* Act 3 * Put Up Your Zeldukes

  Rin and Phalanx stood under the late afternoon sun as the Frontier Guard mecha cavalry readied their mechanized horses. The metal beasts shimmered with a strange mechanical beauty, their eyes glowing faintly, legs powered by complex hydraulics and gears. The soldiers were already mounted, and Captain Billy waved for Rin and Phalanx to be brought saddled mounts to accompany them for the parlay with Oka at the village.

  Phalanx eyed the mechanized horse with visible disdain, arms crossed and a scowl on her face. “Why in the name of the Encroaching Kuiper Dimension would we ride such a thing?” she asked, her tone dripping with incredulity. “We could be moving much faster without these... mechanical beasts. Why are we not simply warping space or bending time to our will? This is absurd.”

  Rin sighed, already expecting this reaction. He mounted his own mecha horse with ease and glanced at her. “We don’t have... whatever it is you do. Not all of us can warp space or mess with time,” he said, his voice dry, but with that edge of practicality he often used when talking to Phalanx.

  Phalanx scoffed, throwing her hands up dramatically. “Warp space? I can do more than that! I can reduce the very gravity of time itself! I can bend the fabric of reality into submission! These... primitive creatures are an insult to my powers!” Her rant continued as she paced around the mechanical horse, muttering under her breath about the inefficiencies of mortals.

  However, the cavalryman helping her mount was persistent, and after some hesitation, Phalanx reluctantly allowed herself to be lifted onto the saddle. She sat stiffly at first, her back straight, as if she were sitting on a throne she didn't want but had no choice but to tolerate. But the moment the horse began to move, its smooth, powerful stride propelling them forward, something shifted in Phalanx’s expression.

  Her eyes widened slightly as the wind picked up around her, the sensation of movement surprising her. She grabbed the reins with newfound energy and straightened up even more. “Hmm... this is... quite interesting,” she murmured to herself.

  The horse picked up speed, and Phalanx’s expression transformed completely. A gleeful grin spread across her face as the power of the mecha horse surged beneath her. “Ah! Yes! Yes!” she cried out, now fully absorbed in the moment. “Onward, my loyal beast! Carry me like the pawn you are!” She pulled on the reins with a dramatic flourish, as if commanding a mighty war steed.

  Rin, riding beside her, watched the transformation with a raised eyebrow, not surprised but slightly amused. “So, you like it now?” he asked, his voice calm as always.

  Phalanx didn’t hear him, or didn’t care to respond. She was too enthralled by the sensation of control, the wind whipping through her hair as the mechanical beast galloped across the Red Prairie. “This... this is power! To domesticate these creatures, to command them as they bend to your will!” She laughed loudly, the sound filled with triumphant glee. “How glorious it is to ride like a ruling lord upon their backs!”

  Rin smirked to himself, shaking his head slightly as Phalanx continued her grand monologue. She was now fully immersed in her role, issuing commands to the mecha horse as if it were a loyal servant. “Faster! We must move faster! Onward, my minion! You will carry me to victory!”

  The soldiers nearby exchanged glances, clearly confused by her theatrics, but they pressed on, focused on the task ahead.

  Rin, ever the observer, watched as Phalanx reveled in her newfound enthusiasm for “domesticating” the mecha horse. “Who needs to warp space when you can ride a horse, huh?” he muttered under his breath with a smirk.

  As they galloped toward Red Prairie Village, Phalanx’s triumphant cries echoed across the plains, her earlier disdain completely forgotten. She was in her element now—or at least, a very dramatic version of it—and Rin couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly she had shifted from being unimpressed to fully embracing her new "steed."

  As Rin and Phalanx rode alongside the Frontier Guard toward Red Prairie Village, Rin found himself glancing at her from time to time, trying to make sense of the erratic, self-important woman riding ahead of him. She was quiet for once, though her eyes sparkled with anticipation, her grip on the reins loose as she commanded the mechanical steed beneath her like a queen surveying her kingdom. The whole thing felt surreal, and Rin, despite himself, couldn’t help but pry.

  “So, this Kuiper Belt you keep going on about,” Rin began, his tone casual, as if they were talking about the weather, “it’s not just a metaphor, right?”

  Phalanx snapped out of her gleeful trance, her eyes lighting up as if she’d been waiting for the question. “Oh, it’s far more than that, Rin. It’s a sentient parallel universe—a hungry one—waiting to devour this pathetic planet.” Her voice carried the weight of conviction, as if she was describing a truth everyone ought to know.

  Rin raised an eyebrow, trying not to roll his eyes. “A universe that... eats other universes?” He made no effort to hide his skepticism, but Phalanx didn’t seem to notice.

  “Precisely!” she exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm. “Filgaia is nothing but a backwater world waiting to be consumed by the Kuiper Belt’s endless hunger. And I, Phalanx, will lead the way, tethering this world’s energy to its rightful place in the Kuiper Belt.”

  Rin blinked, letting her words hang in the air. He wasn’t buying a word of it, but her passion was, if nothing else, fascinating to watch. “And how, exactly, are you planning to do that?” he asked, humoring her.

  “Oh, it’s quite simple, really.” She flashed a wicked grin. “The Guardians. They’re nothing more than powerful relics of this world’s past—shackled to Filgaia. But their power... oh, their power is real. The Kuiper Belt will take root in them, and once I’ve corrupted them, their Guardian Force will be linked to the Belt. Through them, I’ll drain this world dry.”

  Rin couldn’t help but smirk. It was the most absurd thing he’d heard in a long time. “Right... so, you’re going to corrupt these ancient Guardians and use their power to... what? Merge two universes?”

  “Precisely.” Phalanx’s grin widened, almost maniacal. “One by one, I’ll take control of them, and once they’re linked to the Kuiper Belt, their power will be mine. And with it, I will reshape this world—no, this entire dimension—into something far greater.”

  Rin shook his head, pretending to be absorbed by her grandiose claims. “You’ve really got it all figured out, huh?”

  “Of course!” Phalanx boasted. “I am the Herald of the Stain Paradigm, Rin. The Guardians are just pawns, waiting to be used by someone who understands their true purpose.”

  Rin couldn’t suppress the chuckle that escaped his lips. The more she talked, the more it sounded like the ramblings of someone who had read too many ancient texts and strung together their own interpretation. “Well, good luck with that.”

  Phalanx’s eyes narrowed, catching the condescension in his tone, but she didn’t seem fazed. “You’ll see, Rin. When the time comes, the Kuiper Belt will show its power, and the Guardians will fall to me. You’ll regret ever doubting.”

  Rin leaned back slightly, letting out a quiet breath. She was mad, no doubt about it. But what concerned him was how certain she was about it. Crazy or not, her conviction made her dangerous. Still, he wasn’t about to engage in an argument over things he didn’t even believe in.

  “Right,” Rin muttered, glancing at the horizon. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Phalanx, riding high on her delusions of grandeur, seemed to take his indifference as a sign of acceptance, turning her attention back to the path ahead. She was already imagining the world bending to her will, the Guardians at her feet, and the Kuiper Belt wrapping its tendrils around Filgaia like a predator closing in on its prey.

  Rin just rode along, barely suppressing a smirk. She didn’t know it, but he wasn’t the least bit convinced. If she thought she could corrupt the Guardians with some cosmic nonsense, she was in for a rude awakening. And Rin would be there, ready to play along—at least until her schemes fell apart.

  Zipper had spent the entire day with a nervous energy coursing through her veins, her thoughts continuously circling back to the wounded men. Every time she saw Oka and Mary, busy at the battlements, speaking in low tones while making plans, the knot in her stomach tightened. Something was wrong, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that it all tied back to the men in the infirmary.

  By late afternoon, she couldn’t stand the gnawing anxiety anymore. She slipped away from the crowd gathering near the village defenses, her feet leading her to the small, quiet building where the injured soldiers had been resting. The infirmary seemed oddly still as she approached, her heart beginning to race again. The door creaked softly as she pushed it open.

  Inside, the air felt heavy, thick with something unspoken. The doctor, a middle-aged woman with soft gray hair, sat slumped in a chair by the window, her face buried in her hands. She was quietly sobbing, the sound barely audible but cutting through the silence like a knife.

  Zipper’s eyes darted around the room. Both beds, which had been occupied just hours before, were now empty. The bedding was gone, stripped down to bare mattresses. Even the faint smell of herbs and salves had vanished, replaced by a cold sterility that sent a chill down her spine.

  Her voice trembled as she spoke. “What... what happened to them?”

  The doctor didn’t lift her head. She just shook it slowly, her shoulders trembling with each quiet sob. Zipper’s heart sank deeper with every second that passed.

  “Where are they?” Zipper asked again, more urgently this time, but the doctor remained silent, her tears the only response.

  Zipper stepped further into the room, her eyes scanning every corner for any clue. There was nothing—no sign of the men, no trace of their presence, not even a hint of the treatment she had helped administer earlier. Everything had been cleared out, as if they had never been there at all.

  The oppressive silence in the room weighed heavily on her chest. She could sense it now—something horrible had happened to those men. Something Oka didn’t want anyone to know. Her pulse quickened, her breath growing shallow as her mind raced with questions she couldn’t answer.

  Why wouldn’t the doctor speak? What had they done to the soldiers?

  Zipper backed away slowly, her heart pounding in her ears. She needed to leave, to clear her head, but as she reached the door, she cast one last look at the weeping doctor. The weight of the unspoken truth pressed down on her like a leaden cloak. Whatever had happened, it wasn’t just the villagers that needed protecting—it was the truth itself that was being smothered, and Zipper knew it wouldn’t be long before everything came crashing down.

  Zipper wandered through the village of Red Prairie, trying to clear her head, her footsteps slow and aimless. The red earth beneath her boots felt warm, and for a moment, she let herself appreciate the strange beauty of the place. The village, named after the very prairie it sat on, was quiet in the late afternoon sun, but her mind was far from at ease. The uneasy weight of the infirmary still pressed on her, and the empty beds haunted her thoughts.

  The villagers moved around her, busy with their tasks, preparing for the potential conflict on the horizon. She noticed the simple yet sturdy homes, the makeshift battlements rising up around the village’s perimeter, and the towering cacti that made natural walls in some places. Despite the growing tension, the place felt alive, connected to the land in a way that reminded Zipper of all the simple joys that came with living. But something was terribly wrong beneath the surface.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by an unusual noise, faint but distinct. The sound of shoveling. She stopped, straining to listen, and then followed it, curiosity and suspicion battling in her chest. The noise led her to the back of a cactus wall, where Wolf stood with his back to her, his muscular frame hunched over as he worked. Dirt flew as he shoveled, filling in what looked like two freshly dug, human-sized holes.

  Zipper felt a chill creep up her spine. She cleared her throat, her voice cutting through the stillness. "What... what are you burying?"

  Wolf froze mid-shovel, glancing over his shoulder with a strange expression—half guilt, half sorrow. He wiped the sweat from his brow, setting the shovel aside. “Those two guys I shot,” he said quietly. “They died. Figured it was up to me to do this, to make sure they got a good funeral. Ain’t right leavin’ them to rot without a proper send-off.”

  Zipper blinked, stunned. “What? No, Wolf... I used Heal Berries on them! They were gonna survive!”

  Wolf’s face contorted with confusion. His grip tightened on the shovel as he processed her words. “You’re sure about that?”

  “Yes!” Zipper snapped, her voice full of conviction. “They were stable when I left the infirmary! They should have been fine!”

  For a moment, Wolf just stood there, staring at the two graves. He wanted to believe her—he could see the honesty in her eyes—but then his brow furrowed, and he shook his head. “Oka showed me. She came and got me, told me they were gone. I... I felt so bad about shootin' them that I came out here to do this. It didn’t make sense to me, but... I believed her. Why wouldn’t I? She seemed sure.”

  Zipper’s heart raced as the horrifying truth began to sink in. She clenched her fists, anger boiling up inside her. “Wolf... Oka must have killed them.”

  Wolf’s eyes widened with shock, but he didn’t argue. He glanced down at the graves, the realization hitting him hard. “She... she wouldn’t do that,” he said, his voice shaking with uncertainty, but even he didn’t sound convinced. “But if you’re right, and those men were fine when you left...”

  Zipper turned on her heel, her fists trembling at her sides. “I’m going to confront her,” she spat. “I don’t care what this siege is or what she’s planning—she’s gone too far.”

  Before she could storm off, Wolf grabbed her arm, pulling her back with a firm but gentle grip. “Wait,” he urged, his voice low and tense. “I’m with you, I am. But you can’t do this now. Not with the siege coming. The village... they need you. We all need you to help protect the town first. Whatever Oka’s done... it has to wait.”

  Zipper’s body tensed, her anger barely contained, but she knew he was right. With a deep breath, she shook her head, trying to calm the storm inside her. “Fine,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “But after this is over... I’m not letting her get away with this.”

  She wrenched her arm free from his grip and turned to leave, her mind made up. “If I’m protecting this town, I’m going to do it without holding back. And after that... Oka’s going to answer for this.”

  Wolf watched her go, his heart heavy with the weight of what he’d just learned, knowing full well that the truth would soon unravel everything.

  With a low growl, Zipper stormed her way to one of the village’s tall guard towers. She climbed the narrow wooden ladder with determined, heavy steps, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn’t quite put into words. When she finally reached the top, she sank onto the edge of the tower, her legs dangling over the side as she gazed out at the vast stretch of the Red Prairie below.

  The wind whipped through her hair, cooling her flushed cheeks, but it did little to settle the storm brewing inside her. In her hand, she absently fondled Zeldukes’ Medium—a small stone epigram with primal symbols embedded on its surface. The rough texture of the stone was familiar, grounding her. She could summon the Castle Guardian at any moment, and with its shield, they would be protected from all harm. Every problem, every threat, could be swept away with the mighty presence of Zeldukes.

  Zipper stared down at Zeldukes’ Medium in her hand, the primal symbols pulsing faintly beneath her fingertips. The unease swirling around her sharpened her thoughts, but in that moment, something became crystal clear. She didn’t need the truth to stop what was coming. She didn’t need to understand all the lies and schemes Oka had woven. She didn’t need Bass or Mary to untangle the mess the village had fallen into. She had the power to stop it all—right now.

  Her gaze hardened as she looked out across the Red Prairie, imagining the looming confrontation between the Frontier Guard and the village. Violence, destruction, bloodshed—she could see it unfolding in her mind’s eye. And for what? Misunderstanding? Deception? Fear? It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t let it happen.

  Zeldukes, the Castle Guardian, had the power to shield them from everything. No swords, no ARMs, no bullets could pierce his walls. He was the fortress, the unbreakable shield. Zipper could end the fighting before it even started. She could summon him, and Zeldukes would bring down a barrier so mighty, nothing could reach them. No one would fight, no one would get hurt—not today.

  Her grip on the Medium tightened, her decision made. Whatever happened next, whatever truth still lingered in the shadows, it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t wait for anyone else to act. She would summon the Guardian, and he would stand between the two sides, preventing any violence from taking place.

  Zipper stood, her resolve unshakable, and raised the stone epigram high. It was time to call forth the Guardian of Castles.

  Bass stood on the battlements, the dry wind whipping across his face as he squinted at the horizon. A large dust plume rose in the distance, kicked up by the approaching cavalry of the Frontier Guard. The sight filled him with a familiar tension, like the calm before a storm. He pressed his lips into a thin line, shaking his head slightly. They had to do this right.

  “They’re coming in fast,” Mary remarked beside him, her sharp eyes following the plume as it snaked its way closer.

  Bass gave a slow nod. “We absolutely will not shoot first this time,” he said, his voice steady, though the words felt heavy. “Whatever happens, we wait. We can’t afford to make things worse.”

  Mary, her arms crossed, gave him a sidelong glance and a nod of agreement. “I’m with you on that. We let them make the first move. But we’ve got to keep an eye on Wolf—can’t let him start something he won’t be able to finish.”

  Bass turned, scanning the battlements. "Speaking of which, where is he?"

  Oka, standing with them and overseeing the village’s defense preparations, waved a hand dismissively. “He’s cleaning up a mess,” she said, her voice cool and unconcerned, as if that was all the explanation needed. She didn’t elaborate, and Bass didn’t press. His gut twisted at the casualness in her tone, and it was hard not to feel like there was something she wasn’t saying.

  In the distance, Bass spotted Zipper climbing into the guard tower nearest to the south gate. The small figure moved with determination, clearly positioning herself for the coming confrontation. She was different today, something more resolved in her posture. The usually cheerful and curious Zipper looked more focused than he’d ever seen her.

  Bass exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair before turning back toward the ground level. He hopped down from the battlements and positioned himself on the other side of the ramshackle barricade that barred the gateway into town. Mary followed him, dropping down beside him with a fluid motion, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade.

  Behind them, the men of Red Prairie stood armed and ready, each one gripping their makeshift weapons—rifles, clubs, old hunting knives—geared for a skirmish they had been dreading but preparing for. There was a nervous energy among them, the kind that brewed from uncertainty and fear. These weren’t soldiers. They were farmers, ranchers, traders—regular folks being thrown into a situation far beyond their comfort zone. And they were looking to Bass and Mary for leadership.

  Bass felt the weight of it all bearing down on him. The men behind him, the village at his back, the incoming cavalry—it was all pressing in, forcing him to make choices he wasn’t sure he was ready to make. The moral line he was walking felt razor-thin, a narrow path between doing what was right and doing what needed to be done. He clenched his fists, feeling the familiar heft of Peacemaker at his side, but even that comfort felt fleeting now.

  He couldn’t just walk away from this, not now. He’d come too far. But following Oka’s orders blindly? That didn’t sit right either. There had to be a way to solve this—some way to keep this from turning into a bloodbath. He didn’t want to be the one who tipped the scales toward more violence, but the situation felt like a tightly coiled spring, ready to snap at the slightest wrong move.

  “Bass,” Mary’s voice cut through his thoughts. “You know this can go sideways real fast. What’s the plan here?”

  He glanced at her, then out at the approaching dust cloud. His jaw tightened. “We stick to what we said. No shooting first. We try to talk it out. Maybe… just maybe, we can find a way to end this without tearing each other apart.”

  Mary didn’t argue. She just nodded, her eyes hard but understanding. She knew as well as he did that the odds weren’t in their favor. But Bass wasn’t ready to give up on finding a better way—some way that didn’t end with bodies in the dirt and blood on his hands.

  He looked over at the village men, their anxious faces, and felt the weight of responsibility settle even deeper in his chest. He wasn’t sure if there was a way out of this, but he was damn sure going to try.

  "Stay ready," Bass muttered to the men behind him. "But we don’t fire unless they do."

  The distant sound of hooves pounding the earth grew louder, the dust plume now close enough that he could see the silhouettes of the Frontier Guard riders. This was it. Whatever was going to happen, it was about to unfold right here, right now.

  And Bass, standing there with Peacemaker at his side, knew there was no turning back.

  Phalanx rode at the head of the Frontier Guard column, her hands gripping the reins of the mecha steed with a kind of glee that she hadn’t felt in a long time. The rhythmic thudding of the mechanical legs beneath her was intoxicating, the power of the machine making her feel like a true conqueror. She threw her head back and laughed, reveling in the rush of the wind, her cloak billowing behind her like a war banner. Behind her, the soldiers moved steadily, a white flag ready to be raised for the parlay, but she was already a hundred feet ahead, leaving them far behind. Rin, as usual, was dawdling, content to remain in the back and watch her from a safe distance.

  As Phalanx rounded the final bend that led toward the village gates, her smile faded. Her eyes locked onto the guard tower, and immediately, she felt it—a ripple in the air, a pulsing energy that made her skin tingle. Guardian Force. Only a few could sense it, and she was one of them.

  Her eyes narrowed, the thrill of riding the mecha steed forgotten as she focused on the energy radiating from the tower. It was raw, powerful, ancient—far more potent than anything she had encountered recently. Phalanx’s heart raced, not in fear, but in exhilaration.

  "Well, well..." she muttered under her breath, a wicked grin spreading across her face once more. "This just got interesting."

  Ahead, the white flag of parlay fluttered uselessly in the distance, but Phalanx’s attention was fixed on the tower and the power emanating from it. Guardian Force meant one thing—a Guardian would be called upon. And someone in that village was preparing for something far more interesting than a boring negotiation.

  High up in the guard tower, the wind howled around Zipper, and for a moment, she allowed herself to close her eyes, trying to calm the turbulent feelings inside. But as she sat there, a strange sensation began to creep over her—a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long, long time. Her body tensed, her senses sharpening as if instinctively recognizing a threat.

  It was a subtle, disturbing unease that tugged at the back of her mind, like a shadow creeping closer. The last time she had felt this way was on the northern continent, and it had only ever happened around one person—the strange being called Phalanx.

  Zipper’s eyes snapped open, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked out across the horizon, scanning the landscape for anything out of place. But there was nothing. Just the wind, the dust, and the endless prairie. And yet, the feeling lingered, growing stronger with each passing second.

  Phalanx couldn’t be here... could she?

  Zipper gripped the Castle Guardian Medium tightly in her hand, feeling the hum of energy resonating through the small square. The material, though fragile to human hands, was something she could manipulate effortlessly, a power unique to the Elw. With a single thought, she could invoke the medium, calling forth the ancient protector it embodied. The glyph etched into the ceramic—a symbol of unwavering strength like a black tower keep—glowed faintly under her touch, charged with the promise of protection.

  Her fingers traced the edges, the familiar weight of the medium reassuring her as she stood high in the tower. At the first sign of trouble, she would call upon Zeldukes, the Castle Guardian, to shield them all. No weapon, no force on Filgaia could breach his walls. Zipper's resolve was set. One moment—just one wrong move—and the Guardian would rise.

  The Frontier Guard, led by Captain Billy, rode toward Red Prairie Village under a white flag of parlay, the stark cloth rippling in the wind. At the head of the column, Phalanx rode her mecha horse with barely contained enthusiasm, her eyes gleaming with the prospect of what might unfold. She enjoyed every second of commanding the mechanical beast beneath her, her fingers twitching eagerly as if ready to unleash her power at any moment. The smirk on her face was almost predatory as she glanced back at the riders behind her, who were oblivious to the excitement bubbling inside her.

  As they neared the village, Billy raised a hand, signaling the cavalry to slow. The village loomed ahead, its gates closed and fortifications hastily reinforced. Men with weapons patrolled the walls, their eyes fixed warily on the approaching column. Billy frowned, concern gnawing at him. They had come under a flag of peace, yet the village’s stance was anything but welcoming.

  "Steady, men," Billy said, his voice calm but firm. "We’re here to talk, not fight."

  The mecha horses clanked to a halt just outside the village gates. For a moment, silence hung in the air, the tension thick as both sides watched each other with suspicion. Billy dismounted, holding the flag higher to ensure it was clearly visible. Behind him, Rin remained on his mount, his eyes sweeping the village walls, already calculating the many ways this fragile moment could spiral into chaos.

  Rin rode further back, quietly observing the unfolding situation. His sharp mind was already calculating the many ways this parlay could go horribly wrong, but for once, Phalanx's mood was too volatile for even him to predict.

  As they neared the gates of the village, Phalanx’s expression shifted from mild interest to growing anticipation. Her eyes flicked toward the fortified walls, her lips curling into a sneer. "Why talk when they could just bring out that lovely Guardian?" she muttered under her breath, though no one around her seemed inclined to engage.

  With the village, Oka stood among the militia, addressing all. Her voice was calm but laced with an undercurrent of urgency, a practiced tone that swayed the hesitant and instilled doubt where there had been none before.

  "The white flag is a trick," Oka said, her eyes narrowing. "They want us to let down our guard. Once inside, they’ll turn on us. I’ve seen this kind of thing before. A tactical ruse."

  Bass frowned but said nothing. He exchanged a glance with Mary, whose arms were crossed tightly, her expression unreadable.

  "We see what they do first, Oka," Bass said finally, his voice low and cautious. "Those look like they’re Frontier Guard, who’ve been protecting the roads around here for years."

  "Protecting us?" Oka scoffed, shaking her head. "They’ve been leeching off us, taking what’s ours under the guise of protection like criminals. This is our home, and we have to defend it. We can’t trust them."

  Nise, lingering close to Bass, laid a hand on his arm, her voice soft and persuasive. "She’s right, Bass. They’re not here to help us. They’ve come to take what little we have left."

  Bass shook his head, clearly torn. The logic in Oka’s words didn’t sit well with him, but there was an undercurrent of truth he couldn’t quite dismiss. The village had fortified quickly, and the tension in the air was palpable.

  Mary, sensing the rising conflict, stepped forward. "What’s your plan, Oka?" she asked bluntly, her voice cool. "We can’t afford to make the first move if there’s still a chance to settle this without bloodshed."

  Oka’s gaze flicked to the window where the distant figures of the Frontier Guard could be seen gathered just outside the village. "We’re not going to attack them. But we won’t let them in, either. If they want to take the harvest by force, they’ll have to come in fully armed."

  Outside, Zipper stood on the top of the guard tower in the village, away from the others. She clutched the Medium for Zeldukes, the Guardian of Castles, in her hands, feeling the hum of ancient power coursing through the small stone. She had never felt anything like it, the pull of the Guardian’s presence both thrilling and terrifying.

  As the Frontier Guard waited at the gates, the tension in the air grew heavier. Zipper could sense something was about to happen, something that would lead to violence. And she didn’t want that.

  Zipper didn’t fully understand the concept of a "white flag." The idea of enemies and allies felt blurry and distant to her. What she did know was that she could summon Zeldukes, and that he could protect everyone—guard them against any harm that might come, no matter who it came from.

  She glanced down from the guard tower, her heart pounding as she gazed at the stone epigram in her hands. The glyphs embedded in its surface glowed faintly, reacting to her touch. She could summon him. She could stop any violence from happening at all.

  With a deep breath, Zipper made her decision. She would call forth Zeldukes.

  As the Frontier Guard stood at the ready outside the fortified gates of Red Prairie Village, a palpable tension hung in the air. The soldiers, seasoned but on edge, gripped the reins of their mecha horses as they scanned the horizon, awaiting what they believed would be a tense parlay. The sky above seemed to darken as clouds swirled, reflecting the anticipation that spread through the ranks. But then, a strange, foreboding hum rippled through the air.

  Without warning, the ground beneath them began to tremble, a subtle quake at first, but growing with each second. The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons. A deep, ominous rumbling echoed from within the village walls, the sound resonating like the awakening of a colossal beast beneath the earth.

  Suddenly, the ground split with a violent crack, releasing a burst of brilliant light that momentarily blinded the onlookers. The earth heaved, the soil torn apart as something ancient and powerful surged upward, born from the very bones of Filgaia.

  In a thunderous eruption, Zeldukes, the Guardian of Castles, emerged from the depths of the earth. His lion-like form was a magnificent blend of unyielding stone and raw, primal energy, towering over the village like a living fortress. His body was sculpted from the earth itself, the rock and stone shaping his muscular frame, while arcs of energy pulsed through his veins. His mane, shimmering with bolts of crackling electricity, framed his fearsome, regal face.

  Each step Zeldukes took shook the ground, his colossal claws sinking deep into the soil, marking his dominion over the land. He moved with the grace and authority of an ancient ruler, surveying the scene below him as if every inch of the battlefield was under his protection. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly wisdom, centuries of knowledge and power embedded within them.

  The Frontier Guard soldiers froze, awe and fear rippling through their ranks. Their weapons, once held tightly, now felt like mere toys in the face of such a titan. Mecha horses shifted uneasily beneath them, the mechanical beasts sensing the overwhelming presence of the Guardian.

  From her vantage point high on the village’s guard tower, Zipper stood with wide eyes, gripping Zeldukes' Medium tightly in her small hands. She could feel the hum of the Guardian’s energy coursing through the ceramic square, as though the Guardian’s very essence resonated with her touch.

  Zeldukes stretched his massive form, his rocky body groaning as if the earth itself was shifting. His wings, forged from stone and energy, flared outward with a crackling pulse of light. He cast a calm, steady gaze across the village and the soldiers beyond, his presence radiating an aura of unshakable protection. He was a castle incarnate, impenetrable and steadfast, embodying the very essence of defense.

  Below him, the villagers stood in stunned silence. Their crude weapons and makeshift defenses seemed laughable now in the shadow of such a monumental being. They lowered their arms, momentarily forgetting the threat of the Frontier Guard as they stared in awe at the Guardian who now stood as their protector.

  Up on the tower, Zipper whispered to herself, a smile forming on her lips as the weight of what she had done settled in. "Zeldukes will protect us," she murmured, clutching the Medium tightly to her chest. The ancient symbols etched into its surface glowed faintly, as if responding to her faith. "No one will get hurt now."

  The Guardian of Castles, now fully emerged, stood like a living wall between the village and the approaching cavalry, his very presence halting any thought of aggression. But amidst the awe and relief, tension still hung heavy in the air. This was not a scene of peaceful resolution; this was the moment where the storm hovered just before breaking, and only time would tell if Zeldukes' protection would prevent bloodshed—or merely delay the inevitable clash.

  As the colossal form of Zeldukes loomed above the battlefield, the reactions from every corner of Red Prairie were as varied as they were immediate.

  Bass stood frozen, his dark eyes wide as he tried to wrap his mind around the sheer scale of the Guardian before him. The revolver in his hand, freshly reloaded, felt like a useless trinket in the face of such overwhelming power. He instinctively reached up to tip his hat back, revealing more of his stunned face as he stared up at the creature. The weight of the situation hit him like a punch to the gut. "By the stars..." he muttered under his breath, a rare look of disbelief flickering across his rugged features. He had seen his share of strange things on the road, but this was something else entirely. Part of him wanted to call out to Zipper, to understand what the hell she had just unleashed, but the words wouldn’t come.

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  Mary, on the other hand, felt a surge of something far stronger than awe—anger. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened as she watched the massive creature rise above the village. Her hand hovered near her sword, but she didn't draw it. Not yet. "What are you thinking, Zipper?" she growled under her breath, feeling the surge of energy ripple through the air. This wasn’t some strategy; this was chaos waiting to happen. In the back of her mind, the memories of her training in the halls of the Fenril Lords echoed like a distant warning. Guardians were not summoned lightly, and the fact that one was now here made her blood boil. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were all teetering on the edge of something far worse than a simple standoff with the Frontier Guard.

  Zipper remained perched at the top of the tower, her small frame dwarfed by the towering figure of Zeldukes. The immense Guardian stretched his stone-like wings, casting long shadows across the village, and for a moment, Zipper’s chest swelled with pride. She had done it. She had called forth the Castle Guardian to protect them all. Her eyes shimmered with excitement and awe as she looked at the creature. But as she glanced down at the reactions below, her expression shifted. She could see the confusion, the tension building instead of easing. Her grip tightened on the Medium. “Why… why aren’t they happy?” she whispered to herself. She had thought that this would stop the fighting, but the look on Mary’s face, the stunned silence from Bass—it wasn’t what she expected. Doubt began to creep into her mind. Had she made a mistake?

  Oka, standing near the entrance to the village, was not as impressed as the others. Her expression was hard to read, but her sharp eyes flickered with a calculating glint. She placed a hand on her hip, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Well, well," she muttered, glancing over at Nise, who stood by her side. "It seems our little guest has more tricks up her sleeve than we thought." There was no awe in her voice, only a predatory sense of opportunity. The Guardian’s presence was a disruption, sure, but perhaps it could work to her advantage. She turned her head toward the gates, eyeing the approaching Frontier Guard with a cold, measured gaze. They wouldn’t dare attack now, not with this behemoth looming over them.

  Nise, standing close to Oka, stared at Zeldukes with wide eyes, her normally flirty and carefree demeanor stripped away in an instant. She could feel the raw power radiating from the Guardian, and for once, she was speechless. Her usual sly smile faltered, replaced by genuine fear. She grabbed onto Oka’s arm, her voice shaky. “Oka… this wasn’t part of the plan, was it?” Her fingers tightened their grip, as if clinging to Oka for reassurance. The display of ancient, raw strength unsettled her in ways she couldn’t explain. It felt like the future was suddenly cloudy, her sense of opportunities slipping away like sand through her fingers. Her usual confidence wavered, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure what to do.

  Billy, leading his soldiers at the front of the column, gritted his teeth and pulled his mecha horse to a halt. His heart pounded in his chest as he gazed up at the towering Guardian, his hands tightening on the reins. "Gods above," he whispered, a rare crack in his hardened soldier’s exterior. He had heard of the Guardians, of course—legends passed down through whispers, tales of beings that could reshape the battlefield with a single thought. But seeing one here, in the flesh, was a different matter entirely. He glanced back at his men, who were similarly awestruck, some of them even backing their mecha horses away out of instinct. "Stay calm," he barked, though his voice wavered. "We’re still here for peace." But even as he said the words, he knew that their presence meant little now. This was no longer a conflict between soldiers and villagers—this was something much larger.

  Rin, hanging back at the rear of the column, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as the Guardian materialized from the earth. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his mind already racing through the implications of what was happening. "Well, that’s... unexpected," he muttered to himself, his usually unflappable demeanor shaken. But even in the face of such a massive, imposing creature, Rin couldn’t resist a small smile tugging at his lips. Zipper had summoned a Guardian—a sign of strength, yes, but also a potential wildcard. His sharp eyes flickered between the villagers and the soldiers, calculating the best way to play this new development. He leaned forward slightly in his saddle, his voice low and amused. "Things just got more interesting."

  Each of them stood transfixed in their own way, watching the impossible spectacle of Zeldukes towering over them all, its form a living testament to the ancient power of the Guardians. The battlefield that had once been on the verge of a tense negotiation now lay beneath the gaze of a creature who could tip the balance in any direction. What had begun as a standoff had now escalated into something far more dangerous, and none of them could predict what would happen next.

  As Zeldukes, the Guardian of Castles, towered over the battlefield, its mighty presence casting a protective shadow over the village, Phalanx’s eyes widened with delight. Her lips curled into a twisted grin, a glint of dangerous excitement flickering in her eyes. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for. The legends of the Guardians, creatures of immeasurable power, and here one stood, within her reach. She could feel its energy pulsing through the air, a tantalizing current of ancient strength just waiting to be harnessed.

  With a laugh that echoed across the field, she stretched her arms toward the towering Guardian, her voice dripping with glee. "At last! A Guardian in the flesh. The legends spoke of your might, and now, you will be mine to bend and break!" She didn’t care about the Frontier Guard’s mission of peace or the escalating tension around her. All that mattered was the opportunity to claim the power of a Guardian for herself.

  The moment her fingers twitched, drawing upon the dark energy of the Kuiper Dimension, the ground beneath her rippled. Her power surged out in an invisible wave, latching onto Zeldukes like chains. The Guardian roared, its massive stone claws digging into the earth, resisting the encroaching force. But Phalanx’s will was relentless. Tendrils of sickly green energy erupted from her body, lashing onto Zeldukes, wrapping around the Guardian like a web of corruption.

  Zeldukes shuddered as the corruptive energy snaked into its form, turning patches of its ancient stone body a vile green. Phalanx’s laughter grew louder, her eyes glowing with alien power. "Yes! Your strength, your essence—it flows into me!" she howled, her voice echoing through the village and the prairie beyond.

  The more Zeldukes struggled, the more Phalanx fed on its resistance. Her body began to change, the bandages that had always wrapped her form now bulging and straining as if something monstrous inside her was breaking free. The power she was drawing from the Guardian rippled through her, warping her, twisting her body into something more alien, more monstrous.

  From the ground up, her legs grew longer, taking on a grotesque, clawed form. The bandages snapped apart, revealing scaly, armored limbs beneath, pulsing with dark energy. Her arms elongated, fingers turning into sharp, jagged claws. Her face, once that of a pale young woman, twisted into something nightmarish, her eyes glowing an otherworldly green, and her mouth stretching into a wicked grin, sharp fangs glinting in the dim light.

  As the twisted scene unfolded, the tension in the air grew palpable. Every character watching Phalanx’s grotesque transformation reacted with their own mix of horror, awe, and disbelief.

  Bass stood rooted to the ground, his grip tightening on Peacemaker as he watched the tendrils of corruption snake through the Guardian. This was beyond anything he had prepared for—facing down brigands or even protecting the village seemed small now. His mind raced as he tried to reconcile the desperate need to protect the village with the terrifying reality of the power Phalanx was unleashing. "What the hell are we dealing with?" he muttered under his breath, knowing that this battle had just gone far beyond what even the Guardians represented.

  Mary, usually composed and battle-ready, looked uncharacteristically shaken as she stood beside Bass. Her hand hovered over her sword, the instinct to fight tempered by the sheer force of what they were witnessing. She clenched her jaw, her voice quiet but filled with determination. "We’re not walking away from this, are we?" she said, glancing at Bass. The question wasn’t about running—it was about figuring out how they could face something so warped, so otherworldly, and still come out alive.

  Zipper, perched high in the guard tower, could barely believe her eyes. Zeldukes—her Guardian, the one she had summoned to protect the village—was being consumed by the corruption Phalanx had unleashed. She clutched the now-dead Medium in her hands, her heart racing. Her voice shook as she whispered, “This wasn’t supposed to happen... He was supposed to protect us…” Her wide eyes brimmed with anger and sadness. She wanted to act, to save Zeldukes, but the hopelessness of the situation felt crushing. And yet, something stirred within her—an unfamiliar determination. She would protect the village, no matter what.

  Oka stood on the battlements, her face impassive as she watched Phalanx and Zeldukes struggle. The only sign of her internal thoughts was the subtle narrowing of her eyes as Phalanx’s power grew. "This is power," she whispered to herself, "true power." For a moment, Oka seemed almost mesmerized by the scene, her own ambitions briefly dwarfed by the spectacle before her. But when she turned and saw Bass and Mary’s horrified expressions, she snapped back to the reality of her situation. She couldn’t afford to lose control over this, not now. "Keep your wits about you," she called out coldly, "the village must be defended."

  Nise, standing slightly behind Oka, felt a rising panic at the sight of the monstrous transformation. She tugged nervously at her scarf, wide eyes flicking between Phalanx and the villagers. "This isn’t what I thought… This is way beyond anything we can handle, Oka!" she hissed under her breath. Nise had always been able to read the future, to find opportunity in the chaos, but this—this felt like a future she couldn’t escape from. When she glanced at Bass, though, she couldn’t help but inch closer to him, hoping for some reassurance. The weight of the situation made her feel helpless for the first time in a long time.

  Rin, standing at a distance, was equal parts horrified and fascinated. His initial disbelief at Phalanx’s rantings about the Kuiper Dimension now seemed laughable, as he watched her power grow and warp into something monstrous. "So… she wasn’t bluffing," he muttered, feeling a chill run down his spine. Despite the insanity of the situation, Rin couldn’t help but observe Phalanx’s transformation with a critical eye. There was something eerily captivating about the way she was drawing power from the Guardian. It reminded him of the forbidden magics he had studied, the ones that always came with a price. "She’s lost control," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone. "And if we don’t stop her, we’re all going down with her."

  Phalanx, reveling in her newfound power, turned her glowing eyes toward them, her voice a terrifying mix of glee and malice. "Now… you will witness what it means to stand against the Kuiper Dimension!" Her words echoed through the village as the last remnants of her humanity slipped away, leaving only the monstrous being before them.

  Bass stepped forward, his grip on Peacemaker steady despite the fear gnawing at his core. "We have to stop her before she destroys everything," he said, more to himself than anyone else. There was no turning back now—the fight for Red Prairie had taken on a new, much darker dimension. And whether they liked it or not, they were all in it together.

  The connection between her and Zeldukes intensified as she forced the Guardian to submit to her will, its once mighty form now shaking under the weight of her corruption. A swirling vortex of energy surrounded them both, the boundary between the dimensions thinning as Phalanx began to drag energy from the Guardian’s world into her own.

  Phalanx's body twisted further, her form warping in ways unnatural to this world. From her back, a grotesque root-like appendage began to emerge, snaking its way outward. At first, it was thin, barely noticeable, but it quickly grew, expanding with pulsating, alien energy. The root twisted and curled like a living parasite, embedding itself deeper into the ground as though seeking to root itself into Filgaia itself.

  Phalanx’s body convulsed, and with every pulse of energy from the root, her form grew more monstrous. The bandages that had once wrapped her human frame shredded completely, revealing a horrific mixture of armored scales, jagged bone-like protrusions, and sinewy flesh. The First Root was not just a mutation—it was a conduit, connecting her directly to Zeldukes, feeding on the Guardian's primal power and warping it to her will.

  Her legs, now elongated and clawed, dug deep into the earth, stabilizing her grotesque new form. Her arms stretched out, fingers turning into massive, twisted claws, pulsing with a sickly green light. Her face, once somewhat recognizable, had morphed into something out of a nightmare—her glowing green eyes now slit like a predator's, and her mouth stretched impossibly wide, filled with sharp fangs that gleamed in the dim, flickering light of the battlefield.

  She let out a guttural laugh, her voice distorted and echoing as the root-like appendage pulsed with life behind her. It was clear to Bass, Mary, and Zipper that the Guardian was being corrupted, its once noble energy tainted by the dark power Phalanx was drawing from another dimension.

  "She’s... feeding off the Guardian!" Zipper gasped, clutching her Medium tightly, her eyes wide with fear.

  "Can we stop her," Mary muttered, unsheathing her sword.

  Bass nodded, his grip tightening on Peacemaker. "This isn’t just about the village anymore... "

  As Phalanx’s transformation continued, the First Root slithered further into the earth, a living symbol of her connection to the encroaching dimension she sought to bring forth. The fight had become far more than a mere skirmish—it was now a battle with untold repurcussions.

  With every surge of dark energy coursing through the First Root, Zeldukes seemed to wither, his once-massive form crumbling as the corruption spread. The ancient stone that made up his body cracked and splintered, while the primal energy that had once radiated strength and protection flickered like a dying flame. Each pulse of power that flowed into Phalanx sapped more of his essence, and his towering figure shrank, his lion-like mane losing its crackling brilliance. Finally, with one last tremor, Zeldukes gave a low, mournful groan, and then, in a flash of light, he was gone—completely consumed by the Root, leaving nothing but silence in his wake.

  The battlefield fell into a stunned silence as Zeldukes, the towering Guardian that had once stood as a symbol of protection, vanished before their eyes. His final groan, a low and mournful sound, lingered in the air before fading into nothingness. All that remained was Phalanx, now fully transformed, a monstrous fusion of alien energy and warped flesh, her grotesque root-like appendage still writhing behind her.

  Bass felt a deep pit form in his stomach as he lowered Peacemaker, his eyes fixed on the spot where Zeldukes had stood. The gravity of what had just happened weighed on him, heavier than any burden he’d ever carried. “We’ve lost the Guardian,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. His mind raced. Not only had they failed to protect Zeldukes, but now they faced something far worse. Phalanx had become a force beyond reckoning, her power growing with every pulse of energy from the First Root. The moral line he’d been walking felt blurred now, and all he could see was the desperate need to stop her—whatever the cost.

  Mary gritted her teeth, her sword still drawn, its blade trembling in her grip. "Damn it!" she cursed under her breath, glaring at the grotesque form that Phalanx had become. "That thing’s unstoppable now." Her anger flared, not just from the loss of the Guardian, but from the overwhelming feeling of helplessness that clawed at her. They had prepared for a battle, for a siege—but this? This was something none of them could have anticipated. Her resolve didn’t waver, though. If anything, it sharpened, her eyes narrowing with determination. If Phalanx thought she could destroy Filgaia with her twisted ambitions, she was about to find out just how wrong she was.

  Oka, standing on the battlements with her arms crossed, watched the spectacle unfold, her face carefully neutral. Inside, however, her mind was racing. This was not how things were supposed to go. Whatever slim advantage she thought she might have gained was now slipping away in the chaos. For a brief moment, her eyes flicked over to the growing monstrosity that was Phalanx, and a decision settled in her mind. This was a battle she had no interest in fighting. The village, the people—they were all collateral at this point.

  She quietly called toward Nise, her voice low and controlled. "It’s time to leave."

  Nise, standing beside her, was trembling, her face pale. “This... this wasn’t supposed to happen,” she stammered, her fear barely contained. She had foreseen danger, yes, but not like this. The sight of Phalanx’s grotesque transformation made her skin crawl, and for the first time, she realized just how far out of her depth she really was. The look she shared with Bass only confirmed what she had suspected: there was no fixing this, no turning back.

  When Oka spoke, Nise barely hesitated. She gave a frantic nod, her voice shaky. "Yeah... yeah, let’s go."

  Without another word, the two women quickly and quietly slipped away from the battlements, moving toward the cellar. They knew exactly what needed to be done—gather as much of the valuable ARMs and supplies as they could and disappear before the fighting escalated. As the ground trembled under Phalanx’s growing power, they moved with silent urgency.

  The village was lost, and Oka had no intention of staying to see how things played out.

  Zipper, perched high in the guard tower, clutched her Guardian Medium so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The weight of what she’d done—summoning Zeldukes, only for him to be consumed by this twisted force—was almost too much to bear. "This wasn’t supposed to happen…" she whispered, her voice quivering. She had wanted to protect the village, to ensure no one got hurt, and now the very Guardian she had called upon had been destroyed. Her usual calm had fractured, replaced by a growing sense of dread. But then her eyes narrowed, and a spark of defiance flared within her. She had made this mess, and she would fix it—one way or another.

  Her brow furrowed in frustration as she felt the once-humming artifact grow cold and lifeless in her hands. She tried to call the Guardian back, to sever its connection from the encroaching dimension, but no matter how hard she focused, the Medium remained silent.

  “Come on... come on!” she whispered, her small hands trembling as she desperately tried to reignite the energy within the stone. But it was no use. She felt a knot of dread twist in her stomach as the realization sank in. Zeldukes was too far gone, corrupted by Phalanx’s influence, and the Guardian was now an unwilling conduit for the alien power threatening Filgaia.

  She bit her lip, anger flashing in her eyes. "Dammit!" she hissed, her fingers tightening around the now useless Medium. She knew she had the power to summon another Guardian, but something deep inside told her that would only make things worse. Another Guardian summoned in this state could fall to the same corruption or be destroyed outright, leaving them even more defenseless.

  On the ground below, Bass, Mary, Wolf, and the soldiers of the Frontier Brigade moved in to engage Phalanx, who had fully transformed into her monstrous form, linked to the grotesque First Root. The earth trembled beneath their feet as they charged toward the abomination, weapons at the ready.

  Rin, standing at a distance, watched with a calculating gaze. His earlier skepticism about Phalanx’s ambitions had turned into cold, hard reality. The Kuiper Dimension wasn’t just a wild theory—it was here, and it was destroying everything in its path. "This is madness," he muttered to himself, his hand instinctively palming a crest graph. He had always prided himself on being clever enough to avoid such calamities, but now he was faced with the undeniable fact that Filgaia itself was at stake. As he watched the First Root pulse with energy, his mind raced, searching for any possible way to sever the connection. There had to be a way—there had to be.

  Rin clenched his fists, his mind spinning as he stared at Phalanx’s monstrous transformation. His earlier dismissal of her as some delusional fanatic had been a mistake, and now the consequences were unfolding before him in the most horrifying way. His sharp intellect had always kept him a step ahead, always allowed him to manipulate situations before they spiraled out of control—but this? This was beyond anything he had ever prepared for.

  “This is my fault,” Rin muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as Phalanx swelled with the Guardian’s power. His heart pounded in his chest, a rare emotion clawing its way through the calm exterior he typically maintained. He had underestimated her, ignored the warning signs, and now the Kuiper Dimension was tearing its way into Filgaia.

  He couldn’t stand back any longer. Not now.

  He had to stop this—he had to sever the connection between Phalanx and the Guardian before it was too late. There was no more room for hesitation. If he had taken her seriously from the start, maybe this wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

  But there was no use dwelling on what could have been. Now, Rin would have to use every ounce of his cunning to fix what he had ignored for too long.

  He took a breath, steadying himself, and murmured, “No more games.”

  With a grim resolve, Rin moved forward, ready to take Phalanx down before Filgaia became the next casualty of his arrogance.

  Phalanx, standing at the center of it all, reveled in the chaos. Her laughter echoed across the battlefield as she looked down upon the others, her monstrous form now fully embracing the power she had sought. "You’re all too late," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "This world is mine, and soon, you’ll all bow before the Kuiper Dimension!"

  "Go for the eyes!" Bass shouted, leading the charge with Peacemaker in hand. His revolver barked with fire, sending round after round into the writhing mass of root-like tendrils that had embedded themselves deep into the ground. The soldiers followed his lead, their lances and rifles blazing as they tried to sever the connection between Phalanx and the Guardian.

  Mary sprinted alongside him, her sword flashing in the dim light as she sliced through the smaller tendrils that snapped toward them like whips.

  From the rear side of the village Wolf appeared, and hefted his massive cannon-like ARM, Poldark, into position. With a wicked grin, he leveled the barrel at the pulsating root. "I don’t know what the hell that thing is, but it’s time to give it some black eyes!" he roared, unleashing a devastating blast. The explosion rocked the ground, sending chunks of corrupted earth and root flying in all directions.

  With a deafening roar, Phalanx, now twisted and monstrous in her First Root form, charged through the barricaded village gates. Her grotesque limbs slammed into the fortifications with unstoppable force, the wooden beams splintering like kindling. The earth shook beneath her assault as she tore through the defenses, the once formidable walls of Red Prairie Village reduced to rubble in mere moments.

  People were sent flying from the impact, both villagers and Frontier Brigade soldiers thrown through the air like ragdolls, caught off guard by the sheer power of her advance. Phalanx’s warped claws swept through the battlefield, scattering those who had dared to stand in her way.

  Wolf, seeing the carnage, gritted his teeth and moved in, undeterred by the chaos. His eyes locked onto the hulking figure of Phalanx as he approached. With quick, practiced movements, he loaded his ARM—this time with something special, something that packed more than just a punch. He leveled the massive cannon strapped to his arm, the barrel glowing as it charged.

  "This one’s from my Grandma," Wolf growled, bracing himself.

  Bass and Mary weren’t far behind. The moment Phalanx broke through the gates, they sprang into action, closing the gap between themselves and the corrupted being. Peacemaker hummed with newfound energy in Bass’s grip, and he nodded to Mary, their unspoken plan coming together in an instant.

  "We need to join everyone into a single force," Bass muttered, his eyes trained on Phalanx.

  Mary’s sword flashed in the dim light, her feet swift and sure as she darted forward, cutting through the debris with surgical precision. "We can take her down, together."

  Above them, Zipper watched in horror from the crumbling guard tower as Phalanx’s wild rampage brought the structure down around her. The Guardian’s corruption had warped the battlefield, and the tower groaned under the strain of the attack. The stone beneath her feet cracked, and with a sudden, violent jolt, the tower began to collapse.

  “Zeldukes—!" Zipper cried, clutching the now-useless Medium as the structure gave way.

  Just in time, she leaped from the collapsing tower, narrowly avoiding being crushed as it smashed into the ground. She hit the earth hard, rolling to safety, her heart pounding in her chest. Dust and debris filled the air, but Zipper quickly pushed herself up, eyes locked on Phalanx.

  As the barricaded gates of Red Prairie Village came crashing down in a spray of shattered wood and debris, chaos erupted. Dust filled the air, and the ominous figure of Phalanx, her monstrous form towering above the battlefield, loomed over the ruins. For a moment, there was only confusion—village defenders scrambling to regroup, soldiers bracing for the next wave of destruction.

  Then, as the dust began to settle, Bass caught sight of an officer’s uniform across the wreckage.

  It was Captain Billy of the Frontier Brigade, flanked by his soldiers, their mecha-horses poised to charge but hesitating as the monster unleashed her fury on the battlefield. Billy’s face was grim, but his eyes, like Bass’s, were calculating. They both understood—this was no ordinary battle.

  A few paces away, Mary staggered to her feet, brushing off the dust from the gate's destruction. She locked eyes with Bass, then glanced toward Billy. There was an unspoken understanding between the three of them. This wasn’t about the village or the Brigade anymore. The monstrous First Root that Phalanx had become was a threat to them all.

  Bass was the first to move. He shouted, “Captain!” his voice cutting through the din of the battle. “We don’t have time for this!” He gestured toward Phalanx. “If we don’t stop her, none of us will have anything left to fight for!”

  Billy wiped a streak of dirt from his face, his expression hard as stone. “You think I don’t see that?” He turned to his men and barked, “Form up! We hit that thing together!”

  Mary, her sword already in hand, nodded to Bass. “This thing’s too strong for just us. We need every weapon we’ve got.”

  Billy, with a quick glance toward his men, gave a sharp nod. “Agreed.” Then, raising his voice so his entire unit could hear, he shouted, “Frontier Brigade, fall in! We’ve got a new target!”

  The sight of the three of them—Bass, Mary, and Captain Billy—standing shoulder to shoulder amidst the ruins of the gate was a beacon of hope to the village defenders and the soldiers alike. For a brief moment, all previous conflicts, all mistrust, and misunderstandings faded away. There was only one goal now: to stop Phalanx.

  With a determined look, Bass gripped his Peacemaker and turned to Mary. “It’s now or never.”

  Mary smirked, spinning her sword in hand. “Then let’s finish this.”

  Together, they charged forward, flanked by the Frontier Brigade and the ragtag defenders of Red Prairie. The two forces, once at odds, were now united in a desperate bid to bring down the abomination threatening to destroy them all.

  Phalanx stood at the heart of the destruction, her First Root tendrils writhing and smashing anything in their path. Her twisted grin spread wide, the alien energy coursing through her warping everything she touched. The once-defenders of Red Prairie and the soldiers of the Frontier Brigade now scrambled to regroup, caught in the relentless onslaught.

  But Bass, Mary, Billy, and Wolf were ready. They weren’t going to let this end in ruin. Not today.

  As they converged on Phalanx from three sides, each prepared for the fight of their lives, the battle for the very soul of the village—and perhaps Filgaia itself—had truly begun.

  For a moment, it looked like the pincer attack was working. The Frontier Brigade, led by Captain Billy, attacked from the opposite side, pressing forward with their mecha-horses and heavy weapons. The soldiers focused fire on the root’s core, hoping to sever it from Phalanx once and for all.

  But the fight quickly turned. As the massive root wavered, Phalanx let out a guttural scream, her monstrous form twisting as she regained control. With a surge of dark energy, the root-like tendrils lashed out, sweeping through the ranks of soldiers like a living wave. Bass barely had time to duck as one of the tendrils smashed into the ground next to him, sending a group of soldiers flying through the air like ragdolls.

  Wolf was next, caught off guard as one of the tendrils slammed into his side, knocking him off his feet and sending Poldark skidding across the dirt. "Damn it!" he growled, pulling himself back up with a grimace. "This thing hits harder than my Grandma’s belt!"

  Phalanx, now fully in control of the Guardian's corrupted power, stood tall, her form radiating with alien energy. Her multitude of eyes glowed a brilliant blue, and she unleashed a barrage of energy beams into the battlefield. The beams crackled through the air, striking the soldiers and sending more of them flying.

  Bass rolled to the side as one of the beams nearly clipped him, the blue energy searing the earth where he had just been. "We need better strategy!" he shouted over the din of battle, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "We can’t take her head-on like this!"

  Mary nodded, her sword raised as she deflected a smaller tendril that shot toward her. "We need to hit her from multiple angles! Keep moving, don’t give her a clear target!"

  As the blue energy beams shot across the battlefield, the Frontier Brigade scattered, trying to stay out of Phalanx’s direct line of fire. The monstrous Guardian-corruption continued to lash out with wild power, but the group pressed on, determined to sever the First Root before Phalanx could overwhelm them all.

  Zipper watched the battle with wide eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to do something—but without Zeldukes, she was at a loss. All she could do now was hope that Bass, Mary, and the others could find a way to stop Phalanx before it was too late.

  The battle raged across the fortified village, with Phalanx at its center, her monstrous form towering over the chaos. The First Root mutation had consumed her fully, tendrils of corrupted energy snaking across the battlefield as she cackled, reveling in her overwhelming power. The village, once defended by the mighty Guardian Zeldukes, now crumbled under the weight of her madness. As Bass, Mary, and Rin regrouped behind the makeshift barricades, they realized this was no longer just about protecting the village—Phalanx was growing too strong, and if they didn’t stop her soon, she would consume everything in her path.

  Rin rode in on his mecha-horse, weaving through the debris and chaos, his usual calm replaced with an intense focus. As he neared the barricade where Bass, Mary, and the remaining soldiers were struggling to hold back the onslaught of Phalanx’s monstrous form, he called out above the din of battle, “Need strategy? Keep it busy.”

  Bass glanced over and gave a nod. “You heard him, everyone! We need to keep her off Rin!” he barked, motioning for the others to fan out and engage Phalanx from multiple sides. Wolf, despite his bruised ribs and growing exhaustion, gritted his teeth and loaded his ARM, launching another volley of heavy rounds at the towering creature. Mary, ever the quick thinker, lunged in with her sword, landing strikes on the smaller, snaking tendrils that shot toward her. The soldiers of the Frontier Brigade joined in, their mecha-horses thundering across the battlefield as they unleashed their weapons on the mutated First Root.

  Meanwhile, Rin leaped from his horse and hit the ground running. He quickly pulled two Crest Graphs from his coat—one in each hand. His eyes gleamed with determination as he whispered an incantation, the unnamed Crest Graph Sorcery amplifying his willpower. A surge of raw magical energy flooded through him, like a fire coursing through his veins. His senses heightened, his body thrummed with power, and for a brief moment, the chaos around him seemed to slow.

  Rin's focus narrowed on Phalanx. He could feel the magic within him growing stronger, pulsing with a rhythm that matched the intensity of the battle. His attacks would hit harder, deeper—he knew it. As Phalanx’s tentacles whipped across the battlefield, Rin raised his hands and began to weave the next spell.

  The defenders pressed on, keeping Phalanx distracted with a barrage of gunfire and strikes. The First Root twisted and lashed out wildly, but the group moved quickly, dodging the worst of the attacks and striking back whenever they could. Bass fired shot after shot from Peacemaker, the energy of each round rippling across the battlefield, while Mary expertly deflected the incoming tendrils.

  Rin’s eyes gleamed, his glasses missing from his face, as he summoned another spell, focusing on Phalanx's defense. The spell he cast was subtle yet devastating—one that would weaken her magical defenses, warping the metaphysics of the battlefield. In the strange reality of Filgaia, the spell unraveled the energies that shielded Phalanx, leaving her exposed to the magic that Rin would unleash next. He could feel the shift in the air, as though the very fabric of existence had been altered.

  But just as Rin prepared to cast his final spell, Phalanx’s monstrous tentacles lashed out with terrifying speed. She swatted aside the fighters blocking Rin’s path, sending Wolf, Bass, and Mary sprawling in the dirt. Phalanx turned her attention to Rin, her massive, grotesque tendrils slamming toward him with the force of an avalanche.

  For a split second, it looked like Rin wouldn’t be able to react in time—but then, with a sudden burst of movement, Rin raised both Saber Crest Graphs in his hands and shouted, “Dual-Saber!”

  Two enormous, blazing magical blades materialized in the air above him, each one crackling with raw energy. They were impossibly large, far more powerful than anything Rin had summoned before, their sheer size a testament to the boost in his willpower. The glowing blades cut through the air with a high-pitched whine, slicing through the incoming tentacle with a single, devastating strike.

  The battlefield fell silent for a moment as the Dual-Saber blades whirled through the air, slashing into Phalanx's First Root. The sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, and the massive, corrupted tendrils were severed in rapid succession. Phalanx let out a monstrous shriek as the blades carved through her, hacking away at the First Root from every angle.

  Rin stood firm, his eyes blazing with determination as the twin blades continued their assault. They tore into Phalanx with precision and fury, cutting through her defenses and leaving her vulnerable. The First Root was torn apart piece by piece, the monstrous appendages falling to the ground in great, writhing chunks.

  For a moment, everything was still, as the entire battlefield watched in awe. Rin’s spell had done it—the First Root had been severed, and Phalanx was weakened. The corrupted energy that had once radiated from her was flickering, unstable, as the Dual-Saber spell reached its final strike.

  The massive blades vanished with a brilliant flash, leaving only the echoes of their power in the air.

  Inside the First Root, Phalanx floated in a cocoon-like state, her consciousness a haze of power, violence, and hunger. The overwhelming surge of energy had twisted her into something monstrous, but now, for the first time since her transformation, a flicker of clarity returned. She could feel the corrupted Guardian energy swirling within her, struggling to merge with her Kuiper essence, but it wasn’t enough.

  Despite the immense power she’d taken from Zeldukes, something felt incomplete. As powerful as she had become, the Guardian she had chosen was weak—far too weak to fully sustain her connection to the Kuiper Dimension. The realization struck her like a dagger: she couldn’t fully “digest” Zeldukes' power. The Guardian's essence resisted her corruption, its original purpose lingering like a stubborn stain that wouldn’t fade. It was as if Filgaia itself was pushing back.

  Frustration boiled up inside her, but she remained aware that she was reaching her limit. The energy pulsing through the First Root was unstable, faltering with each moment. She knew that if she didn’t stop her attackers soon, her grasp on this power would slip entirely, leaving her vulnerable.

  Through the dim cocoon surrounding her, Phalanx sensed something—an opening. A faint but growing light pierced the thick walls of flesh and corruption. She focused on it, watching as one of the deep slashes from Rin’s magical sword attack began to part the dark, pulsing flesh.

  With every moment, the wound slowly widened, and through the tear in the First Root’s mass, she saw him.

  Rin.

  The sorcerer was standing outside, his eyes focused, his form illuminated by the faint glow of his magical aura. He had attacked her directly, the source of her pain and the one who had severed her control over Zeldukes. The rage flared in Phalanx as her eyes, now glowing with a sickly green light, narrowed on him.

  She realized, then, that Rin was no ordinary foe. He had used magic she had underestimated, and his cleverness had brought her to the edge of defeat. But now, she could see him clearly, and with that knowledge, her anger sharpened into something more dangerous.

  Her attackers were more than just nuisances—they were a threat. And if she didn’t act soon, the power she craved would slip away. She couldn't let that happen.

  Her lips curled into a wicked grin as the wound in the First Root slowly healed, sealing away the view of Rin. She now knew who her enemies were, and she would destroy them before they could do any more damage.

  "I see you now," Phalanx whispered to herself, her voice dark and menacing. "And I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me."

  As the First Root began to shift, its grotesque form contorting into something new, everyone felt the tension rise. The once chaotic tendrils retracted, and the massive structure folded in on itself, forming a closed, tulip-like bud. It began to hum with a dangerous energy, light pulsating from deep within its core. The air itself seemed to thrum with power, and the ground beneath their feet shook violently.

  In the town, soldiers and villagers alike froze, their eyes wide with fear as they realized what was coming. The rumble of the earth was deafening, and a low, ominous hum reverberated through the air. Bass and Mary exchanged quick glances, their faces grim with understanding.

  "This thing's gonna blow!" Bass shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency.

  "Move!" Mary ordered, waving the remaining villagers to run. She turned to Bass and Zipper. "Get everyone out, now!"

  Zipper, clutching her Medium, looked up at the enormous pulsing bud in the distance, her heart racing. For a split second, she considered using her Guardian Medium again, but the eerie silence in the stone told her it was dead. There was no way to summon another Guardian—it would only make things worse. With no other options, she turned on her heel and sprinted with the others toward safety.

  Meanwhile, in the cellar beneath the crumbling village, Oka and Nise hurriedly stuffed bags full of supplies, arms overflowing with treasures, weapons, and Dream Chaser gear. Dressed in their travel gear, the two grifters were ready to leave town, their eyes gleaming with excitement at their escape. The ground shook beneath their feet, dust and pebbles raining down from the ceiling, but neither of them paused. Oka smirked to herself as she slung a heavy bag over her shoulder.

  "Perfect timing," she muttered, her tone smug.

  Nise, trembling with anticipation, nodded nervously. "Is this... going to destroy the whole village?"

  "Does it matter?" Oka said coolly. "As long as we're not here when it happens."

  Above them, the ground rumbled more violently. Buildings around the village creaked and groaned as the First Root's energy began to swell. The power gathering inside it was incomprehensible.

  Inside the cocoon, Phalanx stirred. She could feel the raw, chaotic energy building up within her, feeding off the remnants of the corrupted Guardian. But there was no joy in it now, no victory. Rin’s words echoed in her mind—use your power more precisely. This wasn’t precision; this was chaos. The odds were stacked against her, and she was no longer in control. Her transformation was incomplete, and this world had proven to be more of a challenge than she anticipated.

  Phalanx tightened her grip, her eyes narrowing with cold determination. "Enough power to save myself..." she muttered, her voice cold. "Revenge can come later."

  With a final glance at the village below, she made her decision. She would run, retreat for now, and return stronger. Let these mortals bask in their temporary victory. When she returned, she would hunt their Guardians with precision, with mastery. They would see. Filgaia would bend to her will—eventually.

  Then, in one violent burst, the First Root exploded with a blinding flash of green and blue light. The raw energy shattered the village, the shockwave rippling out in all directions. Buildings were torn from their foundations, wooden beams splintering like kindling as they were flung into the air. The once humble village of Red Prairie was no more, reduced to debris in seconds.

  Zipper barely had time to leap to safety as the ground she’d been standing on was obliterated, blown to pieces by the explosion. Dust and smoke filled the air, but through it all, she could see the massive root launching into the sky. It shot upward, cutting through the clouds like a missile, a long, jagged tail trailing behind it. As it broke free of Filgaia's atmosphere, the root caught in the planet's gravitational pull. Slowly, it began to orbit, a twisted reminder of the power Phalanx had unleashed.

  Phalanx, still inside the cocoon, felt the shift. The chaos of the battle and the village was behind her now. Her monstrous body had been reduced, allowing her to retain enough energy to survive. She smiled faintly, watching as the world below grew smaller. This was only a temporary retreat. She would return.

  And next time, there would be no stopping her.

  As the explosion tore through the village above, the ground beneath Oka and Nise buckled violently. They were thrown to the ground, their hastily gathered loot scattering across the cellar floor. Dust rained down in thick clouds, choking the air, as the deafening roar of the explosion rang in their ears. Above them, they could hear the unmistakable sound of timber and stone crashing down, burying the entrance to the cellar.

  Oka scrambled to her feet, cursing under her breath as she staggered toward the cellar door. She grabbed the handle and yanked, but it wouldn’t budge. Her face contorted with frustration, and she pulled harder, but it still didn’t move. Her fingers, normally so nimble and deft, slipped as sweat and dust coated her skin.

  “Damn it!” she hissed, her voice low and sharp.

  Nise, panicking now, rushed to help. Together, they pulled with all their might, but the door was jammed shut, blocked by the massive debris of the collapsed building above. The air in the cellar grew thick and heavy with dust, and each breath felt more strained than the last.

  “We’re trapped,” Nise gasped, her voice shaking as she backed away from the door, eyes wide with fear. “The whole building’s come down on us! We can’t get out!”

  Oka’s expression darkened. Her mind raced, calculating options, but each one seemed to lead to the same conclusion. She glanced up at the ceiling, as if staring through the rubble above them. The weight of the village’s destruction pressed down on her shoulders, both literal and metaphorical. The tremors of the explosion still reverberated through the earth, each one a reminder of how close they were to their doom.

  Nise’s hands trembled as she clutched at her sides, her voice now barely a whisper. “Oka... what are we going to do? We’re... we’re going to die down here.”

  Oka remained silent, her sharp mind still turning over the possibilities, even though they seemed bleak. She knew it. Nise knew it. They were trapped, sealed away beneath the rubble of the town they had sought to control. All the cunning, all the manipulation, all the stolen power—it had led to this. No way out. No escape.

  Oka pressed her hands against the cellar door one last time, her knuckles white from the strain. She closed her eyes, her breath slow and controlled, but inside, a deep sense of resignation began to settle in.

  “Not yet,” she muttered, her voice a mix of frustration and bitter acceptance. “But maybe... it’s already over.”

  Nise slumped to the floor beside her, tears welling in her eyes as the reality of their situation hit her. The two women, who had schemed and plotted so meticulously, now found themselves at the mercy of the very chaos they had tried to control.

  Above them, the village burned. Below, the silence of the cellar grew heavier by the second. And as the minutes ticked by, the crushing weight of their doom became all too real.