Rudolf simmered with rage, his words dripping with frustration. "He admits he has it, yet getting it back seems beyond us. What does he think the Alliance is? A fug charity anization?"

  The voice from the unication device probed, [What's the step, then?]

  Rudolf shot back, "Shall we educate him on our capabilities?"

  [And how do you pn to do that?]

  With a dark gleam in his eye, Rudolf decred, "The stolen White Dwarf must be recimed through decisive a. What other choice do we have? Let's unleash our forces, Fleet Admiral."

  In disbelief, the voice questioned, [An attack?! Could anything stop him, a man who survived the White Dwarf?! Just give what he wants!]

  Rudolf's fidence faltered not. "He wants the White Dwarf. If we buckle, what do you think he would demand? Don't uimate the White Dwarf. It holds power."

  The voice objected vehemently, [No… Rudolf… are you crazy?! I won't dohat. Are you willing to risk destroying the wo—blip!]

  Rudolf abruptly silehe device, his gaze shifting to the protective gss dome ihe cockpit of his ship. A sardonic smile pyed on his lips. "That arrogant facade will crumble soon enough."

  ***

  Man jumped down her white branch, arriving to find chaos in the war encampment. Soldiers scrambled to pack up their gear and the massive war maery that had apahem.

  “Miss Man,” Percival greeted her with a hint of surprise. “His Majesty didn't mention your visit.”

  Man surveyed the se and inquired, “What happened?”

  “The Wintersin army is retreating, and His Majesty serouble, so we're following suit,” Percival expined as he helped ahe hurried evacuation.

  “Didn’t he just arrive this noon? Why would something like that…” Man prodded.

  With a nervous gnce, Percival admitted, “Well, you see, after meeting with the notorious Fleet Admiral of the outsiders...”

  Man frowned. “The Fleet Admiral? Where's His Majesty now?”

  Percival hesitated, then fessed, “He's... oop of the fortress.”

  As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the snow-covered battlefield, chaned supreme.

  The Wintersin Army scrambled to pack their belongings, their faces etched with a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation as they prepared to retreat. Oher side, the Soulnaught Army mirrored their movements, a sense ency palpable in the frosty air.

  Emperor Burn of Soulnaught stood alo the edge of the fortress, a solitary figure perched between tw empires. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the st rays of sunlight paihe sky in hues e and pink.

  And just as the sun made its final dest, summer snow began to fall, a whimsical dance of ice crystals in the fading light.

  Amidst this surreal baan made her entraop the fortress, her steps deliberate and purposeful as she walked towards Burn.

  “Caliburn.”

  The man turned, no smile apparent on his face.

  “Are you evacuating the army?” Man asked, her arm automatically outstretched towards him.

  Burn nodded, knowing that Man was trying to read his mind and weled her touch. “The outsider is demanding the White Dwarf back, and suddenly, Wintersin is retreating. The stage has ged owners.”

  Man’s warmth rubbed against his palm, her expression slowly showing uanding as she read his mind. “What do you think is happening?”

  “An attack,” he answered. “You are right. Somehow, they are agreeing to risk destroying this world. I am certain now that Wintersin is fleeing.”

  “You know this, but you still provoked him?” Man asked.

  Burn shrugged. “I needed information.”

  They had nothing they could offer Burn, but they couldn’t destroy him without also destroying the world. He was both the rod the hard pce.

  “I don’t know what they wanted from this world that they couldn’t give up on, but it works in my favor. The problem is, they’re stubborn,” Burn said.

  “We’re going to die,” Man chuckled.

  “Eh,” Burn shrugged. “I’m going to try to determine what is ing, how many, and whether the main ship ahead agreed to it. This Junior Fleet Admiral is arrogant and hot-headed, certainly witty, but easy to provoke.”

  “Should I… help?” Man asked.

  “Hmm,” Burn hummed. “Just tell me what you wao remember for the loop.”

  She told him what happened in the Great Forest one by one, about Princess Nahrincess Shorof, about Prince Lo, and about the Queen and the elders.

  After that, Man frowned. She pondered for a couple of seds and said, “I’m going to cry a lot again.”

  Burn smiled.

  “I’m going to be so angry again,” Man tinued, “and you’ll gh it while in pain.”

  “Sure,” Burn said. “I’ll treat it as a bonus round.”

  “I’m sure you won’t make another cruel joke, and don’t fet,” Man grasped his hand tighter, “to tell me you love me again.”

  It sounded like a threat.

  But... To think that she was about to die agai a bit sour. This exact version of Man would disappear, and the loop Man would be born. The versiohey hadn’t made love, and the versiohey hadn’t 'fallen in love.'

  "I will make sure to give you the same lesson too—ouch—" Burn teased before Man pinched his palm with her fingernails. "Fiop. I promise it will be the first time I tell you when I see you again. Stop ping—"

  "No, don’t. Not in front of everyone."

  "Shy?" Burn teased again.

  "Just..." Man hissed in annoyance. "When you’re doh the pain."

  Burn suppressed a sigh. Ah, the thrill of immi demise. This time, the entire world was set to kick the bucket. Whatever the looming catastrophe was, it would wipe out both him and Man.

  His money was on another White Dwarf, not the same one he had.

  But what if the universe decided to surprise them with something new? Something he had never seen before?

  Something that could kill them without obliterating the world.

  "I don’t know if this would calm you down, but I just want to say…” Man suddenly raised her voice. “I have only ever met three people other than me who could definitely defeat you in my lifetime.”

  Burn turo her, seeing her grasp his hand. She must have read his mind and uood his .

  “Who are they?” Burn asked.

  “Two died hundreds of years ago, and I’m sure they wouldn’t be able to defeat you without them dying. And one… is not here. In the loop, I’ll tell you about them,” Man replied solemnly.

  “Hmm,” Burn hummed, “’t wait to hear it.”

  “So, I’m sure it’s just another White Dwarf,” Man said. “Even if it isn’t, I’m not going to let aher than me defeat you.”

  “Oh,” the man sounded ied, “Possessive. How charming.”

  Man bli him, her stunning eyes practically sparkling with worry. It was a strange sight to see him so utterly id back, despite the dark thoughts swirling in his head.

  "Did you think I was anxious about someoing me?" Burn shot back, a sly grin pying on his lips.

  "How could you not be?" Man answered with another question.

  "I was anxious about something else," Burn murmured, grasping her hand and pulling her closer. He lightly traced her and sneered, "I'm anxious about whether it's going to be a thrilling fight or just a snooze fest."

  He k would end the world either way, so—

  “Pfft…” Man uood now. Her little ugh echoed in his ears—he wao catch its vibrations and put it in a jar. “Caliburn…”

  She whispered in his ear, her voice as sweet and dark as bck honey—“Go wild.”

  .

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  ------------------------------------

  Three to four days ago, I got quite a big gig. My brother asked me to write him a film script for a festival, and his uni will produce it, as he direct it. I had made the script a month ago, and we finally shot it thursday st week. There shouldn't have been a problem.

  But everything was a mess, and I found out that my script had been ged. My brother didn't kher. The uni didn't kher. Sooooooooo, yeah. The talents were fused, and the team were torn. That's whyyyyyyy, I had to go to the shooti AND co-direct with my brother.

  Insane. My brother kept apologizing to me that his crew had quote unquote, betrayed him and my trust. The problem was the editor in charge, as he didn't want to edit exactly as the script I created. Apparently, after I fronted him, he told us that he cked the skill to edit it and wahe script to ge to his skill level.

  He thought he could vince my brother and the uni, but he was wrong. He had viher members of the team too, that was why he thought he could vince my brother. But on the bright side, I got a bit more money out of the whole situation.

  But well, I hadn't written anything at all now, and I'm two updates behind still. I will try to squeeze in four more chapters across the day and tomorrow so we're ba track. Man, it's exhausting. But gd to be back.