In the immediate aftermath of the Krill's humiliating retreat, while the world slowly began to process the scale of their victory and the celebration of humanity's golden age, a different kind of celebration unfolded in Marawi City. Within the grand mansion, laughter and music mingled with the sweet aroma of traditional Filipino dishes.
The air hummed with the joyful chatter of families reunited, the clinking of glasses raised in toasts to survival, and the vibrant strains of a kulintang ensemble playing a triumphant, yet melancholic, melody. Richard, having just returned from his public debut and a rather painful reunion with his mother, found himself enveloped in the warmth of family and friends.
