Scene changes to before Fernanda's call, in Mineforde.

  "More people! This king is getting old!" complained Takemichi.

  "He's still your ruler, so show more respect in your words!" warned the head of the guard.

  "It must be better than having the prince in charge. In any case, it's good to see Mineforde gaining more life!" commented Takemichi.

  "That's true, but, just like you, I would also like the kingdom to wait a little longer before sending civilians here," replied the head of the guard.

  Takemichi received a call from Fernanda.

  "Is there a problem?" asked Takemichi.

  "Why do you always think it's a problem when I call?" replied Fernanda.

  "But isn't it always?" replied Takemichi.

  "Not this time. I'm just informing you that there's something wrong with the mini-ghoul, and I'm going at the request of the institute to try to find out what it is," explained Fernanda.

  — Okay, keep me informed. — Takemichi replied.

  — Okay! Kay's group is already heading to the Second Division. — Fernanda added.

  — It was faster than expected. They did a good job. — Takemichi praised.

  — Aren't you surprised? — Fernanda asked.

  — I talk to Rem every day. I was informed of their progress. — Takemichi replied.

  — That's all I had to tell you. I'll call Kay if necessary to order the mini-ghoul. Do you want me to pass on a message? — Fernanda asked.

  — Just tell him they're doing a good job and to keep progressing like this. — Takemichi replied.

  — I'll pass on the message. Good job! — Fernanda said.

  — To you too. Good luck! — Takemichi concluded, ending the call.

  Soon after, a woman approached.

  — Excuse me, captain. Would you mind taking a picture with my daughter? — the woman asked.

  — Okay. — Takemichi replied, putting away his cell phone.

  — Thank you! — said the girl's mother.

  Takemichi picked up the girl.

  — Do you like soldiers? — he asked.

  — Yes! — the girl replied, smiling.

  — Thank you. The soldiers like you too! — said Takemichi, returning the smile.

  The little girl beamed as her mother positioned the camera to take the picture.

  — Smile for the camera! — asked Takemichi.

  After the picture, the mother and daughter thanked her.

  — Thank you! — said Takemichi, putting the little girl on the ground.

  They walked away, returning to the other civilians.

  — No one asks the guards! — commented the head of the guard.

  — They always see you in the kingdom, so let us have our moments of glory! — Takemichi replied.

  — I was just joking. We're popular too! — laughed the head guard.

  — That's all you wanted to say, wasn't it? Whatever, let's see how... — Takemichi was interrupted by the sudden darkening of the sky.

  Booms echoed throughout Mineforde, causing an uproar.

  — What was that? — asked the head guard, alarmed.

  — Gather the civilians in the city and, when you have the chance, run away! — ordered Takemichi, as he grabbed his two axes.

  — Run away? Don't expect them to have that chance! — said a deep voice.

  Facing Takemichi, away from the houses, a ghoul revealed itself.

  — A ghoul that talks? I didn't think I'd actually see one! — said Takemichi, surprised, but with a defiant tone.

  Panic took over the city, with civilians running in despair.

  — You avoided falling on the houses and people... So it's me you want? — Takemichi asked.

  “Captain?” — Joana called, approaching with other leaders.

  “These humans also seem strong, but it won't be fun to face them,” said the ghoul, looking at the leaders with disdain.

  “The ghoul speaks!” — Lena commented, frightened.

  “So, does that mean you only want to face me? If that's the case, let's go somewhere else and play!” — Takemichi said, in a provocative tone.

  “Don't get me wrong. You're a captain, right? I want to test the strength of one of you. If you're able to amuse me, we'll leave and we won't kill any humans. Otherwise, I'll devour you and everyone else here!” — declared the ghoul.

  “Are you taking hostages?” — Takemichi asked, irritated.

  One of the ghouls manifested a tentacle, destroying one of the houses with ease.

  — It seems I have no choice. I accept your challenge! — Takemichi said, staring at the ghoul with determination.

  — So that you don't create false hopes, there are more of us coming to surround these walls. So don't even think about running away and throw your communication devices here. — said the ghoul, with a dark smile.

  "They even know about that?" — thought Takemichi, narrowing his eyes.

  — Tell everyone to leave here, all the communication devices they are carrying! — ordered Takemichi, as he placed the radio and cell phone on the floor.

  — Captain? — asked Lena, worried.

  — I just need to defeat this bastard, and you can leave! — said Takemichi, without taking his eyes off the ghoul.

  — Are you provoking me before the fight, human? Excuse me, but I don't have such emotions! — replied the ghoul, starting to walk.

  Takemichi followed him, moving away from the city they had rebuilt with so much effort.

  The ghouls watched everything in silence, their gazes empty but full of threat.

  "That's an order! Everyone leave your radios and cell phones here in the middle and wait for the captain to return!" Joana commanded, placing her devices on the ground.

  "If it weren't for the civilians, maybe we could attack these ghouls here!" Yan thought, clenching her fists in anger.

  "No! The houses would be destroyed and many of us would die," Ryuji replied firmly.

  "These ghouls aren't normal!" Lena said, visibly frightened.

  "For now, let's just do what they asked. Organize the people. One by one, bring the devices and make sure no one hides their cell phones!" Joana instructed, maintaining her composure.

  "Right!" the leaders replied, moving quickly towards the civilians, soldiers and guards spread throughout the city.

  Joana looked at the ghouls, who remained impassive.

  — They're going to organize the humans. — Joana said, with a hint of nervousness in her voice.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  — I don't care, human. As long as you don't use your devices to ruin the general's fun! — one of the ghouls replied, with disdain.

  "General?" — Joana thought, confused and alarmed.

  Further away from the city, still inside Mineforde, Takemichi and the general stopped in a desolate place.

  — We've already moved far enough away. — said the ghoul, turning slowly.

  Takemichi cast a quick glance over his shoulder, checking the distance from the city.

  — We can begin! — said Takemichi, his posture showing readiness.

  — Not yet. We know there are humans scattered around these walls. Wait for the ghouls to gather everyone. — ordered the general.

  From the sky, more ghouls descended at high speed, hitting parts of the wall and destroying the defense weapons installed there. The booms echoed, making it clear that the plan was carefully orchestrated.

  — Was that the objective? I see you are well informed. — commented Takemichi, with a sharp tone.

  — If you don't want the information to leak, then don't leave any survivors! — shouted the ghoul general to his subordinates.

  Takemichi, in an unexpected movement, sat on the ground, crossing his arms.

  — What do you think you're doing?! — exclaimed the general, irritated.

  — Waiting for the humans to gather. Isn't that what you said? — replied Takemichi, with a smirk.

  — Insolent! — growled the ghoul, his voice filled with fury.

  — What is it? I thought you had no emotions. — provoked Takemichi, raising an eyebrow.

  — If you want to die so much... — muttered the ghoul, with a sinister aura beginning to emanate from his body. The dark energy spread throughout Mineforde, like a veil of death.

  — Gather all the humans together! I'm going to start having fun! — shouted the general, his voice reverberating like thunder.

  "This aura... It looks like... No, it's not that. Theirs are different!" — thought Takemichi, feeling a chill as he slowly stood up.

  The general's dark aura began to gradually diminish, allowing the environment to return to normal. The air, which had previously felt heavy and suffocating, eased as if a storm had receded.

  “Interesting. Even ghouls fall before me when I make my intention known,” the general said with a cold smile, his eyes shining with superiority.

  “Good for you. Shall we begin now?” Takemichi exclaimed, raising one of his axes and pointing it directly at the ghoul, as if drawing a line between them.

  The general laughed, a low, contemptuous laugh that echoed across the field.

  “You are quite arrogant, human. Let’s see if you do half as much as you say!” the ghoul retorted, as his tentacles began to manifest, emerging from his back like living, hungry serpents.

  The tentacles writhed in the air, charged with a threatening energy, while the ground around them trembled slightly with the force emanating from the monster.

  The ghoul general leaned forward slightly, ready to attack.

  One of his tentacles shot toward Takemichi at high speed, tearing through the air with a deafening hiss.

  "He's fast!" — Takemichi thought, his eyes widening as he realized how fast the attack was.

  He gripped the handle of the axe tightly and, with an agile movement, dodged to the right at the last moment. As the tentacle passed by him, he turned his body and made a precise cut. The edge of the axe's blade shone as it tore off a piece of the tentacle, which fell to the ground with a dry sound.

  The general retracted what was left of the tentacle, watching Takemichi with an expression that oscillated between surprise and satisfaction.

  "Interesting. I didn't expect you to be able to dodge... and on top of that, cut!" — said the ghoul, a smile appearing on his monstrous face.

  Takemichi adjusted his stance, holding the axe firmly and facing the enemy without hesitation.

  “Is this just a warm-up?” he exclaimed teasingly.

  The ghoul general didn’t respond right away. Instead, the severed tentacle began to regenerate rapidly, piece by piece, until it was completely whole again. It was as if it had never been injured.

  “Rapid regeneration… That’s complicated,” Takemichi thought, frowning.

  The ghoul advanced again, but this time it was different. Now, the four tentacles advanced in unpredictable directions, undulating like snakes ready to strike. Takemichi knew that if he made a mistake, he would be crushed or impaled.

  "Four at once?! It won't be easy..." — Takemichi gritted his teeth, his eyes quickly assessing the movements.

  With his eyes fixed on the tentacles, he made a quick spin, using both axes to repel two of them. The impact was strong, and the metallic sound echoed across the field. Meanwhile, the other two tentacles came towards him from below and from the left side.

  Takemichi jumped back, rolling on the ground to avoid the blow from below, but one of the tentacles still grazed his leg, tearing the fabric of his armor and leaving a shallow cut.

  "Not bad, human!" exclaimed the ghoul, laughing cruelly. "But you're just delaying the inevitable!"

  Takemichi stood up quickly, ignoring the pain. He twirled the axe in his right hand and pointed the blade at the general.

  "If you think this will stop me, you're very wrong. I haven't even started yet!"

  The ghoul laughed, his fangs bared.

  "Then show me what you can do, because now I'll stop playing around!"

  Suddenly, the tentacles lengthened, stretching like giant whips. They hit the ground with such force that they raised a cloud of dust, creating craters in the ground. Takemichi tried to dodge, but the speed and unpredictability of the attacks made each move more dangerous.

  "He's forcing my reactions." — Takemichi gripped the handles of his axes and advanced directly towards the general.

  The tentacles came like living walls to block his path, but Takemichi jumped over one of them and, in the air, swung both axes in a downward motion trying to hit the ghoul's head.

  But the ghoul general reacted quickly. He crossed two tentacles over his head, blocking the axes. The impact generated a shockwave that knocked down rocks and shook the surrounding trees.

  “Not bad…” the ghoul said, his eyes shining with pleasure. “But it’s going to take more than that to take me down!”

  With a brutal movement, the ghoul swung his tentacles, throwing Takemichi backwards like a rag doll. Takemichi crashed into the ground hard, rolling several times before getting up, breathing heavily.

  “Tsk… Brute strength and regeneration. This guy isn’t just fast, he’s tough!” Takemichi wiped the blood that was dripping from his mouth.

  The ghoul advanced again, but this time it was different. Now, the four tentacles advanced in unpredictable directions, undulating like snakes ready to strike. Takemichi knew that if he made a mistake, he would be crushed or impaled.

  "Four at once?! It won't be easy..." — Takemichi gritted his teeth, his eyes quickly assessing the movements.

  With his eyes fixed on the tentacles, he made a quick spin, using both axes to repel two of them. The impact was strong, and the metallic sound echoed across the field. Meanwhile, the other two tentacles came towards him from below and from the left side.

  Takemichi jumped back, rolling on the ground to avoid the blow from below, but one of the tentacles still grazed his leg, tearing the fabric of his armor and leaving a shallow cut.

  "Not bad, human!" exclaimed the ghoul, laughing cruelly. "But you're just delaying the inevitable!"

  Takemichi stood up quickly, ignoring the pain. He twirled the axe in his right hand and pointed the blade at the general.

  "If you think this will stop me, you're very wrong. I haven't even started yet!"

  The ghoul laughed, his fangs bared.

  "Then show me what you can do, because now I'll stop playing around!"

  Suddenly, the tentacles lengthened, stretching like giant whips. They hit the ground with such force that they raised a cloud of dust, creating craters in the ground. Takemichi tried to dodge, but the speed and unpredictability of the attacks made each move more dangerous.

  "He's forcing my reactions." — Takemichi gripped the handles of his axes and advanced directly towards the general.

  The tentacles came like living walls to block his path, but Takemichi jumped over one of them and, in the air, swung both axes in a downward motion trying to hit the ghoul's head.

  But the ghoul general reacted quickly. He crossed two tentacles over his head, blocking the axes. The impact generated a shockwave that knocked down rocks and shook the surrounding trees.

  “Not bad…” the ghoul said, his eyes shining with pleasure. “But it’s going to take more than that to take me down!”

  With a brutal movement, the ghoul swung his tentacles, throwing Takemichi backwards like a rag doll. Takemichi crashed into the ground hard, rolling several times before getting up, breathing heavily.

  “Tsk… Brute strength and regeneration. This guy isn’t just fast, he’s tough!” Takemichi wiped the blood that was dripping from his mouth.

  The ghoul general advanced, now not just with his tentacles, but with his body. He charged like a beast, each step shaking the ground. Takemichi barely had time to react before he saw a huge claw coming towards him.

  He threw himself to the side, but did not escape completely. The claw tore through the left shoulder of his armor, exposing the flesh beneath.

  “Come on, human! Show me more!” the ghoul shouted, exuding a dense aura that made the air around him suffocating.

  Takemichi stood up, gripping the axes tightly, even as blood dripped from his wounded arm.

  “Since you want it so much… then you better be prepared for what comes next!, Activate Limit Break!”

  A bright glow ran through the suit, and soon smoke began to pour out, blowing away the dust and debris around it.

  The ghoul hesitated for a moment, his eyes wide.

  “Is that…?!”

  Takemichi advanced at an absurd speed, disappearing for an instant from the general's vision. Then, he reappeared in front of him, delivering a cross blow with both axes directly to the ghoul's torso.

  The impact was devastating. A wave of cutting energy swept across the field, uprooting trees and cracking the ground. The ghoul general was thrown backwards, colliding with a huge rock and destroying it on impact.

  Takemichi panted, his hands shaking with the effort.

  "That's what you like, isn't it? Fun..." he said, with a defiant smile.

  However, from the cloud of dust, the ghoul emerged again, injured but laughing.

  "Impressive! A human capable of hurting me like that! Now... it's my turn to take this seriously!"

  The general began to release even more of his aura, while his tentacles became denser and sharper, dripping a viscous and deadly substance.

  Takemichi gripped the axes tighter.

  “Let’s see how long you can last, monster…”

  The leaders watched from afar, their fists clenched and their faces filled with frustration. They could do nothing, while the soldiers and guards looked on with worried expressions.

  “Breaking the limit will kill you, captain!” the soldiers thought, looking at the fight with sadness in their eyes.

  Among the civilians, Slayer crouched down next to the children, trying to comfort them.

  “Don’t worry. Our captain is strong!” he said, his voice firm, but with a sadness well hidden behind the mask.

  “Help him! You’re strong, aren’t you, uncle?” asked one of the children, holding the hand of his mother, who also looked apprehensive.

  Slayer placed his hand on the child’s head and answered in a low voice, almost like a whisper:

  “If we attack those ghouls, they will attack too… The captain will win alone. He’s the strongest here!” Suddenly, three cell phones began to ring among the other devices lying on the floor. The sound interrupted the tense silence.

  Joana, attentive, fixed her eyes on the devices.

  "It's the captain's cell phone!" she thought, feeling her heart race.

  — Mine is ringing too! — Joana and Thais thought almost at the same time, looking at the devices anxiously.

  The ghouls remained alert, their intimidating presence increasing the weight of the tension. A few seconds later, the rings stopped.

  — That ring was Kay's! — Thais whispered.

  — They already know we're in trouble... But they're not in the country right now! — Kratos replied, his eyes fixed on the ghouls.

  — They must call for reinforcements... The captain needs to hold out until then! — Fiona whispered, trying to keep hope alive.

  Kratos, however, was not convinced. He answered in a low voice:

  — Reinforcements from whom? Our entire division is here now. If helicopters get close, we won't be able to shoot while we're surrounded by civilians!

  Time passed. Half an hour dragged on like an eternity.