The theatre buzzed with life, Sophie''s voice soaring in a mesmerizing melody as she danced across the stage, enchanting everyone in the audience. Her presence was electrifying, drawing waves of cheers and applause from the crowd, including Athlea, who sat near the front, entirely captivated.

    Outside, however, a heavy, chilling silence settled over the amusement park. The trees at its edge loomed like sentries in the darkness, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward me.

    "Someone''s there...." I murmured.

    I stood still, an unsettling feeling gnawing at my senses. Something wasn''t right.

    Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed it—a pair of glowing red eyes, barely visible between the dark branches. I felt my body tense, instincts sharpening. My gaze remained fixed as the eyes moved forward, followed by the distinct sound of footsteps.

    Step* Step*

    A second pair of red eyes appeared behind the first. They advanced in unison, emerging slowly from the shadows until two figures stood before me, half-hidden beneath dark, flowing robes. One was a tall man with a cold, piercing stare, and the other a slender woman, her gaze just as fierce.

    "Who are you?" I asked, my voice calm, yet edged with challenge.

    The man took a single step forward, his eyes narrowing. "We are the First and Second Members of the Alliance," he replied, his tone dark and resolute.

    I cocked an eyebrow, intrigued but unimpressed. Memories of my previous encounter with Fluga flickered to the surface.

    "Ah, just like Fluga?" I asked, my voice casual as I glanced off to the side, recalling the cocky third member of their little alliance.

    "Yes," the woman replied, her voice straigh, her red eyes glinting with malice. Unlike Fluga, though, these two had an unsettling seriousness to them. There was no bravado or arrogance—just a cold, unwavering determination.

    "You must be here for more than just introductions," I said, folding my arms, watching them closely.

    "We''re here to deliver a message," the man continued, his voice calm but laced with warning.

    "Our boss has extended an invitation... an invitation to you, Zero. For your involvement in the death of our comrade, Fluga, and for disrupting the Alliance''s trade work."

    "Athlea?" I called, but she didn''t stop. Her movements were frantic, her breaths shallow and uneven as she stumbled forward. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

    I quickened my pace, weaving through the sparse crowd, calling her name again. "Athlea! Wait!"

    But she seemed oblivious to everything, too consumed by fear or grief to hear me. Desperation filled her every step, and her sobs grew louder, carrying over the hushed conversations of the theatre''s lingering audience.

    Without thinking, I lunged forward, reaching out to grab her arm.

    "Athlea, stop!" I said, more forcefully, pulling her gently toward me.

    She turned to face me, her tear-streaked eyes wide and unfocused, her lips trembling.

    "Austin..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then, as if the last bit of strength drained from her, her knees buckled, and she collapsed, clinging to me.

    "Hey, hey, what''s going on?" I murmured, my concern deepening. "Athlea, talk to me. What happened?"

    But she didn''t respond. She buried her face in my chest, her shoulders shaking as fresh sobs wracked her body. Her phone slipped from her hand, landing on the ground beside us.

    Crouching down, I picked it up, my stomach twisting with a sense of dread I couldn''t explain.

    And then I saw it.

    The screen showed a photo—a horrifying image that made my heart stop. It was a man''s face, pale and smeared with blood, lying motionless, the same red symbol around his body.

    My mind went blank, and for a moment, it felt as if the world around me ceased to exist.

    The man was Arno. Athlea''s brother, who had come to visit her just days ago.

    I stared at the photo, my mind refusing to accept what I was seeing. The face, so familiar, yet now so lifeless, surrounded by that sinister symbol... My breath hitched, and I couldn''t pull my gaze away.