The air was thick with the tension of a school day that had taken a dark turn. Sakuya, ever the picture of indifference, walked through the hallways, oblivious to the storm brewing around her. The faint hum of chatter in the distance faded as she passed Steven. Encased in a fragile, brittle body cast, he flailed his limbs in a futile attempt to strike her, the frustration in his eyes barely visible through the cracks of his cast. He didn't matter—nothing did. Not yet.

But Serena... Serena, lurking in the shadows, was the quiet storm she couldn't ignore. She was sitting, or rather, appearing to read, her back straight and her expression as passive as ever. Beneath the surface, however, something twisted. Serena's muttered words sent a chill up Sakuya's spine, though she couldn't make them out. Serena wasn't here to simply read.

Sakuya turned, her back exposed as she passed Serena. It was then, without warning, that a sharp pain lanced through her, followed by the sickening sound of tearing flesh. She cried out—a scream that echoed through the hallway, the intensity of it cutting the air like a blade. Her fingers instinctively reached for the fresh wound on her back, blood seeping through her fingers. Before she could make sense of the attack, it escalated.

From the shadows, Serena's true form revealed itself—her once subtle demeanor replaced by something far more sinister. Tentacles erupted from her body, twisting and coiling with impossible speed, lifting both Sakuya and herself into the air as if they were nothing more than dolls. Sakuya, her mind racing, shouted in confusion. "What is this? What's happening?!"

Serena's eyes glinted with a madness Sakuya had never seen before. "What I should have done a long time ago," Serena hissed coldly, the venom in her voice unmistakable. "I'm taking back what you stole from me the day you joined our circle."

And with that, the nightmare began. Tentacles lashed out, slashing and stabbing with surgical precision, each strike landing with devastating force. Sakuya's body was nothing but a puppet to Serena's fury, tossed violently from one end of the school to the other. Blood splattered across the hallways as Sakuya's body collided with walls, furniture, and even the floor. Her body screamed in agony, her mind swirling with panic, but she couldn't escape—couldn't comprehend how things had gone so wrong.

Siren, hearing the chaos, rushed to the scene. His eyes widened in horror at the carnage unfolding before him. "Serena! Stop!" he pleaded, reaching out to intervene. But Serena, without so much as a glance, swatted him aside with a brutal punch. His body crumpled against the wall, the impact sickening.

Sakuya, desperate and broken, gasped through the pain. "Serena, please... we were friends!" she cried, the words barely escaping her cracked lips. Her chest heaved with fear and desperation. "I didn't betray you!"

Serena's response was cold, a cruel sneer curling on her lips. "Betrayal... Oh, how you've fooled yourself. You will pay for this." With that, she threw Sakuya through yet another wall, the force so great it felt like her bones were splintering.

The destruction didn't end there. Sakuya's body crashed into her classroom, a sickening thud that silenced the murmurs of her classmates. Her teacher, poised to scold her for being late, was left frozen in place as the chaos unfolded. "Sakuya?!" The teacher's voice cracked, but the moment was cut off by the screams, by the violence.

Serena, still relentless, stepped into the room, her eyes glinting with a terrible promise. The classroom, once a safe space, was now a battlefield. Serena's hand fumbled in her pocket, her fingers wrapping around something cold, hard, and lethal. She drew it out—a trident. The steel gleamed in the dim light of the classroom, the metal reflecting the raw rage in her eyes. With a vicious flick of her wrist, she hurled it at Sakuya.

But in a cruel twist of fate, her aim faltered. The trident flew wide, embedding itself into the wall next to Sakuya's head, the sharp metal vibrating from the impact. Sakuya, struggling to breathe, seized her chance. Her body, battered and broken, managed to stagger behind the protection of a nearby wall.

Serena's laugh echoed in the silence that followed, her confidence unshaken. "You think this will save you? Hiding behind a wall?"

Before Sakuya could even catch her breath, Serena's fist came crashing toward the barrier, a direct, unrelenting attack. But instead of breaking through, the stone wall held firm, the impact causing Serena's fingers to snap with a sickening crack. She howled in pain, her scream filling the room, raw and primal.

Sakuya's voice came, weak but cutting. "Maybe you should've thought before attacking that wall."

The sound of Serena's labored breathing filled the room as she stumbled back, eyes burning with rage. "This isn't over, Princess Sakuya the II," she spat, her voice like ice. "You'll soon taste my fury."

Her body tense, Serena's posture was that of a hunter, poised and ready. But before she could unleash her next attack, a deafening crack rang through the air—a foreboding sound that made both girls freeze. The ceiling, damaged by the chaos, betrayed them. A heavy rock, loosened by the destruction, tumbled from above, falling at an unforgiving speed. It struck Serena directly, knocking her to the floor in a single, brutal blow.

Sakuya, too dazed to register the event fully, staggered away, her breath ragged, her body shaking with exhaustion and blood loss. This moment of chance—the single stroke of luck that saved her—was all she needed to escape, her eyes scanning for any way out.

Serena's furious scream echoed in the distance as Sakuya fled, her heart pounding in her chest, every step carrying the weight of a battle she wasn't sure she would survive.

The classroom, once a place of learning, now stood as a shattered monument to chaos. The aftermath of Sakuya's brutal clash with Serena was evident in every corner—the remnants of desks, the jagged cracks in the walls, and the broken pieces of furniture scattered across the floor. The scent of destruction lingered in the air, thick with fear and blood. As Sakuya stumbled away, bloodied and battered, she didn't look back. The tension of the moment hung heavily around her, but she knew she had to escape, to retreat to safety, to process what had just transpired.

Her feet carried her back to the ship, her sanctuary, a place where she could hide from the madness that had consumed her life. As she entered the quiet, sterile cabin, she collapsed against the wall, pulling out a crumpled photograph from her pocket. The image was haunting, a reminder of the faces she once knew and the lives she once held dear. Her fingers traced over the worn edges of the photo as a bitter sigh escaped her lips.

"She hates me so much... But I didn't do anything to steal her crown," Sakuya murmured to herself, her voice trembling with sorrow and confusion. The weight of Serena's fury, so intense and unrelenting, pressed down on her like a vice. "How did she even get replaced... And why by me?" The questions circled in her mind, gnawing at her until she could scarcely breathe. And then, as if a dark cloud had descended, another thought crept into her consciousness: What if the answers she was searching for were far darker than she could ever imagine?

Her thoughts were abruptly shattered by the unmistakable sound of music, a sharp contrast to the chaos she had just left behind. The rapid tempo of "The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku" flooded the room, vibrant and digital, vibrating through the walls. The lyrics were impossibly fast, a torrent of sound that matched the tumult of the day. Miku's voice echoed through the space, triumphant and full of energy. "YES! I WON!" she declared, her joy a stark contrast to the darkness that loomed outside her door.

Sakuya blinked, her mind struggling to focus as the laughter of her companion filled the room. "If only it was so easy in the games!" Miku mused, collapsing onto her bed with a wide grin plastered across her face.

But the peace was short-lived. As if summoned by fate, Sakuya's heavy footsteps brought her into Miku's presence. "Miku?" Her voice, still shaky, barely carried over the music that played in the background.

Miku turned, raising an eyebrow at the uncertain tone in Sakuya's voice. "Yes?"

Sakuya hesitated, unsure of how to broach the topic that had been gnawing at her since her escape. "Do you remember the day I joined the clubhouse?" she asked, the words heavy with a mixture of desperation and confusion.

Miku tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Yeah, I remember."

Sakuya's gaze dropped to the floor as she tried to piece together her fractured thoughts. "How was I given the crown, despite Serena?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "I don't understand."

Miku's expression shifted, a fleeting shadow crossing her face. She glanced around, as if searching for the right words. "Well... nobody really knows exactly what happened," she began, her tone uncertain. "But from what I gather, Yang, his birthfather, and Master Bendy were all talking about you being raised as a 'perfect princess,' like they had it all planned out for you." Her voice dropped to a murmur as she continued, "It's like they completely overlooked Serena, despite her being the first person Yang met."

Sakuya's confusion deepened, her mind reeling at Miku's words. "So... Serena wasn't the queen?"

Miku shook her head. "Not exactly. We never really got the full details, but we just assumed she was because of how things had been. But then their conversation shifted, and I'm not sure why." Miku paused, trying to recall the fragmented memory. "They never really said much about why you were chosen. It just... happened."

Sakuya's heart pounded in her chest as she processed Miku's cryptic explanation. The pieces didn't fit, the puzzle was incomplete. "So why wasn't I told? Why wasn't Serena told?"

Miku bit her lip, her gaze distant. "I don't know. It wasn't clear to anyone. It seemed like a secret they didn't want to share."

A tense silence hung between them, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken words. Sakuya's brow furrowed. "When are we going to tell the others why I was chosen as leader?"

Yang's father's words, spoken long ago, echoed in Sakuya's mind. "Someday, just not today."

Miku sighed, her voice soft. "Maybe it's for the best that you don't know everything right now."

Sakuya's frustration mounted. "That's not good enough!" she snapped, her voice rising with urgency. "I need to know, Miku! Now!"

Miku's eyes widened with concern. "You should wait. Yang isn't here today. It's Xuang Zhou. The day they honor the woman who sacrificed herself for him. Yang doesn't want to be disturbed."

But Sakuya's resolve had hardened. She slammed her fist against the table. "Then I'll find the truth myself!" she declared, her voice unwavering.

Miku's expression faltered, concern lining her features. "Please, Sakuya. Serena's not someone to take lightly. She's already said she'll end you."

Sakuya paused for a moment, her eyes burning with determination. "I can't wait. I have to know. No matter the cost."

With that, Sakuya turned and stormed out of the room, her footsteps heavy with the weight of her decision. The answers were out there, and she would stop at nothing to uncover them, no matter the danger that awaited her.

Sakuya paced the dimly lit room, her footsteps echoing off the walls, each step punctuating the storm of thoughts whirling in her mind. She gripped her hands tightly together, the questions gnawing at her with an almost unbearable intensity. "Miku knows something... but is that enough? There have to be others who understand what happened, people who were closer to the core of all this. There has to be more to the story..." She stopped for a moment, running a hand through her disheveled hair, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on her chest.

The day she joined, the crown, Serena's fury—it all felt like pieces to a puzzle that, no matter how hard she tried, refused to fit together. Sakuya had to find the truth. She couldn't stand the uncertainty anymore.

Meanwhile, in the room next door, a much lighter scene was unfolding. Yin, the ever-smiling inventor and the sibling to Yang, was hunched over a cluttered workbench, adjusting the fine mechanics of a pair of sleek, high-tech contact lenses. His fingers moved with practiced ease, tweaking the settings, ensuring the lenses would work flawlessly. Gongmu, his ever-loyal falcon, perched nearby, its sharp eyes watching every move with keen interest.

"Seems like my high-tech contacts are functioning flawlessly, wouldn't you agree, TB?" Yin asked, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips as he straightened up, admiring his creation.

Tetris Block, the youngest member of their group, was sitting nearby, eagerly absorbed in the display of Yin's invention. His eyes sparkled with a mixture of awe and wonder. The bright colors of his gaming gear and his youthful enthusiasm were an amusing contrast to the calm focus of Yin. "Amazing!" TB exclaimed, his voice filled with pure excitement. "I just wish I could get my hands on a super cool high-tech controller one day!"

Yin chuckled, his gaze softening as he turned his attention to the younger boy. "Who knows, TB. Maybe one day, you'll create something even cooler than this," he said, giving the dreamer a supportive pat on the back.

Tetris Block's face lit up, a shy but hopeful smile curling at the edges of his lips. He was a kid with big dreams, and even though his ideas often seemed outlandish to the others, Yin never failed to encourage him. They both shared a love for technology and the unknown, but where Yin's creations were rooted in practicality, Tetris Block's dreams were wild, untethered by limitations.

"I've always wanted to build something that could connect people across time and space," TB mused, leaning forward, eyes practically glowing with the possibility of such an idea. "Imagine a controller so powerful, it could make any game come to life!"

Yin chuckled again, shaking his head. "You never stop dreaming, do you, TB? But that's good. It's dreams like yours that push the boundaries of what's possible."

The two of them shared a quiet moment of camaraderie, their bond cemented by their shared love for creation and innovation. It was a simple, yet profound connection—one built on understanding and encouragement. Despite their differences in age and experience, Yin always saw the potential in TB, and TB looked up to Yin as a mentor, always seeking to learn more.

Sakuya walked into the room, her thoughts still churning as she tried to piece together the mystery that had been haunting her. As soon as Tetris Block spotted her, his face immediately lit up with excitement. "Saki!" he exclaimed, his voice full of joy. Yin, seated nearby, looked up from his workbench and greeted her warmly with a smile. "Ah, Princess Sakuya, how's my best friend?" he asked, the familiarity in his tone making her smile in return.

She chuckled softly, her expression momentarily lightening. "The more things change, the more they stay the same, Yinny," she quipped, the playful nickname making her feel a little lighter despite the weight of her questions. But soon, her smile faded as her thoughts returned to the unresolved mystery.

"Guys, I need help figuring something out," Sakuya began, her voice no longer playful, but earnest, her tone weighted with concern. "I'm trying to understand how I ended up taking Serena's place as the queen of the Strings of Fate. What exactly happened?"

Yin paused for a moment, tapping his fingers on the workbench as he thought carefully. "Could it be because you bear a resemblance to her?" he suggested, his voice cautious, yet hopeful that his theory might bring clarity.

Sakuya shook her head, a frown creasing her brow. "No, it's got to be something more than that," she insisted, her eyes searching theirs for the answers she so desperately needed. "According to Miku, Yang never explicitly stated Serena was the true queen."

Yin nodded thoughtfully, clearly agreeing with her reasoning. "True, but Serena's maturity... it made us naturally assume she was our leader," he replied, his words lingering in the air. "She carried herself with such authority, it felt like she was always meant to lead."

Sakuya pressed further, her mind racing with the weight of her own confusion. "But what do you remember about the day I arrived at the clubhouse?" she asked, her voice steady but demanding. "That was when everything changed, and somehow I ended up taking Serena's place!"

Yin's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly as his mind wandered back to that fateful day. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the significance of Sakuya's question. "That day... It was different from any other," he said quietly, his voice trailing off as he seemed to pull the memory into focus.

He looked at Sakuya, his gaze thoughtful, his tone almost hesitant as if the pieces of that day were coming together but still too fragmented to make sense of. "We were all... waiting for something. But what happened that day... I didn't see it coming." He exhaled deeply, his hands resting on the table, as though the answer was just within reach.

Sakuya's heart raced, the tension building between them as she leaned in, urging him to continue. But before he could elaborate, there was a sudden shift in the air—a brief flicker in Yin's expression, a sign that he was about to say something critical.

"Let me take you back," he began, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "I remember it clearly now..." The words hung in the air, pulling Sakuya and Tetris Block into a shared moment of anticipation.

Yin's voice lowered, as he began to speak, dragging Sakuya back to that fateful day in their shared history. "We were all genuinely excited to welcome a new member into our group. It was supposed to be a celebration—what felt like the best day for us quickly became Serena's worst nightmare." His eyes grew distant as he recalled the moment with vivid clarity.

"Our leader, Yang, made the unexpected announcement. He stood before us, pride shining in his eyes. 'And I assure you all, this young lady is destined for greatness. She is officially the queen of this clubhouse!' he declared, his words carrying a weight none of us expected."

At those words, the room seemed to pause. Yin's expression grew solemn. "Serena's shock was palpable. I can still remember how her legs gave out beneath her, how she collapsed to the floor, her face twisted in disbelief. It was as though the ground had been ripped from under her."

Sakuya could picture it now—the moment of betrayal that had scarred Serena deeply.

Yin's tone shifted slightly, filled with the bitterness of the past. "It didn't sit right with us. Serena had always been Yang's most capable member, the first to stand by him when everything else was in disarray. But then, just like that, Yang bypassed her for you, Sakuya. The newest recruit."

He paused again, the weight of the moment hanging in the air. "We couldn't just let it go. We had to know the truth—why you, of all people, and not Serena. So, we followed Yang back to his quarters, hoping to uncover what he was hiding."

Sakuya felt a tightening in her chest as she listened to the story, the tension of that day rippling through time.

"Then what happened?" Gunman, who had been listening intently, couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Seems like everyone started to take a liking to her. I just hope they don't start asking why she was chosen as the next queen," he mused, his voice filled with a mix of concern and dread.

Yang, his face hardening, sighed deeply. "Give it time. They will," he murmured, his tone grave, and almost resigned.

"Each day you avoid telling the truth to Serena, the tension between them grows," Sakuya recalled, her voice tinged with regret. "Civil wars will break out, endangering the Strings of Fate," she added, the weight of her warning sinking in.

Bendy, always quick to analyze, nodded grimly. "If only that day at Crappy Cliff hadn't happened, NONE OF US WOULD BE IN THIS MESS!" he said, his voice rising in frustration. "But now, it's too late."

Yang's face twisted in fury. His frustration, long bottled up, erupted in a roar as he clenched his fist. "What the hell?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.

Without warning, he grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it across the room with such force that it seemed to explode on impact. "OH NO! RUN!" Yin and Tetris Block shouted in unison, their voices filled with panic.

They didn't need another word. The sudden shift in Yang's demeanor sent a chill through the room, and like instinct, Yin and Tetris Block bolted from their seats, running as if death itself were at their heels.

The flashback had left Sakuya more confused than ever, the puzzle pieces scattered around her mind like jumbled fragments of a broken mirror. But then, like a lightbulb flashing on, she suddenly jumped up from her seat. "Wait! Yang said the event was caused on the day at Crappy Cliff. WE MUST LEARN WHAT HAPPENED THERE!" She announced, her eyes wide with determination.

Without missing a beat, she rushed over to her laptop and began furiously typing. Tetris Block, ever the eager one, leaned over her shoulder. "Found anything useful?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.

Sakuya shook her head, her fingers flying over the keys. "No, just descriptions of random artifacts. I can't find any relevant events that may have occurred at the cliff." She clicked through a few more pages, frustrated. "Ugh, this is hopeless—wait!" Her eyes narrowed as a headline caught her attention. "Wait! I saw something! Xuang Zhou's death!"

Yin, who had been pacing back and forth, stopped mid-step. "Yes, that's Yang's mother!" he confirmed, his voice low with recognition. But then he squinted at the text, his finger tracing a line. "Hey! Look at this!"

Sakuya, now sitting up straight, leaned in. "What is it?" she asked, trying to hide the flicker of excitement in her voice.

Yin cleared his throat dramatically and read aloud, "The Greatest Woman To Ever Stand in the Strings Of Fate Empire."

Sakuya's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. "That must be some kind of clue. Maybe if we see the statue in person, we'll know the truth!" She was practically vibrating with the energy of discovery.

Yin raised an eyebrow, clearly perplexed. "But... what does this statue have to do with your heritage anyway?"

Sakuya, a mischievous smirk curling on her lips, leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Let's find out, shall we?" she said with a wink, as if she'd just uncovered the secret to the universe—or at least a really good adventure.

Tetris Block, too, caught the infectious energy and grinned. "I'm in! Let's go find this statue and see if we can solve this mystery like real detectives!"

Yin sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. "I feel like we're diving deeper into a rabbit hole we might never escape."

Sakuya looked at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well, Yinny, you've always said you love a good mystery, haven't you?"

Yin paused, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "I never said anything about statues and heritage though," he muttered under his breath, but the sparkle in his eyes betrayed him.

The group stood up, ready for their next unpredictable chapter, as Sakuya snapped her laptop shut. "Let's go, team! Adventure awaits!"

The balcony of the ship was a flurry of motion as Sakuya and her ragtag crew prepared for their next big adventure. Tetris Block, ever the over-packer, was tossing various odds and ends into a bag. Meanwhile, Yin stood by, looking smug with his well-organized supplies.

Gongmu, the ever-reliable falcon and Yin's trusty companion, was perched on a nearby railing, clearly ready for action. "Remember to close the ship door when we're done, Mrs. Kaai," he instructed Yuki, their loyal guard.

Yuki, who had been standing at attention for most of the preparations, nodded and gave a sharp bow. "Yes, sir!" she replied, all too eager to be a part of this chaos.

Tetris Block zipped up his bag, checked his gear twice, and then gave a thumbs up. "I think we're good to go! I've got snacks, a portable charger, and—uh, a rubber duck in case of emergencies."

Yin gave him a sideways glance. "A rubber duck? Really?"

Tetris Block grinned. "You never know when you'll need a ducky companion."

Yin shook his head, but the excitement in his eyes couldn't be hidden. "Alright, you two ready to ride?"

Sakuya, still feeling the adrenaline from the whirlwind preparations, pumped her fist in the air. "READY!" she shouted with the enthusiasm of someone who clearly had no idea what she was in for.

Yin turned to Gongmu, giving the falcon a commanding look. "Hit it, Gongmu."

With a screech that echoed across the ship, Gongmu flapped his wings and took to the sky, soaring high into the air. The wind whipped around them, and Sakuya's hair immediately began to flail in every direction.

"WOOOOOAHHHH!" Sakuya screamed, her voice a mixture of exhilaration and terror. "THIS IS JUST LIKE A ROLLERCOASTER!!"

The ride was anything but smooth. The air was turbulent, the ship swaying and bouncing with every gust of wind. Sakuya clung to the edge of the ship with both hands, her eyes wide in panic. "WHAT IS THIS?! I'M GOING TO FALL OFF!!"

Yin, however, looked unfazed. "Don't worry, it's just the wind. We'll be fine."

"FINE?! I'm about to fall off and be turned into a pancake on the ground!" Sakuya wailed, her grip tightening as the wind whipped her in all directions.

At one point, the ship jolted particularly violently, and Sakuya's body jerked sideways, almost sending her tumbling over the side. "AHHH!" she screamed as she teetered dangerously close to the edge, her arms flailing as she tried to hold on.

"Hold on! We're almost there!" Yin shouted, but his words barely registered over the chaotic winds. He looked at Tetris Block, who was clinging to the ship's railing like his life depended on it. "Tetris, you doing okay?"

Tetris Block, whose cheeks were puffed up like a chipmunk storing nuts, gave a thumbs up while his other hand gripped onto a nearby barrel. "I think I packed too many snacks..." he mumbled through clenched teeth, his face turning green.

The ship finally began to slow as they approached their destination. Gongmu began circling in the air, preparing for the landing. Sakuya, looking like a human windblown disaster, took a deep breath. "We're—" She let out a loud gasp as another gust of wind sent her stumbling toward the edge again. "I CAN'T DO THIS!!"

Yin gave her a pat on the back. "It's just a little bumpy. Trust me, you'll get used to it."

Sakuya shot him a wild look. "GET USED TO IT?!" She shook her head in disbelief. "No way, I'm never getting used to this. I don't care if we land in a giant pillow factory; I'm not doing this again."

Finally, with a graceful swoop, Gongmu landed, and the ship came to a halt. Sakuya stumbled back, her legs wobbling like jelly. She looked completely disheveled—her hair was a tangled mess, and her clothes were clinging to her from the wind. "I—I survived... I'm alive..." she muttered, dazed.

Yin and Tetris Block, unfazed by the journey, casually hopped off the ship. Yin turned to Sakuya, who was still standing at the edge of the ship, looking like a deer caught in headlights. "How do you guys endure these trips?" she asked, still trying to find her balance.

Yin smiled at her, a knowing glint in his eyes. "We put our seatbelts on!" he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Sakuya's eyes widened in horror. "SEATBELTS!" she gasped. Those were her last words before she fainted.

And with that, Sakuya's body went limp, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious from the sheer trauma of the rollercoaster ride. Tetris Block leaned over her, blinking. "Should we, uh, get her up now?"

Yin gave a small shrug. "Give her a minute. She'll be fine." Then he reached over to pull a seatbelt from a hidden compartment. "Next time, she's wearing one of these."

The clubhouse was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension. Serena lay motionless in a full-body cast, her once-vibrant spirit now drained by the brutal beating she'd endured. Her skin was pale, bruises and cuts marring her once-perfect complexion, and blood seeped through the bandages, staining the sheets beneath her. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and ink, a strange combination that lingered in the air like a haunting reminder of the events that had led to this moment.

Bendy, her ever-dutiful butler, stood by the cauldron, his back turned as he carefully stirred a dark concoction. The sound of the spoon scraping against the pot was oddly soothing, yet it felt out of place in the stillness of the room. His voice, soft and caring, broke the silence. "This will help you feel better, master," he said, adding a few drops of ink to the mix.

Serena tried to speak, but the sharp pain radiating from her body made it impossible. She winced, her breath shallow as the memories of the fight flashed behind her eyelids. The images replayed—her struggle, the battle for something she'd once claimed, the brutal force that had ripped it away.

Bendy glanced at her, a concerned expression crossing his face. "How did you even get hurt so badly, master?"

Serena's eyes flickered, her gaze cold. She gritted her teeth, fighting the ache in her chest. "Claiming back what was already mine," she muttered through clenched teeth, the bitterness in her voice palpable. "By any means necessary."

Bendy paused, his stirring slowing as he processed her words. His head tilted in confusion, trying to grasp the deeper meaning behind them. "But why are you trying so hard to get this crown, master? What's it really worth to you?"

Serena's jaw tightened. She was so tired of pretending, of playing by their rules. Her body ached, but her pride burned fiercer than ever. "Why are YOU hiding this secret from me, Bendy?" Her voice grew harder, more demanding, as if every word was a weapon.

Bendy's hand faltered, the spoon clinking lightly against the cauldron's edge. His eyes widened in shock. "What secret, master?"

Serena's eyes narrowed, her gaze unwavering as she bore into him, searching for something—anything—that might give her the answers she desperately needed. "You and my leader replaced me with that trash for a reason," she spat, her voice laced with venom. "I've always asked, but you never answer. Why?"

Bendy's face paled at her words, his normally calm demeanor cracking. His hand trembled as he held the spoon, his eyes quickly darting away from hers. "I... I hope everything gets better," he stammered, his voice quivering with a mixture of sadness and helplessness. He took a step back, his body tense as if the weight of her words were too much to bear.

Without another word, Bendy turned and left the room, the door creaking softly as it shut behind him.

Serena was left alone in the dimly lit room, the faint glow of the cauldron casting eerie shadows on the walls. Her mind raced, the anger still simmering beneath her skin. Bendy's departure only added to the growing unease in her heart. The answers she sought seemed more distant than ever, but the gnawing feeling that something was being hidden from her lingered.

She had been betrayed. But why? Why had they all turned against her? The frustration burned hotter with every unanswered question. Alone in the quiet, Serena steeled herself. I will find the truth. No matter the cost.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, ghostly glow over Crappy Cliff. The trio of kids—Sakuya, Tetris Block, and Yin—stood before the imposing entrance, their breaths coming in nervous huffs as they prepared to enter the treacherous domain. The wind howled through the jagged rocks, and an eerie silence settled over the cliffside, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

Sakuya's fingers brushed the ancient stone at the entrance, and before anyone could react, her foot stepped wrong, triggering a hidden mechanism. The ground rumbled beneath them as the Yang statue, which had been ominously silent until now, suddenly sprung to life. A burst of fiery breath shot out from its mouth, illuminating the surrounding darkness and casting long, dancing shadows on the cliffside.

Sakuya stumbled backward, her heart racing. "This place is crawling with traps," she muttered, her voice shaky. "Did Yang even make sure this place was safe?"

Tetris Block jumped back, his wide eyes reflecting the glow of the fire. "I think the edge can answer our questions," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He motioned to the cliff's edge, where the steep drop off into the abyss seemed to mock them with its silent threat. The edge seemed so close, the wind almost calling to them, daring them to fall.

Yin, ever the calm one, turned his gaze upward toward the sky. His thoughts seemed far away, his mind on the mystery they were about to unravel. "This place has secrets—secrets that are long buried in the past," he said quietly, almost as if speaking to himself.

Meanwhile, miles away, in the stillness of the clubhouse, Serena lay motionless in her bed, her eyes tracing the same sky. The night seemed to press in on her, suffocating with its silence. She, too, was searching for answers. Answers that had eluded her for so long. Her body ached, but her mind raced with the thought that tonight, finally, the truth would be revealed.

The wind howled louder, almost as if urging them all to continue—whether they were ready or not. The three kids, standing on the edge of discovery, took hesitant steps forward. Their path was uncertain, but the pull of the truth was undeniable.

The door slammed open, and a frantic guard stumbled inside, clutching a GPS with trembling fingers. His face was pale, his breaths uneven. "As requested, Master—Princess Sakuya's location!"

Serena's eyes flickered with something unreadable—something dark. She snatched the device from him, her grip cold and unrelenting. Her gaze bore into the screen, pupils dilating as she read the words aloud, voice dripping with suspicion. "...The Crappy Cliff? What is she scheming?"

She shifted, attempting to rise, but before she could, a firm hand pressed against her shoulder.

"Oh no, you're not."

Serena's head snapped toward the voice, her lips curling slightly. "Eh?"

Bendy stood beside her, his ink-dark eyes shadowed with worry, though his smile remained unsettlingly soft. "You can't leave this bed. Your injuries are still severe."

Serena let out a low sigh, drumming her fingers against the mattress. "And how long must I endure this weakness?"

Bendy tilted his head, studying her. "...Seven months. If you take my magic medicine as prescribed." His voice was measured, careful.

Serena's gaze slid toward the glowing potion on the nightstand, eerie light pulsing against the dim walls. "And why can't I simply drink it all at once?"

A flicker of something—was it amusement?—danced in Bendy's expression as he turned toward the door. "Because, Master..." He paused, his silhouette unnaturally still against the hallway's faint glow. "In excessive doses, it does more than heal. It twists. Corrupts. And devours."

His voice was almost too soft, a whisper floating just beneath the surface of reality.

The door creaked shut behind him.

Silence.

Serena's lips parted, and a breathless, almost giddy chuckle slipped past. "Forgive me, Bendy..."

She forced herself to move. Pain lanced through her body like needles burrowing deep into muscle, but she refused to stop. Shaking, she swung her legs off the bed, only to collapse onto the cold floor. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she landed on her side, the impact rattling her already fragile bones.

But she didn't stop.

Dragging herself forward, fingers clawing against the rough stone, she inched toward the glowing cauldron. The potion swirled within, thick and pulsating like something alive—something waiting.

Her breath hitched, body trembling, eyes locked onto the luminescent liquid. The pain was unbearable. The wait was unbearable.

She lurched forward.

As soon as Serena pulled her head from the cauldron, her breath came in ragged gasps, the sickly-sweet taste of the potion coating her tongue like tar. At first, nothing seemed different. The room was still, the potion's eerie glow flickering against the walls. But then—

A whisper.

It slithered through the room, soft as silk yet sharp as a dagger, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once. Serena's body tensed, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. She tried to steady herself, gripping the edge of the cauldron—but the metal felt slick, wet, like something breathing beneath her fingers.

Then the walls began to pulse.

They swelled and contracted like giant lungs, the wood creaking, moaning. The shadows stretched unnaturally long, slithering up the walls like ink, twisting into grotesque shapes with hollow eyes and gaping, toothy grins. They whispered to her, their voices layered, overlapping—her name, over and over again, soft and hungry.

Serena... Serena...

She backed away, her body weak but panic giving her strength—until she caught sight of the mirror.

Her reflection was smiling.

She wasn't.

Serena's breath hitched as she took an unsteady step forward, but the thing in the mirror did not match her movements. Its grin stretched, too wide, its teeth too sharp. The pupils of its eyes shrank into pinpricks, and then, with slow, jerking movements, it lifted a shaking hand and reached out.

The glass rippled.

Serena stumbled backward, her stomach twisting, but her body—her own body—suddenly felt foreign. Her skin crawled, an unbearable itch spreading across it, seeping beneath her flesh like writhing worms. She gasped, clawing at her arms, her fingernails dragging deep red scratches as something began moving beneath her skin.

A sickening crack sounded from her spine.

Pain exploded through her body as her bones shifted, twisting unnaturally. Her fingers elongated, nails blackening, sharpening into claws. Her breath turned ragged, the sound warping—was that even her voice anymore? She clutched her face, feeling it shift, stretch—her jaw unhinging slightly before snapping back into place, her teeth growing longer, jagged, monstrous.

She fell to her knees, her vision swimming, her body breaking itself apart and rebuilding into something wrong. The whispers in the room had turned to laughter—mocking, shrill, echoing from the walls, from the shadows, from inside her own head.

And then—

A hand landed on her shoulder.

Cold, bony fingers dug into her flesh. She turned, trembling—

And there stood Bendy.

But it wasn't Bendy.

His ink-black form was hollowed out, his face warped into a jagged smile that stretched impossibly wide. His eyes—empty pits of void—stared deep into her soul as he leaned close, his voice a guttural whisper.

"You should have listened, Master."

Oh, that's horrifying—Serena trapped in her own body as it warps into something she can't control. Let's really dig into that terror.

Serena's vision swam, her head pounding as the whispers grew into a deafening chorus, a choir of distorted voices screaming and laughing at once. Her skin boiled, ink seeping from her pores like sweat, thick and suffocating. Her fingers trembled as she lifted them, watching in horror as the ink coated her hands, her veins blackening beneath the surface.

No, no, no—!

She clenched her fists, trying to will her body to stop, to fight against whatever dark magic had infected her—but her limbs weren't listening anymore. Her muscles twitched, her bones shifting, her joints snapping as her fingers elongated into clawed, ink-slicked appendages.

A wave of nausea slammed into her as the room tilted violently, and she stumbled forward. Her legs—no, her form—was melting, dripping onto the floor in thick, bubbling splatters. The ink spread like hungry tendrils, slithering up her arms, wrapping around her throat, pulling her deeper, drowning her in herself.

"Stop...!" she gasped, her voice cracking, barely audible over the sickening gurgle of her own transformation. Her throat burned, her mouth stretching, her teeth reforming into jagged, unnatural points. She tried to scream, but the sound that escaped was not her own.

A guttural, inhuman growl rumbled from deep within her chest.

She slammed her hands over her ears as the voices twisted into something worse. Not just whispers. Memories.

"Serena, get up! You're stronger than this!"

A voice from the past—someone who once believed in her. But the words were drowned out by another, crueler voice:

"You should have listened, Master."

Bendy's form loomed over her, but she knew it wasn't really him. His hollow, blackened eyes bore into her, a wicked grin splitting his ink-streaked face. He knelt beside her, his movements slow, deliberate, as if savoring the moment.

She gasped as the ink swelled inside her, pressing against her ribs, her spine, her skull. Her body was no longer her own, but something deep within her still clung to reality, fighting against the overwhelming darkness swallowing her whole.

"I... I'm still here..."

Her voice was barely a whisper, lost in the thick, inky abyss consuming her from the inside out.

The laughter echoed around her, stretching endlessly. The walls bled ink, faces forming within them—smiling, mocking. The mirror still stood in the corner, but now, it no longer reflected her.

It reflected a monster.

Towering, hunched, a mass of writhing darkness with piercing white eyes and a mouth too wide, too sharp, too wrong. A dripping, gnarled hand reached out from the reflection, beckoning her closer.

And then, in a voice that was not hers, but came from her own mouth, it whispered:

"You were never meant to stay human."

Her last flicker of consciousness screamed.

And then—

Everything went black.

She held her head, which felt oddly smooth. "What the hell? Oh well, might as well get to the Crappy Cliff." She walked past a mirror, stopped dead in her tracks, and ran straight to it to see...

Serena stood before the mirror, staring at her monstrous ink form with a deadpan expression. Her skin was dark and slick, her features twisted into something unrecognizable. Well, this is new, she thought to herself. Guess I'll never look the same again.

Her fingers twitched, and she tried to touch her face, but the ink only spread in slow, dripping patterns, making her cringe. Great. I look like I belong in a horror show.

With a dramatic sigh, she spun on her heel, clearly unamused with her situation. She was supposed to get to the Crappy Cliff, not become the cliff. She grabbed a nearby cloth, trying to wipe off some of the ink, but it only smeared further. Yep. Definitely not what I expected when I drank that potion.

She tried walking away, but her legs were wobbly, and her body was heavy with the inky weight. "Oh, no way. This is gonna be so awkward..." she muttered, half in disbelief at her current state.

Then, just as she began to shamble out of the room, she heard a loud ding-dong sound coming from the door. Someone was knocking.

Why now?

Serena, still in her grotesque, ink-drenched form, froze. For a moment, the only sound was her heavy breathing. Then she shuffled to the door and opened it, only to be met by an overly enthusiastic voice.

"Hey! Yo! I'm Hatsune Miku!" The Vocaloid grinned, a massive smile plastered across her face, her green pigtails bouncing energetically. "I just wanted to check in on—whoa, what happened to you?"

Serena blinked, holding her head in her newly formed, oddly smooth hand. "What the hell? Oh well, might as well get to the Crappy Cliff," she grumbled, brushing past Miku.

Miku stared after her, blinking in confusion. "Wait, what?!"

Serena walked past a full-length mirror. She paused, noticing the reflection for the first time. Her eyes widened in surprise as she turned to face the mirror in shock.

Oh.

Right.

She stood there, wide-eyed, not entirely sure what to make of herself. Then, with the patience of someone who had been through way too much today, she sighed deeply, rolling her eyes. "Oh, now I know what he meant by 'side effects.'" She threw her hands up, as if exasperated. "I really should've listened to Bendy."

Miku, still trying to catch up with the situation, looked at Serena's ink-covered form, clearly bewildered. "Um... Is there a reason you're... glowing? And... is that your real form, or...?"

Serena, clearly unfazed at this point, shrugged. "At this point? I'm just trying not to trip over myself." She rummaged through a pile of clothes and grabbed a dark cloak, throwing it over her monstrous ink body like she was some sort of dark sorceress going for a stroll. She pulled up the hood, concealing most of her features.

Miku's eyes twinkled with excitement. "Nice! A whole new look! You should totally rock this—think of all the cool, dramatic entrances you can make now!"

Serena deadpanned, not sharing the same enthusiasm. "You should've seen me when I was human. Way less messy."

Miku, undeterred by the lack of drama, smiled brightly. "Hey, it's gonna be okay! Just, uh, maybe keep your ink away from my circuits, okay? We don't need any... uh... weird side effects on my end."

"Noted," Serena said with a sigh as she shuffled toward the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a Crappy Cliff to get to. In the middle of a creepy ink transformation. No big deal."

Miku waved cheerfully, oblivious to the real chaos unfolding. "Good luck! I'm rooting for you! You'll be amazing!"

Serena gave a half-hearted wave back before she stumbled out the door, trying to walk with what little dignity her new, ink-ridden form could muster. Her voice echoed down the hall as she muttered to herself. "This is definitely the worst day ever..."

The guard's face turned pale as Serena slammed the turbo button with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no business driving a spaceship.

The ship gave a monstrous lurch forward, nearly knocking him off his feet. "PRINCESS, NO—!"

But it was too late.

The engine roared like a beast awakened from its slumber, and the entire ship blasted forward at a speed that would make even the most reckless pilots sweat. The sudden acceleration sent loose items flying, a chair spinning wildly across the deck before slamming into the wall with an unceremonious thud.

The guard clung onto the barrier for dear life, his knuckles turning white. "THIS ISN'T WHAT I MEANT—!!"

Serena, however, was unfazed. In fact, she looked thrilled.

"Incredible," she muttered, her ink-coated fingers gripping the wheel tighter. "With this speed, I'll be at the Crappy Cliff in no time!"

The guard, barely holding on, let out a strangled scream. "AT THIS RATE, YOU'LL REACH THE CLIFF, THEN FLY OFF IT!"

Serena ignored him, eyes locked ahead with laser focus. "Nonsense. I'll stop in time."

The ship jolted as she veered slightly to the left, nearly colliding with a floating platform. The ship's warning system blared a series of beeps, flashing red in urgent protest.

WARNING. COLLISION IMMINENT.

Serena waved a dismissive hand. "Shut up, I know what I'm doing."

The ship beeped again, this time with a more distressed tone.

DO YOU?

The guard shrieked as the vessel swerved wildly, the sheer force nearly launching him off the deck. "PRINCESS, SLOW DOWN! PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY!"

Serena scowled. "Fine. If you insist."

She let go of the turbo button.

For exactly half a second.

Then she slammed it again.

"NOOOO!!" the guard screamed as the ship rocketed forward at an even more absurd speed, breaking through a cloudbank and causing several birds to scatter in terrified disarray.

Serena smirked. "Now that's more like it."

The guard, half-praying and half-resigned to his fate, let out a weak whimper. "I...I should have called in sick today..."

Sakuya, Yin, and Tetris Block trudged along the rocky, uneven path of the Crappy Cliff, searching for the elusive statue. The air was tense, the mission was crucial, and Sakuya—

Immediately walked into a trap.

With a loud WHOOSH, a snare yanked her up by the ankle, suspending her upside down in midair.

"—AHHH!" she screamed, flailing wildly. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Yin and Tetris Block stopped in their tracks, staring at her dangling form.

"Oh," Yin muttered. "That's unfortunate."

Tetris Block, in his usual monotone, nodded. "Yup. You're stuck."

Sakuya wiggled furiously. "No kidding! Get me down!"

She grabbed the rope, trying to yank herself free, but it refused to budge. "Ugh, it's stuck! Who would add traps to this?!"

Tetris Block tilted slightly, as if deep in thought. "Maybe it's jammed."

Yin hummed. "Maybe if I use my fangs."

Without hesitation, he leaned forward and bit the rope.

There was an ominous snap.

Sakuya barely had time to blink before—

THUD.

She crashed onto the ground face-first. A moment of silence followed.

Tetris Block stared down at her. "Well, you're free."

Yin grinned. "See? Told you it would work!"

From her spot on the dirt, Sakuya groaned, her voice muffled against the ground. "I hate both of you."

The ship roared through the sky, tearing through clouds like a bat out of hell.

"PRINCESS, WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!" the guard screamed, gripping the railing for dear life.

"NOT IF I LAND THIS PERFECTLY!" Serena hollered back, grinning like a maniac.

"THIS IS NOT PERFECT!!"

The castle loomed closer—too close. The stone towers and walls were now horrifyingly detailed as the ship rocketed toward them at ridiculous speed.

Realizing that they were seconds away from becoming a decorative crater, Serena finally smacked the button again to slow down. The ship lurched, violently jerking backward, rattling everything inside.

Inside the castle, Gongmau was blissfully snoring in their bed when the entire room shook like an earthquake had just hit. Their eyes snapped open.

"...Huh?"

Still half-asleep, they staggered to the window, rubbing their eyes. What they saw made them do a double take.

A spiraling, smoking ship was careening straight for the courtyard.

"...Oh."

Outside, Serena, now wearing a determined grin, prepared for the landing. The ship slammed onto the castle grounds with a deafening CRASH, skidding across the stone and tearing up the neatly trimmed hedges. A terrified "WE'RE STILL ALIVE?!" came from the guard as the ship barely stopped before hitting the castle doors.

The moment they touched solid ground, Serena didn't waste a second. She jumped out of the cockpit and landed with a graceful roll before standing up and pulling back her hood dramatically.

The result? She revealed her horrifying new ink-covered form to the first guard who laid eyes on her.

The poor guy immediately recoiled in shock. "SERENA?! What has happened to your form?!"

Serena, realizing she might have overlooked this detail, let out a very nervous giggle. "Oh, yeah! I'm trying a new cosplay!"

The guard blinked. "Cosplay...?"

"Yeah!" Serena threw her arms out dramatically. "Y'know, inspired by those creepy ink creatures from horror games! Super immersive, right?"

The guard didn't look convinced.

Meanwhile, behind Serena, the ship let out a defeated hiss, a panel falling off and landing with a sad clunk onto the ground.

The guard pointed at the ruined ship. "And the crash?"

Serena waved it off. "That was just... method acting!"

A loud creak echoed as one of the ship's wings completely collapsed.

The guard stared, then sighed. "...Should I even bother reporting this?"

Serena gave finger guns. "You could! But then you'd have to explain why you're stopping a princess on her very important mission instead of helping her."

The guard groaned, rubbing his temples. "...Just... go."

Serena smirked and strutted off toward the castle.

The guard muttered under his breath, "I need a vacation."

The trio finally stood before the Xuang statue, an eerie masterpiece of stonework. It depicted a beautiful young woman, frozen in time, her expression unreadable. The air around it was thick with something unnatural—as if the statue itself was watching them.

A faint hum filled the air. The statue's eyes flickered to life, scanning the three of them with a cold, mechanical glow.

"DNA Scan complete. Now playing—The Backstory."

Sakuya stiffened. A pit formed in her stomach. "What the hell is this thing talking about?"

Before anyone could answer, something slithered in the darkness behind them.

Unseen and unnoticed, Serena was closing in. Her form was no longer human—it was ink. She spread across the ground like a living shadow, slithering forward, her body shifting and writhing in unnatural motions. The ink pulsed with malevolent hunger.

She grinned. "This time, you're not getting away."

The statue's eyes flared red. A mechanical whir sounded, and a screen materialized above it, flickering to life. A hazy projection appeared—grainy, distorted, yet unmistakably real.

A woman. A man. Crappy Cliff.

Sakuya frowned, taking a step forward. "...And what is this?"

Tetris Block, silent as ever, wasted no time. He climbed the tall stone barrier that framed the screen, searching for a better vantage point. Yin followed, eager to get a closer look.

Unbeknownst to them, Serena followed too.

The ink that was her body slithered upward, forming tendrils, creeping with unnatural grace. She moved in silence, taking her position just behind Yin, her dark form shifting with an eerie patience.

The screen flickered again. The image sharpened.

Yin pointed abruptly. "Hey! That woman—her eyes are red!"

Sakuya's breath caught in her throat. There was something familiar about the woman in the projection, but her mind refused to place it. She narrowed her eyes, analyzing every feature—the way she stood, the way she moved—

Then it hit her.

She gasped. "Xuang Zhou!"

Behind them, Serena's ink shuddered. A ripple of movement in the darkness.

The screen crackled. The air grew heavier.

(Scene: The Last Nightmare of Xuang Zhou)

The air in the dimly lit house was thick with rage and desperation. Shadows danced violently against the walls as Xuang and Ismy's voices clashed like a storm, shaking the fragile peace that had long since crumbled.

"You don't understand anything!" Xuang spat, her voice raw with exhaustion.

Ismy's face twisted with something ugly. His breathing was ragged, hands trembling as he reached for the gun at his side.

"WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M LIKE!" he bellowed, eyes wild with fury. Then—he pulled the trigger.

A deafening BANG! shattered the air.

Xuang threw herself to the side as bullets tore through the wooden walls, splinters flying in all directions. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. He wasn't stopping.

BANG! BANG!

"SHUT UP!" Ismy howled, unloading more rounds as Xuang barely dodged, her movements frantic, desperate.

Then, in a swift counter, she grabbed a cast-iron pan from the counter and swung.

CRACK!

The impact sent Ismy staggering back, his gun slipping from his grip. He groaned, clutching his head, but before Xuang could breathe a sigh of relief—

He grabbed the gun again.

Her stomach dropped.

His eyes burned with a madness she had never seen before. He reloaded, cocked the gun, and charged.

Xuang turned on her heel, sprinting for her life, her pulse hammering through every vein in her body. The walls blurred past her. Faster, faster!

And then—

A small voice.

"MAMA!!"

Xuang's blood ran cold.

From the hallway, little Yang stood barefoot, his small frame trembling. His wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto her with fear, confusion, desperation.

Xuang stopped—just for a second.

A second too long.

The gun fired.

Pain exploded in her stomach.

She gasped, choking on the agony, staggering as crimson bloomed across her dress. A wretched scream tore from her throat.

"MAMA!" Yang sobbed, rushing toward her.

Xuang wobbled, her legs giving out beneath her. She collapsed to her knees, hands clutching the wound, warmth spilling through her fingers. She blinked rapidly, trying to stay conscious, but her vision blurred.

Ismy took a step closer.

Yang clung to her, his tiny fingers gripping at her, begging her to stay. "No—no—MAMA!" His cries were desperate, his little body shaking.

Xuang's trembling hand cupped his tear-streaked cheek. She forced herself to smile, though her lips tasted of iron.

"Tiger..." she whispered, her breath hitching. "Please... be a good leader to your friends... like I was to you..."

Her fingers slipped away.

Ismy raised the gun again.

BANG!

The world went silent.

Xuang's body fell limp. The last of her warmth faded.

Yang's wail shattered the stillness.

His mother was gone.

"WHAT?!" Everyone's voices mixed into a terrified chorus, their fear tangible in the air. The flashback flickered, dissolving into reality, but Yang's tear-streaked face lingered in Sakuya's mind, frozen in time—grief-stricken, helpless, alone.

Yin, normally composed, could only stumble over his words. "L-Leader... Yang's mom was the original leader..."

A hollow pit formed in Sakuya's stomach. Her mind reeled.

Yang never told me. He never—

Her body felt cold. The realization slithered through her veins like poison.

"I'm not just his girlfriend," she whispered, her voice fragile, cracking under the weight of something bigger than herself. Her knees felt weak. Her hands clutched at her chest, as if trying to keep herself from falling apart.

"I'm his only one LEFT."

The words left her lips, and something inside her snapped.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not yet.

Yang had lost everything. And she—she had been so blind.

With shaking hands, she clenched her fists. The grief, the guilt, the unbearable weight of it all—she had to be there for him.

Because if she wasn't—who would?

Serena, cloaked in her inky disguise, stood frozen in the doorway. She felt a cold, inky tear slide down her cheek, a silent reflection of the storm inside her. How could he do this to me? The bitter anger she had been suppressing for so long surged forward like an uncontrollable wave.

Her fist clenched tightly as her emotions churned. She had a bone to pick with Yang. She needed answers.

Without warning, she burst through the door, the sound of it slamming against the wall echoing in the empty room. Yang froze, caught off guard as he turned to face her. His eyes widened at the sight of her, the inky blackness creeping around her like a second skin.

"SERENA?!" he stammered, his voice filled with shock.

Her voice shook with fury, barely containing the pain. "You... FUCKING LIAR!" she spat, each word cutting through the air like a knife. "YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING FALSE LEADER!"

Yang was taken aback, his confusion giving way to a nervous chuckle. "What the hell happened to you, Rena?"

Serena's expression was stone-cold, her eyes burning with a fire he had never seen before. "I'm trying out a new cosplay," she said flatly, but the anger that seethed behind her words was unmistakable.

Yang's attempt at humor fell flat. "Well, that cosplay ain't going to give you the crown!"

The words hit her harder than she could have ever anticipated. Crown? The crown that had been ripped from her hands, the truth that had been kept from her—all of it buried in lies.

That was the last straw. The dam broke. Serena's heart pounded in her chest as she lunged forward, tackling Yang with a force she didn't know she had. She pinned him against the wall, her grip like iron.

"What are you doing here?" Yang asked, confusion flashing in his eyes as he struggled beneath her.

Serena shook with rage, her body trembling with the force of it all. "Why did you keep this secret from me? Why do you conceal the identity of our real leader?!"

Yang's brow furrowed in confusion. "What? Real lea—What are you saying?!"

Serena's breath hitched in her throat. A single tear rolled down her cheek as her voice cracked. "STOP PLAYING WITH ME! YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WHAT I MEAN, YOU ITALIAN SHIT!"

Yang stood still, staring at her, his expression slowly shifting. He sighed heavily, as if the weight of the truth had finally caught up with him.

"So you found out, huh?" he said quietly, his voice tinged with sadness.

Serena's anger boiled over as her voice shook with desperation. "Now explain this mystery to me!" she demanded, her words heavy with pain. "You kept saying that Xuang Zhou, our real leader, sacrificed herself long before you met me. Yet, she's our leader, you say?"

Yang's shoulders slumped, as if the weight of the years had finally come crashing down on him. He closed his eyes, the flashback of that day clouding his mind once more.

"Well," he started slowly, his voice raw with regret, "I already made the team when Xuang sacrificed herself for us. It was all a lie to destroy any doubt that you were my real friend. I am Xuang Zhou's son, and next in line as the king of the team."

His words stung Serena like a slap, but she couldn't look away. "Xuang came up with the idea of starting a club," Yang continued, his voice quieter now, "which we playfully named the Many Strings of Fate. When I first found people to join my club, I fell in love with my second choice, Sakuya. And she fell in love with me too. But Ismy, aware of this, just had to kill me. Ismy's threat was rising. And it was obvious that me and him would eventually have to fight each other. My mother, doing the bravest thing a leader could do, tried to fight Ismy to spare my life. She tried to calm down Ismy's anger, but his gunshot silenced her."

The room was silent, the weight of his words sinking into the air like a thick fog. Serena's heart twisted in her chest, the pain of the past clashing with her present reality. She hadn't known any of this. The man she had trusted—loved—had been carrying this unbearable burden alone.

"After Xuang's untimely death," Yang continued, his voice shaking, "you and the rest of the club were left without a leader. So I led you as your leader to spare you from the knowledge of your true leader's fate. I thought I could lead you without any tensions of the crown."

His words fell into an eerie silence, the air thick with unresolved tension. Serena couldn't speak, couldn't breathe.

Yang's eyes met hers, and in them, she saw the weight of every decision he had made. "But, I failed," he said quietly, his voice breaking with the finality of his confession.

Serena stood there, staring at him, the tears finally falling freely down her cheeks. The truth had come crashing down, and she wasn't sure if she could handle it.

Serena's eyes glowed with fury as she stared down at Yang. Her heart hammered in her chest, the pain of betrayal turning into something far more dangerous. He lied to me... The rage swelled in her like a storm, threatening to consume her entirely. She clenched her fists, the inky blackness swirling around her as she whispered, her voice laced with venom.

"Oh yeah, you failed indeed. And now, you leave me no choice." Her lips curled into a wicked smile. "But to kill you."

Before Serena could make her move, a blast of magic struck her square in the chest, sending her sprawling back. She hissed in pain as she scrambled to her feet, eyes blazing with fury.

"NO ONE TOUCHES MI AMORE! NOT EVEN—" Sakuya's voice cut through the tension, but her words faltered as her eyes fell upon Serena's grotesque, inky transformation. She froze mid-sentence, her face twisting with shock and confusion. "What the hell happened to YOU?!"

Serena stood tall, cracking her back with a menacing grin that spread across her face. The blackness around her swirled like a living thing, undulating with her every move. "Oh, you again," she said coldly, her voice dripping with malice. "You just made a big mistake."

Her hands curled into claws, and her grin widened, stretching unnaturally. "Your end will be dreadful."

Sakuya, ever the one to joke, tried to lighten the tension. "Well, surely can't be as dreadful as you right now!" She let out a nervous laugh, but it was clear she wasn't entirely convinced of her own humor. "HAHAHAHA!"

But Serena's eyes never wavered. The inky blackness around her bubbled as though alive, pulsating with her anger, and with a swift motion, she shot forward.

Sakuya's smile faltered for a moment as she quickly stepped back, her magic flaring up to meet Serena's raw, chaotic energy. "Come on then, if you're so eager to die!"

With that, the two collided in a flash of violent magic and fury. Sakuya's spells crackled through the air, vibrant streaks of energy, but Serena's inky form twisted and contorted in ways that defied reason, dodging and retaliating with unnatural precision.

The world around them seemed to warp as their magic clashed, each one determined to overpower the other. Sparks flew as Serena's tendrils of ink lashed out like whips, while Sakuya retaliated with blasts of controlled energy that sizzled through the space between them.

Serena's voice cut through the chaos, full of rage. "You'll regret ever standing in my way, Sakuya!"

Sakuya, her face taut with determination, shot back, "As if I'd let you get away with this!"

They continued to fight with relentless fury, each attack a reflection of their deep-rooted animosity. But even in the midst of the chaos, there was a deep sadness—an undeniable truth that they were both fighting for the same thing: survival.

The battle between Serena and Sakuya raged on, their powers clashing with wild intensity. The ground trembled beneath them, cracks forming as their magic collided in bursts of light and dark. Serena's inky tendrils lashed out, whipping through the air with lethal precision, while Sakuya shot blasts of vibrant energy that scorched the earth.

Yin, standing a little farther away, couldn't help but offer commentary in the middle of the chaos. "Well, at least this beats watching paint dry!" he called out, his arms folded casually, his gaze never leaving the battle. "I mean, who knew these two would be such drama queens?"

Tetris Block, ever the enthusiast, chimed in from behind. "Yeah! Though I gotta say, I'm a little more into watching the fireworks here! Kaboom! Woom!" He mimicked explosive sounds with his hands, which was completely inappropriate given the intensity of the situation.

Sakuya let out a loud growl as she blocked one of Serena's vicious slashes. "Not the time, Yin!"

Serena smirked, her inky form flickering like smoke. "The more, the merrier!" She spun around, her tendrils striking Sakuya with a force that sent the other woman stumbling back.

"Uh... maybe someone should stop them before the whole cliff falls down?" Tetris Block noted casually, pointing to the edges where cracks were rapidly spreading.

Yin squinted at the destruction around them. "Nah, I think they've got this... probably."

But as Serena lunged at Sakuya with a vicious strike, the earth beneath them gave way. With a deafening crack, a section of the Crappy Cliff started to crumble. Serena, caught off-guard, lost her footing and began to tumble towards the edge. Her ink-covered form flailed helplessly, her hands scraping the air as the void opened beneath her.

"SERENA!" Sakuya screamed, her heart racing. She made a split-second decision, dashing forward and reaching out just in time.

But Yin and Tetris Block, not wanting to be left out, joined the fray with surprising coordination. Yin grabbed hold of one of Serena's tendrils, while Tetris Block—despite his usual awkwardness—extended his form into a solid block of pure determination.

"Gotcha!" Yin yelled, his grip firm as Serena's inky form continued to slide dangerously. Tetris Block stretched his side out, wedging himself into the cliffside to provide additional support.

Sakuya, pulling herself back from the chaos, joined in and grabbed Serena's outstretched arm. "Hang on! We've got you, you psycho!"

Serena let out a strangled laugh, half-shocked by the sudden turn of events, half-amused. "You think you can save me?" She scowled but couldn't help the hint of disbelief that crept into her voice. "After everything I've done to you?"

"Eh, whatever," Yin said with an exaggerated shrug, his voice nonchalant. "Just don't make it a habit, okay?"

Sakuya grinned through the tension. "You'll owe us big time for this one."

Serena, though she was still furious and struggling against the edge of the cliff, couldn't deny the absurdity of it all. "You guys are all insane..." But there was a trace of gratitude in her voice, a flicker of something softer.

Tetris Block looked at them all, clearly proud of himself. "I did the heavy lifting!"

With a final heave, the group managed to pull Serena back onto solid ground, the edge of the Crappy Cliff still trembling under the weight of their near-miss. Serena, panting and covered in ink, stood shakily but found herself surrounded by her teammates—her reluctant teammates.

"Next time, I'll destroy you all," Serena muttered darkly, but even she couldn't hide the exhaustion in her voice.

Sakuya let out a laugh, relieved. "We'll see about that!"

Yin leaned against the cliff, wiping his brow. "Well, that was too close. And you know, this whole thing has really taught me one thing—never mess with a woman who can turn into a giant inky blob."

Tetris Block nodded sagely, arms crossed. "Yup. That's the moral of this story."

As the group made their way back to the airship, the weight of the day hung heavily on them. Serena, still in her ink-like form, was carried by Gongmau, her eyes vacant but simmering with unspoken anger. Despite her turmoil, the familiar rhythm of their steps felt almost comforting, as if they were inching closer to a fragile peace, yet the cracks in their unity were ever-present.

Yang's grip on Serena's hair tightened as they walked, his expression unyielding. "I wouldn't do that," he repeated firmly, his voice quieter now, more composed but carrying the unspoken weight of someone who had seen too many betrayals and losses. He watched Serena, his gaze softening for a brief moment. Despite all she had done, despite her transformation and the chaos she had caused, there was still something within him that pulled at him to protect her, even if she didn't deserve it. His protective nature, however confused, remained.

"Let's just get back to base," Sakuya murmured softly, her hand lingering in Yang's, her eyes searching his face, sensing the inner conflict he still carried. Her concerns about Serena's transformation and her betrayal were outweighed by her growing concern for Yang's well-being.

They moved in silence for a moment, the weight of everything that had transpired too much to bear for anyone to speak. Only the faint rustling of their footsteps on the dirt and the low hum of the airship preparing for takeoff filled the air.

As the base came into view, the group's pace quickened. Gongmau looked down at Serena, his usually stoic face etched with an unfamiliar sorrow, as though he, too, felt the burden of what Serena had become. But he said nothing, simply carrying her with a quiet determination.

"Get her onto the airship," Yang ordered as they reached the entrance, his voice cold yet tinged with something unidentifiable. The airship loomed ahead, a vessel that had carried them through countless battles, yet it felt different now—almost like a symbol of the uncertain future awaiting them.

Yang turned to his guard, his voice sharp with authority. "And PLEASE, get someone to break the spell. This can't go on much longer."

Sakuya walked up to him, her brow furrowed in concern. "Yang, are you sure about all this? I know what she's done... but this?" Her words were soft, hesitant, as if searching for reassurance.

Yang looked down at her, his expression softening. He pulled her into a brief embrace, his words sincere but weary. "Mi Amore, you can be sure of one thing..." He paused, his eyes locking onto hers. "I've never been more proud of you."

Sakuya smiled up at him, though her heart remained heavy, unsure of what was truly happening with Serena. The world seemed so much more complicated now, but the warmth of Yang's embrace gave her a brief moment of solace.

Tetris Block and Yin, ever the comic relief, grinned and approached, arms wide. "Hey! Hug for us too!" They surrounded Yang and Sakuya, pulling them into a messy, if somewhat awkward, group hug. Despite the tension of the situation, laughter bubbled up from the group, their unity—albeit strange and often complicated—offering a brief, comforting reprieve from the harsh reality of their world.

Yang, still holding Sakuya close, let his voice ring out with certainty, though it had an underlying sadness. "Listen... I'm sure at this point, the rest of The Strings of Fate empire will find out the truth about your leader. But what I want you to know is that you will always be my friends. Always."

The group nodded, but before they could respond, a guard, clearly uncomfortable with the sentimentality, cleared his throat. "Okay, all this sappy shit is starting to make me sick. Can we go home, please?" He motioned impatiently toward the airship.

Laughter rippled through the group, breaking the heavy atmosphere for a moment. With a final glance around, they boarded the airship, the quiet hum of the engines filling the space as the ship lifted off.

As they flew home, the air inside the airship was a mix of relief and unresolved tension. Their journey was far from over, and despite the temporary sense of peace, everyone knew they were all carrying burdens—burdens that would need to be dealt with eventually.

Outside the window, the darkening sky stretched endlessly before them, a chilling reminder of the trials they had faced. Yet as they continued their journey back to the base, unaware of the figure watching from the shadows, there was an undeniable feeling that this calm would be fleeting. The next storm was already brewing on the horizon.

                                                                                            THE END