Out of the smoke, Isaac walked forward. Blood and dirt covered his body. He looked tired, but his steps were steady. His axe rested on his shoulder.
The refugees stared at him. No one spoke.
Ben ran forward. "He's okay!"
Cheers erupted. People clapped and hugged each other.
Aiah smiled for a second, then quickly adjusted her expression back to calm. She crossed her arms, acting like it was nothing.
Isaac looked at them. "Let's bring them to the camp."
They moved together through the forest, tired but alive.
By the time they reached the camp, the fire burned low. People were resting, eating, and talking quietly in small groups.
Elder Peter stepped out, eyebrows raised. "Where did all these people come from?"
"They were inside the forest," Aiah said. "We found them. I'll explain everything later."
Peter and the others welcomed the new refugees with cautious relief. Some exchanged hugs. Others simply nodded, still in shock.
Hopper landed on Isaac's shoulder. 'I guarded the camp well, Master.'
'Good. How's everyone?' Isaac asked.
'Some started hunting and fishing. The fourth core is calm for now.'
Ben walked up, grinning. "We counted. Forty more people were saved from the cave. We're almost a hundred now."
Isaac glanced around the camp. So many lives. So many stories.
He turned to Nai, Ben, Putol, and Aiah. "You were brave. You all did well."
They nodded. Aiah gave a small shrug, her face neutral as always.
Mira stepped forward, holding a bundle of herbs. "With these, I can heal faster. Let me treat the wounded."
She pressed herbs to Ben's arm and whispered a short spell. A soft glow lit her hands, and the wounds started to close.
She moved quickly, treating Putol, Nai, Aiah, and the injured refugees one by one.
Isaac sat beneath a nearby tree, quietly watching the camp.
Suddenly, both Tiny and Hopper began to glow. Their bodies trembled as a surge of power passed through them.
The system responded.
[Tiny has reached Evolution Threshold]
[Evolution complete: Soldier-Class Locust]
[Appearance changed. Defense and attack increased.]
Tiny's body turned a silvery metallic color. His wings hardened, and his forelegs grew into sharp, blade-like claws. His new form looked far more dangerous and powerful than before.
[Hopper has reached Evolution Threshold]
[Evolution complete: Elite-Class Locust]
[Wings hardened. Vision improved. New skill unlocked.]
Hopper's body also changed, it became slim and hardened. His wings and body turned more metallic, and his eyes gleamed with a sharper, more focused look. His bladed claws enlarged and became even sharper.
Isaac raised a brow. 'Is evolution only for you two?'
'No, Master,' Hopper said proudly. 'Others also evolved, just like Tiny. But in my case, I'm one step ahead of them.'
He added with pride, 'As your Swarm Authority grows, so does our strength. The stronger you become, the stronger we all become.'
Tiny took off to patrol the area. Hopper stayed, settling into Isaac's hair like it was his throne.
—----
That evening, as the fire crackled softly in the center of the camp, people sat in quiet groups. The stars hung above, and the air was still. Faces were tired, but everyone stayed close. No one wanted to be alone after what they had seen.
Elder Peter stood near the flames, his voice steady.
"We all saw what happened to Belga," he said.
"That wasn't just some forest beast. That was a soldier… turned into a monster."
The camp went quiet.
Isaac stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Those captives weren't being sold to other kingdoms. They were sent into that cave to be changed, into humanoids. Half-human, half-monsters. The palace is behind this."
Gasps followed. A few people looked around nervously. Others leaned closer.
"They're building an army," Isaac added. "An army made of monsters."
Ben clenched his fists. "They turned a Class B human into a Class S humanoid."
A low murmur spread across the group. The idea was terrifying.
"The real danger," Elder Peter said, "is if they start using people stronger than Belga… and turn them too."
A man from the back raised his hand. His face was pale.
"Before I was captured," he said, "I heard the guards talking. They mentioned General Harper. Said he vanished… into the Second Core. He never came back."
The fire crackled again.
Everyone froze.
"General Harper?" someone whispered.
"He's one of Bulcan's three Class S generals…"
No one spoke after that. The weight of what they had just heard sank in.
Isaac looked around. The fear on their faces was real. But fear was no longer enough.
He stepped forward, his voice calm but firm.
"I know this is hard to hear," he said. "But this is only the beginning. What they did to Belga… what they did to the others… they'll keep doing it. We're not just refugees anymore. We're witnesses. And we're targets."
He let the silence hang for a moment.
"But we're also survivors. We've faced monsters, death, and betrayal. And we're still standing."
Some heads lifted. A few nodded.
"We can't fight the palace head-on. Not yet. But we can prepare. Build. Train. Hunt. Defend. Every day we survive, we get stronger."
He turned to Aiah, eyes sharp.
"And you… You have royal blood. You belong in the palace. They stole your kingdom from you."
Aiah tensed. Her fists clenched slightly, but she said nothing.
Some people looked confused. Others leaned forward.
Elder Peter sighed, then stepped up. "It's time they knew the truth."
He looked at the crowd.
"Aiah is not just a refugee. She is the daughter of Crown Prince Randolf of Bulcan. Niece to the current king."
The crowd stirred. Shock and disbelief rippled through them.
"She's a princess?" someone whispered.
"Why didn't she say anything?" another asked.
Peter raised his hand for silence.
"After her father's death, under very suspicious circumstances, I, as a servant to their family, I took them away from the palace because I knew they were next. The King wanted no loose ends."
Some people looked at Aiah with new respect. Others still looked shocked.
Isaac nodded.
"She's not just royalty. She's the rightful heir. And we will help her take back the throne."
More silence. Then whispers of agreement. Some nodded. A few clenched their fists.
"They made monsters out of humans," someone said.
"Then let's become something they can't control," another added.
Isaac stepped forward. His voice was calm, but every word carried weight.
"We can't do it now. Not yet. But we will prepare."
He looked at the group, their faces lit by the firelight.
"We start by securing this place. The Fourth Core is ours now. We'll build it up, make it a place to train, recover, and grow. I'll teach you how to fight. I'll lead the hunts. And when we're ready…"
He looked into the fire, his eyes sharp.
"...we'll bring this whole system down."
The camp went quiet, letting the words sink in.
Then Isaac raised his voice one last time.
"This is our ground now. No more running."
Cheers rose, soft at first, then louder. Stronger. The fire crackled like it agreed.
And this time, Aiah didn't look away or hide her face. She didn't smile.
But the fire in her eyes burned brighter than the flames.