SPECIAL STAR

Rune lowers his weapon, his eyes narrowing as the bandit leader steps forward. The leader smirks and says, "Good... now listen, we have a lot to catch up on."

He introduces himself with a slight bow. "The name's Crow," he says. "We are the survivors of Blueberry Town. We banded together to survive for one sole purpose: to deliver justice to our fallen people. Gavin was supposed to be our town guardian, but when the end of the world came, he never showed up. We lost so many because of him!"

Crow clenches his fists, his voice hardening. "When things finally settled down, we tried approaching Gavin's house to ask for answers, but he came out and killed some of my men. He said his duty of protection was over. Can you imagine? He abandoned us! We ran for our lives when we saw how selfish he was—only caring about his precious project, his so-called powerful weapon... which turned out to be his own son!"

Crow paces back and forth, his voice growing sharper with every word. "Years went by, and I tried everything to learn magic, but as you can see, I'm ungifted. Then we found this bunker. The family who lived here held onto countless magic scrolls, that can use all kinds of magic. They even had secrets, too—secrets they kept from us."

He grins darkly. "Of course, we killed most of them and took control of the bunker. During our research, we discovered they were protecting a dark ritual site. This site has the power to transfer magic from one living being to another. Naturally, I thought of using sacrifices like you guys, but the ritual can only be performed once per person."

Crow's expression hardens as he turns to Rune. "You know what I want."

Rune narrows his eyes. "So you want Gavin's kid."

"Yes," Crow replies with a twisted grin. "That boy has an incredible amount of magic, more than Gavin himself ever could! It's only fair for me to take it—and kill him for it. Here's the deal: you're strong, so you'll bring the kid here. If you don't... we'll kill the girl and your friend."

Rune glances over his shoulder to see a dozen bandits with rifles aimed at Simbad's frozen body. His heart races as he takes a deep breath, his mind scrambling for a response.

Moments later, back at the ruined house, Vex is in the kitchen, determined to recreate last night's recipe. He carefully measures and mixes ingredients, his focus unwavering. Crag and Bell lend a hand, chopping vegetables and arranging plates. As Crag glances out the window, his eyes widen.

"Master Rune has come back," Crag announces.

Bell looks out with confusion. "But where is Simbad?"

Vex, still focused on his cooking, puts the final touches on the dish. "I think I did it!" he exclaims proudly. He tastes the black bean noodles, pausing with a thoughtful expression. "Hmm... something is missing."

Bell steps closer to the window, her concern growing. "Master Rune has returned, but he seems... off. Like something's wrong."

The front door creaks open, and Rune steps inside, his face heavy with tension. He heads straight for the kitchen. Vex, eager for feedback, holds up a plate of noodles.

"Master Rune, can you tell me what's missing? I'm trying to cook this dish just like you."

As Vex looks at Rune's face, his excitement fades. Rune's expression reveals stress and turmoil. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Vex lowers the plate.

Rune takes a deep breath and begins explaining everything that just happened. His words leave everyone in stunned silence. In the corner of the room, Vex's mother sits at the piano and starts playing a sad, haunting melody.

"So... some of the people from town actually survived," Vex says, his voice trembling. "I remember that day, Father. I couldn't control him... and he killed so many of them when they came to visit. I just... I just wanted to live my life! I don't want anymore problems!"

Rune places a hand on Vex's shoulder. "Don't worry. I've got a plan that might work, but it all depends on you."

Vex nods, determination flickering in his eyes, and listens closely to Rune's plan. Moments later, Rune and Vex leaves the house, heading out into the forest.

But back in the living room, something stirs. Gavin's corpse, lying still and lifeless, begins to crackle with sparks of magic. His eyes snap open, glowing with an unnatural light.

Back at the bunker, a bandit rushes to Crow. "Boss, Rune's back, and he brought the kid."

Crow grins and steps outside, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Rune dragging Vex, tied with a rope around his body. "Whoa! You actually managed to bring the kid. Are you really that strong?"

Rune shakes his head. "No, we didn't fight. The kid believes he's in the wrong, so he's here to redeem himself."

Vex looks down, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry. During the end of the world... if you remember that massive surge of magic that destroyed the entire town..." He pauses, struggling to speak. "That was me. I couldn't control my magic, and it killed so many people."

Crow crosses his arms, a smug smile on his face. "Of course, that was you. But at least you've come to your senses. You and your father must pay the price for all those lives!"

They enter the bunker, walking into a massive chamber. At the center of the room, the girl sits with her hands tied together, and Simbad's frozen body stands motionless nearby. A bandit hands Crow a set of keys. Crow approaches a giant, ominous door, inserts the key, and turns it.

"Now for the final steps," Crow says, his voice dripping with anticipation.

He approaches the girl, pulling out a knife. With a swift motion, he cuts her arm, letting her blood drip into his hand. Crow splatters the blood onto the door, which begins to glow faintly.

"The girl's family protected this site for years," he explains. "They sealed it with magic scrolls, requiring their blood to open it. When we came here, they destroyed the key, but we found notes in the bunker revealing they had a spare hidden in town. That's where you guys came into the picture."

Suddenly, the girl grabs a knife from a bandit's belt and charges at Vex.

"No!" Rune shouts, lunging to stop her, but it's too late.

The knife plunges into Vex's chest, and he collapses as blood pours from the wound.

" He needed to die so they can't use his powers.."

For a moment, everything is still. Then, magic surges from Vex's wound, expelling the knife and healing him instantly. His magic erupts, sending everyone in the room flying. The girl's body explodes in a flash of light, covering Rune in blood.

Crow laughs maniacally, pointing a gun at Simbad's frozen body. "Now that's the power I want! Get the kid onto the ritual site, or your friend dies!"

Vex's magic pulses violently, but Rune forces himself forward through the chaos. "Vex! Calm down! We need to keep moving! Please!"

Vex's magic begins to settle as he breathes deeply. He looks at his hands, trembling. "Did I... did I really kill her?"

Rune steadies him with a firm grip. "Vex, focus. We have to keep going."

Together, they navigate to the ritual room, while the remaining bandits keep their weapons trained on Simbad. Crow orders Rune and Vex to stand on the ritual circle. With a proud flourish, Crow signals his men.

"Do your job!" he commands.

The bandits unfurl a dark scroll and begin chanting. Black magic radiates from the circle, forming glowing X marks under Rune's and Vex's feet. One by one, the chanting bandits collapse and die, but the survivors presses on.

Crow smirks, stepping onto the circle. "Their deaths won't be in vain. I will avenge them! People of Blueberry Town, this is our time for revenge!"

The black magic intensifies, forming a swirling vortex around Crow. Rune looks to Vex and shouts over the roar of the magic. "Vex, this is what we planned for! This is all you! I know these rituals are nothing compared to your power. You can conquer this!"

Vex takes a deep breath, steadying his trembling hands. He closes his eyes and begins to focus, his magic surging in response.

Meanwhile, back at the ruined house, Bell and Crag stand by the window, watching anxiously. Crag then asks, "Do you really think Rune's plan will work?"

Bell folds her arms, staring out at the horizon. "We have to trust him. If this is what it takes for Vex to grow, then so be it."

Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of magic erupts from the house. Gavin awakens, his body surrounded by a glowing magical aura, revealing his human form in magic. The house trembles before bursting into pieces, magic swirling violently around the wreckage. Gavin lets out a scream as his magic spirals into the air, filling the sky.

At the same time, Vex's mother plays an intense, haunting melody on the piano. Crag and Bell shield their faces from the wind and debris, looking up to see Gavin floating above them, radiant with magic.

Gavin's voice booms across the ruins. "After all these hard years, I've finally mastered it! I've broken free!"

He descends, landing with a powerful thud, and smirks. "If only you guys were smart enough to realize it... that y'all can also channel Vex's magic into your own. For years, I've been diving mentally and spiritually into his unknown magic. Now, with a better grasp of it, I've broken free from his control. And now, you too can be free!"

With a wave of his hand, Gavin releases a burst of magic that engulfs Crag, Bell, his wife, and the maid. The intense energy swirls around their bodies, but the maid calmly continues cleaning, and Gavin's wife doesn't stop playing the piano.

Gavin laughs. "You're free now. Do what you will with my son's magic. As for me, I'll take the rest for myself!"

Suddenly, Crag and Bell channel their magic and attack Gavin in unison.

"Fools," Gavin says with a cold sneer. He summons a weapon glowing with magical energy and swings it with immense force. The shockwaves rip through the air, scattering Crag and Bell's bodies into pieces.

Gavin glances at the maid and his wife, who remain undeterred by the chaos. He shakes his head. "Even with freedom, you all are still blind."

Without another word, Gavin leaps into the distance, leaving destruction in his wake.

As the dust settles, the maid drops her broom. The magical aura around her begins to intensify, swirling like a storm. Vex's mother's aura also rises, merging with the piano's vibrations. Their combined magic fills the air.

The maid's body starts to disintegrate, but she smiles and says softly, "Freedom... my freedom is for you all to live." Her body scatters into a radiant glow, and from it, Bell's shattered corpse begins to reassemble. A burst of magic erupts from Bell's chest, and her eyes flicker back to life.

Vex's mother plays her final note, her melody lingering in the air. Her body begins to fade away as well, but she smiles gently. "Live your life, my son," she whispers. Then, she vanishes, her magic dissipating into the ether.

As Crag's body also reforms, he takes a shaky breath and rises. He looks to Bell, determination burning in his eyes. "We need to stop Gavin," Crag says. "If we don't, Vex is going to die."

Meanwhile, back in the bunker, Rune and Vex scream in agony as black magic engulfs their bodies. Rune clenches his teeth and shouts, "Come on, Vex! You can do this!"

Vex struggles, trembling as his own magic begins to surge. A brilliant burst of energy erupts from his chest, forcing him to cry out, "I want to live... I want to live... please, I need to live!"

Suddenly, his magic grows even stronger, twisting and tangling with the oppressive black magic surrounding them. The force shatters the glass windows, sending shards flying as the bandits are flung across the room. The explosion also breaks the ice holding Simbad, who tumbles free.

Simbad blinks in shock, witnessing the chaos as the magic within the ritual site swells uncontrollably. The sheer force of the eruption causes Rune to be unconscious.

"No!" Simbad shouts, rushing forward. Channeling all the magic he can muster, he pulls Rune's limp body out of the ritual site and carries him toward the exit.

As they escape, a deafening explosion tears through the bunker, blasting them into the forest. The intense surge of combined magic spirals into the sky, forming a massive tornado that uproots trees and clears the surrounding area.

Panting heavily, Simbad drags Rune to safety and checks for a pulse. He presses his ear to Rune's chest but hears nothing. Panic takes over as he starts performing CPR. "Come on, Rune! This isn't the time to die!" he shouts desperately.

Above them, the battle of magic rages, the sky filled with black and blue energy. The tornado's power continues to grow, threatening to engulf everything in its path.

Rune suddenly gasps, coughing violently as he awakens. His eyes widen at the sight of the towering pillar of magic in the distance. "What the... with this amount of power, it could destroy everything—even Old Berry Town and Nemura City!"

Before they can react further, Gavin appears, soaring through the air toward the center of the magic pillar. The moment he enters, the swirling magic begins to stabilize and slowly dissolve.

Crow groans as he regains consciousness, dark magic radiating from his body. He rises to his feet, laughing maniacally. "Yes! I can feel it! This incredible power—it's mine!"

He turns, spotting Vex unconscious on the ground. Then his eyes land on Gavin, who is nearby, slowly absorbing Vex's magic.

"Of course," Crow sneers, his voice dripping with venom. "You're here to steal the show, aren't you?"

Without hesitation, Crow launches a ferocious attack at Gavin, his dark magic crackling through the air. Gavin counters instantly, and their opposing forces collide with a thunderous roar. The battlefield becomes a chaotic swirl of power, their magic clashing with a force that shakes the earth beneath them.

Rune leaps forward, grabbing Vex and hoisting him away from the chaos. However, before he can get far, another surge of magic bursts out of Vex's body, sending Rune flying through the air. He crashes hard against the ground, tumbling across the land.

Simbad arrives just in time, darting forward to catch Rune. His eyes widen in alarm as he sees the deep, bleeding wounds covering Rune's body.

"Rune! Stay with me!" Simbad says, his voice trembling.

Without hesitation, he rips off his shirt, trying to staunch the bleeding, but the flow refuses to stop. Panic flashes across Simbad's face as Rune's breaths become ragged.

Rune, struggling to keep his eyes open, looks over at Vex, who is now awake but still radiating uncontrollable magic. The swirling energy around Vex tears at the land, shaking the ground violently.

Between shallow gasps, Rune shouts hoarsely, "Vex!!! Where is your will to live?!!"

His words echo through the chaotic air, his voice filled with desperation and determination as he fights to reach Vex's heart.