Kale gripped the muscular arm wrapped around his neck in reflex.
His lungs tried to take in air and found pain as a result.
Reaching for the face of the person choking him, Kale barely touched his face but the facial hair seemed to match someone's.
Kale continued to struggle yet he couldn't escape.
Black dots filled his vision as he came close to losing consciousness and probably his life.
He had endured the first creature, the loss of his family and the tests only to die by the hands of another person.
'Wait the tests!' A wave of adrenaline courses through Kale and pushed his drowsiness back by a few seconds.
He lifted his foot and drove it with all his strength into his attacker's ankle.
Eric yelled and loosened his grip a bit and Kale took advantage of that.
When he was younger, he had taken some taekwondo classes but stopped as he got older.
If there was one thing he remembered, it was how to flip someone.
Kale pushed his legs back to shift his center of gravity. He gripped Eric's arms and flipped him over his shoulders.
As soon as Eric landed on the ground, Kale started to assault his ankle
He struck it with blows and kicks with some still aimed at Eric's face.
As far as he knew, Eric had just tried to kill him and he wasn't going to be coy and ask why or be cocky, he was going to make sure that he couldn't try such again.
Amidst kicks, Eric grabbed Kale's foot and pulled him causing him to fall.
He stood proudly over Kale while trying to hide the pain of his trembling leg.
His fist clenched but before he could punch Kale, a figure slammed into him and knocked him out.
Kale stared at Ming standing over Eric's unconscious body. She tutted and spat on him.
"I hate pigs." Her voice was cold and detached.
"And you…" She stared at Kale with a vague intensity.
"Below rudimentary taekwondo skills, rough and animalistic fighting but they got the job done." She adjusted her tracksuit that had gotten a bit rumpled.
"You and your friend aren't completely useless." Then she walked off.
Kale's hand unconsciously still covered his throat from Eric's attempt on his life.
He stared at the man's body. Kale had noticed the not so hidden glares Eric had been giving him and Axel.
Axel had either not noticed or didn't think it was necessary to bring up.
Either way, he had made a move and that made him an enemy to watch out for.
As the adrenaline faded, Kale's throat felt sore.
"So the next thing we are going to do… WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" Axel broke his usually calm tone as worry and a bit of fear creeped in.
"Nothing much. Haha." Kale chuckled.
"This guy had tried to kill me." He sighed, still massaging his throat.
Axel's eyes shook for an instant.
"Kill… you?" Images seemed to flash in his mind before it all vanished and a calm aura spread from him.
"No matter. You go to bed, I'll report him." Axel outstretched his arm and Kale took it.
The former pulled the latter to his feet.
"Won't we need evidence?"
In response, Axel pointed to the side where a camera was.
"To be honest, he probably didn't think this through and acted on the spot." Axel sighed and walked off.
As Kale watched him walk away, he couldn't help but feel worried about his best friend.
Coughing a few times, Kale headed to their room.
He laid on the bottom bunk and drifted off to sleep.
*************
Axel was currently in a dark room with only one bulb and a table with two seats.
Opposite him was Miss Cayenne and a young man.
"I told you that he'd eventually act out of turn
and attack us. I wasn't sure when but even I didn't expect it to be so soon." Axel pulled on one of the two seats and sat.
"Yes. Eric Singfall. He'll be dealt with accordingly. But that isn't why you're here is it?" A wry smile spread on her lips.
"No, you're right. I'm here to accept your offer." Axel leaned back.
"Really?"
"Wait. You made him an offer?!" the young man yelled.
Miss Cayenne snapped her head at him and shut him up.
"What do you want in exchange?" Miss Cayenne went on with business.
"It really is nothing much. All I want is a favour to call up on at anytime. Irrespective of what it is, it'll be done." Axel stayed relaxed.
"Now that's too much even for you." Her smile still hadn't faded. Instead, they only widened.
"But I'll see what I can do. Make sure the request is reasonable because you, just like everyone else are expendible." She stood and left the room, soon followed by the man,
As the sounds of their footsteps vanished, Axel let out a shaky breath.
************
Kale woke up and found himself confused but as his vision settled, saw something spectacular through the window.
In the distance, like a blot on a monotone canvas, was a small island. Their destination.
"In about thirty minutes, we'll be there."
Kale turned and saw Axel carrying a tray of food. "You didn't have dinner." Axel raised teg tray and dropped it on Kale's bed.
"And in case you are wondering, the Phoenix just flew over us and to wherever the hell it came from." Axel suddenly stated after a few minutes of silence.
Kale kept silent.
"Okay, say something. The silence is screaming." Axel waved his hands dramatically.
"Sorry I was just thinking about what we have seen." Kale's eyes stared at the distance.
He was seeing all the creatures he had encountered. First the ink black humanoid thing.
Then the three headed tiger and finally, the phoenix. All creatures that shouldn't exist. It made him think about what else could be out there.
Putting those thoughts in the back of his head, Kale soon devoured his meal.
The small blot slowly enlarged until it covered the horizon. They had arrived.