The forest floor split apart.
BOOOOOOM!
Ursa Vitalis's colossal foot slammed into the earth with a force that made the air itself shudder.
Shockwaves rippled across the clearing.
Massive roots burst from the ground like living serpents.
Towering trees bent as though caught in a violent storm.
The forest was no longer just a place.
It was furious.
Bimo was thrown several meters backward.
"WHOA!"
He hit the ground hard, grimaced in pain, then forced himself back to his feet, one hand gripping his aching lower back.
"This isn't a battle..."
"...it's nature's revenge."
Dika grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.
"If you can still joke, you're not dead yet. Move!"
Across the battlefield, Dominion's generator continued to roar.
WHOOOOOMMMMM!
Cold blue energy spread through the mist.
Everywhere it touched—
the grass blackened.
Flowers withered.
Leaves turned brittle and lifeless.
Rani stared in horror.
"The forest..."
"It's dying."
Farhan glanced at the readings on his laptop.
"It's not just the plants."
"The oxygen level is dropping!"
Lila's face turned pale.
"If that generator keeps running..."
"...this entire ecosystem will collapse."
Sinta reacted instantly.
"Team!"
"Take down that generator!"
Bimo grinned despite the blood running from the corner of his mouth.
"Now that makes sense."
He slapped Dika on the shoulder.
"If I pass out, just drag me."
Dika sighed.
"Your weight is the real problem."
The two of them charged forward.
But Ursa Vitalis moved first.
The gigantic Guardian tore an enormous tree from the ground.
CRAAAAASH!
With terrifying strength, it hurled the tree directly into their path.
The earth exploded on impact.
Bimo froze.
"...It just threw a tree."
Dika stared at him blankly.
"We all saw it."
Standing atop the Dominion vehicle, the Commander remained perfectly calm.
"The Guardian's aggression is increasing."
The man in the black cap looked at him.
"Increase the output?"
A faint smile crossed the Commander's face.
"Do it."
"Let the forest destroy its own Guardian."
In the middle of the chaos, Arga remained motionless, staring at Ursa Vitalis.
But his mind wasn't on the giant Guardian.
It was trapped by one sentence.
I helped create it.
Pak Rahmat's confession echoed over and over inside his head.
His hands trembled around the MBG lunch box.
"Why..."
he whispered.
"Why does everyone keep hiding the truth from me?"
Kai stepped beside him.
"I know how that feels."
Arga turned toward him.
Kai kept his eyes fixed ahead.
"Living as the answer..."
"...without ever knowing the question."
Silence settled between them.
Ursa Vitalis slowly raised one enormous foot.
Ready to crush Arga.
"Arga, get back!"
Sinta shouted.
But Arga didn't move.
Instead, he opened the MBG lunch box.
The fifteen glowing rice grains shone like tiny stars.
Warm golden light spread gently across the forest floor.
The blackened grass turned green again.
Withered leaves slowly regained their life.
The wild roots stopped moving.
The entire forest seemed to hold its breath.
Ursa Vitalis froze.
Its massive foot remained suspended in the air.
Its glowing eyes fixed on Arga.
Not with rage.
But with recognition.
Pak Rahmat stepped forward.
His face was heavy with guilt.
"Arga..."
Arga never looked back.
His voice was cold.
"Later."
Two simple words.
Yet they struck Pak Rahmat harder than any attack ever could.
The Dominion Commander watched everything unfold with a faint smile.
"How touching."
He raised a small device.
A red targeting laser appeared on Arga's chest.
Sinta's eyes widened.
"ARGA!"
BANG!
An energy blast shot toward him.
But before it could reach its target—
Ursa Vitalis moved.
Far too fast for something of its enormous size.
The Guardian swung its massive arm aside, intercepting the attack.
BOOOOOM!
The explosion shook the entire forest.
Everyone froze.
Farhan stared at his screen in disbelief.
"The Guardian..."
"...it protected Arga."
Lila whispered,
"The forest has made its choice."
The generator was still running.
Dominion still stood ready.
The forest remained on the brink of collapse.
But one thing had changed.
Ursa Vitalis no longer saw Arga as an enemy.
It now stood before him like an unbreakable living fortress.
And for the first time—
the Dominion Commander lost his smile.