THE CAVE:
—W-Wake up, three d-days have already passed…
Vegetta and Ángel wake up in the middle of the cave. Both are tied up next to the one they fought some time ago.
—M-My head, what happened? —Ángel asked, looking at Vegetta—, could it be that he…?
—No. He surely didn't do anything. It was just an illusion caused by some fool who's beneath us.
—You're not referring to me, right? —After a brief pause accompanied by an angry glare from both wolves—. Hey, how would I tie you up and at the same time tie myself up too?
Without thinking for a second, Vegetta headbutted the illusionist.
—Ah! So you tied a rock next to us. Show yourself at once!
—Vegetta… I think it's the real one.
—Come on, Ángel. Don't tell me you still believe in his cheap fair tricks.
Seeing he couldn't convince Vegetta, Ángel raised his left foot as much as he could «Do you see?». Vegetta noticed faint traces of red, as if some blood had dried there. Before Vegetta could say anything, Ángel continued «Do you remember that, when you rescued me, we approached the illusionist to attack him, right? Well, when we got closer, we saw the illusionist completely badly injured, and I went up to ask him what had happened». Vegetta began to recall the event, though what had happened was somewhat blurry. Ángel continued: «When I got closer, I stepped on some liquid. To be honest, I didn't know what it was; but when we fell unconscious, I saw it. A lot of blood that wasn't an illusion. I imagine you didn't see it because the floor was part of an illusion too».
—So, if what you're saying is true, that means that…
—Exactly! Your friend betrayed us and locked us in here.
—Don't worry, Illusionist —Vegetta said confidently—, you said we've been here three days. The pack of night wolves has probably noticed our absence and will send someone to look for us soon.
Ángel immediately looked worried.
—What's wrong, Ángel?
—Well, Vegetta; something Cries and I didn't tell you is that in night wolves missions, it's very common for many of us not to return home for up to a month after leaving on a mission.
—What?! But that can't be. Imagine some of them die on the mission. What would happen to the bodies?
—Well, answering your question: the night wolves' suits are linked to a special area of the base. In short, they can access your vitals and know whether you're still alive or not. That's why he surely didn't kill us. At the base they believe we're still fighting and just weakened.
Vegetta remained thoughtful for a moment.
—But they can tell we're very weak. Can't they send reinforcements yet?
—I'm afraid not. Actually…
—Stop beating around the bush, Ángelo. Just tell him how long it took you to steal from me (not defeat me) the first time you came to this cave.
Vegetta looked at Ángel. He knew they had gone on the mission with an unconscious Vegetta, but he had never realized how long it had taken.
—A couple of weeks…
—What? What do you mean it took you a couple of weeks to defeat him—uh, I mean, steal from him?
—The truth is those two little brats weren't a problem for me. I don't like hurting those who come to defeat me. I prefer to have fun with them. I had them completely under control —The illusionist shifted to a more serious tone—. But they caught me off guard and I lost the thing that gave me what little freedom I had left…
—…
—Alright, Vegetta. I admit that if it weren't for you, we'd still be in that cave with the steel guardian attacking us or, in the worst case… Split in half.
—The guardian…
—No, Ángel, that doesn't matter right now…
—Then what does—
—How is it possible that I was unconscious for two whole weeks?! Ángel, did you put me in a coma or what?!
—S-S-Sorry, Vege. The truth is that… uh!
—Ah! So that's what you meant when you said to leave the corpse, that it probably rotted… Now I understand everything, haha.
—You left me to die!
—Hey, that's not helping. Look, Vege, I thought you were dead, but when we stole the gem and I checked your pulse, I saw you were still alive. So we took you back to the base. Now look on the bright side—you managed to wake up!
—You idiot—
Before Vegetta could finish the sentence, the roar of a bear was heard near the area. Could it be the bear from the beginning returning?
—So he's finally here…
—Hey! Who's here? —Ángel asked.
—Well, sometimes a bear comes to keep me company. Let's say he's like my friend. He even helps me with the people who try to defeat me and take my gem. Though it's strange that during the two weeks you were here he didn't come and finish you off. He must've had some inconvenience.
—Vege…
—Yes, Ángel… Now I regret everything.
—?
—It turns out that, Vege…
—Look, Ángel, things have to be said. Illusionist, I beat up your sneaky bear outside your cave. He probably ran away after that.
—You did what to my bear?
The bear sniffed around the area until reaching beneath them. He looked confused seeing the Illusionist tied up above him. Then he moved around the cave, searching for a place to jump from and free him with a swipe. At one point, he managed to see him. The one who had made him taste the ground—the taste of defeat.
—Vegetta! He's angry now.
—No need to say it. Illusionist, help us.
—Oh no! You brought this on yourself.
—Hey, Illusionist. Do you realize that if that bear jumps and swipes at the bear-slayer here, he'll break the stalactite, and if we don't die from the fall, it'll be from the stalactite?
—… That actually makes a lot of sense. Bear, wait!
The bear heard nothing but his instinct. He saw that person in front of him. He found a good place to jump. And… and…
—Now! —Vegetta said as he shifted slightly.
That movement not only made him dodge the swipe, but also snapped the rope. Now they were falling.
—Bear, catch us! —the Illusionist shouted.
The bear saw his friend in danger. Now he listened. Setting aside his instinct, he leapt to catch them all—including the one who had defeated him.
—Saved!
—Thanks, bear —Vegetta said, approaching him— sorry for everything I did.
—Take this, Vegetta. He loves them —the Illusionist said, handing Vegetta a fish.
The bear tried to swipe, but stopped when he heard the Illusionist telling him to stop, and saw Vegetta offering him a fish.
—Guys, we have to stop Cries. I need us to split up to cover everything I want us to do.
The Illusionist told Vegetta something important.
After some time of reflection, Ángel and the bear would head to the night wolves' base. And he—only he—would meet with Cries at the location of the third gemstone, a place where he would have to play his cards very well if he wanted to leave with the gem and capture Cries to get answers.