"——!!"
The flames along Skull's neck flared with newfound intensity as he trembled at Yugo’s words. Looking at the horse's profile, the others could feel the depth of his regret, his anger, and his sorrow.
"I don't know exactly what happened, but I think I understand how you feel. It's frustrating as hell, isn't it, Skull?"
Just as Yugo said, none of them knew the specifics of the incident. However, they could empathize with the tragedy of having one’s life snatched away without warning.
One day, an attacker had appeared out of nowhere, slaughtering his companions and bringing a sudden, violent end to their peaceful days. Their simple, honest lives had been forcibly terminated.
If it had been part of the natural order—the food chain that governed the wilderness—he might have been able to find some measure of acceptance. But that wasn't what happened here. Not a single one of the horses' remains had been eaten. This was proof that no predator or monster had attacked them for sustenance.
The killer's objective could only have been one thing: killing for sport.
The identity of the victims hadn't mattered. Skull and the others had been murdered simply because they were there, because they had caught someone’s eye. The slaughtered horses had all belonged to the same herd. Skull had been one of them. Among them, there must have been those he called friends, perhaps even a mate.
Every single one of them had been killed for a whim. Parents, children, and the companions he had galloped across the earth with had all been cut down for no reason at all.
The bitterness must have been unbearable. The resentment must have been absolute. Who could possibly remain silent after having everything stolen from them?
Anger and hatred toward the murderer, fueled by a powerful desire for vengeance, had called Skull's soul back to his body. And when he rose as a monster and looked upon the remains of his herd—what had he thought? How did it feel to see the mangled corpses of those he had lived alongside just moments before?
He must have been consumed by frustration. He must have been hollowed out by grief.
Surrounded by the bodies of his kin, Skull had sworn an oath of revenge. He had searched for his nemesis ever since, and that search had led him here.
"It’s painful, isn't it? It’s sad. It’s infuriating! To have your friends murdered and then be blamed for the whole thing yourself... there’s no way you wouldn't feel something!!"
"Guh, neighhh!!"
Skull let out a long, high-pitched whinny as if responding to Yugo’s outburst. It wasn't a brave or terrifying cry; it was a mournful sound, thick with regret and an agonizing sense of loss.
Listening to him, Fee and the others began to realize why Skull had been causing such a stir on the plains. He had been trying to warn the humans. He was trying to tell them that the 'thing' that had killed him would be arriving here soon.
"...Flames of Anger and Sorrow, indeed."
Anhel's voice echoed quietly through the barn, repeating her description of the fires dancing across Skull’s body. They watched the flickering flames, fueled by a thirst for revenge, yet they saw that Skull still retained his reason. He wasn't entirely consumed by his hatred.
Yugo spoke to him again. "Skull, you saved me. Part of this is about repaying that debt, but mostly, it’s because we’re friends. Let me help you with your revenge."
"…!"
Skull’s eyes widened slightly. He kept his gaze fixed on Yugo, hanging on his every word.
"You might think I’m overstepping. But I’m not the kind of guy who can stand by and do nothing when a friend is suffering. Your frustration is my frustration. So, I’m going to help. As your pal, I’m going to do everything I can to help you settle this."
"……"
Skull found himself accepting Yugo's words with surprising ease. He remembered how Yugo had come to him the previous night, claiming he wanted to be friends despite the divide between human and monster. As he reminisced, the others joined in.
"If that’s what my brother wants, I’ll lend my strength too. Let’s avenge your friends, Skull."
"Me too! I don’t know who did it, but I can’t let someone who kills horses like that just walk away!"
"I agree. This isn't just someone else's problem anymore. To make sure a tragedy like yours never happens again... let's fight together."
He was a being who had died once and returned—a monster that existed outside the natural order. Yet these humans showed no fear toward him. They offered their hands without hesitation. It was strange, it was reckless, and to a bystander, it might even seem foolish.
But Skull felt a profound sense of gratitude toward them.
"I’ll go tell the Security Force. We need to have them set up a defense line."
"Right. We don't know the enemy's identity or the size of their force. We should prepare as much as possible."
"I'll head out then! Yugo, check the Blaster I tuned for you so you're ready to fight at a moment's notice!"
"I'll explain the details of the adjustments. If anything feels off, let me know immediately so I can fix it."
Skull watched intently as the humans began moving to prepare for the coming battle. As he looked at Yugo and the others working so hard for his sake, the heart that had been filled to the brim with hatred and revenge felt something new.
A warm light called friendship had truly begun to shine through.