As Scarface slowly pushed open the hospital doors, a surge of golden light poured in, flooding the hallway with warmth.
For a brief moment, everyone had to shield their eyes — and then the light softened, revealing the breathtaking sight beyond.
Before them stretched Forest City.
A vast emerald meadow rolled out beneath a bright blue sky, dotted with wooden houses and towering trees whose branches shimmered in the morning sun. Wildflowers swayed in the wind, their scent drifting through the air like a soft whisper of peace.
All around, different animals moved about — foxes, badgers, hares, even wolves — creatures who had escaped the chaos of war and built a fragile refuge here. From the eastern edge of the city, the glimmer of water caught the eye: a wooden harbor filled with simple ships, and beside it, a beach of pale sand and clear turquoise waves lapping gently at the shore.
To the west, an open square spread wide, alive with color and sound.
At its heart lay a small lake, and rising from its center was a massive statue of a lion, carved from stone, standing proudly atop a rocky mound that broke through the surface of the water. The lion's gaze was lifted to the heavens, its mane sculpted to look as if it were caught forever in a divine breeze.
Near the plaza, small animals played — chasing one another, tumbling through the grass, their laughter echoing faintly through the city streets. Around them, shops and market stalls bustled with life: vendors selling food, trinkets, clothes, and tools — the pulse of a living, breathing society built by survivors.
And just beyond the hospital, to the south, stood a colossal tree — ancient and vast, its roots twisting like the veins of the earth itself.
At its base, half hidden in the shade, was a metal door built into the trunk, opening upward like the entrance to something secret… something waiting to be discovered.
High above the colossal tree, a tangled web of power cables stretched across its enormous branches — thick, black veins pulsing faintly with energy, each one connected to another like part of a living organism.
At the very top of the tree, a massive square radar rotated endlessly, spinning with a deep mechanical hum that rippled through the air. Its panels gleamed under the sunlight, absorbing every ray and converting it into raw energy.
The radar fed that energy down through the cables, into the trunk, and then outward — through the roots buried deep beneath the earth — spreading it across Forest City. Every tree in the region was connected, their roots intertwined, forming a vast natural power grid where sunlight became life itself.
From a distance, the giant tree looked almost divine — half nature, half machine — a monument of survival that breathed light into the world below.
Just to the right of the colossal tree stretched a wide training ground, built from iron and stone — a space of discipline and sweat. Rows of metal bars, hanging ropes, and wooden trunks formed a rough obstacle course, like a military field designed for strength and precision. The clang of steel and the sharp rhythm of grunts often filled the air, echoing through the open space where soldiers and young recruits trained under the blazing sun.
On the left side of the tree, however, the scene was completely different — stranger, lighter, almost playful.
There, the ground was made of polished wooden planks, smooth and shining under the light. On either side stood two tall metal poles, each topped with a round basket-like hoop. In the very center of the wooden court rested a bright orange ball with black stripes, perfectly still, waiting for the next game to begin.
It was a curious sight — one side born for war, the other for sport — yet both part of the same heartbeat of Forest City.
Skav, Broom, and Piu spotted the orange ball and, without a word, bolted for the court.
Skav:
"Last one gets a smack."
Broom:
"Watch out — don't be the last one with that big belly of yours."
Scarface watched Mehiko with a mocking grin, his hands shoved in his pockets.
Scarface:
"Looks like the kids found the meaning of life, huh? Why don't you go play too?"
Mehiko pulled out a cigarette and lit it, exhaling slowly.
Mehiko:
"I'm bored."
Scarface:
"Bored? Or just old, grandpa?"
Mehiko glared, irritation coiling in his voice.
Mehiko:
"One day, lizard, I'll yank those black shades right off your face and make you eat them."
Las and Eli laughed a little, watching Scarface and Mehiko bicker.
Scarface laughed coldly.
Scarface:
"Laugh now while you can, Las — because soon you'll go inside the magic tree and die."
Las stared up at the huge tree, terrified.
Las:
"What's inside the tree?"
Scarface fixed him with a serious, icy look.
Scarface:
"The legend says there's an old bear-witch in there who eats monkeys. You'll have to pass her test."
Las trembled all over.
Las / Eli:
"An old bear?"
Obobo:
"Can you, for once, stop telling nonsense and scaring the kids, Scarface?"
Scarface:
"Stop what?"
Obobo rolled her eyes, glanced up, exhaled, then turned back to Las.
Obobo:
"You — monkey. Come on, we've got work to do today. No more sleeping; training starts now."
Las:
"Where are we going?"
Obobo:
"Don't ask too many questions."
Las:
"I don't want to go to the old bear."
Scarface:
"Fine, see? The kid doesn't want to go to the old bear."
Obobo:
"Scarface… shut up already."
Obobo turned to Las.
Obobo:
"You, monkey — follow me."
Las and Eli followed Obobo as she led them toward the towering tree.
Behind them, Scarface stood perfectly still, hands in his pockets, watching as they faded into the distance.
As they walked, Eli lifted her nose slightly, breathing in the air. Her tail flicked once, and she smiled brightly.
Las:
"Why are you smiling like that?"
Eli (cheerful):
"A good friend of mine is somewhere around here."
Las (curious):
"A friend? Who?"
Scarface strolled toward a small house tucked into the corner.
Leaning against its wall was Krabi, arms crossed, eyes sharp and calm.
Scarface (grinning):
"See? Told you your 'friend' was fine."
Krabi (deadpan):
"She's not my friend."
Scarface (mocking, hands still in his pockets):
"Yeah, yeah… whatever helps you sleep at night."
Eli:
"Forget it."
Las:
"Huh?"
They kept walking, while just beside them Skav, Piu, and Broom were still on the wooden court, tossing the orange ball between them and aiming for the baskets.
Then Mehiko approached — face serious, another cigarette hanging from his mouth.
Mehiko:
"Playtime's over. Bueno, cabrones. Time for real training."
Skav tossed the ball straight at him with a grin.
Skav:
"If you beat us, Mister Belly, we'll train."
Mehiko caught the ball, raising an eyebrow.
Mehiko:
"This ball… kinda looks like your head, doesn't it?"
Broom and Piu collapsed laughing.
Mehiko smacked the ball hard against the ground, making it bounce high.
Mehiko:
"Come get it, orange-head."
Skav growled, his eyes twitching cartoonishly, and charged forward.
With one quick move, Mehiko flicked the ball up and over Skav's head with ease.
Skav (pouting, furious):
"That's not fair!"
Mehiko (smirking):
"Oh, it's very fair, Mr. Orange-Head."
Broom and Piu burst out laughing hysterically — the kind of laugh that comes from pure chaos, echoing across the court like two maniacs who had just found the whole world funny.
Their laughter bounced off the wooden floor, tears in their eyes, barely able to breathe as Mehiko just stood there, unimpressed, flicking ash from his cigarette.
He glanced over at Broom and Piu, cracking his neck with a lazy stretch.
Mehiko:
"Alright, cabrones — me, alone… versus all three of you. Sounds fair enough, right?"
Broom, Skav, and Piu exchanged mischievous looks — then burst out laughing mockingly.
Skav (grinning):
"This'll be easy."
Mehiko dropped his cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot.
He gripped the orange ball in one hand, dribbling it lazily against the floor — thump, thump, thump — his smirk growing wider with each bounce.
Then he raised his right hand in a cocky, taunting gesture, eyes gleaming with challenge.
Mehiko:
"¡A ver si son muy machos! ¡Vengan por ella!"
(Let's see how tough you really are! Come and get it!)
Piu:
"What did he just say?"
Skav:
"Something about nachos... man, now I'm hungry. I want some nachos."
Mehiko:
"Exactly, mocosos — you're gonna eat my nachos."
Broom lunged forward, trying to snatch the ball, but Mehiko was already in motion — his palm slapping the ball rhythmically against the floor, switching it between hands with effortless speed.
Mehiko (taunting):
"Come on, little white mouse — try and take it."
Broom (snapping):
"I'm not a white mouse! And don't call me that again… old man with the belly!"
Broom made another attempt, faster this time. He threw one foot forward, blocking the ball's bounce, and with a slick move, swiped it out of Mehiko's hands.
Broom (grinning):
"How's that? You like it?"
Mehiko's eyes turned completely white with rage, the veins in his temples pulsing. His voice rose.
Mehiko (smirking):
"That's the only way you could steal it, cabeza blanca."
Obobo watched from a distance as Mehiko played basketball with the younger ones. She sighed, shaking her head, muttering under her breath.
Obobo (muttering):
"Some men… will never grow up."
As they approached the great metallic door, Evelyn stood before it — still and silent, her gaze fixed on the steel surface.
The katana at her waist glinted faintly in the sunlight, a flash of cold silver cutting through the air.
Without turning her head, she looked toward Eli. Her voice was calm, steady, and edged with quiet authority.
Evelyn:
"Come with me."
Eli didn't say a word. Her tail flicked once in excitement, and she followed eagerly.
Las watched them go, puzzled.
Las:
"Where's Eli going?"
Obobo (dryly):
"Forget the cat. You've got other business, monkey."
Suddenly, the metallic door began to rise, groaning with the deep, grinding sound of machinery — the kind of noise that shook the ground beneath their feet as light spilled into the dark beyond.