Crimza picks up the hammer with a calm look. There is purpose in his eyes.

The crowd gathered is a mix of wary recognition and curious indifference.

Rain starts dripping, soft and gentle. He can feel the cold drops on his skin. And the upcoming heat.

With a determined stride, Crimza charges toward it, the statue of kraa. The guards move to intercept him, but Crimza, swinging the hammer with all his might, sends them crashing to the wet ground.

A villager, armed with a bow, shouts, "Stop, or I will kill you." Crimza barely registers the threat as he spots other villagers arming themselves with rocks and knives.

Children, their wide eyes filled with fear, hide behind their parents, though some clutch small stones, ready to join the fray.

Crimza begins to strike the statue, each blow a display of his purpose.

The villagers retaliate, their rocks and stones pelting him from all sides. An arrow from the bow-wielding villager finds its mark in his leg. Crimza grits his teeth against the pain.

He continues to ignore the pain and blood.

His mind focused on a singular thought: "I am hitting Kraa's statue, my Lord, and strangely, I feel good."

The villagers' assault intensifies, and another arrow pierces Crimza's neck. Blood pours from his wounds, yet he continues to strike the statue. His vision blurs, and his strength wanes, but he feels a profound sense of satisfaction as the statue begins to crumble. Just before his eyes go blind, he watches their lord fall.

The weathered head of the Kraa statue falls on the ground, shatters.

---

In the house of Ruku, blood is everywhere. The whole room is a red painting, displaying violence.

The three bodies of Ruku's workers lie lifeless on the floor.

Ulubu is on the ground, clutching his bleeding leg, his face rejecting pain.

Ruku stands over him, a knife in his hand. He holds it tight with his bleeding hand.

Breathing heavily, Ruku snarls, "I, I will kill you. How dare you defy the rules of our Lord. You disgusting..."

His words trail off as a pallor washes over his face.

Ulubu, through gritted teeth, taunts, "Do it, you can do it, kill me, then you can eat my flesh."

Ruku's voice, now a feral scream, echoes through the room, "Shut up! What do you know? You think you're right? I am protecting this village. I am the leader. Without me, the village will be dead!"

Ruku moves forward, his grip on the knife tightening. "Die now," he screams, raising the weapon.

But before he can strike, Ulubu, fueled by his past, stands on his one good leg and grabs Ruku's hair and the knife. Ruku struggles to break free, but Ulubu pulls him to the ground. They grapple, both bleeding and exhausted.

Ruku's wife emerges from a nearby room, her hands shaking, a knife clutched in her trembling fingers. "Let him go, I, I don't want him to die," she cries, tears streaming down her face.

Ruku, bearly standing up, tries to cut Ulubu's neck. Ulubu holds his hand.

In a desperate attempt to end the struggle, Ruku's wife attacks with the knife. Ulubu dodges, and the blade sinks into Ruku's flesh.

Ruku sits down silently, holding his wound, as his wife faints from the shock.
He tried to stop the pouring blood with his hands.

Ulubu sits down on the ground, his breath weak.

Ruku's voice, now barely a whisper, breaks the silence. "I was really hungry," he says, his eyes glazing over. He pauses, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Do you know why the Kraa festival is celebrated every three years? Not every year, not twice a year?"

Ulubu, his voice tinged with disgust, replies, "You're dying. Think about your mistakes, stop asking questions."

Ruku's smile widens, a morbid peace settling over him. "Because I don't want them to die, the children. But I can't help it." He looks at his wound, pauses for a moment. "Eating them is the only thing I can enjoy."

Ruku closes his eyes. The smile remains.

As Ulubu's eyes start closing, he remembers something:

Ulubu, his voice firm, begins to explain to Nimina, "I will give you an address. When Ruku's workers come looking for me, give them this address."

Nimina, her brow furrowed in confusion, asks, "Why?"

Ulubu's eyes meet hers, a steely resolve in his gaze. "It is the address of a village, far from here. If even a few of them go there searching for me, they might uncover the truth behind the Kraa festival."

Nimina, her voice tinged with worry, presses on, "What will you do?"

Ulubu, his expression unwavering, replies, "We will kill Ruku and break the Kraa statue."

Nimina's voice trembles as she questions, "The statue, why?"

Ulubu replies, "Without the statue, they cannot celebrate the festival."

---

Ilubu finally unties the rope