Moments after Scarface left, signs of anger appeared on Ateen's face. Before she could speak, Hamza broke the silence, saying:
"If you want us to lend you a hand, then we first need to understand why those creatures attacked… and why the king was killed."
Ateen looked at Hamza thoughtfully, then replied:
"Twenty-five years ago, before the founding of the Kingdom of Anomazon, all the women of Estrazone lived within the Estrazone Tree, while the Mazi tribe lived near the coast."
She continued her narration:
"Unifying the kingdom was not an easy task. There was a threat from an island known as 'Atlazon,' inhabited by creatures that resembled humans, but with fin-like skin similar to fish. They were known as the 'Sirion.' These creatures posed a serious danger to the Mazi tribe, who fought fierce battles against them and suffered heavy losses."
Ateen went on:
"The Mazi were in constant conflict with those creatures, whose numbers far exceeded theirs, causing them severe damage. As a result, they sought help from King Bodia I, the founder of the kingdom, and from our Estrazone tribe. At that time, the inventor Nikola Mask proposed uniting us and establishing the Kingdom of Anomazon to stop the threat of Atlazon. Thus, the wars between us and the Kingdom of Atlazon began."
She continued:
"Their king, named Aziron, sought to revive an ancient civilization known as Estlazon. He claims they are descendants of that great kingdom and wishes to restore its lost glory and dominate the world. To him, we are merely obstacles standing in the way of his vision. These attacks are just the first steps toward asserting his control and reclaiming what he believes is his lost inheritance."
Novich then added:
"Twenty years ago, my uncle Nikola used a powerful weapon designed specifically to fight the creatures of Atlazon—the weapon known as the 'Death Ray.' It was capable of melting or completely erasing anything, no matter how durable."
He continued:
"In his confrontation with their king, Aziron, my uncle unleashed a massive strike that nearly erased him completely."
Novich added sadly:
"At the time, we believed the king had been eliminated… but it seems he somehow survived. That is why I asked the king to repair this weapon, in preparation for any future confrontation."
After a moment of silence, Basil asked seriously:
"What did Scarface mean when he said the king committed a crime? What crime was he talking about?"
Ateen hesitated, then said in a heavy voice:
"The truth is… during five years of continuous war, King Bodia died, and his son, Godia, inherited the throne. During his war against the Sirion, King Godia ordered Nikola Mask to create explosives powerful enough to destroy the island of Atlazon entirely."
Hamza interrupted, concerned:
"Were those creatures living alone, or were there innocent people on that island?"
Ateen replied, sorrow filling her eyes:
"Unfortunately… yes. They lived there with their families—women and children."
Basil felt anger surge within him and said:
"What happened to them after that?"
Ateen answered in a quiet voice, heavy with emotion:
"When Nikola Mask planted the explosives and carried out the attack… no one survived. The island sank into the depths of the sea, taking with it the lives of everyone who lived there."
Silence filled the room, weighed down by shock. Basil stood up, glaring at her with furious eyes, then shouted:
"How could you allow yourselves to kill innocents?! They had no part in the conflicts fought by their warriors! How could a king decide such a cruel fate for them?!"
Ateen closed her eyes for a moment, then said:
"It was not an easy decision at all. King Godia chose to protect his kingdom and wanted to ensure the safety of his people at any cost. He believed that sacrificing Atlazon would bring security and peace to Anomazon."
She paused, then added in a quiet voice filled with bitterness:
"Sometimes… we are forced to choose a bad decision… to avoid something worse."
Shock appeared on Hamza's face. In a voice filled with disapproval, he said:
"There was another solution. Instead of destroying them, why didn't you try to reach a peace treaty? Or protect your kingdom without resorting to genocide?"
Ateen sighed:
"It was not that simple. Every attempt by the king to reach a peaceful truce had failed. It was like trying to negotiate with an enemy who never accepted peace and rejected all dialogue."
After a moment of silence, Basil stood up and left the meeting room. Hamza followed him.
As soon as they stepped away, Novich hurried after them and called out:
"Basil! Hamza! Wait! Where are you going?"
Basil replied sharply:
"We're leaving the kingdom and returning to our original goal… to continue what we started."
Novich caught up to them and spoke directly to both of them:
"I know how painful this is for you… but believe me, my uncle Nikola felt the same pain. He never supported using power this way, but he was forced. Even so, he spent his entire life blaming himself, and his health deteriorated because of that guilt."
Suddenly, Basil stopped, turned around, and grabbed Novich by the front of his clothes:
"Do you think what happened can be justified?!"
Novich did not resist. He looked at both Basil and Hamza and said:
"I'm not trying to justify it… but I'm worried about the people of Anomazon. These creatures we are facing possess great power, and they are led by a ruthless king who will not stop until he has his revenge."
Then he looked at them with hope:
"There's something about you both… something that makes me believe you might be the hope we need. Please… don't leave us now. Help us protect the innocent… help us prevent the past from repeating itself."
Hesitation appeared in Basil's eyes.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the sea, King Aziron moved through the dark waters, followed by his amphibious soldiers toward a massive cave.
The water was eerily calm, filled with strange sounds—like muffled wails and whispers.
When they reached the heart of the cave, Aziron emitted a deep sound from his horns.
From the darkness, a massive creature emerged.
She was enormous, covered in rough scales. Her deformed body looked like a terrifying fusion of a human and a sea monster. She had a distorted human face, glowing eyes, sharp teeth, long arms ending in claws, and a massive tail moving slowly behind her.
She approached Aziron and let out a deafening roar.
The king responded with another sound from his horns, standing firm.
Silence fell.
Then she stepped back slightly.
Aziron spoke in a deep, commanding voice:
"I know your pain and your loss. I understand the sorrow in your heart. But if you seek revenge for your child's death… then join us. Together, we will make your enemies an example."
Her eyes glowed, as if filled with unseen tears.
Then she lowered her head in loyalty.
Aziron smiled and placed his hand on her head:
"From this moment forward, we fight together. You are now part of our strength… and we will turn the tide of this war."
The soldiers looked on with astonishment and relief as they witnessed what had happened, realizing that their king had succeeded in gaining a powerful ally that had not been expected.