Manya and Kenzo sprint towards Bogdan. 

 

BOOOM!

 

Just as they’re about to reach him, Bogdan explodes into different pieces, flying around the Pistil.

 

The panic in the Pistil has elevated to terror as screams erupt throughout the area. Men in black suits and trench coats swoop in, collecting the body parts. 

 

“They know about his taint! Don’t let them take his body parts!” Lando shouts. 

 

Manya and Kenzo rush into the scene, moving against the current of the crowd. Kenzo bites his forearm drawing blood and forming a blood-sword. Manya firmly grips his stick.

 

“『 Blood is Thicker than Water 』: Banzai!”

“『 What Goes Around Comes Around 』:  Divine Surge!”

They attack simultaneously, bulldozing through hundreds of the brummies riffraff.

Lando catches up to them.

The group begins hunting for Bogdan’s body parts.

“Found an arm.” Kenzo says.

“Ewwww I found his foot!” Manya exclaims.

“Guys… I found his head.” Lando says approaching it. 

Bogdan's head is still breathing somehow.

“Freaky…” Lando says crouching down to observe. 

“It is, isn’t it..?” An unfamiliar voice says.

Manya, Kenzo and Lando quickly take a defensive stance.

 

BOOOM!

 

The air around them explodes. Dust and debris fling throughout the area, blinding them. 

 

“Secure the parts!” Kenzo shouts.

 

But it's too late, as the dust settles, it’s all gone.

 “Shit… It all went to shit!” Lando kicks the ground in frustration.

Manya spots a silhouette leaving.

“This way!” Manya shouts, running off into the distance.

Kenzo and Lando immediately follow along. 

“Got him!” Manya shouts. 

As Kenzo and Lando catch up, Manya is sat atop one of the riffraff, he has a massive bruise on his head.

“This’ll do.” Kenzo says. 

Hours later…

The Maple District of Siropia 

 

*

 

Back at the Farmhouse…

“I failed… I’m sorry.”

 

“We failed… But we’ll make up for it!” Manya responds.

 

Kenzo looks at the captured gang member with a menacing grin.

 

“Just leave this to me.” A devilish smile morphs Kenzo’s face.

 

Manya and Lando leave the room, sitting outside. Alice leaves from her room, meeting them outside. 

 

“How did it go?” She asks. 

 

“We flopped hard.” Lando replies. 

 

“I told you she should’ve come.” Manya adds. 

 

“I doubt it would’ve changed much, they seemed to know everything we were gonna do before we did it.”

 

“If you want my opinion, just leave Sepentria and stay out of it. You're in way over your head.” Alice says. 

 

“Who cares about that? I like Bogdan now so we gotta get him back.” Manya says, lying on his back.

 

“Don’t be stupid!” she exclaims. 

 

She continues, “Their leader is…” she stops. 

 

“If the interior of hollow earth is hell. This continent makes sense of that. Just… Get out of here as soon as you can… Please” She adds, walking into the forest.

 

“Alice, wait!” Lando shouts, going after her.

 

“Don’t follow me.” She says, vanishing away in an instant. 

 

Meanwhile, inside the farmhouse…

 

Kenzo walks circles around the captured gangster who is now tied to a chair.

 

“So…” 

 

He stops, sitting on the floor in front of him, legs crossed. 

 

“Let’s start with names. Kenzo. You?”

 

Silence…

 

“There must be some type of misunderstanding…” Kenzo says, slicing open his palm. 

The blood drips onto the floor, worming its way to the chair. It creeps up the legs of the chair, up the gangster's body and into his mouth. It weaves its way throughout the insides of his body.

 

“My blood has now settled around your lungs. If you don't cooperate, I’ll torture you.” He says plainly. 

The gangster grits his teeth. 

 

Still, silence…

 

Suddenly, he lets out an excruciating scream as Kenzo manhandles his lungs. 

 

“It’s Eddy! My name is Eddy!” he squirms. 

 

“Good.” Kenzo says, relenting. 

 

He continues, “Who is it you work for?”

 

“The Brummies.”

“You guys attempted to kill our ally twice… Why?”

 

“We just follow orders.”

 

“What’s your best guess?” Kenzo replies.

“... We’re still up and coming. Sepentria is the safest continent in terms of gangster activity. Taking it over would likely be advantageous.”

 

“Why Bogdan specifically…” 

 

“The chamomile district is stupid successful. He’s the monarch.”

“How did you know our plan, and Bogdan’s Taint?”

“I honestly don’t know…”

Using his blood to feel Eddy's lung and heart movement, Kenzo can tell he’s telling the truth.

 

“Where have you guys taken him?”

 

“If I tell you that, I’m dead anyway.”

 

“That’s better than torture.” Kenzo replies.

 

It’s not a threat. 

 

The Gangster sighs, dropping his head back against the chair.

 

“The A-”

 

BOOOM!

 

Before he can finish, he is incinerated, scattering into hundreds of pieces that splatter throughout the farmhouse. 

 

Manya and Lando come running in, hearing the noise. 

 

“Kenzo, you good!?” Manya exclaims.

 

“What happened!?” Lando shouts.

 

Kenzo is laying on the floor, covered in guts and debris. He gets up, cracking his neck.

 

“I don’t even know.”

“Whats that?” Lando points.

 

A strange device lies on the ground. Lando approaches it, picks it up and examines it. 

 

“It’s a navigator!!!” Lando exclaims. 

 

It’s damaged. 

 

“Wait does that mean-” Kenzo says, before being interrupted. 

 

“If we can fix this-” Lando interrupts.

“It’ll lead us straight to Bogdan!” Manya interrupts again.

~ END ~