Smooth Escape - The Unforeseen Truce

Zephyr laid sprawled out motionlessly in a steel cage, like a rug made of monster hide, a small pink tongue sticking out of his mouth. Dreary blue eyes shifted to the simple hook latch that secured the gate of his tiny metal prison.

The average monster wouldn't know where to begin unraveling such a mechanism, but the canine wasn't your typical monster—he was a majestic Divine Beast. But unlocking his cage wasn't the challenge. His true crisis dwelled in the fact that he couldn't move a single muscle.

After squaring off against the cephalopod monster, all of his energy was drained. The pup was so weak that even the simple task of using his nose to hoist the hook from the latch was an impossible mission.

All of a sudden, from atop the enclosure that resembled a birdcage, a familiar purr could be heard. A dark creature could be seen comfortably perched atop the cage, a dark aura radiating from its body like smoke from burning charcoal.

Zephyr's expression settled into a poker face as piercing olive-green eyes and an obviously smog grin stood out amongst the black canvas of its mysterious form. Its long tail was coiled around a vial containing a blue liquid, putting it teasingly on display.

The pup's eyes popped open at the sight of the much-needed mana potion, then narrowed in annoyance when he considered the reality of not only showcasing weakness in front of the newcomer, but also being in his debt.

Zephyr struggled with this inner conflict, but only for a moment. Appeasing his ego wasn't his top priority at this moment in time, but living up to his master's expectations and adequately playing his role in the current predicament.

Following a sigh, the canine softened his gaze—a signal of appreciation and perhaps a truce. Midnight's grin widened in response, his pearly white teeth in stark contrast to his jet-black form. With undisguised delight, the Djinn inched closer and maneuvered his tail between the bars of the cage.

Conjuring the dregs of his strength, Zephyr locked his jaws around the cork of the vial. While Midnight held the container in place, he yanked the cork free and proceeded to lap up the bright blue liquid that spilled out onto the floor.

Within moments, the pup could feel a surge of rejuvenating energy flooding his body. His once empty mana core was quickly replenished, which rekindled the strength in his limbs. When he pushed to all fours, his tiny body firm and energized, oceanic eyes narrowed in commitment, he belatedly noted Midnight perched arrogantly on his back.

Then his expression became sour.

***

A small bonfire suffused the subterranean chamber with a soothing warmth. The hired mercenaries sat around it, their carefully placed kebabs stuffed with monstron and vegetables. While their hearty meal was being roasted, they laughed merrily while sharing wild tales and delicious wine.

For them, however, the most enticing recreational activity was undoubtedly centered around a metal device resembling a smoking pipe. Inside, a familiar crystal sat nestled, releasing silvery blue smoke that curled into the air.

One man's eyes rolled back as he took a deep puff, an ecstatic expression slowly twisting his face as he held the smoke inside his lungs.

For mercenaries like him, a slice of this euphoria was all the payment he needed to take on assignments. No job was too simple, dangerous, or ridiculous once he could acquire his share of pixie crystals.

As a delicious wave of mana surged through his brain, stimulating his neurotransmitters to flood his mind with relentless pleasure, reward, and an overwhelming sense of contentment, the man leaned against the cave wall. To him, it felt as soft and inviting as a plush mattress beneath his back.

From his shadow cast on the ground, Midnight nonchalantly slinked out as if crawling from within a hole. The man observed the curious creature with a passive gaze, too intoxicated to care.

But when the mysterious feline secretly offered him a pair of seeds and a bead, the man quickly accepted the gifts, desperate to ascend to a higher plane of euphoria.

In the brief moment it took to inspect the items in his hand and glance back at the feline, it had vanished. Hoping that one of his more sober and capable comrades could decipher the items and prepare them for an even greater high, he quickly handed them off to someone else.

"Whasdaah?" Slurred one of the men as he gawked at the items in hand.

"Tha' heck's… this shit?" Murmured another.

"…A seed?" Commented a third man. "Do we just… grind it into the pipe or what?"

"We're running low on dust," grumbled the fourth man. "So you… maggots better figure it out… quick!"

A moment later, they figured it out—but the gifts didn't bring the dopamine rush the mercenaries were hoping for. Instead, the Lightning Bead electrocuted them, lighting them up like a Christmas tree.

While they were still steaming and twitching from the paralysis debuff, the Bramble Seeds unraveled, their thorned vines coiling around the men like vicious serpents.

Their stifled howls echoed through the dark chamber as Physical Damage, Bleed, and Poison debuffs took hold, triggering a far more unpleasant chemical reaction in their brains. When the powerful vines finally withered and disintegrated, the mercenaries collapsed to the floor, stiff and unconscious.

CLICK-CLICK-CLICK.

Tiny paws padded through the ungraceful heap of men sprawled across the cold cavern floor, their faces twisted in frozen agony. Zephyr weaved effortlessly between them, his keen nose quickly locating the keychain on one of the unconscious men.

He grabbed it and promptly retreated, but not before Midnight slipped onto his back again, as if it were his rightful perch. Zephyr's expression soured, but he begrudgingly carried on.

***

GROWL~

Ribbit rested a hand on his stomach and winced in pain. "Did that person really mean what he said earlier," he murmured dejectedly, "…about the sphere exploding, or the cage falling into the water?"

"Please don't get any stupid ideas," Garrett murmured back wearily.

"He didn't seem like the type who would lie about something like that," Brek added.

Daisuke tilted his head back, the Eye of Verity following the collective flow of mana from each metallic bar of the cage that flowed into the sphere overhead. "Pretty sure there's some kind of complex link between the cage and the sphere. If we try to force our way out, there's a high possibility that something will definitely happen."

Brek frowned, noting the way his rival scanned the length of the metal bars that surrounded them. It was obvious he was able to see something they couldn't, which is why his words sounded more like fact rather than conjecture.

He's always been pretty impressive, Brek thought to himself, but how could he have grown to this extent in such a short period of time? What the heck happened to him?

As Daisuke studied the swirling cluster of mana surrounding the cage's deadbolt, a familiar "arf" caught his attention. He approached the edge of the cell cautiously, peering down to find Zephyr below, tail wagging happily, the keychain clutched in his mouth.

Atta boy, Daisuke smiled with relief.

Suddenly, Ribbit mindlessly threw himself against the cage, gripping the metal bars so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Monstron!" he shouted, his nostrils flaring as he stared at Zephyr, eyes wide and wild, like the pup was nothing more than a slab of meat waiting to be devoured.

Everyone froze, their gazes snapping toward the metallic sphere overhead, bracing for disaster—but nothing happened. Yet, an entirely different catastrophe was brewing.

Zephyr shuddered as Ribbit's ravenous stare bore into him. Instinct took over, and flames began to stir in his maw. Panic spread like wildfire as everyone pleaded with the pup, but the canine was beyond reason, consumed by his defense mechanism.

Just before the flames could ignite them like a candlewick, Daisuke swiftly unsummoned the pup into his inventory, extinguishing the fiery threat in an instant.

"Huh?" Ribbit looked around with a puzzled expression. "Where did the meat go?"

Without a word, Daisuke, Brek, and Garrett closed in on the simpleton from behind, their eyes blazing with intent, a sinister energy pulsating from their raised fists.

PUURSH-PUURSH-PUURSH!

The resounding echo of punches reverberated through the cavern. In the next instant, Ribbit was face down and twitching on the floor, three steaming bumps stacked comically on top of his head.

"Moron," Garrett mumbled.

The keychain jingled softly as Midnight slipped out from Daisuke's shadow, moving with an ethereal grace. The Djinn cast a brief, indifferent glance at the others before extending the keys toward his master.

"Thanks, buddy," Daisuke said, taking the keychain from the feline's raised tail. "You both did extremely well," he added upon summoning Zephyr.

The pup's ears drooped, a repentant whimper escaping him as he made eye contact with Daisuke. However, his expression soon hardened when he spotted Ribbit face down on the floor—the brat who had ogled him like an easy meal.

Without hesitation, the fuming canine trotted over, turned his back to the unconscious boy, and lifted one leg into the air.

"Zephyr, that's overkill," Daisuke sighed. "He's already down for the count," he added, gesturing to the still-steaming bumps on Ribbit's head.

The pup reluctantly lowered his leg, wearing a disgruntled scowl. But as he turned to walk away, he noticed the boy sneaking a peek through one barely opened eye, checking if the danger had passed. Zephyr's growl turned into a wicked grin, fangs gleaming and claws flexing in a menacing display.

Ribbit paled.

While they tumbled around in a chaotic cloud, reminiscent of a scene straight out of Tom & Jerry, Daisuke sighed, sifting through the keys on the chain. "We should probably get out of here before they set off one of the traps and get us all killed."