After Emma hid herself and her companions inside the bark of the tree, exhaustion finally overcame her, and she, too, fell asleep.
Morning came, and as the first rays of light touched the massive branches, David awoke. Looking around, he noticed that the two girls were still sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to disturb them, he carefully slipped out of the tree's hollow and stepped into the open.
The tree was colossal, its branches stretching more than five hundred meters across. Turning back, David's eyes widened in awe. He had never seen something so immense before.
Walking around the trunk, he spotted a fruit high above, its skin the color of fresh blood. Climbing up the tree, he reached out to pluck it, but suddenly a shiver ran through his body. His instincts screamed in warning, and a cold certainty flashed across his face — he must not take it.
Withdrawing his hand, he climbed down and returned to the others. Sitting quietly, he let his gaze wander toward the vast ocean.
Ten minutes later, Emma stirred awake, followed shortly by Lucy.
"You're awake," David said calmly.
"Yes," Emma replied.
Suddenly, Lucy pressed herself against David and whispered, "Thank you… Thank you so much for not leaving me back then."
David froze. No one had ever thanked him for anything before. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he replied, "It's nothing. We're a team."
Emma, watching the scene unfold, added in a serious tone, "We're not alone on this land."
David and Lucy turned to her. "What do you mean?" they asked in unison.
Emma lowered her gaze. "When I brought us here yesterday, I heard a roar. That's why I hid us inside the tree. Soon after, a demon passed nearby… its power was overwhelming."
"I see," David muttered, his expression thoughtful.
Just then, Lucy's stomach growled loudly, and her face flushed red.
"Are you hungry?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Lucy admitted shyly.
"Alright. I'll find something for us," Emma said and left to search for food.
Time passed. David began to feel a strange drowsiness, as though something was pulling him into sleep. Unable to resist, he lay down and drifted off.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw Emma and Lucy standing over him. Tears streamed down Lucy's face as she cried, "David, please… don't fall into this state. You're our only hope!"
Helpless, David could only watch her cry. He wanted to speak, but no words came.
And then he woke.
Before him, Emma and Lucy were eating the crimson fruit.
"What are you doing?!" David shouted, his voice sharp with panic.
The two girls froze, startled by his reaction.
"David, maybe you should eat too," Emma said, offering him one of the fruits.
He slapped her hand away. "No, I don't want it!" But even as he said it, an unbearable hunger gnawed at his insides, stronger with every passing moment.
He watched them bite into the fruit, the crimson juice running down their hands like blood. The sight consumed him, drowning his resistance.
At last, David grabbed a fruit and bit deeply into it.
Emma and Lucy exchanged glances, surprised at his sudden change, but quickly dismissed it as
nothing more than hunger after going so long without food.