Martian Archer

Leon's ears were still ringing from the explosion.

He and Rei sprinted through the dense forest, weaving between trees as enemy fire rained down behind them. Goro's death weighed on him like lead, but there was no time to mourn.

They had to survive.

Rei, normally composed, had an intense look in her eyes. Her breathing was heavy, her grip on her sword tight. She hadn't said a word since the explosion.

"She's in shock… Just like I am."

Leon pushed forward, pulling her into a thick brush.

"Hide here."

They crouched low, concealed by the undergrowth.

The enemy team stopped searching after a few minutes, their voices fading into the distance.

Silence.

Leon exhaled sharply, still processing what just happened.

"Klein set us up. He gave Goro that shield…"

His stomach twisted.

If Leon hadn't pushed Rei away, she could have been next.

Her sword also given by Klein could be rigged.

His gaze flickered to her weapon.

"Drop the sword."

Rei looked at him, confused.

"What?"

"The sword. Klein gave it to you. We can't trust it."

Rei hesitated. Then, slowly, she loosened her grip and let the weapon fall.

They sat in silence for a moment, breathing heavily.

Finally, Rei spoke.

"You were right."

Leon turned to her.

She met his gaze, her usual cold expression faltering.

"Klein set us up."

Leon clenched his fists.

"Goro died because of him."

Rei didn't respond, but her fingers curled slightly.

"She's furious too."

Suddenly, movement in the distance caught Leon's eye.

Through the foliage, he saw another team—six students moving cautiously through the forest.

But something about them was… wrong.

Their weapons.

Leon's eyes widened.

They were using the same gear Klein gave Goro.

Leon nudged Rei, gesturing toward the enemy team.

"Look at their weapons."

She narrowed her eyes. After a second, she whispered:

"The same as ours."

Leon's mind raced.

If Klein set them up, that meant these students were either victims like Goro—or accomplices.

Either way, they needed those weapons.

"We take them down. Quietly."

Rei nodded.

They circled around the enemy team, using the dense trees as cover.

Leon knocked an arrow, steadying his breath.

One shot. One kill.

He released.

The arrow whistled through the air striking one of the students clean in the back.

They collapsed instantly.

"Enemy attack!"

Chaos erupted.

Rei lunged from the shadows, cutting down another student before they could react.

Leon fired another arrow, hitting a third in the leg. The student screamed, collapsing.

The last three panicked, their formation breaking apart.

Leon and Rei didn't hesitate.

Within seconds, it was over.

Six students down.

Leon crouched, yanking one of their weapons free.

It felt… normal.

Not rigged.

Not sabotaged.

Just a real weapon.

Rei knelt beside him, picking up a fresh sword.

She studied it, then clenched her jaw.

"I believe you now, Leon."

She looked up, eyes burning with anger.

"Klein is a traitor."