The night passed without incident, and as soon as the sun rose, everyone took to the streets. The four of them walked with a steady pace, the clinking of silver coins in Kai's bag serving as a constant reminder of their recent victory in the dungeon.

  "We’ll need a large carriage, one where we can carry enough supplies for the journey," Kai mentioned, stopping in front of a stable specialized in long distance transport. Lyla walked by his side, color had returned to her face thanks to Kai’s recent level ups. Following close behind were Allice and Roshia. Roshia was now clean and dressed in the traveling clothes Allice had given her.

  As they walked, Roshia couldn't stop observing Kai with ill disguised curiosity. To her, he was an enigma, he had the aura of a novice, yet his eyes reflected the coldness of a war veteran. After negotiating with a horse dealer, Kai acquired a reinforced oak carriage pulled by two robust draft horses capable of enduring the humid climate. He also spent a good portion of their money on supplies, dry rations, waterskins, magical insect repellent, and blankets.

  "We're ready," Kai announced, climbing into the driver's seat. "Lyla, you know the way to Genesis better than anyone. I need you to be our compass". Lyla nodded, sitting beside him, while Roshia and Allice settled inside.

  Finally, the journey began peacefully through beautiful landscapes. No one spoke during the first few hours of travel, but as the hours and kilometers passed, everyone began to talk comfortably about various topics.

  "Hey, Roshia, how were you captured if you’re a B rank mage?" Allice asked curiously.

  "The group that was transporting me, the ones you killed, weren't the same ones who captured me," Roshia explained in detail, her hands trembling at the memory. "I was living a normal day in my village when, out of nowhere, we were attacked by that organization". "They were strong, very strong, most were B rank, and some were even A rank. Even though we tried to defend ourselves, we couldn't do anything against them".

  Allice placed a hand on Roshia’s shoulder and offered a warm smile, trying to calm her.

  "Then they must be an organization with a lot of resources, right?" Kai joined the conversation.

  "It seems so. That organization has existed for years and years, always enslaving, exploiting, and selling people of different races," Lyla added.

  "That explains why they have these in their possession," Allice said, holding up the antimagic chains.

  "We must be extremely careful then. I don't want us getting into trouble with people like that".

  Nine days of relatively peaceful travel passed, and the group grew increasingly close. This was especially true for Kai and Lyla; she took advantage of every night when they camped to draw close and hug him. Even Roshia began to share her past, speaking of her family and the fear that she might never see them again.

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  On the morning of the thirteenth day, they finally reached the great tropical rainforest of the Kingdom of Genesis. The fresh, dry air was replaced by a heavy humidity that clung to the skin like a second layer. Chaotic vegetation was everywhere, with vines hanging like nooses in plain sight.

  "The road disappears from here on," Lyla warned, pointing to a barely visible path swallowed by the undergrowth. "We are entering the Merg Jungle".

  The sounds of the jungle were deafening, the shrieks of birds Kai had never heard, the rustling of the foliage, and the constant hum of insects the size of a fist. That afternoon, the group decided to stop near a small stream to let the horses rest. Kai was calmly checking the carriage wheels when the rest was interrupted by a dry snap in the treetops.

  [ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]

  Enemy detected.

  Type: Animal.

  Approximate Threat Level: Rank D.

  Distance: 15 meters and approaching.

  "Get down!" Allice shouted, unsheathing her daggers in a flash.

  Five creatures with dark fur and elongated limbs leaped from the trees. They were monkeys, known for their ability to blend into the vegetation. They were fast, much faster than the slave traders. Kai tried to predict their movements, but the jungle confused his senses; the shadows of the leaves created constant illusions.

  "Damn it," Kai exclaimed as one of the monkey's claws grazed his shoulder, tearing his shirt.

  Kai concentrated and attacked again. This time the slash was accurate, cutting through the creature's chest, but the other four were already surrounding the carriage. Kai realized that despite having leveled up and becoming stronger, his lack of experience in irregular terrain was a weakness he needed to improve.

  On the other hand, Allice moved with great skill, eliminating two of the apes in a dance of precise cuts. Roshia extended her hand, and a blast of freezing air frozen the legs of another monkey trying to leap at Lyla. Kai took advantage of the distraction to finish off the last one, driving his dagger directly into the monkey's neck.

  After the confrontation, silence returned to the jungle, broken only by the dripping of the creatures' blood onto the broad leaves. Kai took a deep breath, feeling his heart pounding.

  [ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]

  All enemies defeated.

  Level: 14 ( 20 / 100 )

  "Is everyone okay?".

  They nodded calmly. "We’ve just entered this immense jungle of the Genesis Kingdom and we've already been attacked. Now we have to search the surrounding area for any clues," Kai noted.

  Allice sighed. "The journey was peaceful, but now the real challenge begins. We have to stay together and be careful". Everyone nodded again.

  When night finally fell, they camped under the protection of large trees and giant plants. While Allice lit the campfire, Kai looked out into the deep darkness of the vast jungle. He felt as if thousands of eyes were watching him from the shadows.

  Lyla approached him and placed a hand on his knee. "Don't worry, sweetheart," she whispered. "We're in this together". Kai looked at her and smiled calmly, knowing he was surrounded by good and capable people.

  Roshia sat with them. "I am very grateful that you came to help me. I... I want to see my family again, and rescue all the people those monsters have locked up".

  With the fire burning, Allice joined the conversation. "It’s okay, we’ll set them free". "But first we have to find where they’re keeping them," she sighed. "And in this giant jungle, it could be anywhere".

  Lyla rested her head on Kai's shoulder, giving him a small kiss on the cheek before speaking. "Maybe we can ask for help in the jungle villages. From what I understand, there are many of them scattered throughout the area".

  Kai didn't blush, instead, a small smile formed. "She’s right. We can ask around and hopefully find a lead. We didn't find anything along the way".

  "Then tomorrow we'll head deeper into the jungle and search," Allice smiled.