The shrill sound of the gunshot rings in my ears.

  "Altair and Aurora, I command you to annihilate every last one of the Adamantita!" Lord Eru shouts at the top of his lungs.

  Suddenly, I feel submerged in immense pressure. I sink as if into a great mass of water. My mark activates. Invisible hands guide me.

  My body lunges at one of the warriors, one of Kirru's brothers. He attacks me, but I manage to dodge and land a blow. I hover over him, feeling my right arm start to burn, preparing to strike his head in one blow.

  Tears stream down my face. I know what will happen if I resist. But I must do it. I won't make the same mistake again. I grit my teeth and muster up the courage. I feel my whole body scream. But then the hands that control me stop gripping me, and instead they caress my body. I feel warmth in my body, and suddenly it feels as if lips kiss my cheek. And in that moment, the pressure dissipates.

  I look behind me, finding no trace of whatever that was. I stand in astonishment until suddenly I feel a rumble. From among the mountains emerges the colossal older brother of the Shmool clan.

  "What in the world?"

  Hoomul's aunt and the Younger brother are on his right shoulder. On the other shoulder, I spot Lilu being threatened by the leader of the Insect Guardians, who betrayed Lilu's friend.

  The older brother uses his feet to crush and topple rocks. He attacks me with his hand and sends me flying. I land on a precipice and barely grab onto the rocks using Mukasa's inheritance.

  When I look down, I notice the arrival of the Mantis Orquidea clan. A curtain of purple smoke begins to spread across the terrain.

  “What is happening?”

  As I descend, I encounter other battlefields.

  I manage to slip away and reach the wolf camp. Soon, I locate Holmul, Lobo, Amator, Ragnar, Jasmine, and even Laliba, the leader of the priestesses and the Colmillos.

  Laliba is the first to notice my presence. I'm about to speak, but then Amator comes for me, pushing me against one of the rocky walls.

  "What the hell does this mean?!" Amator shouts, his eyes sharpening with agitation.

  Surprise renders me speechless.

  "Enough, Amator," Laliba says, as the Colmillos guards aim their poisoned weapons at him. The Lobos wolves tense up and draw their weapons against them. "I must remind you that our alliance is with Altair."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Amator grips my shoulder, but then he lets go, pushing me aside before stepping away.

  "Well? What happened?" Laliba says, her usual calm voice cutting through the tension.

  "I managed to convince Lord Eru to come here, but before we could launch the attack, he took the initiative and decided to shoot Astu."

  "I see. We also heard the sound of the gunshot. It was at that moment that the Mantis Orquidea began to attack. He must have used the gunshot as a signal."

  "They're not the only ones who came," I say. "They also brought the Shmool clan's brothers."

  "The brothers?" Hoomul says alarmed. "My aunt would never ally herself with Eru even if her life depended on it."

  "I think they're using Lilu's inheritance to control them. Her inheritance has the power to control others."

  The present company falls into thought.

  "What are your orders, chief? I'll follow you wherever you say," Ragnar breaks the tension, looking at me. The others do the same.

  "Come on, Altair, focus, see all the pieces of the system," Amadeus' voice resonates in my head. It's what he used to tell me when he helped me practice strategies through simulations to face dangers outside the city.

  I take a deep breath and then exhale, sharpening my eyes.

  "I’ll charge towards the Mantis Orquidea outpost. From what I saw, they must be using one of the Herencia that negates others' Herencias. I'll surround the mountains with Lobo, dive into the smoke curtain, and find the matriarch. While I do this, you must hold out until this happens. I know it's risky, but it's the fastest way; I don't know how long Astu and the others will be able to hold on..."

  "That sounds good to me," Laliba says.

  I look in Amator's direction, and he nods.

  "Sorry, Hoomul, for not asking your permission to take Lobo."

  "Ha! Don't worry about that. With Lobo by your side, you'll have nothing to fear."

  As he says that, Lobo comes towards me and licks my face.

  "Let's show them what we're made of."

  With that, I retreat and head towards the battlefield with Lobo, circling the smoke.

  I take a deep breath.

  "Are you ready, Lobo?" I say, petting him.

  Lobo barks in response, and immediately we plunge into the curtain.

  The sounds of battle envelop us. The guardians aim their spears at us in surprise, but Lobo brushes them aside as if they were nothing.

  Lobo guides me until we reach the epicenter of the curtain. There, I can see the matriarchs gathered. I fight against their Insect guardians. However, I feel like I can't hold on anymore and inhale the smoke, which deactivates Mukasa’s Herancia completely.

  Lobo takes care of the other guardians approaching me, leaving me alone with the matriarchs. They smile upon realizing that the curtain affected me and draw their daggers hidden in their ornate dresses.

  Behind the matriarchs stands the matriarch who originates the smoke curtain with her inheritance. She smiles at me and greets me. The same one that was with Aurora.

  "Nice to see you again, little bunny."