After Jed consumed the glowing stone from the crimson monkey, he felt strength returning to his body—his fatigue vanished, and the lingering pain in his back faded completely. Realizing that survival was now within reach, he began forming a plan. The nearby pond, although dangerous, could be vital. If he could build a camp near it, he could secure water and bait monsters for food.
With urgency, he began gathering sticks, large leaves, and any sturdy material he could find. He built a makeshift tent, covering it with broad leaves to shield himself from the chilling night air. For a bed, he layered small leaves to insulate himself from the cold ground.
Next, he tried something he'd only ever seen on YouTube—making fire with dry wood. It took multiple attempts, but eventually, a spark ignited, and warmth flickered to life. Jed smiled with tired satisfaction. He roasted the remaining monkey meat and planned to reheat it for breakfast.
As the meat cooked, Jed looked up at the foreign sky. The two moons—one red, one blue—glowed above him, surrounded by unfamiliar stars. A wave of longing washed over him. He missed his mother, his friend Yun… even his school. A single tear fell onto the forest floor. But he steeled his heart. He had to survive. He had to find a way back.
That night, wrapped in leaf blankets beside the fire, he drifted into a deep sleep.
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The Next Morning
Jed awoke to strange rustling and hoots echoing from the tall trees above. Cautiously, he peeked through a small flap in his tent.
Dozens of crimson monkeys perched in the branches, watching, waiting. He froze—any wrong move could alert them. Slowly, Jed crept out and searched for a lone monkey he could ambush for food and another energy-giving stone.
Eventually, he spotted one drinking from the pond. It looked different—larger, with three tails and dark stripes across its fur.
That must be a higher rank, he thought. Maybe an alpha.
Despite the danger, he had no choice. Silently, Jed crouched and approached while its group was far off. Just as he closed the distance, a gust of wind blew his scent toward the creature. It snapped its head around and locked eyes with him.
The monkey lunged.
Jed assumed a fighting stance, anchoring his left foot forward, weapon in hand. As the monkey neared, he aimed a stab at its head—but it ducked with uncanny speed, grabbed his shirt, stepped on his knee, and launched into a spinning throw.
Jed flew through the air and crashed into a tree.
Groaning, he rose—surprisingly less injured than expected. That stone really did boost my body…
The monkey growled, preparing for another attack. Jed quickly picked up a nearby rock and hurled it with all his strength. To his surprise, it struck the monkey's head with perfect accuracy, knocking it out cold.
Panting, he walked over, dismembered the monkey as before, and collected its glowing core—larger than the previous ones. He swallowed it. Instantly, his bruises faded and his energy returned.
As he made his way back to his tent, he noticed something strange on a nearby rock: a carved symbol—faint and weather-worn, but eerily familiar.
It was the same symbol the old beggar had written on the red paper.