When Hamza, Basil, and Travis arrived on the island, they were warmly welcomed by its native inhabitants, who believed they were the heroes who had slain the monster that had long terrorized them. The men of the tribe gathered around them, while women and children watched with curiosity and anticipation.
An elderly man of great presence stepped forward, his face marked by wisdom and dignity. He introduced himself, saying,
"I am the chief of the Loran tribe. My name is Kyle. I thank you for your courage. You have freed us from a beast that prevented us from leaving the island and fishing at sea. Because of you, we are finally free."
Before Hamza or Basil could respond, Hamza turned toward Travis, who stood beside him, struggling to remain upright despite the clear wounds and bruises covering his body.
Hamza said with concern,
"O Chief, our friend is seriously injured. Could you help him first?"
Kyle looked at Travis, then gestured to a group of men standing nearby and said,
"Take him to the healers. Make sure he receives the best care."
Several tribesmen led Travis to a large hut, where the elder healers gathered around him, bringing medicinal herbs and healing oils.
As Travis lay there, he felt a faint sting with every bandage placed upon his body. He closed his eyes, surrendering to rest without complaining.
After the treatment of Travis was completed, one of the healers stepped outside to reassure Hamza and Basil, saying,
"He has received sufficient treatment, but he needs rest. Let him sleep tonight, and by morning he will be able to move again."
Hamza nodded gratefully, while Basil glanced toward the healing hut where Travis lay sleeping. He then turned to Kyle and said,
"O Chief, there is something important we must tell you."
Kyle motioned for them to follow him and led them to the meeting hut at the center of the village. The villagers gathered around them, their eyes filled with worry and questions.
Basil spoke in a serious tone,
"We must be honest with you. We were not the ones who killed the monster. A man named Julinz—a mysterious figure we know very little about—appeared suddenly and killed it. Before leaving, he left us a warning message that said: Prepare yourselves, for a fleet of ships will invade the island in six days."
Silence fell over the place, and expressions of joy turned into shock and fear.
The villagers exchanged troubled glances, unable to grasp the new disaster about to befall them.
After a tense moment, Kyle spoke gravely,
"Strangers, if this message is true, why would they wish to invade our island? What are they seeking here?"
Hamza replied firmly,
"I believe they possess information about the Lost Island."
Those present exchanged uneasy looks, as if something had just been confirmed in their minds.
Hamza continued,
"We cannot face a potential invasion without preparing for what lies ahead."
Kyle took a deep breath, then nodded and said,
"Let us discuss how we shall confront this threat."
The heroes exchanged understanding glances, and Basil nodded, saying,
"We will do everything we can to help you, O Chief."
After a few moments of heavy silence, the chief sighed deeply and said,
"It seems matters are not as we believed. If ships are coming to invade us, then we face a danger far greater than the beast that terrified us for years. We must prepare. We need to understand the strength of the fleet that will attack us."
Hamza said,
"If the fleet is coming as Julinz claimed, their numbers may reach around ten thousand fighters."
Kyle replied sadly,
"Unfortunately, we are not so strong. Our warriors number fewer than five thousand. Even with their courage, we lack the resources and numbers to face an army of that size alone."
Hamza said seriously,
"O Chief Kyle, we need to know more about the island. We require precise details and information about everything here."
Kyle replied,
"Our island is not entirely isolated. We are not the only ones who live here. There is another tribe in the eastern part of the island known as the Asuran tribe. In the past, we lived in peace, but that peace soon turned into bitter conflict."
Kyle continued,
"The wars between us began because of revenge and blood feuds. Tensions escalated when members of each tribe began abducting women from the other tribe to force them into bearing children. This led to bloody conflicts that lasted for decades. The struggle exhausted both tribes and destroyed all trust between us."
After learning what existed on the island, Basil spoke with confidence,
"We are here to help you, but we must understand that this battle is not the Loran tribe's alone. If we wish to protect the island from this invasion, we must unite our forces. We need to form an alliance with the Asuran tribe."
After Basil proposed the idea of an alliance, the chief nodded in agreement and said with concern,
"Your idea is sound, Basil. But there is a great obstacle. Between the Loran and Asuran tribes lies a river that separates us—a natural boundary that makes communication nearly impossible. At this time of year, the river floods, and its waters rise dangerously. Unfortunately, we are currently in the flood season, and it will not be safe to cross until three days pass and the waters begin to recede."
Silence filled the hut for a few moments before Hamza and Basil exchanged understanding looks, realizing that they had only three days before they could cross the river to reach the Asuran tribe.