"Hulaif, is that you?"
"Yes. What happened, Laura?" Suddenly, I got a smack on my head.
"Auch, what is that mean?"
"That is what you get when you leave me alone."
"Well, it is not my mistake that you fell asleep when eating too much."
"I give you a chance to do anything to me at that moment."
"Stop teasing me like that. Let's get back."
"Ah, about that thing. When I woke up, there was no one in the village. Also, it turns out, the village seems kind of dead. I am not sure what happened here."
"What? Is no one here right now?" She nodded. "What happened right now?"
"That is what I have been investigating right now. I thought you were also disappearing with the villagers, but it seems you are not."
"What should we do now?"
"If you do not disappear, where is the last place you go?"
"I went to one cave to complete such a riddle."
"Wait, there is no cave here to begin with."
"Huh, but it is here." I was a bit shocked when I looked at the place where I got out. The cave has disappeared too. "Am I hallucinating?"
"Not sure. Maybe you are right, maybe not. How about we investigate this place one more time."
We tried to look into this village more. It is quite spooky when there is such a light from the torch that Laura asked me to hold. I am not scared, just afraid that the burglar might attack me in this situation.
"We have walked here for almost an hour. How about we rest."
"That's a great idea, but we can't let our guard down. Come, just a bit more. I will pamper you more after this."
"Hey Laura, I want to say something to you about this. Why do we get back to the start?"
"What are you talking about."
"Hmm... Do not you recognise that we have walked this way repeatedly?"
"What do you mean?"
"Wait, maybe this is a trap to begin with. You are not her. You are not Laura. Tell me who are you?"
"Hey, why do you believe that I am not Laura?"
"Hah. You have said it. Now who are you? "
"Doesn't believe my perfect disguise was discovered. Then, it is useless to wear this skin anymore."
"Lan, that guy is dangerous. He was also a man-eater."
"Huh. Man eater!"
"Oh, it seems like you know that I am a man eater. I can shorten the intro for that. Do you have any questions to ask before your death?" This lizard came near me. It seems that I should do something now.
I used my strength to grab and swipe that lizard fast. Now, that lizard fell onto the ground. "How about you answer me right now? What is your problem?"
"Hah! How could you do this to me, you scum human?" He used his tail to push me away from him. Then he wrapped my body using his tail.
"What did you do to these villagers?"
"Oh, about them. I have eaten them all." Why did I see through his lies? There might be somewhere he has hidden them. But where? I think I've got an idea.
"What do you want from me?"
"Well, what did I want? "Of course, I'm going to eat you."
"I must warn you, I am not tasty."
"Hey Hulaif, are you joking with me? There's no way I want you to die by that creature." Mia whispered to me.
"We need to follow the flow."
"OK if you said so."
"What are you whispering about?"
"Oh nothing. Just wonder why a lizard lives in this dessert alone."
"What did you say? I am not alone." Suddenly, I just triggered his anger. He moved toward me faster than I expected and used his tail to knock out me. I fainted at that moment.
It was a few moments after that scene. "Hulaif, wake up. How long do you intend to sleep?"
"Ugh... Mia, what happened?"
"You lost and brought that guy here." It was dark and stinking here. It is also quite cool and humid here.
"Where are we?"
"We are in a cave if I am not mistaken."
"Why does he not eat me away?"
"Nah, we are man-eaters, not some kind of monster or animal. Sometimes we cook our meals and we can eat them, using our enzymes to make them tasty to eat."
"Wow, I thought that you really knew a lot. Wait, why did you sound like you were trying to back up that lizard?"
"Well, I just want to explain to you." I tried to move but couldn't. It looks like I am stuck in some kind of jello on the wall and cannot get out.
"What is this thing wrapping me around?"
"That is that lizard's liquid. He put it on you to make you paralysed. But don't worry, it is not a poison. If you can remove it, you are free."
The heck, I can't get out of here. Before that, how could I sense that there were many people here? I tried to look around; what did this cave have? I was quite shocked when I saw many villagers still asleep and stuck in that liquid. I should get out of this stuff right now or else it will be over for me.
"Hello Mr Lizard, where are you? Could you release me? I want to go pee." It looks like no response. How about I enter the domain? Wait, I can't move my hand. How should I get out? "HEY!! YOO!!!" I tried to shout. Even though I shout out, the villagers do not wake up.
"Who the hell is making a noise this morning." It seems to be working. "Hmm... Guess it's just my imagination." I'm pretending to be asleep at the moment. Then, he goes back to sleep.
"Why did you pretend to sleep?"
"Oh, just wanted to try it. One more time. HEY!!! YOO!!!"
"Ah, I know, there is someone who has woken up." That lizard came to see who was awake. He looked at the people covered by his liquid one by one.
At that moment, he looked at me. I shouted at him and made his ears buzz. "Ah!!!"
"Hah... Hah... Curse you, human. Wait, you are the one who I defeated before I went to sleep. It seems you want to die now." He opened his mouth, showing a sharp fang and a large jaw.
"Hahaha... You think I scared? I have seen many people killed in front of me. It makes me less scared when a man eater wants to kill me."
"You are the bravest person I have met thus far." Even though you are trapped in there, you still talk big. I think I can give you a choice." Suddenly, he brought Laura with him and showed me. Laura is still unconscious. "Kill her and I will free you."
"Hmm... Quite an impressive choice. Is there any choice other than that?" He shook his head.
"If you run or do not kill her, you will be dead first."
"OK, deal." Then, he released me from the liquid.
"Now kill her." He threw a knife at me. As I picked up the knife, that lizard was prepared to do something."
"Sorry Laura, but I don't think I should kill you." I throw the knife upward with a quick reaction. As that lizard looks at the knife, I instantly activate the domain. When the knife reached the ground, that lizard came toward me, but it was useless when he touched me. I turned into liquid and disappeared.
"Human, what kind of sorcery is this. Come out show yourself."
"You can't win here. How about you surround and be a good lizard?"
"Hah! What a cowardly statement from a sorcerer. Come out and fight. Be a man."
"Hulaif, are you sure you want to fight with him? He looks like he's pretty stronger than you."
"I know, but if I believe in myself, I can win."
"If you said that, here use me." Mia suddenly turned into a bow.
"Are you sure to let me use you."
"I would not want to see you lose with that brainless lizard again. That's all."
"Hey, I lost on purpose."
"OK. I know. Now go fight him. He is quite annoying there."
"I don't know what has happened, but do your best, boss."
"Oh, great to see that you are awake." I looked at Skid. "Thanks you all." I talked to Mia and Skid in their true form.
"It seems you have come."
"This time I will let you know how it feels when I lose."
"Talk big like always. What are you using?"
"I just use a bow."
"Hah, you might be a pretty coward to fight at a range."
"At least this time I used my weapon. It is a fair fight. What do you use? Don't say to me you are going to use your tail."
"Who needs a weapon when your body is a weapon."
"If you said so. Skid, please prepare the arena."
"Okay, boss."
"Who the hell are you talking with."
"You will know soon when you lose." Then a big arena just appeared around me and that lizard."
"Whoa, what the hell happened?"
"It is usual here."
"Now I am ready for a fight. The countdown starts at three. OK, fight until one side is lost or dead. OK, three. Two. One. Battle."
That lizard came at me with superhuman speed. He landed on me a punched. Fortunately, I defended myself using a bow. Thanks to the strong bow, I escaped serious injuries. Then, I threw him sand and disappeared from his sight. At the moment he was in such a state, I set some traps using a web from Mia's bow.
Suddenly, I can't listen to his footsteps. I was shocked when he was in front of me. This time I was able to perfectly evade that attack. I attacked him while jumping backwards." The bow hit him, but it did not look like it was effective. Hmm... I need to think of a strategy fast.
He came towards me without any worries, hit by the arrows and traps. This time he really hit me on the stomach and made me push against the wall. It is pretty hurtful to hit like that. My blood just burst out of my mouth. If I hit by that hit one more time, I will be dead.
I stood up slowly and looked at him. It looks like I am in a good range for the shot." Every creature has its own weaknesses. T. no creature is invincible" Now, I am an
The arrows hit and entered his eyes. From that attack, I can see that he really was in real pain. I know that he can regenerate its body parts, but not for a complex organ like an eye. I moved toward him while trying to pull my leg slowly. My energy is kind of depleted right now. I need to end this faster.
I put the arrow on his neck and said. "You lose. Now surrender, if you don't want to die."
"I would like to die rather than live because of human sympathy." Then he stood up and tried to land a punch everywhere to hit me. It was pointless because, although it is random, it is not accurate. For me, it's all about accuracy. I evaded all of his attacks. Then, I finished him by stabbing an arrow through his heart.
He was lost and about to die. "Human, before I die, could I know who you are?"
"My name is Hulaif and I made friends with a man eater."
"Hahaha... If I'm still alive, I hope we can become friends."
"Then, how about you become one."
"Look human. I am about to die. Could you say something more common sense?"
"DO YOU WANT TO LIVE OR DEAD?" I shouted at him.
"Of course I want to live. I still have a regret to do."
"Then, consider our deal. You will come with me." Then, I captured him using the capture.
"Huh. Let me rest in peace." All of its consciousness went inside the phone through pixel data. His body became empty and dead. It looks like it is over. I need to rescue the villagers right away.
"Wow, boss! You are strong." Skid amazed.
"HuIaif, you hurt pretty badly. How about you rest here for a while." Mia said to me.
"It is true what Mia said to you. You need to rest."
"Sorry, I can't right now. I need to save the villagers and Laura first. Get a good rest, guys." I turned off the domain and returned to the cave. I got to Laura and shook her.
"Laura, wake up." When she opened her eyes, she was quite shocked to look at me.
"Hulaif, you are pretty badly injured. Are you okay?" I nodded.
"I am okay. Please save the villagers."
"Okay, Hulaif."
"Thanks Laura." With a slow voice, I fainted at that moment.
"HULAIF!!!" She shouted.