Alfie's footsteps echoed softly against the mossy ground as he walked deeper into the forest. His voice, faint and uncertain, whispered into the void of trees.
"I… I finally understand what Papa was telling me," he muttered to himself, gripping his fists as though the words were the only thing keeping him steady.
FAR AWAY
Lucy, Rebekah, and Sasaki pressed forward through the thick greenery, searching for Alfie's trail. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The once bright sky darkened, clouds swallowing the sunlight until the forest felt like midnight. The trees groaned under the crushing weight of a violent pressure—Renshi, ancient and suffocating.
That force did not go unnoticed.
Across the borderlines of Sunflower and Eminence, the special darkside knights stationed in their kingdoms immediately felt it. The Renshi presence pulsed like a war drum, shaking the air and ground alike.
---
Kingdom of Eminence
Inside the grand obsidian castle, the special darkside knight of Eminence sat silently, eyes closed, on his towering stone throne. The pressure had already reached him, stabbing into his senses like blades.
Ricardo, the messenger, burst into the room, his face pale with urgency.
"My lord! Forgive me if this is unnecessary, but I know you can feel it as well. The pressure from the forest at our border—it's far stronger than usual. Both enemies and allies are gathering there. If battle breaks out, the forest itself will not endure. I await your command… What shall we do if the Shinras cross our borders?"
The special darkside knight rose slowly, his towering figure casting a long shadow across the meeting chamber. His voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of stone.
"Ricardo. You've done enough. Do not concern yourself further. Go… and bring me Metro."
Ricardo bowed instantly, retreating from the room with hurried steps, leaving the Special darkside knight alone to contemplate the storm that was about to ignite.
---
Kingdom of Sunflower
Meanwhile, in the Sunflower Kingdom, tension brewed inside another massive castle. Here sat Rhino—the special darkside knight of Sunflower. He was a giant among men, eight feet tall, with a muscular frame that radiated both strength and menace. From his golden throne, he listened as his Shinras reported in.
"What's your plan, Rhino?" asked a Shinra draped in a red-patterned cape, yawning lazily. "Are we really just going to sit here while something like that stirs at the border?"
Rhino's sharp eyes narrowed.
"Don't spit out questions you don't mean, fool. You're always half-asleep, yet you want me to move mountains at your request? Idiot."
"Tch… not every statement needs a reply, Rhino," muttered another Shinra, this one in a dark red cape, voice low and brooding.
"Enough." A third Shinra, cloaked in white designs, leaned forward. His tone was cold, serious. "The joke is over. Tell us the plan. Now."
Rhino chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating in the chamber.
"Don't look so stiff, Fladigo. But fine—let's speak seriously.That pressure out there isn't ordinary. The Shinras involved are strong, far stronger than usual. After some digging, we discovered both children and adults engaged in combat within the forest. The children were useless… except for one. He's gone missing. My bug was tailing him, but it was destroyed. Whatever took him… was powerful."
The room fell silent for a moment after Zanagi explanation.
"This is no simple matter," the Shinra in the dark red cape—Zanagi—finally said. "If even you admit it, Rhino, then it's serious."
Rhino leaned back, then waved a massive hand.
"Zanagi. Fladigo. I leave this matter to you. If necessary, eliminate every single threat that approaches our borders."
"As you command." Both men bowed slightly, activating switch mode in perfect sync, teleporting toward the chamber doors.
Fladigo smirked as they walked.
"I can handle this myself. Don't get in my way, Zanagi."
Zanagi scoffed.
"You take everything too seriously, idiot. Fine. Do it alone if you want. I couldn't care less." He shoved open the door, not even sparing a glance back.
"Suit yourself," Fladigo muttered, following. "I'll enjoy this without you."
Their voices faded as they exited the castle.
Rhino exhaled heavily.
"Those two… never getting along. Why did I even send them together?"
The Shinra in the white cape smirked slightly.
"You know they'll clash. Why bother, Rhino?"
"I don't know," Rhino admitted. "But one thing's certain: they won't fail."
His tone hardened as his gaze sharpened on the Shinra in the white cape.
"As for you… Pascal. It's time you returned to your squad. I know you've been impersonating Towondo. Don't think we're ignorant of the fact he was murdered in his home two days ago. So tell me—Pascal of the Reinforcement—what business do you have in my kingdom?"
Pascal chuckled, his voice twisting into something colder.
"Well well… you special darkside knights never disappoint. You've figured me out. And as for your other pro darkside knights… I'm sorry to inform you, Rhino, but they're as good as dead."
Rhino's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"The Reinforcement are already moving in the eastern country. We take what we want, we leave without a trace. You know exactly what that means. No survivors. No witnesses."
As Pascal spoke, his body began to change. His black hair bled into stark white, his appearance shifting from that of a middle-aged man into a young warrior with flowing white locks.
"I never intended to let you walk free in this kingdom," Rhino growled. Rising from his throne, he strode toward the massive steel safe embedded in the wall behind him.
But Pascal was faster. In a flicker, he used switch mode, teleporting directly in front of Rhino—ready to strike.
CRASH!
Rhino's massive hand shot out with monstrous speed, smashing Pascal into the ground before he could react. The stone floor cracked, dust rising in waves from the sheer impact.