The next morning arrived quieter than expected.
A faint mist still lingered over the tribal village as Nyra's team prepared to leave. The air carried a strange heaviness—like something was unwilling to let them go.
At the entrance of the village stood , Zark's father. Beside him, Zark silently watched.
"Stay a little longer," old man said again, his deep voice calm but persistent.
Nyra turned slightly, her expression firm."No. We have a task. We can't waste time."
Zefer sighed… then shook his head.
"I'm not talking to you, girl," he said, his eyes shifting past her."I'm asking leo to stay."
Nyra froze for a second… then quietly turned her back, clearly annoyed.
Zefer walked toward Leo, studying him carefully.
"Who is that girl?"
Leo answered calmly, "She's the captain of our group."
Zefer raised an eyebrow."Oh… so that's why she talks so much."
Kio and Alex couldn't hold it anymore—they let out a small laugh.
Nyra's eyes snapped toward them—cold and sharp.
Instantly, both of them lowered their heads and went silent.
Even Leo let out a faint smile.
Then he looked back at old man."I never asked your name."
old man placed a hand on his chest."Zefer Onyx."
Then, with a softer tone—"You can call me Uncle Zefer. You're Steven's friend, after all."
Leo nodded."Alright. We should leave now… if we keep moving, we'll reach a safe place before night."
Zefer gave a slow nod.
And just like that… the group walked away.
A few moments later—they were gone.
Vanished into the forest.
Zefer turned back… but suddenly—
"Bye, Uncle Zefer."
Zefer looked over leo.
Leo stood there… just for a second… before disappearing again.
A small smile appeared on Zefer's face.
"Steven… if you chose him as your disciple…""…then he must be special."
"So, captain… what now?" Leo asked casually.
Nyra shot him a look.you're the one making all the calls like a captain.
Leo smirked."That was temporary. Now lead."
Nyra opened her map.
"We move straight. There's another village ahead… after that, a mountain."She paused."That's where we'll find the leaves."
Alex groaned."All this… for just some leaves?"
Nyra ignored him.
But as she studied the map again—her expression suddenly changed.
She froze.
"What happened?" Kio asked.
Nyra's voice dropped.
"We're in the territory of… wild bulls… and ogres."
Silence.
Kio and Alex immediately tensed up.
They started walking more carefully now… every step filled with fear.
Except Leo.
He walked normally.
"What's there to be scared of?" Leo said."If an ogre shows up, we'll just kill it."
Right at that moment—
A massive shadow appeared behind him.
A huge ogre… drool dripping from its mouth… eyes locked on Leo.
"…I'll cut it down in one strike," Leo continued confidently.
Alex slowly stepped back.
"Yeah… that sounds great…" he whispered."…because it's right behind you."
Leo paused.
"…what?"
He turned.
And froze.
A giant ogre stood right there.
Hungry.
Watching him.
Leo blinked once… then sighed.
"You should've told me earlier."
And the next second—
he ran.
"RUN!" Nyra shouted.
All of them bolted.
"You said you'd kill it!" Nyra yelled while running.
"My shoulder still hurts!" Leo shouted back.
The ogre roared and chased them.
Heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
Nyra suddenly stopped.
"Enough."
She raised her hand—magic surged.
Roots burst out of the ground and wrapped around the ogre's legs, slamming it to the ground.
The ogre roared loudly.
Everyone covered their ears.
"I think you made it angry!" Kio shouted.
Nyra tightened the roots even more.
The ogre screamed again—louder.
Kio turned forward—
…and froze.
"What… is that?"
Alex whispered.
From the darkness of the forest…
More ogres were emerging.
Dozens of them.
Leo's expression turned serious.
"That wasn't anger…" he said."…it was a call."
"RUN!" he shouted again.
They ran faster than ever.
One ogre suddenly leaped toward Alex—
But he reacted just in time, dodging and creating a swamp beneath it, trapping the creature.
Still… fear had taken over him.
Leo grabbed his arm."Don't stop!"
They kept running.
Every direction—ogres.
Closing in.
Then—
"I see something!" Nyra shouted.
A cave.
Everyone rushed toward it.
But as they reached the entrance…
They stopped.
Blood.
Everywhere.
On the ground.On the walls.
It felt like they had stepped into a river of blood.
Even Leo hesitated.
Then—
A sound.
Something… eating.
Leo slowly stepped forward.
And saw it.
A massive ogre… sitting inside… devouring dead animals.
It tore flesh apart… and threw away what it didn't like.
Nyra, Kio, and Alex came behind him.
And froze in terror.
The ogre suddenly grabbed a severed wild bull's head…
…and threw it toward them.
The head hit the ground—
Blood splattered across the walls.
For a moment—
It felt like their hearts had stopped beating