Upon Their Return...
Gusano: Why are you two so late, Selena and Zilpher?
Selena: Um... (How do I even start? So much happened yesterday, especially last night...) swallows hard
Zilpher holds Selena's right hand: We were on our honeymoon. smiles
The soldiers giggled in excitement.
Selena pulls her hand away from Zilpher: Zilpher!! blushes
Zilpher smiles
Gusano: Just the other day, you two were at each other's throats, and now you're suddenly all lovey-dovey? A miracle happened overnight! Hahaha!
Selena: sighs deeply
Zilpher points at Gusano's cheek: Looks like my punch from yesterday still left a mark.
Gusano touches his cheek: Yeah, haha!
Zilpher: By the way, sorry about that. places a hand on Gusano's left shoulder But because of what happened—and because of you... leans closer to whisper Selena finally told me, "I love you."
Gusano: Oh?
Zilpher: Anyway, Selena and I will be heading to our room now. grabs Selena's hand
Selena: ???
Zilpher pulls Selena along as he walks away
Selena: Zip, slow down! Don't be in such a hurry!
After the two of them left, Gusano just smiled.
----------------------------------------------------------
In Their Room...
As soon as Selena opened the door to their room—
Selena: Zi-Zip?!
Zilpher suddenly lifted her up and carried her to the bed.
Zilpher gently lays Selena down on the bed
Selena stares into Zilpher's eyes: Eh? Don't tell me you want to do what we did last night—first thing in the morning?! blushing
Zilpher firmly holds both of Selena's hands: Yes. grins
Selena: E-Ehh?!!! turns even redder
Zilpher: In fact, I plan to do this every day—and many times a day. Hahaha!
Selena: ZILPHER FARLEY!!!
Zilpher slowly leans toward Selena's neck
Selena closes her eyes
Zilpher: Pfftt!!! Hahahaha!!!
Selena opens her eyes in confusion: Huh?!
Zilpher kisses Selena's forehead: Just kidding. Get some rest for now—I have something to take care of.
Selena sits up (How dare he joke around with a De Lolce like that?!) whispers to herself I'll get back at him later.
But suddenly, Selena felt thirsty.
As Zilpher was about to leave the room...
Selena: Zilpher!
Zilpher stops and turns around: What is it?
Selena: Is there any water in the refrigerator?
The words "repridyireytor," "reprihador," and "repriherador" all mean the same thing and are more commonly known in English as "refrigerator" or simply "ref."
Zilpher walks back toward Selena: Why?
Selena: I'm thirsty.
Zilpher: Ah, I'll check. If there's anything, I'll bring it to you.
Selena: Alright.
Before heading to the refrigerator, Zilpher secretly went to the closet and took something.
Zilpher slips the item into his pocket
Then, he went to the refrigerator.
Zilpher opens the fridge (No water, but there's orange juice.)
He took a glass and a spoon from the shelf and poured some orange juice from the pitcher. Then, he added a small white pill to the drink and stirred it.
Zilpher (I thought I'd have to ask Heraldo to inject her, but fate is working in my favor.)
A few minutes later, Zilpher returned to Selena.
Zilpher: There's no water, but I found some orange juice in the fridge.
Selena: Ah, that'll do. takes the glass from Zilpher Gulp! Gulp!
She drank the entire glass.
Selena: Thanks. hands the glass back to Zilpher
Zilpher accepts it: Alright, now get some good rest, Sel.
Selena: Si—Huh?! (!!!) holds her head (Why do I suddenly feel...) so dizzy... collapses onto the bed and closes her eyes (Why... Why did you do this to me, Zilpher?) zzzz...!!!
Zilpher leans in and kisses Selena's cheek: It's better this way—I'll fight the giants alone. You always end up getting hurt when you join me in battle.
Then, he left the room.
----------------------------------------------------------
Preparing for Battle
Zilpher: Did you receive the letter I tied to the eagle's leg earlier?
Gusano bows his head: Yes, we read it. We're ready for the attack on the giants' and beasts' fortress.
Zilpher: Alright, men! Let's finish this mission so we can return to our kingdom!
Soldiers raise their weapons: Yes, Your Majesty!
Zilpher: Heraldo, Ismael, stay here and protect the people—especially Selena.
Ismael is Zilpher's youngest warrior.
The two nodded.
Zilpher places a hand on Heraldo's shoulder and whispers: You can handle yourself in battle, right?
Heraldo: Yes, Your Majesty.
Zilpher: Then let's move out!
As Zilpher and his forces departed, Selena began to dream.
She saw memories of when she was abducted.
Selena opens her eyes: Where am I?! (!!!) W-What is this place?! trembles in fear
She shuddered as she took in the terrifying surroundings—severed human heads impaled on long wooden stakes, jars filled with floating eyeballs instead of books on the shelves, blood-stained dolls, skeletons, and more. She also noticed that she was surrounded by black candles, lying in a black coffin, with her neck, wrists, and ankles bound by dark chains.
Selena (What is this?!) Tsskk!!!
Then, a woman with horns on her head and black wings—similar to those of fallen angels—approached her.
Nefertirani: I am Nefertirani, your new Master. smiles menacingly
----------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in the Battle...
Zilpher: Yaaahhh!!!
After three hours of fighting...
Zilpher (They're too strong. I might have to transform.)
----------------------------------------------------------
Back to Selena's Dream
While dreaming of how she was experimented on, tortured, trained to kill mercilessly, and manipulated by Nefertirani, Eliza, and others, chaos suddenly erupted outside the hotel.
Heraldo rushes out of his room and spots Ismael, immediately questioning him: What's happening?! I hear people screaming—why are they running for their lives?!
Ismael: Someone told me earlier that monsters are attacking.
Heraldo: Monsters?! (How is that possible? We wiped out all monsters in Exolorus—except here.) But Zilpher is currently fighting them to wipe them out once and for all. whispers (Then that means... the ones attacking us now must be from Nefertirani's camp. But why?!) thinks deeply (Zilpher warned me about this earlier...)
Suddenly, Heraldo recalled what Eliza had said while they were torturing her in Dapitan.
Heraldo: (That's right! How could I forget?!) ....
Eliza: Selena is the key to everything—to our victory. We placed something inside her that will wipe out all human life except for our monstrous kind. Through her, we can finally unleash our true power upon the world.
Heraldo: !!!! (The Duchess! They're coming for Selena to fulfill their plan!)
Heraldo: The Queen! We need to get to her now!
He and Ismael sprinted up the stairs.