I take another step forward, the ground shifting beneath me as the glow of the Myconid spores hangs in the air like a faint, distant dream. I was right. I knew it. There she is—Tessa. She's here, just like I felt she would be, standing before me.

  But wait. Is it really her? Or is this some kind of twisted game? A trick, perhaps, played by the labyrinth, or worse, some vile creature trying to deceive me, trying to lull me into a false sense of safety before it strikes me down? I can feel it in the air. The tension. The hesitation. Is it really her?

  She feels so much like Tessa. But I can't be sure. I have no way of confirming it—my senses, still somewhat new to me, can only get me so far. Is she real, or is this just some projection of my own desperate wishful thinking?

  I try calling her name, but i didn't work. There’s nothing—just the emptiness between us. I reach out, but my telepathy couldn't reach her

  Tessa... can you hear me? My thoughts ring out, but I get nothing back. It’s like I’m talking to a wall, a barrier I can’t get through. Just a distance that I can't cross. Damn it. Why can't she hear me? Why can't I get through to her?

  And then, out of nowhere, the sensation shifts. Something moving, something large. I don’t even have time to process the feeling before I sense the heavy presence, coming right toward us. Of course, it couldn't just be a quiet reunion.

  I turn around just in time to see it. The thing. I don't even know what the hell is that thing. That writhing mass of vines and leaves, twisted into the shape of something vaguely humanoid. Its face, if you could call it that, is nothing but a mess of wriggling ferns, tendrils and thorns writhing like they’ve got a life of their own.

  I can't help but mutter under my breath, even in the face of this monstrosity. "Oh, wonderful. Just what I needed today, a green monster to ruin the moment. Thanks, Syrrath, really."

  I focus back on Tessa, glancing at her again. She still doesn’t react to my thoughts. She doesn't know who I am, or if she does, she’s too lost in whatever this place has done to her. My heart aches, but I don’t have time to dwell on it. That thing is coming closer. And the longer I stand here, the more likely it is that I’ll be ripped apart by its vines.

  "Nur, do you know the puppy?" Goldy calls out from behind.

  Before I can answer, a voice calls out from the side, "Pray, exercise caution, dearest sister. An approaching presence looms, and I must assert, it harbours no amicable designs." My brother Victor, of course, his verbose tone unmistakable.

  I don’t need him to say it twice to know what’s coming—something huge, something with power, is moving toward us.

  Vex, chimes in with his usual sharp tone, "We'd better get back, there's no way we're fighting that thing. Don't be a fool, Nur." Despite his usual bravado, I can tell he's serious this time, and I agree.

  Just as we begin to retreat, a flash of movement catches my eye—a small Myconid charging past us, heading straight for the monster. I can't help but smirk at the audacity. But, as expected, that green monster simply swats it aside like a fly, the poor thing crashed to the ground.

  Then, from behind, another Myconid appears. Bigger this time. It rushes forward, only to be tossed aside with the same ease. And then another, and another. Soon, the Green Stalker is surrounded by an onslaught of them. The monster flails, vines snapping and thrashing, trying to fend off the wave of Myconids pouring in.

  I watch with a twisted sense of amusement, thinking to myself, Well, isn't this just typical. They thought they had it under control, and now a bunch of fungus freaks are teaching it a lesson. What a joke.

  The battle unfolds before us, the green monster getting overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and persistence of the Myconids.

  As the monster continues to get overwhelmed, something catches my attention. The puppy—no, Tessa—lets out a sound. At first, it’s a bark, a small, almost timid thing, but then, it changes. The sound twists into something else, a clear, undeniable word:

  "DIE, YOU MOTHERFUCKER, DIE!"

  Wait, hold up. That's... the language I use to speak in my previous life! I mean, I know I hear it during my communication with my siblings, but that’s always mental, a connection, a stream of information that I just understand. But this? This is an actual verbal sound. It’s clear as day, and I feel my own confusion rising.

  If that’s the case, then... this confirms it, right? This puppy is Tessa. But wait a second—Tessa never swears. Not in a million years. So, if she’s swearing like that, it must mean... she’s been through something terrible. Something with that monster. That monster. The one that tears through everything in its path.

  I can't help but feel a strange mix of emotions, a blend of concern and disbelief. Tessa, swearing like that? It’s so unlike her, but at the same time, it makes sense. She must have a beef with the monster. And honestly, I can’t blame her. If that thing's been terrorizing her... I might do the same thing.

  Goldy chirps, her voice full of curiosity. "Wow, I never hear something make that kinda noise before!"

  Victor, ever the verbose one, adds with a flourish, "Ah, indeed most peculiar. A most strange sound doth emanate from the puppy—truly a disconcerting utterance, as if it bears an odd weight, causing the very air itself to tremble under its force."

  Vex rolls his eyes and cuts in, his tone dripping with his usual edge. "Never mind the puppy. Look at this thing!" He motions towards the monster’s rapidly disintegrating form. "Completely obliterated. Looks like we were worrying over nothing after all."

  Goldy blinks, tilting her head at the fallen creature. "I guess so, but... that’s still a big monster, right? And the puppy... she doesn’t even flinch."

  I scoff mentally. Worrying over nothing? That thing could wipe us all out without even breaking a sweat. I don’t care how many Myconids are charging through it—there's still something unsettling about how easily it holds its ground.

  Still, Vex is right about one thing: the monster is getting overwhelmed. And Tessa, well, I can’t shake the thought of how different she is. Something has definitely changed about her.

  I can't help but voice the thought gnawing at me. "Wait, when they're done with the green monster, won’t they come for us?"

  Goldy chirps reassuringly, "Don't worry, Mother says that Mushroom People are nice! We made an agreement long ago—Mother tells us not to attack their territory, and in return, they won’t attack ours. We don’t mess with them and they don’t mess with ours."

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  She pauses, her antennae twitching. "Mother’s deal with them is clear. As long as we respect their boundaries, the Myconids are peaceful creatures. They’re not the kind to attack without reason, and they keep to their own... unless you start a fight with them."

  Her words hold a quiet confidence, though I still can’t entirely shake the unease in my gut. After all, I don't know a single abouy Myconids—well at least in this world. I hope Goldy is right—this isn’t the time to find out what happens if that deal is ever broken.

  Vex, always eager to assert his superiority, leans in with that smug look of his. His tone dripping with a mix of arrogance and mockery. "Real ones like me know this kind of thing, Nur. You see, we're a colony, and so are they. Understanding all that territorial stuff? It's just part of how we live. Mother uses that to our advantage long before you and I ever come here."

  He shoots me a side glance, the familiar smirk tugging at his lips. "I mean, maybe you're still too young to fully get it, little sis. Not everyone has the wisdom of someone who's seen more of the world."

  I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Vex is always the type to act like he has it all figured out, and I’m supposed to just take his word for it. Well, sure, Vex, you go ahead and keep acting like you’re the big expert here. I'll be the one trying to survive while you're busy running your mouth.

  I shoot back at Vex, my tone sharp as I can’t help but mock him. "Wisdom? Like sticking poison in reanimated bones?" I give him a pointed look. "Yeah, real wisdom you’ve got there, big bro. I mean, who wouldn’t learn from that brilliant move?"

  Vex raises an eyebrow, a little taken aback by my response, but it doesn’t last long. That smug grin creeps back onto his face, as usual. "Yeah, yeah, that’s all you’ve got to say against me, lil sis?" He shrugs nonchalantly, flicking his tail with exaggerated carelessness. "Try something new next time. You’re starting to sound like a broken record."

  Vex’s words linger in the air, but I don’t bother firing back this time. Instead, I let out a slow breath, shifting my focus to the aftermath of the battle.

  I stare at the monster—no, whatever is left of it. It’s nothing but mulch now, completely torn apart by the Myconids. The once-menacing vine creature is nothing more than a heap of shredded debris, a reminder of the chaotic power that just unfolded. The Myconids are already retreating, returning to their own territory as if the fight never happened. They move with purpose, like a well-organized swarm, not giving a second thought to what has just transpired.

  But my attention shifts quickly to Tessa, as I have been calling her in my head. She is staggering, barely keeping herself up. My heart squeezes in my chest as I realize she is on the verge of collapse. Dammit, not now.

  Without thinking, I focus all my energy into one thing: reaching her. I project her name through my mind, pushing out the psychic wave as hard as I can, as if my very will can reach her and pull her from the brink. Tessa!

  But... nothing. It’s like a brick wall—my connection can’t break through. My pulse quickens, panic setting in as I watch her falter, her legs giving way beneath her. And then, in a moment that feels like a punch to the gut, she collapses completely, sinking into the ground like a broken puppet whose strings have been severed.

  I growl, frustrated and helpless. "Dammit, Tessa..." I mutter under my breath. My heart pounds in my chest, worry pressing against my ribs. There’s nothing I can do from here, not when I can’t even reach her with everything I have.

  I try to check her pulse, but who am I kidding? I'm a freaking caterpillar. How am I supposed to do that? Panic starts clawing at me, my mind racing with all kinds of what ifs.

  But then, just as I'm about to lose it, Victor steps forward, calm as ever, and says, "She’s fine, just tired, my dear sister."

  I glance at him, doubt creeping into my voice. "How do you know that for sure?" I snap, not meaning to sound so harsh, but my nerves are fraying.

  Victor doesn’t flinch, his voice as collected as ever. "Ah, dear sister, thou dost forget—I am proficient in discerning such matters. My bristles, my faculties—they are exquisitely attuned. I can perceive her pulse, her heartbeat. There is no cause for concern."

  It clicks in my mind then—Victor took the path of the Bristly Caterpillar, with enhanced senses and sensory bristles that allow him to detect things I could never even imagine. Of course he can tell.

  I exhale, feeling a bit more at ease but still not entirely comfortable. "Well, I suppose that makes sense..." I mumble, trying to push away the lingering anxiety.

  A wave of guilt washes over me. "I'm sorry, Victor," I say sincerely, looking at him. "I shouldn’t have doubted you."

  Victor, ever composed, waves it off with a flick of his antennae. "Pray, fret not, dearest sister." he responds in his usual tone. "But, if I may be so bold as to inquire... who is this dear little pup? And what is the reason for your profound affection towards her?"

  Before I can answer, Goldy chimes in from the side, her voice as cheerful as ever. "Yeah, who is that? You’ve been acting strange about her."

  I let out a sigh, glancing back at the small figure lying motionless in front of me. "You know I have memories from my past life, right?" I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "She’s someone I knew... from that life."

  The moment those words leave my mouth, the air shifts. My siblings—the ones that are here—freeze for a second. Then, as if on cue, they all start bombarding me with questions.

  "What do you mean, 'past life'?" Vex’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and full of disbelief. "How does that make any sense?"

  "Yeah, how can someone from your past life even be here?" one of the unnamed ones chimes in.

  "What are you talking about?" another asks, clearly confused.

  The questions come fast, one after another, and suddenly, it feels like the entire world is closing in. Everyone, even the ones I didn’t name, is looking at me like I’ve just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

  "I—I don’t know how to explain it," I mutter, feeling the weight of their stares. "But I know it’s her. Tessa... it's Tessa. From before."

  Goldy’s voice cuts through the chaos, sharp and authoritative, though her usual cheerfulness remains. "Enough, everyone!" she says, her antennae flicking in irritation. The others quiet down, though they still look confused and uncertain.

  She then turns to me, her eyes softening. "Well, it’s someone important to you, right?" Her tone is reassuring, like a comforting older sister who knows exactly what to say. "Let’s take her somewhere safe first. We can figure all this out later."

  I nod, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders just by her presence. "Yeah... yeah, you’re right," I murmur, glancing down at Tessa's still form. "Let’s get her somewhere safe."

  Victor and Vex both fall in line, though I can sense the tension between them as they silently process everything that just happened. The others remain confused, but Goldy’s words are enough to settle them—for now.

  "Alright," I say, my voice more steady. "Let’s go."

  Without hesitation, I spin a strand of silk, weaving it into a sturdy, makeshift bag. The edges shimmer faintly, each movement precise and practiced. When I lift Tessa’s unconscious form and gently place her inside, the silk molds perfectly around her, securing her snugly. I make sure it’s light enough to carry yet firm enough to protect her.

  Taking a deep breath, I sling the bag over my back. The familiar weight settles against me, but this time, it feels different. This isn’t just any burden—it’s her. Someone I have to protect.

  "Let’s go," I repeat, firmer this time, my resolve solidifying. My siblings fall in line behind me as we start moving.

  Goldy’s voice rings out, a perfect mix of cheerfulness and authority—her way of making sure everyone listens. "Alright, everyone, listen up! We’re circling back from this zone. It’s not just about getting stronger now—we need to keep an eye on Nur’s friend here. This is important, and we won’t forget. We’ll come back when we’re stronger, and then—then we head into the 4th Zone. Understood?"

  Her words hang in the air, heavy with intent. Even in the dim light of this place, her golden body, laced with gray accents, seems to glow. She stands as an anchor, a guiding force, her usual childlike energy now tempered with urgency.

  It’s always been like this—Goldy can make even the hardest choices sound like a hopeful promise.

  I watch as my siblings nod in agreement, their expressions shifting. Even Vex, usually sharp and snide, softens for a moment, his gaze unreadable. There’s no argument, no hesitation. We all understand what this means.

  We’ve made it this far under Goldy’s leadership, and now, more than ever, we need to be patient and strategic.

  I adjust the silk bag, making sure Tessa is secure. There’s no turning back now.

  Something inside me knows—whatever’s waiting in the 4th Zone, whatever challenges lie ahead—they’ll have to wait.

  We’ll face them together.

  The tension in the air lingers, but Goldy’s steady voice gives us something to hold onto. As I follow her lead, the ever-present weight of responsibility settles onto my shoulders.

  We have to be ready.

  This is just the beginning.

  End of Chapter 19