Hours after Nyabu's forces, bolstered by Galica's reinforcements, departed the village, nearly five thousand soldiers joined their ranks under the command of General Fumi.
Fumi, a red-haired Habino with an eyepatch, hailed from a race that wielded fairy-like powers. Like Agane, he was an Alpha-class warrior and a loyal servant of Queen Sei, tasked with protecting the kingdom's territories. Renowned for his eyes' ability to curse enemies in an instant, Fumi rode at the front of the convoy in a steel carriage reserved for Escapa officers, accompanied by Toto and Nyabu.
Despite his covered eye, Fumi sensed the energy around him and noticed Nyabu's restlessness. Her anxiety over General Ataparag's safety was palpable, prompting him to speak.
"Are you worried about your General?" he asked gently.
Caught off guard, Nyabu and Toto hesitated. Nyabu began to explain, her voice tinged with both admiration and concern. She had witnessed Ataparag fight countless times and was convinced of his strength, even without unleashing his true monstrous form. "His ability to use insects to drain an enemy's energy and turn them into explosives is remarkable," she said. "He's clever, too—planting insects on opponents without them noticing by channeling energy through the air."
She praised Ataparag's combat prowess but admitted her fear. Alone, he faced great risk. If he reached his limit using his powers, he could be in grave danger. Nyabu had fought alongside him on missions and knew it took Ataparag a few seconds to summon his insects. A powerful foe who could exploit this weakness might overpower him.
Fumi interrupted her explanation. "I don't think that's the real reason you're so worried."
"What do you mean?" Nyabu asked, puzzled.
"I recall you two were assigned to watch Ataparag for a specific mission, correct?" Fumi said.
He recounted how Nyabu and Toto had grown close to Ataparag over the years, treating him like family. Fumi didn't blame them, noting how Ataparag had changed since Queen Sei accepted him. "I've worked with her before," Fumi said. "His behavior, attitude, and perspective have shifted dramatically. She acts like a true human with a heart now."
Fumi then addressed their deeper concern. "You're also worried she might break her sworn oath to His Majesty, aren't you?"
Nyabu didn't respond, but her expression betrayed the truth. Fumi reminded them of their mission: to monitor Ataparag and kill her if she ever consumed another being. Nyabu shook her head, dreading the thought. Ataparag was alone, facing thousands of monsters, and the temptation to break his oath to defeat them could arise.
The carriage fell silent. After a moment, Fumi sighed. "Honestly, Her Majesty wasn't entirely serious about that mission. I'm not even sure why she gave you that order."
Nyabu's eyes widened, confused. She held immense respect for Sei, believing every command was deliberate and significant. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Fumi explained that the true purpose of their mission was to help Ataparag transform her way of life and understand what it meant to live like other beings. It aligned with Sei's promise to give him a new life after their agreement. Ataparag had lived as a savage monster for ages, where devouring others—especially humans—was natural. Sei believed she needed companions to grasp the value of life, which was why she assigned him a team to bond with daily.
"From what I see, she considers you both family," Fumi added. "Your mission has been a success."
"But what about the order to kill her and retrieve the crimson item for Her Majesty?" Nyabu pressed.
Fumi clarified that the crimson item wasn't as vital to Sei as they thought. She had likely given the order to give them a purpose if Ataparag ever went rogue. "queen Sei probably knew neither of you could stop her if it came to that," Fumi said. "No one among us could easily defeat Ataparag. She's a Grand Chaos, after all."
Nyabu gasped, stunned. As a Katsuki, she knew of the Demon Continent and its seven feared kings, the Grand Chaos—legendary beings of immense power. "The books say the Demon Continent's kings wield strength rivaling a Columbus or Warlord," she said, still skeptical. Ataparag was powerful, but she lacked the malevolent aura she expected from such a being.
"There's no doubt," Fumi confirmed. "Not even five generals, including Agane, could stop him back then. She fought them all at once. Only His Majesty could match him."
Fumi recounted a mission Sei led to topple the Hebero Kingdom in the Demon Continent, which had repeatedly attacked Escapa territories. The war lasted two days, ending with Sei defeating its king and bringing the kingdom to its knees. Ataparag surrendered, striking a deal with Sei to relinquish his kingdom in exchange for a chance to live as a normal being.
"Live normally?" Nyabu asked, baffled. "Why would a monster king want that?"
"I know it's hard to believe she'd trade wealth, status, and power for something so simple," Fumi said. "But her circumstances were unique, altered by a single mistake."
"What mistake?" Nyabu pressed.
Fumi explained that Ataparag hailed from the rare Genion and Demon Beast lineage. "Genion was the term for soul eaters before the first racial wars," he said. Despite her Genion heritage, Ataparag's Demon Beast nature dominated, and she never mastered the Genion ability to manipulate spirits. However, she inherited their power to absorb the energy of those she consumed, which allowed him to surpass her kin and rule as a king for centuries.
But before Sei's attack, Ataparag faced members of the Cross Guard. During that battle, he consumed several of them to bolster her energy and gain their abilities. "She didn't just absorb their energy," Fumi said. "She took their emotions, personalities, traditions, memories—everything."
This changed her worldview profoundly. The Ataparag they knew was no longer the monstrous Grand Chaos of legend. "Still, Queen Sei knew her nature could resurface if she consumed another being," Fumi added. "That's why their agreement forbids it."
"Now I understand why her Majesty called her special," Nyabu said. "But why don't I sense her overwhelming energy?"
Fumi explained that Ataparag's crimson item sealed her immense power, as her human-like body couldn't contain the energy of a Grand Chaos. "When she accepted the item, she surrendered her full power as a Grand Chaos."
Nyabu's mind eased, realizing Ataparag's hidden strength meant she wasn't as vulnerable as she feared. Fumi bowed his head slightly, adding, "I'll be honest—she's not as strong ass he was when he fought us. But one thing's certain: General Ataparag won't die easily in battle."
Nyabu smiled, reassured by Ataparag's resourcefulness and combat skill. She was confident she could survive until they reached him. But Fumi's expression grew serious. "There's one thing I fear about Ataparag now."
Nyabu's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"
"If Ataparag chooses to destroy her crimson item and revert to her monstrous form to defeat her enemies," Fumi said gravely, "she may never return to her human form again."
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