[Alpha, Bravo. Do you copy? Move along the perimeter like shadows in the night. The target is 100 meters away, right by the door.]

"Bzzz-Bzzz"

​​

"Eh, yes? What's with the Alpha and Bravo?"

[This is a critical mission. Please keep the comms clear.]

"?!?"

[The target is currently swaying in the wind. I repeat, the target is currently swaying in the wind. 3.2.1. Move out!]

That is how we sneak all the way to the rack of clothes that are drying.

Then I hurry up and get dressed before we resume our journey. This is quite ironic how the evilest between the two of us is not the Gu User. He's just minding his own business while I stole clothes.

Right now, we are steadily progressing as I run, carrying him. The disadvantage of Gu Users is that they don't train their bodies much. Going from place to place quickly is difficult. Then again, they can be pretty sneaky since Gus can hide in clothes easily.

[How far until we reach the Gu Meadow?]

"Just a few days. Well, at least for overall territory. After that, we'll have to journey a bit more to reach the sect itself."

[I see. Anything I need to know before we reach the sect?]

"Rule of thumb: don't talk to anyone."

[What?! Why?]

"Let's just say Gu Users, in general, are not the friendliest. They often are selfish and will stop at nothing else to increase their power."

[What about yourself? What makes you different?]

"I'm not. It's just that instead of trying to get one strong Gu, I've been trying to slowly create an army. Well, I lost it in a fight recently anyway."

[An army?!]

"Well, yeah. But for that to happen, I need to either remove all consciousness from my Gus to have absolute control over them or train them perfectly so they can live with one another."

[Why?]

"Gus by nature devour each other in a bid for power. It's great and all, but I'd rather not only rely on one Gu."

[I see. With an army, you can totally develop battle formations! Actually, perhaps even do stuff like the group spells they were using back there.]

"Not really, Gus are not able to use magic. All they do is eat each other and evolve, becoming more and more poisonous. Well, mostly."

[Please! You just said they can evolve. That means that there is nothing that would prevent someone from teaching magic to a Gu.]

He looks pensive for a second. Then he smiles while sighing.

"Crazy how you have more faith in Gus than the trainers themselves. Well, perhaps it's simple optimism, or perhaps you're unto something. Only the future will tell, I'm guessing. But yes, I agree. I'd like to be able to create a Gu mage corps one day."

[It wasn't exactly with Gus, but I've managed to get an army of giant cockroaches to learn magic. Most only had the ability to devour mana, but then many began showing magical capabilities the more mana they devoured.]

"Giant cockroaches?"

[Yes, the official name is Abyss Devourer, I believe.]

"What happened to it?"

[A pretty normal story, really. I just lost them while coming back to the Earth realm.]

"Wait a goddamn minute! Coming back?! You left the Earth realm?!"

[Eh? Yes, like twice. Once to visit a land of death, and the second it was a land of cockroaches.]

"How is that a normal story?!"

[It is pretty normal really. Every time I just happened to be there when a portal was opening. It's not like there was an epic quest involved to discover a secret land or anything. I just walked in there.]

"….You do know you are very…peculiar, right?"

[Do you mean that as a compliment?]

"Of course!"

[Thanks, you too.]

He grimaces a bit. Guess he feels humble right now, especially after having lost his Gu army. Still, these things happen. It's fine to have moments of weakness. It's fine to have harsher times.

It's all about reaming strong when it happens. Thinking about the bright future and having friends help in these moments. Guess I can play a part right here and now.

[Don't worry. You'll be able to reform your army, and you'll become the best Gu trainer in the world.]

He seems unsure, but he still nods.

[Alright, now there is one thing I will teach you.]

"?"

[This is a song that will make your journey as a trainer 100% better. Are you ready?]

"I guess…"

[I wanna be the very best…]

From that point onward, we keep moving as we sing. This song reminds me of a wonderful past. It reminds me of a time when life was simple and beautiful. Somehow singing that with a friend makes me feel better.

So what if he doesn't know why we are singing? So what If I'm the only one that enjoys it initially? Well, as they say, joy is contagious. Before long, he's wholeheartedly singing along. Yep, Gu trainer singing.

Ah, I can't help but enjoy the moment, and …that's when my friend interrupts. He's looking horror-stricken behind my back.

"Oh, no! Oh god, no! We're screwed!"

[What is it?!]

I really hope he's about to laugh and say it was a joke all along. Right?!

"He's here! There is a crazy powerful monster behind!"

[Enemies? How many are there? Which of the four armies is it?]

"No, it's something way worse. It's someone that has a deep grudge against me. If he catches us, we are screwed!"

[Wait, if it's just one guy…can't we fight?]

"No way! That guy behind us is the sect master of the Sun Sect!"

[Ah! He thinks you killed Sun?! Can't we talk it out?]

"Afraid not. There is no talking with the sun sect. You either are their allies, or they crush you instantly. There is no in-between."

[What's the plan?]

"Oh crap! He's realized that it's me! Get ready to dodge!! Now!!"

I act on instinct. I sidestep while I keep running. That's when a flash of light passes nearby. It's so damn bright! As I look where it landed, my heart stops for a second. This is madness! The ground is crystallizing from the intense heat.

Whatever landed there reduced to nothingness all it touched.

[What the fuck is this?!]

"The power of a peak Rank 4. The power of the sun. The power to annihilate all that stand in its way. We gotta run and run fast."

Mission: survive. This is crazy! Holy shit! …