While fierce fighting raged on Appearance Cliff Mountain, a storm was also brewing in the capital of the Celestial Phenomenon Kingdom.
Inside the palace, the kingdom lord, who had just returned from the mountains, lay resting in bed, holding a radio to his ear and listening to a little tune.
"Bitter winds sweep the sandy wastes north of the frontier, the lady beyond the pass longs to return to the palace. Her dainty foot slips sideways into a sunflower stirrup, astride the steed bestowed by His Majesty... ay, hey, yo..."
Although the Celestial Phenomenon Realm had established contact with the Human Realm, their cooperation remained limited. The Human Realm itself was still rebuilding its infrastructure, so naturally it had no resources to spare to build much for the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.
As a result, the Celestial Phenomenon Realm's technology still lagged many years behind the Human Realm's. Electric lights and telephones were not yet widespread, anyone with a radio belonged to the nobility, and many places still resembled the ancient Human Realm.
The Celestial Phenomenon Kingdom Lord lay there humming along, then seemed to remember something. "Where has the Fish Chancellor gone? Invite it over. Yesterday, the people in the south offered some excellent cornmeal as tribute. I intend to make a pot of cornmeal porridge and invite the chancellor to share it."
But his question received no answer.
"Huh?" Somewhat puzzled, the kingdom lord sat up and realized there seemed to be no sound outside. He carefully set down the radio, pushed open the door, and walked out.
The moment he opened the hall doors, he received a fright.
The usually bustling palace was now deathly silent. Large numbers of palace attendants and guards lay on the ground, their fates unknown. Meanwhile, a group of Appearance Clan members with