Under the night sky, more and more troops gathered inside the White Plume Outpost, forming neat formations. From the mountaintop, it looked like a vast, dark mass.
Mr. Brown had already sent someone racing back to Crimson Plume Fortress with a message. I, Ethan Zhang, continued to monitor the movements at White Plume Outpost with Mr. Brown.
At this critical moment, if war breaks out, Yuna Ji's situation will become dire.
"Why don't we strike first, Mr. Brown?"
I placed one hand on the hilt of Belle, my sword, staring at the troops below. If Mr. Brown and I charged down now, we could disrupt their assembly and launch a direct attack on White Plume Outpost. We might win, and then deal with Yuna Ji's problem afterward.
"Wait a moment, Ethan Zhang. I don't think the Imperial Army will attack so rashly right now."
"They've already assembled. With so many troops, if they attack the fortress and the monster inside Yuna Ji awakens, we might be powerless to stop it."
Mr. Brown nodded, watching the distant army and the endless stream of soldiers pouring out of White Plume Outpost.
"Come back with me for a moment. I need to confirm what kind of monster is lying dormant."
"Confirm?"
I followed Mr. Brown quickly down the mountain. He didn't offer much explanation. We rode our horses toward Crimson Plume Fortress. If a large army wanted to move, it would take at least a day.
When we reached a deserted area, Mr. Brown and I chose to fly. By dawn, we were back inside the fortress. The rebel army was already building defenses along the walls, and obstacles had been erected at the gates.
In the central hall of the fortress, we found Yuna Ji. She was arranging the next line of defense, and every general listened intently.
We simply waited quietly for the meeting to end. Yuna Ji's situation was far more important than this war—if her own problem couldn't be resolved, nothing would ever truly end.
After two hours, the meeting finally ended. The generals dispersed, while Mr. Brown and I remained. The laptop behind the table and a bag of batteries looked untouched. Yuna Ji hadn't watched any dramas.
"Is there something you need? Why haven't you two left?"
Mr. Brown walked over step by step.
"There's something I need to discuss with you. Can we go upstairs for a moment?"
"If you have something to say, say it now..."
"You have consciousness, don't you? The unknown one—or, in other words, the other Yuna Ji."
In an instant, Yuna Ji burst into a crazed laugh. Then, a swirl of green light particles drifted away, and the skeletal visage faded, revealing Yuna Ji's true form. She pressed her left hand to her cheek, and through the gap between two fingers, a black-green eye stared at us, cold and murderous.
With a whoosh, Yuna Ji vanished from before me. I immediately sensed her presence—she was on the rooftop.
"Zhan Jue, that bastard."
I cursed, and Mr. Brown shook his head helplessly.
The monster inside Yuna Ji had fully awakened; she'd been playing us for days.
"We'll probably have to confront her head-on soon, Ethan—inside her world."
I let out a sound of surprise. Mr. Brown slowly walked out of the room and up the stairs. He turned back and continued speaking.
"Just hold onto me later. I'll take you to meet that other Yuna Ji."
We reached the top floor. Yuna Ji stood in the center, her black-green eye fixed on us with a deadly stare.
"I'll say this only once: stay out of my way, or I'll kill you."