"Great... I can't find anywhere to stay..."

Agni slumped in his saddle, defeated.

The night had grown thick around them—so dark that he could barely see Big B's ears, let alone the path ahead. 

No villages. No farmhouses. Not even a ruined barn.

Just endless fields of grass, stretching in every direction.

And ahead, looming like a wall of shadows, a forest.

Yeah. That looks like the last place I want to enter right now.

He took another bite of the Potato of Despair—more out of obligation than hunger—and chewed miserably.

Dinner is dinner.

Even if dinner tastes like solidified regret.

I have to make this last for a week.

Maybe if I skip a few meals...

His eyes drifted across the landscape, searching for any sign of civilization.

Nothing.

Why isn't there a SINGLE household around?!

This is supposed to be the royal heartland! The most developed region in the entire Sun Empire!

Where are all the PEOPLE?!

Big B's pace had slowed considerably. The horse was exhausted—Agni could feel it in the heavy, labored rhythm of its steps. They'd been traveling since dawn, with only brief stops for water.

Agni pulled on the reins, bringing them to a gentle halt.

"Okay, Big B. New plan."

The horse's ears swiveled back, listening.

"I'm too tired to do anything else. We're not finding shelter tonight. So..."

Agni dismounted—more carefully this time—and walked around to face the stallion directly.

"Let's just sleep here. Together."

Big B stared at him.

"I know it's not ideal. I know you're probably judging me. But look—" Agni gestured at the empty fields around them. "There's literally nothing else. And at least if we stick together, we can... I don't know... keep each other warm?"

The horse continued staring.

"Please?"

A long, heavy sigh escaped Big B's nostrils. Then, slowly, the stallion lowered itself to the ground, folding its legs beneath its massive body.

Agni collapsed against Big B's side, pressing his face into the warm, solid wall of horse. The stallion's coat was rough and smelled like sweat and grass, but at this point, Agni didn't care.

"Thanks, buddy," he mumbled into Big B's flank. "You're the best."

He wrapped his arms around the horse's neck, snuggling closer.

"Try not to roll over and crush me, okay? That would be a really embarrassing way to die."

Big B's head turned, and the stallion's chin brushed gently against Agni's hair. A soft nuzzle. Almost... affectionate.

See?

You do have a soft spot.

Big B snorted quietly, then settled its head down to rest.


"Yeah," he whispered. "I understand you too, buddy."


That's when I heard the whistling.

It was sharp and fast, like air being violently pushed out of the way.

The sound was coming from behind them. From the direction they'd traveled. And it was getting closer.

The first projectile struck Big B's skull.

CRACK.

The sound was wet. Final.

Agni didn't process what happened. Not at first. His mind simply... refused.

One moment, Big B's head was there—warm and solid against his shoulder.

The next moment, it was gone.

Blood.

Hot, wet, everywhere.

Splattering across Agni's face. Soaking into his clothes. Filling his nostrils with the copper stench of death.

Huh?

More projectiles followed. Bullets—or something like bullets. Metal spheres fired with enough force to punch through steel.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Holes. So many holes.

Big B's body jerked with each hit, the massive stallion being shredded like paper.

Five shots.