"…ugh…"
A groan escaped my lips.
"…yawn…"
My vision blurred as I forced my eyes open.
I didn't know how long I'd been out.
Days… maybe.
As I struggled to fully wake, one thing became clear—
For the first time since entering the Empire…
I actually felt rested.
No cold floors.No sleepless nights.No constant tension.
Just… rest.
My body ached, but—
"…it's better," I muttered.
The pain was still there.
But manageable.
"Well, good morning, sleepyhead."
A voice came from in front of me.
"…What?"
I blinked, confused.
This wasn't the room I remembered.
The air—
It was moving.
The ground—
Uneven. Shaking.
As my vision cleared, I realized—
We were moving.
"…Wait—what?!"
I quickly looked around.
We were inside a vehicle.
"Blaze?!"
I turned—
And there he was.
Sitting casually in the passenger seat.
Next to him—
Volt.
Driving.
"Hey," Blaze said with a small smile.
"Feeling better?"
"…Yeah," I answered. "I am."
I studied him for a moment.
After everything that happened…
After that fight—
He should've been badly injured.
Last time he fought something like that, he almost died.
But now?
He looked completely fine.
I glanced outside.
We'd been traveling for a while.
"So… where are we going?" I asked.
Blaze leaned back slightly.
"Where else?"
"To the Resistance HQ."
"…Wait—seriously?!"
My heart skipped.
"We're really going back?"
Finally…
After everything—
I could return.
But—
Reality hit just as fast.
The Empire was already hunting us.
Commander Vortex warned us.
It wouldn't be long before they sent soldiers…
Or worse—
Bounty hunters.
"…It still feels unreal," I whispered.
When I fell into that Void…
I thought that was it.
No escape.
No way back.
But now—
We were heading home.
I opened the window.
Wind rushed in instantly, brushing against my face.
I took a deep breath.
Then—
I frowned.
"…This place…"
Something felt off.
"I don't recognize this area," I said. "Where are we?"
Volt hesitated.
"…Shortcut."
I narrowed my eyes.
"The fastest route to HQ," he added. "Empire patrols don't come through here."
Something about it felt… wrong.
But—
I trusted him.
At least… I wanted to.
"Hey," Volt suddenly spoke.
"There's something you should know."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"…Word is spreading."
"The Empire's preparing something big."
"…Big?"
"Yeah."
He tightened his grip on the wheel.
"…A war."
"…What?"
"With who?" I asked immediately.
Volt shook his head.
"We're not sure yet."
"I haven't even been able to contact HQ."
"…You haven't?" I frowned.
"Why?"
"No signal," he said. "Could be a jammer… or some kind of interference."
That didn't make sense.
The Resistance HQ was hidden.
Highly classified.
The Empire shouldn't even know where it is—
Let alone interfere with it.
A bad feeling crept in.
"…That's not normal."
We continued driving.
Silence filled the vehicle—
Until—
"Oh."
Volt slowed slightly.
"Look."
I leaned toward the window.
"…What happened here?"
The land was ruined.
Collapsed buildings.Cracked ground.Deep slash marks across stone and walls.
It looked like a battlefield.
"…I remember this place," I said.
"This used to be a Raid Boss zone."
Volt nodded.
"Yeah."
"I heard entire squads got wiped out here," he added. "Famous ones too."
"That boss was insane."
"I thought they cleared it?"
Volt shook his head.
"Not exactly."
"That boss had phases."
"…Phases?"
"Yeah. What they thought was the final form…"
"…was just the beginning."
"…You're kidding."
"Nope."
"Most teams didn't even survive long enough to figure it out."
"…So what happened to it?"
"Did anyone beat it?"
Volt hesitated.
"…Rumor says it was defeated."
"But…"
"I've passed through here before."
"And I never saw it."
He shrugged.
"…So we're probably safe."
A pause.
"…Probably."
"…That's not reassuring," I muttered.
Still…
How does a whole team fail against one boss?
Something didn't add up.
I turned to Blaze.
"So…"
"Do you think you could beat it?"
He didn't even look at me.
"…Depends."
"…On what?"
He smirked.
"…If I'm in the mood."
"…Seriously?"
I sighed.
"Whatever."
Silence returned.
But this time—
It felt heavier.
Because I knew…
This might be the last time I travel with him.
After we reach HQ—
He'll leave.
Go somewhere else.
Follow his own path.
And who knows when we'd meet again…
"…Blaze."
He glanced at me.
"What?"
"…What are you going to do after this?"
"After we reach HQ."
He didn't hesitate.
"I'll head to Battle Net."
"…Yeah."
I expected that.
Still—
It stung a little.
"Why do you ask?" he said.
"…Nothing."
I looked away.
Volt glanced at me briefly.
He knew.
"Focus on the road," I said quickly.
"Yeah, yeah," he replied.
I hesitated.
Then—
"…Blaze."
He looked again.
"You know…"
"We could really use someone like you in the Resistance."
I clenched my hands slightly.
"If you're willing…"
"…would you join us?"
"…Blaze?"
No answer.
"…Blaze?"
I leaned forward.
"…Wait."
He wasn't moving.
"…Is he…?"
I stared.
"…Sleeping?"
"…Seriously?!"
Right now?!
I leaned back, annoyed.
"…I'll just ask him later."
But deep down—
I was hoping…
He'd say yes.