That Fool-!

The group had been resting for some time after escaping the forest, but "resting" was a generous term. No one truly relaxed. Most of them sat stiffly, fidgeting with nervous hands, or staring vacantly toward the horizon where the fortress loomed. The clearing felt like a fragile bubble, ready to pop at the slightest sound.

Jess stood at the edge of the group, her arms crossed as she scanned the distance. Her gaze flitted from the fortress to the grasslands, then to the treeline behind them. Every muscle in her body remained coiled, ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.

She didn't trust the quiet.

Her mind turned over the facts they knew—or rather, didn't know. The creature that had killed Kyle was still lurking beneath their feet. The monsters in the forest had stayed back, likely afraid of the same underground threat or something else.

But that wouldn't last as the night was creeping closer.

She exhaled through her nose, running a hand through her short hair. 

Her thoughts faltered as she spotted movement in the corner of her eye.

It was Harry.

The young man wandered a short distance away from the group, his shoulders hunched and his face thoughtful. He bent down, picked up a rock, and lobbed it a few meters ahead.

What's he doing now? Jess's lips quirked in curiosity.

Harry left a strange impression on her. At first glance, he seemed ordinary—a jokester, a slacker even—but that wasn't the whole picture. He was sharp, quicker on his feet than most. His humor, while grating at times, had a way of cutting through the tension and rallying others when things looked grim.

Jess chuckled under her breath, shaking her head. 'If he trained under my boss… nah, he'd drive him mad. Or maybe he'd surprise us all.'

She watched as Harry threw another branch. It landed with a soft thud, kicking up a puff of dirt. Nothing happened.

Harry clicked his tongue in frustration, crouching to grab another rock.

Jess smirked faintly. "It's because they don't make enough sound or impact," she muttered to herself. Still, credit where it was due—at least he was trying.

Other people began noticing him too. Whispers rippled through the group, a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. Harry's antics weren't exactly subtle.

Tim soon joined him, the pair exchanging murmured words. Tim picked up a rock and threw it too, copying Harry's actions.

Jess's brow furrowed slightly. She tilted her head, watching as Harry and Tim continued their strange experiment. 'They're testing something,' she realized. 'It's crude, but… maybe it could work.'

Her eyes widened slightly as an idea clicked into place. If one rock wasn't enough, what about dozens?

Jess pushed off the tree and straightened, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "Alright, everyone, listen up!"

The crowd turned toward her, startled.

Jess didn't waste time. "Grab whatever you can—rocks, branches, anything heavy. We're joining them."

Confusion flickered across their faces, but Jess's commanding tone brooked no argument. Slowly, people began rising, hesitating but obeying.

When they approached Harry and Tim, Harry looked up, startled. "Uh… what's happening?"

Jess smirked. "You're not the only one throwing rocks now."

Harry blinked, then grinned. "Team effort, huh? I like it."

Jess ignored his comment and addressed the group. "We're aiming for one spot—twenty, thirty meters out. Same spot, all at once."

The group spread out, clutching their makeshift projectiles. Jess positioned herself near Harry, her gaze locked on the patch of ground ahead.

"On my count," she said firmly.

"Wait, wait—this is my thing!" Harry protested, though there was no real bite to his tone.

Jess gave him a sidelong glance. "You can count next time."

Harry huffed but didn't argue further.

Jess raised her voice. "One… Two… Three!"

Rocks, branches, and debris soared through the air, landing in a concentrated area with a series of dull thuds and cracks. The clearing fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on the spot.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

"SWOOSH!"

The ground erupted as a large, spiked tendril shot upward, its dark surface glinting in the fading sunlight. Gasps and cries of alarm rippled through the group as the creature writhed, searching for prey.

It twisted and hovered, its jagged edges glinting. But finding nothing, it froze for a moment, almost uncertain. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the tendril slammed back into the ground, vanishing.

The clearing fell silent again.

Harry's laughter shattered the tension.

"Ha! Did you see that?!" he shouted, spinning toward the group with a wide grin. "We made it come up! And it was scared of the sun! The big bad tentacle monster's a wimp in the daylight!"

The group stared at him, their shock slowly melting into tentative smiles. A few chuckles escaped, hesitant but growing.

Jess exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips as she watched the tension ease.

Harry's grin widened as he gestured grandly. "So, what's next? Are we throwing boulders next time? Maybe we—"

"Boy," Jess cut in, her tone dry but tinged with amusement. "Maybe save the jokes until after we figure out the rest of the plan."

Harry held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But you gotta admit, that was pretty alright."

Jess shook her head, her smirk lingering. 'This kid might be a fool, but he's a fool with heart.'

'And... now we tested it out... should I try the next step by myself.'

'In case something happens, I am the best person to get out unscathed.'

'My agility and perception are at Max, so it won't be impossible to dodge that tentacle if it does come out.'

She rolled her shoulders, flexing her fingers. Her body still ached from the earlier sprint, but she'd recovered enough stamina to move quickly if she needed to. She could feel the confidence in her own abilities—her speed, her reflexes, her instincts.

'Any other person will probably die without being able to react...'

She exhaled and muttered under her breath, "Alright, Jess. Time to put your money where your mouth is."

Jess took a step forward, her muscles coiling like springs as she prepared herself mentally. But before she could move further, a collective gasp from the group froze her in place.

"What—?"

She whipped her head around, following their wide-eyed stares and pointing fingers.

And then she saw him.

Harry.

The boy was already fifteen meters ahead, casually strolling toward the fortress with his hands shoved in his pockets, as if he were on a leisurely walk through the park.

Jess's heart lurched.

"That fool!"

"What the hell is he doing?!"