As Rian's party returned from World's End, what awaited them was unexpected chaos. In the Gnome and Dwarf Kingdoms, mechanical soldiers and giant statues had suddenly gone berserk, falling into an uncontrollable state. The mechanical soldiers were attacking citizens, and the giant statues were destroying the kingdoms' streets and buildings, turning the cities into a pandemonium. Flames spread, and citizens fled, engulfed in terror. Rian's party sensed that this chaos was no mere accident.
Behind this turmoil was the ambition of Predix and Gramic. Predix, through a secret deal with the Noktus, had tried to seize the power of the Crystal Core, planning to use it to take control of the kingdom. He was possessed by the desire to become the kingdom's new leader by gaining control of the mechanical soldiers.
Predix: "I'm the only one who can fix this chaos. If I control the mechanical soldiers, the kingdom will have no choice but to need me."
Gramic, too, with the technological support of the Noktus, harbored the ambition to tear down the old system of the Dwarf Kingdom and build a new one. He had intended to start a rebellion using giant statues and wooden contraptions, but they too began to slip from his control.
Gramic: "Our time has come. This chaos will place me at the center of the kingdom. If I solve the problem the leaders couldn't, everything will be mine."
However, what Predix and Gramic did not know was that the Noktus had been using their ambitions from the very beginning to throw the kingdoms into chaos. The Noktus had never trusted them and were merely using them to bring the kingdoms down. The Noktus had hidden a clever gimmick in the Crystal Core, planting a command that could control the mechanical soldiers and statues, and when it was activated, the kingdoms' armaments began to move according to the Noktus's will.
Noktus Agent: "The time of true chaos has come. Not only the kingdom's leaders but even Predix and Gramic will be unable to handle this situation. The chaos they've caused will be the perfect opportunity for us."
The mechanical soldiers grew more violent, and the statues advanced toward the heart of the kingdoms, causing even greater destruction. Predix and Gramic began to panic as the situation did not unfold according to their plans.
Predix: "This... this isn't what I planned..."
Predix's heart pounded as he watched the chaos before him. The plan he had spent countless sleepless nights on was falling apart. His confidence quickly crumbled as he saw the mechanical soldiers indiscriminately attacking citizens. He tried not to lose his reason, but he was overwhelmed by the fact that he was losing control of the situation. His hands trembled, and fear crept into his heart.
Predix: "Why... why aren't the mechanical soldiers listening to me? I secured control myself..."
He began to feel an even greater anxiety. His dream of becoming the leader of the kingdom was collapsing, and his ambition was now leading the kingdom to ruin. His belief that he could control everything had turned into a sense of betrayal. Predix didn't want to admit his mistake, but what was happening now clearly showed just how flawed his plan had been.
Predix: "Did I walk the wrong path? No, I can do this... I can..."
His voice began to tremble. He was starting to admit that he could no longer control this situation. At this moment, as everything he believed in came crashing down, Predix finally faced his own limitations. In his fear and anger, he would choose to cooperate with Rian's party, but the desire to seize power still remained within him.
Meanwhile, Gramic was watching the scene of the giant statues he had tried to control going berserk and destroying the city. He had intended to tear down the old system of the Dwarf Kingdom and establish a new one, but the statues were now beyond his control. Anger and a sense of betrayal raged in his heart.
Gramic: "This can't be... If it was as the Noktus promised, we should have been able to control the statues perfectly!"
Gramic flew into a rage. He shook his head at the fact that his plan was failing. His eyes were filled with fury, and his whole body was rigid with tension. He had believed this chaos was his chance to place himself at the center of the kingdom, but now, everything he had planned was collapsing.
Gramic: "The Noktus... they tricked us. I can't let it end like this. I have to turn this situation around, somehow."
Gramic lost his reason and tried to get the chaotic situation under control, but deep in his heart, his trust in the Noktus was wavering. He had believed he could control the situation, but he realized he had just been a pawn in the Noktus's game. His pride and confidence were shattered, and all those emotions threatened to consume him.
Gramic: "I believed I could change the kingdom... Was it all in vain?"
Anger and fear mixed within him. But he did not give up easily. Gramic still did not abandon his ambition and chose to cooperate with Rian's party, but he, too, was still hiding his own desires.
Predix and Gramic decided to cooperate with the kingdom and the returned Rian's party, hiding their ambitions.
Predix: "Alright, helping the kingdom must be the priority for now."
Gramic: "Our goal is still the same. But for now, it's right that we move together."
However, Rian was suspicious of Predix and Gramic's true intentions. They were pretending to help the kingdom while still hiding their own ambitions. Rian cautiously instructed his party to monitor their actions.
***
Episode : The Formation of the Alliance
Rian tried to persuade the leaders of the Gnome and Dwarf Kingdoms to form an alliance between the two nations. However, the path to an alliance was not a smooth one. The Gnome and Dwarf leaders refused to unite due to their long-standing mistrust and conflict with each other.
Gnome Leader: "The Dwarves have always coveted our technology. To ally with them is the same as abandoning our pride."
Dwarf Leader: "The Gnomes see us only as tools. What reason is there for us to join hands?"
Rian stepped forward to persuade them.
Rian: "Everyone, we are currently threatened by enemies from within and without. We cannot overcome this crisis unless we move beyond our differences and conflicts. We must become one to quell this chaos."
Brunok, drawing from his interactions with the Tosokin, emphasized the necessity of the alliance, stressing that the two races originally came from the same roots.
Brunok: "We all started from the same earth. As the Tosokin showed us, we Gnomes and Dwarves must understand and cooperate with each other. The only way to solve this chaos is for us to become one."
Nevertheless, both sides remained cautious. Ria, when the mechanical soldiers' attack was at its peak, used her magic to neutralize and temporarily halt them.
Ria: "Look, if we combine our strengths, we can stop them. If we do not unite, they will continue to rampage!"
Eris used her shamanism to block the attacks of the statues. Her magic bound the statues and cut off the energy that controlled them, buying the party time.
Eris: "I've stopped the statues' attack. Now we must find a way to control them. We can't do it alone. We must do it together."
Rian, using Marielle's power of light to protect the citizens, spoke to the leaders.
Rian: "If we do not unite, this chaos will not end. Now is the moment of decision. Please, join forces with us."
In the end, the leaders were persuaded by Rian's words. The Gnome and Dwarf Kingdoms finally decided to form an alliance. Predix and Gramic, pretending to have belatedly realized their mistakes, also decided to work with Rian's party to find a way to regain control of the Crystal Core.
Predix: "He's right... I was wrong. If this continues, the kingdom will fall. We must stabilize the Crystal Core and ensure this never happens again."
Gramic: "I am furious that the Noktus used us, but quelling this chaos must come first. I will cooperate, too."
Rian and the allied forces formulated a plan to stabilize the energy of the Crystal Core. They located the gimmick the Noktus had planted and cooperated with individuals possessing ancient wisdom to neutralize it.
Rian: "Let's combine all the power we have. Let's stabilize the Crystal Core and save the kingdom from this chaos."
Rian's party and the allied forces advanced toward the center of the kingdom, subduing the mechanical soldiers and statues. They fought a final battle at the location of the Crystal Core and neutralized the Noktus's manipulation. The energy of the Crystal Core gradually stabilized, and the ancient races and mechanical soldiers grew calm once more.
However, Rian was suspicious of Predix and Gramic's actions. They were still pretending to help the kingdom while continuing to advance their own plans in the background. Ria cautiously monitored them to uncover their true purpose.
The Moment of Betrayal
As the Crystal Core stabilized again, it seemed the kingdom was escaping the chaos. However, Rian, noticing that Predix and Gramic had disappeared, began to look for them. Just then, Ria quickly approached and said.
Ria: "Rian, look over there. They're doing something strange!"
Rian discovered Predix and Gramic secretly approaching the Crystal Core's central control room. They were trying to manipulate the control system to seize power once again. Rian made an instant decision.
Rian: "Now. We have to stop them!"
Rian and his companions rushed to the control room. Predix and Gramic were momentarily flustered to see them but soon turned with a composed expression.
Predix: "We were just trying to... for the sake of the kingdom..."
But Rian cut him off.
Rian: "Enough! Your real goal was power and control. It was never for the kingdom!"
Gramic made a final attempt to manipulate the Crystal Core, but Ria's wind magic pushed his hand away, subduing him.
Ria: "It ends here!"
Predix, realizing he had failed, desperately tried to make an excuse.
Predix: "No, this is a misunderstanding. We..."
But Rian's eyes were filled with resolve.
Rian: "A misunderstanding? You almost put the kingdom in danger again. We cannot forgive you for trying to deceive us all."
Rian completely sealed off the control room and subdued Predix and Gramic. The tension of that moment filled the room, and Rian's leadership shone through. He had made a decision to protect the safety of the kingdom and dealt with the traitors decisively.
The allied forces detained Predix and Gramic, uncovering all the details of their deal with the Noktus and their true plans. The kingdom was peaceful once more, and in the process, Rian had established himself as an even stronger leader.
Rian: "Now we must truly unite. We cannot let their betrayal stand."
Rian and the allied forces neutralized the mechanical soldiers and statues, advanced to the center of the kingdom, and subdued the remaining Noktus forces. The Crystal Core gradually stabilized, and the Gnome and Dwarf Kingdoms were peaceful once again.
With the victory of the allied forces, the Gnome and Dwarf Kingdoms were peaceful once more. Through this incident, Rian and his companions had found a way to resolve the kingdom's internal conflicts and external threats simultaneously, and the relationship between the two kingdoms became even stronger.
Rian: "We did it. But I know this isn't the end. There will be more challenges ahead. But we will fight them together."
Predix and Gramic also admitted their wrongdoings and agreed to cooperate in the reconstruction of the kingdom. They vowed to break free from the influence of the Noktus and strive to form a true alliance.
Brunok: "We'll get stronger. Together, we can overcome any threat."
Rian and his companions, now leading the new alliance of Gnomes and Dwarves, began to prepare for greater threats. The kingdoms had become stronger, and they resolved to move forward toward a new future together.