Karoschi sat tied to the tree while the others stood around him in silence. The night air was cold, and the fire nearby crackled softly. No one spoke for a moment. The tension between them was almost unbearable.
Karoschi slowly lifted his head. His yellow eyes looked tired… almost broken.
The others watched him carefully.
"Karoschi: 188 years ago… my sister and I lived on the streets after our parents died."
His voice was quieter now, filled with memories he clearly wished he could forget.
"Karoschi: We were just children. We had no home, no food, and no one who cared about us. The only way we could survive… was by stealing."
Anna's expression softened slightly. Even Johann stopped moving.
"Karoschi: One evening, my sister Clara and I tried to steal apples from a market stand."
He paused for a moment.
"Karoschi: But the guards caught us."
The fire crackled again.
"Karoschi: We ran as fast as we could… but they chased us. They weren't trying to arrest us."
His voice grew darker.
"Karoschi: They wanted to kill us for stealing."
Anna looked shocked.
Johann clenched his fists.
"Karoschi: We ran out of the village and into the forest, hoping to escape… but eventually they surrounded us."
Karoschi closed his eyes as if he could see the moment clearly again.
"Karoschi: My sister was crying. I thought that was the end."
Then he continued.
"Karoschi: But suddenly… someone appeared."
A strange smile crossed his face.
"Karoschi: Karag."
The group stiffened.
Karoschi mimicked the voice from that moment.
"Karag: Well well… hello there. Do you need some help?"
Karoschi looked down.
"Karoschi: I didn't know who he was back then."
He took a breath.
"Karoschi: But I begged him."
"Karoschi: Please… help us. We'll do anything."
Karoschi slowly shook his head.
"Karoschi: The guards laughed at him. They thought he was just another traveler."
His eyes darkened.
"Karoschi: They were wrong."
For a moment the forest around them felt even colder.
"Karoschi: Karag killed them all."
The others remained silent.
"Karoschi: One by one… without mercy."
He looked at the ground.
"Karoschi: And just like that… our lives were saved."
He continued quietly.
"Karoschi: My sister and I thanked him."
He looked up slightly.
"Karoschi: But then he smiled."
Karoschi imitated the voice again.
"Karag: No need to thank me… now comes the part where I get something in return."
Karoschi swallowed.
"Karoschi: I asked him what he meant."
He continued.
"Karoschi: And then he told us."
"Karag: I want you to join my family."
At that moment, shadows moved in the darkness.
Karoschi gestured with his head.
"Karoschi: From the forest… dozens of Karagnists stepped out of the shadows."
Anna looked disturbed.
"Karoschi: They were watching us… waiting for our answer."
He laughed quietly.
"Karoschi: We were starving children who had just been saved from death."
He looked at them.
"Karoschi: Of course we said yes."
Karoschi's voice grew colder.
"Karoschi: Karag smiled… and then he did something strange."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Karoschi: From his eye flowed a black liquid."
Johann grimaced in disgust.
"Karoschi: He held it out to us."
Karoschi spoke the words slowly.
"Karag: Drink this… and you will become one of us."
The group listened carefully.
"Karoschi: My sister and I drank it."
He looked directly at Noah.
"Karoschi: The pain was unbearable."
His hands trembled slightly.
"Karoschi: Our bodies changed… and our eyes turned yellow."
He paused.
"Karoschi: That was the moment we stopped being human."
Silence filled the air again.
"Karoschi: After that night, we fought for Karag."
His voice sounded distant.
"Karoschi: In return, he and his wife gave us a home… food… and a purpose."
Anna looked conflicted.
"Karoschi: Over the years we grew stronger. Stronger than most Karagnists."
He continued.
"Karoschi: Eventually we were strong enough to lead entire squads."
Johann crossed his arms.
"Karoschi: But one day… Karag gave me a new mission."
His eyes darkened again.
"Karoschi: I was assigned as a spy."
Noah already knew what was coming.
"Karoschi: I was ordered to follow a group of villagers who were planning to build a hidden village far away."
Karoschi looked at them all.
"Karoschi: That village… was your home."
The group froze.
"Karoschi: I lived there for 145 years."
Anna gasped quietly.
"Karoschi: I pretended to be one of you. I laughed with you. Trained with you."
He looked at Noah.
"Karoschi: I even called that place home."
Then his voice broke slightly.
"Karoschi: But a few days ago… I gave Mimic the location of the village."
He lowered his head.
"Karoschi: That is how the monsters found it."
Silence exploded into rage.
Johann stepped forward violently.
"Johann: YOU BASTARD!"
His voice shook with fury.
"Johann: Because of you our families are dead! Our village is gone!"
Karoschi didn't fight back.
"Karoschi: I know."
Johann grabbed a weapon from the ground.
"Johann: I'm going to kill you!"
Before he could move further, Anna rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
"Anna: STOP!"
She pulled the weapon away from him.
Johann struggled angrily.
Noah stepped forward calmly.
"Noah: No. That's not the right way."
Johann stared at him in disbelief.
"Johann: Not the right way?! He destroyed our entire village! He probably killed thousands before that!"
Karoschi looked at the ground.
"Karoschi: I know nothing I say can fix that."
His voice sounded heavy.
"Karoschi: But if I could undo it… I would."
He shook his head slowly.
"Karoschi: Unfortunately… I don't think there is anything that can make up for what I've done."
Noah stepped closer.
"Noah: There is one way."
Karoschi looked up, confused.
"Karoschi: What?"
Noah answered without hesitation.
"Noah: Help us kill Karag."
The group froze again.
Karoschi stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"Karoschi: Have you lost your mind?!"
His voice rose.
"Karoschi: It's impossible to defeat him!"
He shook his head.
"Karoschi: You have no idea what you're dealing with!"
But Noah didn't move.
He simply lifted his sword.
"Noah: Maybe before it was impossible."
The blade reflected the firelight.
"Noah: But now we have this sword… the only weapon that can hurt him."
He looked directly at Karoschi.
"Noah: And with your help… maybe our chances are higher."
Karoschi stared at him in silence.
Anna stepped forward.
"Anna: Maybe this is your only chance to finally have that 'beautiful life' you wanted."
Karoschi didn't answer immediately.
For the first time… doubt filled his eyes.
After a long pause he finally spoke.
"Karoschi: ...Alright."
The others looked surprised.
"Karoschi: I'm in."
He continued more seriously.
"Karoschi: But we will need more than just the six of us if we want to kill Karag."
He looked at Noah.
"Karoschi: And now that Mimic knows you have the key… he will come after you."
Noah nodded.
"Noah: Maybe."
Then he smiled slightly.
"Noah: But together… we can do it."
For the first time that night, the tension eased slightly.
Anna and Heinrich untied the ropes around Karoschi.
He slowly stood up.
For a brief moment, no one spoke.
Then the group gathered their things.
Their next destination was clear.
Together… they began their journey toward the Jungle Titan.
The real war had only just begun.