The morning light broke over the ruined stone of the hilltop fortress, spilling golden rays across the landscape. Birds sang in the trees, and mist lifted from the fields below. It was a quiet, almost sacred time—one that belied the tension simmering beneath the surface.
Ezra stood at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the expanse. His eyes scanned the horizon as if expecting something to emerge from the fog. The system interface shimmered faintly before him, cycling through unread notifications.
[Training Complete: Red Demon Horns x3] [Relationship Level Up: Escanor — Bond Level 2] [Daily Quest Complete: 5x Push-Ups, 5x Meditation Cycles] [Reward Received: 1x Rare Character Ticket]
He dismissed the holographic windows with a flick of his hand. The Rare Ticket would have to wait—there were more pressing matters.
Behind him, footsteps crunched lightly on gravel. Escanor, in his nighttime form, approached with a blanket draped over his shoulders. His expression was unreadable, somewhere between sorrow and serenity.
"Another early start?" Escanor asked softly.
Ezra nodded. "Couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts."
Escanor stopped beside him and looked out toward the same horizon. "It's a curse, having a mind that won't rest. I've fought monsters with claws and magic, but none sharper than my own regrets."
"I know what you mean."
They stood in silence for a time, until Escanor broke it.
"I've been having dreams. Of fire and smoke... of a kingdom burning. But I'm not the hero in them. I'm the one holding the torch."
Ezra turned to look at him. "You're afraid of losing control again."
Escanor's silence was answer enough.
"We'll stop that from happening," Ezra said firmly. "Together."
A new voice joined them. "Hope you two aren't getting too sentimental without me."
Ban emerged from the nearby ruins, a half-eaten apple in one hand. "We've got trouble brewing in the southeast. Scouting party returned an hour ago. Whole village wiped out—no survivors."
Escanor's eyes widened. "Demons?"
"Maybe," Ban replied, tossing the core away. "But something's off. There were no magic signatures, no lingering energy. Clean, surgical. Like someone wanted it that way."
Meliodas and Merlin soon joined the group, followed by the rest of the Sins. A meeting was called within the fortress. Ezra sat beside Escanor while Merlin conjured a glowing map above the stone table.
"This is the fifth village in two weeks," she said, indicating red circles. "All destroyed without resistance. My guess? It's not demons. It's someone testing a new method—something more precise."
King hovered in the air, arms folded. "Assassins?"
"Or worse," Diane muttered. "Someone with power and a plan."
Meliodas crossed his arms, brow furrowed. "Whoever it is, they're heading toward Liones. They're not just attacking—they're sending a message."
Ezra felt the shift inside him. A familiar hum.
[System Notification: Emergency Side Quest Unlocked] [Title: Echoes of Desolation] [Objective: Investigate the Source of the Village Massacres] [Reward: ??? — Depends on Performance]
He accepted it instantly.
Meliodas looked around. "We move at dawn. Ezra, you're with me and Escanor. The rest of you will split into pairs and investigate the other routes. We need answers."
The group nodded and began preparations. Ezra pulled Escanor aside.
"You ready for this?"
Escanor smiled weakly. "No. But I'll go anyway."
That night, Ezra stood under the stars again, staring at his party list. He had enough materials to unlock his fourth character slot.
He hesitated, then spent the resources.
[New Character Slot Unlocked] [Random Pull Initiated...]
[You Acquired: Tristan (Goddess/Demon Hybrid) — Passive Locked Until Main Story Start]
Ezra's breath caught.
Tristan. Son of Meliodas and Elizabeth. A bridge between light and dark. The future.
He added him to the roster immediately, the interface shifting.
Main: [Dungeon Raider] Gamer Shin
Sub 1: [Undead] Prisoner Ban
Sub 2: [Twigo the Brave]
Sub 3: [Tristan — Passive Locked]
He clenched his fists. The system was preparing him for something huge.
As dawn came and the party set out, Ezra felt the weight of destiny more than ever.
He didn't know what awaited them in the desolate ruins—but whatever it was, it wasn't random.
And deep down, he feared this was only the beginning.
[Countdown to the Main Story: 135,410 Hours]