Lilia, Mike, Benjamin, Ryn, and Tracy were still looking for the eye in the room checking the ground and the walls when they suddenly saw the skeletons swarm into the room with their weapons and surround them.

Lilia, Mike, Benjamin, Ryn, and Tracy were captured and taken out of the room by the skeletons through the cave back to the bridge where they saw Manqin and were surprised to meet the others’ hands tied with a rope and on their knees. Upon seeing Manqin and getting moved to the others by the skeletons, Mike, Ryn, Benjamin, Lilia, and Tracy recognize Manqin to be the skeleton King in the book, and his red eye is needed to open the way out of the mountain.

Mike, Tracy, Benjamin, Ryn, and Lilia were kneeled close to the others by the skeletons that captured them, and then Manqin said to the skeletons “Let's take them home”.

The princesses, the princes, Hawk, Benjamin, Lilia, and Ryn were hit by the skeletons that stood at their backs with their hilts at the back of their necks which made them all fall unconscious.

The princes, the princesses, Hawk, Lilia, Benjamin, and Ryn regained consciousness and met themselves in a cell built with iron and rock. They all stood up and tried to get the cell gate open but they couldn't nor could they use magic. After several ideas, suggestions, and tricks to get the cell gate opened, and could not they all sat down on the ground resting their backs on the wall and wondering what could be done next knowing they would all be killed.

Ryn asked Esther “do you know we were gonna die here?”.

“No, I don't. And I don't think we are going to die here” said Esther.

“How sure are you? You told us the possible future is a future you don't much about. Or is this another incident created by you?” Kinsley asked Esther.

“No, it is not and I don't know how sure I am but I know we weren't gonna die here” said Esther.

“Why do I think you are lying? I think you are keeping something for us that you don't want to tell us or let us know. You are someone who knows the future, present, and past, and now you are telling me you created a future you know nothing about. How do you expect us to believe that?” said Benjamin to Esther.

“Stop trying to be unreasonable, Benjamin. We all know she telling us about the future can affect the future in a way that may hurt us all and now she has already broken the rule of nature by creating a possible future and you want her to tell us about the possible future that she is uncertain of how things are going to go even if she knows it. She already caused damages which she knows and now you want her to tell us about the possible future and incidents so more damage can be done” said Hawk.

“Let Esther be. She is doing everything she can to make sure we all have a future and can tell stories of how things went. She has also lost so we can all win. Besides, she is not the reason we all ended up in this situation. We all need to think about how to get out of here” said Ramsay.

“About getting out of here, why don't we reason with Manqin or what they called him to let us go?” said Redrick.

“Always proving to be dumb all the time. How can we reason with something that is not human and wants us dead? What is it do you think we can offer him to let us go? Always think before you talk, Redrick” said Kylie to Redrick.

“Redrick is right” said Liia.

“What do you mean by that?” Noah asked Lilia.

“What if there is a way we can reason with Manqin to let us go?” said Lilia.

“You need to make us understand what you are talking about” said Camelia to Lilia.

“It was written in the book that Manqin is someone who loves a challenge. Manqin loves to be challenged to a sword fight. He loves to prove that he is the only best sword fighter and King in the world and no one can defeat him” said Lilia.

“Yes, Lilia is right. We read about it in the book” said Mike.

“Does that mean we have to challenge him?” asked Noah.

“Yes. According to the book, it is said that Manqin swore to become a slave to anyone that ever defeated him in the challenge” said Ryn.

“Which means challenging him and defeating him is the only way we can get out of here” said Tracy.

“But is he going to accept the challenge?” asked Redrick.

“He definitely will if you are serious about it” said said Benjamin.

“Now the question is who is going to challenge him and fight him” said Kinsley.

“Count me out 'cause am not fit enough to fight him” said Mike.

“There is no need because even if you are fit enough you are no match for him. Am also out 'cause I have fought him and lost” said Noah.

“Is he that skillful?” asked Redrick.

“If he wasn't he wouldn't call himself the best swordsman in the world and loves to be challenged” said Esther.

“Has anyone ever defeated him?” asked Ramsay.

“No one has defeated him according to the book and he would have been someone's slave if he was ever defeated. So I wondered who among us here could defeat him?” said Lilia.

“I think Esther should fight him since she is the most powerful among us all. Am sure she can defeat him” said Camelia.

“Am not that strong without my magic I don't think I can defeat him. If it was archery I could challenge him but I say no to swordsmanship” said Esther.

“If Esther says no then I think uncle should go. Uncle is also skillful in swordsmanship” said Benjamin.

“Don't you hear what they said about Manqin? How could I possibly defeat him? The only person I think can defeat him is Karl and she is not here” said Hawk.

“Does that mean no one can fight Manqin who is just a skeleton?” asked Kinsley, and they all looked at each other to see if one of them could be brave enough to say he/she would fight Manqin.

There was silence in the cell as no one could say he/she would fight Manqin then Ramsay said “I will fight Manqin”.

Everyone was glad to hear that but in doubt that Ramsay could defeat Manqin except Esther who knew Ramsay could which is why she decided not to fight Manqin and wanted Ramsay to test his skills against a worthy opponent like Manqin. Esther said to Ramsay “are you sure you want to? Your opponent has never lost a fight”.

“Yes, I want to” said Ramsay.

“You need to think about this brother. This is not the time to be a hero. You might get killed by Manqin. I have fought him and seen how skillful he is” said Noah to Ramsay.

“I don't see anyone here willing to fight him so why should I not? I choose to fight him because I believe in myself and you should all believe in me” said Ramsay.

“I don't think you should. He is different from Marcelos and his armies. You will be killed. Manqin never loses for a reason” said Lilia said Ramsay.

“I have trained with the dark druids and Marcs and I don't think Manqin can be better than the Marcs. If don't fight him no one will and we will all be killed and that would mean the end of the world. Our death will definitely mean Marcelos win. I believe I can defeat him am not just fighting stupidly so you should all believe in me” said Ramsay.

“Ramsay is right. If we can’t fight Manqin and he is willing to then we should support, encourage, and believe in him. At least we should do that” said Redrick.

“I knew you would be the first to say that since you don't do much fighting. Well, I support you, Ramsay, and believe in you. We have to get out of here so we should not look down on our only hope” said Mike.

Everyone supported Ramsay to challenge and fight Manqin even though Lilia and Noah were scared and weren't sure Ramsay could defeat Manqin.

The princes, the princesses, Hawk, Benjamin, Ryn, and Lilia were taken out of the cell and taken away by some skeletons. The princes, the princesses, Hawk, Ryn, Lilia, and Benjamin were taken to the inside part of the mountain that looked like a very big hall where they saw all the skeletons gathered holding their weapons and Manqin seated on his throne.

The princes, the princesses, Hawk, Benjamin, Lilia, and Ryn were kneeled in front of Manqin, then Manqin stood up and said out loud in the ancient language “it has been quite a while since we have had visitors in our midst but here they are today. We have been blessed with new blood. Today, we shall commence the ritual and make them part of us”.

All the skeletons cheered out loud after hearing Manqin’s speech and then Ramsay said out loud in the ancient language to Manqin “I challenge you Manqin to a sword fight”, so he could hear.

Manqin heard Ramsay and told the skeletons to stop cheering which they did then Manqin said in the ancient to Ramsay “repeat what you just said”.

“I challenge you to a sword fight” said Ramsay in the ancient language to Manqin.

Hearing Ramsay, all the skeletons and Manqin laughed out loud, and Ramsay, the princes, the princesses, Lilia, Benjamin, Hawk, and Ryn wondered why they did. The skeletons and Manqin stopped laughing then Manqin asked Ramsay “and what makes you worthy enough to challenge me?”.

“Because am a King just like you but am a greater King than you “ said Ramsay to Manqin.

“That is impossible. There has not been a King that has been greater than me” says Manqin to Ramsay.

Ramsay stood up and the skeleton wanted to attack him but Manqin told them to leave Ramsay. Ramsay moved closer to Manqin and stopped in front of him locking his eyes with Manqin's red eye then Ramsay said to him “there is only one King in this world which is me but if you think you are who you said to be then accept my challenge and let find out who is truly the King”.

Manqin laughed hearing Ramsay and as he stopped laughing he held Ramsay's top glaring into Ramsay's eyes thinking Ramsay might get scared but Ramsay looked directly into Manqin’s red-eye, then Manqin said to Ramsay “challenge accepted”.

The princes, the princesses, Lilia, Benjamin, Ryn, and Hawk were scared at first as Manqin held Ramsay's top but became relieved when Manqin accepted the challenge except for Esther who knew the challenge was going to take place.

The princes, the princesses, Ryn, Lilia, Benjamin, Hawk, and the skeletons all moved backward creating a wide circle where the fight will happen. Manqin and Ramsay stood a few paces from each other at the center of the circle and then Manqin asked Ramsay “What choice of weapon do you like?”.

“I want my sword” said Ramsay.

“Okay” said Manqin, and his sword was brought to him.

Manqin holding his sword in his right hand and his axe in his left hand, and Ramsay holding his sword in his right hand, both stare at each other then Manqin says to Ramsay “I know you are a great King which is what is going to make the fight interesting”.

Ramsay, the princes, the princesses, Hawk, Lilia, Ryn, and Benjamin were surprised how Manqin knew about Ramsay being the great King but before Ramsay could be done thinking Manqin attacked him.