### *Tobias: The Calm Before the Storm* --- ### *The Distant Island* As the ship cut through the water, Evergrand Island loomed in the distance, a stark, imposing figure. Ivy stood at the window, her gaze locked on the island that held the one person who had caused them so much pain—Miyu. She was untouchable, immune to the laws and punishments that governed the rest of the world. And now, they were about to face the greatest challenge of their lives. Ivy’s heart raced, her thoughts spinning in circles. She had never wanted to drag Tobias into this, yet now, here they were—standing at the edge of the abyss, with no clear path forward. “I don’t know what to do anymore,” Ivy whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the ship’s engine. “Miyu is untouchable. We can’t even set foot on her island. What chance do we have?” Tobias stood behind her, his hands resting on the railing of the ship. His voice was steady, unwavering. “We don’t need to step foot on the island, Ivy. We just need to outsmart her. We’ve been here before, and we can do it again.” Ivy turned to face him, her eyes filled with doubt. “How? How can we take her down when we’re so helpless? What do we have that she doesn’t?” Tobias gave her a small, reassuring smile, though his eyes betrayed the gravity of their situation. “We have each other. That’s all we need.” --- ### *Facing the Truth* Ivy’s gaze dropped, the weight of Tobias’s words sinking in. She had always relied on him, but this time, even his resolve didn’t seem enough to bridge the gap between them and Miyu. “How can we do this, Tobias?” she asked, her voice faltering. “We can’t just walk in and challenge her. The entire island is protected. We don’t even have the luxury of making a mistake.” Tobias stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “We don’t have the luxury of failure, Ivy. We have to be smart about this. Miyu’s been protected by immunity for so long, but there’s always a weakness. We just need to find it.” Ivy swallowed, unsure of whether she was ready for the kind of battle Tobias was proposing. “You really think we can take her down? No one’s ever been able to. She’s… invincible.” Tobias placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch steadying her. “Nobody’s invincible. We just have to play it smarter than anyone else. And I trust you. We’ll figure this out together.” --- ### *The Plan* As the ship grew closer to the island, Tobias paced back and forth, his mind already working through the logistics of their next steps. They couldn’t rely on brute force—they needed a strategy. “I’ve been thinking about it,” Tobias began, breaking the silence. “Miyu’s power comes from her immunity, yes. But what if we can undermine that? We need to turn the system she’s built against her.” Ivy looked up, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes. “You think it’s possible? Can we expose her somehow?” Tobias nodded slowly, a plan beginning to take shape in his mind. “It’s not about confrontation. It’s about dismantling her defenses—getting her vulnerable in ways she doesn’t expect. If we can make her lose the trust of those around her, she loses her power. We need leverage, a way in.” Ivy took a step closer to him, her voice low but firm. “How do we do that?” Tobias’s gaze turned cold, the focus in his eyes sharper than ever. “We find her weaknesses. We take down everything she’s built, piece by piece. No one is untouchable forever.” --- ### *The Calm Before the Storm* The ship slowed as it neared the shores of Evergrand Island. The final stretch was ahead of them, but Tobias could feel the tension in the air, the looming weight of their plan pressing down on them. He knew they couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, but with Ivy by his side, he felt a rare sense of calm. “We’ll do this,” Tobias said quietly, more to himself than to Ivy. “We’ll figure it out.” Ivy stood next to him, her hand brushing against his. “Together,” she said, the resolve in her voice strengthening. Tobias looked over at her, a small but genuine smile curving his lips. “Together.” As the ship pulled closer to the island, they knew that the battle they were about to fight wouldn’t be easy—but they were ready. And for the first time since stepping foot on this mission, Tobias felt something he hadn’t in a long time: hope. It wasn’t a promise of victory, but it was a chance—a chance to take down the person who had been their enemy for far too long. The storm was coming, but they were ready to face it together.