Hoomul uses all his strength to stop the giant, carrying the giant hand. However, I can see his arms trembling and steam emanating from his body.

  How had he managed to pass Boolean and Voolkana? I look in Lobo's direction and see that he has grown larger, his fur now a dark red. His strength is enough to face both.

  "T-his is my way of repaying the favor for what you did,” Hoomul says, a smile painting his face with tears in his eyes. “Seeing someone so small and defenseless face the impossible—that gave me hope,"

  Hoomul shouts and puts the weight on his back to free his right hand.

  "Sorry for this," he says before pushing and sending me flying.

  I fall to the ground and return my gaze to Hoomul, who is now kneeling. His muscles begin to fade.

  I try to move, but the fear paralyzes me. I try to activate Lilu's mark, but it's not enough to stop the effects.

  "Hoomul!"

  Hoomul is about to give in, but then there's an explosion like a loud thunderclap. I look towards the sound and then I can see Mukasa in the air. His robotic arm boils red, and from his elbow, a rocket-like flame emerges just before hitting the giant on the chin. The giant collapses upon receiving the attack, and with this, Hoomul withdraws the Giant hand.

  I smile, but I notice that the Insect Guardian leader is already close to me and raises his sword to strike me. However, he stops and blood comes out of his mouth and he falls flat to the ground. Behind him appears Lilu, her steel blades covered in blood.

  Lilu's hair returns to its black color with pink streaks, deactivating her Herencia.

  "What the hell? Why are we here?" Voolkana says, looking around. "Oh, yeah that bastard Eru, he attacked us with one of the matriarchs Herencias! He's going to pay!"

  I run towards Hoomul. He is unconscious on the ground in his normal form.

  "I'll make sure nothing happens to him," Voolkana says approaching me.

  Her words shock me.

  “Why are you surprised, you beat us fear and square do you remember? I plan to complete my part of the bargain. We will hold here so no Dorado’s reinforcement reaches you.”

  I hesitate for a moment. However, I feel a little relieved to see that Lobo decides to stay with him. Whatever he did to make himself big and red also wore him out.

  "Don't worry about me, Viejo. I'll be fine. I'd hate for us to lose because of me," Hoomul says, grabbing my arm and looking at me with determination.

  I smile and nod.

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  "I promise I'll return victorious."

  With that, I continue with Amator, Ragnar, and Lilu. In the gorge that is directed toward the Adamantita throne, I encounter Mukasa.

  "Thank you for your help," I say with a smile

  "I came to take revenge for what Lord Eru did to my mother."

  I look towards Amator, a little lost about what to do.

  "It's fine by me. A beautiful woman is always appreciated."

  Mukasa joins us, and we enter the gorge. The walls begin to open up until the four of us can walk shoulder to shoulder. The sounds of battle begin to be heard as we approach the exit of the gorge. However, we are immediately attacked by a flurry of daggers.

  Amator reacts and deflects the daggers with his fists without receiving any damage.

  At the exit of the gorge stands the dagger handler with shaved blond hair, Makiltu. I tense my face. Several of his bloodhounds accompany him. What sets his bloodhounds apart are the obvious scars that run across their bodies.

  "Lord Eru, with his great wisdom, left us in charge of this gorge. So leave none alive."

  However, when he says this, no projectiles come in our direction. The Tamer looks confused as to where his bloodhounds are, only to discover that other Hounds have get them knocked out. These don't have any scars on their bodies.

  "That damn old hag hounds!" Makitu says, furrowing his brow.

  "That look of despair suits you," says an energetic female voice.

  Rie jumps from the steps and lands behind Makitu.

  "You damned bitch! Is this your doing?" Makitu screams as he begins to throw a rain of knives.

  Rie runs directly at him but uses her extreme elasticity to dodge his attacks with pirouettes and dynamic movements that seem second nature to her. Rie approaches him. Makitu smiles and pulls out a kind of dagger from his wrist, aiming it at Rie's neck.

  However, an arrow pierces his hand, obstructing his attack. With this, Rie uses the opening to plunge her dagger into his chest.

  "I told you I'd make you pay for the scar you gave me," she says, squeezing the dagger upwards and then pulling it out to stab him in the neck.

  Makiltu drowns in his own blood and eventually stops moving.

  Behind her appears Enlil holding his bow.

  "Rie will make sure no one gets through. I'll accompany you to face my father."

  "How did you get here? And why are the hounds helping?"

  "It's a long story," says Rie. "Enlil's mother sent us here. Right now, they are freeing my brother Rio and the other captured Conejo clan members."

  "What?"

  "My mother is one of the Hound tamers of the clan. She's the one who stopped Kata from doing anything to Rie. I could explain more in detail, but for now, the important thing is to go stop Lord Eru."

  I'm not entirely sure I understand everything, but I decide to trust Enlil's word and give orders to continue.

  When we arrive at the Adamantita throne, we are welcomed by the sounds of battle. I look in terror at the bodies on the ground. While Lord Eru fights against Astu, I can see that Aurora and Kata are fighting against Kirru's father, the last Adamantite warrior standing. Cuts and wounds all over him.

  Aurora and Kata are about to kill him, but Ragnar rushes over and blocks Kata's attack, forcing her to step back alongside Aurora.

  "Will you be kind enough to surrender, or do you want to fight against your dear friend?" says Kata.

  Aurora is in a fighting stance. She must still be under Altum's influence, but there doesn't seem to be any intention for her to resist. She opens her mouth showing her sharp and metallic teeth with blood strings.