Tara village
The sun hung high in the sky, casting warm rays over the thatched roofs and bustling streets, but the villagers were not engaged in their usual daily routines.
All the people of the village today gathered around the house of their village chief. A sturdy structure made of timber and clay. Many people from other villages have come to their village today. They are discussing an important matter with the village chief.
People were therefore curious and gathered around the village Chief's house.
***
Masu looked at the five people sitting in front of him with a serious expression.
Apart from Tara village, there are five more villages in this forest. Kuto Village, Mokoro Village, Omo Valley Village, Mursi Village, and Nana Village
"So they sent you a message too"
"Yes," Masu replied, his tone grave. "They gave us two conditions. We can either become their citizens or, if we refuse, we'll have to fight them."
"Tch! What do they think of themselves? Just because they have some strange flying iron creatures and iron beasts doesn't mean they can command us."
"Hmm, but do you know where they come from? I've never heard of them before."
"No. We don't even know where they came from. We sent some people to find out their origin and their village, but they did not return."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
"That's not a good sign. It means they're either being held captive or… worse."
"What if they're using our people to learn more about us? They could be planning something far more sinister than we realize."
Masu took a deep breath, trying to maintain control of the situation. "We can't jump to conclusions. We need to gather more information. If they're as powerful as they claim, we must understand their intentions before we decide how to respond."
"You are right. Besides, they have strange magic, they can kill their enemies from a distance."
"I don't know what their true intentions are," Astra, the leader of Mursi Village, interjected, his voice rising with anger. He stood tall, dressed in tattered beast skin that clung to his muscular frame, a testament to his many battles. His body bore the marks of conflict—bruises and scars. "But I can't let them do whatever they want here. This is our territory. We are not willing to be subservient to anyone."
The people in the room nodded in agreement with Astra, their expressions a mix of determination and concern.
"Well, we have to do something about this. But we don't know so much about our enemy. Their numbers and other things"
"Hmm. We have gathered some information about this. They have built their camp 10 km west of here. I sent my daughter there to investigate. " Krulos said he is the leader of Omo Valley Village, which is located on the hill. A muscular old man.
A murmur of concern rippled through the gathering. Astra narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting from determination to alarm. "But isn't that too risky? If they get hold of your daughter, a lot worse could happen to her."
"Don't worry about it. She is capable. She has trained with the best and knows how to blend into the environment. If anyone can gather information without being detected, it's her. Also, she has the protection of forest spirits. I am sure my daughter will come back with information about them safely."
"Huh! You seem so confident about your daughter." said the leader of Mokoro Village. She was a muscular woman dressed in a bear skin dress, her formidable presence accentuated by the scar that marked one of her eyes—a testament to her own battles.
"Of course!" Krulos responded, a proud smile breaking across his weathered face. "She single-handedly defeated ten warriors from our village when she was only fifteen."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Krulos's words hanging in the air.
"Ten warriors?" Mokoro replied, her tone softening slightly. "That's no small feat. It sounds like she has the heart of a lion."
"She does," Krulos affirmed, his chest swelling with pride. "Her name is Lira, and she's been training since she could walk. The forest spirits have guided her, and she has a connection with them that few can claim. I believe they will watch over her during this mission."
"Wooo"
Masu cleared his throat, a cough breaking through the tension in the air. "You guys are walking away from the discussion. We have gathered here to discuss our mysterious enemy."
"Ah! Sorry," Krulos said, shaking himself from his prideful reverie. The other leaders nodded, their expressions shifting from admiration back to the pressing matter at hand.
"Hmm ... so what's the decision now? Do you fight or submit to them?"
"Ha… There is no question of subordinating to them"
"We are proud warriors. We will not allow anyone to command us."
"Hmm. I agree too."
"Then let's discuss our forces," Astra said, his tone shifting to a more strategic note. "There are 500 warriors in my village."
"We have 370 archers and 100 warriors under us," The Mokoro Village leader said.
Krulos raised an eyebrow. "We have three Beast Tamers and four hundred warriors."
"We have a hundred Therizinosaurus and two Brontosaurus. They will greatly increase our capabilities," the leader of Nana Village chimed in, pride evident in his voice. Their village was renowned for rearing dinosaurs, and the mention of such formidable beasts stirred excitement in the room.
Finally, the leader of Kuto Village, who had been silent for so long, spoke up, "We have two Shaman and three hundred warriors."
Masu calculated quickly, his brow furrowing in concentration. "Hmm, and with our four hundred and fifty warriors, our force will total over almost 2,200 people."
"Ah! That's a huge force. I'm sure with so many people we can challenge even those trolls in the south to a battle. "
"But don't forget it's not that easy. If we do that, the consequences could be very dire."
"I know. I have no intention of breaking the contract with them. I was just kidding."
"Huh! So what should be our next move?"
___________________________
The Imperial Capital—Rafa
Alberto and Circe cruised down the highway in the Chrysler Imperial with powerful V8 engine, the four-lane road stretching out before them like a ribbon. The city was alive and pulsating, the sounds of car horns, chatter, and music filling the air.
As they approached the intersection, the red light loomed ahead, and Alberto brought the car to a smooth stop. People began to cross the road, a sea of faces streaming past the car. Alberto and Circe watched as several boys and girls in school uniforms made their way across the street, their backpacks and bags slung over their shoulders.
They also caught sight of several policemen standing at the intersection, their eyes scanning the crowd as they worked to maintain law and order in the bustling capital.
Alberto turned to Circe. "So where do we go now?" he asked.
Circe's eyes sparkled with amusement. "There's going to be a concert today. Let's go there," she said, a grin spreading across her face.
Alberto's eyes widened in surprise. "Concert?" he repeated, his voice filled with excitement. "Haven't heard it in years."
Alberto chuckled. "Where will it be? Do you have a ticket?" he asked.
Circe rummaged through her bag and produced two tickets, which she waved triumphantly in the air. "Yes. My assistant purchased two tickets. I took them from her," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face.
Alberto raised an eyebrow. "Eh! You took it from her by force," he teased.
Circe laughed. "It's not like that. I gave her double the money," she said, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Alberto chuckled. "Ah! So where will it be?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Circe's eyes shone with excitement. "This concert will be on the fortieth floor of the Mile-High Tower," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alberto's eyes followed her gaze, and he looked up at the towering structure that dominated the city skyline. The Mile-High Tower was a marvel of engineering, its sleek glass and steel façade glinting in the sunlight.
According to Alberto, it would have been impossible to build such a massive structure without the system. He felt a sense of awe and wonder at the sheer scale of the tower.
"Okay," he said finally, his voice filled with excitement.
As they made their way to the Mile-High Tower, the crowd began to grow, a sea of faces streaming towards the tower. The police were out in force, trying to control the crowd and maintain order.
"A lot of people came to see the concert. It's very crowded," Alberto said.
Circe nodded, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Um...I heard that the most famous group in the country will be here today to perform."