"Ugh.. ang sakit ng ulo ko." saad ni Asta habang siya'y papalabas ng nautical bridge. She looked around and saw that the boat is no longer moving. There's a small cliff beside the boat at mukhang dito muna nila iiwanan ang barko upang hindi ito masyadong makita.

"Ah Asta! Pwedeng patulong sa pagbitbit ng bigas? Kakain muna tayo bago tayo umalis." saad ni Shane habang may dala-dala itong mga rekado. Naglakad na ito paalis patungo sa kusina.

Asta sighed and scratched the back of her head as she close her eyes, "Ang aga-aga namang trabaho oh.."

But her eyes flew open when she suddenly heard a loud thud. As if something fell from above. Pagmulat ng kaniyang mga mata ay nakita niya ang isang taong may hawak na isang club. Ang kasuotan nito ay gawa sa balahibo ng hayop at may suot itong malaking ngisi. Asta immediately knew what the man is. She immediately shouted to warn the others, "There's a--!!" ngunit bigla na lamang may humampas ng malakas sa kaniyang ulo mula sa likod dahilan para siya'y mahilo at mawalan ng malay.

Shane screamed when some man suddenly grabbed him and put him on his shoulder. Nagpumiglas naman siya dahil sa gulat at takot. Mabilis niyang pinagsususuntok ang likod nito, "Bitawan mo 'ko! Hoy! Sino ka ba?! Isusumbong kita kay Zai! Tulong!"

The man clicked his tongue, "Lintek, ang ingay ng isang 'to."

Akmang sisigaw muli si Shane ngunit bigla na lamang siyang ibinaba at mabilis na sinikmuraan. Dahilan para siya'y mawalan din ng ulirat.

Trois and the others just raised their hands, indicating that they're willing to come with them. Itinali ng mga ito ang kanilang mga kamay at tinulak pababa ng barko. One even pushed Claysen again, causing for his body to land on the rocky surface. Ero clicked his tongue, "You don't have to be rough on the kid! Bata lang 'yan!"

The man only smirked, "Mga trespassers pa rin kayo. Lupa namin 'to at wala kayong magagawa kundi ang sumunod sa amin kung gusto niyo pang tumagal."

Claysen just gritted his teeth and stood up on his own, "Ayos lang ako."

Ganon ang kanilang sitwasyon noong bigla na lamang dumating si Zai. Nakatayo ang dalaga sa medyo may kataasang talampas. They all felt her big presence and when they looked up to her, their eyes widen when they saw two sharp pair of eyes looking down at them. Ang mga hindi kilalang tao ay saglit na natigilan sa malamig na presensya nito.

One man snapped back and gritted his teeth. He then pulled Rui and pointed a dagger at his neck, "Bumaba ka rito!"

The girl's expression didn't change. Nanlaki na lamang ang mga mata ng lalaki at siya'y bahagyang napaatras noong bigla na lamang lumitaw ang babae sa kaniyang harapan. Zai clicked her tongue, "You're gonna tie my hands or what?" she said and showed her closed hands.

They were confused pero tinali na rin nila ang kamay nito. They began to walk away as they point their weapons at Zai and the others. Pumasok sila sa gubat at naglakad patungo sa kapitolyo ng bansang ito.

As they walk in silence, Zai glanced at the men who's escorting them. She immediately knew that they're the type of fighters who relies on their animal instincts. She could feel their little beasty presence. She smirked. The citizens of Northernium and the citizens of Southernia are quite similar. Almost all of their citizens know how to fight but Southernia is different. They're natural beasts.

Sinbad and the others looked around. Malalaki ang mga puno at halatang ilang siglo na rin ang mga itong nakatayo. Ilang saglit lamang ay nakarinig na sila ng mga ingay. Bonzo toot a whistle when they saw a village. Unlike the other countries, their houses are built on the large trees. On the trunks or on the top. They're also organized. Patag din ang daan na kanilang nilalakaran.

Pinagtitinginan sila ng mga tao habang sila'y naglalakad. Nilampasan nila ang maliit na bayan na iyon at naglakad pa ng mas matagal. As they walk, Shane finally woke up and his eyes widen when he realized that his world is upside down. Itinaas niya ang kaniyang ulo at nakita ang sariling nakalambitin sa isang kahoy na parang baboy. "HOY!"

Ero and the others sighed when they heard Shane's voice. Nagpatuloy naman sa pagsigaw ang binata, "Ibaba niyo 'ko!"

They pretty much ignored him and let him complain. They finally left the forest at tumambad sa kanila ang kapitolyo. The houses are built on ground and the people seemed... carefree. Zai looked at the two boys. They're grinning and laughing even though they're wrestling each other. Zai can't help but to smirk. She loves the atmosphere of their country.

Dinala naman sila sa isang open spaced and all of a sudden, the ground surrounding them formed into a cage, locking them in. Mukhang kagagawan iyon ng isa sa mga lalaking nagdala sa kanila dito. One man grinned, "Hintay lang kayo diyan. The chief will take care of all of you." saad nito at biglang tumawa.

"Hoy! Tulungan niyo naman ako dito!" sigaw ni Shane habang siya'y nakahiga sa sahig at nakatali pa rin ang mga kamay at paa sa kahoy. He frowned when he saw Asta who's also unconscious but they didn't tie her up on a stick.

Ero sighed and removed the vines on his wrist by force. Lumapit naman siya kay Shane at tinanggal na ang mga tali nito. The others also easily removed the vines. It seems that they were confident enough to tie them up with vines only. Tila ba sinasabi ng mga ito na kaya nila silang asikasuhin ng walang problema.

They just stayed there and waited until night finally came. Hindi sila binigyan ng pagkain but they expected that kind of treatment. They're just intruders after all. They also didn't break out of their cage because that could only mean that they're enemies of this country. They came here to get the Mortalia. The least thing they want to do is cause some conflicts here. They can't delay themselves. They have to go to Centrio next.

"Chief!" tumingin sila sa direksyon kung saan nanggaling ang mga boses na iyon. Binabati nila ang isang lalaki. Ang iba ay sumusuntok pa sa braso nito at tila ba hinahamon sa isang duel. But the chief just laughed and told them to wait. Their eyes sharpened when they felt his terrifying presence. It was huge and somewhat... monstrous.

Tumingin sa kanilang direksyon ang lalaki. He suddenly disappeared and they heard a thud above them. He's crouching down as he looks down on them. He looked at them one by one, "Hmm.. nine huh."

Bonzo can't help but to grimaced. Is this how a king should behave?

The chief tilted his head when he saw one of them is not looking at him. Causing for him not to see her face. Bumaba siya at tiningnan ang mukha nito but it was too dark to see. Hinayaan na lamang niya at lumapit sa mga taong nakapalibot na sa buong bakanteng lote.

The chief grinned and raised his both hands when he thought of one thing, "Let's have a fight tonight!"

The citizens roared and they all became excited. They immediately put torches on every corner to illuminate the whole place. Habang sina Trois at ang iba ay nakatitig lamang sa lalaki. He really looks so carefree and young. He looks like a man who's only in his 20s. He's also wearing some clothes that are made from animal fur. Kitang kita ang pang-itaas nito na walang saplot man lang. His long black hair is tied in a ponytail. Matangkad rin ito at sa unang tingin pa lamang ay halatang magaling ito sa pakikipaglaban.

The chief grinned at them as the others are busy preparing, "Now, could you tell me why are you trespassing in my territory? You might live if I say so."

Sinbad answered, "We just want to talk to you, your highness."

Bigla namang tumawa ang lalaki, "Your highness? I'm no royalty! I'm just a chief, not a king! A king is not needed in this free land!"

The residents roared once more and Zai can't help but to chuckle. She really likes the atmosphere. At mukhang alam na niya ang dahilan kung bakit gano'n ang atmospera. Their chief is so carefree and reckless. He's influencing his own people. And Zai think that it isn't bad either.

Lumapit ang lalaki sa kanilang kulungan. Pinitik nito ang isang bahagi ng matibay na kulungan. Their eyes widen when that part of the cage began to crumble. Leaving a hole where they can come out. He just created a large way with just a fillip. The chief put both his hands on his waist as he look at them with eyes that seemed like challenging them. He's also grinning, showing his small natural fangs. "You gotta fight in order for us to have a conversation."

Zai smirked and went to him. She came out and the chief froze when he saw her face that's only a few inches away from his. "Then I'll fight."

The girl's gray eyes are staring directly at his gold ones. Her soft black hair is slightly dancing along with the wind. And the man can clearly smell the pleasant scent of hers.

The chief's eyes widen and his cheeks became red. Nagtaka na lamang sina Ero noong bigla nitong hinawakan ang kamay ng dalaga gamit ang dalawang kamay nito then he looked intently at her eyes, "Will you be my wife?!"

...

All fell silent.