Amidst the thick dust and ruin, Shinji's group struggled to their feet, gathering around the furious Lumber and Gumber. Anxiety was etched onto their grime-streaked faces.
"Alba and Akidou... where are they?" Shinji asked, his eyes fixed on the fallen colossus of a tree. A dark premonition flickered in his mind. From the cracks of the shattered trunk, the Musheria tribe swarmed out like a disturbed hive. Zoe led them, running desperately toward the group, her tiny face pale with terror.
"The two... the two standing at the base earlier... They... they were..."
Zoe stammered, her voice trembling into silence.
"What happened? What about Akidou and Alba?"
Shinji pressed, his heart racing.
"Those two... they..."
Before she could finish, the familiar beat of wings tore through the air once more. From above, a massive silhouette drifted down, followed by a swarm of flying demons that looked like a funeral cloud. The figure at the center was colossal and lumbering, clad in heavy iron plate armor. Though his wings were small compared to his massive frame, they held his weight aloft with ease. He carried a broad, massive blade over his shoulder, the edge glinting with a lethal chill.
The moment Omelet saw him, he froze, his whole body shrinking in terror. The demon's gravelly voice boomed through the ruined forest:
"Lesser humans, how dare you trespass into my domain?"
He slowly lowered the great blade, pointing the tip at Shinji's group. "I will cleave you all in two, just as I did this tree!"
The Musheria scattered, screaming, into the rocky crevices. The demon roared again: "I am Almond. This entire region is my territory. Any who set foot here find only death!"
Omelet stared at Almond, his pupils shrinking in absolute dread. Horrific memories flooded back like a storm: Almond was one of the demons who had razed the Elven village years ago; that very blade was what had cut down the soldier who had carried him to safety. Omelet fell, his wings paralyzed and his legs failing. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he sobbed before the enemy who had planted the seeds of his life's tragedy.
Seeing Omelet break down and looking at the shattered remains of "Urney" at their feet, Lumber and Gumber erupted in a fury unlike anything they had shown before. Their eyes burned a violent red.
"You bastard, you dared to hurt Urney!"
"I'll make you wish for death to atone for our Urney!"
The brothers gripped their spears, standing back-to-back as powerful energy swirled around them, preparing for a devastating strike. Behind them, Lio struggled up. He and Shinji stepped forward, standing between Almond and Omelet like a shield against the ghosts of the past.
Suddenly, another beat of wings sounded from behind them. A second figure drifted down, landing gracefully on long legs and sharp talons. This stranger's wings were several meters long, folded to hide half of a face covered by a soulless, white owl mask. Though tall, the figure was slender, exuding an aura of lethal grace.
"Greetings, humans. I am Cashew."
Cashew, possessing the stature of a tall woman, approached them slowly. Without a second thought, Shinji lunged, unleashing a lightning-fast sword strike. But just as his blade was inches from its mark, Shinji's body froze.
"What... what is this?"
he gasped. His entire body was bound by countless silver threads—thin as mist but strong as iron—leaving him unable to move a finger. Cashew stepped closer, spreading her long wings and stroking Shinji's cheek with haunting elegance.
"You are quite bold to anger Lord Almond. I shall not be merciful."
Shinji only reached Cashew's chest. Once she finished speaking, she moved past him toward Lio and Omelet. Behind her, Shinji regained his movement, but he was bleeding heavily; deep, jagged cuts had opened all across his body from the constriction of the wires.
On the other side, Lumber and Gumber were still roaring with rage.
"You fat ass! You'll pay dearly for what you've done!"
Almond didn't look angry; he simply smirked, holding out his massive blade in an arrogant challenge. Lumber and Gumber pressed their backs together, leveled their spears at Almond, and stomped the ground with bone-shaking force.
"Rage Spear Strike!"
They lunged at Almond, thrusting their spears with such force that the ground shattered beneath their feet