Sumit stood in a strange, mist-filled landscape, disoriented. The edges of the world seemed to blur, bending and shifting as though it were a dream. And then, like before, a figure appeared—walking out of the mist, calm and unhurried.
It was him. The black Cat-man.
But this time, the Cat-man wasn't covered in blood. His sleek fur gleamed in the dim light, his piercing yellow eyes locking onto Sumit with a mix of amusement and disdain. As he came closer, Sumit instinctively tensed, a shiver of unease running down his spine.
"Why are you back?" Sumit asked, his voice tinged with both fear and frustration.
The Cat-man tilted his head, smirking as if he had expected the question. "I could ask you the same thing, kid."
Before Sumit could respond, the Cat-man's expression hardened. "You're stupid, you know that?" His voice was sharp, the words cutting like blades. "You don't even know your own power."
"What are you talking about?" Sumit demanded, feeling a surge of irritation. But before he could say anything more, the Cat-man suddenly lunged at him.
Sumit barely had time to react as a fist collided with his chest, sending a shockwave of force through his body. The world around him shattered like fragile glass, fragments of the dream scattering into the void. He felt himself falling, spiraling down into darkness.
And then, with a gasp, Sumit woke up.
He lay on the cold, damp ground of the forest, his heart racing. His hand flew to his chest where the Cat-man had punched him, expecting to feel pain, but there was none. It had all been a dream—a strange, vivid dream. He sat up, rubbing his face as he tried to shake off the lingering confusion.
"That was weird," he muttered, trying to dismiss the whole encounter as some sort of nightmare. But deep down, he couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of unease.
As he stood, the cool air of the forest brushing against his skin, Sumit became aware of something else—something new. A tingling sensation rippled through his body, a faint but powerful energy humming beneath his skin. His aura. He could feel it now, coursing through him like a river of light.
A grin crept onto his face, excitement bubbling up inside him. He had done it. He had awakened his aura.
He took a deep breath, flexing his fingers as he felt the raw energy flowing through his limbs. Every movement felt lighter, faster. Stronger. He could sense the power in his muscles, his bones, and he was eager to test it.
Without thinking, he began to run. His feet barely touched the ground as he sprinted through the trees, faster than he had ever moved before. The world around him blurred, the wind whipping against his face. He laughed, exhilarated by the rush of his newfound power.
But then, as he rounded a bend in the forest, he saw them—the plant monkeys.
Perched on the branches overhead, their vine-like bodies swayed in the wind, their beady eyes watching him with a strange curiosity. These were the same monkeys that had mocked him before, jeering at him when he had been powerless to defend himself. He could still hear their shrill laughter in his head, echoing like a bad memory.
Sumit's grin turned into a sneer. "Not this time," he muttered under his breath.
He could feel his aura pulsing through him, his confidence surging as he squared his shoulders and charged toward the nearest monkey. His fists clenched, ready to deliver a powerful blow. He would show them. He wasn't the weakling they had laughed at anymore.
As he closed the distance, his eyes locked onto one of the larger monkeys. Sumit swung his fist, aiming to knock the creature off its branch with one powerful strike. But at the last moment, the monkey darted to the side with surprising speed, its body twisting in the air as it dodged his attack effortlessly.
Before Sumit could recover, the monkey retaliated, its vine-like arm lashing out and landing a solid punch to Sumit's midsection. The force of the blow sent him sprawling to the ground, gasping for breath.
The familiar sound of mocking laughter filled the air.
Sumit groaned, his body aching from the impact. He could hear the other monkeys joining in, their laughter ringing in his ears like a cruel melody. Rage bubbled up inside him, his fists tightening as he scrambled to his feet. He wasn't going to let them humiliate him again.
With a growl, he charged at the monkeys again, but every time he swung at one, they dodged with ease. And each time they dodged, they countered with swift, stinging punches that knocked him back down.
It was like they were toying with him.
Sumit's frustration grew with every failed attack. His aura flickered, his energy draining faster than he could keep up. He was stronger now—he knew it—but why wasn't it enough? Why couldn't he hit them?
The laughter grew louder, more taunting. The monkeys danced around him, their movements fluid and mocking, as if they knew exactly how to push his buttons. Finally, after another failed charge, Sumit's legs gave out beneath him.
Tears of humiliation stung his eyes as he lay on the ground, panting heavily. He couldn't take it anymore. Without another word, he pushed himself to his feet and fled from the scene, his pride shattered.
He ran until his legs burned and his lungs screamed for air. When he finally stopped, he was far from the clearing, far from the laughter. Exhausted, Sumit collapsed onto the forest floor, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
There was no one behind him. No more laughter. Just silence.
Closing his eyes, he drifted into sleep.
Sumit found himself back in the dream world, standing in the same surreal landscape as before. The black Cat-man was there again, but this time, he was laughing—a deep, throaty laugh that made Sumit's blood boil.
"Stop it!" Sumit yelled, his fists clenched at his sides. "Leave me alone!"
The Cat-man smirked, walking towards him with his tail flicking lazily behind him. "Sorry, but it was funny to watch," he said, still chuckling.
Sumit glared at him, his face flushed with anger. "You saw that? How?"
The Cat-man shrugged, his expression amused. "I don't know. I see things when I'm trapped here. It's not like I have control over it."
"Trapped?" Sumit frowned. "What do you mean, trapped? Forget it, just leave me alone!"
But the Cat-man didn't move. "No."
"What?" Sumit blinked in confusion. "Why not?"
"At first, I wasn't able to leave," the Cat-man said, his tone shifting slightly. "But now? Now, I don't want to."
Sumit narrowed his eyes, confused. "Why? What do you want from me?"
The Cat-man's eyes gleamed as he stepped closer. "Before I died, I was a storyteller. I always wanted to tell an amazing story, but my stories… well, they were always a little boring." He leaned in, his gaze piercing. "But ever since I met you, I've seen something interesting. Something exciting. Your story."
Sumit's face twisted in frustration. "What does that have to do with me? Just leave!"
The Cat-man's smirk returned, sly and confident. "Let me make a deal with you. I'll help you become stronger. In return, you help me experience an interesting story."
Sumit hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. His instincts told him not to trust the Cat-man, but a part of him—deep inside—knew that he needed the help. If he was going to survive in this world, he needed to be stronger. Much stronger.
"Fine," he muttered at last, his voice laced with reluctance. "But if you're lying—"
"I don't lie, kid," the Cat-man said with a grin. "This is going to be fun."