?"
Then she remembered.
"...Right."
"I forgot."
"You were trapped inside the Void for years."
"A lot of this happened after that."
Blaze simply nodded.
"Yep."
Ryze crossed her arms.
"To put it simply..."
"The Legendary Heroes built the foundation of what eventually became the Empire."
Before she could continue—
"Basically..."
Volt suddenly appeared beside them carrying several bags of supplies.
"...She's saying that without the Three Legendary Heroes..."
"...the Empire probably wouldn't exist."
Ryze glared at him.
"Hey!"
"I was going to say that!"
Volt only laughed.
Blaze nodded thoughtfully.
"I see..."
"So that's why you don't seem to like them."
Ryze looked at him.
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
Blaze scratched the back of his head.
"I don't know."
"I just had a feeling."
He laughed softly.
Ryze could only roll her eyes.
Volt pointed toward the towering monument.
"You want to know why only the Sword Hero has a statue here?"
Blaze nodded.
"Years ago..."
"This wasn't a major city."
"It was just a small trading settlement run by merchants, adventurers, and NPCs."
"Then a massive monster invasion nearly wiped it off the map."
"They say the Sword Hero arrived alone..."
"...and defended the city until the very end."
He looked up at the monument.
"Legend also says..."
"This is where he discovered the legendary sword."
"The same sword he later used to defeat the Final Boss of The EndGame."
Blaze quietly looked at the statue.
"...That's quite the story."
Ryze shrugged.
"...Wow."
"How inspiring."
The sarcasm in her voice was impossible to miss.
SK, who had just returned after finishing her weapon adjustments, overheard the conversation.
"For you, maybe."
She crossed her arms.
"You're a Starborn."
"What would you know about SkyRealm's history?"
"I'm willing to bet..."
"You never even played SkyRealm before the Great Collapse."
Ryze immediately looked back at her.
"So what if I didn't?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Neither of them looked away.
Volt quietly took one step backward.
"...Uh-oh."
Blaze glanced between the two before letting out a helpless sigh.
"...We should probably get going."
Neither Ryze nor SK answered.
But after a few seconds...
Both silently followed.
None of them noticed...
A pair of golden eyes had been watching their conversation from nearby building.
he smiled.
"...So..."
"There you are."