Chucky's voice trembled with anger and fear. "How is this possible? Mad aliens are rising again—because of your experiments. You must stop this, Leio. I can't accept what you've done."
Leio squared his shoulders. "Father, I only gathered DNA from the battlefield — dead men and women — and used it to create humans again.
I formed three tribes. I swear I did not make any alien-transform serum.
Chucky's eyes narrowed. "Then who made the serum? Who would dare remake that formula without knowing its rules?"
Leio explained, "The third tribe, Ooka, handled the lab development. Their leader Rango ordered them to recreate Draxel's serum. They failed.
They injected five volunteers — Obekus, Orekus, Hobjuse, Lorke and Cantko — but when those volunteers started eating humans, they didn't become men again.
Something was missing, and so the mad aliens returned."
Orgondo cut in. "I'm going after the leader of the Ooka tribe. I'll bring him in and we'll find out what happened. You find a solution — fast."
Chucky's face grew grave. "Have you found anything about Ruka? If her memories return, our family will be the first target. I won't sacrifice more lives."
He pressed a hand to his face, unable to hold back his grief. "I wish I had died instead, and never cut Zaid's head off. Now all that's left for us is a slow, painful wait."
Then, a fierceness took him. "Prepare the Garov Pulse gear, the Voidseras blades, the spine-dome rockets. We'll need everything to kill these mad aliens."
Leio blinked. "Father, explain. What are these weapons and how do they work?"
Chucky answered sharply.
"After the government used alien powers to erase memories, Draxel — Zaid's father — began building weapons to fight the monsters.
The Garov Pulse is a fuel pack that grants flight and mobility. The Voidseras blades are designed to cut through the soul-component lodged behind an alien's skull. And the Spine Dome is a bomb loaded with toxins and explosives; fired into the right place, it kills in seconds."
Leio nodded and asked, "Show me the weapons."
Chucky descended into the basement, opened an old trunk, and pulled out his old combat uniform.
He handled each piece like it was both relic and promise. News had also reached them that Euka had been gone for three days — she'd been in the Yellow Door tribe working as a medic.
When she finally returned, she collapsed and cried, "Chucky, what have you done? This could be the end for us."
Chucky gripped her hand. "Don't worry. I'll find Ruka and end this. I may be old, but I cut down a thousand aliens before. I'll do it again."
He spread the weapons on the table. Leio inspected them and said, "They're perfect for fighting. But are you sure you can do this?"
Chucky's voice was steady. "Yes. I will save humanity. I will not let history repeat."
Meanwhile, Orbigo — Chucky's eldest — scoured the barren land searching for Ruka. He found a tent and slipped inside.
Suddenly, Ruka lunged at him.
"You! Your father, Chucky, destroyed everything," Ruka screamed.
"My child, my Zaid… now it's time for his death."
She stalked toward the tent flap. "Tell your father Ruka has returned—and she will erase him. He won't hide from me."
Orbigo blocked her path and struck. Ruka fell to the ground.
Orbigo's voice was harsh. "You won't do anything. First, answer my questions. Tell me what you know about Zaid and my father."
At the same time, Orgondo had captured the scientist who'd made the spore serum and dragged him into Leio's lab.
Leio demanded, "Where did you get the formula? Why did you use it?"
The scientist laughed bitterly. "Do you really think Zaid was an ordinary man? He was a force in this world. He foresaw all this. He called it — and now you will pay."
Leio lost his temper. "Stop your lies!" He struck the scientist.
Outside, the Ooka tribe rose in revolt. People stormed the lab, stones flying. The leader was exposed as a traitor.
"Brother Leio — run!" Orgondo shouted. "You matter to us. I'll deal with the rebels."
Leio fled on horseback as the lab burned behind him.
That night, Chucky received a letter from Orbigo claiming he'd captured and killed Ruka. The note was a lie. Ruka was alive — hidden with Orbigo.
Ruka woke in the dim tent and asked, "Where am I?"
Orbigo answered carefully. "I'm sorry I attacked you. I didn't want to hurt you. I only need answers."
Ruka spat at him. "Your coward of a father ruined everything. He lives his comfortable life while I wanted to live with Zaid and our child. You fool — you don't realize that by bringing me back, you could also bring Zaid back. If he returns, he will tear apart your family."
Orbigo recoiled. "That's impossible — the battlefield was burned. There's no DNA left."
Ruka's voice rose.
"No! Zaid will come back." She sobbed and reached for the small knife on the table. "I'll go to Zaid."
Orbigo grabbed the knife. "Not so fast."
He demanded again, "Tell me the truth about Zaid and my father."
Ruka spat in his face. "Don't you dare speak his name with your filthy mouth. Ask your father, Chucky, how he persuaded his friend Kuze to kill his own wife and child on the battlefield."
Her eyes closed. "I'm tired… I want to sleep."
Orbigo softened, barely. "All right. Go to sleep. Sweet dreams."