Ape Monger slapped the side of a wagon loaded with three hundred poles.
"Looks like that's it, boys."
Behind her, several ape soldiers grinned, hands on their hips. They gave one last look at the wagon before their chests puffed with pride.
"So this is it," one soldier said, stretching his long arms with a loud yawn. "Unlike the other tribes, we don't need much. Just our power poles."
Another soldier laughed, raising his fist. "And with these, we make the king pay!"
"That's right!" Ape Monger barked back with a grin. "Now come on, let's go get some banana smoothies."
The squad erupted in cheers, high-fiving one another before marching toward the tavern like conquering heroes.
At the heart of the tribe, the Monkey King stood before his dojo.
Across the courtyard, rows of apes trained with their poles, spinning, striking, and vaulting through the air in perfect rhythm. The thuds of wood meeting wood echoed like war drums.
Hielo stood beside him, her white hair catching the sun.
"Hielo," the Monkey King said, his voice heavy with age but still full of vigor, "we are only days away from making history."
"Yes," Hielo replied calmly. "This war will determine the fate of the island, whether animals and Zoners can live amongst Royals."
The Monkey King's eyes narrowed. "Tell me, what is your opinion on the outcome?"
"My opinion does not matter."
"Oh, but it does." The Monkey King turned, studying her face with a weary smile. "You are a demi-guard, the oldest in the Animal Forest. Your age supersedes us all. You've seen the reign of not only Mr. Green but also King Jiguzo. You were peers with young Kellix's father. Your experience carries value."
Hielo hesitated, her voice slow and measured. "I believe the war will not go without massive loss on both sides. But our side, mostly. Many of us will die by the hands of the delta robots. And that only scratches the surface of the royal family. They have the Zeta Branch, men and women who wield Abi unlike anything most have seen. Then there are the Elda Knights of the Gamma Branch, the Artimancers... and lastly, the king himself."
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The Monkey King's gaze grew heavy, but he steadied himself. "That may be true. But remember, this forest is protected by the divine. We have the power of the artists on our side."
Hielo nodded softly. "I agree. With Joy, all things are possible."
The Monkey King's smile returned, a flash of mischief cutting through his solemnity. "Speaking of possible... it may be possible you'll want to speak to young Kellix. I've heard he's been training somewhere deep in the forest for days now. He may be overly worried about the fight ahead."
"I will speak to him," Hielo said with a bow of her head.
From a bird's-eye view, a flash of yellow light flared deep within the forest.
Trees bent as sparks flew, and beneath the canopy stood Kellix, shirtless, his chest heaving with sweat.
Around him, three clay soldiers stomped forward, each one a different height.
Their rough bodies cracked and glowed faintly with Abi. But even the tallest of them barely reached the smaller trees.
Kellix's knees buckled but he caught himself, jaw clenched. "Damn it... it's not big enough!" He thrust his hand forward, sweat dripping down his temples. "I won't stop until I make a Clayborn the size of the tallest tree in this forest!"
Several more clay soldiers formed from the ground, but they were pitifully small, some barely taller than him. The strain caught him. He dropped to his knees, gasping, the clay crumbling away as the soldiers vanished.
He slammed his fist into the dirt. "I'm not strong enough... I can't afford to be this weak!"
A calm voice echoed from behind. "You're almost out of Abi. They won't get any bigger from this point."
Kellix spun around. "Hielo!"
She stepped into the clearing, her lips curled into the faintest smile. "I heard you've been out here for days."
His eyes fell, shame burning his expression. "Yeah... I've been trying to make a Clayborn taller than every tree in this forest."
Hielo studied him in silence, registering the struggle he carried. "I should have said this to you sooner... you're strong, Kellix."
His eyes widened.
"You need to understand," she continued, "the odds are not in our favor. And it's okay to be scared."
Kellix clenched his fists, but his lips curled into a grin. "I'll never be scared. I am Kellix the Brave! No matter the odds, I'll beat the king, I swear it. I'll even protect you, teacher."
For a moment, Hielo didn't see a boy, she saw his father's face, standing tall with the same fire in his eyes.
Kellix roared, raising his hand. The ground cracked. Clay surged upward, forming into a towering soldier that almost reached the height of one of the forest's great trees. Its shadow loomed massive, fierce.
But as quickly as the triumph came, Kellix's legs wobbled. He swayed once, then collapsed face-first into the dirt with a dull thud.
Hielo chuckled softly, shaking her head. "He's just like his father."
The giant Clayborn dissolved into dust, leaving only the boy asleep beneath the stars.