I look to the opposite side of the metallic weapon and see a man with a pale brown complexion, long blonde hair, and blue eyes.

  The men accompanying him head towards Emru. Despite her injury, she stands her ground, threatening them with her fists.

  Lord Eru presses the gun against my head. "I don't think that's the smartest move, Emru Pu?o de Fuego."

  Emru looks at me, lowers her guard after a few seconds, and allows herself to be chained by the tattooed men.

  "Now, let him go."

  "Sure, sure," he says, loosening his grip on me. "Although, by 'letting him go,' I mean sparing him from imminent death. I won't let either of you go. I wonder how I'll use you to control that old wolf."

  Emru's eyes widen in surprise. I don't know what's going through her mind. She looks at me and gives me a gentle smile. Immediately after, I hear the sound of metal breaking. Emru frees herself, and her arms are surrounded by red lines resembling tattoos of her red mark.

  Emru tries to strike Lord Eru's head, but he dodges her attack. Then a gunshot. Emru collapses to the ground.

  I catch her before she falls and hold her in my arms. Blood emerges from her chest. A mask of terror forms on my face. The image of Delilah lying on the blood-filled bed haunts me.

  Although I don't know who she is, tears stream down my face.

  Suddenly, I feel her gentle fingers caressing my face. Emru smiles at me. "Don't cry."

  After that, a second shot rings out, piercing Emru's head.

  "What nonsense," says the man with the smoking gun beside him.

  My face tightens into shadows, and I clench my fists. "How dare you!"

  I feel my mark burning, but my body doesn't respond as the men restrain and chain me.

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  "I'm eager to visit my friends, the Lobos Rojos. They'll surely be delighted to see you," he says, smiling at me.

  As we wait, I notice that the ceiling light comes from some kind of bright red minerals. Over time, the color and intensity of the light change.

  Eventually, we leave the lake market. Passing through alleys and streets made of rock, I see increasing differences. Most people have red marks, with some color variations like Dorados whose marks shine gold.

  The atmosphere is filled with tension, violence, and revelry. Scenes of people fighting don't seem uncommon.

  After a few hours, we reach what seems to be one of the city's limits, and gradually, trees begin to mix with the rock. The Dorados sharpen their gazes and raise their guards. People in the area give us penetrating looks, most wearing red bandanas. We arrive at what appears to be the entrance to a valley with a forest. The entrance is like a small village full of houses.

  "What in the…?" I exclaim in astonishment, opening my eyes as wide as I can.

  At the entrance, what appears to be a giant, three-meter-tall, red creature with white fur awaits us. Next to him are warriors with red bandanas. As we approach, the giant stiffens his posture and closes his arms, puffing out his chest.

  "My dear friend Hoomul, thank you for the welcome. I came across a product that I'm sure my dear soulmate will be interested in." Lord Eru grabs my shoulder and puts me in front of the giant.

  Hoomul seems slightly surprised but maintains his confidence and remains silent.

  "Oh, come on, don't tell me you don't see the resemblance. After all, this little bunny was with a beautiful girl with crimson hair. He did everything to defend this boy as if he were his son."

  The men called Lobos Rojos seem to tense even more, and some talk among themselves. Hoomul sighs loudly, causing the Lobos to fall silent.

  "Very well, but I'll only let you pass and this boy."

  The gold-clad men draw their swords and start cursing. Lord Eru suddenly unsheathes his sword and beheads one of his lackeys.

  "There won't be any problem. After all, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself," Lord Eru says with a smug and eerie smile.

  The Lobos seem angered by the comment, but Hoomul's presence prevents them from saying anything.

  They lead us through the forest within the valley. Eventually, we reach the other end, arriving at the limits of the chamber, a large precipice.

  We climb stairs for a few minutes until we reach the top of this precipice. There, we find the massive entrance to a cave. In front of the cave is a small grassy plain. We are welcomed by the cold stares of hundreds of men with red bandanas.

  In the distance, on a huge rock, I see a man with a firm posture, red eyes sharpening like a wolf's, and hair of white and red as if dipped in blood. His right arm is wrapped in red bandages.