"What? Where are they? Damn it! ULF… you bastard bloodline!"
The King of NOSX roared in fury, his voice shaking the air like a storm.
Meanwhile…
"WOAH! Where are we?" Tal asked, scanning the unfamiliar terrain.
"ULF? Tal… is that you?"
He turned sharply.
"Elder Pilates? What are you doing in the south? You're supposed to be in the north!"
The warriors whispered among themselves, stunned and confused. Somehow, they had traveled over eight hundred and forty kilometers in less than a second—a feat normally taking hours, now accomplished in the blink of an eye.
Pilates dropped to his knees.
"Tal… ULF… save us! I made a terrible mistake banishing you. Please… forgive me!"
The warriors froze, trying to process what had just occurred.
"Please, Tal ULF," Pilates begged, "the King of NOSX will discover you here!"
Tal said nothing.
With a swift motion, he grabbed Pilates and surged forward, moving faster than sight itself toward the King of NOSX.
They collided in mid-air.
Tal used Pilates as a shield. A single blow from the King of NOSX struck Pilates—his body went limp. Tal flung him aside without hesitation and continued the fight.
BAM! WHAM! CH-CH-CH! BOP! BOP!
The two warriors exchanged strike after strike, each blow shaking the ground and sky.
After hours, they paused, breathless, observing one another.
"Now I understand why your predecessors could not be killed," the King of NOSX said, calm but wary.
"You are… formidable."
"Really?" Tal smirked. "Thanks, but I still intend to win."
"Ha ha ha! Kagemori is my name. Remember it, Tal ULF!"
GRRR… WHAM!
They clashed again, fiercer than before. Days passed, punches slowing, muscles burning, bodies collapsing simultaneously.
"ULF… you don't know how to lose. You win, but the people I care for… they die," Kagemori said quietly.
Tal's words hung in the air like thunder.
Soon after, the southern warriors found him, approaching cautiously.
"Who is the man beside you?" one whispered.
"Do not engage," Tal replied. "He is the King of NOSX."
Healing was swift for Kagemori—one day—while Tal required five.
During recovery, Kagemori explained his motives:
"ULF came to my land. At first, I thought him a fool—a man with one eye and one hand, daring to challenge me. I mocked him. I restrained him, tested him… yet he never stopped swinging. I offered him wine, and we laughed. He had an eye for a woman and… eventually, her child was born. His name: Jodia ULF."
Tal interrupted:
"You mean the land where the NOSX reside? ULF… he truly was determined."
Kagemori continued:
"I once went to August ULF, offering my support. But he dismissed me—focused on politics and control rather than strength. I warned him: your land is vulnerable. Rulers need wisdom, warriors need strength. Yet he didn't listen. Centuries passed… and Joggerland fell under attack. Titus ULF killed all but one of my men, humiliating us. That's when I set out."
"I confronted Titus," Kagemori said, eyes blazing. "Lightning coursed from his body, golden and wild. I could not believe it, but it was true… XAN, the fastest guardian, shielded him."
Tal's eyes widened.
"XAN… that's what saved Talia?"
"Exactly," Kagemori smirked. "You weren't fast enough—XAN kept pace. But now, you carry it too."
"I possess XAN?" Tal asked incredulously.
"Of course. You saw its work first-hand."
"Then… will you take me to the city of Vamps?" Tal asked. "My wife and the warriors… they want to see beyond our land."
"Yes," Kagemori replied. "But first… what of Titus?"
"I fled," kagemori admitted. "XAN protected him, and I could not avenge my men. Now… we move forward."
Together, they journeyed north to Vamps—250 kilometers from Joggerland.
Talia gasped at the city's beauty. Snow blanketed the streets. Sunlight barely touched the ground. Their warriors and her father stood amazed.
Kagemori led them to his castle, warm inside despite the icy exterior.
"Guests have arrived," he announced. "Prepare food."
When the dining hall filled with dishes, Talia froze.
"What is this?" she asked, horrified. "We don't eat raw meat."
"It's boiled… for three minutes," Kagemori replied calmly.
Talia blinked, staring at grilled mackerel, sushi, and chilled milk before her. The illusion of raw meat was merely a trick—XAN had delivered proper food for her without her noticing.
She took a bite. Delight replaced disgust.
"Hmm… she likes it," Kagemori whispered to himself, smiling.
After the meal, they toured the city. The NOSX people had pale skin—an adaptation to the cold, while Kagemori's own skin remained naturally warmer.
As night fell, Tal and Talia finally found alone time.
The baby yawned. Tal tucked him in.
"Why do you always stare at nothing?" Tal asked gently.
"I'm not staring at nothing," Talia replied softly. "I wonder… beyond the clouds and seas, could there be others living better lives? With better food?"
"Better food?" Tal chuckled. "You seemed to enjoy the meat."
"No… just forget it," she muttered, hiding a smile.
"You are one hell of an observer," Tal said, pulling her close.
The stage was set: new alliances, ancient powers, and a journey into a world beyond their own.