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There's still something I can do. I can still protect them...

Big Buffalo, even though I always call you a stupid buffalo, you're actually the smartest person I've ever met. You know so much; much more than anyone else when it comes to farming.

Which is why no matter what happens, you have to swear to keep yourself safe. Your dreams will surely come true!

Whatever you do, don't think nobody cares about you just because you have no family... It's just...

What's gotten into you all of a sudden?

I don't know... Maybe it's because I'm scared that I'm blurting out all the things I normally keep buried deep down.

*sigh*... If only Shu were here. She'd know what these things are.

Huh...? Who?

What did I... just say?

Who... is Shu?

But, there was someone with us. She knew everything.

What are you talking about...?

I don't know...

A couple days ago, someone stopped me along the riverbank and told me a story...

Oh right, the riverbank...

How about this song?

Not a fan, huh?

Is 'Come Home Soon, Little Flower' the only song you like?

Did I tell you that I got into a fight with He Sheng?

He said that if I kept skipping school, all the good students would go off to Baizao but I'd have to stay here. So mean, right? Don't you think he's just trying to provoke me for no reason?

What's wrong with the way I am anyway? I just want to stay here and wait for my parents to come back.

Hey! Why are you chasing me off again?!

Okay, okay, I'm leaving! Woah! Watch where you're swinging that axe!

He Sheng, I...

...There's someone on the other side of the river who hasn't evacuated yet!

Grain Buds! Don't run off!

I'll be fine! The mute uncle only listens to me, so I have to bring him back! Everyone in Dahuang's gonna be safe and sound!

I'll see you soon, in the center city!

Uncle?

Mute Uncle? Where are you?

Don't try to fight those monsters, okay? Come out already, and let's get out of here together!

(Piercing wail)

He is immersed in his own battlefield.

The enemies he faces are unspeakable, his tongue rigid and dead inside his mouth.

The people he loved have already left, never to see the next spring.

He lifts his weapon high into the air. All he feels is that he has something he must protect.

But... what is it?

The sound of a flute slowly drifts in.

(Plays flute laboriously)

Uncle! Uncle! I'm right here! Hurry! Don't stay in the forest!

Let's get out of here together! Let's go home!

(Howls)

You think I'm scared of you! Get lost, you ugly thing! Gun kai!

...Urgh!

A long axe lodges itself in the chest of the strange monster. It struggles to get up, but at least, the silk strands fall apart and disperse onto the ground.

Long after the axe had been released, the lumberjack's hands remain fixed in the motion of throwing his weapon. Unable to see clearly, he lowers his head and turns his ears, carefully listening to the sounds around him.

There you are, Uncle! Finally found you!

I'm over here! Hurry, come on over! I'll take you to safety!

The lumberjack continues to listen carefully, and looks toward Grain Buds.

He then picks up his axe again, and turns to head deeper into the woods.

Uncle? Uncle! It's dangerous over there! You need to turn back!

Grain Buds brings her flute to her lips again, tries hard to steady her breathing, and begins to play another song.

The flowers have bloomed, so hurry on home~♪

Listen, listen, 'tis I who calls you back~♪

But, the lumberjack does not stop. Several monsters lie prone in the grass in front of Grain Buds.

His cloudy eyes are unable to discern the things in front of him, the world spinning endlessly before his eyes. The blood in his veins roars, drowning out all other sound.

Until a sharp cry pierces his ears like a needle.

Aaagh!

Grain Buds turns to try to run, but then she raises her flute again, and a sharper sound reaches his ears.

The flowers have bloomed, so hurry on home~♪

Listen, listen, 'tis I who calls you back~♪

(...The flowers have bloomed, and it's time to come home...)

He takes a step forward.

A tiny white finger is holding his hand.

Uncle, let's go... You don't know how to get back, do you?

Why don't you want to go back? Are you afraid you'll scare the others?

I promise, nobody's going to be afraid of you anymore. They won't treat you like a freak... If anyone tries to badmouth you again, I'll bonk them on the head with my flute!

So, let's go back together, okay...?

The red silk tied to his arm suddenly loosens and is blown away by the wind, floating lazily into the sky.

Large teardrops roll from the lumberjack's cloudy eyes, but Grain Buds does not notice.

Run, Uncle––

How many more... Is there really no end to these monsters?

All we can do is try our best to block them here...

How is it possible... to stop them from being afraid...?

Who's ever seen a battle like this before...?

A vast field sprawls in front of him, countless terrifying-looking monsters continuing to sprout from the ground.

Behind those two, a large number of people queue up in a long line and march slowly toward the city's center.

Cries erupt from the team. The Tumu Tianshis barely manage to erect a defensive line with their Originium Arts, standing between the people and the monsters.

The ground beneath their feet shakes, and a few more cries burst from the crowd.

What happened?

The plate was just disconnected from the core city.

Control of the various soil parameters in the experimental plate depend on the core city's power supply... Now that it's been cut off, the field will become fallow.

Xiao bie du zi! Where did these damned monsters come from? All our years of hard work, ruined because of you!

I've never been wronged like this in all my years here!

Damn right! Why the hell should we run from these?

These beasts want to destroy our land and swallow up our crops, so we're gonna fight 'em to the very end!

Come on, let's take the fight to them!

Be careful, everyone...

Someone picks up a hoe left in the field, and turns to rush at an unknown monster. The hoe falls heavily upon the monster's head, causing the creature to stagger.

The farmers desperately pick up whatever objects lie at their disposal, throwing stones and farm tools at the monster.

A haphazardly-tossed bottle of pesticide shatters against it, causing the monster to whimper.

(Pained howl)

It's... working?

It's... It's dead...?

It's working! We did it!

I get it now! These things were transformed from the pests in the field!

Ma le ge ba zi! They're not monsters at all!

Nothing to be scared of! Gather up, and let's get rid of the beasts messin' with our crops!

Others answer the call, more and more people picking up whatever tools they can get their hands on and joining the defensive line. Some even sing at the top of their lungs.

Let the wild plains, rivers and mountains come! Harsh is the east wind, the frozen moon, heavens fickle, raging thunder♪