"Lord Hottel!!"
The exclamation made every member of the tribe's heart pound, including the usually composed Savon. The name stirred him so deeply that he became overwhelmed and even developed a slight ringing in his ears...
Hottel?
Could this be possible?
A group of priests kept their heads bowed, their entire bodies trembling, yet they dared not raise their heads to verify whether those words were true. After years of despair, they had almost stopped believing in miracles.
"Long time no see... Grandpa Savon..."
An incredibly familiar voice sounded from in front of Savon, leaving his mind blank. He nearly collapsed from weakness.
The next second, a strong arm steadied him. Savon raised his trembling head, and under the boundless white light, he saw it clearly—the familiar contours of that face...
Savon could not help reaching out with his withered palm to touch the other's cold, hard features. The solid sensation moved the usually composed Savon to tears!
"Where did you go!!!"
The Old Priest almost fell against Hottel's sturdy chest. The pressure he had endured over the years had nearly broken his old bones, but when he saw the child who had once made him immensely proud return safely, Old Savon's emotions erupted all at once...
A trace of gentleness flashed through Hottel's eyes as he slowly embraced the Old Priest who had raised him.
"You've worked hard, Old Man..." Hottel gently consoled him. "Rest assured. Those days of suffering are completely over. From now on, we, the beastfolk of the Gale Tribe, will welcome an entirely new future!"
Old Savon slowly raised his head at those words. Only then did he see what was behind Hottel...
Countless Steel Behemoths floated in midair, their metallic surfaces dazzling beneath the night sky. As the Old Priest, he could see clearly