Apocalypse: System of lotteries

[Your frogs sat atop Henry's head, directing him as he weaves through the crowd.]

[Da Vinci inquires if he still remembers the scent of that key. Henry confidently replies, "I've never forgotten a scent I've encountered. Where's Miss Merlin today? I miss her."]

[Your foodie pats the dog's head, "Silly dog, let's take care of business first. Once done, I'll take you home to Merlin. She's missed you too, always mumbling about wanting to be close to you." Henry nods, eager to focus on the task.]

"~~"

As Ming wipes his face, he sprinkles some water to maintain a teary-eyed look. David, walking beside him, remarks, "That's quite theatrical,  you overdoing it ok?"

Ming shoots a glare, "You have the nerve to call me out? At least my tears look genuine, yours resemble mortar!"

"~~"

David wipes his face, glancing at the mortar-like substance in his hand, ok, "You're right."

[Your foodie, growing anxious, pats the head of the Bull Terrier, Henry, "Have you picked up on the scent yet?"]

[Your Da Vinci tells foodie, "Patience. Henry first needs to inhale the scent, process it through his neural pathways, and then analyze it in his brain. It's a complicated process." Henry feels touched. Indeed, Da Vinci understands dogs better.]

"~~"

Ming continues to wail, recalling the day he let Henry sniff the key. He doubts the individual would wear the same attire. It's still up to Henry's keen nose.

[Your frogs notice Henry halting. Foodie, exhilarated, asks, "Did you catch the scent?" Henry nods, "I did. See that lovely young lady over there? I knew such a beautiful miss would smell delightful."]

[Your frogs peer into the alley's depths, where a Dalmatian with glistening eyes gazes back. Foodie's fighting spirit ignites, but Da Vinci interjects, urging gentleness, especially in the lady's presence.]

[Foodie watches as Da Vinci jumps down, making straight for the Dalmatian, and successfully collects it.]

"Damn it."

Ming feels a mix of discomfort and relief. Relieved that Foodie has finally grown up a little, yet he fears it's not sustainable. 

He sniffs, overwhelmed by the cacophony of scents—perfume, foul feet, garlic, sourness. He realizes a dog's life is not easy.

[Your frogs observe Henry sniffing closely at the ground. They follow him as he scuttles through the alley. Nearing a wall, Henry lifts a leg, indicating a brief territorial mark before moving on.]

[With Foodie's fighting spirit rekindled, Henry hurriedly sniffs around. He's onto something not far ahead. The frogs sat atop Henry's head again, guiding him to the stables in an inn's backyard. They stop beside a chestnut horse. Henry informs Da Vinci that this horse bears the scent they seek.]

[Da Vinci communes with the chestnut horse, inquiring about its master. The horse, munching on hay, indicates a house in the distance: third floor, third window. Da Vinci praises, deeming it a fine steed indeed.]

From the inn's third-floor window, Room 03, a man in red shoes and holding a black umbrella gazes out at the street, his lips curving into a slight smirk, murmuring, "War! War!"

Suddenly, a knock sounds at his door. The man in the red shoes becomes alert, cautiously approaching the door. Peering out, he sees nothing amiss. As he opens the door wider, a dog races up and down the corridor, chasing two frogs. Unperturbed, he shuts his door once more.

[Your frogs watch as the man opens his door, with Henry confirming that this man bears the very scent they've been tracing.]

[Da Vinci assures you they've found that man, suggesting they might now play with the Dalmatian. Foodie glances at Da Vinci, reminding him of his earlier collect the dog.]

Knock, knock.

The door was knocked upon once more, anger bubbling within the man in the red shoes. "Whose insufferable dog is this?" 

He stormed to the door and flung it open. What met him were the most mesmerizing eyes he had ever seen.

Frozen! For a full 15 seconds.

Euryale glanced toward her master and whispered, "Done."

Ming smiled, turning to face the man in red shoes. He grabbed him, pulled him out of the room, and delivered a powerful punch. The force sent the man crashing through the inn's wall, tumbling into the muddy backyard.

Then, Hawkins appeared. Vines snaked out, wrapping the man in the red shoes. David upturned a container of sand, and with both hands, he conjured a "Sand Bind," reinforcing the vine's grip. Under Alan's command, several golden centipedes opened their pincers, securing the man's limbs for added restraint. From the side, Alice appeared, glowing with an invincible aura.

"Digennaro!"

"Here I am! Behold, the Eye of the Sky!"

Everyone watched as beams of laser light shot from the young girl's eyes, like twin pillars of radiant power. True to form, a small body held immense energy.

Ming realized that Digennaro's "Eye of the Sky" had evolved, taking her strength to an even greater level. A pang of worry hit him. If her abilities progressed this rapidly, what about his earthworms? Had they... reincarnated?

Boom! Boom!

The light pillars created halos around the man in the red shoes. On the street in front of the inn, a coffin suddenly cracked open. Mike, wielding a massive blade, leaped out and dashed toward the inn's backyard.

"!!"

The onlookers on the street were left in utter astonishment.

Had the dead risen?

The Serpent Lady, clutching a frame bearing her lover's picture, was dumbstruck. Had Digennaro's words come true? Had he truly become a zombie?

Only she could end this torment now that her love had turned into a monster. Resolute, the Serpent Lady pocketed the frame, her hands gripping her dagger, and she pursued.

"!!"

The crowd in the street was still shocked by the events. After all, they were attending a funeral. And the protagonist had just sprung from his coffin and fled—an utterly astounding sight.

The director of the mourning band approached Clos, meekly asking, "Given the current situation, Miss Clos, should I charge you the full fee... or perhaps give you a discount?"

Clos replied calmly, "Do you really think our Guteman Group is short pennies? Continue playing, play with all your heart. There might just be a second act to this."

Immediately, mournful melodies enveloped the street. At the back of the inn, Ming used his "Eagle's Eye" to glimpse at the man in red shoes, whose limbs were broken:

[Red Horse Knight]

[…]

[Weakness: Isn't he already defeated? What do you want? Should I heal him?]

"Just as I thought," Ming muttered.

He had anticipated this outcome. The Red Horse Knight had appeared just two days before. The next morning, disturbances began, notably from someone wearing red shoes. Most revealingly, Ming had detected on the key a scent akin to the White Horse Knight. Though they might not have been created at the same time, they surely came from the same assembly line.

Slap!

With a crisp sound, the Serpent Lady slapped Mike across the face. Then, she melted into his embrace, weeping inconsolably.

The onlookers turned away, kindly giving them lovely timing.

[Puppet Euryale felt envious. With just two legs more than her, others found love. Why couldn't she?]

[Puppet Euryale looked into the distance, wondering, "Is the ocean still well?"]

[…]

Bang!

The Serpent Lady pushed Mike away and turned to the crowd, "Who the hell came up with this terrible idea? It broke my heart! I swear I'll never make pies for any of you ever again!"

Silence fell among the crowd.

Ming pointed at David, "It was him."

The Serpent Lady glared, "I knew it was David's idea. Don't even think about me cooking for you anymore!"

"!!"

David stood in disbelief. Fine, he thought, I'll take the blame this time.

Crack!

The Fire Lady emerged, slapping her husband's face. She glared at him, "Always coming up with bad ideas! Do you have any idea how heartbroken my sister-in-law was?"

"!!"

David covered his face, thinking, Today, I am truly the scapegoat.

Ming confessed, "Honestly, it was my idea, not theirs. I'm sorry for making everyone upset."

Both the Serpent Lady and the Fire Lady turned their gaze to their eldest brother, then shifted their attention to the Red Shoe Man, landing a series of punishing blows on him.

Red Shoe Man ...