After their run-in with the emperor crocodile and the chaos of the dungeon, Itekan and Itoyea decided it was time to head back. But after wandering for what felt like hours, a chilling realization set in—they were lost.
The forest had changed.
Paths they'd walked just hours ago were gone. Trees that had been markers were twisted into new shapes or simply replaced. Itoyea found a stone boulder he'd marked earlier... but not where it was supposed to be. Worse, it was the third time they'd passed it.
"I think we're lost," Itoyea finally admitted, frowning as they stood in front of the boulder again.
A silence hung in the air. Neither of them wanted to speak the next thought aloud: no one knew they were here.
That was when they heard it—voices.
Human.
Both of them reacted instantly. Itekan slipped into his shadow form and vanished from sight, while Itoyea leapt into the trees, hiding in the dense leaves with practiced ease. Only Togira remained in the clearing, looking left and right in confusion.
"Brughghh?" he whined, spinning around in circles. He had no idea where his companions had gone.
The voices drew closer.
"Hey little guy, you lost?" a calm, princely voice said as a tall, golden-haired boy stepped into the clearing. A long sword with a gold-plated hilt was strapped to his back, next to an empty sheath. The weapon in his hand—a wide, black machete—gleamed in the dappled light.
Togira stared at him, unimpressed, then turned away to keep looking for his friends.
"Yo, Bukanami! What's that?" a girl's voice called as another figure entered the clearing. She wore a crop top and tight shorts, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Twin chained scythes hung at her hips. She chewed gum loudly, blowing a pink bubble that popped as she stared.
"A 12-horned beak cub?" said a third voice, a boy trailing behind them. "Those things are crazy rare."
"Yeah," Bukanami replied, cautiously stepping closer. "Looks like it's lost—"
He reached out. Mistake.
Togira snapped at him, razor teeth clamping down on empty air as Bukanami barely yanked his hand back in time.
"Jeez," the girl muttered. "Why do they call them horned beaks if they don't even have beaks?"
Tired of the ogling, she began to approach Togira, her fingers brushing the hilt of her chained scythes. Then—everything changed.
A sudden, suffocating wave of bloodlust flooded the clearing. The girl froze mid-step, heart skipping as two figures appeared at her sides like wraiths. Blades and daggers hovered dangerously close to her neck.
Itekan and Itoyea.
The clearing snapped into motion.
Bukanami, already sensing the bloodlust, had drawn his machete and was pointing it directly at Itekan. Tobi, slower but still sharp, grabbed for the massive mace strapped to his back. The air buzzed with tension.
For a moment, no one moved. Five warriors stood still, each assessing the others.
Bukanami's gaze locked onto Itekan. He couldn't help but be impressed—these strangers had not only snuck up on Konacho but on all of them. That took skill. Especially when Konacho, while the least experienced in their group, was already at the peak of the Second Stage. And these two… they were barely at the Intermediate level of that same stage.
Who the hell are they?
Itekan, meanwhile, was just as curious. That blonde one—his reaction time had been unreal. But more than that, Itekan could feel something off about him. His SE… was strange.
"What the fuck is wrong with you two?" Konacho spat, her nerves frayed as blades hovered inches from her skin.
Togira finally turned, blinking at the standoff.
"Ehere-gsve-iou-beein-o-wis-loosing-four-iou!!" he fumed, everyone's attention flicking to the grumpy cub.
"You okay, Togira?" Itekan asked, not lowering his blade.
The cub grumbled something inaudible but nodded.
"Wait… he's yours?" Bukanami asked, keeping his blade up but glancing sideways at Itekan.
"Yes."
The pieces clicked into place.
They thought Togira was being attacked. Or kidnapped. That explained the ambush.
Bukanami exhaled slowly and lowered his weapon.
"Let her go," he said calmly.
Itekan and Itoyea exchanged a glance. After a second's hesitation, they stepped back and lowered their weapons. Konacho, fuming, backed away. Tobi relaxed too, setting his mace back down.
And then—
Slap!
Itekan stumbled as a sharp sting blossomed across his cheek.
Slap!
Itoyea got it too, and didn't even try to dodge. The second one rang even louder than the first.
"Ow!" Itekan cried, rubbing his face.
"You bastards!" Konacho screamed, hands on hips. The fury in her eyes was maternal, absurdly out of place considering she'd nearly been executed moments ago.
It was like getting scolded by a very angry sister.
Or worse… a mom.
Togira just watched, tail twitching. He still didn't understand what the fuss was about.
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Spiritual Energy (SE)
Spiritual Sea (SS)
Spiritual Signature (SST)
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