Emerald Green Kingdom – Spiritual Tree Grove
All the Stage 3 figures were gathered beneath the colossal spiritual tree, its jade leaves shimmering faintly as if reflecting the weight of the meeting itself. A heavy silence hung over the grove, pressing down like a tangible curtain.
Dark Shadow stood at the forefront, Alexandria by her side, and even Forty-Two—usually irreverent and playful—wore a solemn expression. From a distance, the gathering looked united, yet closer inspection revealed the fractures within.
Three distinct groups had already formed.
The first, the core, were those who had followed Ricky from the very beginning, bound by loyalty and trust. The second consisted of allies who had pledged themselves before the invasion of the undead. And finally, the third—outsiders forced into service—Stage 3 beings shackled to Ricky's will after the war, their obedience purchased not with trust but with power and fear.
