Chapter 2: The Forest

It took just one jump through a wormhole to traverse five planets and reach his client's location on Veron. But even after landing his spaceship at the nearest spaceport, Halley still had a 150-kilometer trek ahead of him. Now, he stood before his destination—a decayed, oversized pear that loomed like a forgotten relic.

Curious, Halley had asked the local inhabitants about the peculiar structure. They casually mentioned it was an abandoned cabin that had been deserted for years. He didn't probe further, as most of their homes also resembled fruits, though theirs appeared vibrant and well-maintained, unlike this withered husk.

Doubt crept into Halley's mind. Was this some elaborate prank by his boss, Myklor? Or perhaps something more sinister was at play? He briefly entertained the idea of abandoning this absurdity, but he knew Myklor would demand a report sooner or later.

"Guess a sneak peek won't hurt," he muttered.

The pear-shaped cabin had two large, misshapen holes for windows. Halley approached cautiously, peering through one of them. Inside, the place was a wreck—scattered debris and broken furniture hinted at years of neglect. Staying alert, he drew his weapon and began to scrape at the wall, searching for a way inside, as there appeared to be no door.

Then he froze.

A faint noise emerged from the back of the structure. The sound of a door creaking open.

Halley spun around, astonished to discover that the pear did, in fact, have a hidden door. From the shadows emerged a peculiar figure—a creature that slithered forward, its movement slow but deliberate.

"Hey, you're from Yalea, right?" the creature called out.

Halley squinted, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Are you Brox?"

"Yes, that's me. Looks like I'm your client," the creature replied with a toothy grin.

"You live here?" Halley asked, skepticism laced in his tone.

"Nah, just staying for now," Brox said with a shrug, before gesturing toward the pear. "Ah, uh, come on in!"

The creature stepped closer, revealing himself in detail. For a larva, Brox was anything but ordinary. His body was dull and muddy in color, interrupted only by black-striped patterns along his back and a cherry-red patch on his forehead. His square, humanoid face carried an unnerving expression, and although his eyelids remained half-closed, it was clear he could see just fine.

When Brox extended his forelimbs, they unfurled like arms, turning progressively red as they reached out in a mockery of a handshake. The sight was grotesque, and Halley couldn't suppress a shudder of disgust. Still, he followed Brox into the cabin.

The interior was even stranger than the exterior. Brox led Halley through the decayed structure and out to a backyard. There, a tent stood—if it could be called that. The flimsy structure was made from peeling banana skins stretched over sticks, with a single wooden plank acting as a makeshift door.

"A banana tent?" Halley said, unable to hide his incredulity. "Seriously?"

Brox chuckled. "Oh no, my friend. This is my cone paradise! I can't stay in that old pear—it's probably haunted."

Halley decided not to dwell on Brox's peculiar superstitions. What mattered was the promise of payment for his services—though he doubted the caterpillar could afford him.

"So, what's the job?" Halley asked, cutting to the chase.

Brox settled down, his dull face growing somber as he explained. "I need you to protect me on a journey. It's a long way from here."

"Protect you from what?" Halley pressed, lowering himself onto a makeshift seat.

Brox hesitated before answering, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I've stolen a sacred item. The owners have sent their guards to hunt me down, and they'll kill me if they catch me. Your job is to stop them."

Halley's brow furrowed. "Why would you steal something like that?"

Brox's square face twisted with anguish. "I had no choice. My wife's life is at stake."

Halley blinked, stunned by the confession. Before he could ask anything further, Brox rose abruptly, securing a small bag around his waist. Without another word, he shuffled toward the path leading away from the pear cabin. Halley followed, bombarding him with questions as they walked.

"What happened to your wife?"

"She's been kidnapped," Brox admitted, his tone heavy with frustration. "The kidnapper said they'll release her if I bring them what they want."

"So, a ransom?" Halley guessed.

"Something like that," Brox replied. "But it's far more valuable than money."

"Let me see," Halley demanded, his curiosity piqued.

Brox hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pulled out the stolen item. He held it up, revealing three peculiar trinkets. Each resembled a spinner with a neon-green glowing orb at its center, encased in sleek, silver wings.

"Three spinners?" Halley muttered.

"They're called 'Silver Babies,'" Brox said, his voice barely audible. "I don't know what they are, but the kidnappers demanded these. I had no choice."

Halley examined the spinners with a mixture of intrigue and skepticism. "Silver Babies, huh? Sounds familiar. Isn't there an animal with that name?"

Brox shoved the artifacts back into his pocket and rummaged through another pouch without answering. After a moment, he produced a small handful of tiny, shimmering diamonds.

"For the payment—will this be enough?" Brox asked, extending his hand.

Halley scrutinized the gems, calculating their worth. They wouldn't fetch much—not even close to what he usually earned. His disappointment must have shown, as Brox shifted uneasily under his dissatisfied gaze.

"This is all I have," Brox admitted. "Your caller said you didn't charge much, so I thought… this would be okay…"

Halley sighed, weighing his options. Protecting a caterpillar thief carrying stolen items against trained assassins for a pitiful payment wasn't the job he'd signed up for. But something about Brox's desperate plea—and the glowing spinners—piqued his interest.

Damn Myklor, Halley thought, grudgingly accepting the payment from Brox's outstretched hand. Normally, he wouldn't even consider a job with such a meager reward, but his annoyingly soft side got the better of him. Brox's expression of pure relief was almost pitiful—his eyes welled up as if he might burst into tears. Halley forced himself to suppress a grimace.

"Let's get moving," Halley said, stuffing the diamonds into his pocket.

As they passed through the neighborhood, Halley couldn't help but marvel at the surreal environment around him. From the moment he'd arrived, the alien landscape had left him in awe. Even now, walking alongside Brox, he found himself stealing glances at the fantastical scenery.

The dirt road they trod on was lined with grass that veiled the earth like a lush carpet, and the homes that dotted the neighborhood were unlike anything he'd seen before—giant fruits lined up as houses. Pears, peaches, and apples were carved with holes as windows, resembling fruit plucked directly from a colossal tree. Each house was carefully arranged in neat rows, their natural charm enhanced by the surrounding flora.

The residents of the neighborhood were just as strange. Like Brox, they were larva-like creatures, though much smaller. Pale white and smooth, they wriggled along the ground, moving with dozens of tiny feet. When called, they would rise up, their upper bodies straightening so they could meet others eye-to-eye.

Halley felt as though he'd been shrunk down to insect size, dropped into some enchanted miniature world.

"Hey," he asked, breaking the silence, "how come they let you stay here?"

Brox's voice was casual, almost dismissive. "They don't. They don't even know I'm here."

That explained the locals' indifference, Halley realized. When he'd asked about the occupant of the rotten pear, the most detailed response he'd received was a shrug and a mumbled, "I don't know."

As they left the neighborhood, the scenery became even more enchanting. After climbing a gentle slope, they reached a wider main road—still dirt, but smoother and more accommodating. Brox stopped near a bus sign, and Halley, assuming it would be a long wait, leaned back against a nearby tree.

He didn't have to wait long. Moments later, a centipede bus arrived, its segmented body clattering against the road as it came to a halt.

The two boarded without a word, settling at the back of the centipede as it began its steady pace of 30 kilometers per hour. Neither spoke, the quiet stretching between them. Halley kept his questions to himself at first, but curiosity finally got the better of him.

"So," he began, "who's the big bad that kidnapped your wife, anyway?"

Brox hesitated, his dull face darkening. For a moment, Halley thought he wouldn't answer at all. Finally, in a low voice, Brox said, "A wizard…"

"A wizard?" Halley repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Not bugs?" He smirked, tempted to tease him further, but Brox's expression remained somber, his silence unwavering.

"A powerful wizard," Brox finally answered.

"How powerful?" Halley pressed, narrowing his eyes.

"It's not a 'he,'" Brox murmured. "It's a… uh…"

He trailed off again, his silence drawing an impatient glare from Halley.

"It's a what?" Halley asked, raising an eyebrow.

Brox's voice dropped to a whisper. "An entity."

Halley leaned back, folding his arms. "So this 'entity' wants metal? Why does it care about you, anyway?"

Brox sighed, his tone firm yet polite. "Mr. Halley, I hired you to protect me—not to pry into my business with the kidnappers. Please, don't interfere."

Halley pouted like a child scolded for asking too many questions. "Fine… geez, I was just curious," he muttered, turning his gaze forward. Under his breath, he mumbled something about how rude Brox was, though the caterpillar ignored him.

The centipede bus came to a sudden stop near another bus sign. Halley glanced around but saw no new passengers climbing aboard. From his seat at the back, he had an obstructed view of the bus's massive segmented body.

Two minutes passed, and still, no one boarded. It was unusual—too much time had passed. Halley's instincts prickled.

"Stay here," he said to Brox, standing up and moving toward the edge of the bus.

As Halley leaned out to get a better view, a flash of metal caught his eye. Before he could fully process it, a laser weapon was aimed directly at him.

A shot was fired. Halley instinctively threw himself backward, the laser missing by inches and hitting the bus's body with a deafening noise.

The centipede screeched in panic, its massive body convulsing as it bolted in fear. The sudden motion sent Halley and Brox tumbling off its back and onto the ground. Dust rose around them as the centipede vanished into the distance, leaving its passengers stranded.

Brox immediately curled into himself, his head buried under his body in a defensive posture. Halley, stunned and disoriented, looked up to see the assailants.

The sight froze him in place. His breath grew shallow, his body stiffening as his mind reeled. Everything else blurred except the figures standing before him.

Three humanoid machines stood in formation, each armed with laser rifles. Their polished, metallic bodies gleamed ominously under the light. But it wasn't their weapons or appearance that sent a chill down Halley's spine—it was the emblem etched onto their heads.

It was a symbol Halley knew too well. The mark of his worst nightmares.

The AVA Guard.

Memories of his past flooded back, a torrent of fear and dread. His hands trembled, and his face turned pale. For a moment, he couldn't move, paralyzed by the realization that his past had caught up to him.

A shot whizzed past his head, snapping him out of his daze. Halley rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another blast. Gripping his waist, he drew his firearm—a crude but reliable projectile weapon.

The AVA Guards opened fire, their coordinated shots forcing Halley to stay on the move. Two against one.

Halley fired twice, one shot grazing the arm of one AVA guard. The impact didn't slow them down—they were relentless. Their lasers continued to rain down on Halley and Brox as they fled.

With quick thinking, Halley hoisted Brox under one arm and sprinted, his other hand firing wildly at the guards. Despite his best efforts, they maintained their pursuit.

Suddenly, the guards transformed. Their humanoid forms folded and shifted into sleek, mechanical vehicles, roaring after the two with enhanced speed.

Halley cursed under his breath. His legs were fast, but not fast enough to outrun them. He had to think of something—fast.

The gap between them narrowed to a mere two meters. Laser blasts streaked past, barely missing Halley as he zigzagged to avoid them. Meanwhile, Brox refused to uncoil from his defensive position, making Halley's escape even more difficult.

As they bolted down the road, Halley spotted a large tiger beetle resting by the roadside. Its dark brown shell gleamed, adorned with white speckles that gave it a rugged, camouflaged appearance. The creature's mandibles, sharp and fearsome like jagged blades, twitched idly as it basked.

Perfect, Halley thought.

Tiger beetles were known for their speed and aggression when threatened, but Halley had a plan. After all, the centipede bus earlier had shown that creatures here reacted to sound and threats. If this beetle could be controlled, it might be their ticket to escape.

Without hesitation, Halley hurled Brox onto the beetle's back. The sudden weight startled the creature, causing it to spread its massive mandibles in a show of intimidation. Halley quickly pointed his laser weapon at its face, the beam glowing ominously in the barrel.

The beetle froze. Its instincts screamed at it to back down from this superior predator.

"Smart choice," Halley muttered, smirking as he climbed onto the beetle's back.

Before he could fully settle, another laser shot rang out.

PYUUT—AKKH!

Pain erupted in Halley's thigh as the laser grazed him, leaving a smoking wound. He gritted his teeth, pulling himself onto the beetle just as it bolted in response to the loud blast. The beetle's powerful wings carried them forward with astonishing speed, quickly putting distance between them and the AVA guards.

Halley clung tightly to its back, fighting through the pain. The wind roared in his ears as the beetle flew from the terrain, faster than the guards could keep up.

By the time Halley looked back, the AVA guards were nothing more than specks in the distance.

Brox finally uncurled himself, his eyes darting around in disbelief. "Wha…? I'm alive!"

"Yeah," Halley snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks to me." He winced, holding his injured leg. "You didn't tell me you stole something from AVA!"

Brox stammered, his voice wavering. "I-I didn't know… Do you… have something against them?"

Halley shot him a glare. "DUH! Who doesn't? No one in this galaxy messes with AVA! Have you seen what they can do?"

AVA—the largest colonization force in the galaxy. They were the pinnacle of technological and military power, a planet that played a crucial role in advancing civilizations across the cosmos. Their influence extended to nearly every corner of the galaxy, their unmatched military strength keeping them untouchable.

But beneath their contributions lay a darker truth. Those who opposed AVA were sentenced to their nightmarish prison facilities—places whispered about in terror. No one ever returned from those prisons, their horrors shrouded in mystery.

Halley knew this all too well.

He had been one of those prisoners. Though his memories of how he ended up there were fragmented, the torment he endured was unforgettable. The fact that he had escaped was nothing short of a miracle, but it came at a cost. AVA never forgot. Even now, they hunted him relentlessly.

The very last thing Halley wanted was to cross paths with AVA again, let alone because of a reckless client. Yet here he was, unwittingly dragged into their orbit once more.

Brox fidgeted awkwardly. "I… I didn't know all that. Just heard about them on the news."

Halley groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just great. Next time, try not to piss off the galaxy's deadliest empire, will you?"

Brox nodded sheepishly. Meanwhile, Halley silently cursed his luck, wondering how he'd survive this mess.

Halley finished wrapping the cloth around his wounded thigh, his gaze hard and filled with a fit of hidden anger aimed at Brox. The tension was palpable as they both sat on the back of the tiger beetle, which had slowed its pace now that they were no longer being pursued by the AVA guards.

Brox nervously wiped his forehead. "Yo… You'll still protect me, right? Even though that's your enemy?"

Halley's gaze didn't soften. "You still want me to fight AVA? After I told you I'm their target? No thanks."

Halley stood up, gritting his teeth against the pain from his leg injury. He walked over to the edge of the beetle's back, the drop far below, but it didn't faze him. As he prepared to jump down, Brox's tiny hand shot out and gripped tightly onto his leg.

"No, please! I need you to keep me away from them! You can leave after I arrive at Gami Forest!!" Brox begged, his voice desperate, like a man clinging to his last hope.

Halley froze for a moment, uncomfortable with the desperation in Brox's plea. He looked at the tiny creature with an expression that was part irritation, part pity. "You look like a guy begging for his ex to take him back," Halley muttered, pushing Brox's grip away with a swift kick. The small creature went flying but landed softly on the ground.

Halley then turned and faced him, his tone flat. "Fine, I'll keep the job. If you tell me one thing."

Brox quickly scrambled to his feet, eager to comply. "Of course, I'll tell you everything."

"What's all this about you and AVA? And Gami?" Halley's eyes bore into him, his expression unwavering, demanding answers.

Brox hesitated, his face paling at the mention of Gami. "You know about Gami Forest?"

"I've heard that name before."

Brox's face tightened a mix of fear and shame in his eyes. He sighed deeply before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "It all started with my wife and I. We wanted a child, but... we couldn't have one. We tried everything, but nothing worked. Then an acquaintance told me about a wishing wizard in Gami Forest. They said the wizard could grant any wish—no matter how impossible it seemed."

Halley listened carefully, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"We went there, me and my wife. The forest was... different. The trees, the flowers, everything seemed alive, like it had a mind of its own. Eventually, we found the wizard. Turns out, the wizard wasn't human. It was an entity, something that lived in a terrarium, a prison of glass and roots. It spoke to us, and I asked for a child. But the wizard gave me a choice—he said he'd grant me the child, but I'd have to trade my wife for it."

Halley raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess, you turned that offer down."

Brox's shoulders slumped. "Of course. I couldn't do that to her. But the wizard... he didn't like that. He got angry, and before I knew it, he used his magic to capture us. He hung us above an acid lake, the water bubbling below us. My wife... she was crying, begging me to save her."

Halley frowned. "Sounds like a nightmare."

Brox nodded, his eyes haunted by the memory. "I begged the wizard to let her go. And then he made me another offer. He said he'd spare both of us if I agreed to a sacrifice. I had to bring him something... the Silver Babies. If I couldn't find them before the next week, he'd use my wife as the sacrifice, and I'd never see her again."

Halley's eyes narrowed. "Silver Babies?"

Brox's voice cracked with fear. "Yes. The wizard said I had to bring them to him, or he'd... He'd make her disappear. I didn't know what they were, or where to find them. I searched for days, but found nothing."

Halley raised an eyebrow, studying Brox carefully. "And then?"

Brox's eyes shifted, the guilt on his face palpable. "I was running out of time. I ended up in a small city, exhausted and desperate. I... I saw something that gave me hope. A futuristic car pulled up near where I was hiding. The people inside... wore the AVA logo. The passenger was carrying a case. A case that had Silver Babies written on the label. I snuck up, took the case, and ran."

Halley's face hardened, the pieces starting to fit together. "And you thought that was your salvation? You stole the Silver Babies?"

Brox swallowed hard, nodding. "I... I thought I had no other choice. I knew if I didn't get the Silver Babies, my wife would die."

"And AVA—didn't they come after you?"

Brox's voice faltered. "They did. I could barely escape them. I didn't know what else to do, so I called you. You're the only one who could help me now."

Halley paused, his face unreadable. "Are you sure those Silver Babies are what the wizard wanted?"

Brox hesitated. "Yes. I'm sure."

Halley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Funny. The wizard wants metal Silver Babies, huh? Shouldn't a wizard like that want flesh? Something organic?"

Brox blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Halley stood, brushing off his pants as he gathered his thoughts. "I don't know. Just feels off. I've heard of Silver Babies before—they're like zygotes, but tiny. But they're only found on Alkaham, the desert planet. That's a whole other system away."

Brox's confusion deepened. "But... I took these. They have to be the right ones!"

Halley looked out at the horizon, his mind working. "No... I have a hunch that the wizard doesn't want these things. He doesn't want these spinners as a sacrifice. I think he's just using you, Brox." He pulled out a smirk to tease Brox.

Brox stood up shakily, a feeling of dread creeping over him. "So... what do we do?"

Halley gave him a laidback look. "We find the wizard. And we see what he really wants. Because I have a feeling those Silver Babies are just a distraction."

Brox's voice cracked. "But what about my wife? What will happen to her?"

Halley looked at Brox, his expression hardening. "I don't know yet. But we're not letting some wizard play us for fools."

With that, Halley began walking towards the horizon, his mind racing with questions and possibilities. Behind him, Brox followed, his heart heavy with fear and uncertainty, not knowing where this path would truly lead.

///

The massive tiger beetle's legs clicked as it landed gracefully near the harbor, its heavy body making a slight thud against the ground. The beetle had been Halley and Brox's ride, traveling them across the rough terrain, but now it was time to continue their journey by ship. The harbor stretched out before them, with the faint glow of distant lights twinkling from the nearby town. Ships of all sizes bobbed gently in the water, their sails catching the light of the rising moon.

Halley dismounted the beetle, his boots making a soft crunch on the gravel as he looked around the bustling harbor. Despite the low rumble of the beetle's movement behind him, his thoughts were far from the journey's end. He could feel the weight of the task still looming—getting to Gami Forest wasn't going to be easy, Halley couldn't afford to lower his guard.

"You actually know the path to the forest? I thought you were lost," Halley muttered, glancing back at Brox, who was busy looking around nervously.

"I do. If it wasn't for the AVA, I would've gotten to the forest much faster," Brox replied, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and fear.

They moved toward the registration room for the cruise ship that would take them to the forest's island. Halley noticed Brox's nervous glances at his empty pockets, the strain of their previous confrontation hanging heavily on him. As they entered the registration room, Brox hesitated, then turned to Halley with pleading eyes.

"Halley… I don't have any money left. Can you buy the tickets for us?" Brox asked quietly, his voice laced with desperation.

Halley sighed, his face hardening for a moment as he reached into his pouch of diamonds—his payment from Brox. He tossed a few of the precious stones on the counter, enough to cover their passage. The ticket vendor barely flinched as the diamonds clinked across the desk, accepting them without a second thought.

Once the tickets were secured, Halley and Brox boarded the ship, which would carry them through the night to the island where the Gami Forest was located. As they entered their modest room aboard the ship, Halley quickly made himself comfortable on the deck, his eyes scanning the horizon as the ship began its journey.

"Go ahead and sleep," Halley instructed Brox as he unpacked the few items he had. "I'm fine here. I don't need a room."

Brox seemed reluctant but didn't argue, collapsing into the bed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. Halley stood at the edge of the deck, his posture relaxed, but his mind was far from calm. The ship's slow movement on the water and the gentle rocking were a welcome distraction from the intensity of the situation. He gazed up at the stars, letting the night air fill his lungs, his thoughts drifting as the ship sailed toward its destination.

It was during the quiet of the night, with the sound of waves slapping against the hull, that Halley noticed something—movement. His instincts kicked in immediately, his body tense as he didn't let go of the railing. He felt eyes on him, a presence that was not right. A faint, almost imperceptible sound made him pause. He waited. Then...

WOOOSH!

A sword sliced through the air from behind him, narrowly missing his neck. Halley's reflexes kicked in immediately. His prosthetic arm, made of the strongest steel, blocked the strike just in time. The attacker—a familiar AVA guard—took a step back, clearly calculating their next move.

Halley didn't give them a second to prepare. He spun around, his blade extending from his prosthetic arm. The guard's sword clashed with Halley's, sparks flying as the two engaged in a fierce battle.

The sound of metal clashing was loud in the still of the night, their weapons locking in a brutal, precise dance. Both fighters stepped back, only to charge again, moving in a blur of strikes and dodges, neither gaining the upper hand.

Halley moved swiftly, sidestepping the guard's blade, his sword slicing through the air in retaliation. The two exchanged blows for what seemed like an eternity, each trying to outmaneuver the other.

But then, Halley saw his opportunity. The guard lunged toward him, and Halley sprinted away, dodging a deadly swipe. The AVA guard was quick to follow, but Halley was faster. He ducked low and slid his legs across the deck, sweeping the guard off their feet.

With a swift, practiced motion, Halley struck at the downed guard. But the guards reacted quickly, pulling themselves back into a defensive stance. They landed a powerful punch to Halley's jaw, sending him stumbling back, momentarily dazed.

"Damn it," Halley muttered, wiping the blood from his lip. The guard was relentless. They quickly pulled a laser gun from their belt, aiming it at Halley's chest. Without hesitation, the guard fired.

PYUUUH!

Halley's instincts took over again. He ducked just as the laser shot whizzed past him, burning a hole in the wooden deck behind him. The two continued their fight, laser fire and gunshots ringing out as Halley activated his shield and retaliated with shots of his own.

The battle raged on for a minute, both sides exchanging fire, each trying to gain the upper hand. But then, the sound of Halley's gunfire stopped. The guard looked around, confused, scanning the area for his opponent.

At that moment, Halley struck. He leaped from his hiding place and landed a kick to the guard's head, the force of the blow causing sparks to fly from their metal skull. The guard staggered but remained standing. They were tough, but not invincible.

"Watch out!" Brox's voice came suddenly, loud with panic. Halley glanced to the side and saw Brox, his face pale with fear, rushing toward the deck. The sight of the fight had shocked him, and his body trembled as he saw Halley and the guard locked in combat.

Before Halley could respond, the AVA guard moved again, their blade slicing through the air toward Halley's neck. Halley dodged, pulling the guard close and pinning them to the deck, ripping their blade from their hands.

But it was then that the guard let out a horrifying scream. They released a powerful energy beam from their head, and Halley quickly reacted, grabbing the guard's head and pulling it from their body, watching as the sparks flew from the broken circuits.

Brox stood frozen in horror, his eyes wide in disbelief as the brutal scene unfolded in front of him.

Then, just as the danger seemed to subside, a sudden, massive laser beam pierced the night. Brox didn't even have time to scream. The blast hit him square in the belly, disintegrating his body from the waist down in a single, catastrophic shot. His upper body fell limp, his life extinguished in an instant.

Halley stood frozen, staring at what was left of Brox, his anger boiling over.

"Damn them…" Halley whispered, a growl rising in his throat.

Halley's heart raced with anxiety, a cold sweat running down his neck. His client was dead, and the reality of the situation was sinking in. But what concerned him even more was that AVA was closing in on him.

A sudden blast rang out as another laser shot past him. Halley darted behind a bench for cover, the beam missing him by inches. The guard kept shooting from their position, forcing Halley to take shots when the opportunity arose.

But then...

AAKH!

One of the lasers finally found its mark. The sharp pain in Halley's right shoulder made him gasp. He cursed silently, realizing that trying to fight back earlier had been a mistake. Now, with his injured shoulder, he couldn't shoot. All he could do was hide.

The guard paused, noticing Halley's lack of retaliation. They began to move cautiously around the bench, preparing for a surprise attack.

But there was no one there.

Confused, the guard looked around, scanning the area for Halley's position. After a moment of uncertainty, they turned—only to find themselves face-to-face with a sudden blow.

CRAAASSHHH!

Halley's fists slammed into the guard's head with tremendous force. The guard's skull shattered upon impact, and they collapsed to the ground. Halley quickly straddled the fallen guard, fists clenched, and began hammering them relentlessly. The guard's head crumbled under Halley's assault, leaving only debris behind.

Halley was briefly relieved, believing the danger was over. But as he checked the guard's head, he noticed something disturbing: a small beeping light, resembling a radar.

His eyes widened as the realization hit him. The guard had sent out a distress signal.

"Damn it…" Halley muttered, frustration rising. He had messed up—badly. Not only had he lost his client, but now AVA was sure to send reinforcements.

Just as he turned to leave...

Brox's tail began to twitch violently. The stump at the end of it was trembling, pulsing as though something was trying to break free. Slowly, Brox's lifeless head lifted, its eyes locking onto Halley's in an eerie gaze.

Then, with a sickening crack, the stump split open, and fresh tissue began to sprout. Brox's upper body twisted and expanded, growing limbs, a new head, and a tail. The flesh stretched, forming another complete body.

Halley gagged, surprised at the sight before him. His previous assumption about Brox being like a caterpillar was shattered as he watched the creature transform. Now, two Broxes were standing before him, each looking guilty, like children caught doing something wrong. The two new bodies seemed to hesitate, unsure of how to face Halley's stunned stare.

"You... you can divide yourself?" Halley asked, his voice thick with disbelief.

"Well, yeah…" one Brox replied sheepishly.

Halley blinked, his mind racing. "What kind of caterpillar are you?!"

Before Brox could answer, the ship's crew arrived at the scene, catching sight of the mess. Two lifeless robot bodies were sprawled on the ground, and three passengers stood nearby, their faces a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Who are you people? What have you done?" one of the crew members demanded. Slowly, he reached for his walkie-talkie to call for security.

"No! It's not what you think! We—" one of the Broxes began to explain, but was cut off by the sound of a gunshot.

BANG!

The loud report echoed across the deck. The crew member froze, staring at the hole that had appeared between his eyes. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The other passengers stood in stunned silence as they realized what had just happened. The perpetrator was standing right there—Halley.

Halley, his weapon still raised, looked at the fallen crew member, a grim expression on his face. The weapon he held was the same laser gun he had used to defend himself against the AVA guards.

One of the Broxes, now separated from the other, looked horrified. "Halley… how did you…"

"I didn't have a choice," Halley replied coldly, lowering his weapon. He turned to the others. "We don't have time to talk. AVA's reinforcements are on the way. Let's move."

Without waiting for a response, Halley turned and sprinted towards the interior of the ship, the two Broxes following closely behind him. Though Brox had divided, the newly formed bodies struggled to keep pace. Their movements were slower than Halley's.

"Can't you run faster?" Halley shouted over his shoulder.

"I can't! My body's too heavy!" one of the Broxes replied, panting.

Halley paused briefly, glancing toward the sea. In the distance, he could see AVA boats with their unmistakable logo approaching the ship.

Suddenly, the doors to the deck burst open. More guards and crew members rushed out, alerted by the noise. Halley's escape was about to become much harder.

He scooped both Broxes up in his arms and sprinted for the stairs leading below deck. The crew and guards, now realizing they had lost their target, gave chase, but were hindered momentarily as AVA's winches locked onto the deck railings.

As Halley ran through the ship's corridors, he could hear the frantic footsteps of the crew pursuing them. He was almost at the lowest deck, where the lifeboats were kept. But suddenly, their way was blocked by more crew members, armed with steel pipes and fists raised, their eyes full of intent to kill.

Without hesitation, Halley threw the two Broxes to the ground. "Get to the lifeboats! I'll hold them off!"

Without a word, the two Broxes obeyed, darting towards the nearest exit. Halley charged at the crew, his fists ready for another fight. Meanwhile, one Brox accidentally knocked over an empty janitor's cart. Without thinking, he jumped into it and began pushing it to move faster, the sound of wheels clanging against the floor as he sped away.

The two Broxes reached a dead end at the farthest corner of the corridor. Panic swept over them as they realized they were lost. Brox's newly formed twin began frantically opening doors in search of the lifeboats. One room revealed an occupied guest room, while another led to an engine room. As one Brox turned to see his twin, the scene in front of him was one he could never forget: Brox's twin lay lifeless on the floor, his body smashed to the ground in a grotesque mess of blood and torn flesh.

The crew member responsible was nowhere in sight, but Brox knew it was them who had killed his twin. Fear gripped his chest—once the forehead was destroyed, Brox's species could no longer divide.

Without warning, the crew member appeared, a crowbar in hand. He swung it at Brox, but the attack was slow. Brox managed to dodge it, slipping away and running to the nearest room he could find.

He opened the first door he saw, revealing a small room with a set of stairs leading downward. The dim light at the bottom only deepened the pit of dread in Brox's stomach. But there was no other choice. He had to go down.

Suddenly, an axe flew toward him, narrowly missing its target. Brox's heart raced, and he looked up to see the crew member who had thrown it, now standing in the doorway.

"Don't you dare escape, you criminal!" the crew member shouted.

"NO! I'm not!" Brox pleaded, backing away. But the crew member wasn't listening. He threw a punch.

But instead of a fist hitting Brox, there was a loud gunshot.

DUARRR!!!

Halley stood at the top of the stairs, his arm covered in blood, a dagger sticking out of his shoulder. His face was splattered with yellow, sticky blood, likely from one of the crew members he had fought off.

"Halley!" Brox gasped.

"Found the lifeboat?" Halley asked, his voice strained.

"I… I think so," Brox replied, his voice trembling.

Halley glanced into the room Brox had just opened. "You got it right. Let's go."

Relief flooded Brox's veins. He followed Halley down the stairs, the sound of heavy footsteps echoing behind them. The crew wasn't far behind.

"Halley… they're coming," Brox said, shaking.

"Then hurry up," Halley urged.

///

The entire ship had descended into chaos. Passengers, disturbed by the commotion, began leaving their rooms to complain, while the crew members scrambled in panic, desperately searching for the two criminals responsible for the deaths of one of their comrades and two passengers. AVA had struck a deal with them to assist in the search for Halley and Brox, unaware that the criminals had already escaped the ship and were sailing toward a nearby island in a lifeboat.

"Halley, do you think they'll figure it out?" Brox asked nervously.

"They'll figure it out if you don't keep quiet," Halley snapped, his voice tight with urgency.

Halley focused intently as he untied the lifeboat, while Brox remained crouched in the corner of the boat, keeping as still as possible. They were escaping in silence, hoping to avoid detection from both the ship and AVA. After a few moments of struggle, Halley finally managed to release the lifeboat, and it splashed into the water with a loud sound.

The splash was drowned out by the increasing clamor and panic on the ship. Halley began rowing the lifeboat quietly, careful not to make any more noise. He felt a brief sense of relief that the attack had started at midnight—the surrounding sea was pitch dark, and the cover of night was their best chance at evading detection.

///

As soon as Brox and Halley reached the shore, they hastily dragged their boat to land. The island was blanketed in darkness, with the cold air cutting through the night. It was midnight, yet the chill and the darkness did little to ease Brox's growing fear. His body trembled uncontrollably.

"You lead the way," Halley ordered, his tone commanding.

"Y... yes," Brox stammered. Fear of defying Halley made it impossible for him to refuse. He knew the wizard would tear him apart if he did. Still, Brox was the one who knew the path to the Gami Forest better, so it made sense for him to take the lead.

They journeyed through the dense, shadowy forest. The only things visible were the soil beneath their feet. Halley moved forward with unshaken confidence, while Brox flinched at every sound, crouching down and closing his eyes in paranoia. Halley had to nudge him with his boot to keep him moving.

After a few minutes, the dark forest shifted into something entirely different. The air grew warmer, and the surroundings gradually transformed into a mystical scene. The forest was bathed in a soft, colorful glow. Neon lights pulsed from the plants: vibrant pink flowers, tree roots glowing in electric blue, and navy blue veins creeping up the branches. It was as though they had stepped into a magical realm.

Brox couldn't help but marvel at the beauty, even as fear still clung to him. The forest was home to rare, endangered plants—some of which could fetch a high price on the market. Halley, ever the opportunist, plucked one of the flowers and hid it inside his jacket as they continued walking.

Soon, they arrived at a cave. The walls of the cave were alive with bioluminescent bacteria, casting a soft, eerie glow. The ground was dotted with hot spring-like pools, and in the center of the cave stood a terrarium. Inside the terrarium was a small cliff, with a waterfall cascading down into a lake that surrounded it. The sparkling water flowed endlessly, its beauty almost mesmerizing.

As Brox and Halley approached the terrarium, the lake in the center suddenly surged, forming into a strange, abstract shape—a creature made of unstable, flowing water. Brox stared in terror, but Halley remained impassive.

The creature spoke, its voice echoing through the cave.

[Have my eyes deceived me? Is this truly Brox from Neplehm Village?]

Brox's buckled himself, and he immediately knelt before the entity. "It is I, my lord. I've come to bring you a gift."

The water creature's form quivered slightly. [I see. Even though I requested Silver Babies, you bring me something... more defined.]

Brox was confused, but then he realized the creature was referring to Halley.

"You're mistaken, my lord. This man is with me. I've brought the Silver Babies," Brox corrected hurriedly.

A silence stretched through the air. Brox shivered, dreading Gami's anger for bringing someone else along. But the creature remained still and spoke again.

[Very well. Show me what you've found, Brox of Neplehm Village.]

With trembling hands, Brox retrieved three silver spinners from his pocket and offered them to Gami. But the wizard's reaction was far from what they expected.

[What is this?]

"It's the Silver Babies you asked for, my lord," Brox explained, his voice shaky.

[Is this some sort of joke?]

"I... I beg your pardon, sir?"

[Do you even understand me, Brox?]

The silence grew heavy, and Brox's body began to shake even more. He had no idea what he had done wrong, but Gami's frustration was palpable.

["Do you think of me as a fool? Or are you the fool? How do you expect me to be pleased with three pieces of metal? Do you think I have any need for metal?!"]

Brox staggered back in fear, his mind racing to understand what he had done wrong. Sweat and tears mixed on his face as the boiling water of the cave lapped at the ground. Halley, meanwhile, stood quietly behind him, watching with a slight smirk, as though some part of him had anticipated this outcome.

"M... my lord... I don't understand," Brox stuttered.

[Let me make it clear for your tiny, useless head.] Gami said. ["These metals are worthless. They are not Silver Babies. I asked you to bring me a sacrifice, not a gift paid for by money.] 

Brox's eyes widened in realization. He had brought the wrong offering.

 [Do you think these things make a good sacrifice for my consumption?"]

Halley, still unfazed, suddenly spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension. "Ah, I see now. You were expecting Silver Babies from Alkaham, which is two planets away."

The cave fell silent as Gami and Brox processed this. Halley continued, his words chilling in their clarity.

[It seems your companion here is smarter than you, Brox.] Gami commented, acknowledging Halley's words.

"And it seems your request was always meant to kill him," Halley continued. "You never wanted him to find the Silver Babies because it was impossible for him. He's a villager—poor, stupid, and homeless. You wanted him to get stranded to die so you could consume his wife. In fact, you've been slowly consuming her!"

Halley pointed to a nearby lake, where a creature resembling Brox lay unconscious, her body slowly being consumed by the wizard. It was Brox's wife. Brox looked at her in horror, his heart sinking.

He glanced at Gami, who said nothing, confirming Halley's theory without a word. Brox's face filled with rage and fear as he ran toward the lake where his wife was held. He cried out her name.

"Hetna!!!"

As he approached, he reached out to save her, but the moment his hand touched the water, his arm dissolved into dust from the acidic waters.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

Gami and Halley watched as Brox writhed in pain. Halley, however, remained unmoved, staring at the boiling lake with a cold smirk. Gami chuckled, watching Brox's suffering.

["It is how a wish must be granted. To achieve what one desires, one must strive in an endless journey to obtain it. I merely gave him an impossible task to test his strength. Yet, he failed miserably,"] Gami said.

"That's not a test, you're just playing with him," Halley shot back, clearly irritated. "What's the point of pretending to be a wish-maker when you set up impossible costs for those who seek your help?"

Gami's voice rippled through the cave in response. [It is called baiting. I lure prey here to feed.]

"You're nothing but a scammer," Halley muttered, the disdain in his tone palpable.

Another tense silence fell between the wizard and the mercenary. But then Gami spoke again.

["Very well. Since this fool has failed to bring me the sacrifice I required, I will make YOU and HIM MY SACRIFICE!!"]

The water surged around them, rising up to three meters high, preparing to engulf them. But Halley had prepared for this. He had anticipated the wizard's move. As the water approached, Halley activated a small bomb hidden in his palm.

BOOM!!! SPLASHHHHH!!!

The explosion tore through the water wall, sending boiling water splattering everywhere, creating a hole in the wall. Through the hole, Halley saw Brox, his face contorted in rage and fear. Both of them realized the truth.

Brox still had two Silver Babies left.

In a burst of courage, Brox threw the remaining Silver Baby toward Gami, but it fell short, landing at Gami's feet. It was an unceremonious failure.

Halley grabbed Brox, pulling him away just in time before the Silver Baby exploded. They ran into the deepest part of the cave, and as expected, the grenade detonated, causing the cave to shake.

After the explosion, Halley chuckled, shaking his head.

"Oh, you poor dimwit," he said, his voice filled with both amusement and disdain.

"Enough, please," Brox muttered, his voice full of shame.

"The humiliation can't end there, man," Halley continued. "You messed up so badly."

"I didn't know it was a weapon, okay?" Brox responded. "All I saw was the same name."

"You could have at least thought that a magical entity like that wouldn't want a metal weapon," Halley countered.

"You said that before," Brox replied. "Silver Babies only exist in a desert. No matter how long I search, this planet doesn't have a desert."

"Well, there's space transportation," Halley said, shrugging. "Two planets away. It's about a seven-day journey."

"...I don't have much money for space transportation," Brox admitted.

"Yeah. I figured," Halley replied dryly.

A moment of silence passed between them. Brox, broken and defeated, sat on the ground, while Halley looked back toward the entrance, where Gami was still searching for them.

"So, what now?"

"I don't know. I've got nothing left. The least I can do is let go of my wife."

"You're going to give up everything for that scammer?" Halley's voice held a note of disbelief.

"What else can I do?" Brox replied, hopeless.

"How about using what you still have? You've got one more Silver Baby left."

"I can't. It failed before," Brox said, his voice filled with doubt.

"That doesn't mean it was useless."

Brox hesitated. He remembered how the Silver Babies had worked in their first encounter with Gami, even if it hadn't been enough. But he wasn't sure it would work again.

"If I try again with my last shot... do you think it'll work?"

"Not with your previous plan," Halley said. "But I've got a different idea."

///

The scene shifted back to Gami, who had spread his liquid form across the center of the cave. Gami was growing impatient. Why hadn't they been able to find those creatures?

As the wizard began to return to the terrarium to refuel, Brox and Halley emerged from the depths of the cave, their plan in motion. Halley grabbed Brox and threw him toward the terrarium. As Gami tried to react, Brox's body suddenly exploded.

BOOM!

Gami screamed in rage, but it was too late. The water surged forward, attempting to fix the terrarium, but the damage was irreparable. Gami was finished.

With Gami distracted, Halley rushed forward, grabbing Hetna from the wizard's grasp. The wizard didn't seem to care, focused entirely on the terrarium's destruction.

Halley sprinted toward the cave entrance, pulling out a bomb and throwing it at Gami. As he reached the entrance, the cave erupted in an explosion. Halley didn't look back as he ran.

Once outside, he saw the once-vibrant forest begin to fade. The magical plants withered, turning to gray. The trees grew thinner, their veins withered. The flowers turned into flat grass. The once-enchanting forest was now a ghostly wasteland. From the center of the island, Halley could see the ocean.

Hetna, now awake, looked around in confusion. She noticed Halley and panicked.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Halley, your husband's mercenary."

"Brox? Where is he? Is he safe?"

Halley didn't say anything, but his face told her everything she needed to know. Brox was gone.

She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Halley sighed and handed her something wrapped in cloth.

"This was left of him," Halley said. "He told me to keep it safe."

It was Brox's forehead. Though it had not yet reformed, Hetna was relieved to have a part of him. Halley explained how Brox had agreed to sacrifice himself in the final attempt, removing his forehead for Halley to use. Hetna was touched by her husband's sacrifice.

They were about to talk more when Halley saw ships with the AVA logo approaching the island. He said his goodbyes to Hetna and left quickly.

Hetna stood alone in the now-dead forest, watching the AVA ships as they neared the shore. She didn't care. She simply walked home.

///

Halley, now aboard his spaceship, sat down to tend to his wounds and change his clothes. To his surprise, something fell from his jacket. It was the flower he had plucked from the Gami forest. It was glowing brightly, unlike the rest of the dead plants. There was something suspicious about it, but Halley was too captivated by its beauty to think about it too much.

"Hmmm... might be pricey at an auction. I'll deal with it later," he murmured, as he set the flower aside.

And with that, Halley set off for another adventure, leaving the island behind him.