With every passing seconds, my eyelids are becoming heavier and heavier. The pointed bone is of no use. The cat-like mok is too agile. It deflects my hands every time I tried to stab it with the pointed bone. To my horror, I see another mok within the ultrasonic vision’s range. This time, it is a snake. A big snake. It is as big as the anaconda on earth. It slithers and comes to us making “Sizzzz” sounds.

‘Depressed? Dejected? I’m not sure. I only know that I have already given up. With my strength, it is impossible to struggle and find a way out from more than one mok in this situation. I only wish I die painlessly in my sleep. Mother, I wish my death would contribute to father’s well-being. I can’t bear to imagine about your face when you are hoping to see me again and starts to notice that your hope becomes impossible with passing time. I love you Mom. Forgive me for not being able to come back to you alive. Cank and Brick, I like you guys very much. Although it hasn’t been long since we’ve met, you guys treat me like your real brother. I’m just sorry that I can’t continue my journey with you.’

‘Wait! where is my sleepiness?’ suddenly, I noticed that I don’t feel sleepy anymore. And there is no mok on me. The cat-like mok has run to the opposite direction from the snake-mok.

“Who said I give up? I’m the kind of guy who would never give up until his last breathe. The Great Rey will overcome each and every barrier obstructed in his way.” I declared (shouted aloud) and started to follow the direction of the cat-like mok.

That was close. If only the snake-mok comes out a little later, if only the cat-like mok’s diphenhydramine (sleeping aid) works even after his teeth are not in my neck, I’m sure I would end up dead. Luck was on my side this time.

The snake seems strong but it is not that fast. Me in the soul fusion state can outrun it easily. I ran fast for a long time untill just before I ran out of fusion state. (There is almost no liquid left in the small room in the heart anymore.)

At first, I followed the cat-like mok to take revenge on it. The mok seems to be good at surprise attack. But if we fight head on, I might not be as miserable as before. According to what the cat-like mok has displayed, assuming what it showed is all it has, I believe if I can dodge his fangs, I have a pretty high probability to beat it. But after some time of chasing it, I don’t see it anymore. It is too fast. It has run out of my sight.

I stopped at a place where I don’t see any moks with my ultrasonic vision. I crawled into a thick bush and wait for the liquid in my heart’s small room to refill itself. Due to my non-stop ultrasonic vision, I saw many nocturnal moks along the way. But no mok preys me. Nonetheless, I have to be cautious if I cherish my life. I dare not stop observing the surrounding even though I’ve run out of soul fusion and no longer can use ultrasonic vision.

I was on alert all the time. And I was also worrying that Black would be killed or the riders would move out to another place. But hopefully, night in the soul world would be too dangerous for them to move out.

After some time, the fuel liquid in the small room has been refilled automatically. I performed soul fusions and carefully started to move to where the riders are supposed to be camping.

Along the way, I didn’t get ambushed again due to my ultrasonic vision. But because I have to change direction many times, it took me longer to arrive where the camp is. When I arrive at the camp where we assumed the riders were supposed to be, the sun is already rising. But I don’t find anyone there. Am I too late?

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

Meanwhile at the HighJump village,

We woke up when the sun rises. Last night, when Rey set forth on his scout mission, I can’t think of any solution to the current problem we are facing. Besides, at this time around, most of the villagers are sleeping. So, in order to collect more useful information and probably some help, I decided we would sleep now and do whatever we have to in the morning. So, we checked in the inn we usually stayed and slept.

After having breakfast, just as we were about to set out of the inn, an old man comes to our table. He sat down and asked immediately “Are you the guys who went out with Black?”

“Yes” I answered. I think during my stay at the village, I haven’t seen this old man.

Since he initiates a conversation with us, he might have something in mind. I don’t know. But in my mind, I hope this old man can do something about the crisis we are facing.

“Where is he? And where is Larry?” he asked again with an impatient tone. His facial expression is too easy to read. I can see anger and anxiousness clearly.

Since I find it uncomfortable to give out those information to a random stranger, I told him “Mister, would you please tell us who you are and what your relationship with them is first?”

“Larry is my only niece. Since the day Black and some young men left, I haven’t seen Larry in the village. I know her feelings for Black. That’s why I thought she went along with Black. But I heard last night you guys came back to the village and were asking about Larry and she is nowhere to be seen. It’s too suspicious.” He answered.

‘The old man is straight forward’ I thought myself. I am pondering whether to tell the old man about Black and Larry. I wonder if I can believe his word.

“Answer me. I don’t care about anything. If my niece is in some kind of danger because of you, I swear I would kill you.” The old man threaten us. His face is serious. I believe he would do as he said. So, if he really is Larry’s uncle, should I even tell him? After all, we are trying to save Black and potentially also Larry out of charity. I can’t put myself in danger.

From his voice, I can sense he hates Black to some degree. But if we really want to save Black, I think we should grab any potential helpers. I hope the old man won’t be too narrow-minded.

“Calm down Mr….. old man?” now that I am trying to tell the old man to calm down, I suddenly remember that I don’t know his name.

“Bark” he said.

“Oh Sorry Mr Bark. Please calm down. I think I have some information you would be interested in. We also have something we took an interest in. If you may” before I finish my conversation, the old man interjected “Cut the crap, tell me what you have.”

It can’t be helped, with the old man’s temper, I’m afraid I can get some promises to help us. But what is encouraging is that I can read his face clearly. I see him worrying about his niece seriously. So, I better take a risk.

“When we set forth on a mission with Black, Larry was not with us.” I said. But the old man frown. So, “Wait Mr Bark. Please be patient. Listen to my story to the end. I’m sure you would get some clues about your niece. So, let me continue. Larry wasn’t with us first. But on the journey, I think about a week ago, we started to see a black silhouette at night. What I assume is that black silhouette was trying to spy on us. Yesterday, Black was captured by some exile tribe members. So, we came back to the village to ask for Larry’s help. But when we reach the village, we got to know that Larry disappears starting from the day we set forth. We also know her feelings for Black. Besides, the mission we were performing has a chance that Black would not be coming back to HighJump village even if we succeed. He might roam around the world. She also knows it. She probably wants to see him off when from the shadow” I said.

“The black silhouette can’t be those exile tribe members?” Bark asks with a tense frown. It seems like he doesn’t believe my words completely.

“Although we suspected it at first, I’m pretty sure it is not one of the exiled tribe members. Because from the start, we were working with them.” I answered.

Bark’s hand is shaking. It looks like he is about to strike me or something.

“Please calm down. I’m not finished. You remember Black’s case from 10 years ago?” I said.

Bark immediately calm down. It looks like he was enlightened by something.

“So, you are saying you and Black are working with riders and yesterday, riders arrested Black? Then, where is Larry? I don’t give a sh*t about Black. I only care about Larry.” He said intensely.

“Take it easy Mr Bark, Easy. We also don’t know where Larry is and what she is doing right now. But we suspects that the black silhouette is Larry and due to her feeling for him, she would be trying to save Black from the riders.” I answered.

“So, you mean she could be in danger?” Bark said, “she could fall into rider’s hands?”

“Yes, currently, one of us was sent to scout the rider’s location and to spy on them. But we have only three of us. The riders are five. If their pet moks are counted in, it would number 10. And they are veterans. We are newbies. Three of us alone won’t be able to overturn the situation. Currently, we are trying to solve this problem.” I told the old man since I saw worry on his face.

“If that is the case, I would do my best to save Larry. I’ll arrange some men first, you two wait for me here. Once we are prepared, you have to lead us to the riders.” He said and left the inn without looking back.

He really doesn’t give us any chance to negotiate or discuss. What an overbearing man.