Night had settled deep into the jungle.
The fire burned low, its light barely touching the surrounding trees.
Samaya stood still.
Three Horn stood beside him.
Both of them were looking down at the same thing.
Near the bushes, a tiny human moved carefully across the ground. She was a young lady, no bigger than Samaya's palm, gathering seeds and dry leaves as if preparing for something important.
Samaya's brows furrowed.
"…Who is she?" he whispered.
Three Horn tilted his head, curious, ears twitching softly.
Behind them, Bloody froze.
His body began to shake.
A low murmur escaped his throat—not a growl, not a bark.
Fear.
That sound reached Neel.
Neel stirred in his sleep, frowning.
"Bloody…?" he muttered as he opened his eyes.
He turned his head.
Bloody was trembling.
Wide-eyed.
Terrified.
Neel sat up instantly.
Something was wrong.
He followed Bloody's gaze—and then saw Samaya and Three Horn standing frozen, staring down at something.
Neel stood and walked toward them.
"What are you both looking—"
He stopped.
His breath caught.
Between the leaves and moonlight stood a tiny human.
Neel's face went pale.
"…That shouldn't be there," he said quietly.
Samaya turned to him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Neel swallowed, eyes still fixed on the tiny figure.
"This villager shouldn't exist in the Lower Town," Neel said.
"Not in this era."
Samaya frowned.
"What are you talking about, Neel?"
Neel hesitated.
Then slowly spoke.
"My grandparent used to tell stories," he said.
"Stories I never believed."
Samaya listened.
Neel continued, his voice uncertain.
"He said long ago, the world entered a New Era. When that happened, the planet began creating new beings."
He glanced at Three Horn.
"Creatures like him. Long-necked deer—very rare. Some of them were born with stones in the middle of their heads. Power stones. Living mana."
Samaya's eyes drifted to the faint glow beneath Three Horn's skin.
Neel nodded.
"But it wasn't just animals," he said.
"There were many kinds of creatures."
He shook his head slowly.
"I don't remember all of them. My grandparent didn't either."
Samaya felt a chill.
"…What happened to them?"
Neel's voice dropped.
"Some died when the world changed.
Some couldn't survive.
Some were hunted.
And some…" he paused, "…just disappeared."
He looked back at the tiny human.
"These are only fragments. Broken stories. Even I don't know how much is true."
Neel exhaled.
"That's why I never believed they existed."
The tiny human suddenly looked up.
Her eyes met Samaya's.
Not fear.
Curiosity.
Bloody stepped closer to Samaya, still trembling.
The jungle went silent.
As if the past had quietly stepped into the present.
The tiny girl hesitated.
Her hands tightened around her basket.
For a moment, it felt like she wanted to speak.
Then—
A sharp voice cut through the air.
"Come. Now."
A tiny woman appeared from behind the trees.
Older.
Stronger.
Her eyes widened when she saw Samaya and the others.
Without another word, she grabbed the girl's hand.
They ran.
Straight into the darkness.
Samaya took a step forward.
"Wait—!"
They were already gone.
Samaya stood frozen, staring at the path they disappeared into.
His chest felt tight.
"They need help," he said quietly.
Neel grabbed his arm.
"Samaya, stop. We don't know where that path leads."
But Samaya pulled free.
"If they live here," he said, "then something is wrong."
He ran.
Neel cursed under his breath.
"Idiot…" he muttered—and followed.
Behind them, Three Horn snorted angrily.
Bloody growled.
All four moved together.
⸻
The jungle slowly opened into a hidden village.
Samaya stopped.
What he saw made his blood boil.
People—human—stood in lines.
All the same height as Samaya.
Thin.
Tired.
Silent.
Chains.
Orders were shouted.
At the center stood a raised platform.
A boss watched from above.
Well-fed.
Smiling.
Power flowed around him.
Hierarchy was clear.
Samaya clenched his fists.
"They're slaves…"
Neel's face hardened.
Three Horn stamped the ground, the stone in his head glowing faintly.
Bloody's teeth bared.
They were angry.
Samaya stepped forward.
He didn't think.
He didn't plan.
He moved.
A guard noticed him.
"Who's there?!"
Weapons were raised.
More guards rushed in.
"Get him!"
Samaya stood in front of the villagers.
"You don't touch them," he said.
Neel swallowed hard.
"…So this is how it starts," he whispered.
Three Horn stepped beside Samaya.
Bloody took position in front.
Four against many.
The villagers looked up for the first time.
Hope flickered.
Samaya stepped forward.
Chains rattled.
Villagers froze.
The guards reacted instantly.
"Kill them!"
Steel flashed.
Neel moved first.
"Samaya!" he shouted. "We'll handle this!"
Samaya turned.
Neel was already fighting—guards rushing him from every side.
One. Two. Ten.
More kept coming.
Three Horn charged forward, the stone on his head glowing faintly.
Bloody leapt beside him, teeth bared, fearless.
Neel shouted again, louder this time.
"Go to the boss! We'll protect the villagers!"
Samaya hesitated.
Then he nodded.
"Don't die," he said.
Neel smirked.
"Same to you."
Samaya ran.
⸻
The palace stood above the village—cold and quiet.
Samaya burst through the doors.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Laughter echoed.
The boss sat calmly on a raised seat, smiling.
"So… you finally came," the boss said.
"I knew this day would arrive."
Samaya clenched his fists.
"You made slaves of them."
The boss laughed.
"This world needs order," he replied.
"And weak people exist to serve."
Samaya stepped forward.
"I won't let you touch them again."
The boss stood.
"Your power is useless," he said calmly.
"But your strength…"
His smile widened.
"…that might be interesting."
Mana surged.
The room shook.
Samaya charged.
The boss moved.
Their fists collided.
The impact cracked the floor.
The boss laughed loudly.
"Yes!" he shouted.
"Show me!"
Samaya gritted his teeth.
Outside—
Neel fought on.
Guards surrounded him—dozens.
Three Horn roared.
Bloody attacked without fear.
The village burned with chaos.
Inside the palace, fists clashed again.
The first real battle had begun.
End of Chapter 4