The team reached the large body of Thornguard, which was covered in the remains of the intense battle caused by the pinkish girl. Ripped sections in its thick, thorny skin showed her power. Ejio’s team started cutting into the creature’s tough skin, carefully removing small pieces of flesh for Aria. Each cut required strength and concentration.

Biya, wiping sweat from her brow, suddenly brightened with an idea.

“Why don’t we use its skin to make bags? And the veins could serve as straps—they’re durable and strong.”

Ejio nodded thoughtfully, eyeing the veins on the Thornguard's body.

“Good thinking, Biya. If we use them right, we can carry extra food. The straps they gave us aren’t nearly enough. We’ll need supplies to survive whatever comes next.”

The team got to work, cutting sections of the Thornguard’s hide to craft crude bags. They used the veins the pinkish girl had exposed, saving time and effort, and sliced the flesh into manageable pieces for storage. Astra watched them closely, taking mental notes, then drew his own blade. He began carving a section of hide, forming a makeshift bag for himself, following the team’s example.

Beside him, Zor fumbled with a piece of skin, glancing nervously between his own hands and Astra’s precise movements. The blue-skinned alien clumsily mimicked Astra, stumbling a bit as he tried to follow Astra’s exact cuts and knots, though he seemed determined to complete the task.

Agro began quietly stowing away some of the thorguard's flesh in his bag when Ejio suddenly caught him.

“What do you think you're doing, Agro? That’s for Aria. She needs it way more than we do right now,” Ejio said, his tone firm.

“So, it’s okay for Aria to eat it, but not me?”

“Do you honestly believe you’re as valuable as she is?” Ejio replied, without even looking at him. Agro cursed silently and clicked his tongue in frustration. He knew he couldn’t retaliate against Ejio.

Aria was nearby, focused on cutting the meat. Agro, still irritated, purposely smeared his hand with slimy thornling fluid, glancing around to see if anyone was watching him.

With a mischievous grin, he walked over to her and roughly ruffled her hair, forcing her to look up.

“What?” he sneered, looking down at her, his expression a mix of contempt and amusement.

Aria quickly looked down, the heat of embarrassment rising to her cheeks, and resumed cutting, her hands trembling slightly as she avoided any response that might provoke him further.

“A Genii, but can’t even fight. What a joke,” he muttered, leaving her behind.

They filled Aria’s bag to the brim with Thornguard flesh, knowing it would help sustain her healing abilities. She smiled gratefully, struggling to adjust the makeshift strap across her shoulder.

“Let me carry it,” Asa said, taking the bag from her without waiting for her reply.

“It’s no trouble for me. I’ll hand it back if we run into a fight,” he added.

“Thanks…” Aria murmured, her smile warm and appreciative.

“Let’s follow the pinkish girl’s trail. She seems to know where she’s headed,” Ejio directed, glancing at the faint marks left behind.

With bags packed and ready, the team assembled, Astra inspecting his own rugged creation with satisfaction. As they moved out, he noticed Zor’s bag, its stitches uneven, its cuts jagged. Zor caught his gaze, grinning proudly at his handiwork. Astra, unimpressed, merely turned away.

⊶☽☬☾⊷

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Astra and Zor cautiously trailed behind the main group, creating a noticeable gap between them, as if Astra's lingering distrust was forming an invisible barrier. Although Zor stayed close, he could sense Astra's wariness and decided to give him some space, recognizing that Astra's trust didn't fully extend to anyone—neither to him nor to the others in the group.

“Should we really let them follow us?” Agro asked, casting a disdainful glance back at Astra and Zor.

“I’ve seen them fight. The blue-skinned guy is only F-rank, and the one with mismatched eyes is at best E-rank. They’re hardly a threat,” Ejio replied dismissively.

"Why not just get rid of them?” Agro suggested, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“No, if something happens, they could serve as our meat shields.”

Biya, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, suddenly perked up.

“Wait, isn’t the guy with mismatched eyes the crazy prisoner? He’s the one who always annoys the guards! I still vividly recall the day he looked at me when I first walked into the cell; it gave me chills."

"Oh, is that the guy? I remember he was always laughing loudly while messing with the guards. I'm surprised he stays silent in here," Hylax said.

“The crazy prisoner suits him. I mean, why else would he poke the guards when he’s only E-rank?” Agro chuckled.

⊶☽☬☾⊷

The forest loomed around them, enormous and unsettling. Occasionally, a stray Thornling would burst from the undergrowth, only to be swiftly dispatched. As they moved, Astra noticed more Thornling carcasses scattered along the way, marking the path they followed.

Aria, gazing around, murmured, “How come we can't see the stars or the moon?”

“We’re not outside; this entire place is a cave…” Hylax replied, his voice low as he pressed his hand against the cavern wall.

“A cave? How can it be so massive?!” Biya exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

"You’re still young; you haven’t seen much yet,” Hylax said with a knowing smile.

“I don’t want to end up like you, old geezer,” she shot back, a playful grin lighting up her face.

“Rude brat!” Hylax exclaimed, giving her a tap on the head with his wand.

Astra came to the same conclusion and wondered,

How can these trees thrive without any light? No, this isn’t Earth… I shouldn’t be thinking so logically. Could the glowing fruits be supplying the light? But then, which came first?

Just then, something interrupted his thoughts; a thin, snake-like vine, covered in sharp thorns, slithered down from a branch above, ready to strike. With a swift motion, Ejio’s blade flashed through the air, slicing the vine in two before it could sink its teeth into anyone. He held the severed vine aloft with his sword and turned to Hylax.

“Any idea what this is?” Ejio asked.

Hylax leaned closer, squinting at the vine. “Ah, they’re called Snakevines. F-rank,” he answered.

The cave around them glowed faintly from the strange fruits hanging from the trees. The silence was dense, eerie—no insects buzzed, no creatures scuttled, as if the air itself held its breath. They moved on, following the pinkish girl’s path through the dark, sprawling cave.

As they continued deeper into the cave, more Thornlings and Snakevines emerged, creeping from cracks in the walls and unfurling from branches above. But these creatures were manageable, easy to kill.

Biya glanced around at the Thornlings and Snakevines. “They’re swarming,” she said calmly, slashing through a Thornling with practiced ease.

Ejio nodded, his tone composed. “Stay alert and keep moving.”

Without hesitation, the team picked up their pace, advancing steadily with weapons ready to fend off any creature that lunged in their path. Biya and Agro cut through the smaller Thornlings with quick, precise movements, Biya’s third eye darting around for any sign of a larger threat. Hylax swung his staff, casting a ring of red heat around them that kept the Snakevines at bay.

Astra moved fluidly through the throng of creatures, he swung his blade in a wide arc, cleaving through several Thornlings in one sweep.

[You have slain an enemy]

Reward: 20 EXP

[You have slain an enemy]

Reward: 20 EXP

[You have slain an enemy]

Reward: 20 EXP

[You have slain an enemy]

Reward: 20 EXP

I should've used a sword from the start, Astra said regretfully.

They moved forward, fighting as they went, their movements synchronized and efficient. Ahead, Aria stumbled, narrowly dodging a Thornling’s sharp thorns. Asa reached back, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her forward without breaking stride.

“Stay close.”

"O-okay"

Finally, they burst into a small clearing, only to find their path splitting into two dark tunnels, each one vanishing into shadow.

Biya paused at the tunnels, closing her eyes as her third eye opened, glowing with a faint, shimmering light. She scanned each path, her expression thoughtful, seeing something beyond their sight.

𓆩✧𓆪