'This is fun, I can't deny that.'
Zaba couldn't resist the thought, unable to tear her eyes away from the sight of the uncle, whose body continued to tremble unnaturally. She wasn't the only one. Even the soldiers walking behind him were struggling to hold back their laughter—and even their breaths—as they watched him pace, his body stiff like a moving plank.
No one truly understood the uncle's feelings. He was trying his best to walk ahead of them, pretending to be composed, but beneath his sweat-covered face, he was hiding deep fear. His eyes never stopped scanning the path they were taking inside the tunnel.
A glowing orb floated around them, casting a faint light just enough to see where they were stepping. Every time they reached an intersection, the uncle would stop for no less than ten minutes before deciding on a direction.
Behind him, the soldiers were much more relaxed. Now and then, they cracked jokes as if they were on a casual stroll. What encouraged them was the uncle's silence. Even the poor soldier who used to get yelled at for simply breathing now found himself able to speak without receiving a death glare.
Of course, they knew why the uncle was so tense. But knowing something and experiencing it were two completely different things.
They were all from the new generation, having only heard stories about the terror hidden within the world's caves. Very few had entered them and come back alive. The uncle was one of those few, and what he had seen there had kept him awake for countless nights. So, he was not eager for another adventure inside the caves.
Whenever they reached an opening in the tunnel, the uncle took the opportunity to breathe in the fresh air, giving himself a few moments of rest before being forced to continue. But he didn't step out just to rest—he was waiting for a message.
And when he felt it approaching, his face lit up with a joy he hadn't shown in decades.
Quickly, he snatched a message from the owl. This was no ordinary message—it was a map of the tunnels, the Mountain-Heart.
Even though he had memorized the safe path, he preferred to double-check, even doubting his memory. Now, with the map in hand, he could feel a little more confident.
The whole time, Zaba watched with amused gray eyes. The uncle was aware of it, but he cared more about getting through this ordeal than about any old grudges.
Because of the battle between the Rat and the Demon, and the uncle's knowledge of what was happening, Zaba had tried several times to ask about the Demon's "domain", especially after learning that the Rat had defeated it. But all her questions went in one ear and out the other.
The uncle had no interest in discussing demons. They were dangerous beings, and the most dangerous thing about them was how little was known. However, one fact about them was clear: the domain.
Within their domain, demons spread fear, hatred, and every negative emotion imaginable. Those emotions turned into spirit energy, making their power nearly limitless.
The uncle's expression changed when he realized that the Rat had beaten a demon in a place filled with death and fear. That could only mean one thing—the Rat was no easy opponent.
Even the uncle, despite his experience, which had turned his hair gray, would never dare face a demon in its domain. It wasn't necessarily that he was weaker, but he knew arrogance could be deadly. Fighting someone with endless energy was never in anyone's favor.
And when he understood this, his fear only grew: What if the Rat escaped?
No one had ever infiltrated one of the Furious Mountains and come out alive. If that happened, then Vio would be the first in recorded history.
But the uncle didn't care about history. What mattered to him was that his name would be remembered as the one responsible at the time. The reputation and blessings he had gathered throughout his life would be on the line. And in this world, blessings were everything—if they disappeared, so would everything else.
He swallowed hard, trying to moisten his throat, which felt as dry as a desert. Determined, he prepared to re-enter the tunnel. But suddenly, he stopped and turned around.
Zaba frowned.
'We get it, you're scared. How long are we going to wait? I want to—'
Her thoughts froze when she saw his gaze fixed on something in the distance.
Black Owl - a symbol of an important message.
Everyone was stunned when the owl flew past the uncle and landed on Zaba's shoulder.
Only then did the uncle smile.
As Zaba read the message, her eyes gleamed. She looked at the uncle, who understood immediately, even before she spoke a word.
The message contained a direct order: Abandon everything and head to the mountain's peak.
The threat level of the Rat had changed after confirming its victory over the Demon.
It wasn't a matter of underestimating Zaba—it was the fear of losing a gray-eyed person. Caution was necessary.
Zaba sighed, then leapt onto the flying carpet without a word, heading back to the High Mountain.
She wanted to meet the Rat. She even considered going to Hamim's waiting spot to watch them fighting.
But now, with this direct order, she couldn't refuse.
The only thing that comforted her was knowing that if she received a message, then Hamim must have received one too.
She had sent him a message before, but he had ignored it. However, a message from the High Mountain? He wouldn't ignore that, even if he was in the middle of a fight with the Rat.
'Well, if he's caught, I'll see him in prison. And if he dies, I'll see his corpse.'
For some reason, ever since the chase began, she had felt would see the Rat alive.
She hadn't liked it back then, because it only meant one thing: Her husband would die.
But now she understood why she felt that way.
'Husband and I will meet at the High Mountain, and the Rat will be captured.'
Zaba vanished, a smile forming as her thoughts reassured her.
The uncle turned back toward the tunnel, but once again, he stopped.
Another message had arrived.
It contained news of Vio's actions from yesterday, though without much detail.
"That bastard!" the uncle yelled. "If I don't catch you, may everyone spit on my grave!"
He crushed the letter, then stepped into the tunnel on trembling legs, determined to finish this task at any cost.
On the other side, the same letter was in Hamim's hands.
After reading it, he let out a loud laugh.
"Hahaha! This Rat keeps making me more and more excited!" he said, his eyes glowing with clear determination.
He muttered something inaudible, and immediately, a sheet of paper and a quill dipped in ink appeared before him. Began writing rapidly while dozens of owls perched on the branches of a nearby tree, watching with unblinking eyes.
"You useless, worthless curses, bring me the Rat. Don't think I don't know which of you is slacking off, and don't assume I'll turn a blind eye this time. Move your damn tails and get him to me immediately, or you all know very well what I can do to you!"
When finished, he gripped it tightly, examining the words as if weighing them carefully. Suddenly, his face lit up as he remembered something important.
"The period!" he muttered, quickly adding a dot at the end of the sentence.
The moment he finished, the message split into dozens of identical copies and attached itself to the legs of the waiting owls, which then took off in every direction.
At the same time, a black owl was speeding through the snow-covered trees, heading straight for Hamim's location.
As its wings beat against the cold air, a shadowy figure shot up from the ground, trying to grab it. But this wasn't just any ordinary owl. Its wings suddenly stopped for the briefest moment, allowing it to twist in midair. Then, with a powerful flap, it changed direction, narrowly avoiding the grasping hand.
But the shadow wasn't about to lose so easily. It adjusted mid-motion, using the momentum of its pivoting heel to strike at the owl just as it was trying to escape. The impact sent the owl flying high into the air.
The shadow landed gracefully, extending its hand with confidence, just in time for the lifeless black owl to fall right into its palm.
[Point obtained.]
Vio snatched the message from its leg and quickly transformed it.
[Evaluation completed: 91%.]
In an instant, a new mark appeared on his map, joining several others that had recently surfaced—clearly, they hadn't been there before. These new marks were the result of Vio hunting down multiple owls over the past few hours.
"Why is this one black? Does it have some special meaning?" Vio muttered to himself.
But he simply shrugged, not giving it much thought. A wide grin stretched across his face, nearly splitting it in half.
How could it not? A brilliant plan was already taking shape in his mind!