Oliver and his companions observe how the horde of Pyro Void Monsters suddenly ceases. They all have their eyes squinting at each idle creature. But, suddenly, a glimpse of bright light appears on the lake's horizon. It is as if a star is born.

"Ouch..." Edgar winced, rubbing his eyes in discomfort as the bright light pierced his vision.

"You okay, Ed?" Oliver asked in concern.

Edgar quickly nodded as Gregory brushed his hair.

     The group then watched the Pyro Void Monsters turn their back. The creatures all turned around simultaneously. Then, all beasts faced the shining light in the distance.

     Gradually, the intensity of the light grew, casting a radiant glow that engulfed the surroundings. The lake is like the sun itself. Everything on the lake is painfully bright and white. As the light intensified, the monstrous figures cast elongated shadows, ominously enveloping Oliver and his companions behind the bush.

"It's so bright," Sarrah grunted as her hands covered her eyes.

"What's happening?" Sophia covered her face, cautiously peering through the gaps between her fingers, torn between the curiosity to understand the situation and the deep yearning for the blinding light to dissipate.

     Oliver covered his eyes as well. His teeth clenched tightly, mirroring the tension in his fists. With his forearms shielding his vulnerable eyeballs from the searing brightness, he braced himself for the intensity of the light.

     As Oliver closes his eyelids, a deep, monstrous growl pierces through the air, capturing his attention. Amidst the growl, Oliver can discern each word of the sentences. Yet, the others cannot hear it.

"Annihilate the Remaining Podeshire and everyone in his world. Ravage his city and destroy his world," the deep, monstrous growl echoed into Oliver's ears with eerie clarity.

     The words cause Oliver's eyes to widen. A wave of icy shock courses through his veins, making him feel like a heavy carriage is mercilessly rolling over him. Paralyzed in fear, panic grips his thoughts as his mind and heartbeat race.

     Meanwhile, Gregory ducks, shielding his face from the blinding beam of white light. As his gaze shifts to his side, he notices Oliver summoning a fog of thick smoke from his hands. Gregory swiftly reaches out, grasping Oliver's arm and capturing his attention.

"What are you doing!?" Gregory mouthed.

"..." Oliver responded with a slow, deliberate nod as his eyes met Gregory's with a reassuring gaze. Though he didn't utter a word, his nod became a palpable sign of assurance.

     Oliver resumes summoning more mist and fog from his palms. The opaque plumes swirl and billow around him, creating a cover that hides them. It doesn't take long for his companions to notice as their eyes dart at the enigmatic display. Oliver continues to eject the smoke from his hands.

     The rest watches Oliver spawn fog. Soon, the mist and swirling cloud of smoke envelop the radiating light emanating from the horizon. While the fog thickens, the piercing brightness becomes obscured, veiling everything in a thick haze.

     Oliver swiftly grabs Gregory's hands. Gregory extends his hand, tightly gripping Edgar's palm, forming a chain of interlocked fingers. Edgar, in turn, takes hold of Sophia's hand. Sophia reaches out, firmly clasping Sarrah's hand. Then, Sarrah grasps Bethany as her fingers close around Bethany's hand.

     Slowly, the group navigates away from the menacing horde of monsters. Oliver leads, guiding the rest of the team through the terrain. With every step, their hands lock onto one another, pulling themselves as they move forward. Their heads remain low, crouching and hastening their retreat.

     Maintaining a line formation, Oliver locates through the dense foggy mist. The gassy obstacle proves challenging to navigate as its thickness is reminiscent of puffy cumulus clouds. Each step forward requires careful consideration, for their visibility is limited, and the path ahead remains obscured.

"I can't find the way," Oliver faintly muttered, his brow furrowing as he walked through the dense fog.

"You summoned the fog anyway. What's that for?" Gregory whispered.

"I'll tell you when we're away," Oliver dismissed his friend's inquiry with a gentle tone, keeping his voice low and quiet.

     Oliver turns his head back and sees his group gathered together, unharmed. Their eyes can no longer catch the Pyrovoidians in the distance as the radiant, painful light gradually fades away. Soon, Oliver notices the surroundings becoming translucent and visible. The rays of sunlight finally break through, casting a warm glow on the ground. Oliver then halts and catches his breath.

     The group halts in a small clearing enveloped by a thick veil of mist, surrounded by the fog. They take quick, shallow breaths as their chests rise and fall rapidly. Oliver gathers the group together in a circle as he speaks with a low but commanding voice.

"...I summoned more fog on purpose," Oliver said, "so we could escape from that horde of Pyrovoidians without getting caught."

"...Oh," Gregory panted.

"We should run back to the city... now. Fast!" Oliver stated.

"What's wrong?" Sophia asked in concern.

Oliver took a deep breath. "...I heard something when the light showed up," he said.

"What did you hear?" Bethany stepped forward and asked politely.

"...It's like the light, or whatever is causing it, was speaking to the monsters," Oliver revealed, his words hanging in the air. "...It's as if it's commanding the Pyro Void Monsters to kill me... to kill everyone else in my city... and to destroy Asbranne and the entire world..."

     A collective wave of cold shock sweeps through the group, sending a chill down their spines. Their eyes widen, and their mouths droop open as shallow gasps hasten through their lips. The weight of Oliver's words settles upon them like a heavy boulder, causing their bodies to tremble.

"That means we should move on now," Gregory suggested.

"Yes, right now," Oliver emphasized. "Like- right this moment."

"Do you all still remember the way back home?" Edgar questioned as he looked around.

"The way back home lies in the opposite direction of the lake, I guess," Sarrah replied.

"Where was the lake?" Edgar wondered.

"It was over there. So, the city of Asbranne should be in that direction," Bethany pointed confidently.

"Alright. Come on!" Oliver hurried forward.