Karno turned to the villagers, beginning to wonder:
Were they the ones who did this?
Did they send people over there while they came here just to distract us?
No, no, no, no, no—impossible!
The villagers don't have the means to cause such an explosion... But then, who?
Then Karno remembered the rebels who had arrived today.
At that moment, his rage intensified.
Who would've thought the villagers had asked the rebels for help?
Karno turned to his stunned followers and shouted:
"Kill them!"
Karno's followers roared as they charged at the villagers.
But before they could reach them,
something shot out from the forest behind the villagers—
piercing the head of the first charging rebel.
That rebel had no time to scream.
He collapsed to the ground, dead,
right in front of the others,
who froze in place,
staring at that white thing writhing like a serpent.
It's a bone!
Everyone looked toward the path from which the bone had come, retreating quickly.
In the place where it disappeared, four people appeared: three boys and a girl.
Those people were none other than Mihon, Youray, Amis, and the Mute.
The lieutenant looked at Mihon and the others as they advanced toward them.
The villagers were shocked by the sudden change.
— "You..." muttered the village chief.
Mihon and the others passed among the people, then walked past them and stopped before them.
Youray turned to the village chief:
— "The spark... freedom in the heart never fades. That is what you must remember well."
Mihon looked toward the lieutenant, ignoring the rebel Karnou.
The lieutenant also looked toward him.
His eyes fell on the banner decorating Mihon's clothes.
"That banner... so, you've left Randor. Who would have imagined you'd come here?"
"Do you know him, sir?"
"No, I don't know him. But recently, we have heard about a new rebel who stole the heritage of the Kingdom of Randor and fled. A bounty has been placed on his banner: five million gold coins on his head."
"The rebels of this generation are very reckless. Karnou, why can't there be rebels like you who are easier to deal with and befriend?"
Karno began to smile:
"Lieutenant, we all started with big dreams, but when they collide with reality, their thinking changes. Why don't we catch him and split the five million?"
The lieutenant laughed:
"And why not?"
Mihon looked toward Karno and said:
"There are always two types of revolutionary characters among us: those who have the strength to stand against the obstacles placed in their path, face reality, and change it; and those like you, who surrender and leave the field to others. I consider this type the lowest of people, those who abandon their path.
Revolutionaries are those who follow their hearts, not their minds, because they believe in what they do, and reach a state of harmony with themselves that enables them to give and create the change they believe in. These are the ones we should call true rebels.
As for your kind... I feel ashamed to share the same name with you. What a disgrace."
– You...!
Karno's anger intensified:
– You arrogant one, you do not know the vastness of this world, that is why you speak like a fool! Do you think that achieving what you desire comes easily?
Mihon did not answer, and directed his gaze toward the army members who had kidnapped the boy.
When they kidnapped the young boy, Mihon was watching them, but he left them to see what the islanders would do. Would that spark in their hearts be extinguished? Or would emotion shake their being?
But they succeeded in this test.
When he looked at those three, the hairs on their heads stood up, for they felt something was wrong. Mihon raised his hand toward them:
– You there... you are the first to die.
The lieutenant and Karno looked at each other, then began to laugh.
– You want to kill army members? What a joke!
The lieutenant said:
– Even the Four-Star Rebels cannot stir the army, how dare you do that?
– Then, stop me... if you can,
said Mihon.
A gel began to emerge from Mihon's body, encircling his neck and hanging down his arms, forming a bloody red chain with purple eyes that surged toward the three.
The lieutenant wanted to intervene, but Youray stood before him:
– Bone Germ... Bone Whip!
He launched a long bone toward the lieutenant, who retreated.
As he stepped back, the chain pierced the hearts of the three. Blood poured from their mouths, shock appeared in their eyes. The three fell lifeless to the ground.
Silence fell over everyone; all appeared stunned, even the islanders, but their shock was not like that of Karno and the lieutenant.
– That bastard killed army members!
– Truly, it's over... they will definitely send elite troops to hunt him down.
– That young man... he's in deep trouble,
the islanders murmured.
– That bastard really did it... nothing like this has happened in 25 years.
Karno was thinking: Who is this person? And what is that chain? Just seeing it instills terror in the hearts.
Mihon looked at them once more and raised his hand:
– All of you will die today.
Then he charged swiftly toward the lieutenant.
– Youray, Amis, the Mute... the rest is yours.
Youray dashed forward with a smile:
– The big prize is mine!
And he rushed toward the rebel Karno.
– You bastard,
said Amis, looking at Youray who had clashed with Karno.
At that moment, Karno was furious after hearing Youray's words.
Mihon and the lieutenant clashed. Mihon wrapped the chain around his hand, then struck with a fist toward the lieutenant.
Boom!
The lieutenant blocked the punch with his wrist.
– You foolish brat... You've played with fire, and you won't know how to extinguish it. Do you think opposing the army will benefit you? You're as good as dead.
Mihon replied indifferently:
– Do I look afraid of facing the army?
Even if I were a hair's breadth from death... you would still see nothing but pride in these eyes!
Then he launched another punch that hit the lieutenant's stomach, forcing him backward, staggering.
The lieutenant attacked, his face grim:
– Don't be so full of yourself!
He leapt into the air:
– Kick Germ... Final Kick!
He came crashing down toward Mihon, but Mihon swiftly stepped back.
When the lieutenant landed, he created a large crater where Mihon had been standing.
On the other side, Youray and Karno were locked in an intense confrontation.
Youray, clad in his white garments that danced with the wind, stood calmly as Karno faced him with towering defiance.
They were now in a rocky passage, having distanced themselves from the others.
The place was silent — only soft footsteps on the stone could be faintly heard, as if a ghost were gliding across the rocks… It was Youray.
Karno charged swiftly at Youray:
– Flexibility Germ… Bone Flex!
He closed in on Youray, his hand lashed out like a whip toward Youray's head. Youray ducked; the hand sliced through the air just above him.
The sound cracked the air above his head.
– Bone Germ…!
Bones interlocked — a bone shot out from beneath his sleeve, slender like a rod.
From that rod, several intertwined shafts extended outward, striking at Karno.
Karno's hand collided with the bones.
At that moment, a word escaped his lips that made Youray's bones feel like butter:
– Flex!
Youray's bones softened, beginning to morph into something like white gel.
Seeing this, Youray quickly stepped back.
Karno laughed:
– Hahaha! Bone boy! What a fine ability… but it won't help you against me!