Two days ago, Kyle and Ryan stepped out of the gate leading into the jungle kingdom. The scent of damp earth and the breeze carrying leaves, the distant sounds of insects chewing the silence like whispers, filled the air. The massive rocks and ancient logs stood like mountains, forming a dome of intertwined shadows that muffled the noise of the outside world.
Ryan paused, his eyes burning with a deadly fervor, as if this land itself were urging him toward a single, ancient call: to fight. His shoulder rose slightly, and he smiled, a smile that was anything but friendly. "Now, to the palace, Kyle. We'll go in, we'll crush, we'll take the treasure, and we'll be back before they find us."
Before he could finish, Kyle grabbed his shoulder with a swift movement, as if the very breeze itself were pulling him back. Kyle's face was stern and cold. "Remember what the Master said. Don't reveal yourselves, and don't confront the jungle princess. We want the treasure, and we want to get back. Fighting now will expose us and ruin the mission."
Ryan's eyes flashed, but he wasn't angered by Kyle's words. Instead, he bowed slightly, as if his enthusiasm hadn't been extinguished, but rather channeled into something else: "I'm not saying we shouldn't fight at all… but if things get heated, I'll fight with all my might. For now, I'll follow you."
Kyle sighed, then pointed to a narrow corner where a small clothing and wrap shop stood: "First thing: we change our clothes and conceal our auras. We'll move discreetly, gather information about the palace, and then draw up a line."
The light in Ryan's eyes dimmed for a moment, and he listened to the voice of reason urging him to wait. They quickly changed into their outfits: the Cheh costumes worn by the inhabitants of the Jungle Kingdom, and cloth masks that covered half their faces. Then they headed toward the main street leading to the palace.
They hadn't gone far when they noticed an official procession passing in the direction of the palace. Small flags fluttered, faces were composed, and guards stood like pillars. Kyle approached a passerby and asked quietly, "Sir, what's going on here?"
"The Sand Princess has arrived today," the man replied with official confidence. "She's come to strengthen the ties between the Forest Kingdom and her own."
Kyle's feeling shifted to a hint of unease. "I envy Saroto and Lucien their luck," he thought to himself. "They won't have to meet the Sand Princess."
Then, unexpectedly, the scene descended into chaos: a scream, the galloping of horses, and a torrent of shouts. A random and terrifying attack: a gang of bandits swooped down on the procession. In the blink of an eye, the guards were in disarray, the colors of the fabrics were in disarray, and one of the Sand Princess's brothers, who was in one of the carriages, was kidnapped.
And then Ryan saw... He rushed forward without thinking, like a human projectile, his gaze fixed on the kidnapping that had just taken place, racing against the shadows and weaving between the horses. But Kyle reached out like a band of wind and seized his wrist with calculated force: "No. Listen to me. Don't do this. You'll expose us."
Ryan's anger subsided for a moment, but he didn't back down much, only grunting a sharp word: "Let me go, Kyle." Then he leaped from Kyle's grasp, chasing after the thieves with reckless abandon.
Kyle felt a surge of anger: "At this rate, Ryan will be easily discovered, and the plan will fail." But at that very moment, he noticed something else: a powerful movement heading towards the kidnappers. It was the Jungle Princess, Arina.
She emerged as if she had sprung from the heart of the trees, small branches twisting around her feet, sprouting along the path as if the forest itself revolved around her, quickening her pace. Kyle knew things would get worse if Arena and Ryan got together, so he used all his strength and chased after Ryan.
Kyle looked at Ryan, who was now close to the group of kidnappers, his eyes fearless.
He sprinted after him, not to fight, but to pull Ryan away from a collision point that could ruin their plan before it even began. The two stood on the edge of the chaos, Ryan surging forward with raw power, Kyle circling around him like a barrier.
Then Ryan broke free from Kyle and raced toward the kidnappers, leaving a considerable distance between them.