The morning air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves as Beatrice and Coco stood by a small patch of ground in the forest clearing. The others watched in curious silence, unsure of what to expect. Beatrice, looking mischievous as ever, smiled to herself as she gestured toward the dirt.
"Alright, Coco," Beatrice said, her tone playful. "Place the bird down. Let's see what happens."
Coco nodded and gently set a small bird on the ground. The group stared, bewildered by the oddity of it all. It was a simple bird, nothing extraordinary about it. But then things got... weird.
Beatrice, her eyes twinkling with excitement, looked at Carpio, another bird who had been standing nearby, a cigar dangling from his mouth. "Carpio, do your magic," she said.
The air shifted as Carpio flicked his fingers, and the bird suddenly sprang to life in a way no one could have predicted. The bird ignited a tiny cigar, took a deep puff, and then opened a wooden notebook that seemed to materialize from thin air. The bird began to scribble in the notebook before looking up, its beady eyes narrowing as it started… seeding messages into some sort of magical, ethereal medium—WizardMedia, a popular social website where magicians share their histories, photos, and even videos.
The group stood in stunned silence, unsure of what to make of it. Frosty raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Skully. "Is this... some sort of magic trick?" he asked, unsure whether to be impressed or confused.
"I don't know what to expect from this anymore," Skully muttered, staring at the bird. "Is it some kind of... wizard social media bird?"
Beatrice watched them all with a satisfied grin. "We’re going to attract people to this forest with these fake dating messages," she explained. "Then, Omega Man and Rookie, you’re going to handle the killing. Coco will trap them, but you two will do the... necessary work."
The group exchanged uncertain glances.
Rookie frowned. "I'm not sure this is going to work. It seems... ridiculous."
Omega Man crossed his arms, looking skeptical. "I have to agree with Rookie. This is... strange."
Frosty let out a short laugh. "It sounds absurd, even for us. Who would fall for this?"
Skully, shaking his head in disbelief, spoke up. "Are you sure this is going to work? I really doubt anyone could be that stupid."
Beatrice simply smiled, her gaze soft but confident. "You’ll see."
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20 Minutes Later...
The group was still waiting in the clearing when they heard footsteps approaching. The rustling of leaves gave way to the sound of a light voice humming in the distance. An elf appeared, looking a bit too enthusiastic for the situation at hand. He was glued to his MagicPhone, eagerly following the fake dating messages that had been sent out by the bird—messages promising "Elfas enceladas" waiting for him in the forest.
The group stared, hardly able to believe it was actually working.
Rookie blinked. "This is so absurd," he said, shaking his head.
Omega Man sighed deeply. "I know... it’s insane."
Frosty chuckled, a dark humor creeping into his voice. "How does someone have such low expectations? This guy’s walking into a trap with a smile."
Skully snorted, his bony hands resting on his hips. "Even my bones are smarter than this guy."
Beatrice laughed, leaning against Coco as she observed the elf’s arrival. "You all need to lighten up. This is too perfect," she said with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
Coco, who had been watching with mild amusement, puffed on his cigar and laughed softly. "This is the kind of nonsense I can get behind."
The Trapping Soul
Carpio snapped his fingers, and thick branches shot up from the ground, wrapping around the elf in a trap of feathers and vines. The elf yelped in surprise, struggling against the restraints, but there was no escaping.
Beatrice stepped forward, her voice low and commanding. "Now, Omega Man, it’s your turn. Kill him. No remorse."
Omega Man hesitated, his hands tightening into fists. The elf’s terrified screams pierced the air, and for a moment, Omega Man found himself frozen, unable to act.
The elf looked up, his fear giving way to confusion. "Wait, is this because of the messages? I just... I just wanted to see if it was true..."
Omega Man’s hesitation deepened, the elf’s words ringing in his ears. Beatrice, however, leaned closer, her voice soft but chilling. "You know what to do."
The Murder of The Soul
Before Omega Man could react, Beatrice’s magic surged through him, forcing his left arm forward. His fist connected with the elf’s face in a sickening crack, silencing the screams. Omega Man cried out, his voice strained and filled with conflict, but his body kept moving. Each strike landed with brutal precision, the elf’s body crumpling under the relentless blows.
The group stood frozen, their expressions a mix of horror and disbelief. Rookie looked away, his stomach turning at the sound of bones breaking. Frosty’s usual humor was nowhere to be found.
Finally, Beatrice released her grip. Omega Man stumbled back, his blood-covered fists shaking. He stared at them, breathing heavily, unable to process what had just happened.
The Awakening of Corruption
Rookie was the first to break the silence. "That was..." He trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.
Beatrice stepped closer, her tone almost soothing. "Amazing. You did a good job, Omega Man," she said. Then, with a sly smile, she whispered, "And between us... there was no real grip here. Coco and I were faking the control over your arms. We just needed you to think you weren’t doing it by yourself."
Omega Man’s eyes widened in shock as the weight of her words sank in. He realized the truth: the violence had come from him. Beatrice had only revealed what he was capable of.
As he stood there, trembling and lost, the rest of the group looked on in uneasy silence. Beatrice’s mind, however, was already elsewhere, calculating her next move. And this time, she had someone new in her sights: Rookie
