The dry wind carried reddish dust, sweeping across a narrow path that led to a massive wooden wall.
The wall towered high, looking primitive yet sturdy, as if it firmly rejected the touch of technology from the outside world.
Tora stopped walking, resting his giant axe on his shoulder. "So… this is your village?"
Scyte, standing beside him, examined the moss-covered piles of wood with a puzzled gaze. "I didn't expect a place like this to still exist in such an advanced world!"
Before Rare could answer, a mocking laugh broke the silence from the trees.
"Stop right there!"
A teenage boy appeared from behind the branches of a tall tree. He held a perfectly curved wooden bow, looking down with a sneer. "Hah? Aren't you that weird kid who got sold? Hahaha!"
Hearing that voice, Rare flinched slightly. His eyes widened, as if he clearly recognized the owner of that laugh.
But before Rare could react, Tora had already stepped forward. A savage aura instantly radiated from his body.
"You'd better move aside," Tora threatened, his voice heavy and cold.
The boy on the tree jumped down toward Tora and clicked his tongue. "What if I don't?"
Without hesitation, Tora lowered his axe, pointing it straight at the boy. Yet the teenager showed no sign of panic at all.
"Wow, you're pretty rough," he said casually. "Try looking up."
Tora looked up.
Right in his blind spot, an arrow shot down at insane speed from the sky, aiming straight for his head.
With sharp battle reflexes, Tora leapt backward and swung his axe, shattering the arrow into pieces.
Seeing the surprise attack, Scyte immediately moved.
He dashed backward like a shadow, swinging his scythe and releasing a sharp wave of energy that cut down all the trees that could block their vision.
The small forest in front of the wall was flattened in an instant.
Tora wasted no time. He charged forward, swinging his axe toward where the boy had been dragged by Scyte's slash earlier.
BOOM!! The ground exploded, but his target had already vanished.
Tora clicked his tongue in annoyance, scanning the surroundings. "Where is he?"
Whoosh! An arrow shot toward Scyte, but the small executioner simply tilted his head, letting it pass just millimeters from his nose.
At the same time, three arrows flew rapidly toward Rare.
Rare didn't dodge. He simply raised his Excalibur with one hand and gave it a light swing.
The three arrows shattered into splinters before even touching his skin.
Tora grinned. He finally had an idea.
"Scyte! Rare! Jump now!" Tora shouted.
Without questioning, both of them leapt high into the air.
Tora gripped his axe with both hands, channeling all the natural energy he had absorbed until the blade shone brightly, then slammed it down with all his might.
BOOOOM!!!
A devastating shockwave exploded.
The ground around them cracked and burst like it had been hit by a massive landmine.
The entire area was thrown into chaos.
The violent tremor forced the archer out of his hiding spot among the fallen trees.
He had no choice but to leap into the air to avoid the collapsing ground.
And that was the opening.
"Tch!" the boy clicked his tongue, realizing he was completely exposed.
"Now, Rare!" Tora shouted.
Rare, who had just landed, immediately stabbed his giant sword into the ground.
Suddenly, from beneath the surface where the archer would land, chunks of rock surged upward, forming a stone trap that instantly locked his legs the moment he touched the ground.
The boy couldn't move. Rare slowly walked toward him, dragging Excalibur as its blade scraped against the ground.
Scyte and Tora held their breath, slightly surprised. Was this innocent Rare really going to finish off someone from his past?
Rare stopped right in front of the archer.
He raised his sword… then lowered it.
His tense expression softened into a sincere smile.
"Thank you for the food, Arrow."
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop blowing.
Arrow, who had been putting on a tough face, now looked flustered. His face turned red. "W–what do you mean?"
Tora sheathed his axe and walked closer, letting out a long sigh. "I get it now. That food you threw back then… you did it because you had no choice, didn't you? Since your parents are important figures in this village, you didn't want to lower their status by being seen as kind to an outcast."
Tora exhaled deeply. "I… back then too… ah, forget it…" he muttered, barely audible.
Scyte could only glance at Tora and quietly lament his own fate.
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Then Arrow's defenses finally broke.
He lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Rare," Arrow said softly. "I… I was scared too. If I showed my true self, I'd be shunned by the entire village, just like you."
He swallowed, then looked at the three of them with hope. "So… can I join you?"
Tora, who had been listening, immediately widened his eyes. "Hey, that's not—"
"Tora!" Rare snapped, his voice sharp yet firm.
Tora fell silent. The fierce axe wielder looked away, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "…Fine."
Arrow smiled widely, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief. Rare helped him out of the stone trap.
Now, standing before the massive wall that separated them from the past, they were no longer just three.
With Tora at the front, Scyte at the side, Rare with his giant sword, and Arrow holding his bow at the rear, their formation was complete.
Their footsteps moved in unison as they walked side by side toward the village gate.
That night, under a sky that was slowly darkening, The Four Pion was finally formed.