The convoy moved deeper into the jungle.
The air grew heavier.
The wolfbeast camp was close.
Takeru walked beside Kaito.
"…How did you meet that kid?" he asked.
Kaito didn't look at him.
"Let's just say… our past wasn't pretty."
Takeru glanced ahead at Saito.
"…His Auris feels different."
Kaito gave a faint smirk.
"I've known that for a long time."
Soon, the camp came into view.
Tents stretched across the clearing.
Wolfbeasts moved about—until they noticed them.
"…They're back!"
"Call Sir Jackal!"
"The hostages are here!"
Chaos broke out.
Wolfbeasts rushed forward, checking Takeru and the others—
Looking for injuries. Signs of harm.
Then—
Jackal stepped forward.
"You escaped?"
Takeru shook his head.
"No."
"…Their leader let us go."
Jackal's eyes narrowed immediately.
"Search them."
Guards stepped forward.
"We need to make sure there are no tracking devices."
Takeru raised his hand.
"That won't be necessary, Sir Jackal."
Jackal's gaze hardened.
"We can't take risks."
"If we miss something… they'll find our location."
Takeru stood firm.
"I already spoke with their leader."
"I believe we can cooper—"
"Wait."
Jackal cut him off.
The air turned tense.
"…What did you just say?"
Takeru fell silent.
Feina gently held his hand.
He looked at her—then back at Jackal.
"…We should negotiate with them."
A murmur spread among the wolfbeasts.
Jackal let out a short breath.
"…Takeru."
His voice dropped.
"Are you betraying our purpose?"
Takeru shook his head immediately.
"No."
"But I believe this conflict can end."
Jackal stepped closer.
"It can't."
His eyes narrowed.
"…And right now, I smell something on you."
A pause.
"Something that tells me…"
"…you've become a traitor."
Takeru didn't step back.
"I'm not."
His voice stayed steady.
"I'm thinking about our future."
"…Our next generation."
Saito, Kaito, and Takashi stepped into the camp.
The reaction was immediate.
"…Humans!"
"They're here!"
Wolfbeasts surrounded them from all sides.
Weapons ready.
Eyes filled with hostility.
Takeru quickly stepped forward.
"Wait! They're here to negotiate!"
The crowd hesitated—but didn't lower their guard.
Jackal's voice cut through the noise.
"You brought them here?"
Takeru faced him.
"You need to trust me, sir."
Before Jackal could respond—
A sudden pressure filled the air.
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
Auris.
Every wolfbeast turned instinctively.
Jackal stepped aside immediately.
"…My lord."
From behind him—
Orun walked forward.
The entire camp fell silent.
His presence alone was enough.
His gaze locked onto Saito.
Cold. Sharp. Unwavering.
"…So," Orun said.
"You're the human leading them."
Saito met his eyes without hesitation.
Neither of them looked away.
"…You have five minutes," Orun continued.
"State your business… human."
The wolfbeast soldiers tightened their circle.
Tension rose instantly.
Kaito slowly raised his knife—
Saito lifted his hand slightly.
"…It's fine."
Kaito paused—then lowered it.
Saito took a step forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Saito stepped forward, calm and steady.
"…You can return to the village now."
He looked around at the wolfbeasts.
"Back to your home."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Disbelief. Confusion. Suspicion.
Orun's eyes narrowed.
"…And why should we trust you?"
His voice was low.
"Maybe you already prepared weapons… waiting for the right moment to kill us."
Saito didn't stop walking.
"I didn't."
He stopped only a few steps away from Orun.
"This conflict needs to end… now."
Orun let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
"…I've lived far longer than you, boy."
His gaze sharpened.
"I know how humans think."
Before the tension could rise further—
Takashi stepped forward.
"I can assure you, Orun."
Orun turned slightly.
"…You."
"Isn't that the mayor's son?"
Takashi nodded.
"Yes. I am Takashi."
His voice stayed steady.
"And I'm telling you—we truly welcome you back."
"We can live like before."
Orun's expression darkened.
"…Before?"
His voice lowered.
"That time no longer exists."
A pause.
"Not after your father cast us out."
Takashi closed his eyes briefly.
"…I know."
When he opened them again, his voice was firmer.
"It was a mistake."
"But I am the mayor now."
"I want to fix it."
"To end this war… and bring coexistence like you once believed in."
Orun turned his face away slightly.
"…That idea…"
He clenched his fist.
"…It's useless."
"It's impossible."
Takashi didn't step back.
"Then he was wrong."
A brief silence.
"And I'll prove it."
"But only if we end this war first."
Orun's expression hardened.
"…Then prove it."
His voice dropped.
"Seize them."
In an instant, the wolfbeasts moved.
Kaito was grabbed.
Takashi was restrained.
The camp erupted into chaos.
Saito's eyes widened.
"Stop this, Orun!"
His voice sharpened.
"You'll only bring harm to your own people!"
Orun didn't hesitate.
"I'm not."
His gaze stayed cold.
"I'm bringing them back to their homeland."
Saito struggled against Jackal's grip as he was pinned from behind.
"You're making it worse!"
Orun stepped forward.
"You have no right to tell me how to lead my people."
Saito's voice stayed firm.
"They want peace."
"But you're choosing war."
"That's the opposite of everything I heard about you."
Orun's eyes narrowed.
"…You talk too much."
He lunged.
A claw shot forward toward Saito—
But before it could reach him—
Feina stepped in front.
Time seemed to stop.
The claw pierced her.
Silence fell across the camp.
Takeru's eyes widened.
"…No!"
He rushed forward and caught her before she fell.
"Feina!!"
Orun froze.
His hand was still extended.
Blood on his claws.
For the first time—
his expression cracked.
Shock.
Murmurs spread through the camp.
Fear. Confusion.
The wolfbeasts stepped back, shaken.
Takeru held Feina in his arms.
"Stay with me… please…"
Feina looked up at him weakly—
…and smiled.
Takeru clenched his jaw.
"My lord… we have to stop this."
His voice trembled.
"This has gone too far."
Orun stood frozen for a moment.
"…We can't."
His voice was low.
"…It's already begun."
Takeru shook his head.
"Please… my lord…"
A pause.
Orun looked around.
"…Is there a healer?"
Silence.
No one moved.
Takashi stepped forward.
"I can help."
All eyes turned to him.
Orun hesitated—then nodded.
"…Let him go."
The guards released Takashi immediately.
He rushed to Feina's side and knelt down.
"Hold on…"
He raised his hand—
A soft yellow light glowed from his palm.
Auris flowed gently into her wound.
The bleeding slowed.
Her breathing steadied.
Saito watched quietly.
"…You see, Orun?"
He stepped forward.
"This is what our hatred creates."
Orun didn't reply immediately.
His gaze stayed on Feina… then shifted to his people.
"…I can't let them suffer like I did."
Saito met his eyes.
"They won't."
A pause.
"I promise."
Silence stretched across the camp.
Orun exhaled slowly.
Then—
"…Release them."
Jackal stiffened.
"Sir… but they—"
"That's an order."
Jackal hesitated.
"…You're trusting them?"
"…What about our purpose?"
Orun closed his eyes briefly.
"…I was wrong."
He opened them again.
"I only saw the worst in humans… and never had the courage to try again."
A quiet breath.
"But now…"
"I will."
He looked directly at Saito.
"…Do I have your word?"
"For my people's safety?"
Saito didn't hesitate.
"…You do."
The wolfbeasts slowly released Saito and Kaito.
The tension in the air finally eased.
Orun looked at his people.
"…Prepare yourselves."
A pause.
"We're going home."
For a second—silence.
Then—
Howls erupted across the camp.
Joy. Relief. Disbelief.
Saito smiled quietly.
It was over.
Or so it seemed.
A laugh echoed behind them.
"…Heh."
All eyes turned.
Jackal stood there, shaking his head slightly.
"This is insane."
Orun frowned.
"…Jackal?"
Jackal looked up, smiling faintly.
"You've always been like this."
A step forward.
"Soft… even when you try to act strong."
Orun's expression hardened.
"What are you—"
Stab.
Everything froze.
Jackal's blade pierced straight into Orun's stomach.
Orun's eyes widened.
"…What…?"
Blood dripped down slowly.
The camp fell into silence.
Jackal leaned closer.
"…Looks like I'll be taking your place."
His voice turned cold.
"For the sake of our purpose."