Just like yesterday, we are hiding while Black is serving as a decoy. The only difference is we changed our hunting ground. Since Giant crows are territorial creatures, we won’t usually see two in a place. Sighting two in a single place is quite rare.

We are lucky since the giant crow-moks hunt alone. If our group have to hunt two at once, I don’t think we would be able to successfully hunt without sacrifices.

We didn’t have to wait long before seeing a giant crow-mok. This one seems a bit smaller than the one from yesterday. Although I’ve seen once, Black’s soul fusion abilities are really amazing.

When he has taken the crow-mok to the ground, it’s our turn to weaken the giant crow-mok further. We exerted more effort than yesterday. But still the main work was done by the riders’ break armor combo. SaberTooth also is more careful in striking the last hit. Still, he underestimated the giant-crow moks. The crow-mok’s dying attempt almost take his life. If not for Black’s timely rescue, he would be dead by now.

In this pattern, we hunted for a week. Black acts as a decoy and brings the crow-mok to ground. Three of us and three of riders weaken the crow. SaberTooth makes the final hit. Glyph was always by his side and acting as a bodyguard. By now, although not completely healed, her left hand injury has become better. The rider tribe’s herbal medicines are quite useful.

But it is only at the seventh day that SaberTooth got his desired Giant crow-mok soul.

During these seven days, Brick said he saw a human silhouette in the dark every night. It seems like the riders are always spying on us.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

Back at or camp at night,

“So, our first part of the mission is over? And when do we start the abduction mission.” I asked Black.

“Omm, since SaberTooth has got his soul, our first mission is officially over. As for the unofficial mission, we will start it tomorrow’s night. Glyph said we have to hunt another giant crow-mok alive for some kind of their tribe’s traditional ceremony” answered Black. (“Omm” means “Yes”, just saying “Yes” without opening his mouth)

“Why didn’t she tell it before? This means we have to extend our mission days again? Hey Black you know what? Could you please give us a better reward?” interjected Rey.

“No, the reward I promised you is more than what you deserve during your rocky days” he answered.

“Let’s put the extra reward matter aside Rey. We might have to hunt another seven day for the giant crow mok soul we will get as a reward. Since we are not strong enough, we would have to rely solely on Mr Black’s effort” I interjected, “And Mr Black, do you have any idea on their traditional ceremony.”

“I don’t have any information on it.” Answered Black.

“Please don’t be offended Mr. Black, I have a feeling that Glyph is not telling you everything she should be telling. She is too secretive to you, her soon-to-be husband. By the way, what is the plan for tomorrow’s night” I asked.

Black and three of us discussed the plan for tomorrow’s night and he went to sleep.

I don’t know about Rey and Brick. But I think they would notice something too. I am having a feeling that tomorrow will be a difficult day. Black’s face is not expressing exciting expressions for tomorrow’s plan nor calm expressions of a mature man. What I see is a somewhat lost soul. He seems to be trying to act normal covering something in his mind.

At times, his mind is not sticking on his soul. He was talking about one thing and a second later, he asked me what he is talking about. Although the plan we discussed was flawless from our point of view, I can’t discard a feeling that tomorrow’s night, we won’t be using that plan.

After the discussion session, I asked Rey and Brick “Is something off with Black?”

“Yes, he is no longer Black from the highJump village, who is filled with hope. Not even Black from yesterday. I don’t feel any hope in his eyes anymore.” Answered Rey.

“I feel the same. I just can’t tell what is what” answered Brick.

“Let’s just be more careful.” I told them.

That night, I saw a human silhouette spying on us from the dark. But he is too far to hear what we are discussing. May be it is one of the riders.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

It is evening. Time for hunting a giant crow mok alive.

As usual, Black used his two soul fusions to bring a crow-mok to the ground. He is working hard to restrain the crow. Three of us have used yellow monkey soul fusions. WatchDog, Trigger and EagleEye are using their respective soul fusions.

Unlike the other days, all three of them comes to the crow-mok along with their pets. I think they are taking extra care to catch the crow-mok alive.

I thought our mission was done when EagleEye has injected poison and the crow no longer moves. I really admire their combo.

But suddenly, EagleEye and Trigger jumped to Black. Using his blazing hand, Trigger tries to slice off Black’s right hand blade. It looks like Black has anticipated. He nimbly dodged the blazing hand’s slice. EagleEye and the two pet dog-moks tries to surround Black.

WatchDog jumped to us and blocked our way to help Black. We were not strong enough to pass him and his pet-mok. Three of us tries our best to fight WatchDog. Since we are three on two, we are in a still-mate.

But Black was not at a disadvantage. He is a veteran fighter after all. Trigger was fighting Black with his blazing hand. Although EagleEye was not very threatening, he and the two pet-moks combined make Black unable to inflict damage to Trigger. They too are at the stale mate.

But at that certain moment, Black was hit by a punch at the back. He felt chilling sensation from that punch. The two humans and two pet-moks were in front of him. So, he though WatchDog somehow manages to make us surrender and join the fight. He turns back and was about to slice whatever at his back is. But at the moment he sees what is behind him, he froze. Not because of the chill, but because of an unexpected sight.

He saw an icy blue hand punch his chest. He was standing there without moving an inch. The punch hits his chest cleanly. That punch hurts him. Not his flesh. Not his body. But his heart.

Because the person who threw a punch at his chest was Glyph, his soon-to-be wife.