The air in the Solar Force hall grew thick with shock as the news of the Third Elder's murder sank in.
But inside Liuke's mind, the reaction was different.
(One less monster to deal with,) he thought darkly.
(My job just got easier... but don't worry, I'll turn the rest of you to ash soon enough.)
Relph cleared his throat and continued with the main agenda.
"Now, let's move on to the Everdread Forest. We are ready."
"Today, March 17, 1820, I am announcing the official schedule on behalf of the Council."
"We will depart next week, on Monday, March 24."
"A total of six squads from different cities will be deployed."
He began listing the assignments for the mission:
"From Pipon City, the squads of Elvis and Jems will be sent."
"From Auroira City, the squads of Revan and Slyck."
"And from Verdon City, the squads of Yuha and Wee Wee."
"The primary objective is to escort and protect the three units of the Research Force."
"Every pair of squads will be responsible for one unit. Start your preparations immediately."
In the middle of this grave announcement, the Second Elder, Cysar, let out a long, loud yawn.
He clearly had no respect for Relph's authority.
The soldiers and officials in the hall exchanged awkward glances.
The tension between the new leaders was palpable and dangerous.
"This concludes the schedule announcement," Relph finished, ignoring the disrespect.
"We offer our blessings for your success. May you serve us well."
The telecast flickered and died.
Inside the Solar High Council chambers in Auroira City, the four remaining Elders sat in the hall.
Cysar was the first to break the silence.
"I'm going in alone," Cysar sneered, leaning back with a smirk.
"The rest of you can bring your lapdogs since you don't have the spine to handle it yourselves. Hahaha!"
"Don't be so arrogant, Cysar," Relph replied coldly.
"You might be the first one to burn out there."
"It's obvious one of us had Greyon killed, but who cares?"
"The real war starts in that forest. We'll all be at each other's throats soon enough."
Ramonian, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.
"By the way, where is Wysar? Why hasn't he come to meet us?"
"If I see him in the forest," Relph muttered, "I'll deal with him too."
"Enough," Umiko interrupted, standing up. "Stop cooking up fantasies."
"Everyone, go prepare. We won't just be facing humans in there."
"Unknown horrors await us."
With that, the Elders dispersed to their own territories.
Umiko walked to her car, where her driver and a young girl were already waiting.
"Sister... when are you going to stop this?" the girl asked as the car started moving.
Umiko looked at her calmly. "Cisa, what are you talking about?"
"I know it was you," Cisa said, her voice trembling with frustration.
"You had him killed. The Third Elder, right?"
Umiko sighed and turned to the driver. "Why did you bring her here?"
"Ms. Cisa was incredibly stubborn, Ma'am," the driver explained nervously.
"She was ready to tear the house down if I didn't bring her."
"Sister, why are you ignoring me?" Cisa demanded.
"I'm not," Umiko replied flatly. "I just don't like repeating myself a thousand times."
"I've told you so many times! Why can't you just live a normal life?"
"Why the crimes? Why the murders?"
"There is no harm in 'necessary' crime," Umiko argued.
"I am becoming a monster to eliminate those who are worse than me."
"In the grand scheme of things, my sins don't even matter."
"You can tell yourself that, but you know it's wrong," Cisa countered.
"You took my classmates hostage just because they teased me a little."
"You call that 'Necessary Evil'? That's just childish!"
Umiko's expression didn't change. "You've started talking too much, Cisa."
"But there's nothing I can do about that."
"Think about it," Cisa pleaded. "The man who got you out of prison..."
"You could have changed your life. Instead, you went right back to crime."
"Think practically, my lovely little sister," Umiko said calmly.
"I need power so that no one can ever oppress us again."
"And to get that power, you oppress innocent girls?" Cisa's voice broke.
"Then there's no difference between you and any other criminal."
Umiko remained unmoved. Her heart was a fortress.
After dropping Cisa off at home, she headed straight to her criminal base.
There, she gave the signal for a fleet of trucks to depart.
These weren't ordinary trucks—they were filled with innocent lives.
People whose futures Umiko was systematically destroying for her own gain.
Meanwhile, Liuke was pushing his body to the limit at the training camp.
Ever since the announcement, he hadn't stopped training for a single hour.
(I have to become stronger,) he told himself, sweat pouring down his face.
(In that forest, I will be the one to destroy them.)
(I will be the one to punish them for their sins.)
The fire in his eyes was blindingly intense—a burning hatred for the criminals.
But it was a dangerous flame.
It threatened to consume Liuke himself if he wasn't careful.
At the same time, Wysar had reached the location of the Secret Archives.
This was the place that held the absolute truth about the Everdread Forest.
The archives were hidden deep in the basement of the High Council building.
They were behind a massive door sealed with unknown, complex spells.
The door couldn't be forced open by physical strength alone.
Wysar arrived when the building was completely empty.
He pulled out his book and a pen that pulsed with a dark, eerie aura.
With a steady hand, he drew a symbol in the center of the door.
The seal shattered instantly.
The heavy doors creaked open, revealing the absolute darkness within.
And then, Wysar did something no one could have ever expected.