As they passed through the city's archway, Ethan's group immediately noticed something strange.
The city wasn't fallen.
It wasn't destroyed.
There was no smoke.
No chaos.
No monsters roaming the streets…
There were smiling people.
Hugs.
Shops opening.
Elders chatting in doorways.
Children playing again, without fear.
Marcus scratched the back of his neck.
"This… doesn't make sense. Every city ruled by a sin was a nightmare when we arrived."
Sienna crossed her arms, suspicious.
"Unless someone already kicked the sin's face in before we got here."
Jay observed the open windows, where residents hung towels and talked animatedly.
"But who?"
They approached an elderly man sitting on the steps, breathing deeply, like someone learning how to live again.
Ethan leaned forward.
"Sir… what happened here?"
The old man closed his eyes for a moment, his voice trembling.
"We were… trapped.
Trapped inside ourselves."
"Envy…" he continued. "It burned everything good we had. Every time I looked at my neighbor, I felt hatred."
"For his clothes.
For his wife.
For his smile."
He swallowed hard.
"I even came to hate my own son… because he was happier than me."
Elenya pressed a hand to her chest, shocked.
"That's horrible…"
"It wasn't just me," the old man went on. "The whole city started comparing everything. Nothing was enough. Nothing was fair. Everyone wanted to be 'the best,' even if it meant nothing."
Then his expression changed — surprise mixed with admiration.
"But then… they arrived."
Ethan exchanged looks with Jay and Marcus.
"'They'?"
The old man pointed toward the central plaza.
"Three adventurers. Extremely strong. I've never seen people like that."
He took a deep breath, emotional.
"And the woman leading them… she fought… with her fists."
Sienna's eyes widened.
"With her fists?!"
"As if they were divine weapons," the old man said. "Every punch made the ground tremble. The sin… that green monster screaming…" — the memory still seemed painful — "…she made it look small."
The group stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then they heard footsteps behind them.
A trio of players approached.
Clearly adventurers. Dirty armor, dust in their hair, traces of magic still clinging to their clothes.
One of them, an experienced archer, gave a casual nod.
"You just arrived? Then you missed the show."
Sienna scoffed.
"We noticed."
The archer rested a hand on his hip.
"I was here when it started. The Sin of Envy manifested in the center of the city. Huge, with those burning green eyes."
"The thing copied abilities.
Copied strength.
Copied mana."
"It was hell to fight," he concluded.
Jay narrowed his eyes.
"So how did you beat it?"
The archer laughed.
"Kaelyn beat it."
He tilted his head, correcting himself.
"Or rather… she humiliated that monster."
Elenya stepped closer, curious.
"Kaelyn?"
A mage from the trio nodded.
"Their leader. The strongest woman I've ever seen."
She smiled at the memory.
"She climbed onto a rooftop, stared straight at the sin, and said:
'If you copy my strength, I'll give you more than you can handle.'"
Sienna laughed.
"I already like her."
The trio's warrior joined in, excited.
"Meanwhile, her tank held off two minions by himself."
Jay immediately raised his head.
"By himself?"
"By himself," the warrior confirmed. "Yeah, he uses a shield. But he's not just a wall. The guy swings a hammer like he means it."
He gestured animatedly.
"Taunts, turns the shield to protect the group… and hits hard."
Jay grew thoughtful. Very thoughtful.
Another player, a rogue with sharp eyes, added:
"And there's the third one.
Kael."
"An assassin," he continued. "Fast as hell. Always struck at the opening, right when the sin tried to copy something."
"Broke the monster's concentration just to let her hit even harder."
Ethan nodded.
"A balanced group."
"Three people," the archer emphasized. "Only three."
"And they defeated something ten groups couldn't."
The information settled heavily in the air.
Jay murmured, almost to himself:
"A tank who attacks…"
"An assassin with precision…"
"And a fighter who wins with her fists…"
Marcus placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey. You don't need to change who you are."
Jay took a deep breath.
"Maybe… I need to evolve."
Sienna clapped her hands.
"Alright. Beautiful. Inspiring."
She smiled.
"But I want to see this Kaelyn up close."
The archer pointed toward the plaza.
"She's over there. Talking with the residents."
He half-smiled.
"Just be ready. When she looks at someone, it feels like she knows whether you fight… or just watch."
Sienna's grin widened.
"I'm definitely going to like her."
Ethan nodded.
"Then let's meet her."
The group crossed the main plaza, finally spotting the trio everyone was talking about.