He stood in front, walking as calmly as ever. Candado was the only one who could identify him.

"Are you sure?" Hector asked.

"No doubt," Candado affirmed.

"Wait, what is he doing?"

Candado and Joaquin watched as Desza drew a machete and plunged it into the body of the old, fat policeman.

"MARIO!" Joaquin yelled.

His cry alerted everyone present.

"What's happening, chief?" Krauser asked.

Joaquin turned and said, "EVERYONE, QUICK! WE HAVE TO—"

"BE CAREFUL!" Candado shouted.

At that precise moment, a large stone smashed through the window and fell onto Joaquin and Candado.

"WHAT IS THIS!?" Hammya exclaimed.

Krauser and Hector rushed to the shattered window. Both could see the perpetrator of the attack, a figure in medieval armor, raising his hand toward their position.

"Azricam," Hector said, surprised.

The stone swept through the entire place, destroying not only the window but the entire room. Fortunately, thanks to Cantero's shield, they emerged unharmed. However, Joaquin and Candado were trapped under the stone.

"CANDADO!" Clementina cried out.

Hector and Krauser were alerted and turned their concern towards them.

Johan ran towards the stone and kicked it, shattering it. Underneath the debris were Candado and his friend, who had used his flame as a shield to protect himself and Candado.

Hammya ran to Candado and helped him up, while Moneda and Ruth assisted Joaquin, who had a bleeding wound on his forehead.

"Quick, we have to stop them."

Then, Joaquin fainted.

Candado quickly regained his composure and ran towards the huge hole that rock had caused, with the others following him. There they saw Desza, unhinged, atop the wall, laughing as he raised his bloodied machete and shouted.

"IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO PAY, CANDADO!" he yelled, fixing his gaze on Candado, with his dirty clothes and immense happiness. Then he lowered his machete like a general, and his subordinates leaped over the walls while others knocked down the large door.

"Scoundrels," Candado turned and saw his comrades. "Moneda, Ruth, and Cantero, stay and watch over Joaquin. The rest, come with me. Clementina, call our compatriots."

"What are you going to do, Candado?" asked Clementina.

"Cantero Agostina, I trust in your shield powers. I want you to bring us down there," Candado said, pointing at the hole.

"But it's like thirteen floors down, it's madness."

"Do it now, please."

"Alright, I'll do it."

"It's been spoken."

Cantero extended her hands towards them and began to create a yellow sphere around them, lifting them into the air.

"Are you sure this will work?" asked Rozkiewicz.

"I have no idea, but I trust it will," replied Cantero.

Cantero's words worried the others, and their faces reflected regret for listening to Candado. However, Cantero continued to concentrate, trusting that she could do it. Once she lifted them into the air, she began to descend rapidly, as if they were falling.

"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" Rozkiewicz and Hector screamed.

But to their surprise, they did not. They didn't die, and the operation was a success; Candado and the others reached the ground.

"Alright, spread out and neutralize them."

"I won't separate from you," said Clementina.

"Nor will I," added Hector.

"Alright, let's go get them."

Everyone (except Johan) nodded and shouted:

"FOR HARAMBEE!"

After that cry, they all took different paths and headed towards the enemy.

The place turned into a battlefield, with children fighting against armed and masked adults. They couldn't believe it; the agency was under attack, there was fire and gunfire. Each did what they could to hold them back and protect their comrades.

Sofia ran towards a crowd of armed individuals with machine guns firing indiscriminately. The curious thing was that they wore an eagle on their chests. Using her powers of nature, she used the terrain as a weapon. With her staff, she struck the ground forcefully, causing roots to emerge and trap the armed individuals, throwing them to the ground. Then, with gestures of her fingers, she manipulated each tree root at will as if it were an extension of her body.

Sofia noticed she was being shot in the back and quickly stomped on the ground, causing immense trees to grow and surround her, shielding her from the bullets. Once safe, she buried her hands in the earth, and her skin slowly began to turn into a strange mineral that covered her completely.

"Feel the wrath of nature, mangy dogs."

The trees descended, revealing Sofia covered in a strange blue mineral. She was more agile, running and landing clean punches. Occasionally, she used her magic and staff to summon roots and attack enemies. Finally, she encountered a girl with red skin and completely white eyes, wearing a black cloak and a crown.

"Who the hell are you?" Sofia asked, pointing her staff at the girl.

The girl smiled and raised her hand, from which lava flowed. Sofia managed to dodge it, but she also saw a pool of lava consuming the earth.

"I understand now, you're Andrea Russeus."

"It's time for you to melt, unionist," Andrea said with a seemingly soft and sweet voice.

Meanwhile, Walter Dussek ran through the area, helping the wounded and thwarting the Witnesses' attack as everyone entered the bunkers. The students with red and white ranks, not all experienced in combat, sought refuge. Walter traversed the area in search of people needing help until he found himself caught in crossfire, with those of the green rank fighting against the enemy. Walter crouched down and began reciting words in Greven, the language of the Zilido of the desert mountain villages of Salta and Jujuy. As he spoke in a strange dialect, a kind of cactus armor sprouted from his body, concealing his entire body and head, leaving only his face visible.

"It's time to play," Walter said as he stood up and stretched in an inhuman manner, as if he were made of rubber. His arms stretched out and struck anyone who was armed. His spikes severely injured his enemies, and his arms continued to elongate, punching those who fired. He began using his palm to launch spikes as if they were weapons, although they weren't strong enough to kill anyone. Then, he noticed snipers standing on the walls. Walter grabbed onto one of the columns and launched himself at lightning speed towards one of the shooters. Before the sniper could react, Walter reached him and delivered a blow to his chest that made him fall to the ground, killing him instantly. He continued running along the wall, knocking off everyone carrying rifles; some died from the fall, and others remained alive but no longer posed a threat. He reached a boy armed with needles.

"I won't allow you to stand in our way," said the boy.

"Is your mission to liquidate mere children?" Walter retorted.

"No, but..."

"Don't speak; I don't want to hear from scum like you. My brothers will hear the melody of victory once I've taken you out, monster."

"That's not going to happen," Walter said as he drew his needles.

Both engaged in battle, Joel's needles and cunning against Walter Dussek's powerful spikes.

On the other hand, Johan advanced relentlessly, eliminating everyone carrying weapons with his sword. He showed no mercy; if they had tried to kill him, he didn't forgive them. He ran at an incredible speed, slashing his enemies' throats without giving them a chance to defend themselves and without staining his fine white clothes with blood. Occasionally, Johan helped others in need, using his power to duplicate objects to clone weapons and hand them to his comrades so they could defend themselves.

Then, in the distance, Johan spotted a young man dressed with bags under his eyes, fighting against a crowd of green-ranked Semaphores. The scene surprised him greatly.

Johan propelled himself with his right leg, gearing up to dart at his adversary at breakneck speed, like a bullet fired from a revolver. His target: to deliver a fatal blow. However, just as his sword was about to reach his opponent's nape, the opponent swiftly turned and halted the attack with his left hand, using his thumb and forefinger, maintaining an impassive expression on his face.

The young man's ability to counter Johan's speed and tactics surprised him, but the enigmatic youth responded with an ironic smile.

"Heh, seems like you're different from those idiots. Now that I look at you closely, ah, I see, you're Jørgen Czacki, aren't you?"

Jørgen narrowed his eyes, intrigued.

"How do you know my name?"

"I'll tell you if you manage to defeat me, although it's obvious that I never lose."

Jørgen responded with a kick to the chest that sent Johan flying several meters away.

"You're one of those who talk a lot, aren't you? I'll make sure to silence you."

Johan lunged at Jørgen again with his sword, while the latter waited for him with undisturbed calmness.

Meanwhile, Krauser struggled to protect his group amidst the chaos. Using his tentacles, he struck down any enemy that approached his side. Though he had lost his hat in the fray, it was not the time to worry about formality. The bullets that hit him did no harm; even the holes that pierced his clothes quickly closed up as he expelled the projectiles. Empty cartridges fell to the ground as he continued his frenzied advance, disposing of the killers who crossed his path.

However, a chill ran down his spine when he witnessed a scene that tore at his soul: a hooded man riddled a child who lay on the ground, pleading for mercy. Krauser, driven by rage and helplessness in the face of such cruelty, unleashed his darkest side. There was no reason to spare the perpetrators of such an atrocity. Abandoning his injured comrade in the shelters, he headed straight for the killer.

When the individual realized the imminent threat, he frantically fired his weapon. However, Krauser, with his tentacles, intercepted the bullets before they could reach him. This confounded the attacker, who redoubled his efforts to defend himself, but in vain. Krauser leaped towards him, knocked him down, and pinned him to the ground.

"You killed a child, you're a monster deserving of death," Krauser declared.

With that said, he used the force of his tentacle to tear off the man's leg, inflicting unbearable pain. The man screamed and begged, but Krauser, driven by his rage, showed no mercy. Swiftly, he plunged his left hand into the killer's chest, extracting his heart with immense force. Blood splattered over them, but at that moment, the man's fate was sealed. Despite his agonizing screams, tears, and pleas, there was no salvation. His eyes were wide with horror, and his face bore the indescribable suffering he had endured. The victim had endured unimaginable torment. With the heart in his hand, Krauser didn't hesitate and devoured it in one gulp.

Having said that, he proceeded to tear off a leg with the force of his tentacle, causing the man even more agony. But then, desperate to see him die, Krauser plunged his left hand into the killer's chest with tremendous force, ripping his heart from his vile body. Blood splattered over him and the man, though the latter no longer mattered. Despite the agonized screams, tears streamed down the man's face, and his eyes were wide with horror. The victim had suffered immensely. Krauser, holding the heart in his hand, didn't hesitate to devour it in one gulp.

As Krauser continued his macabre task, a child approached him with his hands behind his back.

"Curious, isn't it? I said this would happen if we sent these people to shoot at these poor children. It's a real shame you took out Rock, he was a sadistic madman, but I would've liked to have eliminated him myself."

Krauser turned and saw the individual speaking to him, a child in a red tunic with a wooden mask with two holes for seeing, although his eyes couldn't be seen as they were covered by black fabric.

"You have made the grave mistake of attacking us, and you will be liquidated."

"I know, it was stupid, but I don't make the rules, my boss does."

Krauser stood up, wiped the blood from his face, covered his mouth again, and prepared to attack.

"You will receive the divine punishment of Harambee, and you, Guz, will receive my punishment."

"I hope so, I hope so."

As Krauser was about to start fighting with Guz, Rozkiewicz was fortunate enough not to face a formidable opponent. His fighting skills were destined to defend his friends. He traversed the field and led his brethren into battle, playing the role of a general commanding his soldiers in the fray. Thanks to his leadership, they managed to organize themselves and fight valiantly, without fear. The morale of his group had grown significantly.

In the midst of the crowd, however, was a special person: Chesulloth, a girl with a white mask that displayed a macabre smile. She wore a cloak that partially covered her body and, realizing she couldn't defeat such a motivated army, decided to devise a plan. She began running through the crowd and shouted at the top of her lungs:

"ROZKIEWICZ IS DEAD! PRESIDENT ROZKIEWICZ IS DEAD!"

These words began to scare the troops, sowing confusion and fear among their ranks. Many soldiers began to demoralize and flee. This wasn't what Rozkiewicz had planned, as the disorganization would only give the enemy an advantage and could cause more casualties among his comrades. Chesulloth's tactic seemed to be working perfectly.

However, in the midst of the chaos and confusion, Rozkiewicz executed a stunning transformation. He turned his torso into a giant serpent three meters tall and rose into the air. He removed his helmet and raised it, shouting to his comrades with determination:

"I'M STILL ALIVE AND FIGHTING, DAMN IT! RETURN TO YOUR RANKS, COMRADES, AND LET'S BE READY TO DRIVE THESE SCUMBAGS OUT OF OUR GARDEN! COME ON, COME ON, VICTORY IS WITHIN OUR GRASP!"

Later, Rozkiewicz fixed his gaze on Chesulloth and lunged towards her with fury in his eyes.

"COME, DAMN YOU, AND SAY IT TO MY FACE! SAY THAT I'M DEAD, YOU STUPID!"

The field grew increasingly dangerous. Desza advanced with his machete, cutting down anything in his path. His bodyguards fired incessantly, eliminating any threat that moved. For him, satisfaction came from hearing the agonizing screams of his victims and watching his machete slice through flesh like butter. He had spent nights sharpening his weapon, and now, his skill allowed him to revel in its lethality. Yet, what pleased him the most was the sight of Candado running towards him, accompanied by his friends, Héctor and Clementina. Knowing that his enemies were approaching for a final showdown was the reason for his happiness, especially if it was Candado, whom he deeply despised.

Candado advanced with determination, carving through enemies with precise strikes and avoiding being hit. Clementina had his back, shooting anyone targeting Candado, while Héctor used his cards as a shield to protect the group's rear.

"Cursed wretches," Desza muttered, smiling maliciously.

As Candado drew closer, Desza leaped towards him, ready to deliver a fatal blow with his facón.

"AZRICAM, DOCKLY, NEUTRALIZE THEIR COMPANIONS!" Desza ordered.

In response, two of Desza's followers, Azricam and Dockly, rushed towards Héctor and Clementina, pulling them out from the area protected by the walls. Azricam struck Clementina in the face and threw her aside. Then, he fired at a column of the door, causing it to collapse.

"CANDADO!" Héctor cried out in anguish.

"We must not allow them to interfere with Lord Desza," Dockly warned.

"They'll be our opponents," concluded Azricam.

Clementina stood up beside Héctor.

"Do you think Candado is alright, Clementina?"

"Never doubt the young master, Héctor. Never question that."

Meanwhile, inside the wall, Candado and Desza faced off with their respective weapons. The rage on the young man's face contrasted with the profaner's expression of glee.

"Tell me, bastard, what are you doing here?" demanded Candado.

"Me? Let's just say I came only to retrieve something that belongs to me," replied Desza with an enigmatic smile.

Desza and Candado parted, their blades clashing with sparks illuminating the tense confrontation. Then, they lunged at each other ferociously. Candado remained vigilant, aware that Desza's machete was longer and more dangerous. The fight was fast and precise, with barely any openings to attack. It seemed that Desza had trained enough to evade any attempt to strike.

"Why don't you attack, Candado?" mocked Desza, while continuing to dodge his opponent's blows.

Candado dodged Desza's attacks and occasionally blocked the fierce machete strikes. Finally, Desza made a mistake in his movement while attempting a neck strike on Candado, who skillfully leaned back and kicked him in the chest, sending him backwards.

"What happened to the Desza who used to believe in justice?" interrogated Candado with a tense voice. "What has happened to your faith?"

Desza began to laugh, with a sinister smile on his face, as he held his bloodied machete.

"Do you think I've lost my faith in justice?" Desza retorted, staring into Candado's eyes. "I continue to dispense justice to everyone."

"Killing without trial? Is that justice?" Candado questioned.

"No, but to achieve justice, sacrifices are sometimes necessary," Desza replied coldly.

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Candado looked at him incredulously and asked, "Why do you behave so psychotically?"

Without giving time for a response, Desza rushed towards Candado and leaped with his machete in hand, clashing once again with Candado's facón. The collision sparked, and Desza let out a diabolical laugh.

"You did this to me, I've never felt such terror as when you stripped me of my powers. I despise you, Candado, every cell of my body hates you," Desza spat with hatred in his voice.

Desza quickly disengaged his machete and lunged at Candado again. However, Candado was not in a position to stop him once more. At that moment, Candado used his violet flames to propel himself backward, creating a curtain of fire that temporarily blinded Desza. Despite the momentary blindness, Desza quickly recovered and rushed towards Candado once more.

Meanwhile, Candado devised a strategy to confront his enemy and noticed a crack in Desza's defense. However, to exploit that weakness, he would have to create an opening, and that didn't sit well with him.

Candado ran towards Desza with determination. Desza, seeing him approaching, raised his machete and brought it down forcefully. Candado put his arm to protect his head, but the machete embedded itself in his flesh and bone, splattering blood and eliciting a satisfied expression from Desza. Finally, he had wounded Candado.

However, the fight was not over. Desza's machete remained stuck in Candado's bone. Aware of the situation, Candado moved his arm upwards forcefully, creating an opening in his own flesh to allow his facón to pierce through Desza's clavicle. Desza was horrified to see that he had no escape from such a fatal blow. However, as Candado approached, Desza shifted slightly, causing the facón to hit Desza's clavicle instead of his chest, while the latter showed a smirk.

Candado frowned and separated from Desza, freeing himself from the machete and stepping back before he bent over. The wound in his clavicle was bleeding profusely, but Candado maintained a cold expression, showing no signs of pain or sadness as he observed his wound.

Desza, perplexed, gazed at the wound inflicted upon him. It was the first time one of his enemies had caused him such damage. After a few seconds, he began to laugh, laughing heartily.

"Is this what other people feel when I mutilate them? God, what a splendid sensation. How can they fear this?" he wondered aloud, reveling in his own madness.

Candado stood up and examined his wound. Although it was a deep wound, the bleeding had stopped, leaving only stains where the wound had been. Despite his calm appearance, Candado regarded the wound with a cold gaze.

After a few seconds, Candado turned his attention back to Desza and calmly remarked, "Hey, I knew you were disturbed, but this is ridiculous."

Upon hearing this, Desza snapped out of his world of madness and lunged at Candado once again. Candado, seeing the attack, tried to defend himself to avoid the crazed Desza's machete blow. However, he noticed that his right arm was not responding.

"Damn, a nerve has been affected," Candado thought.

With no other options, Candado ran towards Desza with his only functional arm, prepared to attack him with his facón. But just as Desza was about to reach him, he felt a presence to his right. This prompted him to place his machete at his side, blocking a stone that had been thrown at him. Candado quickly turned and saw Hammya with her arm relaxed, indicating that she had been the one responsible for throwing the rock.

Desza smirked and prepared to pursue Hammya, completely forgetting about Candado.

"Hello, little one. It seems I'm going to enjoy flaying you. I wonder if your organs are the same color as your hair," Desza growled with a sinister voice.

"Desza! This is between you and me! She has nothing to do with it!" Candado shouted, trying to protect Hammya.

"Of course, she has something to do with it. You took something from me that belonged to me, now it's my turn," Desza replied, showing no compassion whatsoever.

Candado ran towards Desza, with his still functional arm, determined to stop him. However, Desza proved to be faster and chose to continue chasing Hammya, ignoring Candado for the moment.

"Run, Hammya! Run!" Candado urged the girl to escape.

Hammya reacted, but instead of fleeing, she ran towards Desza with determination.

"What are you doing, stupid girl!? Run!" Desza shouted furiously at her while raising his machete, ready to attack the girl.

However, Hammya ignored him and kept advancing. In a surprising move, her hair and eyes began to glow in a fluorescent green hue, and her teeth were bared in a look of disgust. As this happened, the ground shook, and two enormous tree trunks emerged from the earth, striking Desza in the chest and sending him flying against the wall.

Desza got up, spitting blood and displaying a sinister smile on his face, leaving Candado astonished by the power Hammya had unleashed. It seemed that the girl had attacked someone much stronger than her.

Just as Desza prepared to counterattack, he stopped his movement and looked around in astonishment. The wall was being assaulted by the guildsmen, and help had arrived. But it wasn't just the guildsmen; the Circus performers and Esteban's Erasers were joining the fight, although the reasons for their presence were a mystery. They poured in from the other side of the wall, forming a diverse and determined army.

Among them were German, Frederick, Esteban, Freud, Mauricio, Diana, Logan, Anzor, Declan, the twins Erika and Lucia, Matlotsky, Addel, Esteeman, Kevin, Martina, Pio, Viki, Ana María, Carolina, Lucas, Glinka, Antonela, Xendí, Ester, and other individuals unknown to Candado. They were all under the leadership of a prominent figure, Rodrigo Almirón Gilemberg, who held aloft a red flag with a golden shield inside and two crossed cannons.

The situation became even more intense as the battle raged on in its full splendor.

Amidst the chaos of battle, each of Candado's allies displayed their astonishing powers with skill.

German, transformed into a werewolf, pounced on the assassins, ripping their lives away with ferocious bites and brutal blows.

Lucas, the fire master, used his gift to burn his adversaries, inflicting pain but avoiding direct death.

Kevin and Martina, endowed with the powers of Bailak, unleashed a variety of elements and energies, killing some enemies and leaving others wounded in their wake.

The twins, with their platinum and gold powers, petrified their opponents, turning them into statues before ruthlessly shattering them.

Lucia, bravely, took the bullets meant for her sister, using her abilities to petrify the attackers and annihilate them instantly, while Erika shielded her.

Anzor and Declan, with their sharp swords, severed limbs without killing their enemies, causing suffering but leaving them alive.

Mauricio, controlling tree leaves, pierced the abdomens of the assassins, inflicting lethal wounds.

Logan, a skilled swordsman, played his part with finesse, beheading enemies and defending his brothers from enemy bullets.

Diana, on the other hand, dealt with those fighting on the walls, cutting them in half with her enormous scythe and cursing them every time she saw a child of her age killed by these assassins.

Frederick, surrounded by his animals, directed his loyal companions to attack the enemies, while Esteban electrocuted them with his lethal electric power.

Freud, with his playful spirit, made sarcastic comments while assisting Declan and Anzor with his lethal strength.

Tarah, with her portal abilities, took the wounded to safe havens, protecting the fallen.

Xendí, with his arms turned into machine guns, fiercely protected his mistress, Tarah.

Antonela, with powerful psychic powers, destroyed the enemies' weapons and, in some cases, burst their hearts, annihilating them.

Esteeman, enraged by the attack on his brothers, used his metallic body to repel bullets and charged the assassins with brutal and precise blows.

Ester, with her diamond powers, struck the enemies and occasionally launched sharp hail projectiles at them.

Addel, with his coal abilities, temporarily possessed the bodies of the assassins and used them to attack others before freeing himself and fighting with his fists and kicks.

Pio and Viki formed a lethal duo: Viki tore enemies apart with her sharp claws and absorbed their blood to gain strength, while Pio used his thread powers to freeze adversaries before Viki destroyed them.

In the midst of the conflict, each of these allies contributed with their extraordinary gifts to confront the assassins and change the course of the battle.

Carolina unleashed her astonishing close combat attacks, combining her abilities with her snakes' poison. She strangled her opponents and bit them, injecting venom and ending their lives instantly.

Ana María Pucheta, concerned for her friend in the agency, exerted herself to the fullest to repel those trying to access the bunkers. Her deadly punches left lethal holes in her enemies' bodies, causing instant death.

Glinka, dressed in white and hiding his face behind a rabbit mask, employed his powers over matter, turning his arms into gigantic metal blades. He attacked with deadly precision, using metal as a weapon to decimate the assassins.

Matlotsky, an exceptional shooter, demonstrated his brilliance in the accuracy of his shots. Using a nail gun, he directed his projectiles with mastery, disarming or injuring his enemies in critical points.

And finally, Almirón led his army fervently towards victory, using his voice as a weapon. His passionate speeches inspired his guildmates to keep fighting, while he waved the flag symbolizing the union of five guilds under his command. But Almirón was not a leader without powers; he had control over water and the ability to dematerialize himself to become liquid. Using this tactic, he drowned his enemies or kept them at bay, thwarting attempts to attack him from behind.

Amidst the fierce battle, these brave allies displayed their extraordinary powers and abilities to confront the assassins and fight for victory.

Among the fighters in the heat of battle were Johan, Walter, Krauser, Rozkiewicz, Sofía, Héctor, and Clementina.

Walter had faced challenges with Joel, but the situation changed when he devised a cunning strategy. He leaped from the wall and, using his elastic arms, clung to the structure as he moved to the right. As he moved, he dislodged blocks one after another, generating a tremor that forced Joel to descend. Joel, forced to come down, hurled his needles towards one of the columns and swung to reach the ground. From there, he planned to use his needles to entangle Walter when he approached the center, where he had anticipated his attack. However, Walter shed his protective suit and rushed towards Joel at supernatural speed, delivering a blow to his elbow and chest. The impact sent Joel flying through the air, crashing into one of the assassins' vehicles. As Walter prepared to finish him off, two women, Jane and Rose, appeared and rescued their unconscious brother before quickly retreating. Walter watched suspiciously as they intervened with determination to save Joel from him.

In contrast, Johan and Jørgen maintained an evenly matched battle, with no casualties or signs of fatigue, their skills perfectly balanced. Johan swung powerful sword blows at Jørgen, who blocked them and even returned them with double the force. However, Jørgen noticed that Joel was out of commission and understood that he needed to aid his comrades.

"Forgive me, but this is where this combat ends," Jørgen said.

Then, Jørgen tripled his speed and began to deliver blow after blow until he managed to destroy Johan's sword. Johan was surprised, but Jørgen wasn't seeking his death. In a matter of seconds, he landed thirty blows to Johan's chest due to his dizzying speed, sending him flying but leaving him alive, while using his speed to move away from the combat.

Jørgen climbed onto the roof of the Semáforos agency and encountered Isabel, who held a stack of documents in her hands.

"Are these it?" Isabel asked.

"Yes, now we must go."

Jørgen headed to the edge of the roof and established telepathic communication with Desza.

"(Sir, we've retrieved them, it's time to retreat)," Jørgen transmitted.

"(Excellent, good job, team)," Desza responded.

Jørgen took Isabel in his arms, making her feel a bit embarrassed, and leaped off the roof, suspending them in the air. Addressing through telepathic communication, he said:

"(Team, it's time to retreat. We've obtained what we wanted)."

Rŭsseŭs smiled and looked at Sofía, who was exhausted after the battle.

"It's time for me to go, darling. I hope you won't bore me next time. Goodbye."

Rŭsseŭs delivered a kick to Sofía's chest, causing her to fall wounded to the ground. She cursed herself for not even managing to scratch him.

Chesulloth, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. She was struck hard by Rozkiewicz, left severely injured. However, upon hearing her companion's voice, she found the strength to escape him as she sank into the earth, as if plunging into water, bewildering Rozkiewicz.

Then there was Guz, engaged in a close combat with Krauser. Neither of them managed to inflict any damage on each other, despite the hatred Krauser felt upon witnessing the brutal death of one of his comrades before his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I must leave. I regret the lives lost today," Guz said.

"Wait, what was your objective? Why did you attack us?" Krauser inquired.

"I would like to know that too."

With these words, Guz withdrew, using his tentacles that emerged from his back and creating new ones on the ground to keep those who approached him at bay. He left Krauser alone amidst piles of rubble caused by the fight. Curiously, Krauser managed to find his hat under the stones, picked it up, shook it, and put it back on his head. As he watched all the enemies leave the scene, his desire to follow Guz completely faded. Now all he cared about was saving his people.

Meanwhile, Desza, satisfied with what Jørgen had told him, glanced at Candado for a moment and then pulled out a vial of pink liquid from his pocket, drinking it entirely.

"I think we should postpone this encounter, Candado. I've lost too many men today. So, goodbye," Desza declared.

Desza sped away at an incredible speed, making any attempt to follow him impossible. Once he was gone, all his companions followed suit, including the assassins, who boarded their cars and drove away. Almirón and his comrades set off in pursuit of the assassins, leaving half of their companions to aid the needy.

The conflict had come to an end, but it had left a large number of dead and wounded in the Semáforos gardens. It was the first time something like this had happened. Victory had turned into bitterness; they had lost many comrades, friends, and even family in some cases. The grass was dyed red that afternoon, with numerous casualties on the enemy side. However, there was no reason to celebrate, as many of them had never taken a life before and were in a state of shock over what they had done.

Candado, who had understood all this, sat exhausted on a rock in the middle of the battlefield. Hammya approached to see how he was.

"Candado, are you okay?"

Candado, with an empty gaze, replied:

"I, as always, emerge unscathed from these situations. But those around me do not."

He looked at the corpse of an unknown boy who was part of the Semáforos.

"Well, I..."

Hammya noticed Candado's bruised arm.

"OH MY GOODNESS! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!?"

Candado observed his arm, as if it were unimportant, and said:

"Oh, that. It's just another medal from my battles, one that will remind me of this fateful day."

Hammya knelt down and tore the sleeve of his arm, exposing the wound.

"THIS IS TERRIBLE!"

"And what did you expect from a wound? I don't think these things are attractive," Candado responded in the most insensitive manner possible.

Candado's arm had a hole where blood barely trickled out. Hammya, desperate, took out a water bottle she had with her and sprayed it on the wound to clean it. Then she took Candado's torn sleeve and began to pass it through the wound. Despite the process, Candado still showed no sign of pain, simply observing around him as his comrades were tended to by Almirón's guild members.

"Why would Desza attack the Semáforos?" Candado asked again.

Hammya paid no attention and continued cleaning the wound. When she finished, she took a handkerchief from her pocket that Candado had given her to wipe her tears, which she had forgotten to reclaim. She shook it three times and used it to wrap the wound.

"There, now you'll be fine."

"I'm always fine. That's an eternal curse I have," Candado replied.

Candado got up and began to walk around the area.

"I hope Nelson is okay."

At that moment, Candado spotted in the distance a dusty old man dragging a burly security guard who was wounded in the abdomen. Seeing him, Candado shouted:

"OLD FOOL!"

The old man turned out to be Nelson. He was dusty but had no scratches on his body. Candado ran towards him, accompanied by Hammya.

"Hello, little ones, I'm glad you're both okay," Nelson greeted them.

Candado looked at the wounded man.

"Is this Mario?"

"I don't know his name, but I saw him stabbed by a boy with a machete. If it weren't for me, he would be dead. I used some bandages I had in my car along with some saline solution, and I managed to stop the bleeding. Now he's just unconscious, but don't worry, his life is no longer in danger," Nelson explained.

"Are you a doctor?" Hammya asked.

"Of course I am, girl," Nelson replied.

"Then, can you help him?" Hammya pointed at Candado's arm.

Nelson released the legs of the injured guard as if he were a mere sack and approached Candado. He removed the bandage that Hammya had placed and examined the wound carefully.

"It's a pretty nasty cut," Nelson remarked.

"Don't tell me," Candado replied.

Nelson chuckled lightly and then looked at Hammya.

"Bring me the suitcase that's on that fat guy's belly, please."

Hammya ran to where the guard was and retrieved the small suitcase. She then returned to Nelson and handed it over. Nelson opened it and took out cotton, alcohol, and bandages.

"You know, I'm surprised this wound was caused by a weapon that looks like a sword," Nelson commented.

"You guessed wrong, it was a machete," Candado corrected him.

"Even worse."

Nelson dampened the cotton with alcohol and passed it over the wound. Despite the stinging sensation, Candado didn't react or show pain; he kept talking.

"Why would the Testigos attack the Semáforos?" Candado asked again.

"I have no idea. I thought they would just try to incriminate one of the two powers, but it seems both you and I were wrong," Nelson replied.

After Nelson finished cleaning the wound, he wrapped it carefully.

"Good thing I brought a shirt," Candado said as he took off his sweatshirt and tied the red tie around his neck.

At that moment, Héctor and Clementina came running from afar.

"CANDADO!" they shouted.

"Boys, I'm glad you're okay," Candado said, showing a faint smile.

"Sorry, sir, for not coming sooner. I had to assess the casualties," Clementina apologized.

"How many are there then, Clementina?" Candado inquired.

"There are approximately 2500 Semáforos staff. Around 127 people have died, including 30 security personnel. There are 543 injured and 9 missing."

"Who were the ones who attacked us?" Candado questioned.

"That's the interesting part, sir. The enemies were almost 500, but 40 of them were humans with criminal backgrounds," Clementina revealed.

Clementina's words surprised everyone.

"And who were the others?"

"Undead, sir."

"Any madness," Nelson commented.

"Are you telling me that most of them were dead?" Candado asked incredulously.

"Yes. Upon careful analysis, I detected that their hearts weren't beating, but emitting small discharges."

"But who could have such immense power?"

"That power could only be the work of a corrupted Bari."

All eyes turned to a concerned Tínbari.

"Oh, where were you while we were fighting?" Candado asked.

"I apologize for that, Candado."

"Wait, is it a good idea to talk about this here?" Hammya interjected.

"Don't worry, everyone is busy helping each other," Candado reassured her.

"Well, what about this corrupted Bari?" Candado inquired.

"You see, Candado, I believe Pullbarey is behind this," Tínbari revealed.

"Why would he agree to attack us? What would he gain by attacking the Semáforos?"

"I don't know."

"It's a pity. It would be good to have information from time to time," Candado remarked.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, Candado. Please forgive me," Tínbari apologized.

"It's rare for you to apologize to me," Candado observed.

Candado stood up, thanked Nelson for his help, and gave Hammya a pat on the head in gratitude for saving his life. Then he walked away from them to look around and make sure everyone was okay or at least to offer his help. However, he didn't realize that his friends were closely following him and had no intention of leaving him alone.

"We won't leave your side until you get home safe and sound," Hammya declared.

"Always being a headache, aren't you?" Candado teased.

"I'm with Miss Hammya, we won't leave you alone just yet," Héctor added.

Tínbari and Nelson nodded in agreement and followed him.

Candado saw Rozkiewicz talking with Walter and someone he didn't know, so he approached to see if they needed help.

"Hello."

"Oh, hello, Candado!" Rozkiewicz greeted him energetically.

"Hello, sir."

"Excuse me, who are you?" Candado asked the unfamiliar person.

"I'm Valeria Ayesha Escanciano."

"Star in Latin, right?"

"Oh, I see you know a lot."

"Of course."

"Walter was talking about someone interesting. Do you want to listen?" Rozkiewicz offered.

"Like this?"

"He was talking about Soledad Ortiz Wanda Candrabetra."

"Who is she?"

"She's a strong person. Her feats are the best I've seen in my life," Valeria explained.

"She was one of the people I invited to our talk, but unfortunately couldn't attend. Our friend Valeria was explaining the reasons," Rozkiewicz added.

"Soledad was quite busy. Her trip here was canceled. I came to represent her and apologize. When I saw this... massacre, I helped with what I could," Valeria added.

"I understand," Candado replied, noticing a particular calmness in Valeria. Her eyes seemed dull behind her glasses, leading him to believe she had seen similar scenarios before. "See you," Valeria bid farewell.

"Wow, she's intimidating. I wouldn't want to be in a room with her, especially not with that polearm of hers," Walter commented.

"Soledad, I think I know her. The warrior with the mace, right? They say she was able to stop Karinto Bárcena and his companion Alan. But... why did you call her?" Candado inquired.

"Her name was on the desk. I thought Joaquín wanted to talk to her."

"Joaquín always thought unpredictably."

"Perhaps... she caught his attention amid the conflict between Bárcena and Sol."

"I don't know. Well, I'll leave you now, I have to keep helping."

"Good luck, friend."

"Take care, Candado. This scene shouldn't affect you."

"Don't worry, these deaths don't affect me at all."

"That sounds sad."

"Walter Dussek, don't make me laugh."

With that, Candado walked away from his friends and continued down the path. Along the way, he encountered some of his comrades. The first he came across was Johan, who was sitting in a chair, legs crossed, manipulating the fragments of his sword with levitation as if it were a puzzle, while holding the sword hilt in his left hand.

"Hello, how are you?" Candado greeted.

Johan looked up, but didn't stop concentrating on what he was doing. "Hello, Candado. Looks like you're still alive."

"Same goes for you."

"Come on, I always survive. I hope Lilith isn't mad at me for not showing up to our date."

"Lilith?"

"She's my girlfriend, but as you can see, she's not here," Johan explained, then glanced at the bandage on Candado's arm. "I see someone has hurt you."

"You've got your own marks too."

Johan looked at his chest, where there was a spot of dirt and creases in a perfect circle. "You're right, looks like I defied a god and won. You can laugh at that victory, but I'll settle the score with him later. I hope they don't kill him."

"Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine. Look around you, Candado. There are many people helping each other. I can take care of myself."

Candado looked around and saw that Johan was right. Sofía was injured but using her powers to heal the wounded, putting on a smile so as not to worry the patients. Krauser was covering the body of a fourteen-year-old girl with a blanket and then hugging another girl to comfort her. Walter was helping the wounded who couldn't move, while Rozkiewicz was cracking jokes to ease tension and bring smiles to his comrades. Ana María was embracing a strange girl, apparently her friend, while Viki was applying a bandage to her head. Pio was repairing doors and parts of the walls with the help of German and Addel, who were sealing the cracks. Anzor, Freud, and Declan were helping rescue people trapped under the rubble. The rest were busy tending to the wounded.

"You see, they're the ones who need help, not me," Johan remarked.

"I understand. I'm glad you're okay."

"Same here."

Candado bid farewell to Johan and continued on his way until he encountered Esteban, who was putting a dislocated child's arm back in place.

"Hello, Circuista," Candado greeted.

Esteban, who was facing away, grimaced and turned to look at Candado.

"Look, I only came because I had to apologize for how I treated you at Guillermo's wake, but tomorrow we'll still be enemies," Esteban said.

"I won't forget it, but try not to be a jerk," Candado replied with a cold smile.

"Now go, I'm very busy."

Candado noticed that Esteban was injured, so he hurried to the building, accompanied by his friends. They climbed the stairs until they reached the top floor, where the main office was located. Candado burst into the room and saw Joaquín sitting at his secretary's desk, leaning forward, holding his temples with both hands, and showing a worried expression. In addition to Joaquín, there were four people in the room: Ruth, Moneda, Cantero, and a boy with his face covered by a red bandana, a cowboy hat, and a trench coat, known as the upright inspector Gabriel Joaquín.

"Are you sure, Gabriel?" Joaquín asked.

"I'm afraid so."

"Have you checked it again?"

"Six times, sir."

"No," Joaquín covered his eyes and continued, "We're in serious trouble."

"What's happening?" Hammya asked.

"Harambee is the dialect Harambee used for the magic that sealed Thanatos long ago. If they manage to read and decipher it, they will go in search of the Harambee spear, because to release Thanatos, they must recite the magic words while holding the spear."

"That sounds serious."

"It is. If Thanatos is freed, we'll all be lost. I knew we shouldn't have kept him here. I said it would be better to hide him in Russia, and now that they've gotten him..."

"They still need the Harambee spear. All is not lost, Joaquín," Cantero interjected.

"You're right, but if they attacked us here, they'll do the same at the O.M.G.A.B., and all will be lost."

"There must be another solution."

"There is, Clementina, there is," Joaquín responded, then looked at Ruth. "Give me one of those sheets from the shelves, please."

Ruth hurried, took some sheets, a pen, and handed them to Joaquín.

"What are you doing?" Moneda asked.

"In situations like this, I throw all laws and bureaucratic procedures out the window. These are tough times and there's no time to listen to bureaucrats," Joaquín said as he wrote on the paper. When he finished, he handed the paper to Candado, who was still confused. Joaquín continued, "You wanted a pass? Well, here it is, signed and sealed by me, as president and as inspector."

"But by doing this, without following the chamber procedure, you'd risk being removed and expelled for malpractice. Plus, you'd earn the hatred of President Chandra," Moneda pointed out.

"I voted for Arce, so I don't care what you think. This is serious and there's no time to follow protocol. Go to the O.M.G.A.B. and report what just happened."

"Thank you, Joaquín. I'll leave in two days."

"Why so long?"

"I need to sort some things out."

"What you're about to do is contempt of orders," Gabriel remarked.

"Rozkiewicz will take command, and you'll still be the champion of the Semáforos, Gabriel."