To my surprise, the matriarchs can defend themselves, but they pale in comparison to the insect guardians. I try to control the pace of the fight, avoiding being surrounded.

  I manage to knock out one of them, but she manages to cut me, leaving a gash on my abdomen before falling. I stand up to continue fighting, but then an orange-like scent envelops me, and suddenly I start to see double and lose my sense of balance.

  The remaining matriarchs attack me, and I can barely block their strikes. One of the matriarchs approaches me and then a curtain of yellow smoke is released from her. The curtain dissipates, but it's enough to enter my nose. Now a vanilla scent envelops me, and suddenly, I lower my guard, losing all my strength, and all the muscles in my body relax, causing me to fall to the ground.

  "That was fun, little bunny. I feel sorry to have to kill someone so cute, but at least you'll die without pain."

  "How boring. I thought there was finally someone who could give Lord Eru what he deserves."

  "Sister, don't say that! You don't know who might be listening!"

  I glance in the direction of the other matriarch. I couldn't let it all end there. I still needed to rescue Lilu and the others.

  When the matriarch with blue-white hair is about to stab me, I focus on Lilu and her memories to activate her mark for a second. The effects cease, and I knock down the matriarch.

  "what?" the matriarch says, frightened.

  I press her into a hold until she's unconscious.

  "Deactivate the curtain," I say, addressing the other matriarch.

  "It was worth to come here to see my dear sisters brought down like this," she says, laughing.

  I clench my fists.

  "Calm down. Unlike my sisters, I'm not good at fighting. Anyway, the alliance has never sat well with me. It was about time someone grew some balls to face that pest."

  The smoke curtain begins to dissipate. Now I can see the battlefield. The guardians are taken by surprise, and the wolves and Colmillos rush to activate their marks to defeat them. I can see Hoomul and Ragnar enter the scene with a roar, activating their marks and mowing down the guardians and Dorados.

  Meanwhile, Laliba and Jasmine walk through the field. Eventually, they reach where the matriarchs and I are.

  "It seems your plan worked," Laliba says as Jasmine approaches me and tends to my wounds. "I wouldn't expect anything less from the one who saved our clan. These guardians are nothing compared to the enraged grays."

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  Amator approaches us after finishing off some guardians. He looks at me with a complicated expression.

  "Sorry for doubting you, Altair. It's just that..."

  "Sorry, Amator," I interrupt with a smile. "It was my fault for not seeing through Eru's plans. But I promise I'll do my best to make up for my mistake. Besides I just got a little bruise"

  He opens his eyes in surprise.

  "What's the next step then, chief?" Amator says with a smile.

  Before I can say anything, one of the Colmillos runs up to Laliba and whispers something in her ear.

  "It seems that several of the Cuervos and other groups from the city are on their way. They must be planning to support Lord Eru."

  "That's not good. I don't want to leave Astu alone with that bastard any longer," I say, frowning.

  "I think the wolves and snake fangs should stay and defend. I'll send support as we finish up here," Laliba says.

  "Don't worry, Altair," Jasmine says. "I'll take care of healing the wounded. You take Hoomul, Lobo, Ragnar, and Amator. If anything happens, send them my way.”

  "Alright, then I'll leave it to it."

  I take Hoomul, Lobo, Ragnar, and Amator, and we climb up the mountain. Eventually, we come face to face with the great silhouette of the older brother, blocking the entrance of the grudge heading towards the throne. In front of him are Voolkana and Boolean. In the distance, on the brother's shoulder, are Lilu and the leader of the guardians.

  “I never thought the great and powerful brothers would submit to someone," Amator says.

  "What are you talking about? We're only here because our great idol ordered us to protect this entrance. Don't get any silly ideas," Voolkana says.

  "It seems you were right, Altair. They must be under the influence of Lilu's Herencia," says Amator.

  "Then the first thing to do is to free Lilu. Ragnar and I will take care of that. You, Lobo, and Hoomul hold off the brothers as much as you can."

  Ragnar and I run towards the older brother.

  He moves his gigantic hands and tries to crush us. Ragnar catches his attention by making cuts with his swords. I take the opportunity to start climbing his body. I use my mark to jump, using the explosive force of my arms to climb. The giant tries to crush me like a mosquito, but I jump and pass to his arm.

  I start to send all the energy to my right arm, making it swell to the maximum and emit smoke as I traverse his arm. As soon as I reach his shoulder, I don't hesitate and launch my attack at his chin. My fist impacts and the giant staggers and falls to the ground. The Insect guardian is forced to jump with Lilu.

  I try to reach Lilu who is now away from the insect guardian, but then, in an explosion, a curtain of blue smoke originates from the guardian. This catches me off guard, and as the smoke enters my nose, a cold sweat envelops my body, making me tremble with fear. My legs can't stop shaking.

  "What's happening?"

  "Admiration is all well and good, but in my humble opinion, fear is the best way to make people do what you want! If you don't want to die, finish them off, you damn giant!"

  When he says that, the giant lets out a shout that resonates like a thunderous roar. He gets up and moves his hand towards me. I want to dodge it, but I find myself petrified with fear. Move! Move! Move!

  The giant's hand is about to crush me, but then Hoomul steps in and stops the giant's hand.