As he read those words, fear filled his body. He didn’t understand anything. How could someone steal the body from him in minutes, and then, after a couple of hours, he finds out the whole thing was actually about helping him?

  As he kept walking—thinking, shocked by how everything had gone from the start—he approached his house. A voice—not human, but from a cell phone—came from the front of his house.

  He walked toward it, feeling nothing but pure confusion. As he grabbed the phone, he saw a number ringing. He answered, and the one who called said:

  “Took you long enough to answer. I’ve been ringing for so long! Come to the Rigel house. You’ll understand everything.”

  And who else could have called except the gorgeous, beautiful, handsome, smart, pretty, elegant, best of all time, the peak itself—the one who walks and makes the ground gold? And how could this be anyone else but the only one Morro simps for, the goat herself, Velaris.

  As Morro heard her voice, he melted—but she closed the call right after she finished talking.

  Anyway, he knew he needed to go to Rigel’s house right now because he had too many questions. But before that, he knew Velaris would be there, so that’s why he needed to shower. Because, I mean, c’mon, dude—he hasn’t showered since the start of this novel.

  He entered his house, showered quickly, left, and made sure he looked good. He also made sure his pants didn’t have any holes in them and went as fast as he could to Rigel’s house—then realized that he had never been to Rigel’s house before. He called Velaris, and she answered.

  “Where is Rigel’s house? I’ve never been there,” he asked.

  “The one I kidnapped you in,” she said, then ended the call.

  He was shocked by this answer, but he tried to recall it—and with his incredible memory, he managed to do so.

  As he arrived at the door, he kept knocking, and then a voice came from inside the house.

  “The door is already open. Come in.”

  Who else could’ve said that except the gorgeous, beautiful, handsome, smart, pretty, elegant, best of all time, the peak itself—the one who walks and makes the ground gold? And how could this be anyone else but the only one Morro simps for, the goat herself, Velaris.

  As he heard her, he got so nervous—but calmed himself and entered. No one could be seen in the house, as no one answered the door.

  He walked into a hallway, and at the end, there she was—the gorgeous, beautiful, handsome, smart, pretty, elegant, best of all time, the peak itself—the one who walks and makes the ground gold. And how could this be anyone else but the only one Morro simps for, the goat herself, Velaris.

  His face automatically turned red as a tomato because, I mean, dude, I think you already know why. I don’t need to explain everything.

  She pointed for him to sit, and as he sat, he asked,

  “Where is Rigel?”

  “He said he’ll come back now. He also said he had a mission today. I don’t know what it is, so don’t ask about it,” Velaris said.

  “Ohh, alright,” Morro said.

  They waited for five minutes—nothing but Morro’s red face and silence—until Morro broke it.

  “How did you call me with that cell phone? And why am I here? And how was that cell phone in front of my house?” Morro asked.

  “Why did I call you? I actually don’t know. Rigel told me to call you about why you are here. I also don’t know—and I think you already know my answer to the third question. All I know is that Rigel gave me a phone number, told me it was yours, and told me to ring and tell you to come here,” Velaris replied.

  “Ohhh, okay,” Morro said.

  Silence took over again. After five minutes, the door of the house opened, and Rigel entered, sitting in front of them without saying a word. Morro looked at both of them, waiting for anyone to speak.

  “I think I’m hungry,” Morro said.

  “We’re going to kill one of the royal guards today,” Rigel said in a bored tone.

  “RIGEL WHAT?! At least give me some context of what will happen or what we should do. Don’t say it like it’s nothing,” Morro asked, frustration sharp in his voice.

  “Yeah, I’m actually with Morro,” Velaris said.

  “Alright, alright, let me explain. As you all know, our goal is to kill the 600 royal guards, and then we can kill the king. But now we may have a bigger problem—a serial killer. The Butterfly Killer. Some call him the Blood Stealer Killer, which is the more famous name. Even though he has only killed royal guards until now, we still need to be more serious,” Rigel said.

  Velaris looked at Rigel, thought for a moment, and said, “You’re right. He might be the only one who wants to kill them and not anyone else to join him—and he’ll try to kill us. But I’m sure she won’t win against us, right, Morro?” she said, looking at him.

  Morro stared at the ceiling, lost in thought—many thoughts.

  Are they actually scared of me? I must never reveal the truth, he thought.

  He snapped back to reality after Velaris kept calling his name.

  “What is it, Morro?” Rigel asked.

  “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about food,” Morro lied, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Well, alright then. But no one will be eating until we finish today’s mission, which is to kill one of the royal guards who lives close to here. Everyone here is on the plan,” Rigel said seriously. Morro and Velaris leaned in.

  “That royal guard has a big mansion, and inside it are a lot of other guards for protection—”

  “Wow, even a royal guard needs guards?” Morro asked.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Please stop interrupting me.”

  Morro nodded and gestured for him to continue.

  “The mansion may have more than fifteen guards, so everyone must take the right role in the right place. One single mistake, and it’s over. Velaris is good with a sniper. She’ll stay outside in case it’s easier for her to kill that way and won’t enter with us. She’ll also have a better view through the windows. If any guard is in our way, she’ll tell us—or kill him. Morro and I will enter. I’m better with swords in close combat, and killing the royal guard will be easier. And you, Morro, are good at—”

  Rigel frowned. “What are you good at?”

  “Ugh, I don’t remember what I’m good at. All I know is that I’m smarter than you,” Morro said.

  “W-WHAT?! What makes you think that?” Rigel asked.

  “I don’t know… maybe because guns exist and I didn’t choose to fight with swords, as if I’m faster than a bullet,” Morro laughed.

  “But who said I wasn’t faster than a bullet?” Rigel asked.

  “What—” Morro froze, eyes wide. “And you’re saying Velaris is faster than you?”

  “Yes. What do you think was the reason she chose one of the hardest guns to use?” Rigel asked.

  “I think I’m scared right now,” Morro said, fear in his eyes.

  “Back to our topic—what type of combat do you fight?” Rigel asked.

  “Well… none, actually,” Morro said.

  Except killing and dismembering bodies, he thought.

  “Wait—like, nothing you’re good at? At all?” Rigel asked.

  Morro didn’t answer. He only nodded.

  “I told you we should’ve killed him from the start,” Velaris said.

  “Why do you want me gone so bad?!” Morro gasped.

  “Calm down. I should’ve thought of training first, but it’s fine. You’ll stay outside the mansion and watch for anything going wrong. Call one of us if something happens,” Rigel said.

  “Can’t we all just enter and kill everyone there?” Morro asked.

  “That would be mass murder,” Rigel said.

  “No, it wouldn’t. A mass murderer is considered one when only three to four bodies are found. So if we killed everyone there, it’d be a super duper mass murderer.”

  Velaris finally spoke. “I mean, Morro has a valid plan—not gonna lie.”

  “Why do you both always want to kill so badly?” Rigel asked, confused.

  “I mean, it’s the easiest way to solve anything,” Velaris said, lifting both hands, palms up, shoulders rising in a small shrug—an expression that said I’m right.

  “Fine. We’ll follow Morro's plan plan but at the same time with my plan. Morro stays outside because he’s useless. I’ll enter with Velaris,” Rigel said, doubt in his tone.

  They nodded, prepared, and went to the mansion. There it was—a large mansion guarded by many guards.

  They hid, and Velaris took out her sniper, aiming at the front guards.

  “Can you already shoot them? You’re taking so long,” Morro said, bored.

  “But I already did,” Velaris replied.

  “Wait—what?” Morro looked at the front guards. They were already dead. How did I not hear anything? he thought.

  “My sniper is super silent,” Velaris said. “No sound when shooting.”

  Morro couldn’t respond, still shocked. Rigel and Velaris told him to stay and watch out for anyone who comes.

  They entered the mansion, stunned by how large and beautiful it was.

  “Do you really think there are only fifteen guards here?” Velaris asked.

  “Let’s hope so,” Rigel replied.

  A chilling wind filled the place—not strong, but calm. Too calm.

  They closed the door behind them carefully. Step by step, they moved forward, placing each foot gently, making sure not a single sound betrayed them.

  They searched the first floor—no one.

  Velaris looked up the stairs. “I think this mansion has more than five floors, but it doesn’t look like it from the outside—”

  “What did you just say?” Rigel asked.

  “Um… that it has five floors?”

  “Velaris… if I told you this mansion doesn’t even have a second floor, what would you say?”

  “What are you talking about, Rig—”

  “Velaris, I don’t think we’re the hunters. We’re the prwas ey!”

  He pointed upward and screamed, “VELARIS, WATCH OUT!”

  She looked up. A massive wave of arrows—faster than bullets—rained down. She dodged at the last second.

  “What juwere st happened?!” Velaa ris asked.

  “We’re in an expansion!” Rigel said, breathing hard.

  “What’s that?”

  “Remember when I told you some people can create rooms using their powers?”

  “Yes, but you said only a few could do that.”

  “Rooms have ranks. Rooms are the lowest. Expansions are higher—the user can attack you, but it’s not deadly. Voids are the most dangerous. And I did think anyone of I knew could even use expansions.”

  “And this isn’t a void?”

  “I literally said expansion two minutes ago. Are you deaf?”

  Before she could respond, a voice spoke behind them:

  “Can you two stop talking already? You’re annoying.”

  They turned. A tall man stood there—six feet tall, wearing a suit and a gold fox-shaped mask.

  He must be the royal guard—but Rigel needed to be sure.

  “Who are you?” Rigel asked.

  “You enter my mansion and ask who I am?” the royal guard replied.

  “I knew you were a royal guard. I just didn’t know royal guards could use expansions,” Rigel said.

  “bitch Did you just talk back to me? ME?!” the guard screamed, rage twisting his face. He raised his hand, and arrows filled the air.

  Rigel and Velaris drew their weapons—then realized they were useless.

  The arrows hovered, ready to strike.

  “Rigel, stay still,” Velaris said calmly.

  “Velaris, are you crazy?!”

  “Trust me. Morro was right. Swords can’t beat guns, and arrows can’t either. This fight is made for me—and only me.”

  "Dream about it I'm not letting you fight alone, you aren't the only one who's good at fighting."

  As Rigel fintook talking, he takes his sword out

  Velaris did the same but this time she took out a sniper made of pure white crystals.

  They both had their weapons and sustruck the arrows strike at them faster than bullets.

  The royal guard thought they were gonna run or move but no, they stayed still even when the arrows strike and hir them, he getting worried.

  After the arrows strike and exploded, the royal guard couldn't see anything because of the mist. Second by second he was able to see and Velaies and Rigel still standing not single scratch in their face or even their clothes.

  "what—HOW COME THIS HAPPENS?!!!“

  "Well because you're actually not in the expansion right now," they both said in time.

  "what that can't be right, how!" He asked.

  "To break an expansion you must broke it's own rules and turn it against itself," rigel said.

  The royal guard didn't think about what Rigel said he just cared about where is Velaris now because she was nowhere to be seen, and he is nothing without his expansion.

  "I'm behind you."

  All of a sudden he felt something cold touch his spine.

  Then the weight of it settled, unmistakable. A gun—held by someone standing just behind him.

  "Even if you killed me now there are still hundreds of guards coming now to my mansion you won't be able to kill them at all no matter what you did," the royal guard said.

  "No, matter of fact I can kill them."

  She said, as she pulled the trigger, not giving him any chance to speak.

  As blood falls from his head his body falls the mask falls with him.

  She grabbed the mask as Rigel approached her and asked, "Rigel, why was he wearing this mask? I thought royal guards don't wear masks."

  "Royal guards are divided into multiple ranks, and their mask color determines their rank. Gold is the fourth rank. Guards who don’t wear masks are the lowest rank," he said.

  "Okay, but what about the hundreds of the guards he said they're coming?" She asked.

  "Wait! What if Morro had to fight them all while we were fighting? We need to go look for him now!" he said in a worried tone.

  They rushed out of the mansion to find him — and found him eating popcorn.

  "Guys, you won't believe what happened. You missed a lot. But before I say anything, let me do something…"

  As Morro finished speaking, he ate the entire bag of popcorn in one go, just to make sure they wouldn’t take any of it.

  "What happened? And where did you get this popcorn?" Rigel asked.

  "And why did you eat it all? I wanted some," Velaris said.

  "Well, it wasn't meant to be shared — sorry, Velaris. And about the popcorn… some people came and were about to enter the mansion because of the dead bodies out front. So I went around from behind, started crying, and told them two guys had kidnapped the royal guard while pointing in a random direction. They didn’t believe me at first, but I looked too innocent. So they believed me… and gave me popcorn." He said.

  Velaris and Rigel didn't seem to believe it but as soon as they remembered what the royal guard said they kinda believed the story.

  "I think we should leave before they come again," Rigel said

  They left the area tried really tried except for Morro.

  When they finally arrived at the front of Rigel's house Morro looked notice something behind the house and asked, "Rigel, why is the forest behind your house looks so darker than before I mean I do know we're in night but this darkness feels...worng?"

  As Morro finished, Rigel immediately looked sweaty, panic written all over his face.

  “Guys—how about we all go to the plateau right now—to, you know, celebrate our victory,” Rigel said, panic cutting through his breath.

  Velaris and Morro were both confused of why he's panicking.

  “Okay, but Rigel—are you sure? Did something happen? Why are you panicking?” Morro asked.

  "Nothing happened just you both go to the plateau and I'll come but I'll enter my house I'll just do something,"

  Velaris and Morro nodded, still confused, but agreed and left. After climbing to the plateau, they lay down on the ground, waiting for Rigel.

  "What's your goal Velaris?" Morro asked suddenly.

  "What?" She asked.

  “What’s your goal, Velaris? I mean, why do you want to kill every royal guard?” he asked, thinking she'd just say none of his business.

  "They destroyed everything that I ever had," she said.

  "I'm sorry to hear that must've been hard for you, right?" He asked.

  "Not really and it's none of your business," she said.

  "I mean, you are right," he said, embarrassed.

  After some second of silence he asked again, "Velaris, what would you do after you kill them all, will you have a peaceful life or what are you planning to do."

  "I didn't think of that but what you'll do?" She asked.

  "I'll have my own freedom," he said looking at the sky.

  "What do you mean by freedom, are you a slave or something?" She asked.

  "No, I'm not. But what does freedom mean to you? Is it having a family, living alone, working all day, or being able to travel everywhere? Freedom has many names and forms. No one can claim a single definition and say, 'This is true freedom,' because freedom isn't just a word or an action—it's a feeling. A feeling that can take countless shapes, and only you can shape it for yourself," he said as he observed the beauty the sky.

  Velaris was confused by his speech. She never remembered him being or talking like that; she knew him as the kid who didn’t take anything seriously

  "Well, Mr.philosophical tell me what is freedom to you?" She asked.

  He paused before answering. "To be to free, just like this star" he pointed at a star in the sky.

  "Yeah, I agree," Velaris said, "let's go on another mission tomorrow—"

  "No, I can't I have things to do tomorrow, things that are personal," he said.

  Velaris didn't push but nodded, and they both stared at

  the sky and the stars. The stars were really beautiful.

  At that moment, Rigel stood before the forest, now swallowed by darkness. His cold eyes locked onto a figure whose body was in shadows, only its glowing white eyes visible. Sweat ran down Rigel’s face as he said, trying to sound brave, “Yes… I choose to let him live.”

  The figure’s expression darkened as it said, “This action will have consequences.”