The air was tense, as everyone kept looking around left, right, and center in fear.

They stood rooted on the spot while trying to toughen themselves up in preparation for what was to come.

The group had already lost several people because of Mother nature's test.

But previously, people died from plants, insects and even mud.

And this time, hearing the fierce sound echo out made them remember that there were in the deep forest region where deadly creatures here liked to move in pacts.

They quickly gathered their spirits ready and put their fears behind them.

Hey!

If they could kill vicious sea creatures, then why couldn't they kill whatever was out there?

Plus, many of them typically went out in groups to hunt while on the island, so their fears went down a bit.

Of course, these men have forgotten that what they typically hunted were wild boars and other creatures that didn't move in pacts as big as these.

One should know that the island was somewhat close to Terique's shores, as well as Arcadina's shores.

So they had specific merchants who deliver them several months' worth of supplies like wheat, rum and other foods regularly.

That said, they only got their meat from the none-dangerous or semi-dangerous regions of the forest.

.

Over the years and decades, many groups that went hunting hardly met many setbacks because they stayed within the safest regions.

They were very well aware of the dangers deep within the forest and dared not step this far unless it was an emergency.

It was because of the danger level here that the crew had sent an entire group of 10,000 people to create and establish several hideouts in the forest securely.

Of course, they also stored their treasures there as well.

So that if anyone ever dared to sneak into the forest to steal them, then they could only wait for death.

With plants and animals that were both blood-sucking and deadly, who would dare?

They only went onto the forest every three months to check their treasures, as well as to continue familiarizing themselves with the way.

Again, at least 800 people were sent at once to one hideout location for safety.

Their numbers were so big that no creature dared to attack them openly and could only let them pass.

But now, their situation was different.

Their group of about 100 people had dwindled due to mother nature.

And now, there were only about 60 of them.

Either way they looked at it, the situation wasn't favourable to them.

But everyone still felt like provided it wasn't the intruders but a mere animal; then they could do it.

They stood courageously while vigilantly observing their surroundings.

And soon, the creatures revealed themselves.

.

'Roar!'

Everyone looked at the beasts in shock.

Gentors!

They were an aggressive breed that sent fear down several people within the Pyno continent.

They looked like a very hairy leopard with a flower ring around their necks.

That's right!

They had large flower-like petals around their necks that could close and open just like a regular plant could.

One could say that their appearance was somewhat cute, but make no mistake, those flower-like petals on the ring of their necks had a tiny tube running through them that squirted out a very toxic fluid at a high velocity rate.

The fluid released could make the enemy numb for a maximum of 5 minutes.

Sure, the times sounded short when compared to other numbing creatures.

But they had sharp razor-like claws and teeth and would enable them to kill their prey in a heartbeat.

So 5 minutes was more than enough for them.

Again, the creature was twice the size of a regular leopard and also had a single massive tail that broke into two tails towards its end.

If anyone from earth saw it face to face, they would undoubtedly forget its cute fur and feel frightened.

Goodness!

It was about 2 meters tall when standing on 2 feet and 4 meters long.

Its sheer size alone was enough to intimidate anyone.

The pirates looked at the beasts that were almost as tall as they were and took big gulps.

These huge greenish Gentors were not to be looked down on.

.

'Grrrrrrrrrrr!'

Over 50 fierce Gentors slowly stepped out of the dark, revealing their deep yellowish eyes for all to see.

Without a doubt, these creatures were smart.

They figured out the confusion going on in this part of the island and decided to hunt merrily.

In fact, many creatures did the same as well.

Rarely do these humans come this deep into the forest in tiny groups.

So why not stock up on food?

Some humans ran all alone by themselves and had been swallowed and ripped apart by other hungry creatures.

Tonight, the animals, as well as the pirates were going crazy.

Of course, if they weren't the Baymardians who had heat vision goggles and tranquillizers to shoot animals far away, then it would be tough for them to be fully guarded all through the night.

They could only see when they walked through the path that the moonlight created.

But what was lurking within the shadows around the places where the light didn't pass through was what they needed to be afraid of.

.

The pirates tightened their grip on the blades and deeply imprinted this point in their minds.

Of course, the Gentors were also looking at their prey intensely as well.

Marlo and Ratcliffe stared at the creatures that had jumped from their left side.

Heh... It seemed that they had been chosen by them as prey.

Marlo chuckled playfully.

"Come here, big guy."

The Gentor looked at his calm demeanour and felt that he was looking down on it.

Every ferocious creature likes others to at least tremble or fear it to some degree.

In this way, they could be seen as the kings of their territories.

But what did this human mean by its actions?

The Gentor was furious!

Roar!!!!!!

It leaped forward in just two steps, opened its mouth and reached for Marlo's neck.

Marlo immediately lifted his right leg and made a sweeping motion in the air, kicking the heard right in the face.

Pah!

"Oooooooo~~"

The beast whimpered and wailed while using his paws to caress its cheeks before lifting its head to look at Marlo in disbelief.

It had many doubts in its head.

Are you really human?

Are you sure that you're not another beast that just looked human?

Blood trickled from its mouth and slowly slid down its body.

The beast looked around and stood up in embarrassment as it didn't want its fellow Gentors to witness such a thing.

Hey.

What was he going to tell them?

That he was knocked down in one swoop easily by a human's kick?

They would just look at him in disdain.

And within their pact, the females will undoubtedly not choose him as a partner.

He got up instantly and acted as if he wasn't the one who was smacked a few seconds ago.

It looked at Marlo's sarcastic smile and felt angry all over again. 

'Roar!!!'

This time, it squirted its fluid at a high velocity from its petals.

But Marlo used another person as a shield and later thought it a lesson again and again and again.

The poor guy was beaten so much that it doubted its life.

But of course, not every creature was in a bad spot as it was.

And not everyone was as fortunate as Marlo.

.

"Ahhhhh!"

"Get away you bastard!"

"No! No! I don't want to be your food."

"Brothers, help me!

Help me and I'll give you all my treasures."

"Ahhhhhhh!!!

Many pirates at the back tried to resist.

Some succeeded, while others were hacked to death.

But what did it have to do with Marlo and Ratcliffe?

The duo stealthily evaded everything around them and hard the pirates as shields for their escape.

With that, they left the drama and used another path to head towards their hideout.

They ran vigilantly for a bit more while blending in with another crowd.

And soon, they heard a voice that they didn't want to hear.

Marlo looked ahead and sighed.

Honestly, why was their luck so bad?