A look of disbelief and gratitude adorned Dun, Eldu, and Majo's faces. Had they not experienced it, they would have never believed that black smoke can be a symbol of happiness.
Dragging their quaking legs, they approached where the black smoke came from. Faster. Move faster. Just a bit more until they could get rid of this predicament.
No one spoke. A flash of anticipation filled their eyes. Although breathing heavily, their exhausted body was trembling in joy.
Spreading their arms, supporting each other's bodies. They giggled and looked at each other from time to time. They were youth, but if people saw this scene, they were like the old geezer in their sixties, feeling grateful for any small thing they had.
As they moved closer, they heard a rumbling sound. It was as though a volcano had erupted, followed by an earthquake that shook the nearby trees.
Po Eldu looked upfront. Two wild beasts transpired before his teary eyes, fighting each other. The surrounding trees were barren and less in quantity compared to the packed, dense forest they were in before.
The first beast was a rabbit-like beast with two fangs, fiery ears, and fiery legs. At the opposite of it was a two meters black-scale snake that was moving rigidly. The smoke was caused by the rabbit's fire as it bit the snake's scale and hopped on trees with its fiery legs.
Once they saw this scene, they were dumbfounded. 'What is this?'
They lived as adventurers, witnessing many strange animals yet they never truly saw these fantasy beasts. It was...beyond common senses.
Danny Dun pinched Po Eldu's arm, then he frowned. "Is this real?"
No one answered him. In their own mind, they were shocked, disappointed, and excited at the same time. Shocked seeing fantasy beast, disappointed because they were still trapped in this forest, excited seeing the wondrous beast that seemed coming straight from a fantasy tale.
A fight between rabbit and snake was usually one-sided slaughter by the snake. Even if it's not, at least the rabbit would not fight in such a manner. Yet, this case was a domineering, reverse slaughter battle.
To their surprise, the snake's scales were full of holes, and blood was leaking from it. The snake helplessly retaliated. Against the rabbit's speed, this snake was like kids fighting an adult.
This fact overwhelmed the group.
What kind of magical creature is this? If they faced this kind of creature, any trap was for naught, any wooden weapon would be burned instantly, and against the rabbit's nimble legs, even landing a hit was impossible.
Po Eldu was the first one to keep his sane from the battle. He tapped his comrades' shoulder, whispering quietly. "This beast is not our match. Let's retreat safely. We don't know if this kind of beast is good news or not."
At one point, they wanted to kill the beasts and ate them. It looked meaty and delicious after all. On the other side, they had no idea how to approach the fire, let alone eat them.
Hearing this reasonable suggestion, the rest nodded and walked away slowly. They held their breath while beads of sweat gradually covered their forehead.
Just think about it, the most unbearable pain was burned by fire. This fire was brought by a fast animal like the rabbit and its fangs were vicious. It was a torturous beast!
Time moved extremely sluggish.
Already took many steps but their distance seemed the same. Furrowed his brows, Eldu realized that his distance was approximately more than a hundred meters from the battle.
And, a flash of disbelief filled his face and he almost lost colors. In that distance, how come he felt the heat as though he was in front of a bonfire? Rubbing his lips, and scratching his cheek, Eldu felt the surface of both were dry.
The rabbit kept its oppressive power towards the snake but the snake's pride made it retaliate even fiercer. Pouncing boulders, shattered into pieces. Whipping its tail only to be dodged by the rabbit, leaving a visible mark on the ground.
"Something is off.." murmured Danny Dun. He looked around and found nothing that caught his eyes but he truly felt something was amiss.
Snake against rabbit, whatever the reason was, the snake at least should be fierce enough to leave a scratch on the rabbit.
Furthermore, animals would not attack with such an oppressive aura for no reason. Especially that cute rabbit he once loved now looked like a nightmare demon, an embodiment of painful death.
What's even weirder was the snake's scale that couldn't be burned by rabbit's flame. It was clear enough that once the rabbit's feet touch any tree trunk, it got burned in a few seconds. He recognized some trees were quite moist, which generally speaking, would be harder to burn. How was that possible?
He traced the snake's scale and found that its middle body was quite swollen. The other also found it a few seconds later.
"Don't tell me the snake ate another rabbit?" This thought echoed in their mind.
Gu Banma made a hush then whispered, "we are lucky. It seems like the snake ate a rabbit before, then that fiery rabbit knows it. It won't target us because it's doing revenge on the snake."
When they heard Banma's words, they released a sigh of relief. They could not imagine what would happen if it were caused by another reason, such as the rabbit being furious because the snake enter its territory.
And now, they were in its territory. They would be dead.
"I don't think so.." said Eldu. He knew he couldn't come up with another reason but if that's what truly happened, why it was alone? Why did it seem like it held back its strength? There was this awkward premonition that stuck on his throat, he couldn't explain it better.
Danny Dun was stunned hearing the objection. He also had his own doubt. Since the beast was a fantasy one, this type of beast might have different behavior, so the reasoning could be different.
As time ticked by and they were far enough from the fight, they realized that the surrounding had no other beast except the two.
'Oh no!' Eldu shouted in his mind.
This was a sign that this fight was dangerous enough, so much so that even other animals ran away from this place!
"Srrcchh!!"
Suddenly, they heard a shriek burst from the sky, reverberated through the forest. Trees shook, and leaves fell like rain. Their ears were in pain, like a hammer that stroke the back of their head. They did not bother to look up, just run!
"Go!"
They ran and ran. Through branches, sprouts, and pebbles in the attic.
"Sccrrhh!"
The more they ran, the closer the scream. Between tree trunks and some gaps in boulders, the shriek scratching.
It was too much to say that they were too weak to withstand a scream. Even some trees fell!
Their heart beat fast, and their breath circulated heavily. Panted, numb sensation surged up, feeling some strings ripped off in their tendons and muscles.
They did not know what tired was, what they know was once they stopped, they would die!
Thump!
The loud thump from the nearby falling trees became surreal as throbbing sensation pierced their heart, made them more anxious.
"Hiss!"
Now they could hear a hissed, the hissed from the snake!
"River! Jump into the river!" shouted Po Eldu. He knew it was a suicide choice, but running solved nothing.
Before he finished, a small trunk fell in front of them.
Thud!
The small, scorched trunk was burned. It was so hot that they have to close their eyes. This moment made them stop for a second, but in a moment of life and death, it was enough to spell their doom!
"RUN!" The hoarse voice of Banma awoke them from the heat. Growling, he exerted muscles within his body as he tightened his fists, moved fast toward the river.
The rest followed his step, jumping roots and leaves, moving from one tree to another tree.
Yi Majo gritted his teeth. The pain from his legs was unbearable. His skin was not covered by his tattered clothes anymore but by brushes.
Barely keeping his eyes open, he saw the others were getting father from him, leaving him no choice but to run as well. Feeling the threat, even tears couldn't come up anymore when his heart was throbbing wildly.
His lips were dried but he felt nothing. As he ran with his comrades, this moment was not bad at all. Weak as he always was, yet he felt at ease.
All this year, his father and brother were nowhere to be found. And, he strived alone.
Three years of experience as an adventurer was not sufficient for him to be called a veteran. Even his longest journey amounted to two weeks. So, this one-year disaster flipped his life, telling him a lot more than anything he had before.
When he opened his eyes, he could see the river. The sound of water hitting rocks was relaxing. It was the best medicine that pumped his legs to speed up as though fresh water splashed his exhausted body, and he couldn't help but appreciate himself for the hard work he had done; the efforts to catch up with others toward the river.
As he kept swinging his arms and kicking his legs to move, a faint smile adorned his face.
It was amazing.