What was unfolding in Takeki Village echoed through the other villages—and even down to Visgard.
At the palace, a group of people stood rooted at the doorposts, watching a grim scene repeat itself from years past. The speed at which the skimals ravaged the surroundings was almost supernatural. Debris flew left and right, blocking pathways for the soldiers and disrupting their lines of fire.
“Are you all just going to stand there, or are you going to act?” Selina’s sharp voice cut through the daze, pulling them back to reality.
“What can we do?” Mr. Billy replied. “Our fire isn’t having any effect on them. If only we could reach the cantonment.”
“Not for us, though,” Rhen said sarcastically. “So… can someone inform us of our punishment for refusing arrest?”
Mark smirked. “What was it again? Oh! You were—”
“We’ll discuss that after we finish with these things,” Saz interrupted sharply.
Selina dashed off toward one of the affected locations as the others dispersed, leaving Saz, Casey, Flin, Dr. Bryan, Arthur, Hegs, and the former queen behind.
At the scene, some soldiers lay injured, struck by stray objects hurled by the skimals. The remaining troops fired relentlessly at the creatures. The skimals themselves resembled grotesque hybrids — their upper body like a gorilla, their lower half a slithering snake.
Without hesitation, Selina leapt into the fray. She closed the distance and delivered a hardened punch imbued with flame straight into the skimal’s chest.
The creature halted with a deafening scream that left the soldiers momentarily numb.
Seizing the moment, Selina sprinted forward, jumped, and struck the creature’s forehead with a crushing blow. It fell silent immediately, collapsing onto its belly. The soldiers scrambled to their feet, rallying once again.
“That was… fun,” Selina muttered nervously, staring down at her smoke-covered fist before zooming off to the next hot spot.
*****
Jade appeared in Visgard, panting heavily. “Tsk, of all places,” he muttered weakly. “I’d better head…”
A sudden crash interrupted him as the top half of a building landed near his feet, shattering the silence.
“Damn!” Jade exclaimed, looking down the street. ‘Are they here too?’
He hurried toward the source of the destruction and stopped short. The skimal before him was enormous—five times larger than any he had seen before. It lacked the steel bark that marked others, but there was an eerie intelligence in its eyes.
The soldiers at Visgard struggled to get close to this beast, the last one left standing. It attacked relentlessly with anything it could grasp.
‘This one is special, in its own way,’ Jade thought grimly. “Dealing with you is the best I can do right now.”
He charged forward, though slower than usual, hardening his hands and firing rock projectiles like bullets at the skimal. The creature’s attention shifted to him.
Darting beneath it, Jade unleashed a barrage of fire. The creature’s fur caught flame, causing it to gnash in pain.
He scrambled up a nearby building and launched himself onto the skimal’s head, transforming a rock in his hand into a sharp blade. With all his strength, he drove it deep into the creature's skull.
That was all he could manage in his current weakened state. Both he and the skimal crashed to the ground.
*****
Meanwhile, Selina had arrived at another location—where Peter and Cindy were fighting alongside the remaining soldiers. Together, they had managed to kill a skimal that resembled a ghoul just before Selina’s arrival.
Though all other skimals had been defeated, the village lay in ruins.
After a while, the soldiers began searching for survivors. Most villagers had perished, and the dead were gathered in one corner to be burned while the living were taken to the tomb for treatment by Mrs. Lillian.
Back at the palace, those who had been meeting earlier reassembled to discuss the worsening situation.
(Takes a deep breath) “The situation has escalated… far more than expected. With so many victims, the most effective way to prevent further casualties is to evacuate the citizens to the tomb,” Saz proposed.
“And if we do that, how will they survive without food?” Peter countered. “The soldiers are already stretched thin fighting—there’s no one to gather supplies.”
“Your Majesty,” Billy interrupted, “we just received a message from Visgard. President Avon expressed appreciation for sending Jade, though Jade is currently unconscious and receiving treatment as we speak.”
“I thought he was following my orders,” Saz said, glaring at Rhen.
“At least he was a help to them,” Rhen replied.
“Any news from the other villages?” Saz asked Billy.
“No, they’re likely still figuring out their next move,” Billy answered.
“Regardless, we need a plan for the citizens. Suggestions?”
“Since Peter insists soldiers are scarce,” Arthur suggested, “at the very least they should protect those gathering food."
“Any objections?” Saz asked. Silence met his question. “We’ll hear from Jade when he returns.”
(Clears throat) “Aren’t we forgetting something?” Mark asked.
“Yeah… the punishment,” Roger chimed in.
Captain Drek scoffed. “Why are you so obsessed with that?”
“Who knows?” Mark shrugged. “I’m just interested.”
“As king who will not go back on his word, Rhen, Racle, and Selina are hereby exiled,” Saz declared.
The room fell into heavy silence, the palace thick with tension.
“Exiled? Leave the village forever? (Laughs) Like hell we’re going anywhere,” Selina said boldly.
“It must have gone to your head,” Rhen sneered, stepping forward. “Make us leave.”
Everyone held their breath, awaiting the fallout.
“Rhen, you’re crossing the line. If you keep acting carelessly, we won’t be able to help you.”
“Hmph. Like we needed help,” Racle chuckled darkly.
“Your Majesty,” Mark said, approaching Rhen and whispering, “what do you think you’re doing?”
“Selina and Racle know the truth now,” Rhen whispered back. Mark’s eyes widened in shock as he glanced between the two. “With the way the king is acting, we can’t let this play out in his favor— not this time.”
“So what’s the plan to reveal the truth?” Mark asked. “Leave for Visgard, then come back with Jade.”
“Are you going to rebel against the king?” Rhen said with bitter sarcasm.
“Assumed king you mean. Let’s just say I intend to put him back in his place,” Mark said, returning to his seat.
Rhen lingered, glaring darkly at Saz.
“Does anyone here still support her—think she should remain in this village?” Saz asked, voice flat with boredom. “If Jade returns with an army, it will be us against him.”
“Sorry, Your Majesty. Count me out. I don’t think going against Jade is right, at least not yet,” Peter said.
“Then hand over your position to Captain Drek,” Saz replied coldly.
“It’s all yours,” Peter said, looking briefly at Drek, who said nothing.
“Count my family out,” Mark said, raising a hand.
“Anyone else?” Saz asked, but no one spoke.
“Very well. Peter, Mark, Cindy—you are no longer welcome in this palace or as pillars of Takeki Village."
“Do you mean we should leave now?” Mark asked.
“Yes,” Saz replied.
Without hesitation, Mark, Cindy, Dr. Bryan, Peter, and Knight Flin left the palace, joined by Rhen and the children.
“Before we go,” Saz called, “Captain Drek—gather as many soldiers as you can. We are going to war.”
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