They sat there chatting for a while until the violent sound of wings cutting through the air suddenly erupted throughout the forest. This time, it wasn't just Shinji—everyone heard it loud and clear. The Musheria tribe instantly fell into a panic, scattering into tree hollows to hide. Shinji's group sprang up, drawing their weapons and preparing for battle.
From beneath the foliage, a winged creature soared into the air, black feathers fluttering down onto the mushroom floor. It bared a razor-sharp beak, its blood-red eyes locked onto the target. It was a flying demon. It lunged like an arrow toward Shinji, extending its lethal claws to tear him apart. Shinji managed to block the strike with his sword, but the monster's sheer power forced him off balance, his legs trembling as he staggered back.
Seeing this, Lio immediately lunged with a precise thrust toward the demon's flank, but the creature nimbly evaded the blade. It spread its long wings, soaring high above them before glaring down. It let out a piercing screech as a warning, then abruptly dove back down toward the base of the tree.
While the group had just survived a tense confrontation, the two assigned to protect them—Lumber and Gumber—were casually sitting on a fallen log, their eyes glued to the fight as if they were watching a live action movie. Omelet looked after the retreating demon, his mind filled with doubt.
"What the... demons usually travel in packs. Why was there only one this time?"
Zoe and the other Musheria people slowly began to crawl back out from within the tree trunk.
"They come to hunt us for food,"
Zoe whispered, trembling.
The group was stunned by this confession. Shinji looked anxiously toward the ground, trying to spot Alba and Akidou. Due to the vast distance and the massive mushroom shelves blocking his line of sight, he could only see two faint silhouettes standing at the base—one hulking and tall, the other small. He assumed they were his two friends, so he thought nothing of it and turned back to continue the journey.
Zoe continued to warn them:
"It's angry now. I bet it's going to report this to its master."
"Hey, its master... who exactly is that?" Omelet pressed.
"He is incredibly powerful. He alone slaughtered every living creature in this Deepgreen forest. That is why you don't see any other life around here."
Zoe stepped to the edge of the mushroom shelf, peering down into the bottomless abyss.
"Every day, they come to take us. Now that you've interfered, he will surely come here himself."
"Then who is he? Tell us!" Omelet demanded.
Zoe didn't answer immediately; she just quietly walked back into the trunk of the Great Tree Perga.
"You'll find out soon enough. I suggest you leave this place quickly."
In an instant, Zoe and the other mushroom people vanished, leaving Shinji's group standing stunned in the hanging forest. Not wanting to waste another second, they pushed forward, climbing the massive Perga trunk toward the summit and the ancient library.
Meanwhile, at the base of the great tree, two strangers stood in silence. The hulking figure stepped forward, dragging a massive blade across the ground, sending sparks flying against the ancient bark.
"Let me chop it down, sir."
The smaller figure uttered a single, cold word that caused the giant to stop instantly.
"No."
The smaller man stepped forward, dragging a long metal chain behind him. The sound of clanking metal echoed, accompanied by a chilling laugh. A grotesque smile stretched across his face, reaching all the way to his ears, and his hollow, soulless eyes stared fixedly at the distant treetop.
Shinji's group was now exerting every ounce of strength to climb as fast as possible. The wooden stairs seemed to stretch into eternity, but they couldn't stop. With only 2 hours remaining before the mission deadline, the first hints of twilight appeared, and the sky began to turn a deep orange.
Back at Heavenfield, in a small, quiet eatery, an elderly man sat on a chair. He rocked slightly back and forth, softly calling out a name:
"Shinji."