"Thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five… and thirty-six.”

  So there are thirty-six basins on this island. It’s just like they have thirty-six separate towns…

  Just imagine. It’s warm here, and they are truly happy… If only humans could emulate their way of life. Nah, that’s a wish that will never come true.

  Skylar sat on the peak of a boulder positioned at the very center of a continental-sized island, many kilometers above ground level.

  From this highest point of the landmass, suspended amid a sea of thick, billowing white clouds, Skylar contemplated the world below. He marveled at the beautiful land of the monkeys, watching with fascination—and wistfulness—their enviable lifestyle, lived in natural harmony with the land itself.

  In the far distance, numerous dazzling rays of light emerged from beneath the sea of clouds, bordering and trapping this fantastical flower island, isolating it from the rest of the world. His attention then turned to the thirty-six basins—natural yet mathematically carved—set into the slightly sloping, round face of Flower Island that projected skyward from its center.

  Looking down from his perch, he observed four massive rivers aligned at cardinal angles. They originated from the island’s center—directly below the boulder he sat upon—and flowed gently outward, guided along their banks by towering, thriving trees. He watched as the rivers branched into all thirty-six basins, forming a breathtakingly precise geometric pattern. Their ever-present waters sustained the flourishing, boisterous life cradled within each basin—the monkeys and their harmonious communities.

  Smiling faintly, he focused on one of the city-sized basins, identical in appearance to the others, just as he rose to his feet. He stood atop the island’s highest point, the island appearing to float in a sea of churning clouds.

  All the basins were clearly identical—bursting with colorful flowers and neatly arranged trees. Hmm… it’s like they’re structured into blocks. Those tall tulips standing out must mark the roads linking the blocks. They’re a very intelligent and sophisticated species—road networks, water supply systems, even advanced drainage. And the one thing that really stands out: their houses carved into trees. Some even build theirs atop thick branches…

  "So sophisticated." He muttered.

  He squinted, focusing on a crowded spot in one basin.

  Hmm? Those two are still going at it…

  He sat, then lay back on the smooth, warm surface of the peak, eyes turned toward the sky as a gentle breeze caressed his face.

  “Who is watching?” he murmured, focusing on a particular spot in the blue-and-white sky. It reminded him of the real world, yet it was far more vibrant, the colors substantially more vivid. Blue rays of light illuminated the world below, highlighting his right cheek.

  After about half an hour, he stood again and looked toward the basin he had been watching earlier. Monkey people gathered there, focused on the center of the crowd where a clash was taking place.

  “It should be ending soon,” he muttered.

  After those words, he energized his feet. Bending his legs slightly, he launched himself into the air in a graceful parabola, soaring away from the peak and toward the distant basin.

  Moments later, after landing on sandy clay ground, he coated himself in natural energy and launched himself again. Repeating the process after every landing, he bounced across the terrain like a ball over a sloping surface, rapidly closing the distance to the basin. Bathed in the sky’s radiant light, his figure appeared almost divine to all who glimpsed him—whether in the open or hidden within the shadows of the basins.

  Eventually, he landed on grassy ground some distance from a dedicated sandy field. Surrounding it was a massive crowd of black-furred monkeys—each averaging about three and a half meters tall—engrossed in the clash unfolding before them. Some cheered, some jeered, their thunderous cacophony breathing life into the spectacle.

  As Skylar approached, two monkeys continued their fierce exchange: an ugly, bald gray one and a black one who was clearly taller and bulkier. Wooden staffs clashed repeatedly in their hands, their movements difficult for average human eyes to follow.

  It was obvious to the spectators that the large black monkey was no match for the gray one. Yet despite the growing number of sore bumps on his body—and the pain subtly reflected in his expression—he continued to fight energetically, laughing loudly as though savoring the thrill.

  He’s not bad. Even though that bastard is holding back, the fact that he can fight this long is a testament to his stamina and endurance… but in that regard, I’m clearly several levels above him…

  Skylar’s thoughts paused, perfectly timed.

  The gray monkey struck cleanly, hitting the black monkey squarely on the head while momentarily suspended midair. The crowd fell silent.

  Launched by the blow, the black monkey flew through the space the crowd instinctively parted, passing just inches from Skylar before crashing into a distant bed of flowers behind him.

  This bastard is strong…

  Skylar chuckled. At the same time, he accelerated forward, passing through the path created by the parted crowd. He stopped at the edge of the field, facing the dazzling gray monkey as it landed gracefully on the arena floor.

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  As the gray monkey touched down, nearly half the crowd erupted in cheers, the noise resuming with even greater intensity.

  “They were both not bad,” Skylar muttered.

  He sauntered into the middle of the arena, ignoring the glares and piercing stares of the monkeys as silence fell once more. Stopping in front of the familiar gray monkey, a few seconds passed before the gray monkey’s expressionless face softened into a faint smile. Understanding Skylar’s intent, he tilted his head toward a carved wooden rack filled with weapons of all kinds near the field's edge.

  “I actually don’t use weapons. My physical body is enough,” Skylar said respectfully, clenching his fists and raising them near his chest.

  The bald gray monkey smiled. Skylar smiled too.

  That time, you knocked me out in one hit—I didn’t even understand what happened. But this time, it’ll be different… I promise.

  He reaffirmed his will, kissed his left fist, and moments later felt the signal—a fruit thrown by the monkey-in-charge hitting the ground, marking the start of their clash.

  Unlike the previous round, the crowd watched in absolute silence.

  The gray monkey made the first move, walking casually toward Skylar, whose eyes were locked in intense focus on the wooden staff in his opponent’s hand.

  Then Skylar felt it.

  All his muscles stiffened—everything except his awareness. The world seemingly remained still, save for the gray monkey approaching him.

  My reaction… unlike last time, it’s even slower. Everything looks normal, but it’s like some pressure from somewhere is pressing in on me, and It’s not my body being targeted… it’s something else. Something that’s part of me… He analyzed.

  Yet he remained stunned, unable to move a single muscle.

  Standing before him with a faint smile, the gray monkey raised his staff in the same manner as during their first clash.

  Smile. Smile more, ugly bastard… bring it. I’ll surprise you this time.

  Skylar cackled inwardly.

  At the next instant, perceptive members of the crowd saw him sidestep, narrowly avoiding the staff as it swept past his head. In the next split second, they saw him smile and softly punch the space near the gray monkey’s face—just as the staff slammed into his flank.

  Then everyone saw it.

  Skylar flew like a cannonball, crashing through debris and obstacles until he slammed into a massive tree. He slid slowly down its trunk and collapsed onto the ground, drifting peacefully into unconsciousness.

  The spectators turned to look behind the stunned gray monkey, focusing on the utter devastation left in his wake—thousands of meters away shattered into fragments by a unique force. Some remembered clearly that it had been aimed at the gray monkey’s face.

  At the unusually brief clash, many spectators—both near and far—could not hide their bewilderment. Confusion was written plainly across their faces.

  On the roof of a wooden hut shaped like an inverted mug stood a bearded white monkey of average size, yet brimming with unexpected vitality—the grandfather of the chief and father of the tall gray monkey.

  "That was quite unexpected," he muttered.

  Perched atop a roof draped in a parent species of wisteria, the old monkey gazed with bright, clear eyes—eyes that seemed capable of seeing everything—at the scene of destruction below.

  "Grandfather… is he what I think he is?" a chatter drifted up from the house beneath him.

  The old monkey ignored the question. Stroking his long white beard, he paused—and then, as if he had never been there, his figure faded and vanished.

  A few hours after the clash…

  Beneath a massive tree—a cousin species of maple—bathed in a whitish-blue ray of light filtering through the clouds, Skylar sat leaning against its trunk. Short white grass covered the ground beneath him.

  The spacious field was enclosed by a circular flower hedge of thriving white-flowered plants—a sister species of feverfew—blocking his view beyond as he stared at it vacantly.

  Most of the flowers glowed faintly… but some only glowed when its dark. What can I call them? Conditional bioluminescence? Phosphorescent species? Skylar chuckled. Maybe just night-glowing plants… glow-in-the-dark flowers.

  As he pondered, three monkey figures climbed a broad staircase carpeted in the same white grass, leading toward the hedged enclosure.

  Soon, they emerged through a wide gap in the flower fence, approaching Skylar from behind.

  The stern gray monkey—Jaro—walked at the center, flanked on the right by the bald gray monkey carrying a wooden box, and on the left by the golden monkey, the tallest of the trio, bearing an enormous log on his shoulder.

  "My body is enough. I don’t use weapons. A powerful mantra indeed," Jaro muttered.

  Skylar stood and walked around the tree to face them.

  "Dear please, place it there carefully," Jaro instructed, pointing to a spot beside Skylar. The bald gray monkey complied, setting the box down.

  Turning to the golden monkey, Jaro added, "My nephew, you may drop it anywhere."

  The golden monkey flashed Skylar a smile and leaned the massive log effortlessly against the tree.

  Jaro then faced Skylar fully.

  "Now, young friend, start carving. And as you carve, choose any one of them to spar with. They will remain with you until the carving is finished."

  Reluctant to leave, Jaro glanced at the bald gray monkey—but after receiving a glare, he scratched his head and departed.

  Moments later, the bald gray monkey bowed deeply to Skylar.

  "Thenk… kk… yuu," he finally managed.

  Skylar nodded.

  He can’t speak well… maybe that’s why he looks like a poor old monkey.

  Skylar sat, pulled the box closer, and the bald gray monkey joined him. The golden monkey sat further away in a lotus position, quietly observing.

  I should check my status screen… It’s not like an administrator is here spying on me.

  Skylar smiled and gestured, summoning his status screen.

  “Eh?!" Skylar exclaimed.

  What’s a blue zone? I thought there were only four kinds of zones…

  He willed the screen again.

  A blue zone isn’t a black zone, right? Can I… log out here?

  He stared at the screen, unsure.