The dense forest loomed around the group, the towering trees rustling gently as Verte, Toruri, Kinrui, Hiyoku, Hecate, and October made their way through the underbrush. Leaves crunched beneath their feet, and the air was thick with the scent of earth and greenery. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
Verte broke the silence, her voice carrying a light, conversational tone. "Javarahoo is a weird island. Right now, we're on the second of four layers—the Thobi Forest."
Toruri, always curious, furrowed his brow and glanced over at her. "Excuse me, layers?"
Verte smiled, the kind that hinted she enjoyed explaining things. "Well, they're more like rings. The beach around the island is the first ring, called Nyuthi Beach. After this, we'll come to a plains biome—the Inner Out-Land. Beyond that is the jungle surrounding the beanstalk, Mir Acel."
Toruri nodded, impressed but still curious. "How do you know so much about the island?"
With a glint of passion in her eyes, Verte replied, "I love geography. The world is beautiful."
The conversation lulled for a moment, but Hiyoku, never one for silence, quickly turned to Toruri. "Toruri, what does your robot do?"
Toruri, clearly used to such questions, began listing its abilities. "He can fly, shoot missiles, self-destr—"
"Robot, fire missiles!!" Hiyoku interrupted, his voice filled with mischief and excitement.
Toruri barely blinked. "He only listens to me."
Verte sighed in disbelief. "Seriously, Hiyoku? The first thing you think about is firing missiles?"
Hiyoku smirked. "You wouldn't?"
The banter was lighthearted, but the forest was anything but. A rustling came from the bushes, a sound too deliberate to be the mere wind.
Kinrui, always alert, stiffened. "Something's here..."
Hiyoku waved a dismissive hand, unconcerned. "It's probably a bunny or something—" His words were cut off as the bushes exploded with movement. A monstrous creature—a gorilla, yet striped like a tiger, with gleaming fangs, a long tail, and sharp ears—burst from the foliage, lunging straight at Hiyoku.
Without hesitation, Hiyoku moved. His fist shot out with the speed and precision of someone far too used to this kind of thing. His knuckles collided with the beast's face, and the creature crumpled to the ground, unconscious before it even hit the dirt.
Hiyoku brushed his hands off nonchalantly, glancing at the now-motionless creature. "It pretty much was," he said with a shrug.
The group pressed on, stepping over the fallen gorilla-tiger hybrid without a second thought. As they moved deeper into the forest, the feeling of being watched prickled at their skin, though none of them mentioned it. Something—or someone—was following them from the shadows. Minutes passed, the tension almost palpable.
Eventually, they came to a halt. The path before them was no longer clear. A massive pit yawned before them, its edges rough and steep, blocking their way forward.
Verte surveyed the gap, her voice calm and composed. "The path continues over this pit."
Hiyoku couldn't help himself. "Ahhh, scary," he said with obvious sarcasm, before stepping back a few paces. With a running start, he leaped into the air, clearing the pit effortlessly.
Kinrui, watching Hiyoku soar across, remarked under his breath, "He's jumping across..."
Toruri, not one to be left behind, stretched his wings wide, the dark feathers shimmering as he launched himself into the air. He flew smoothly across, landing softly on the other side.
Kinrui grinned, "Salami!" With a shimmer, the moss on his body shifted and sprouted into wings. He took off, gliding across the pit to join the others.
Verte, still standing at the edge with October, turned to him with a casual smile. "I guess I'll teleport us." She placed a hand on October's shoulder, and in an instant, they both vanished from sight, reappearing effortlessly on the other side.
As the group continued to soar across the vast pit, Hiyoku glanced down and then called out, "How big is this hole?"
Toruri shot a teasing look his way. "What? You losing air time?"
Hiyoku scoffed, refusing to be outdone. "As if." Suddenly, a burst of flames erupted from his foot, propelling him ahead of the group with a fiery speed. He shot forward, leaving the others in his wake. "I guess I'll just have to move faster!" he taunted.
Toruri smirked, eyes narrowing as he pushed himself to match Hiyoku's pace effortlessly. "Are you trying to turn this into a race or something?"
Hiyoku's voice rang out over the wind. "You're wrong if you think you can beat me."
Far behind them, Kinrui's voice, slightly winded, echoed, "Hey guys, slow down!"
Without missing a beat, both Hiyoku and Toruri shouted back in unison, "Keep up, kid!"
Suddenly, a shadow flickered above them, causing both Hiyoku and Toruri to glance up. A masked figure appeared from nowhere—a feminine silhouette, clad entirely in black, with sleek cat ears protruding from her head. Her mask, oddly enough, looked like a paper plate with a fork on it, giving her an eerie and surreal appearance. She landed gracefully on top of Kinrui, standing on his back with impossible lightness, as if her body weighed nothing at all.
Kinrui looked up, wide-eyed. "What the—?"
Without responding, the mysterious woman vaulted from Kinrui's back to Toruri's, her agility unreal. Then, in one fluid motion, she leapt onto Hiyoku's back before finally jumping ahead of them all, soaring through the air.
Hiyoku blinked in disbelief. "She's a fast one!"
Kinrui, still catching up and bewildered by the encounter, called out, "Is she with M.A.G.I.C?"
Toruri's eyes narrowed as he watched the woman ahead of them. "That's very unlikely, but at this point, I can't tell!"
In mid-air, the woman's hand glowed with an ethereal light, and she summoned a radiant white key. "Door Magic…" she murmured, and as she spoke, a lock materialized behind her.
Hiyoku, still trying to make sense of the situation, shouted, "Speaking of air time, is no one gonna talk about the fact that she's moving faster than us?!"
The woman inserted the glowing key into the lock, twisting it with a fluid motion. "Open Blast!" she commanded, her voice echoing with power.
Instantly, a magical door appeared behind her, and from its depths, a barrage of purple energy beams shot forth, targeting the three flying figures. The air around them crackled with raw magic as the beams sliced through the sky.
Toruri clenched his jaw, weaving through the deadly blasts. "I think her being faster than us should be the least of our concerns," he muttered. "Besides, I'm not even going full speed!" With that, he surged ahead, dodging the beams with precision, his wings cutting through the air. He set his sights on the woman, closing the distance rapidly. Just as he was about to reach her, she summoned another door behind her and slipped into it, vanishing in an instant, along with the door itself.
Frustration flashed across Toruri's face. "She got away!" he shouted, but his momentum carried him too fast. Before he could slow down, he crashed head-first into a tree on the other side of the pit.
"OOF!" The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he slid down the trunk, crumpling into a heap on the ground.
Verte stood over him, arms crossed, eyebrows raised in mild concern. "Toruri, are you okay?"
Before he could answer, Hiyoku and Kinrui landed on the other side, finally catching up. Kinrui looked back at the pit and then at Verte, still out of breath. "We were attacked."
Verte nodded, as if that was exactly what she expected. "By M.A.G.I.C, I assume."
Toruri groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Probably."
Verte's eyes darkened slightly as she thought about the implications. "But how did they get past the barrier?"
Hiyoku, still brimming with energy despite the chaos, chimed in. "She knows door magic."
Verte shook her head slowly, frowning. "The barrier cancels out any type of presence that doesn't belong to it, living or not. She shouldn't even be able to manifest a door on the island." Her voice was low, filled with concern and uncertainty. Something about the mysterious woman didn't sit right with her, and it was clear that whatever power she wielded, it was breaking rules that shouldn't be broken.
The group continued their steady march, the quiet forest surrounding them as the path stretched out endlessly ahead. Hiyoku, ever the energetic one, couldn't keep his thoughts to himself. "Well, if all of this is true, she must be pretty strong," he mused, referring to the mysterious woman from earlier. His eyes gleamed with excitement. "She's fast as hell too, so the next time we meet, I'll be psyched to kick her ass."
Toruri, walking beside him, chuckled. "You're always looking for a good fight, huh?"
Hiyoku grinned, unbothered. "Anything that makes me stronger is worth my time."
An hour passed uneventfully, and soon, they reached a wide, open path. The air here was still, almost unnaturally peaceful.
Verte gestured ahead. "Through here is where the Inner Out-Land is."
Toruri, already weary from the trek, sighed. "And how much longer is this walk?"
Verte gave him a side glance, her voice calm but serious. "Four days."
Toruri groaned in disbelief. "What?! That's longer than it took to get here!"
"This path is called the Tingo March," Verte explained patiently. "It's peaceful and quiet. Nothing really happens here—not even rain or storms. The trees that line this path are home to a variety of creatures... some of which might stampede through."
Kinrui's eyes widened. "So there's a chance we might get trampled?"
Verte shrugged. "Well, it's rare, but it can always happen."
Hiyoku, not one to waste time, had a sudden idea. "Well, we can get to the end of it in no time if we just speed through it!" With that, he bolted forward without waiting for a response.
Toruri's eyes widened, and he took off after him. "Wait up!"
Verte watched them sprint away, shaking her head. "And there they go."
Hiyoku's voice rang out, full of enthusiasm. "This'll turn a four-day trip into a one-day experience!"
Toruri called out from behind him. "That's if you don't get tired!"
Hiyoku shot a smug glance back. "I have amazing stamina."
Before Hiyoku could react, Verte suddenly teleported above him and landed lightly on his back, standing there with perfect balance.
Hiyoku's eyes bulged in surprise. "What are you doing, elf woman?! You're slowing me down!"
Verte crossed her arms, unfazed. "I'm getting real tired of having to chase after you."
Hiyoku grunted, struggling to maintain his speed. "Can't you just teleport to the other side?"
"I can only teleport to places I'm familiar with or can visually see," Verte replied matter-of-factly.
Meanwhile, Kinrui was catching up, his breath labored from the sprint. "Can we stop running, guys?!"
Hiyoku, ever determined, shouted back. "I won't ever sto—" His sentence was abruptly cut short as his foot caught on a stone, sending him flying. He tumbled harshly onto the ground, and Verte was pulled down with him in a chaotic heap.
The sudden crash created a chain reaction, as Toruri and Kinrui, unable to stop in time, tripped over their bodies and went sprawling as well.
Groaning, Toruri was the first to stand up, dusting off his clothes. "Maybe we should take it slow."
Hiyoku and Verte scrambled to their feet, both scowling, though Hiyoku muttered begrudgingly, "Dammit, I hate that you're right."
Kinrui, standing up last, chuckled. "Told you."
Toruri glanced around, noticing someone missing. "Where's October?"
Verte gasped lightly. "Oh!" She vanished for a split second and reappeared with October by her side, the robotic figure unfazed by the sudden teleportation.
Toruri sighed. "Alright, back to moving slow."
They resumed their journey, walking this time instead of running. The next ten minutes passed in relative silence, the peaceful forest surrounding them like a blanket of calm.
Finally, Toruri broke the silence with a random question. "If you could instantly learn any skill or talent, what would it be and why?"
Hiyoku, quick to respond, grinned mischievously. "I'd love to master underwater basket weaving, just in case I ever need to survive in an ocean full of wicker furniture."
Toruri gave him a bewildered look. "What the hell kind of answer is that? Where would there be an ocean full of wicker furniture?"
Hiyoku shrugged. "I dunno, but I think it would be a cool skill."
Toruri rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "I'd want to learn how to teleport, so I could pop over to random countries just to grab lunch and be back in time for a nap."
Verte, intrigued, chimed in. "Interesting. What kind of food will you get?"
Toruri thought for a moment before smirking. "I dunno, whatever's on the table."
Verte raised an eyebrow, catching his meaning. "You're going to be stealing people's lunches off their tables?"
"Yep," Toruri replied without hesitation.
Verte shook her head in disbelief. "That's highly illegal. You could get arrested."
"But remember," Toruri continued, "I'll be gone by the time anyone figures out who I am. There's a very low chance I'd ever go back to the same country again. I basically get free lunch every day."
Verte laughed, amused by the idea. "Well, I'd learn how to juggle flaming swords—because life's too short not to add a little danger to your hobbies!"
Hiyoku glanced at her, smirking. "Your life isn't that short, though. You're an elf!"
Kinrui nodded in agreement. "You'll pretty much outlive everyone here. Except Toruri, maybe."
Verte's smile faded, and her tone grew more thoughtful. "Life is random. I could die any day, so it's better sooner than later."
Kinrui shivered slightly at her words. "You guys seriously have the weirdest wants for skills."
Toruri glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What's yours, then?"
Kinrui hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'd... love to master yodeling."
Hiyoku burst into laughter. "You're literally no better."
Toruri chuckled, shaking his head. "October, what about you?"
October, standing beside them with his usual robotic calm, began processing the question. "Processing... Processing... Processing..." There was a pause before he answered in his mechanical voice, "I'd want to learn how to perfectly mimic human sarcasm, so I could finally master the art of witty comebacks during awkward conversations."
Toruri's eyes widened in surprise. "Awkward conversations? I'm surprised that you even thought about that! I never knew you could feel awkward!"
October tilted his head slightly. "October-bot is an AI adapting program. October-bot learns from everything he hears."
Toruri nodded, amused. "I'll keep that in mind."
The leaves above rustled ominously, a clear sign that someone—or something—was moving among the trees. Fallen leaves drifted down like quiet warnings.
Verte tensed. "Someone's here again!"
Hiyoku, ever the nonchalant one, shrugged, "Must be another bunny."
Toruri narrowed his eyes, his senses sharpening as he scanned the area. "It isn't. I can see your chi. Come out!"
From above, something dropped swiftly, landing just in front of the group. They braced themselves, preparing for a confrontation. It was the mysterious cat-eared girl from before.
Hiyoku's eyes flared. "It's you!"
The girl clenched her hand into a tight fist, then blew into it, producing a loud, resonant sound that echoed through the forest like an elephant's trumpet.
Hiyoku growled, his temper flaring alongside the fire that suddenly ignited in his fists. "I'm gonna murder your ass!!"
With a fiery roar, he lunged toward her, fists blazing. As he surged forward, the ground trembled, the rumble of something large and many-footed approaching rapidly.
Kinrui's voice cut through the tension. "Hiyoku, wait! Something's coming!!"
Undeterred, Hiyoku scoffed. "I'll just burn that thing too!"
But the woman leapt back gracefully, and almost instantly, a horde of grotesque creatures burst forth from the trees. These monstrous deer, each standing seven feet tall, had no eyes, but instead bore sharp, jagged teeth. Their antlers were twisted into grotesque shapes resembling long, fleshy tongues. They charged in a thunderous stampede, trampling everything in their path—including Hiyoku, who was engulfed in their rampage.
The cat-eared woman effortlessly jumped across the backs of the charging beasts, her movements as fluid as water.
Verte's voice cut through the chaos. "An Ahoban stampede!!!"
Toruri wasted no time. "October, activate rocket mode!"
October's mechanical voice responded calmly. "Activating rocket mode." Flames erupted from the small robot's back as it levitated, lifting Toruri and him above the fray.
Verte cast a spell, lifting herself into the air, while Toruri unfurled his wings, flapping hard to ascend. Kinrui, however, relied on his moss powers, transforming the moss into a rope that latched onto a branch. He hung above the horde, avoiding the deadly stampede beneath him.
"I won't let you get away!" Kinrui swung toward the woman, transforming his moss into a sharp, gleaming blade. He swung it at her with force, but she was ready.
"Door Magic: Transport Door," she whispered, and in an instant, a shimmering door materialized before him. Kinrui couldn't stop his momentum and stumbled into the door, disappearing through it. A moment later, another door opened—this one hovering over the pit they'd crossed earlier. Kinrui plummeted helplessly into the chasm, his voice trailing off. "NOOOOOO!!!"
Verte seized her chance and teleported behind the woman, determined to stop her. "You're not going anywhere!!!"
But the woman was faster than she anticipated. She performed an elegant backflip, landing gracefully out of Verte's reach. She's fast, Verte thought, gritting her teeth.
With a powerful leap, the woman soared into the air. Suddenly, from seemingly nowhere, a small, green wyvern swooped down and scooped her up. She didn't waste a moment, urging the creature forward.
But Hiyoku wasn't about to let her escape. Climbing out of the stampede, he propelled himself into the air, fire bursting from his feet. "No you don't, you bitch!!!" He unleashed five beams of searing flame from his hands, aiming at the fleeing woman. But the wyvern deftly dodged the attack, weaving through the air with incredible agility.
"You're going nowhere!!!" Hiyoku shouted, pouring more fire from his feet to rocket towards her.
But the woman was prepared. With a flick of her hand, she conjured a door mid-air, and both she and the wyvern slipped through it just before Hiyoku could reach them. The door snapped shut behind her, vanishing without a trace.
"Damn it!" Hiyoku cursed as he landed, his fists still smoking with residual fire. The stampede, now cleared, left the ground littered with debris and the remnants of the chaos. Toruri landed beside him, wings folding in.
"What is her problem?" Toruri asked, exasperation clear in his voice.
Hiyoku scowled. "She's just a walking inconvenience!"
Verte, floating gently back down to the ground, joined them. "Whatever she is, she's a problem. Her race isn't even native to the island."
Hiyoku frowned. "Yeah, what is she?"
Verte's expression darkened. "She's a Maoyou. They're natives of a distant country, far from here."
Toruri, always the pragmatic one, chimed in. "Maybe she traveled here alone."
Verte shook her head. "They travel in packs. That can't be true."
Hiyoku's eyes blazed with frustration. "So she's annoying and a rogue? All the reason I need to burn her to ash. Let's go."
Without waiting for a response, Hiyoku stormed ahead, his temper still simmering.
Verte called after him, concern lacing her voice. "Wait, Hiyoku! We have to find Kinrui!"
But Hiyoku, ever stubborn, waved her off. "He'll find his way back!"
Just then, a familiar fluttering sound caught Toruri's attention. Hecate, the tiny winged creature, flew out of his pocket, buzzing with curiosity.
"What was all of that racket?" Hecate asked, sounding groggy.
Toruri blinked. "I totally forgot about you! We almost got run over by a stampede."
Hecate gasped in mock horror. "Oh dear! Don't squish me, because if you do, Kaiju also dies too."
Toruri chuckled. "I'll try not to. Maybe you should stay out of my pocket for now."
Verte's curiosity piqued. "Kaiju? Who's that?"
Toruri scratched his head. "The black knight from the future I was talking about. He's in that fly and needs help getting to Heavalley."
Verte blinked, processing the information. "Wait, he's from the future?!"
Toruri sighed. "It's a long story..."
Verte looked at Hecate. "Can this Kaiju fellow come out to talk to me?"
Hecate flitted around. "No can do, lady. Kaiju's dead asleep."
Verte tilted her head in confusion. "Oookay..."
Toruri, realizing Hiyoku was getting further ahead, called out, "Wait up, Hiyoku!" He broke into a run after him.
Verte sighed in exasperation, her voice echoing after them. "Wait, we should wait for Kinrui!!!"
Toruri and Hiyoku yelled back in unison, "Keep up!!"