As they moved into the forest, Jack suddenly slowed his steps.
For a moment, it felt as though someone—or something—was following them.
He stopped and turned around.
There was nothing. Only trees, shadows, and stillness.
Sera noticed his pause.
"What happened?" she asked.
"…Nothing," Jack replied after a brief silence. "Let's keep moving."
Sera nodded. "Okay."
They had barely taken a few more steps when a sharp sound echoed through the forest.
Boom.
It was distant, but unmistakable—something heavy, something violent.
Sera stiffened.
"What was that?" she asked.
"We'll know when we get there," Jack said. "Let's move."
Sera hesitated only for a second before agreeing. "Alright."
As they advanced, Sera glanced around, confused.
"But how do we know which direction it came from? This forest is too dense."
Jack pointed upward.
"Look at the birds."
A flock burst from the trees ahead, scattering in panic and flying hard in one direction.
"They're running," Jack said. "Which means whatever caused the sound is that way."
He turned slightly.
"So we go the opposite direction."
Sera blinked.
"…Really? That works?"
Jack didn't answer immediately.
"We'll see."
They moved quickly, carefully, until the trees ahead thinned just enough to reveal a clearing.
And there—
A truck stood parked roughly on the forest floor.
Three men moved around it, shouting commands as they forced struggling monsters into metal cages and threw them into the back.
Sera froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…Those are Fenix," she whispered. "And Fennica."
Jack frowned.
"Fennica?"
"Yes," Sera said tightly. "Fennica is the second stage of a Fenix Fox."
Her hands clenched.
"I think those are monster hunters," she said. "They capture monsters and sell them… into slavery."
Jack watched silently as another creature was dragged toward the truck.
"If they keep capturing Fenix and Fennica like this," Sera continued, anger rising in her voice, "these monsters will lose their home."
She turned to Jack.
"And this is why monsters have started attacking people more often."
Jack frowned.
"But earlier… when we were in that clearing, none of the monsters attacked us. Right?"
Sera nodded.
"As I told you before, some monsters can sense danger in people. They judge intent."
She paused, her gaze darkening.
"But there are others—monsters filled with rage. Monsters who've seen their kind hurt, hunted, or killed."
She took a slow breath.
"Monsters have very strong memories," she said quietly. "They remember faces. And until they get their revenge, they see every human as an enemy."
Silence settled between them.
The forest, once calm, now felt heavy with something far more dangerous than wild monsters.
Watching the scene unfold, Sera's hands slowly clenched.
"We humans are the problem," she said quietly, anger trembling beneath her voice. "We create enemies through our own actions."
Cloudy sensed her distress. She shifted closer, nudging her gently, trying to comfort her.
"We need to do something," Sera said suddenly. "I'll stop them."
She took a step forward.
Jack reacted instantly.
He reached out and placed a firm hand on her shoulder.
"This isn't the time to act on emotion," he said calmly but firmly. "If we rush in now, they might hurt the monsters even more."
Sera froze.
"We don't know if it's just these three," Jack continued. "There could be others nearby. If we make a move without understanding the situation, we'll only make things worse."
Sera turned toward him, frustration clear in her eyes.
"So what—do we just sit here and hide?"
"No," Jack replied. "We observe."
He lowered his voice.
"We watch. We assess. And when the timing is right… we move."
Sera hesitated.
"…Move?" she asked. "Do you have a plan?"
Jack nodded.
"Yes."
He leaned closer and began explaining in a quiet voice.
As he spoke, Sera listened carefully, her expression shifting from anger to focus.
"…Will it work?" she asked once he finished.
"It should," Jack said. "But everything depends on their monsters."
He glanced toward the hunters' side.
"I don't know much about them."
Sera shook her head.
"Neither do I. I don't think they're from this region."
"That's exactly why we need to be cautious," Jack said.
He then looked down at Turt.
"Hey, buddy," he said softly. "Are you with me on this?"
Turt let out a short sound in response, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Jack smiled faintly.
"Good," he said. "Then we wait… until the right moment."
The forest remained silent.
But beneath that silence, something was already beginning to move.
They waited.
Time passed slowly, painfully so.
Sera couldn't bring herself to look away. Every moment they stayed hidden felt heavier than the last. The hunters continued their work without pause, dragging the captured monsters toward the truck.
The Fennica fought desperately.
They placed themselves between the hunters and the smaller Fenix, claws scraping against metal, bodies straining to protect their young. But the hunters were prepared—too prepared. Their movements were practiced, efficient, leaving no room for mercy.
One by one, the monsters were overpowered.
Sera's hands trembled as she watched another Fenix forced into a cage.
"They're still fighting…" she whispered.
Jack didn't respond. His eyes never left the scene. He counted movements. Watched patterns. Measured timing.
Nearly an hour passed like that.
Then Jack spoke.
"I think it's time," he said quietly.
Sera looked at him instantly.
"…Alright."
Jack turned toward her.
"You know what you have to do, right?"
She nodded, her expression firm now.
"Yes."
"Good," Jack said. "Then let's move."
In the clearing ahead, the hunters finished loading the last cage. Metal doors slammed shut, locks clicking into place one after another.
Satisfied, they stepped back.
That was when Jack crouched slightly and glanced at Turt.
"Let's go, buddy," he murmured. "Let's say hello."
Turt's eyes gleamed.
And without another word, the two stepped out from the cover of the trees.
Jack stepped out from the trees.
He raised a hand casually, his voice calm.
"Hello there," he called out. "How are you all doing?"
The hunters stiffened.
One of them turned sharply.
"Who are you?" he demanded. "How did you get here?"
Jack shrugged lightly.
"I was just passing through. Looks like I got lost."
The hunter scoffed.
"Then you'd better leave. This isn't your place."
Jack's gaze drifted toward the truck.
"Oh?" he said. "And what are those monsters doing in cages?"
The hunter's expression hardened.
"That's none of your concern," he snapped. "You should run along before you get hurt."
Jack smiled faintly.
"Oh," he said quietly. "They don't look very good in cages."
He lifted his eyes.
"Let them go."
There was no shout.
No anger.
Just a cold certainty in his voice.
The hunter laughed.
"And what if we don't?" he said mockingly. "You gonna fight us?"
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the monsters beside them.
"Look at you. One scrawny kid against us—and our Howlers."
He sneered.
"What do you think you can do?"
Jack tilted his head slightly.
"Oh, really?" he said. "That doesn't sound fair if you ask me."
He spread his hands.
"Three against one."
Then he looked directly at the man.
"So let's make a deal."
The hunters exchanged amused glances.
"If I win," Jack continued, "you will release those monsters."
A pause.
"And if you win," he added calmly, "you can take my monster too. Along with the rest."
The hunters burst into laughter.
"Deal," one of them said. "We already know how this ends."
Jack's smile vanished.
When he looked at them again, his eyes were sharp—focused, merciless.
"Perfect," he said softly.
"You're going to regret it."
"Go," one of the hunters barked.
"Release the Howlers."
Jack didn't raise his voice.
"Turt."
That was all.
Turt let out a short, excited sound and moved forward without hesitation.
From behind the trees, Sera watched, her breath held.
"…He knows how to fight, right?" she murmured under her breath. "I've never seen him battle before."
Jack spoke calmly, eyes fixed ahead.
"Surge."
Water instantly coated Turt's shell, swirling tightly around it. Turt pulled himself inside, spinning rapidly as the water wrapped around him, forming a fast, compact whirl.
Then—he vanished into the ground.
The Howlers froze.
They growled, turning in place, scanning the area.
"Where did that little thing go?" one of the hunters snapped.
Jack didn't move.
"Oh, don't worry," he said evenly. "I've already set the stage for our match."
The ground trembled.
The hunters stiffened.
Suddenly, the earth beneath the Howlers collapsed.
The ground gave way in a wide square, sending the Howlers crashing downward.
"What—there!" one of the hunters shouted.
"Attack the ground!"
All three Howlers fired plasma blasts at once.
The blasts struck—but instead of stabilizing the terrain, the impact shattered it further.
The pit widened.
The Howlers fell deeper.
The hunters stared, stunned.
"That bastard didn't attack from below?" one of them yelled.
Jack glanced calmly at the collapsing pit.
"That's right," he replied. "You assumed I'd strike from underground."
Turt burst out from the earth behind Jack, unharmed.
"I loosened the ground beneath your Howlers," Jack continued. "The blasts only helped. Layer by layer, you broke your own footing."
The hunters clenched their teeth.
"Don't underestimate us!" one of them snarled. "Attack again!"
The Howlers lunged, redirecting their plasma toward Jack and Turt—but the moment they shifted their weight, the weakened ground gave way again.
The pit collapsed further beneath them.
Jack exhaled slowly.
"I destabilized the inner ground for nearly a hundred meters," he said. "Any pressure now—no matter how small—will make it collapse."
But then—
The ground shifted unexpectedly.
One plasma blast veered off its path.
Straight toward Jack.
Too close.
Jack's eyes narrowed.
Even if I command Turt now… it'll be too late.
Then—
The blast was intercepted.
A sharp, searing strike cut through it from the side.
Jack turned.
Standing at the edge of the clearing was the Fenix Fox.
Jack smiled faintly.
"Took you long enough to show up," he said. "Thanks."
The Fenix Fox struck again, flames tearing into the trapped Howlers.
"Turt," Jack said calmly. "Let's finish this. Water Shot."
A concentrated burst of water followed the Fenix Fox's attack, flooding the pit. The loosened earth turned instantly into thick mud.
The Howlers struggled—but couldn't move.
One of the hunters cursed.
"Forget them. Take the truck and go—we'll at least take the cages!"
They turned—
And froze.
The truck was empty.
All the cages stood open.
Sera stepped forward from behind the trees.
Jack faced the hunters.
"Oh," he said casually. "Looks like you won't be taking them after all."
Surrounded by monsters, fear finally broke their resolve.
The hunters ran.
They disappeared into the forest without looking back.
Sera approached Jack.
"We should've captured them."
Jack shook his head.
"No," he said quietly. "They're just pawns. Whoever's pulling the strings isn't among them."
He glanced deeper into the forest.
"And this place is too dense. We're far from town—and Grane City is still days away."
He turned back to her.
"We'll report this when we reach the city."
Sera nodded slowly.
"…If you say so."
The forest settled once more.
But it no longer felt innocent.
As Sera looked at Jack, a single thought crossed her mind.
He fights well.
Not with brute force.
But with his mind.
And for the first time, she realized that this was only the beginning.