The Silver Continent, along with its counterpart the Gold Continent, were regarded as human continents all across the world. Over 70% of its inhabitants were humans, but what about the other 30%?

The location was between the Northern and Western Regions of the Silver Continent. There lays a large jungle which served as a border for both regions. Most people normally avoid this jungle because of the wild beasts and unknown monsters inside. This jungle felt like it belongs on the Beast Continent instead of this one. Standing on a cliff just outside the jungle were a group headed by Miko.

“So that’s one of the wild lands on the continent, Jara Jungle.”

Miko stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down on the forest.

“This is incredible. I can actually sense the beastly aura from here.”

He said.

“This is my first time out of the Dragna Empire, and I have to go to a jungle?”

Hina took out a pen and a paper.

“I might get some interesting ideas from this trip.”

“Now that I think about it, we have been slacking on our jobs lately. Then again, we don’t have a company behind us anymore.”

Said Sora.

“So? We now have an entire country behind us. I’m sure we’ll become international stars in no time. People will be saying our names all over the world. Isn’t that right, boss?!”

Ace showed Miko’s back a thumbs up.

“Yeah, I’ll have you guys resume your original jobs soon. I was planning on establishing a couple business in our country anyway.”

“Great! Then, I want to discuss an occupation change with you. I believe that now is the perfect time to change myself. Like our country’s motto goes, anyone can experience a rebirth. I want to be reborn as someone more popular than Sora!”

“Your goals are questionable, but do what you want.”

Miko replied without facing them. He ignored the dancing Ace in the background and turned to Jason.

“How many of your people are currently present in the jungle?”

“I’ll say around 10,000.”

“10,000….I guess that’s not a bad number to start.”

“I knew that NoFace wasn’t human, but what is he exactly?”

Hina asked Layla who was close by. The relationship between the two changed from enemies to something akin to relatives. This was because Layla was a close friend of Hina’s grandmother, and probably the only one she could talk to about the days with Nami and she would get it.

“Hmm….Let’s keep a surprise until later.”

Layla said with a playful tone.

“Miko, this place is pretty dangerous. I want to remind you that you’re only allowed to go there because I’m with you.”

Said Leon. Sasha and Kimiko asked him to accompany Miko and the others here in their place since they had important issues to sort out with the Dragna clan. Momo was brought as back up, even though she would’ve gone either way. By the way, Tia was still at Renacido. She was there to keep everything under control while everyone was gone.

“Yeah, we’ll be careful, father.”

Miko replied and looked at the jungle.

“Alright, time to enter this wild land.”

Miko and the others jumped off the cliff and landed at the jungle’s entrance. Two gigantic trees stood before them forming something like a gate. Leon walked in front everyone and stepped onto the path.

“………”

He looked around with sharp eagle-like eyes.

“You guys can enter now. I’ve sent a warning.”

“A warning?”

Hina asked.

“As long you don’t try anything funny, they’ll be left alive and unharmed.”

Leon started walking into the forest with Miko and others following by him.

“You know, Leon sometimes seems scarier than Sasha.”

Ace whispered, Sora nodded in agreement.

When they entered the jungle they saw countless trees everywhere they looked. They could also feel like they were being observed, but they couldn’t pinpoint where. The path that they were on was dim from the shadows cast by the trees, with a small amount of sunlight seeping through the clusters of leaves above them.

“This road is made of asphalt?”

Momo stooped down and touch the ground that was smooth and not the least bumpy as she had expected.

“Despite being a jungle, Jara can be considered an unofficial country that lays on the borders. There are many intelligent species here, as well as monsters. While it is only a few, I’m sure they are humans here as well.”

Leon said.

“There are humans, around 500 or so. But they are in the minority.”

Jason added.

“So we coming here will naturally draw attention, huh?”

“Well, father and I aren’t exactly human.”

When Miko said that the two swords on his waist changed into their human forms.

“Don’t forget us.”

Regis said before jumping on Miko’s shoulder and casually took a seat on it.

“Hm….so there was a place like this on the Silver Continent. It gives off the same vibe as the Beast Continent.”

Ishma looked around and said.

“Elves, goblins, dwarves, fairies…I sense countless beast races here.”

“Are there any Beastmen here?”

Miko asked.

“A lot. Although there aren’t any of the five Royal Races here.”

“Royal Races?”

Sora asked.

“It’s a name for the five strongest Beastman races. They are on another level from the other Beastmen.”

Momo answered.

“Vampires, Werewolves, Merfolk, Dragonmen, and Griffins. These are the Royal Races of the Beastmen. Vampires have their trademark blood powers, Werewolves have their immense strength, vitality, and ferocity which doubles under the moonlight, Merfolk rule the seas and all its creatures, Griffins are rulers of the skies and are like royalty among the Beastmen, and Dragonmen are like gods of the skies, land, and sea and by far the strongest of all the Beastmen.”

“Compared to these five, other Beastmen. Well, a few like the kitsune can rival them, but in the end, they’re inferior.”

Ishma added.

“I once fought a dragonman, it was hell.”

Leon said.

“Well, I’m a dragon myself so I guess that puts me at the top of the food chain.”

Miko suddenly burst out laughing.

“We’re close.”

Jason suddenly said. They walked for a bit and arrived at a bright area. They looked around and saw many exotic plants and animals running around. The air was fresh, and the sounds of nature resounded in the jungle.

“Are we still in the same place?”

“Technically, we’ve just arrived. What we came through was the gate. Normally you would’ve been greeted by the jungle’s protectors, but since I came here and talked to them earlier, they were already aware of our arrival.”

Jason replied. In front of everyone were several paths that led to different places. These paths were like tunnels made from vines and flowers. They looked beautiful when the sun shone on them and highlighted their green luster.

“My hometown is down this path.”

Jason pointed at the path that was third from the right.

“Be careful. These paths have many intersections that lead to different villages and towns in the jungle. Make a mistake and you’ll end up in the wrong place. If you’re lucky you can find your way back if you’re not….”

He smiled.

“You’ll become manure to fertilize this jungle.”

The group couldn’t help but gulp after hearing that.

“Anyway, let’s go!”

Mill spoke with an energetic voice as if he was going on a field trip and followed Jason. Leon and Ishma walked close behind him, and the others soon quickly follow him. They walked down the path and as Jason said, there were dozens of interactions that led to numerous different locations. It wouldn’t be odd if they got lost if they hadn’t stuck together. They followed behind Jason and soon walked out of the network of tunnels.

“Woah!”

Everyone widen their eyes and marveled at the scene in front of them. They saw a vast land open up in front of them like they were looking down on a valley. They could see a river circling around a town several beautifully crafted wooden bridges that led in and out the town. They saw some exotic birds flying in the sky and some weird animals running along. The buildings in the town were modern, but they had a vintage feel to them at the same time.

“Again, we’re inside a jungle right?”

Ace asked.

“This is different than I expected. I mean, I heard that inside the jungle was beyond one’s expectations, but this is on another level.”

Leon said.

“This jungle has many spells embedded in it so that each race here could live comfortably.”

Jason said.

“I sense a welcome party nearby. Let’s go meet them.”

He walked down the slope that they were standing on, and everyone quickly followed. Shortly after, they saw a group of people, all hooded waiting at the end of the slope. They approached these people and Jason greeted them with a bow.

“I’m back.”

“Are these the ones that you spoke of?”

Strangely, everyone in the hooded group spoke in unison.

“Yes. This is the man I’m currently working for. His name is Miko.”

The hooded group looked at Miko in silence. Miko also looked back at them. They were all wearing hooded cloaks which hid their physical appearance, but they were all different. Some were tall, short, fat, slim, male, female, old or young. It was an odd group no matter how you look at it.

“I’m Miko. I came here with a proposition for your people. Can I speak with your leader?”

“……..”

They didn’t immediately answer and looked him from head to toe.

“Our leader has accepted your request for an audience.”

They all turned around in unison and started walking away.

“Please follow me.”

“What a weird bunch.”

Ace said.

“The way they talk in unison….”

Momo looked at Jason who was following them. After a while, her complexion paled.

“It can’t be….”

As if knowing what she was thinking Miko glances at her and smiled.

‘If they’re really what I think they are, then we’re really in a dangerous place.’

She thought to herself.

They followed the hooded group down the slope and over a bridge and entered the town. The moment they entered everyone felt something odd. There were a lot of people who were energetic and lively while carrying out their daily lives, while there were others who seemed dead like zombies mindlessly carrying out tasks. All of these zombies like people had one thing in common, they acted in groups.

While the lively ones were sometimes seen alone, the lifeless ones were seen with at least another lifeless person. The strangest thing was that they all moved in unison no matter what they did. Whether it was eating, working, or even just breathing, they were in sync as if they were a part of a machine, like cogs in a clock.

“It’s like two sides of the same coin being shown at once.”

Miko mumbled.

“It’s pretty creepy if you ask me. I’m surprised that you could live here, Jason.”

Ace said.

“Well, I was once like them until I had my awakening. So I never really minded it back then.”

“Awakening?”

Jason didn’t answer. He quickly followed behind the hooded group.

The town matches the impression they got when they saw it from afar. It was modern, but it kept some vintage elements to it. For example, there were concrete houses and roads, but the people here used horse-like creatures as a means of transportation. Everything felt surreal.

“We’re here.”

Jason and the hooded group stopped in front of a two-story building located at the center of the town. It had a huge eye within a crown on it. One look from it and you would immediately know that this place belongs to someone important.

“Go inside. The leader is waiting.”

After saying that, the hooded group left without waiting on Miko’s reply.

“Well, let’s go.”

Miko walked up to the entrance and was about to open the door but he paused.

“What’s wrong?”

Hina asked him.

“This….This is far beyond my expectations.”

He smiled and said, yet his body still didn’t move. Leon walked up to him and patted his shoulder. After that Miko was able to move again.

“Thanks.”

“This is why I said be careful. We’re dealing with one of the most dangerous races in the world here.”

Miko nodded.

“I know.”

He put his hand on the doors and pushed it wide open.

“But that’s what makes it even more exciting.”

He entered the building with a wide grin on his face, and the others followed him. The inside was dark making it hard to make out what was inside. What was shocking though, there were those in their group who had sharp senses and didn’t need eyes to tell what’s going on around them. Yet, they couldn’t tell what was inside this room like they were being blocked out.

“Welcome, humans.”

They heard a voice resound in the building and someone slowly appeared before them as if they were fading in. They were sitting on the ground in a very relaxed manner as if everything was under their control.

“?!”

Everyone felt immense pressure when they looked at this person. He was a muscular man with brown skin and wild orange hair and beard which reminded one of a lion’s mane. He was dress casually in a V-neck sleeveless top, loose pants which resemble pajama bottoms, and a pair of sandals.

What shocked everyone was his eyes. He had gold eyes, but no two but three. The third one was found at the center of his forehead. Looking at it made one feel like they were about to lose their souls. The man grinned when he saw everyone’s reaction and said-

“Welcome to the town of the Parasite Demons.”