Chapter 8: Encounter

After jumping abruptly through the portal. I landed on a huge grass patch. 

The Spirit Turtle materialize into a physical shape being, to my surprise.

Previously back home, the spirits were not materialized in a physical form. They were almost more of a ghostly figure.

Imagine Peter Pan's twinkle bell, like that but translucent. 

So how did the turtle tugged me previously? 

To be honest, I have no idea. 

It does look like it used up a lot of energy just to materialize it's beak just to pull me.

Then again that was only based on what I observed.

The turtle tend pointed the trail mark left behind by out unknown assailant. 

From there we proceed to where the direction of the trail leads to. 

The path gradually took us to different terrians the further we went. 

It went from:

Grassy Patch ---> Heavy Rainforest ---> The Deep Swarms.

Though as the journey went deeper, it seems that the issue doesn't end with a simple kidnapping.

When we were at the Heavy Rainforest, there were signs of civilization that a certain tribe lives here, but was forced to flee.

The town per say was build along side with the Rainforest, meaning as the trees grow thicker and bigger, so would the village prosper even more. 

"Hello? Anybody home?" I yelled at the entrace of the supposed village, surprised that this time I was able to project my voice out when using the mask.

However not a single life form was heard or seen.

It was a ghost town.

There were books, food and tools all scattered and thrown everywhere. It seemed as if they abandoned their homes.

No dead bodies were found as well. 

The village was well-build, the structures were made of wood for the most part. It was really sturdy due to the Rainforest itself being a support for the housing. 

The town was also using the Rainforest's denseness as a camouflage as well. It was purely luck because of the trail that I was able to stumble upon it.

But the town was built on a smaller scale not fit for human. 

Which meant it was not meant for human. 

After scanning the village , the turtle and I continued on the path which lead to the deep swarm.

However from here it got apparent. The path took a dark turn when signs of struggle starts to show up.

Corpses. Corpses of what I could only assume as the supposed species earlier on. 

There were body parts that was scattered everywhere. Looks like whatever killed them did it fast because, most of the dead bodies ended with bite marks.

The species of the tribe looked like a bunch of dog-like creatures. With hands and feet instead of paw.

As I surveyed around for more clues, looked like some of them tried to fight back. However it seemed that there's no chance. 

At one corner of the swamp, all there was left was a single Spear. 

Which ultimately tells you the story of a mighty warrior's last stand, protecting someone.

Because behind the Spear was a thick bush, and inside those thick bush were 2 of baby dog-liked creatures and one small human girl.

One of the Dog-like creatures was hugging the other 2 of his companion stare at me with a deep killing intent. He starts growling with tears rolling from his eyes.

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I backed off, putting my hand up with my palm facing out trying to show that I'm friendly.

I asked "I mean no harm, are you hurt?"

Looks like the Mask offers some sort of translation for the creatures because after hearing those words, and seeing the turtle floating around me. He let's his guard down and collapeses. 

The remaining 2 of it's companion woke up and tried to protect the one that just collapse. 

I assure them no harm as I took my bag out and gave them some food that I salvage back in the village.

As they calm down and eat, I asked:

"What happened here. Did you come across any human body"

The younger dog-like creatures starts by introducing himself and his companion. 

They are a species of kobold and the girl was someone they adopted when they were hunting for food and found her as a baby.

The older brother is called Trek, whereas the younger brother is Sab. The small girl was called Luck.

Sab explained that all this happened because of the weird door that appeared in the grass patch.

At first the kobold found the door with the portal and deemed it dangerous, so that they would stay clear of it.

However it looked as if something came along with the door.

Something menacing. At first they didn't know what it was, however it seemed that by the time they noticed it's too late. 

One by one the members of the village disappears. The members of the villager that was kidnapped was always a female and at the end the trail always ends at the deepest part of the swamps.  

The villagers had no choice but to go to the portal to seek is there anything that can save their village. What they found were humans with spiritual creatures beside them hanging around.

They thought that they could offer the human and the beast as offering. So they kidnapped one and left it at the swamps.

The offering worked, as the Kobold stopped disappearing for a while.

However it was but for a moment only where it started again.

In the end, the Kobold was no longer able to kidnapped another human as no human would be close to where the door was located at.

 It might be due to the notice and flyer regarding the missing students, that's why no one wanted to linger there anymore.

It got impatient and kidnapping more villagers. Trek and Sab' mother were one of those kidnapped.

In the end, the entire villager came to the swamp armed with weapons to confront it.

The end result is as shown.

Utter defeat.

 Sab and Trek's father were the only one left, protecting his children with one lone Spear.

Shhiiieeekkkh-!!!

"....."

"Looks like we know where it is now."

"Are you going to go?" Sab asked, clenching his fist tightly.

"Well, I have to. Turtle, take care of them for me."

"Can I make a request?" Sab asked again, clenching his fist even harder, his body starts shaking.

"Please, kill that thing for my village, for me and my family." He asked lifting his head up, holding back in tears while trying to pass me his father's Spear.

I grabbed the Spear firmly and head towards the scream.

"Stay right there, I'll be back."

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