Upon running from the town, a girl informed Elder Rai and Tim about a lost child. As she attended, she explained the minor details she had learned about the situation. The entire scouting team gathered to cross the island hoping to find another elder for some reason. This was because another child had been reported missing, with a few people believing that the granny was to blame.
"Christ all mighty... I can hardly believe my eyes for two people to have gone missing and I'm certain it is not Jawjack's Army fault as they haven't been on the island ever since two days ago."
"So all we need to do is find a young girl somewhere on this island? It isn't too big, so I think it should be possible."
Claimed Codey while he had already been planning an ideal decision on the best way to approach the case.
"We're looking for a young girl, correct? The most effective approach is to split into four groups to search different areas. That being said..." Even though he was disappointed by his decision, he had to accept it while the others rallied around him as well.
Tim, with his arms crossed, came to the most apprehensive conclusion, saying "I'll stay with Nina then."
She had no reason to deny the choice he had made and agreed with him quickly with Ayuka being left alone by herself. She was doing as much as possible to contribute as much knowledge straight from her head and then decided to go alone.
"If so, I'll try to find her on my own. The rest of you, can you handle your tasks? If the signal works, we can communicate over our watches; if not, stay close to your roles, okay?"
"Elliott and I will search that mountain and if we come across a cave, we will look there to see if the girl is there."
"Tim and Nina, look around the lake in the distance, and I'll check the beaches behind the town where those rocky hills are."
"I'll then look through the forest. I'm sure neither of you knows your way around, which makes me the best candidate for the job."
"Okay, enough with the nonsense! Let's get started and find them before it gets dark. Keep in mind your assigned areas and keep a close eye on them!"
"We get it...let's get this party started!" They each ran in their allotted regions, with mindful activities circling them, with everyone in sync.
Ayuka rushed through the forest road in a straight line between the green trees that flanked either side of the path behind her. Additionally, she also passed between shrubs with an out of the ordinary speed while balancing both her stamina and the time limit.
She was aiming for the rocky walls that looked like hills near the beach. She was running along the path when a branch cracked and she plunged to the ground, stopping in the forest. She continued to hear additional noises surrounding her.
"These noises are strange. Is there somebody around here?"
Having corrected her stance into a straight line, she bravely looked around the trees in search of a hidden figure, but none could be detected.
"Hello, is anyone out there? You know... if you're trying to hide you're not doing the right thing..."
There was no sound heard or detected. Due to the silence, she moved at a slower pace and began to hear more noises around her. Suddenly, a silhouette appeared between the trees. In exchange, Ayuka chased the human, causing it to flee further into the forest.
"Wait! Stop! I won't hurt you!"
By evading thorns, leaves, rocks and puddles of water, she vaulted over a fallen tree and dug her feet in the dirt as she caught her balance and accelerated forward. However the figure before her kept running nonstop, never stopping and due to the trees covering most of her view she couldn't piece together the person's appearance.
"Come on, stop! I'm only searching for a young girl that has been reported missing!"
Although she never let go of the target, there were moments where she almost lost sight of the figure due to the large number of bushes and trees around.
"How are they able to move so fast? I'm going as fast as I can through this forest, but I don't seem to be catching them at all..."
When the signal was unable to connect, like a criminal fleeing the police, it quickly ceased chasing after the figure and soon noticed an opening in the trees. She reached it sooner than expected, but the moment she did the silhouette had completely vanished from her sight.
As she stood at the edge of the rocky hill and stared down at the waving ocean, with nobody in her view-
"... There's no way... They just disappeared...?"
As she scouted the area again in search of her target, Ayuka found none; not even a bird or an ant. It was secluded with no lives around, just water and sand.
The trees were silent as the shallow wind blew through them. She could see sand swirling and leaves floating behind her back. The scene was as silent as an abandoned site.
Inhaling and exhaling slowly, she closed her eyes as she stood motionless on top of the rocks. Her patience was tested if someone attacked or if she was expecting an ambush. Within seconds, minutes passed, and then suddenly Ayuka heard a loud noise of metal echoing throughout the fields and switching to defense mode.
Leaves waved wildly in the distance as a speedy body got launched through the air wielding a sword. Ayuka rotated her feet so she could face behind, and hurled her arm up abnormally fast for her sword to bounce into her palm. As she stretched her right leg half a meter forward with the sword pointing ahead, the lefty stretched behind her. This caused the swords to collide, sending strong pulses through her clothes and hair.
The enemy vanished from the spot before she could see it directly, causing her stance to appear disturbed. In the aftermath of nearly being beheaded, her body started sweating as it flowed down her face.
"What happened...? I know that I managed to defend an attack, but who was it...?"
She tried, once more, to see the enemy, but it didn't appear so casually. It was hidden among the shrubs of the forest, waiting for the opportunity to strike. It appeared that her prediction came true at the end when the same event occurred again. As a result, she ducked under a slashing blade and observed a black body in front of her. She used that to her advantage.
Squatting, she bent her right leg and kneeled the silhouette, striking its stomach and stunning the person in front of her. As soon as it happened, the enemy's body came into her view, but its body wasn't human. The black panther walked on two legs, wielded a sword as it pleased and seemed to be taller than her.
It coughed up saliva and grabbed at its slim stomach, then backed away and wiped away the saliva.
"What type of abomination are you supposed to be? Half Cat Half Human, or what?"
"Can't you tell the difference between a cat and a panther? Moreover, why is an outsider here on Pelwick Island? I'd assume you've come from a different island."
"I come from the "First Universe" but this one seems to be far away from the one we came from."
"That's right... We're the "Sixth Universe" also known as "The Vast Expanse" and I say you shouldn't be here, outsider."
"It's not like we had a choice to come here, it was an accident. Enough about that, explain your sudden attempt of assault?"
"You were chasing me down with a sword in your grip. That is enough to alarm me of danger... Now don't fear when I say that I must eliminate you right here."
The Panther pointed the blade forward to intimidate Ayuka, who did not show any signs of fear. Standing silently and releasing a cold mist from her right arm, she braced herself for another attack.
"I've only been searching for a young girl and I thought I saw her when she vanished the moment I reached this place. Do you know anything about where she could be?"
"I have no knowledge of a girl, even if I were to hunt her down. I came here after hearing that another group of pirates had sailed from Evergreed Island. The pirates did not want this island to be destroyed further, which is why I have come here to stop you, before you do more damage than this island already has."
"We're not pirates nor are we here to destroy the island. We don't have the power to do so. Originally we intended to eliminate Jawjack's Army before it got more complicated, but we were caught in a different problem and are now looking for a few people."
"I may not be a human, but I am not stupid to believe your nonsense. That girl has probably been swallowed by the "Grime Worm" in the mountains."
"What are "Grime Worms" supposed to be, and how can you be so sure?"
"You got enough answers from me! I won't retreat until I eliminate a threat like you!"
Grabbing the sword behind his back, the panther man dashed forward and lunged at Ayuka as he cut to the ground. Backing up to strengthen her balance, she raised the sword above her head. In this case, however, the panther struck without holding back his power and rammed the blade into Ayuka's own, but it was Ayuka's deception that made it seem as if he had cut through the blade.
By having the ability to split her sword into two daggers with a frozen blade, it would make her more versatile in battle and make movement and accuracy easier. As she defended the blade, she bounced back to create distance between herself and the panther.
She spun both of her blades in both hands and slashed them forward. One was in front of her chest while the other is near her stomach in preparation to fight.
"I told you...we're not here to destroy the island!"
To be continued...