Paltio had never been separated from his friends since the journey began. Now that they had been captured by Zor, he felt utterly lost. He couldn't simply abandon them, search for the scepter piece, and leave as if nothing had happened.
"That damn Zor… Who does he think he is?" Pax—actually Lukeandria in disguise—muttered, her voice simmering with restrained anger. "He can't just override a high-ranking soldier of the Red Shadows like me."
"But he's right," Golden interjected seriously. "They weren't included in the agreement with Tejod."
"Yes… Poor Alita," Nakia added, lowering her gaze with concern.
"I hope that fool doesn't break under pressure," Chiki remarked, referring to Ron.
"All of this is my fault…" Kilibur whispered, crestfallen. "You shouldn't have rescued me. Ugh! Why does everything go wrong just when we were making progress here?" Paris exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.
Mok remained silent, watching Paltio with concern. He knew how much it pained him to see his friends in danger and the torment he was feeling at that moment.
Golden was about to suggest contacting Avocios but stopped himself. It would be too selfish to insist on that while Paltio was grappling with the weight of what might happen to his companions.
Rykaru, floating near Paltio, looked at him with sadness:
"Daddy, I know you're sad because they took your friends… I'm sorry. Rykaru feels sad too, because he can't do anything to help you."
Paltio looked at him with a mix of gratitude and melancholy.
"Thank you, Rykaru… But I don't know what to do right now."
"Master, we'll find a way to get them back," Mok said firmly, placing a hand on Paltio's shoulder. "You'll see, there's a way to save them."
Meanwhile, in a tower-like structure located near the edge of the realm, Zor had brought Alita and Ron, their hands and feet shackled. Upon reaching the highest level, he locked them in a small cell. With an evil smile, he addressed them before leaving:
"Well, you'll stay here until the specialist arrives to make you sing like canaries. I'll get every last word I need to know."
Zor exited through a door, leaving them alone. In the rest of the tower, other cells were either empty or contained people who appeared absent, their gazes distant and devoid of sound.
Ron tried to reassure Alita, though his own voice trembled with rage:
"Don't worry, Alita. We'll get out of here, and we won't say a word. We won't give that guy the satisfaction."
Alita lowered her head, trying to hold back tears.
"I don't know, Ron… That guy is terrifying. He froze me when he placed that cold sword against my throat. For a moment, I thought he was going to kill me right then… I thought it was the end."
"That damn coward… I hate him," Ron responded, clenching his fists. "I wanted to save you and finish him off for what he did to you. I wouldn't let them do anything to you, not even touch a single hair on your head."
"I know…" Alita said, her voice breaking as if on the verge of tears. "I know you'd do anything to save your friends. You're stubborn, just like Paltio… That's why you two have always gotten along so well."
"I'm sorry…" Ron murmured, his voice heavy with frustration. "I let my guard down against that guy. He was too fast. I didn't know what to do at that moment… My hands wanted to end him, but I couldn't… Forgive me. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, Alita."
He paused, as if struggling internally with his words.
"I couldn't defend you and, at the same time, keep the secret about Kilibur being with us. It's like putting two things I care about on a scale… I wouldn't know which one to choose."
"I understand…" Alita replied, still overwhelmed by everything that had happened.
A moment of silence passed between them, broken only by Ron's ragged breathing. Finally, he spoke with determination:
"But without a doubt… I'd choose you. You've been my friend for years, just like Paltio. Even if it meant giving up."
"What are you saying, Ron?" Alita retorted, turning toward him with flushed cheeks.
In Ron's mind, countless thoughts raced. The idea that something might happen to Alita without him first telling her how he felt tormented him. He didn't want to see her just as a friend; his feelings went much deeper. However, the words got stuck in his throat, forming an impossible knot to untangle.
For her part, Alita also wanted to say something. After all, Ron had saved her countless times, always managed to make her laugh with his antics, and had even died for her once, only to come back to life afterward. The thought that this journey might end much sooner than expected filled her with sadness. She knew that, perhaps, she might never get the chance to express what she truly felt for him.
In parallel, in the tower, a voice echoed from a conch shell placed on a desk. It was the general, calling Zor.
"Mr. Zor, what have you found about the guardian? And the package?" the general asked, referring to the fox Kilibur.
Zor swallowed hard before responding:
"Well, sir, the Sapurus was defeated. When we arrived, the fox wasn't there. The machine was destroyed, but there were no signs of violence at the door, as if something—or someone—knew how to get in. It was like the earth had swallowed him… or something made him disappear."
The general let out an irritated huff at the other end of the line.
"I don't care how it happened. I already have enough dealing with the unruly population. Listen carefully, Zor: you have three hours to find the fox, or you know what awaits you."
"But, sir," Zor tried to argue.
"Three hours!" the general repeated sternly, abruptly cutting off the communication.
Zor nervously nibbled on his index finger, knowing he had no time to waste. He decided to act quickly to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Just then, the door behind him opened slowly. Zor spun around, relieved to see who had entered.
"Ah, it's you! Good thing you're here."
The newcomer was a mysterious figure carrying a briefcase. He wore a dark brown coat, a hat of the same tone, and dark glasses that, along with a black scarf, covered almost his entire face. Only his jet-black hair was visible. His presence commanded respect, and his deep, unsettling voice echoed through the room:
"Where are my patients?"
Even Zor, accustomed to difficult situations, felt a shiver run down his spine upon hearing him.
"Wow, it's true what they say… You're a bit frightening, even for me."
The man slightly tilted his head, as if waiting for instructions.
"Very well, Doctor Ribeus, follow me. It's this way."
Doctor Ribeus followed Zor down a dimly lit hallway, its stone walls seeming to absorb any sound. The echo of their footsteps resonated eerily in the oppressive silence. Upon reaching the cell where Ron and Alita were held, the doctor stopped in front of the bars, observing the two young prisoners with an inscrutable gaze from behind his dark glasses.
With slow, deliberate movements, he opened his briefcase and extracted an instrument that looked like it had been pulled straight from a horror movie: a metallic device with sharp tips and gears that rotated in an almost hypnotic manner. He held it high, allowing the faint torchlight to reflect off its menacing gleam.
"It's time to begin," the doctor said in an icy voice, laced with a disturbing calm. A low, guttural laugh escaped his lips, echoing like a sound from beyond the grave. It was a blood-chilling noise, one that made it clear he relished every second of what he was about to do.