Everything remained silent for a while after the soldier left.
The wrapped vines on the cave were still present as if nothing had happened, but inside the cave, the air was filled with questions, heavy tension and strange mysteries.
Gaja was feeling restless, he still carried the blade in his hands. Rin was lost in her own thoughts.
Sambha sat while clinging to Limbo's side, he was carrying many secrets that hadn't been revealed yet.
Limbo was sitting in lotus position, meditating on thoughts and placing all the clues together, trying his best to connect all the pieces.
Even he was controlled if he was thinking of hundreds of outcomes at once. Just like a 1000-yrs-old monk.
Rin breaks the ice first.
"So... soldiers," she whispered.
"Armored, and on top of that... searching for him."
Her eyes landed on Sambha.
Gaja coughed. "Kuwar, who's that?"
"Or rather, what's that?"
Limbo didn't respond immediately. He was looking at the inventory, where the glowing tear-shaped crystal was stored.
The system flickered in front of his eyes.
[Tear Crystal.]
Resonance 67%.
Linked to the sambha and the dimensional gate stabilizer.
Limbo exhaled a long breath slowly.
Before he explains anything, Sambha...
"...brother?"
I felt a familiar presence.
Rustle...rustle.... CRACK...
Rin's head got up, Gaja tightened his grip. Everyone put their guard up.
Did they come back?
But it's soon...
Yeah, too soon...
Limbo remained calm. Rin tightened her vines around the cave.
All they could do was wait.
They survived the earlier, will they survive this time also?
The marching footsteps stopped right outside the cave.
A harsh voice boomed.
This is the place where we end up while tracing the scent. "The scent ends here.
Tear the vines."
Limbo's prepared for anything.
Sambha froze...
He hides behind them...
Rin said softly.
What do to this time, should we fight or flee?
Or remained silent like before.
Limbo didn't answer he wasn't sure what to do. He was ready to face anything.
Soldier 1 charged, and a soldier started to slash the vines.
SLASH SLASH!!!
The sunlight slowly burst into the cave as vines were being torn apart.
There were two soldiers outside in dark armour, gauntlets like a claw, their features were like a human, yet they were too wild.
Suddenly, a random memories flashed through Limbo's head.... For a moment, he remembered when he visited the zoo... And seen the King of the Jungle.
It was a similar feeling, but this time it was much more intense and dominating.
It wasn't the presence like the corrupted beasts they encountered, but it's also true that, they weren't any ordinary humans.
One pointed a finger at them.
"There!.. theirs the kidnappers!"
"What!...." Rin snapped. "We saved him!"
Gaja stepped forward, sword raised. You abandoned a child in the Forest! — On his own. And now you claim that we abduct him.
Gaja's temperature rises, the heat wave starts coming from him...
The soldier growled.
Give back... Our kuwar!
Kuwar, don't worry we came to take you back, we'll free you from these puny beasts... Come here, let's go back.
Sambha shook his head in refusal.
The other standing soldier burst out in anger.
"You.... You dare to brainwash the kuwar, that he didn't recognise..."
What kind of strange sorcery did you use on such a small child?
This is not acceptable, you have to pay with your life for brainwashing the child.
All of you will pay for what you have done....
Everyone froze.
The soldier suddenly started to emit a strange vibe... The mana around him was dense.
Limbo blinked, silently noticing every change.
Rin's jaw dropped.
Gaja's sword almost slipped.
"What the hell!!!" All three of them are in sync.
Sambha alerted everyone...
Big bro's, sister, be careful. This is dangerous...
The soldier clenched his fist...
"Return him, now..." He demanded the Sambha back.
Limbo stepped forward, eyes steady.
Huh...things have taken a tuned I didn't want.
If he goes by his own will...fine.
But I still wish to settle all this in peace.
That would be great.
But I can't compromise anyone safety on the line.
Silence, don't act like a saviour, you kidnappers.
The soldier unsheathed his sword.
"Hey, don't do this, chief didn't give us orders to engage." Another soldier warned while shouting.
"But I can't see the kuwar with these disgusting creatures..."
And swoosh....
The soldier jumped...
A hand pulled Limbo back and rushed forward.
Clash....
The steel met the steel...
Whooosh —!!
The Gaja intercepted the beats by himself. He was furious... Burning with intense anger.
Gaja intercepted with an attack of soldier, Rin also unleashed her vines like whips.
Limbo raised his spears—light surged in a dramatic entry.
Lightning cracked.
Boom!... He was here.
The soldier was clashing with Gaja and Rin, the other one was on stand-by.
Observing every tiny detail, Limbo was ready to support them from behind, but he wanted to know more.
The surroundings were intensified by the clash.
Limbo didn't want to spill anyone's blood.
The soldier's eyes widened.
Gaja was keeping up with the soldier's every attack.
You fare to act cocky in front of the mighty warrior race...
"So what, you're doomed if you call yourself a warrior with this strength."
Gaja replied with a laugh.
I won't hand over someone who asked for help...
You will be doomed, when the reinforcement arrives, we'll see how cocky u act then...
Gaja nodded... Did Mighty Warrior rely on others for help?
The match came near to its deciding phase... Gaja had the upper hand...
Sambha's tear Crystal glowed bright.
A pulse in the space with the shivering hot air.
[ Crystal resonance 92% ]
[ Gate synchronisation detected ]
Limbo touched the crystal...
Krkkkk....sssshhhhh....!!
Reality tore open.
A rift formed mid-air like cracked glass. Inside the gate from the other side, something strange was going on...
Its vibration was coming straight through the gate....
Sambha's instinct flared sharply...
He got a strange feeling of danger, but it wasn't about them... But something beyond.
Meanwhile, Gaja had defeated the soldier.
The soldier froze.
The gate—! It was responding to Limbo's and Sambha...
They could feel something burning, a sensation.
"Impossible!!!"
How could it happen?
Limbo stared in the direction of the gate— his heart was pounding.
So this is the location of the gate.
Sambha's home has to be beyond that
Sambha reached for Limbo's hand.
.
"...Home..."
His voice shook, but not in fear, but rather in worry.
Limbo stepped forward towards the lying soldier.
Go back! He's not in danger, but I don't trust you guys, so... I will personally come to that place and decide after I'm 100% sure if it's a safe place for Sambha.
If you try to harm him, I will make you regret why did you chase after him.
Rin grabbed Sambha's hands.
Hey, you... Take him back.
I don't want unnecessary blood to be spilled, even if it's yours.
But remember, Sambha's not a thing that you can decide by force. He has he's will and right to do what he desires.
After that, Limbo started to move from there with everyone.
Step them!...
He's taking him!! The lying soldier said in a broken voice.
It's too late.
And we can't force kuwar.
He doesn't hold that right, nor the kuwar is acting like he's under any pressure, but rather it seems he willingly stays with them.
Light vanished.
The soldier returns with the injured soldier.
Limbo's vision is cleared.
Did we really have to go to that place?
It might be dangerous, it's their territory.
Rin and Gaja asked.
Yeah, but if we didn't go then what?
How long should we keep living in this tension of being ambushed?
We also have to find the truth about Sambha's family.
Or what if this is all just a misunderstanding? He's just a kid.
What if he's parents were caring for him, just like you?
And he needs his family more than us.
I totally agree... Gaja nods.
So the next stop is the tribe of Sambha.
Stay tuned,
To know what will happen next...
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