The calm within the small, sea-scented restaurant shattered in an instant.
"What is that black ship!?"
A customer by the window shouted, freezing the air inside.
Lamia leapt to her feet and rushed toward the window.
Reflected in her eyes was a colossal vessel of black iron.
It was unmistakably the very ship that had once abducted her.
Her face drained of color, her body trembling violently.
Endi hurried to her side.
Other patrons and staff pressed to the window, staring at the disturbance in the harbor.
The shrill beeeep that echoed was the foghorn of the black ship.
"That's… an Indus warship!" muttered the dreadlocked, muscular shopkeeper.
"Indus? Isn't that from the old Doal army?"
"Yeah, I've seen that black ship before! No mistake! But why here, of all places?"
Unease rippled through the restaurant.
Lamia's trembling refused to stop.
The giant vessel dwarfed the local fishing boats, a steel beast crawling from the sea itself.
"No… it can't be… that black ship!?"
From Lamia's terrified eyes, Endi understood.
Forgetting to pay, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the shop.
Outside, the town was already in uproar.
Citizens flocked to the port like gawking spectators, the atmosphere tense and foreboding.
"Could it be… they've come for Lamia?"
"…Yes. I think so…"
From the black ship, a massive man in battle garb disembarked, flanked by twenty soldiers carrying rifles.
His stride was bold, as if he intended to swallow the entire town.
"Run, Lamia!"
"Wait—but…"
"What is it?"
"If it's me they're after, then the townspeople might suffer because of me…"
Her voice trembled on the verge of tears.
Endi panicked. What should he do?
Torn between her guilt and the looming threat, his heart churned with turmoil.
The invaders advanced from the shore.
At their head strode the massive commander, broad-shouldered and swaggering, while his soldiers marched in lockstep, rifles at the ready.
Ten burly fishermen mustered their courage and stood in their path.
"What the hell do you want here!? You bastards are Doal remnants, aren't you?"
"We're looking for a girl named Lamia. She came through this port town, didn't she?"
The giant's voice boomed, deep and commanding, pressing down upon the entire crowd.
Over 180 centimeters tall, with a sharp undercut slicked back, piercing eyes, a heavy mustache etched across his face, and a frame bulky with fat yet radiating dominance—his presence alone was overwhelming.
His sheer menace made even hardened fishermen falter.
"Never heard of such a girl! Get lost already!" shouted one fisherman, cold sweat dripping down his face.
"Admiral Darmaine! Look!"
One of the soldiers pointed toward a small wooden boat drifting offshore.
"That's the emergency craft she vanished with! There's no mistaking it!"
"So it really was here, huh? Just as I thought!"
Darmaine grinned wickedly.
"Search every inch! Until the security forces or the army arrive, don't fire your guns!"
"Yes, Admiral!"
At his command, the soldiers slung their rifles to their waists and plowed through the fishermen with ease, storming into the town.
They ransacked the market, smashed homes, and beat down any who stood in their way.
Shouts and screams engulfed the streets.
"How could they…?"
Lamia whispered in anguish, frozen in place.
"What are you doing, Lamia!? They're after you! We have to run! If they catch you, who knows what—"
"But… the townsfolk are suffering because of me! How can I just run away alone!?"
Endi urged her again and again, but she wouldn't move.
Her eyes brimmed with tears, shackled by guilt.
"What am I supposed to do…!?"
Endi's mind boiled in confusion.
They were twenty strong, armed and ferocious.
The townspeople cowered and scattered in fear.
Up on the hill, at the hospital, the doctor and his wife clutched their wounded sides, staggering toward safety.
But one man refused to flee.
It was Paulo.
"Don't run! Stand your ground!"
He had come to the market to shop, only to be caught at the worst possible moment.
The hunched old man raised his cane and smacked it against a nearby soldier's head.
"What the hell's that old man doing?"
"Gramps, get out of here!"
The townsfolk buzzed with panic as the soldier erupted in fury.
"You decrepit bastard! You'll pay for that!"
Though the blow had done little damage, it provoked the soldier's wrath.
Paulo was kicked hard to the ground.
"You filthy geezer! You dare mock me? I'll kill you right here!"
The soldier stomped on Paulo's face, drew his pistol, and pressed the barrel to his head.
His finger tightened on the trigger—
—when Endi's flying kick smashed into him.
The violent impact sent the soldier sprawling, eyes rolling back as he fell unconscious.
Every gaze turned to Endi, and for a heartbeat, silence swallowed the town.