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Chapter 41 - READY FOR WAR

Under the moonlight, within Volk's chamber, Volk forcefully presses Jarvis against the wall, tells him to why didn't they listen to him and not go to war with the Old Berry Town folks, emphasizing that they are not their true adversaries. Jarvis retorts that he merely followed the orders of the young master, Henry. Volk, turns around to see Rudda attempting to mend Henry's headless form with magic, becomes anxious. In a moment of desperation, Volk cuts his wrist with a blade, allowing drops of blood to fall onto Henry's body. To his dismay, there is no discernible change, prompting him to question why his blood isn't healing his son. Rudda, examining Henry's body, witnessing the quivering of his flesh as it continues to attempts it's healing but it is unable to reform Henry's head . She then utters the words "different attack." Jarvis proposes that the foe they faced may possessed magic capable of nullifying healing abilities. Realizing the urgency, Volk decides on an alternative method: absorbing Jarvis's magic. A surge of immense magical energy envelops around Volk as he declares that the only way to rescue his son is to elevate him to the status of a Tower Master and offer all of his magic door abilities to Henry.

Volk channels all his magic into Henry's body, lifting it into the air and bathing the entire room in a blue light. Volk explains that becoming a new Tower Master can heal all wounds. Henry's body starts glowing intensely in blue, and suddenly, the Face Machine manifests its head on Henry's headless body, its eyes blinking with blue lights. Confused, Volk questions what is happening. Jarvis clarifies that it's the Face Machine, their entertainment system. The Face Machine announces that the requirements to become the next Champion have been fulfilled, and its maker will come seeking for Henry. This revelation baffles everyone. The Face Machine laughs in excitement, declaring the discovery of their new Champion. Its head then explodes in magic, shattering the ceiling and enveloping Henry's body in a towering blue magical pillar that extends high into the night sky. Henry's head reforms, and the magical energy surrounding him gradually subsides. Rudda catches him as he descends.

Volk is relieved to see that Henry is finally healed. When Henry awakens, Volk advises him not to waste time on Old Berry Town, emphasizing that their true adversary is the Tower. Henry, however, insists on settling the score with Old Berry Town first. Ignoring Volk's warnings, Henry reveals that he is the new Tower Master and, therefore, the new leader of all the Riders, expecting them to follow his command. Jarvis kneels and bows in acknowledgment. Henry states that Old Berry Town has caused pain to his family, making it unforgivable. He declares that after dealing with the conflict against Old Berry Town, they will then take control of the Towers. Henry exits the room, walks to the railing to see all the Riders in the main lobby awaiting their new leader's orders. Volk is astonished at how much Henry has changed.

In the morning in Old Berry Town, Ezzy is diligently devising new plans in the conference room with a lot of people, and the space is filled with scattered sheets of paper, drawings, and writings on the big whiteboard. Simultaneously, Stella is instructing a group, including Nakao, on how to use various weapons such as pistols, assault rifles, grenades, and how to load magazines with bullets. Meanwhile, Agustin and Jean stroll down the mall hall, with many town folks avoiding them due to the monsters within their bodies. Undeterred, Agustin encourages Jean to ignore the reactions and focus on continuing their training to become stronger. Jean agrees, smiling, and acknowledges that eventually, these people will appreciate them once they lead the town to victory in the ongoing war.

Rex stands in front of Robo Mall, utilizing his magic to repair the damaged sections of the mall. Concurrently, Xai systematically goes through the checklist of items prepared for the impending war. Kiren transports various weapons to the rear of the bus, while a team of town workers constructs armor around the vans and buses. Nhia is at the park, enjoying a meal while observing Simbad and Rune engaged in training. Rune concentrates, emitting a faint trace of magic from his blade. Simbad grins, remarking on their improving mastery of magic. Agustin and Jean also participate in the training session. Nhia departs, strolling up the street to encounter a large egg positioned in the middle of the road. He and a group of onlookers approach the egg, engaging in prayers. Nhia expresses his hopes for his girlfriend's well-being over the years and anticipates the day when he can communicate with her.

In the Powerhouse, Michael accumulates a substantial amount of electricity within himself, refining his new magic and enveloping his form in additional layers of lightning armor. Simultaneously, in Robo Mall, Stella makes her way to Mai's room, discovering Mai in the final stages of her tinkering. Mai proudly presents Stella with her newly crafted robotic arm. Stella dons the robotic arm on her missing limb, and it seamlessly integrates with her arm size. Expressing her surprise at Mai's ingenuity, Stella beams with delight. Mai then reveals that extensive studying was behind her creation. Stella tests her new arm, and to her astonishment, the robotic appendage unfolds to unveil a concealed blade. Mai discloses that she incorporated weaponry into the arm tailored to Stella's preferences. Overwhelmed with excitement, Stella embraces Mai in appreciation for the remarkable enhancements.

Days pass, and in the afternoon, Henry leads a procession of his Riders to the front of the island. Turning to face his assembled followers, he declares their readiness to showcase the new powers he has bestowed upon them. Several Riders step forward, their bodies trembling as their lower halves transform into monstrous bulls. Inspired by this transformation, the rest of the Riders follow suit, morphing their lower half into an array of creature hybrids—elephants, dogs, fishes, birds, and more. Luka approaches Henry and bows, prompting a smile from their leader. Henry proudly announces that they are now ten times more powerful than in their previous forms. The crowd watches in awe as Luka's lower body morphs into that of a beautiful horse monster. Henry then cries out "For the System," Luka and the other Riders join in unison. 

Later in the day, Henry descends into the basement of the mansion, entering a cell where Megan is chained up. Pouring his magic from his hand into Megan's body, she screams in agony. This scream triggers a vision in her mind, revealing broken ancient buildings and an ongoing battle. In the vision, a mysterious faceless figure extends a hand toward her. The vision ends, leaving Henry perplexed as to why his magic isn't affecting Megan. Examining her closely, he finds nothing remarkable about her body. Seeking answers, Henry questions Megan about her nature. Megan defiantly declares that she will never become one of his monsters.

Jarvis enters the cell and suggests that Henry offer Megan to him, emphasizing his desire for her. Henry, citing the winner, Luka, in recent battle royal , asserts that Megan will be a part of the Riders and not subjected to Jarvis's enslavement. Jarvis proposes that Megan should decide her allegiance and warns that if she doesn't join his team, someone special to her will die. Megan inquires about this special person, prompting Jarvis to reveal a picture of Duke, forcing her to have no choice but to go with Jarvis. With a sinister smile, Jarvis drags her away.

Jarvis roughly guides Megan into a bedroom, expressing his desire for her to be in optimal condition to fully enjoy their upcoming fun activities. Recognizing her current state, he directs two of his maids to attend to her, cleaning her and tending to her wounds. As Megan gazes into the mirror, she contemplates her well-being and hopes for her son Duke's safety. However, her expression shifts abruptly as thoughts of Sam cross her mind.

Meanwhile in the town of Old Berry, numerous spectators observe Barbra as she reaches out to the large egg, which emits a radiant glow. With confidence, she declares that their savior will soon return shortly. The streets erupt in cheers. Meanwhile, nearby, Jean undergoes rigorous training in the park. Suddenly, his heartbeat intensifies along with the escalating intensity of his exercises. Gripping his chest wound, his eyes start to gleam brightly. Rune braces for the impending challenge, prepared to confront the creature dwelling within Jean. Agustin offers support, placing a reassuring hand on Jean's shoulder and calmly inquiring about his ability to control the inner monster. Jean, nods affirmatively, stating that he has a bit better control thanks to Adam's help. 

Agustin shares that he has recently gained a bit of control over his inner monster. As evidence, he unveils a lion's tail emerging from his lower back, leaving everyone astonished. Jean remarks that it's easier for Agustin because he only contains with one monster. In contrast, Jean grapples with the challenge of managing four monsters within him, making the control more difficult for him. Agustin then declares his intention to harness this newfound power to confront the riders and seek revenge for what they did to him. He asserts that it was their error to transform him into a such monster. Rune and Simbad nod in agreement, acknowledging Agustin's determination.

Shortly thereafter, in Mai's room, she is immersed in the study of numerous ancient technology books. The whiteboard is adorned with sketches of robot bodies. Opening a box, Mai retrieves a small glass container housing a miniature robot heart. Reflecting aloud, she notes the need for additional time to perfect her creation. As her gaze falls upon a picture of herself and Frank together on the table, a somber expression crosses her face, a poignant reminder of her longing for him. Later that night, Nakao completes her training and prepares to leave the range area. However, she notices Stella practicing with her newly acquired robot arm. Stella takes aim at a target dummy with precision as two robot guns emerge from her arm, firing away. Nakao is impressed by Stella's accuracy. Stella remarks that Mai might have pushed herself too hard in creating such a powerful weapon for her. Nakao expresses her desire for a similar weapon arm, and Stella playfully suggests Nakao would need to sacrifice an arm for it. Nakao glances at her adorned arms with beautiful tattoos and declares she's not willing to part with her arms for the sake of her tattoos.

Simultaneously, in Nhia's room, he wears headphones, engrossed in his attempt to tune into radio channels. Adjusting the knobs, he encounters only static until, inadvertently, small traces of magic escape from his fingertips and intertwine with the radio without him knowing. Suddenly, a woman's voice pierces through, desperately seeking help. Nhia is taken aback upon realizing it's the voice of his girlfriend. Calling out to Jasee, he receives a response calling his name. However, the magical connection dissipates, returning the radio to its static state. Frustrated, Nhia persists in his efforts, but the radio remains unresponsive. He eventually lies down on his bed, gazes at the moon, and vows that after this war has ended, he will come to rescue his beloved, Jasee.

Later that morning, in the conference room, Ezzy addresses the group, emphasizing that they will focus on repairing Old Berry Town after the war. However, she underscores the immediate need to prepare for this war, advocating for a preemptive strike against the Riders. She outlines a strategy utilizing 12 battle buses, 6 battle vans, and the Robo Mall for a full-scale assault on the island. Ezzy proposes a surprise attack on the Riders' front gates, assuming they now have heightened security. The plan involves using half of their bombs to demolish the gates, then advancing along the road. Anticipating the Riders' response, she details how the enemy will deploy boat units on the lake. Michael and Rex will then clear the path around the lake during this phase.

Upon reaching the island, Ezzy foresees a confrontation with the full force of the Riders and that they will send in their strongest fighters and names this battle the main fight but also a distraction at the same time. Exploiting this distraction, another team will infiltrate through a secret passage known only to Ezzy. Their mission is to rescue everyone from the mansion. Following the successful evacuation, the remaining bombs will be deployed to obliterate the entire island, eliminating the Riders once and for all. The room erupts in cheers as the team rallies behind this comprehensive plan.

Shortly after, Ezzy arrives at the front gates and observes as Robo mall, the buses, and vans approaches. Xai emerges from one of the buses, confirming that everything is prepared. Ezzy remarks that the Riders would never anticipate such an early attack. Mai joins them, conveying Barbara's message that Adam is set to emerge from the egg the following night. She proposes waiting for a more advantageous moment. However, Ezzy is resolute about not delaying any further. Observing Ezzy's impatience, Mai suggests that she'll accompany them and equip everyone with bug cameras. This way, she can monitor the battles closely, dispersing numerous camera bugs across the battlefield to identify any blind spots even Ezzy might overlook.

Ezzy consents to Mai's inclusion, specifying that Mai won't be issuing commands but providing necessary information. Mai concurs, revealing the scar on her hand as a symbol of their shared purpose and sister-like connection. Ezzy gazes at her own scar and acknowledges the bond. Together, they depart Old Berry Town, journeying toward the Riders' Island. In one of the vans driven by Simbad, Rune, Agustin, and Stella occupy the back. They notice movement in one of the boxes, prompting Agustin to open it and reveal Jean inside. Jean emerges, bowing to everyone. Stella questions why Jean isn't back in town protecting it. Jean insists on joining the fight with them. Rune expresses concern, cautioning against involving a young and inexperienced fighter like Jean, especially given his struggle to fully control his inner monsters.

Despite Rune's comment, Jean pleads to be included, vowing not to lose control. Stella appeals to Simbad to turn the van back to town, but Simbad explains that they must follow Ezzy's orders to stay together. Ezzy communicates through their earpieces, inquiring if Jean is genuinely committed to helping them win this war. Jean passionately expresses his desire for revenge against Henry for what he did to them and that Kayla's spirit won't ever rest in peace if he doesn't do anything about it. Agustin signals his understanding, and Ezzy approves Jean's participation, with the condition that if he loses control, Agustin will handle the situation.