CHAPTER 43: INTERRUPTED AGAIN!

John trudged through the dense jungle, muttering to himself, "I couldn't even eat properly." His voice sounded hollow against the silence of the trees, the thick foliage swallowing every word. He cursed under his breath—at the jungle, at the timing, at his own misfortune.

He had been in the middle of dinner with Luna, finally about to enjoy a moment of peace, when the relentless ticking of the clock had yanked him back to reality. The teleportation hour had been drawing near. There had been no time to savor the food, no space for comfort. In a hurry, he had shoved a few bites into his pocket and stormed off. Now, crouched beneath the wild canopy of the jungle, he ate what remained—cold, mashed, and clumsily wrapped—but it tasted divine.

He washed it down with water from his flask and let out a satisfied sigh. "Haven't slept in three days," he mumbled to himself, stretching out on a patch of mossy ground. His body, worn from exhaustion and strain, welcomed the brief moment of comfort.

"This will be a good rest," he whispered, eyes fluttering shut as sleep claimed him almost instantly.

---

A few hours passed.

Somewhere in the distance, a branch snapped. A low rustle followed.

John's eyes fluttered open.

He blinked in the darkness, adjusting to the dim jungle moonlight filtering through the trees. His breath caught in his throat.

Just a few feet ahead, in the soft underbrush, something moved.

A shape.

Round. Glossy. Familiar.

The **fatty insect**.

The same one.

It loomed in front of him—silent, unmoving, watching.

A chill prickled down his spine. His first instinct was panic. Was this one of the wild ones? Hungry? Unbonded? Dangerous?

He bolted upright, eyes wide, heart hammering. Reflexively, he extended his hand, attempting to summon it.

Nothing.

His breath hitched. His mind raced.

But then... the insect didn't attack. It didn't move aggressively. In fact, it did nothing at all. Just hovered there, blinking slowly, its antennae flicking in recognition.

Relief washed over him like a tide.

It had to be his. If the worm hadn't accepted him, it wouldn't just be calmly observing him. No wild beast stared like that—it would've lunged, snapped, vanished.