Footsteps echoed through the stone walls of the palace.
The sound of breathless running…
Queen Ezha, eyes closed in thought on her throne, felt the sound growing closer.
She opened her eyes in curiosity—
The great door burst open.
Natal entered—his armor coated in dust, face drenched in sweat and dread.
Natal (panting):
> "My Queen… you must listen to me. Quickly.
The outer zone... it's far more dangerous than we thought.
And far more... organized."
Queen Ezha (sternly):
> "Speak, Natal. I'm listening."
Natal took several deep breaths.
His expression was a mix of fear and revulsion.
Natal:
> "Yesterday morning, I infiltrated the outer zone under guard protection.
It was a wasteland.
Children barefoot on sharp stones… elders dying on the sidewalks.
But that's not what terrified me the most..."
Queen Ezha:
> "Go on."
Natal:
> "I observed carefully. And I kept hearing one name:
The Thing.
I decided to find him.
Before long, I spotted a group of large, muscular men gathering in secret.
I hid behind a pile of trash to watch."
Queen Ezha leaned forward. Tension filled the air.
Natal:
> "And there—The Thing was meeting with the so-called leader of the outer zone.
They were making a deal.
I couldn't hear all of it…
But then, the leader summoned his strongest man—
A giant.
Bloodthirsty."
Natal's voice began to tremble.
Natal:
> "They brought a weak man forward.
That brute… tore him apart.
Literally—ripped him in two without hesitation."
Queen Ezha held her breath.
The council chamber fell into chilling silence.
Natal (continuing):
> "Everyone stood in shock.
Even I froze.
But one man didn't.
The Thing…
was laughing.
Not a mad laugh… a drunken one. Euphoric.
That laugh… it froze my soul."
Queen Ezha (shocked):
> "And then?"
Natal:
> "The giant charged at him in rage.
But The Thing… just snapped his fingers.
And the beast collapsed—like a lifeless sack."
Queen Ezha swallowed hard. Council members exchanged uneasy glances.
Natal (whispers):
> "I thought it was a trick…
Until I saw him bring the torn man back to life.
His shattered body... reformed.
He stood up.
Not a single scar remained."
Queen Ezha (rising):
> "W–what are you saying, Natal?
That's… that's impossible!"
Natal:
> "I thought so too.
But it wasn't over.
Everyone there—
Even the leader—
Dropped to their knees before him.
Not in fear...
In worship."
The Queen sat back down, her eyes lost in the distance.
Natal continued.
---
⚔️ The Council Chamber – Assembly of the Elite
Queen Ezha ordered:
Queen Ezha:
> "We must bring this to the council.
Call them—immediately."
Soon, the grand chamber was filled.
The Queen sat at the head.
Natal stood at her side.
Council Member 1:
> "Your Majesty, Natal…
Please, tell us everything."
Natal recounted the events in even more detail.
The tension in the room grew.
Then, one councilor raised a skeptical question.
Council Member 2:
> "We need more than stories.
Was there a more concrete incident?"
Natal:
> "Yes…
And it was worse."
---
Natal:
> "The Thing and his men entered the main square.
At that moment, a pregnant elderly woman was being robbed by a thief.
The Thing approached them and calmly asked the thief why.
The thief said, 'I'm hungry… I need it.'"
A pause.
Natal's voice cracked.
Natal:
> "Then he turned to the crowd and shouted:
> 'We will rise together!
We will live like them!
We will take their palaces!'
> The crowd cheered. Roared.
And then… and then…"
Queen Ezha:
> "What, Natal? Tell me!"
Natal (struggling):
> "He pulled a rusted pipe off a building.
Long… sharp… corroded.
And he…
he stabbed it through the woman's stomach.
Until it came out her back.
She screamed, and that sound—it's still echoing in my head."
Silence.
The council was frozen in horror.
Natal:
> "And then he said:
> 'The weak are a burden.
Weakness is a disease.'
> And no one opposed him.
Not one.
In fact…
> They started shouting:
'Kill the weak!'
> Children… the elderly… the sick… women…
They were slaughtered.
I could only look at his face—
He was smiling.
Not a man…
A curse.
> The outer zone didn't just lose people that day, my Queen...
It lost its humanity."
---
Council Leader (rising):
> "This is no rebellion.
This is war.
From this day forward, all able-bodied men will begin military training.
We will construct an underground shelter for women, children, the elderly, and the disabled.
Our bloodline must survive.
This may be an apocalypse war."
---
Queen Ezha returned to her throne.
Her eyes were steel.
Queen Ezha:
> "Tell the people what's coming.
Alert the guards.
Prepare the battalions.
These walls aren't just made of stone—
This time… we protect them with our hearts."
In the inner zone, horses were saddled, swords were sharpened, and the first picks struck the earth underground.
A young soldier's voice rang out:
> "Blood may stain our walls…
But this time, it will be for defense!"