Stella:

"I hate this. I hate HER! I HATE EVERYTHING!"

Climbing the hill was challenging, especially after that near-death experience. It was probably the third or fourth time. Stella didn't keep track.

Like a prideful angel, after their accomplished ascension, they had to descend. Then, the group had to climb another ground elevation.

Down, up, down, up...

In summary, it was getting old fast. The Human girl's face was stuck in a rigid scowl. Her skin was scorching from the full brunt of the scorching sun. Sweat and sebum sept through every pore, making it slippery and acquiring an undesirable odor. The sensation on the soles of her feet was akin to walking through a floor of ignited coal. However, those weren't the worst inconveniences she was going through.

What had distraught Stella the most was that her friend was separated from her and forced to stay by her mother's side. That annoying bitch... The girl cursed everything about her, naming her the most unspeakable offenses in her mind! This was her way to cope with the increasing stress caused by her and the journey itself.

However, a drop of color fell on the green canvas. As if the earth had been wounded, a bead of red became a river as rows of red lilies bloomed. Their yellowed stems gave the illusion of being surrounded by calm, stagnant flames.

Lien shouted, finally addressing Stella again. "Fire lilies, Stella! We're close!"

"Close from what?!"

Like a theatrical performance, the girl's questions served as a cue for the Knight to BACKFLIP towards her. "What a great question, Stella!" He held the enthusiasm from when he was guiding her through the Sampiens. "The hill we're about to climb is the last to reach a crucial stop on our trip! A monumental beauty like you have never seen before! A demonstration of the transformative power of the Monoke inside the limitations of our prison!"

Tarb grumbled. "Yeah, yeah! Chikukei is pretty! Breathtaking! Blah, blah, blah!" He made exaggerated hand gestures to make everyone aware of his mockery. "I don't see what the fuss is about! Those dumb chickens can make hills, but so what?! We hollowed out a mountain!"

Ignoring the bulldog's rant, Asra kept going. "Chikukei is a territory mainly populated by the Basan. For a Human's eyes, they can be seen as big, fire-breathing hens and roosters."

Fire-breathing WHAT?! They had to be playing around, right?

What a nonsensical question. Stella was engaging in conversation with a snake with a fox head yesterday. Anything was fair game!

As they reached the hilltop, it was inhabited by towering bamboo, slowly forming a forest at a higher altitude. The fire lilies were smothered by the taller vegetation, but they weren't entirely snuffed out, persisting against the towering competitors.

Thankfully, the peculiar trees never strayed to the dirt road, allowing sunlight and preventing the travelers from being lost in the shadows.

Misled, in fact, were Stella's expectations, which weren't the greatest amidst the agony of their expedition. She wanted nothing with some dumb city in the middle of the woods.

However...

The bed of fire lilies spread downhill to a vibrant plaza filled with tents and buildings of all shapes and sizes. Smaller, green mounts circled the populated area. On top of each hill, bamboo trees share space with five to ten rectangular constructions, except for the larger one at the end, where a towering temple-like, four-story mega-structure with whiteish walls, crimson roofing tiles, and golden bells hung throughout. On its top, a gold-plated statue of (what Stella assumed was) a Basan stood proud as the crown jewel of Chikukei.

Stella's eyes were transfixed on its breathtaking beauty. "This. Is. Gorgeous..."

Tarb mumbled something, probably some shallow complaint.

The Knight shared the same wavelength as her. "What did I tell you?! There's so much you have to see! The market! The thermal ponds! The-"

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"Are we here to escort the Human or to give her a touristic itinerary!? Capt. Tash stared at them with a reprimanding scowl. Yep, she was a mother, alright.

Lien pulled her mother's arm like a needy toddler. "Mom! I'm hungry! I want togarashi noodles!"

Tash didn't shift her gaze at her. "Girl, we just went through an assassination attempt. We don't have time for noodles!"

Tarb scoffed. "Says who?! We'll be under the protection of the Gunka Army! Those clowns stand no chance against them!"

"He has a point," Hufen added. "The Human could use some rest. Her Saniya is pretty small."

"We can take a soothing bath in the ponds!" Euraidd tapped his index fingers on his temples. "Think, cap..."

Great, the captain's creepy stare targeted Stella again. Every cussing she was brewing on her noggin throughout the trip crumbled, and the pieces drowned in her subconscious.

However, the Knight's hand gently tapping her back quelled her fright. "I think we should ask the Human herself!" Although the helmet concealed his face, the girl could visualize his gentle, inspiring eyes. "What do you think, Stella?"

Frankly, the Human was afraid of aggravating the Wolf leader's mood. But she was so tired! Going up and down on that Sonic the Hedgehog level was the opposite of fun without the ability of spin-dashing. "Gotta go fast!" my ass!

You know what? She was freaking stabbed in the gut a few hours ago! She deserved something nice, damn it! Fuck that growly bitch!

Stella tapped her belly. "I really want those noodles..."

She didn't dare look the captain in the eye, but Lien's cheering was all she needed to hear. "YES! YES! YES!"

Her heart stopped when the pup pulled her into a tight embrace. Lien's soft, warm fur on the girl's skin was soothing yet heart-pounding. She wanted to return the embrace so bad! However, the scowling captain could effortlessly dice her into tiny cubes like a vegetable if Stella pushed too far.

Had she made a mistake?

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

Gentō:

"The Coop of the Chōkō..."

After flying over the gorgeous city of Chikukei, with the help of his courageous partner Kreef, they snuck to its most vital location.

The home and workplace of the Chōkō and his formidable Gunka army. Heh! Not so formidable with someone who can guide you through their defenses without being seen or smelled.

Speaking of who, the Amikiri lay limp on the grass, squirming with the pain of carrying the very light Baku and the... not-so-much 9 ft. tall Oni.

"Not to worry, my friend! The powerful Gentō can mend your broken exoskeleton!"

The Baku clasped his hands, coating them in pink and purple Saniya. He noticed a noticeable difference in the intensity of his aura compared to before he had consumed the Human's dream. Fascinating...

Placing his hands on the Amikiri's weakened body, Gentō focused his energy and transferred it to his partner's body. He had to infuse it directly into Kreef's flesh and reattach any broken tissue rather than just reenergizing him. That wouldn't help with his injuries unless he could regenerate by himself.

Kreef had stopped writhing. "Ah... You actually did it!"

Gentō cocked an eyebrow. "Were you doubting me?!"

"You two can argue as much as you want after we're done!" Hanaken sat with closed eyes and crossed arms and legs. It was the least conspicuous she could be, with so many eyes, ears, and noses close to them.

"Right! Kreef, let's fly up!" Gentō triumphally pointed at the sky.

The Amikiri groaned. "At least I'm not carrying HER again!"

The Oni huffed at that remark but remained silent.

Kreef coiled his elongated body around the dream Monoke, then carefully guided him to the highest floor of the coop, the bedroom of the Chōkō, the head of the Basan territory.

These avian Monoke were nocturnal, so their army and defenses were almost completely inoperative in this period. These giant chickens were so prideful that they only accepted being connected to the rest of Sayama if they had their own law enforcement group outside the Dragon's Guard. Fools...

The Baku slowly opened a window, conveniently next to the sleeping Chōkō. His bedroom was something to behold. The crimson velvet curtains, the massive black and white ornament mirror, and the golden roost where the Basan leader slept wearing adorable white and green striped pajamas.

Thankfully, intruding on such an influential figure's quarters wasn't necessary for a Baku.

Gentō expelled a thick, sparkly fog of pink and purple Saniya from his snout. Pure energy spells were commonly seen as on a lesser level. However, the tiny particles his species specialized in creating could carry various spells, like mind magic ones.

However, Gentō only learned how to manipulate and consume dreams from his parents. Only centuries later, he grasped how to use his Saniya mist to manipulate heavier objects, as with Hanaken earlier. Even so, he couldn't lift that much without powering up with Human dreams.

The thought of his mother and father created a lump in his throat. Why had they left him alone? He had no idea what a Baku even should be or what he should've learned...

Argh! There was no time to be glooming around! He was better than this! He could keep these feelings for the actual reunion.

Heh... "Reunion..."

Gentō expelled the sparkly, purple, and pink smoke from his snout. It didn't take long for it to infiltrate and take over every nook and cranny of the opulent bedroom, including the Basan's nares.

The chubby Monoke then closed his eyes, and... Bingo! He was now connected to his target's dreams, visualized as a spherical, ethereal mass of red, orange, and yellow Saniya. His tiny hands could mold the very fabric of this false reality. It was... terrifying at times.

Gentō shook off these thoughts and touched the dream ball. A warm, welcoming feeling danced through his fingertips, accepting his intrusion.

Now, he must carefully craft a vivid dream about a certain girl...