The Next Day after Pan learned about Princess Lalahon's next moves, Crispina and Clara gathered in the Maria residence to discussed about what they discovered.
"Miss Ocultar is actually the Princess, huh? Then this means this village has been corrupted for awhile." Basilio says.
"I had my suspicions when the village barely had any activity, but I didn't expect it to be something more."
"I was shocked to know that our mayor has been forced to follow this monster's demands... To think, the village I grew up on became like this." Clara says.
"There were already monsters inside this village, who knew..." Basilio sighed.
"That's why I told you to not bring that thing here, Crispina!" Basilio pointed at Crispina angrily, who was playing with the small Slime she adopted.
"Hey! Don't bring us into your conversation! We're minding our own business! Right, Panny?" Crispina pats Panny, who rested on her palm.
"Such an adorable creature, and to think that a bigger one of these slimes could be so dangerous." Clara chuckled.
"In any case, we should tell Miss Pan about this. This is a massive step on investigating who this flame princess is." Crispina says as she stands up, approaching Clara.
"We'll go to her residence this night. Under the veil of night, we'll enter her home."
"A-Ah... Right..! It's been awhile since I've seen her. Even though she sends letters occasionally, I feel that I've missed her dearly." Clara says with a slight blush.
"Well, I can say the same too, dearie. Let's say we give her our most loving kiss?"
"Deal!" Clara and Crispina chuckled.
"I'll stay here and keep an eye on your father, Clara. And I'll help on other chores as well." Basilio says as he looks to Tiago, who was kneading bread.
"Be safe, Crispina. You're stronger but that doesn't mean you should get careless."
"Yes, brother." Crispina nodded at him.
"Right then, let's prepare for our venture tonight." Crispina looked back to her.
Clara nodded in agreement and the two began their preparation for tonight.
And night quickly fell as the two waited for their opportunity to sneak in the Shadows of night.
Pan already sent the two her address, under her new alias, ofcourse. The letters were sent directly to Cali, just in case.
Crispina and Clara quietly made their way to Ibarra's house, though the two are curious as the lights are closed.
"Is Pan not home- I mean, I should say Miss Crisostomo, right? It's her disguise, after all." Clara says as she hid behind Crispina.
"Shush! Don't say that outloud! Whisper like me, you don't know who or what is following us..." Crispina whispered angrily.
"Oh, sorry..." Clara whispered.
"Anyways, we'll have no choice but to break in! Follow me, Clara. Pan could be hiding." Crispina says before she crawls to the back of the house.
"You sure like sneaking around homes..." Clara followed.
But as they sneaked around the house, shadows followed them from behind. They have different intentions to what the two have.
Crispina reached the back of the house, where the backdoor stands locked in place.
Crispina was already an expert on lockpicking. She picked up the skills in her adventure.
"Okay, let me handle this, Clara. Be on lookout." Crispina says before she takes out her lock picking equipment.
Clara nodded before she turns around and kept a keen lookout.
SNAP!
"Um, eheh... The lock pick broke." Crispina says playfully.
Clara sighs, looking back at Crispina with an unsure look.
"Unfortunate... How are we supposed to get i-"
BAM! Crispina just kicks down the door.
"Alright, it's open..! Get in..!" Crispina quickly jumps in.
"How crude! House repairs are expensive, you know..!" Clara quickly followed, and they casually propped up the door again, acting like nothing happened.
"Okay, so. Where is Pan? Miss Pan..! Are you around here..?" Crispina roamed around, she then takes out Panny.
"Quick, Panny. Go search for your papa..!" Crispina says.
"You brought him here..?" Clara asked as she turns to her.
"Well, yeah! He needs my constant care..!" Crispina answered.
As the two were quietly talking, shadows in the darkness reached out for him.
And before they could act, the two got snatched. Their mouths covered by hands.
They struggled as they're dragged into a secluded area of the house, not sure what to do as they try to squirm and struggle.
"Keep it quiet, you two..!" A familiar voice says.
Clara and Crispina stopped, hearing that familiar voice. They calmed down and looked to see who it was.
It was Pan, she looks vigilant. She was expecting someone but not these two.
Crispina and Clara followed in silence, as they observed who was Pan expecting.
Just a minute later, figures entered the house, searching for something. They looked human but not enough.
"Hobgoblins..?" Crispina thought.
"But why? Why would..." Crispina was shocked, they're being tracked.
"Tch... I don't want to make a mess..." Pan muttered before preparing her arms, turning them into dough.
But before they could act against these fearsome foes, a glimmer of light was briefly seen before the sound of blades slashing on flesh was heard.
One of the Hobgoblins was slain, and the others were in panic as they looked around for who would've attacked them.
But it was too late, as hooded figured jumped from the Shadows and slashed the rest of them, without a sound emitted.
"Ah- I didn't expect that." Pan says before she walks out.
"Who's there?" Pan says defensively, putting herself in front of the two girls.
"Who else, Miss Pan?" One of the hooded said before revealing themselves.
"I figured you'd do something rash, so I followed you here after you left. Alongside my companions." Viktor says before approaching Pan.
"Viktor? And the Ex-Knights?" Pan says.
"Viktor!?" Crispina's eyes widened, she grits her teeth as she clutches her blade.
"What're you doing here!?"
"Calm down, Miss Crispina. I know what I've done and I've deeply regretted it." Viktor says before bowing.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness, but I'm sorry."
The Ex-Knights followed suit, bowing as their leader did.
Crispina was taken aback, she won't accept it but she'll back down for now.
"We'll discuss about this, Pan..." Crispina says before strongly smacking Pan's back.
"Gh- That hurt..!" Pan tensed up before sighing.
"It's just you guys, right?" Pan asked.
"Err... Maybe." Viktor answered.
"I'm here as well!" Liit-Liit makes an appearance as he walks out of Viktor's veil.
"A Goblin!?" Crispina and Clara went on guard.
"Relax, babes. He's one of the good ones." Pan chuckled.
Pan then uses her fire magic to turn on the lights inside her home.
"Now then. If you two are here, then you have something urgent to tell me." Pan looks to Clara and Crispina.
"Yes, Pan. I've found new information regarding the Fire Princess." Clara says.
"I have something urgent to tell as well, alongside Viktor and the others." Pan looked down before glancing back at the Ex-Knights.
"Let's have a meeting."
A few moments later, all of them gathered in the living room. They made sure to cover up doors and windows, and some of the Ex-Knights stationed themselves outside to keep watch for any more assassins.
Pan told the two about the Princess' commanders, Liit-Liit and Viktor provided more information. In turn, Clara told Pan about Nohala Ocultar and her control over the village, and a supposed invasion of the village.
Now they stood there, pondering what there next move should be.
"This is difficult, I didn't expect we'd be fighting a monster of this level. The fire princess is already a difficult enemy to deal with, but we have to fight her commanders and an invasion." Viktor says as he held his chin, thinking.
"Hmm... Well, I have to put my priorities first then." Pan leans forward from her chair, resting her hands on the table.
"Viktor, I'm tasking you on protecting this village. Being your Ex-Knights along, be a silent vanguard." Pan demanded.
"I can do that, those hobgoblins that we eliminated are a problem. They infiltrated this village easily." Viktor nodded.
"But Viktor, you will specifically protect Clara and her father. Those hobgoblins followed Clara and Crispina." Pan continued.
"Ofcourse, you have my word. But bringing my Ex-Knights along would mean that the Anihan Monster Settlement will be unprotected. The goblins I trained are for scouting."
"Don't worry, that Wolf Guy won't touch those monsters. I'll go there specifically to face off against him." Pan declared.
"On your own?" Viktor was concerned.
"Miss Pan! Kilat isn't a monster to be underestimated! He's a Wolfman, who embodies lightning! He can kill without being seen, you must have help." Liit-Liit says desperately.
"More importantly, The Princess has 3 commanders under her... Kilat is already a dangerous fellow, but the other two are far more than that." Liit-Liit continued.
"Kagitingan, The Four Armed Orc. Said to be the strongest of all Orcs! And Nevfalta, The Dark Revenant, a Hobgoblin with exceptional fighting prowess and skill!"
"It is why we can't do much but obey the Princess and her orders... But even without her commanders, the princess herself is powerful..."
Everyone looked at Liit-Liit with concern, everyone but Pan, who was curious.
"I wonder what kind of person she is..." Pan muttered.
"In any case, I'll deal with the princess later. The commanders are our main priority." Pan then looks at Crispina.
"Its safe to assume that Nevfalta, that Hobgob guy, will attack the village. Viktor will handle him, and Crispina..."
Crispina looked at Pan, awaiting her orders with glee and confidence.
"Can I trust you and Basilio against the four armed orc?"
Crispina's mouth opened in a bit of shock, she knows how powerful 4 armed orcs are. But this is her chance to prove herself that she's strong.
"Ofcourse, Pan. You can trust me!" Crispina says with determination.
Panny bounced up and down on her head with the same confidence.
"What the- Is that a slime!?" Pan says in shock.
"Oh, right- This is Panny! I adopted him! He's our little baby now!" Crispina presents him to Pan.
"W-What!?" Clara thought.
"She already declared a child with Pan- How bold, I mustn't fall behind..." Clara closes her eyes in frustration, gritting and clenching her fist.
"Ah- Pan, I have a request." Clara remembered something.
"Hm? What's that?" Pan looks to Clara, now carrying Panny in her arms like its her actual baby.
"The state of this village is because of that Fire Princess, pulling strings to make this village the weakest link within the Kalakasan Kingdom..." Clara explained.
"Please, just this once, let me save this village. I will expose Nohala Ocultar and her evil deeds! I'll reveal that she is a monster in disguise!" Clara declared.
"But Clara... You're just human, you barely have powers." Pan explained.
"I know that..." Clara looks down, disheartened.
"I was born without powerful magical prowess, and my body isn't built for battle..."
Clara then looks up at Pan with determination, placing her hand on her own chest.
"But I have a dream! To become a leader of this village's good people! To lead them by example and to lead them through darkness!" Clara says proudly.
"Let me fight this darkness, with the power of my mind and with my determination!"
Everyone in the room looked shocked, both by Clara's boldness and her bravery. This could very well spell her death, as she's only a baker girl without great power.
But Pan's face isn't shocked, it was pride. Pride in Clara's brave words and her determination. It was a trait that made Pan love her.
"Sure, I have faith in you." Pan simply said with a smile.
Clara smiled with glee before tearing up a little, but she puckered up and pumped herself up.
"I will not fail you, Pan." Clara says proudly.
"M-Me too! I won't lose!" Crispina says with equal determination.
"Rest assured that I'll do my duty, my debt to you is eternal, Miss Pan." Viktor says as he stood up, bowing to her for a moment.
"Mhm, looks like we got our goals in my mind." Pan approaches Clara and Crispina before wrapping her arms around them.
"That means I'll have to give up on my 'Ibarra Crisostomo' disguise soon, but I'll finish up what I'm writing so it doesn't go to waste." Pan then looks at her women, both blushing intensely.
"As for you two..." Pan then leans in to kiss the both of them, passionately and deep.
She then tosses the two to Viktor, he caught Clara but Crispina managed to stand. The both of them were flushed out of their minds.
"Be safe out there. By the time this is over, I'll make sure to marry the both of you." Pan chuckled.
"I'll make it legal for this village, I swear upon it." Clara says with a blushed.
"I'll have to use my savings in a wedding dress..." Crispina thought while holding her cheeks.
"Now then, go home. Viktor, you know what to do." Pan says before she grabs all the items she needs in the house.
"Yes, I'll bring them home." Viktor says before carrying Clara on her shoulder.
Liit-Liit then approached Pan, holding a book.
"We must hurry back, Miss Pan. The village may be in danger!" Liit-Liit says.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be going there to tell the Ex-Knights about our plan anyways." Pan then grabs Liit-Liit, putting him on her back.
She then absorbs the corpses of the hobgoblin, making sure nothing is left.
"See you guys later! Oh, and forgot to give him back" Pan then tosses Panny to Crispina.
"Take care of our son!" Pan then dashes out of the house.
Crispina quickly caught Panny and she waves goodbye to Pan once again. Clara as well, as she rested on Viktor's shoulder, waving at Pan as she disappears into the night.
As Clara was escorted home, Crispina informed her brother about Pan's plan.
Basilio was unsure, facing off against an orc with 4 arms is an A-Rank Mission. But he wants to prove himself strong for her sister and for Pan.
Viktor and the rest of the Ex-Knights that followed him split up around the village, serving as momentary vanguards until more of their forces came.
And for Pan, she raced as fast as she could into the night. She was unsure what's the state of the settlement since she left yesterday.
"Hey, I have a bad feeling..." Pan says as she dashes through the forest.
"I'm sure our Ex-Knights can hold, they're trained by the great Viktor Malvado, afterall!" Liit-Liit says with confidence.
"I admire the confidence, but I just can't shake off the feeling..." Pan focused for a moment, curious about her feeling.
But her eyes widened as she smelled burning, then her eyes focused to see black smoke.
"The entrance to the settlement!" Pan glanced to the secret entrance, now a trail of burnt plantation.
"Impossible! He's already here!?" Pan says before dashing forward with great speed.
"T-The Settlement? M-My family..!" Liit-Liit says nervously.
As the two arrived at the Anihan Monster Settlement, their eyes could only seen the aftermath of a great battle.
There were some of the Ex-Knights still standing, but badly wounded. They protected the rest of the monsters behind them.
"Ex-Knights! What happened!?" Pan called out as Liit-Liit jumped from her back.
"Maikli! Munti! Where are my wife and child?!" Liit-Liit called.
Munti, his wife, ran from the group and pounced on him, crying with worry. She looked up to Liit-Liit before pointing at the fires, saying something in desperation.
"He got him..?" Liit-Liit says in shock before looking at the flames, seeing a familiar and menacing silhouette.
"Bunch of traitors... Hoarding human filth within her majesty's territory..." A Young Voice says followed by the crackle of lightning.
In his hand was a small goblin child, it was Maikli. Thankfully, he was still alive but barely.
"How dare you even try to side with these weaklings? Utterly pathetic!"
"Kilat..." Liit-Liit muttered.
Kilat stood over with a sick grin on his face. His eyes glowing blue with lightning and malice. His claws and hands coveted with blood, and he was covered in electricity.
Pan looked angry, glaring at Kilat with utter frustration but she kept herself composed.
"A dream of humanity and monsterkind uniting under the same banner? Hah! What a joke... You waste the life our country gave you." Kilat says.
"Our country gave us nothing! It only asked out to obey without receiving nothing back! Humanity isn't all evil, Kilat! Humanity and their knowledge is wonderful! It helps us!" Liit-Liit tried to reason with him but Kilat just yelled.
"Silence!"
Liit-Liit and everyone went silent, but the whimpering cries of Maikli echoed.
"Don't speak me in that language, goblin... Your kind are nothing but fodder for every monster nation..." Kilat chuckled before looking at Maikli.
"No... Don't..." Liit-Liit pleaded, reaching out to him.
"None of you have the power to stand up against us! Especially me! The lightning wolf, Kilat!" Kilat cackled with great evil as he raises Maikli high, intending to smash him onto the ground.
"Maikli!" Liit-Liit shouted with desperation, but Kilat already swung his arms—
BAM! A Fist run across Kilat's cheek, sending him back and letting go off Maikli.
"... Doughnut!" Pan shouted before her hand retracts, grabbing Maikli and lending him to Liit-Liit.
"Thank you, Miss Pan... Many thanks..." Liit-Liit took him in his arms, caressing him with his wife.
Pan then stood up, walking forward towards Kilat.
"Ex-Knights. Take the entire settlement and go to Viktor." Pan commanded.
"We'll stay and fight!" An Ex-Knight said.
"I said go!" Pan shouted.
"This guy is mine... I'll be kicking his ass in behalf of everyone, alright? The village needs you more than this." Pan says.
The Ex-Knights were shocked, reluctant to leave her alone but in the end they agreed. Their skills are too weak against this Wolfman.
They then evacuated everyone out of the settlement. There were many injured but noone died, thanks to Kilat's hubris.
Liit-Liit stayed for a moment, watching Pan's silhouette in front of the flames of his destroyed settlement.
"Miss Pan..." Liit-Liit's eyes teared up, seeing someone protecting goblins like him made him sentimental.
"For years, goblin kind are treated like the bottom of the food chain... Seeing someone like you protect us... Even if you know of the consequences..." Liit-Liit thought.
"Thank you, once again, Miss Pan!" Liit-Liit shouted, his voice echoing around before he runs off with the others.
Pan smirked before she continued walking forward.
"Hey, Kilat! I know you ain't dead from that one punch!" Pan says before she goes into a fighting pose.
Kilat was laying flat on the charred ground, disrespected from that punch.
"That actually hurt..." He muttered before smiling, he then jumps up before looking at Pan.
"This is gonna be fun! So you're that monster the princess is talking about! You don't look like much, but you're definitely strong..." Kilat licked his lips.
"Yeah, I'm pretty strong. And I admit, you look pretty darn strong too..." Pan grits her teeth.
"But I won't hold back, when you destroyed these poor people's homes! I'll make sure you pay in full..." Pan angrily declared.
"A monster protecting monsters? You're weird... But I'll make sure you die, and I'll be going for those traitors next." Kilat then charges up, his hair and tail glowing with lightning.
"Comes on! Let's fight!"
"Yeah... Let's tussle." Pan simply says before turning her entire body into dough.
And so, the night burns with the flames of strength and rage. What shall happen in this soon-to-be grand fight?