"Do you honestly think that we stand a chance?"
I asked casually, giving her a dubious look.
"Yeah, I do. Besides, isn't this a good thing? Since we will be together for a long time now as allies, we need to start building chemistry as battle partners."
I thought over her words for a moment and nodded. It made sense. We are likely gonna be battle partners and allies for a long time, ateast until the very end of The Mulligan— if we make it— so learning to fight side by side without always having to communicate through words could go wonders for future battles together.
"Alright, then."
Then, we both went silent. We continued walking the path which I originally jogged the one kilometer. As expected, there weren't many Unbound Creatures around here. Well, I already knew this, but it was strange. Could it be due to some strange influence the tiger has over the area? It it some sort of Lake Guardian? How amusing....
As we continued walking, Isabella abruptly halted. I almost stumbled and fell on her by the suddeness of it.
"....What's wrong?"
Isabella didn't respond, she simply turned her head left and stared at something with a wary expression.
'Don't tell me it's another bear! Don't tell me it's another bear!'
Eventually, she shook her head and faced forward once again.
"It's....nothing. I just had a weird feeling just now."
Isabella then continued walking, like nothing happend.
'A weird feeling, huh? That can't be good....'
I spared a brief glance towards when she looked. I didn't see anything and since it was already turning dark, I didn't bother asking what this weird feeling was. We had more pressing matters at hand to deal with. So, I didn't say anything about it and simply followed close behind her.
Isabella still had a frown on her face, deep in thought, seemingly contemplating that "weird feeling" she had earlier. However, she as well, seemed more focused on the task ahead of us. We have a tiger to kill and a lake to conquer. There is no time for worrying about anything else.
We continued walking and walking along the path. The sky grew darker, hinting that the sun has begun to dip into the horizon, never to be seen for the next 12 hours. An occasional red parrot flew by. Our legs began to grow tired, our breathing grew heavier and eventually, unable to hold on any longer, Isabella fell down on her knees. But I quickly grabbed her shoulder, to stop her from collapsing face first to the ground.
"Did....Did you really run for this long?"
I shook my head, a frown forming on my face.
"No, im pretty sure that this path isn't this long. It took me about 10 minutes to run the kilometer, as well to come back. But now.....it's been hours. Definitely."
I placed a hand on my chin, looking around my surroundings warily, a hint of fear creeping into my heart.
"Did we take the wrong route? We did leave when it was turning dark. We might have ended up walking the wrong way...."
Isabella shook her head, standing back up on wobbly legs.
"No, im certain we are going the right direction. I can tell by the movement of the wind. It's been the same ever since we started walking down this path, if we took another route, I would of been able to pick up on subtle changes in the air around us."
She sighed.
"Something is.....definitely wrong."
I stared at her in surprise, but it was short-lived. The unease and fear in my core has started to build up. I haven't felt this way since the first time I was kicked out by my parents. Something definitely wasn't adding up. Could this be some sort of blessing ability by the tiger? Or....or some strange abomination that ate the tiger while we were away? No, I shouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly.
"What do we do? Do we continue walking forward hoping something might change?"
Isabella stared at me for a moment and then her eyes widened in enlightenment.
"Give me a stick."
I raised an eyebrow.
"A stick?"
She bobbed her head.
"Yes. A stick. Give me one."
I was confused, but I didn't say anything and just handed her my spear. Maybe she had an idea.
"I don't have a stick, but will this work? Don't break it, though!"
Isabella didn't respond. Instead, she used the sharp point of the spear to write down the a singular line on the dirt below her. I didn't know what she was doing and what purpose this line serves, but I didnt ask. Maybe she had a plan. After all, I have decided to trust her. For now.
"Follow me."
Isabella turned around and briskly began walking forward. I nodded and quickened my steps, catching up with her soon enough.
Once again, we were venturing down the path....
________________________________________
We continued to walk and walk without stopping. We were already exhausted enough and Isabella was suffering even more due to her curse. She needed water, but she hasn't opended her mouth once to complain. So, I didn't either. Around 7 minutes later, Isabella suddenly stopped again and glanced down at the ground, a smile forming on her face.
A crooked, nervous smile.
"We....are in serious trouble."
I stared at her in confusion, prompting her to explain.
"Look."
She pointed to the ground, my gaze following her delicate finger. I didn't really understand. All there was once just a....line. A singular line on the ground. What about it? Just as that thought entered my mind....
"W–we are in a loop!!"
I exclaimed, coming to that realization! How could I have not realized sooner? I really don't have that much of an imaginative mind compared to Isabella.
Isabella nodded her head.
"Seems like it. Someone's or somethings Blessing has trapped us in an endless path inside the jungle. What a powerful ability...."
I didn't have time to be in awe of the ability. I started assuming all sorts of things. Could this be the ability of the tiger? Or something far more dangerous that killed the tiger, or is for some reason, guarding it? Or maybe the tiger had allied itself with another dangerous animals? This practically the perfect hunting ground for that tiger....
"What do we do? What do we do....?"
I turned my head towards Isabella, hoping she might have an answer. The nonchalant girl just shrugged like she always did and smiled.
"We have to try everything first, of course. Who says we need to only take this path? We could go left, right and back. That might break the loop. If it doesn't, we have to simply kill the one who created this loop. That will break it, for sure."
I blinked, surprised.
'What a simple set of solutions.....was I worrying for nothing?'
"But what if all of them don't work?"
Isabella sighed and shook her head.
"Stop being so pessimistic, will you? Be optimistic. We will get through this."
I took a deep breath and tried calming myself. That's right, that's right. No need to be so pessimistic. I will get through this. No, we will get through this. The Mulligan won't always be sunshine and rainbows. We were bound to encouter dangers like this sooner or later. If we survive this, it can serve as valuable experience for me to not get arrogant or careless in the future.
"Alright. Let's walk back where we came from first. It shouldn't be far if the loop starts here, right?"
Isabella nodded.
"Yeah, it shouldn't. Let's go see."
I start following Isabella again. Even if she may try to act nonchalant outside, I can tell she was deep down very nervous by her tense muscles. She is probably putting on that act to calm me. How nice of her. It's almost endearing....
A red parrot flew by, the sun has already set, turning the sky dark— wait, the sun has set?
"It doesn't seem like the outside world is affected by the loop at all."
Isabella nodded, a small frown forming on her beautiful face.
"That's a problem. The longer we take, the more likely the chances of other humans getting to the lake before us. That will make things extremely difficult for us."
'Ah right.....other humans.'
I have forgotten. I have been so used to dealing with Unboud Creatures, I forgot other humans existed in The Mulligan too. They are far more deadly compared to some creatures. Mostly due to their keen intellect, skill, experience and cowardly self-preservation. These are the things that differentiate a human from a mere beast. If we take too long here and some human, or humans end up conquering the lake before us, things will turn out horrible for us.
We need to find an exit to this loop quickly.
________________________________________
We are back where we started. I was leaning against a tree, sitting on the grass. Isabella was beside me, breathless. We have tried going back, but nothing changed. We tried going right, but nothing changed. We tried going left, but nothing changed. It all lead us back here. I was starting to lose hope, despair crawling it's way into my heart.
Isabella breaks the silence, her voice breathless and slightly hoarse.
"We have to find the source and eliminate now. There is no other option."
I look at Isabella. She was right. We need to find the source and kill them, but is that even possible at our current state? She was on the brink of collapsing and I'm not any better. Maybe it was a bad idea trying to attack the tiger, after all....
I glanced down at my lap, not saying anything.
"Don't tell me you are ready to give up."
Her voice sounded stern this time, a bit disappointed and angered.
"We are not giving up. I will....I will find a way out of this no matter what and you are gonna help me!"
I didn't look at her. I didn't even bother listening to a word she said.
"Answer me! Say yes! You have to!"
Her voice was growing desperate. For some reason, she really doesn't seem to want to die here.
"Whats the point?"
I finally answered, letting out a defeated sigh. Isabella seemed stunned, but then her voice grew soft.
"Hey, I lied to you about how I really died."
I raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was bringing this up. I didn't respond, prompting her to continue.
"My father was....obsessed with the idea of creating a perfect Unboud Human. My elder brother before me was subjected to it and he died in The Mulligan. I was afraid. I didn't want to participate in The Mulligan after what happend to my brother, but my father...."
Her tone grew resentful.
"He....he wasn't happy about it. He didn't like my defiance and planned on forcing me. My mother tried to stop him, but it didn't matter. I was strapped to a chair and then....bam. a gun-shot to the head and here I am. That's why I don't want to die here. I won't die....until I kill my father with my own two hands."
I was surprised. For once, I was actually seeing the real Isabella. The one that doesn't hide behind a facade. And the desperation, the resentment, the hatred she harbored....it was almost terrifying. It put my own ambitions to shame.
"So, I can't die here. I won't die here. And you are gonna help me."
Isabella stared up at me firmly. I wanted to refuse and be stubborn, but after seeing the fire inside her eyes— it ignited one inside me too. A desperate desire to survive.
Humanity's greatest weapon is adaptability, after all.
"Like hell im gonna die here! I have to go back to the real world and become rich! Bring it out loop master!"
I exclaimed, suddenly standing up, pumping my fist. Isabella giggled in amusement, but se also stood up and stared ahead.
"Yeah....bring it on."
We both laughed, a spark of determination now burning within us. But then....I felt a little strange.
'Huh....? My arm...'
My head grew light-headed. I glanced at Isabella, her eyes were widened in shock and her mouth opended— a horrified scream escaped from her lips.
"Morgan! Get away!"
Instinctively, she had already jumped forward and pushed me away using her body, I still couldn't understand what was happening.
'Whats going on...?'
I lay on the ground, Isabella laying ontop of me. I stare up and finally see what has got Isabella so horrified. I couldn't see it clearly, but there was something towering over us. Two clear white eyes in the darkness, it's body was cat-like in wraith fashion. It was....
The tiger.
He has arrived to complete the hunt.
Before I could even process the thought, a sharp pain suddenly went through my right arm, looking down at it, I realized it was severed. A grotesque stump of an arm left, oozing out blood.
'Am I gonna die here...?'
Isabella had already risen, holding onto my loyal Retainer, prepared to fight for her life. I wanted to scream at her to run away, but I couldn't. Instead, I felt my body grow exhausted and my eyelids become heavy....
'I'll just take a little nap...'
The sounds of fighting filled the air.