Upon arriving at the Golden Quarter, they immediately noticed that the name was misleading; the place was filthy and frequented by the worst kind of company. The streets were dark, not with people, but with grime. Besides being sordid and littered with refuse, the sewer vermin thrived unchecked, and no one seemed to care. Beggars pleaded for alms at every corner, ignored by all, as if their wretchedness blended seamlessly with the decrepit walls. The "Golden Quarter" was ironically named, the most dangerous and impoverished area of the kingdom, a place where the royal guard only ventured in significant numbers and only if absolutely necessary.
"He's probably hanging out in a tavern around here," Kentaro said, casting a wary glance at the seedy characters they passed. "Ah! Those guys... I wouldn't trust them with the keys to my house," he muttered.
"They wouldn't trust you with the keys to theirs, either," Ginji retorted playfully.
Suddenly, shouts erupted from a nearby street corner, followed by a loud commotion. They instinctively headed toward the noise. A crowd of onlookers was yelling and gesturing wildly. Pushing through, they saw two ogres, each over three meters tall, confronting a man of impressive stature. He wore a long red silk cape over armor that couldn't conceal his powerful, animal-like build. Arms crossed, he idly stroked his beard. A small black kitten played with a tangerine a few meters away, oblivious to the tension. Although a horned helmet partially covered his face, there was no doubt about his identity.
"What's going on?" Ogai asked a nearby dwarf.
"There's going to be a fight! A fight!" the dwarf said excitedly, hopping in place and clapping his hands. "It seems these two ogres tried to steal the human's purse. He refused to give it up, so he accepted the challenge. What an idiot! Dying for a few coins!"
"I agree," Ogai replied. "What idiots! They're going to die for a few coins..."
The dwarf gave him a confused look. Everyone in Genib knew Averkane, but since he'd recently disappeared and kept his identity somewhat concealed, some, like this dwarf, had forgotten him. The kitten following him didn't exactly match the image of the most formidable and feared warrior of the neighboring kingdom.
The ogre behind him lunged. The man swiftly unfastened his cape and flung it over the ogre's face. Blinded, the ogre staggered, and with one swift move, Averkane – indeed, it was him – pierced his chest before the other brute could react. He caught his cape before it touched the blood spilling from the lifeless body. The ogre crashed to the ground, chest split open, blood gushing out in steady streams.
His comrade was terrified. Despite his immense size, he trembled like a scrawny child. Watching his companion's death made him realize that the man before him was the feared Silver Bull, known for his signature move: the split chest. Averkane had made it his trademark, claiming it to be the most painful and terrifying death one could deliver.
Rebuttoning his cape without glancing at the surviving ogre, he simply said:
"Do you understand your mistake? It's surprising that with your incredible strength, your kind never considered that there might be men stronger than you. Much stronger, incomparably so."
A single terrifying glare was enough to completely break the ogre's spirit. Paralyzed with fear, he couldn't move. Averkane raised his fist, aiming at the ogre's chest.
"Brutal Breath!"
Though the ogre stood ten meters away, his chest burst as if struck by an anvil. He collapsed miserably before sprawling lifelessly on the ground.
In the crowd, Ginji, who had never bothered to watch one of the Silver Bull's fights, was stunned by what he witnessed. He regretted it deeply now. Incredible... he thought. He didn't even touch him!
Kentaro, on the other hand, was seething at having witnessed such power. He bared his decayed teeth like an enraged beast. Amidst the cheering crowd, Averkane remained unmoved. Picking up his little furball, he quietly slipped between the bystanders and disappeared into the narrow alleys of the Golden Quarter.
"Averkane!"
The Bull stopped when he heard Ogai's call, the kitten still perched on his shoulder. He turned and studied the three men following him. Something told him they were anything but ordinary.
"Your face looks familiar..." he finally said. "No! Your eyes... I must have seen you at the castle, right?"
His deep voice matched his titanic build, making him even more imposing. Now, closer than during the fight, the three could fully grasp the magnitude of the man. A mountain of muscle stood before them. Kentaro, already silently fuming over the giant's performance, grew even more annoyed.
"That's correct," Ogai answered. "I was a blacksmith at the castle."
"You're not anymore?"
"No."
"Hum. Your choice."
With those final words, he turned and disappeared into the ominous darkness of the narrow alleys of the Golden Quarter.
A few minutes later, they found him in a small grove surrounded by a tall, time-worn wall. The main gate was broken and rusted. It was an abandoned castle that had fallen into disrepair long ago. Lying in the shade of a tree, Averkane gazed at the sky, seemingly lost in thought. He didn't appear to notice the three men who had tracked him down, yet:
"What do you want?" he asked without taking his eyes off the clear sky. "If you've come to such a wretched place, it's for a good reason. What is it?"
Milo dozed on the man's chest when a beautiful red admiral butterfly fluttered over his small head. He leaped to his paws and started chasing the insect.
"We came to find you because we need your help," Ogai said.
"Need me?" The Bull looked puzzled. "I'm of no use."
"You're wrong," Ogai said, moving closer. "Many people need your help."
Averkane stared at him for several seconds, trying to read his personality through the glint in his eyes, but the persistent sadness, like an insurmountable barrier, prevented him. Never in his life had he seen eyes so full of sorrow. It unsettled him as much as it intrigued him. He stood up and said:
"What do you mean?"
"Your strength can save thousands of lives. Will you come with us?"
"I don't understand. What are you getting at?"
"A terrible illness is wiping out the people of Arcadia, taking entire families."
Suddenly disinterested, Averkane resumed gazing into the distance, his expression blank. His cat, still chasing the butterfly, came into view. He followed it with his eyes, then crossed his arms behind his head, closed his eyes, and lay back down.
"What does Arcadia matter to me? We're in Genib. Why should I care about the Arcadians? They've never thought to help us."
"Listen," Ogai said, kneeling beside him, "if you don't help us solve this mystery, there will be a war between the two kingdoms, and with the strength of both armies, it will be a pure massacre."
"What are you saying? You're mad! How does this illness relate to a war between the two kingdoms?"
"Andora spread this illness. Ragan knows she's behind it, and to maintain his credibility with the people, he must attack."
Averkane paused briefly to think, then said:
"In any case, for a war to break out between the kingdoms, both would need to cross the passage. As long as Ryuku is there, that's impossible."
"Exactly, as long as Ryuku is there, but if he isn't…" Ogai pointed out cleverly.
"What!?"
"Andora plans to kill him and invade Arcadia."
"Impossible!" the Bull shouted. "Andora would never do that! She can't do that!"
"She's gathering an army and will strike soon."
"I don't believe it!"
"How long have you been hiding in the Golden Quarter? A month, two months? Things have moved quickly since you left, and now Andora has made her decision. And Ragan isn't far behind; he's been preparing too. I just returned from Arcadia, and everyone confirmed it to me: for nearly a year, Ragan has been assembling a large and powerful army."
"You crossed the pass!"
"Yes, with the help of Venitia, the fairy who guards Arcadia."
"I can't believe it…" the Bull said, dismayed.
"Andora must be stopped," Ogai declared. "She mustn't attack Arcadia. We have to stop her at any cost from starting a war."
"At any cost?" Averkane asked, worried. "What does that mean? Do you want to kill her?"
He waited for Ogai's response, but Ogai only looked at him with an expression that spoke volumes about his intentions.
"No way! Don't count on me!" Averkane yelled, quickly standing up to leave the grove.
The little kitten had finally caught the butterfly and was now devouring it.
"Milo!" Averkane thundered, then said more softly, "Come on."
The kitten licked its lips thoroughly.
"Come on, buddy."
The kitten looked up placidly, walked over with its swaying gait, and jumped onto its master's shoulder as he crouched down.
As he was about to leave, Ogai grabbed his arm, almost pleading.
"Fine, at least come with us to see the situation for yourself," he said soothingly. "Come across the pass with us, and you'll see both armies gathering. Help us solve the enigma of the Black Moon, and then you'll be free to do as you wish."
Averkane stopped to listen to Ogai's final plea. He just turned his head slightly toward him. His eyes conveyed a swirl of emotions no one could decipher; despite his intimidating stature and fierce gaze, a gleaming light illuminated his eyes, making him appealing to those who shared his trust. But such people did not exist.
"What is your name?" he asked after a long silence.
"My name is Ogai. And this is Ginji and Kentaro."
The Bull turned to face them. A gentle breeze lifted their capes, rustling Ogai's bright red one. Averkane sighed briefly, then declared:
"You don't seem to be lying, and this story intrigues me, so I'll come with you to see for myself. But don't get the wrong idea – I don't trust you yet!"
Averkane didn't believe a word of what he just said. The sadness in Ogai's eyes didn't lie, and because of that, without even knowing him, he placed complete trust in him.
Ogai smiled as he extended his hand.
"You'll trust us in time."
Averkane shook his hand, signifying his official acceptance as a Pleiade. In that moment, Ogai felt a sense of accomplishment: he had succeeded in rallying all the Pleiades to his cause. From then on, he considered his role secondary.
Averkane led them to his temporary hideout, a makeshift shack with cracked walls overgrown with ivy. There, they decided to rest a bit before heading to the kingdom of Arcadia.
The sunlight filtered through cracks scattered throughout the walls, reaching Ogai as he lay on a modest cot. He played with the small vial containing withered buttercups, shaking it under the daylight with a satisfied expression. Now, he was convinced he could save both kingdoms from a devastating war. This simple intuition filled him with joy, especially after reuniting with his son Shahin, with whom he could now share unique moments of happiness.