“Help! I’m the Chosen One (and I Didn’t Sign Up for This)!”

The aftermath of the Seduction Trials lingered like an unspoken weight between Kazuya and Mika. Every time their eyes met, there was a flicker of something unspoken—something that made Kazuya's heart race and Mika's cheeks flush before she inevitably barked an insult to cover it up.

Lyria, ever the chaos enthusiast, was having the time of her life.

"Oh, the tension!" she teased, skipping ahead on the forest trail. "It's like I'm living in a romance novel. Should I narrate your love story? 'And so, the brooding swordswoman and the awkward hero—'"

"Lyria," Mika said sharply, gripping the hilt of her sword.

"Shutting up now," Lyria said with a grin, but the mischievous glint in her eyes didn't fade.

The Map of Misfortune

Their destination was a hidden ruin deep in the forest, marked only by the cryptically named "Map of Misfortune," which Lyria had conveniently "borrowed" from a merchant two towns back.

"This thing's probably cursed," Mika muttered as Lyria unfurled the map.

"It's not cursed," Lyria said cheerfully. "Probably."

The map's ink glowed faintly, shifting as if alive. It directed them toward a narrow mountain pass, the words Beware: Reckless Idiots Die Here etched ominously in the corner.

"Reassuring," Kazuya said, sighing.

"Relax," Lyria said, patting his shoulder. "You're a Chosen One! You're basically unkillable. Probably."

"Stop saying 'probably,'" Mika snapped.

Ambushed by Chaos

As they made their way through the mountain pass, the atmosphere grew tense. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, the kind that made even Lyria fall silent.

"Something's not right," Mika said, her hand on her sword.

"No kidding," Kazuya muttered, glancing around.

The ambush came fast. Shadowy figures emerged from the cliffs above, armed with crossbows and wearing masks that gleamed like silver.

"Stand and deliver!" one of them shouted, aiming his weapon at Kazuya.

"Do people actually say that?" Kazuya asked, bewildered.

"Focus!" Mika yelled, drawing her sword just in time to deflect a bolt aimed at his chest.

Lyria, meanwhile, was already hurling magical fireballs with gleeful abandon. "Ambushes are so last season!" she shouted, cackling as the nearest attacker dove for cover.

Between Life and Death… and Blushing

The fight was chaotic. Mika and Kazuya found themselves back-to-back, fending off the attackers in a blur of steel and adrenaline.

"You're getting better," Mika admitted grudgingly as Kazuya parried a blade aimed at her side.

"Thanks," he said, grinning despite himself. "You're not bad at teamwork for someone who hates people."

"Don't push it," she said, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

In the heat of battle, one of the attackers lunged at Kazuya from behind. Mika reacted instantly, spinning and striking him down. But the momentum carried her too far, sending her stumbling into Kazuya.

He caught her instinctively, his arms wrapping around her waist. For a brief, breathless moment, they were frozen, staring at each other as the chaos of the fight raged on around them.

"Uh… thanks," Kazuya said awkwardly, his face turning crimson.

"Don't mention it," Mika muttered, pulling away quickly.

Lyria's voice rang out from somewhere above them. "If you two are done flirting, help me out! I'm not doing all the work here!"

The Chase Is On

The attackers, realizing they were outmatched, began to retreat. Lyria wasn't having it.

"Oh no, you don't!" she yelled, conjuring a massive gust of wind that sent several of them tumbling down the mountainside.

One of the masked figures darted into a narrow cave, clutching a glowing artifact.

"That looks important," Kazuya said.

"Follow him!" Mika ordered, already sprinting toward the cave.

Kazuya and Lyria exchanged a glance before running after her.

Inside the Cave

The cave was dark and labyrinthine, lit only by the faint glow of the artifact their quarry carried. The air was damp, the walls slick with moss.

"Stay close," Mika said, her voice echoing slightly.

"I wasn't planning to wander off," Kazuya replied, trying not to trip over the uneven ground.

They rounded a corner to find the masked figure standing in front of a massive, glowing door carved with intricate runes.

"Too late!" he sneered, slamming the artifact into a socket in the door.

The runes flared to life, and the door began to open.

"That can't be good," Kazuya said.

"Understatement of the century," Mika muttered, drawing her sword.

As the door creaked open, a deafening roar echoed from within.

"What is that?" Lyria asked, her eyes wide.

"Nothing good," Mika said grimly. "Get ready."

To Be Continued…

The roar grew louder, shaking the cave. Kazuya tightened his grip on his sword, glancing at Mika.

"Whatever's behind that door," he said, "we'll handle it. Together."

Mika hesitated, then nodded. "Together."

Lyria grinned, already crackling with magical energy. "This is going to be fun."

The glowing door swung open, revealing…