After hearing the announcement, Liuke felt a mix of shock and deep worry.
He knew these new Elders weren't innocent leaders; they were monsters.
They would use the Everdread Forest only for their own selfish gains.
With his heart racing, Liuke stood in the large Solar Force hall.
He gathered his courage and walked straight toward Dyne.
Dyne was the Head of the Pipon City Solar Force.
"Sir Dyne?" Liuke started, his voice slightly hesitant.
"Do you have any more information about these new Elders... these criminals?"
Dyne looked him up and down. "Introduce yourself first, kid!"
"Sir, I'm Liuke. I'm an ex-Solar Soldier, but Commander Elvis has reenlisted me."
"I'm 20 years old, and my only goal is to protect the innocent and the weak."
Dyne softened a bit. "Alright then. You want to know about those five?"
"Listen, Liuke," Dyne began. "I don't know all of them, except for one."
"The fifth Elder, Ramonian. The one who was sitting so quietly."
"I caught him thirty-five years ago. That single man wiped out my entire squad."
"It took several sacrifices and a brutal battle before I finally took him down."
"We sent him to the highest-level prison: 'The Mad Ones'."
"The Mad Ones?" Liuke asked. "I thought criminals were just kept behind bars."
"The Mad Ones is a void dimension created using the criminal's own energy."
"It's a place of absolute darkness. If a prisoner runs, the dimension expands."
"No matter the direction, it's an infinite, never-ending loop of blackness."
Liuke was stunned. "If it's infinite, then how did Ramonian escape?"
"My guess?" Dyne said darkly. "They have someone who has been to the Forest."
"That person used powers found inside to break them out. But I can't be sure."
"Tell me more about Ramonian, sir. We might run into him in the forest."
Dyne chuckled. "You're more curious than your Commander, haha! Fine."
"Ramonian was a serial killer. He targeted young women and murdered them."
"He had a gang that followed his orders in exchange for money."
"He said a girl rejected his brother's proposal, driving him to suicide."
"To get revenge, Ramonian started killing every girl of that age."
Dyne shook his head. "His brother's death was just a trigger for his twisted thoughts."
"While he only killed, his followers would assault the victims first."
"The Council threw him into The Mad Ones; his followers were all executed."
"That is... truly repulsive," Liuke muttered, his fist clenching.
"An insult to humanity."
"Exactly, Liuke. And now, we're forced to bow to these animals."
"But," Dyne's eyes sharpened, "the Forest might be our best chance to take them out."
"I hope so," Liuke said. "I hope that forest becomes their final resting place."
Liuke left the base and started the long walk back to his hotel.
The streets were quiet, but then a sharp scream pierced the air.
Liuke didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward the sound in a dark alley.
He saw three men surrounding a girl. They all had knives.
Liuke channeled his Solar energy into his right hand, making it hard as metal.
He lunged forward and delivered a devastating punch.
The force sent all three men flying into a pile of trash.
Before they could recover, Liuke used a burst of energy to leap into the air.
He generated a ball of energy in his palm and slammed it into the criminals.
Two of them died instantly, their faces literally melting from the heat.
The third one, still barely alive, tried to lunge with a knife.
Liuke delivered a powerful kick that sent him crashing back.
"Who are you?!" Liuke demanded.
The man wheezed, "We're from Elder Ramonian's guild... He paid us..."
Liuke didn't let him finish. He coated his hand in flames and ended him.
He turned to the girl, Jaysa, and saw a knife wound in her stomach.
She was losing a lot of blood. Liuke lifted her and ran.
He met an ambulance halfway and stayed with her to the hospital.
Hours later, the surgery was over. The doctor thanked him for his speed.
"You saved her life. You can see her now."
Liuke entered the room. "Are you... are you okay?"
"Thank you... thank you for saving me," Jaysa spoke weakly.
"I'm Liuke. I'm a Solar Soldier, and I'm going to end those five Elders."
"I want the peace back. If I find Ramonian, I'll kill him for what he did."
Just then, the door burst open. Jaysa's father ran in, looking panicked.
"Oh, my daughter! I'm so sorry... I'm a bad father for being late."
"I'm fine, Dad. Thank Liuke. He saved me."
The father turned to Liuke with tears. "You're like a god to us."
"It was just my duty," Liuke said, waving it off. "I should head home."
Jaysa touched Liuke's hand, her eyes shining with gratitude.
"Don't worry about me. Go home. And... thank you again, Liuke."
Liuke said his goodbyes and finally headed to his hotel.
Elsewhere, on the peak of a high tower, Wysar sat alone.
The night sky was filled with lightning.
Suddenly, a dark shape flew through the air toward him.
It was the Gas Beast—the same creature that had killed the Queen.
Wysar still had no idea he had indirectly caused his mother's death.
The Gas Beast spiraled down and merged into a page of Wysar's book.
He opened the book to check the beast's description and the victim list.
His heart stopped. Listed alongside Lak was a name: Sharley.
Wysar saw his mother's name listed as "consumed." He sat there, completely broken.