Neo Palon's plan worked perfectly. Within 24 hours of his triceratops attack, he had set the fortress ablaze and sent his opponents fleeing. The mermen jumped back into the sea in panic.
The minotaurs, in turn, fled as quickly as they could towards the Lost Lands.
They ran, and kept running, until they entered the jungle and had to hack their way through the undergrowth.
Eventually they came to a dusty path that led to a surprise.
Before them stood two heavily armored gorillas who addressed them: "Stop! Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here?" "Speak up!"
After the necessary explanations and the confiscation of all weapons, the two gorillas escorted the exhausted minotaurs to their city. It was immense and high, with bridges at dizzying heights...
...and towers that reached into the sky. At one point, the two gorillas were relieved by the personal bodyguard of their king: Korak.
Korak had ruled the kingdom of Mangani, a military city-state, for 40 years. It was the first time in centuries that a king of Mangani received visitors from outside the city.
Menetavro paid his respects to Korak and told him the story of his people and their recent defeat. He asked if Korak would form an alliance and provide him with an army in exchange for possession of half of the minotaurs' gemstone mines.
Korak was always seeking new funds to pay his army, so he agreed to Menetavro's request and offered him a floor of his palace after crowning him king. A king without a country. At least for now. From then on, Menetavro would be known as Asterion II.