"Ow, my neck hurts," Eleo groaned, rubbing at the tight, metallic collar digging into his skin.

Olorun, sitting in the shadowy corner of the small cell, glanced up. His eyes lingered on the same metal ring around his own neck before he sighed. "Yeah, and it’s not just uncomfortable. These things block our powers." He tapped the collar lightly, the metallic clink echoing in the still air. "It's preventing us from doing anything."

Determined, Eleo grabbed the edge of the collar and yanked, gritting his teeth. Immediately, a shock surged through him, making his muscles spasm violently. “Ow! Ow! Ow!” He stumbled back, shaking out his hands as the residual tingling ran through his fingers.

"I forgot to tell you," Olorun said, his voice a dull monotone as he watched Eleo’s struggle. "You'll get shocked if you try to take it off."

“Oh,” Eleo muttered, panting slightly as the pain ebbed. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through him even as the heavy weight of the collar around his neck made him feel trapped. He got off the uncomfortable slab they called a bed and walked over to the cell bars, his bare feet brushing against the cold, rough stone floor.

Peering through the iron bars, Eleo saw a harsh scene. Outside, under the dim flicker of torchlight, animals were hunched over in the cavernous tunnels, breaking rocks with crude pickaxes. The air smelled of sweat, dirt, and desperation, the scent of metal mingling with the musty earth. The sound of heavy breathing, grunts, and the occasional crack of a whip cutting through the air created a grim symphony. Gorilla guards, massive and hulking, stalked through the workers, their expressions grim as they cracked whips on anyone who slowed down or faltered.

"Looks like we’ll be working soon," Olorun muttered from behind him, his voice quiet but resigned.

Eleo glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowed in worry. “Where’s Kenji? And Tony?” His voice was barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might draw the attention of the guards.

Olorun shook his head slowly, his expression grim. "I don’t know." There was a brief pause, then he added, "Hopefully we can find them soon." The silence that followed hung heavy in the air, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on both of them.

Suddenly, a rough voice broke the quiet. “Take those two to work,” barked one of the gorilla guards, pointing toward their cell with a massive, hairy arm.

Another guard, smaller but no less intimidating, nodded and approached. His heavy footsteps echoed as he reached the cell and unlocked it with a loud clank. “You two, come with me,” he grunted.

Olorun sighed, a deep, weary sound, and got up slowly. His movements were deliberate, as though each step took a great effort. “Let’s just do what they say for now,” he muttered, looking at Eleo with a grim expression.

Eleo hesitated but then nodded, following Olorun out of the cell. As they walked, the tunnel walls seemed to close in around them, made of hard-packed dirt and stone, the air thick and heavy with dust. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, small rocks and debris digging into their skin.

The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. “Are we underground?” Eleo whispered to Olorun, his voice shaky.

“Yeah,” Olorun whispered back, his eyes scanning the tunnel ahead. “We have to be. Everything feels so... suffocating down here.” He clenched his fists, the hopelessness of their situation gnawing at him.

As they passed a room off to the side, Eleo caught a glimpse inside and his stomach turned. Inside, a group of prisoners was being whipped mercilessly. The crack of the whip echoed through the tunnels, each strike sending shivers down his spine. The prisoners’ cries of pain, the sound of flesh meeting leather, and the low growls of the gorilla guards made the scene unbearable. One guard sneered as Eleo and Olorun passed. “Nothing to see here,” he spat, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

Eleo’s heart raced, his breath quickening as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. But the tension inside him was building, the need to fight back, to run, to do anything except be helpless.

Suddenly, without warning, the gorilla escorting them turned and slammed his fist into Olorun’s gut. The force of the blow was like a sledgehammer, sending Olorun to the ground, gasping for air.

“Keep moving, jackass,” the gorilla growled, his voice deep and menacing.

“Olorun!” Eleo shouted, his fists clenching in anger, but there was nothing he could do. He took a step forward, but the collar on his neck buzzed threateningly, reminding him of the consequences of disobedience.

Olorun waved him off weakly, struggling to his feet. His face was contorted in pain, but he forced himself to stand upright, his voice hoarse. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though it was clear he was anything but.

The two continued walking, the oppressive atmosphere weighing heavier with each step. The sounds of the mining camp—whips cracking, stones being smashed, people groaning in pain—surrounded them, a constant reminder of where they were. Eleo’s hands shook as he thought about Kenji and Tony. Were they in the same hell? Would they ever escape this nightmare?

As they trudged forward, Eleo’s mind raced. He wanted to run, to fight, to scream. But all he could do was keep walking, hoping that somewhere here, somehow, they could find a way out.

The gorilla shoved Eleo and Olorun into the work area, his massive hand pushing them forward with little effort. "Start mining, you two," he barked, tossing heavy, rusted pickaxes at their feet.

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Eleo picked up the pickaxe, the weight of it settling in his small hands, and glanced at Olorun. Both of them began chipping away at the rock in front of them, the dull thud of metal against stone filling the suffocating air. For half an hour, they mined in silence, the monotony dragging on like an eternity.

“Olorun, I’m hungry,” Eleo eventually muttered, the ache in his stomach impossible to ignore.

Olorun grunted, still focused on his task. “I’d give you some berries, but those bastards took my bag.”

“Dang,” Eleo sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow. His eyes drifted around the cavern. “What are we even mining for anyway?”

Olorun paused for a moment, squinting at the dust and rock. “Gold, maybe. Probably got us mining for gold so they can sell it off to the Supreme Court.”

Eleo perked up at the mention of the Supreme Court. “Yeah, I’ve heard of them before when I signed up for hunting the strongest. They’ve got a reputation.”

Olorun’s face darkened. “Yeah, we were supposed to head to the 2nd world, but we’re stuck here because of that bastard Agharna.” He spat on the ground, the name alone igniting something bitter in his voice. “How much do you hate him, Eleo?”

Eleo’s tiny hands clenched around the pickaxe, his knuckles turning white. His voice trembled as he stared down at the rocky ground. “You wanna know how much I hate Agharna? How much I hate him for what he did?” He paused, his breath growing more rapid, his emotions boiling over. “I hate him more than there are stars in the sky. I hate him so much… if you took every bad feeling ever, all the pain, all the mean words, and wrapped them together, it wouldn’t be enough. Not even close.”

Olorun stopped mining and watched him carefully as Eleo’s voice rose, sharp and filled with fury.

“If hate was a monster, it’d be the biggest, scariest thing ever, and even that wouldn’t be enough. My hate’s bigger than the whole world, bigger than the sky, bigger than everything. It fills me up so much, I feel like I might explode!” Eleo’s voice cracked with emotion, his eyes wide and gleaming. “If every second I felt it turned into a scratch, I’d scratch out the whole sky until it was black, just for him. All of it… all of it… for Agharna.”

Olorun’s eyes widened slightly as he saw Eleo’s eyes shift—turning a deep crimson red, glowing with raw emotion.

“Damn, Eleo… chill,” Olorun said cautiously, taking a step back.

Eleo blinked and shook his head, his eyes quickly fading back to their usual blue. “Oh… sorry,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. The anger in his voice simmered down, but the intensity still lingered in the air.

Olorun raised an eyebrow at him, his gaze curious. “Damn, Eleo… what was that? And also, why don’t you have small, round toes that are covered in fur?”

Eleo blinked, confused by the question. “I mean, I do, but it’s in hand form. It was just paws when I was super tiny.”

Olorun stared for a moment, nodding slowly. “Oh… I see…” he trailed off, his attention suddenly caught by something else. “Sarugami,” he whispered under his breath.

Eleo tilted his head, confused. “What?” he asked, noticing Olorun’s sudden shift in mood.

Olorun’s eyes locked onto a figure in the distance—a small, monkey-like creature hopping between the mining carts. “Brother!?” Olorun called out, a sense of recognition flashing across his face.

“Huh?” Eleo looked at him, baffled.

Olorun shook his head quickly, brushing it off. “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”

Without thinking, Olorun moved toward the small creature, still holding the pickaxe over his shoulder. “Hey… Hey… HEYYYY!” he shouted louder, trying to catch the monkey’s attention.

Before he could get any closer, a sharp crack filled the air, followed by a burning sting across his back. Olorun yelped as the gorilla guard whipped him hard, the leather striking with brutal precision.

“Shut it, boy!” the guard snarled, towering over him.

Olorun gritted his teeth, clutching his back where the whip had landed, the pain radiating through him. “Ow… dammit.” He rubbed the sore spot, casting a glance toward Eleo. “Yeah, he’s not listening.”

Eleo clenched his jaw, feeling his anger rise again. The guards, the collars, the endless work, Agharna—it was all pressing down on him like a storm he couldn't escape. He took a deep breath, trying to focus, but in his mind, Agharna's face haunted him like a shadow.

Eleo leaned on his pickaxe and called out, "Yo, Sarugami!"

The small, agile figure of Sarugami paused mid-motion, his keen eyes narrowing as he turned to face them. “How the hell do you know my name, young one?” His voice was rough, guarded, like someone used to surviving in hostile territory.

Eleo straightened up, brushing some dirt off his hands. “Because we’ve seen you fight Sharky. Back in the forest.”

Sarugami’s eyes flickered with recognition. “Oh, him? Yeah, he's here too. Stuck in this new hell, just like the rest of us.” His voice was filled with a mix of frustration and resignation.

"How did you even get caught?" Eleo asked, genuinely curious.

Sarugami huffed, glancing around as if the walls themselves might be listening. “They must’ve been watching and listening in on us for a while. I was stupid enough to say I was going after Agharna, and well, that’s all they needed.” He shook his head bitterly. "Got myself tangled up in this mess."

Olorun frowned. "Why go after Agharna?"

Sarugami’s expression darkened, his tone dropping to a low, dangerous pitch. “Because he’s the new leader around here. And in my gut, I know he killed Tilo—the one who led before him. Tilo was a chimpanzee. Best leader we ever had. Got us through the toughest times when everything was falling apart.” There was a note of respect in his voice when he spoke of Tilo, but also anger, deep and simmering.

Olorun followed Sarugami's gaze and noticed other guards patrolling the area—chimpanzees, with hard eyes and battle scars. He sighed. "That's... really sad. Sounds like Tilo was someone important to all of you."

Sarugami's eyes flashed with a mixture of grief and fury. “He was more than important. He was our hope. And now, this bastard Agharna's turned everything upside down.”

Olorun’s face tightened in frustration, and he rubbed his back where the whip had struck him earlier. "By the way, I was calling for you. 'Hey! Hey!' But you just ignored me."

Sarugami sneered, baring his teeth slightly. “Because you’re a human, dumbass. We animals don’t take kindly to humans. Newsflash: most of you are the reason we’re in here.”

Olorun bristled but managed to keep his tone even. “Not all humans are bad, you know. Some of us are in this mess, same as you.”

Sarugami rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Yeah, sure. Every time I’ve heard that line, it’s right before some human throws a leash on one of us or tosses us into a cage.”

Eleo, who had been quietly listening, suddenly stepped forward, his large bunny ears twitching. “I’m not human, Sarugami.” His voice was quiet but firm. “I’m a bunny. And I didn’t choose to be here any more than you did.”

Sarugami’s eyes widened slightly, his demeanor shifting just a bit. He studied Eleo for a moment, taking in his long ears, fur, and the sharpness of his gaze. “A bunny, huh? Well, I guess that makes things a little different.” His voice softened, but only slightly. “Still doesn’t mean I trust you just yet, but at least you’re not one of them.” He jerked his chin toward Olorun.

Olorun raised his hands defensively. “Hey, I’m just trying to survive like everyone else. I didn’t ask to be tossed in here either.”

Sarugami crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “Survive? That’s what they all say. But when it comes down to it, humans always find a way to survive at the expense of someone else.”

Eleo, still gripping the pickaxe, stared hard at the ground, his whiskers twitching in thought. “We’re not all like that. Olorun and I—we’re just trying to figure out how to get out of here, same as you.”

Sarugami looked at Eleo for a long moment before letting out a sigh. “You’ve got some fire, I’ll give you that. But fire alone won’t get you out of this hole.” He nodded toward and sees the collars around their necks. “Those things on your neck is meant to keep you weak, to keep you in line. They don’t want anyone breaking out of here, least of all someone like you.”

Olorun glanced at his own collar, the metal cold and heavy against his skin. “Yeah, well, Agharna’s got another thing coming if he thinks these collars are going to keep us down forever. We’ll find a way. We always do.”

Sarugami smirked, though there was no real humor in it. “You sound real confident for someone who’s been here less than a day. But sure, kid. Keep that hope alive. Let’s see how far it gets you when the guards start whipping.”

Eleo’s ears perked up, his blue eyes sharp with determination. “We’re getting out of here. I don’t care how long it takes.”

Sarugami nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “Maybe you will, bunny. Maybe you will.” He turned back to his work, his tail flicking in annoyance. “Just don’t get in my way. I’ve got my own scores to settle with Agharna, and I won’t let anyone stand between me and him.”

Olorun watched Sarugami walk away, the tension still thick in the air. “Well,” he muttered under his breath, “that went better than expected.”

Eleo, still gripping his pickaxe, stared at the dark tunnel ahead. “Agharna’s going to pay, Olorun. For everything. Just you wait.”

Olorun gave a slow nod. “Let’s just hope we’re still around when that day comes.”