Matthew shouldered the concussed navigator. Brian helped him for a while, they carried him far around the bend till Petyr, who was glaring at Matthew, could no longer see them.

  Matthew pulled out a small brown bag and passed it to Joey, who was following behind them.

  Joey looked behind him cautiously. "What's the plan? We've wasted a lot of time here."

  It had been a few hours since their mass hunt. The rest of their hunts were against the dogs and hebivores, all their nets were destroyed, and they had no more fire bombs.

  Hunting Red Seekers wasn't feasible, and attacking the Yellow Lizards was a no-go.

  The passage of the Forest Monarch had changed the entire forest. The dogs abandoned their usual hunting grounds, making it easier for them to bait and hunt.

  The Yellow Lizards left the terrace entirely.

  The Red Seekers stayed in their rocky hills above, watching the Monarch grudgingly.

  Matthew hummed. He looked unsure and helpless. "I'll get in contact with the Wanderer, but I'm sure he has something about where they plan to escape after this."

  Brian looked unsure. "What about Parker's group? They may already be there, or they might be unwilling to cooperate."

  "That's what this extra bag is for. Parker's group will most definitely not cooperate. Worst case scenario, they would have absorbed all their spirit essence." Matthew clarified.

  "There'll be a standoff. If Vasilis doesn't capitulate, then use this. But be ready, something might happen not long after. Be ready to get close and disarm Vasilis."

  Brian's eyes became very serious and determined. He was sure that this could happen and hardened himself for this task.

  Joey looked more unsure in this assumption but allowed it, and they both stepped back and watched Matthew walk away.

  In his way was a mass of black, reducing the large limestone corridor to a small corridor of space.

  Matthew walked up to it and turned back to give a curt nod to his clearly worried group. He walked up to the black form of the Forest Monarch.

  For a second, his heartbeat ran up as he imagined the Monarch languidly rolling over and squishing him.

  He walked and walked, listening to the mumble of the person being carried on his shoulder.

  Matthew whispered back, "You're alright, keep going."

  The Monarch turned back to him, the clear blue eyes watching him as he walked. He almost froze as fear shook him. He kept walking.

  After seeing the Forest Monarch the first time, they followed it to the exit of the dark forest, they noticed its herbivorous nature and general indifference to all animals.

  The two-tailed monkeys, the large furry omnivores, the herd creatures all followed the Monarch.

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  Maybe they were inspired by it, or it could be the fact that predators ran away from the Monarch.

  The Forest Monarch, though, wasn't interested in them.

  Even when Matthew and the rest of the group hunted and killed some of the herd creatures, the Monarch wasn't very interested, only watching them indifferently.

  He walked past the Monarch, but a booming coo from the massive beast made him turn.

  Its nose was cat-like and sniffed the air with such force that Matthew's hair jumped around.

  He looked into the eyes of the Monarch—six great blue oceans—and a sort of meaning passed into him.

  It felt like a sort of telepathy, two minds meeting, and a soft subtle touch against his soul rippled like water.

  An image formed in his mind slowly.

  He dropped the concussed boy aside and dug through his bag for a yellow fruit with red spots. It was big, a little bigger than an average pineapple.

  He edged closer to the creature and knelt, holding the fruit up. The creature looked at him a little confused before touching his mind again.

  Matthew stood hesitantly, then threw it into the creature's open mouth.

  Its tongue rolled, pushing the fruit down its throat.

  The beast closed its eyes, and Matthew took this as a sign to take his leave.

  It was a long time before he reached the central cavern and an even longer time trekking to the passage to the first exit.

  He had a slight chat with one of the guards Vasilis left at the entrance to the safe point.

  The boy, Marco, was unsure whether he should allow this, but Matthew said offhandedly, "Hey man, if I die, I die, but I'm tired of that damn forest."

  Marco looked at him like he was incredibly stupid. He turned toward the tunnel hesitantly, like he wanted to tell him something before shooing him off.

  Matthew thought quietly to himself.

  If I analyse what happened then it makes sense.

  The sound of rocks moving and air flowing before Vasilis arrived and the surprised look on their faces. They didn't expect us to be there, and from what the Wanderer told me, they didn't follow the passage out to the central cavern.

  The Wanderer was a groupless position. Their job was to hover about the group and watch them for any action detrimental to the group, but they also had the job of watching Vasilis.

  Before they left for the expedition, he had made a good amount of goodwill with the Wanderer, Casey, so as to direct his actions.

  He managed to point Casey in the right direction—towards Vasilis and some other people he was cautious of.

  A couple of hours ago, just before the hunt of the Red Seeker and his confrontation with Petyr.

  He had made his way to the passage out of the dark forest.

  Climbing the rope ladders, then meeting the Wanderer, who had been waiting for him, after covertly signaling with his flashlight.

  Casey was sweaty and bug-eyed, he was a tall, fit boy with reddish brown hair.

  Waiting in the tunnel must have been unendingly scary and tense, his soft black eyes were tense and slightly crazed.

  Matthew threw a bag at him full of fruits and let the boy eat in peace for a while. He admired the sights of the Dark forest while he ate

  Casey turned to him, observing his ragged expression. "You look like shit."

  Matthew laughed softly. "Been living like shit."

  "Well, no time to rest, since our situation has gone even shittier. Those guys you told me about in the letter you dropped… when that guy jacked your ass against that wall, hehe. I didn't see anyone, I promise. I watched the entire time. I came back to watch Vasilis, but they weren't there anymore. I ran back to the cavern, but no one was there."

  "They most likely have a passage different from the one we took. I need you to find it, then wait for me. I'll find a way to get back to the White Temple, and we'll take the last step soon after." Matthew explained.

  Casey raised his eyebrows and shrugged. "I'll do it, but don't expect much. You talk like we are going to fight them when they try to escape."

  "No, but the last step needs a little more oversight," he replied before getting up and leaving. More questions would make Casey unsure.

  Petyr Joined them after watching the monarch pass and fit in the group like an oversized glove—he was uncomfortable, unwieldy, and made everything harder to do.

  Jamie, the second group's leader, wrung his hands through his black twists and complained to Brian. "This guy is so dumb. How are we supposed to work if we have to run every decision by you?"

  Petyr glared but said indifferently, "We hold the cards here. You play the game."

  "Oh, we'll give you the essence, but you don't tell us what to do. You have no power to force anything here. The only reason we don't beat the life out of you here is your boss." Brian corrected sternly.

  Petyr was about to start arguing when he saw Matthew leaving, so he stood and left.

  As expected, he followed a roundabout path and appeared in front of Matthew.

  He pointed threateningly. "Where the hell are you going?"

  "Is that any of your business?"

  "You think this is a damn game?! Just wait till someone dies, then you'll realize how stupid you are. You think I don't see you lurking and hiding? Don't fool yourself into thinking you can do anything." Petyr roared.

  Matthew laughed boldly. I understand—the feeling of incongruity when someone you're sure is stupid seems to outmaneuver you and scare you.

  He looked at Petyr sideways before walking away. "I think it's been explained enough to you. You have no power here."

  Petyr rushed him, but Matthew turned and pushed his arm away before he could grab his collar.

  "don't make me remind you who you are," Petyr growled.

  Matthew looked him in the eye, completely unamused, and stepped closer, forcing uncertainty to tint Petyr's brown eyes. Matthew spoke very slowly.

  "You guys have already lost. You've underestimated the people you're extorting, and quite honestly, don't you understand your plan is stupid and ill-advised? When the consequences come, you and your boss will suffer for it."

  Petyr's face slowly paled—before turning a furious red. He cocked his fist back to smash Matthew's face.

  Of course, Matthew wasn't very interested in this.

  In a sharp movement, he slapped Petyr over his eyes, blinding him for a moment, before driving a punch into his stomach.

  He left the boy moaning in the damp soil, smiling.

  It had been a fun last few hours, but now, in the limestone corridors again, he was the smallest creature. He sat pressed against a wall, his hand over the mouth of his barely conscious friend.

  A White ant was moving through the corridor.