Sumit opened his eyes to find himself once again in the dream world. The familiar fog surrounded him, thick and heavy, almost suffocating in its silence. His chest tightened with frustration and confusion, the weight of recent events pressing down on him like an unseen force. Standing there, lost in the fog, a sense of unease curled in his stomach—he knew exactly what was coming next.
Out of the mist, the black Cat-man emerged, his feline eyes glinting with amusement, as if he'd been waiting for Sumit all along. That infuriating smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "Good work, kid," the Cat-man said casually, his tone light, almost mocking.
Sumit felt his blood boil. Good work? The memory of his near-death experience surged forward—flashes of the battle, the crushing fear, the razor's edge of survival. He couldn't hold it in any longer. Rage flooded through him like fire.
Without thinking, Sumit sprinted toward the Cat-man, fists raised, heart pounding in his chest, ready to land a blow that might make him feel better—anything to vent the overwhelming storm of anger swirling inside him.
But, as usual, the Cat-man sidestepped with ease, his movements fluid and effortless, as if Sumit were no more than a child throwing a tantrum. "Why are you so angry?" he asked, his voice calm, curious even. That calmness, that detached indifference, only fanned the flames of Sumit's rage.
"Why am I angry?" Sumit shouted, his voice trembling with frustration. "Because I nearly died, that's why!"
The Cat-man tilted his head slightly, almost as if pondering Sumit's words. "Why are you whining? You're alive, aren't you? And you've gotten stronger."
Sumit could feel his heart hammering in his chest, not just from the anger, but from the flood of emotions that had been building up ever since that fight. "Yeah, I'm alive," he spat, his voice shaking, "but that doesn't change the fact that I was almost killed because of your advice!"
The Cat-man chuckled softly, a sound that felt like it scraped against Sumit's nerves. "What are you blaming me for? I admit it was my condition that you should always be the first to help... but deep down, you would have done it anyway, even without me saying so."
Sumit's jaw tightened. "That's not true."
"Believe what you want to believe," the Cat-man replied with a shrug, his voice light and unconcerned. "It's not like you can kill me for it, can you?"
Sumit's shoulders slumped, the weight of exhaustion and emotional turmoil bearing down on him. He knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that the Cat-man was right. But the truth didn't make the anger or frustration disappear.
"Fine," Sumit muttered, trying to steady himself, "but are you going to tell me or not? What was that thing I fought?"
The Cat-man's playful demeanor shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Honestly? I don't know for sure. But didn't it feel... familiar? Like something you've already encountered?"
Sumit's heart sank as the answer clicked into place. "The black tree," he whispered, a sense of dread creeping into his voice.
The Cat-man nodded, his gaze sharpening. "Exactly. That monster had the same aura, the same feel as that black tree you faced. Whatever it is, they're connected."
Sumit's hands clenched into fists again, this time out of frustration, not knowing what to do next. "So what do I do now? Should I go back to the tree?"
The Cat-man's gaze softened, his smirk returning. "That's up to you, kid. But remember—good deeds always bring good results."
Sumit sighed, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on his chest. He was tired. Tired of fighting, of not knowing what was happening, of feeling like he was one wrong step away from death. "Wait," he said suddenly, a new concern creeping into his mind. "What happens to my body when I'm here?"
The Cat-man raised an eyebrow, his tone almost amused. "Nothing. Your body recovers while you're here. It means you're sleeping."
Sumit's eyes widened in panic. "What? Send me back! Punch me, or whatever—I can't trust those idiot monkeys with my body!"
The Cat-man smirked, clearly enjoying Sumit's discomfort. "Come on, they helped you."
"Helped me?" Sumit scoffed, frustration rising again. "They ran away in the middle of the fight!"
The Cat-man's grin widened. "Because you asked them to bring the staff."
"No, I didn't! I asked them to get the gem, not the staff!" Sumit shot back, his voice rising in disbelief.
The Cat-man shrugged lazily. "Whatever, kid. Just get out of here." And with that, he delivered a swift punch to Sumit's chest, knocking him out of the dream world.
Sumit woke with a jolt, gasping as his eyes adjusted to the soft light filtering through the canopy above. He blinked, trying to get his bearings. The first thing he noticed was the bed—made of soft, woven leaves. It cradled his aching body, and for a moment, he just lay there, staring up at the sky, wondering where he was.
Then, he felt eyes on him. Lots of eyes. He turned his head and found himself surrounded by plant-monkeys. They were watching him closely, their bright, curious eyes fixed on him as if he were something precious. The second they realized he was awake, they erupted in happy, chattering sounds, jumping and clapping, their excitement palpable.
Sumit blinked, confused. "What's going on?" he muttered under his breath, rubbing his eyes.
One of the larger monkeys stepped forward, holding out his staff—the one Sumit had thought was lost forever. The monkey placed it gently in Sumit's hand, then tugged on his arm, urging him to follow. Sumit, still dazed and unsure, complied, letting the monkey lead him through the dense jungle. They eventually arrived at the base of a massive tree, its trunk hollowed out and filled with items—coins, clothes, bags, dolls, and various trinkets. It looked like a hoard.
Sumit's eyes widened as he pieced it together. The monkeys must have collected these things over time, much like they'd taken his staff earlier. The monkey pointed toward the collection, then held up five fingers.
Sumit raised an eyebrow. "So... I can pick five things?"
The monkey nodded eagerly.
Sumit hesitated, scanning the items. He finally picked out a small pouch of coins, a cloak, a bag of clothes, a water pouch and when Sumit was about to pick his 5 reward he was stopped by the monkey. The monkey points towards the staff Sumit was hold.
"You mean this is my 5 item fine its not like he have anything better" The monkey gave an approving nod and then, to Sumit's surprise, grabbed his arm again and led him to a wide, empty field.
Before Sumit could ask what was going on, the plant-monkeys began to gather around him, one by one, placing fruits in front of him. He felt a flicker of unease. Was this some sort of offering? What were they expecting him to do?
He looked at the monkey who had brought him here, and the monkey placed another fruit at his feet. Feeling the weight of all their expectant gazes, Sumit grabbed one of the fruits, hesitantly took a bite, and—
His eyes widened. The taste was incredible. Sweetness flooded his mouth, and before he could stop himself, he let out a joyful shout. "Sweet!!"
The plant-monkeys exploded with excitement, their happy shrieks filling the air. Sumit couldn't help but laugh. Despite everything, this moment felt pure, uncomplicated. For the first time in a while, he felt... content.
Maybe the monkeys weren't so bad after all.
But just as he was thinking that, a small monkey approached him with a mischievous glint in its eyes. It held out a tiny berry. Sumit, feeling playful, took it and popped it into his mouth.
A second later, he gagged. "Bitter!" he shouted, his face scrunching up in disgust.
The young monkeys burst into laughter, jumping around with glee. Sumit shook his head, wiping his tongue. "I take it back," he muttered, grimacing. "Monkeys are bad."
The little monkey darted away, and with a grin, Sumit shot up, chasing after it. "Get back here, you little—!"
The older monkeys watched, smiles tugging at their lips, while the younger ones laughed and teased, enjoying the sight of Sumit running after their mischievous companion. The scene was light, almost surreal in its warmth—a sharp contrast to the dangers Sumit had faced earlier.
As Sumit sprinted after the young monkey, his laughter echoing in the field, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—a sense of belonging. Maybe, just maybe, this strange world wasn't so bad after all.