The Earth After Rebirth

Kiro sensed around for any more ambushes that could be lurking about but he couldn't find anything hidden beyond the thick and dark trees surrounding them.

'Weird, this forest gives me the Underworld vibes. Strange as it is, scary as it is, it feels like home.' He thought to himself.

He'd after all spent more time down there than in Asgard. Almost a full year, it wasn't peculiar that he felt like Hubris' home was his.

These thoughts opened up many more memories with Hubris. Kiro found himself missing him and very sad that they were realms apart, which made him promise to focus on working on his jumping skill after this.

He wanted to see his big, fiery mount. He wanted to fight with him more, they didn't get much time together.

"Sorry if I will sound out of place but, shouldn't we be fighting with you?" Jorge asked after his initial shock wore off.

His train of thoughts were disturbed, as he nodded, agreeing with Jorge.

"Yeah, sorry, it was pure battle instinct. I can't promise it won't happen again, so can I make a suggestion? How about we deal with monsters, all of us.

"While players will be dealt with by After Dark? Monsters are straight forward, while players can be very dangerous with their cunning. Unfortunately we don't have time to sync with you guys. I'm sure this is fair?"

Jorge pondered over the suggestion. It was a fair suggestion, after all they'd just met a few hours ago, they couldn't hope to sync well with just a couple of fights that haven't even happened.

"Okay, yes, that's very fair."

They still had to fight, experience was the most important thing to gain during this war, ontop of that winning would take them working well with After Dark.

There was no time linger about, so they walked on. The forest reeked of animosity, Kiro was sure if they were any weaker, they'd suffocate from the mere atmosphere alone there.

"Why did you guys become mercenaries anyway? Isn't a guild much more helpful?" Kade asked.

"Depends how you look at it." Felix answered shrugging. Which surprised everyone.

"Depends?"

"Yes, we aren't looking to build commitment in-game." He said simply without explaining.

They only needed the game for the money, the real standing was out there. They wanted to reach insurmountable influence out in the real world instead of playing warrior in the game.

They needed that after all, with everything they were planning to do to the current status quo of their society. They needed every bit of power they could cling onto.

"Okay, that's understandable, I guess." Kade gave up trying to convince them. They'd clearly made up their minds.

As they walked, Kiro couldn't help but notice a change in sounds through vibrations. It sounded like a rumbling stomach, but he couldn't see any animals or monster within 200 meter radius of them.

"Can you guys hear that?" He asked them in a hushed voice, as if the sound would disappear if he spoke any louder.

"Hear what?" Hiro whispered back.

"The rumbling, like a hungry animal or..."

The possibility of what it could be hit Kiro like a ton of bricks. He'd realised that the sound didn't come from anything that was breathing, at least not in the conventional sense. It came from the forest, it was alive.

The further they walked the closer they got to its 'stomach'.

"I'll need you guys to be careful now, and I need you not to panic to what I'm about to say. The forest is alive..."

"Of course the forest is alive, trees are living beings aren't they?" Lyle asked dumbfounded

"Yes, but you could count this one as a monster too. Be careful, Hiro and I encountered something similar in the past, only then we were attacked by two giant trees." He explained.

JJ one of the priests from Chasing Madness was already pacing back and forth. He didn't like the sound of being inside a monster, he was claustrophobic, so even though before he saw this as nothing but a forest with an entire sky over it.

It soon dawned on him that, they had entered a living being and it could close them off any time, he didn't mean to but he was panicking.

"Okay, what did I just say?" Kiro asked rolling his eyes.

"He can't help it," Jorge answered understanding his guild mate. "He's claustrophobic." He answered then looked away from Kiro and directly to his man.

"Okay JJ, relax, that's, that's still the sky, this is nothing but a forest. Yes it's a monster but it's a very big monster, if you had wings you'd probably fly out of here.

"We aren't restricted. That's why we are travelling to the other side, we'll be able to get out of here as soon as we reach the other side." He tried to reason with him, and he seemed to calm down too.

"A-are you sure?" He stuttered.

"Yeah, buddy, I promise."

Kiro rolled his eyes. This was just a game, he didn't understand why this JJ was acting like this. With those thoughts he quickly reminded himself that, fear can sometimes be irrational.

He sighed deeply, he started running forwards. They watched, thinking he was abandoning them. He skidded in front a tree, and threw his staff to the skies. It flew deeper into the skies, leaving the forest as if it were nothing.

"See my staff? Jorge is right, no need to be that worried." He turned to face them as he said, Ryu came back just as fast, Kiro didn't even need to turn around to catch him.

"Thanks guys. I know I'm too much right now but thank you for putting up with it." He told them sincerely.

Kiro couldn't say he cared much about them, but he also didn't want someone panicky ruining this one mission but he let JJ think what he wanted. It wouldn't do them any good if he were to remind him that this was just business.