Storm from Afar

After a long journey to ancient lands in search of knowledge, The Sage Rat finally returned to his beloved village. From afar, the glow of firelight from the houses illuminated the warm and peaceful atmosphere. Laughter echoed across the horizon as the villagers spotted his familiar figure.

"He's back!"

"The Sage Rat has returned!"

Everyone rushed out to greet him with warm embraces and joyful smiles. That night, the village burst into celebration—lanterns were lit, music filled the air, and the rhythm of dances spread through the space.

However, just as the festival reached its peak, a dark shadow swept across the sky and landed at the village gate. It was the Wise Crow—once manipulated by the Wise Wolf but had since escaped and remained hidden throughout the Great Animal War.

The moment The Sage Rat saw the Wise Crow, he immediately sensed the weight and urgency in his old friend's gaze. The Wise Crow wasted no time with formalities and went straight to the point:

"I have long wanted to meet you, but when I arrived here, you had already left. So I left a message with the old rat who gave me the Peach of Longevity. Have you received it?"

The Sage Rat nodded, but deep inside, he could already feel the storm approaching.

"After the Great Animal War ended, we all believed peace had come. But I have heard from the elder brothers that humans have forgotten the laws of wildlife preservation. They have begun hunting us—not just me, but all creatures alike. A new war is coming, and this time, the dominant force will undoubtedly be mankind."

Outside, the festival continued, but in The Sage Rat's mind, a grand chessboard was already set in motion. He lifted his gaze to the night sky, where countless stars shimmered above.