Training

The fleet slowly approached. From afar, Stillhunt Island was blanketed in dense forest, its shoreline lined with jagged reefs as wind and waves continuously battered the coast.

Akali put away the map. "This is Stillhunt Island. Once we land, all personal belongings must be left on the ship. Nothing may be brought ashore."

Shalria gazed at the desolate island, a faint sense of fear rising in her heart.

Amira and Amina exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with anticipation.

Charlos stepped onto the island, his feet landing on the rough reef-strewn ground.

Akali walked over to him. "From now on, none of you may leave this forest. You will spend the next two years here. A CP agent has already been assigned to the island and will be responsible for your special training."

Amira and Amina turned toward the sound.

Black Crow, dressed in a black suit and wearing a mask, slowly emerged from the woods. He gave Akali a slight nod.

Akali looked at everyone. "From this moment on, you are all under his authority."

Charlos looked at the man before him and extended his hand. "I look forward to your guidance."

Black Crow completely ignored his outstretched hand and delivered a vicious kick.

Caught off guard, Charlos crashed heavily onto the beach.

"What is this?!"

Akali spoke calmly. "This is the clan leader's arrangement. During special training, all your Celestial Dragon privileges are revoked. You will no longer receive any preferential treatment because of your status. Your original treatment will only be restored once the two years of training are over."

Amira and Amina exchanged a look. Their forms abruptly changed as they transformed into angel and fallen angel forms respectively, charging fiercely at Black Crow.

Black Crow lightly sidestepped their pincer attack, then immediately unleashed two sharp kicks that struck both sisters.

Amira and Amina were sent flying by the tremendous force, smashing hard into the nearby woods.

Shalria clenched her fists at the sight and shouted angrily, "Ah! I'll fight you!"

Charlos shook his head and barely pushed himself to his feet, hurriedly shouting, "Shalria, don't!"

As soon as he spoke, he clenched his fists and charged at Black Crow as well.

The sun set, dyeing the entire sky crimson.

The fierce battle came to an end, and the sky darkened.

A bonfire burned deep within the jungle, its flames flickering constantly. Charlos, Amira, Amina, and Shalria sat around it, each covered in quite a few injuries.

Shalria held her stomach. "Brother, I'm hungry."

Charlos raised a hand and stroked her head, then turned to look at Black Crow nearby.

"Hey, hurry up and get us something to eat."

Black Crow leaned against a tree trunk, looking as though he were dozing off.

"Hey, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"

Black Crow still showed no reaction.

Charlos felt his anger rise. He grabbed a stone beside him and threw it at Black Crow.

Black Crow leaped up and easily dodged the stone, then turned and vanished into the jungle.

"Damn it, he actually ran away!" Charlos muttered irritably. "This is so annoying."

Shalria asked uneasily, "Brother Charlos, what do we do now?"

Charlos stood up. "Wait here. I'll find something for you to eat."

Amira immediately rose to her feet and turned to instruct Amina.

"Little sister, stay here and take good care of Shalria. I'll go with Saint Charlos to look for food."

Amina nodded seriously.

Amira broke into a light run and quickly caught up with Charlos, who had already walked away.

The area beside the bonfire instantly fell silent. The dark woods around them were frighteningly quiet, while the night wind rustled through the trees.

Looking at the pitch-black forest, Shalria felt a little scared. She quietly moved closer to Amina and obediently leaned against her shoulder.

Amina gently wrapped an arm around her, her voice soft but exceptionally reassuring.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

"Mm."

Charlos walked slowly through the woods as Amira hurried after him.

"Why did you follow me? Stay by the fire and wait. I'll come back once I find food."

Amira smiled.

"I came with you in case you can't find anything to eat."

"You don't trust me that much?"

"Yeah."

"That hurts."

As they walked, a fork in the road appeared ahead.

"Which way?"

"Left if it's heads, right if it's tails."

"Fine."

Charlos took out a gold coin and flicked it into the air. The coin spun several times before landing on the ground with a slap.

The two crouched down and stared at it. The coin was standing upright on the ground.

Charlos said, "That doesn't count. Let's toss it again."

Amira took the coin and tossed it upward.

The coin spun rapidly through the air when, out of nowhere, a bird darted over, snatched it in its beak, and flapped away into the depths of the forest.

"How are we supposed to count that?"

"Huh? Where did it go? How are we supposed to count that, Charlos?"

"Chase it!" Charlos took off running.

"Oh, wait for me!"

The two immediately ran after the bird, charging into the pitch-black forest.

Charlos and Amira followed the bird closely, desperately chasing it through the dense woods.

Charlos suddenly leaped high and reached out to grab it, but missed. The bird flapped its wings and climbed higher.

"Ah!"

"Leave it to me!"

Amira instantly switched into her angel form, spread her wings, and caught the falling Charlos.

But the earlier fight had drained too much of her strength. She could not maintain her angel form, and her wings vanished in an instant.

The immense momentum carried both of them straight out of the forest, where a cliff lay beneath their feet.

Charlos looked down at the rushing river below the cliff, then looked at Amira beside him.

"We're done for."

By the bonfire, Shalria sneezed.

Amina held her a little tighter.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm just too hungry, and it's a little cold at night."

Amina looked around, her gaze quickly settling on a large tree not far away.

"Wait here a moment."

She stood and ran toward the tree.

Shalria looked up at her, her face full of confusion.

Amina jumped lightly onto the trunk, picked several fruits, and quickly returned to the bonfire.

"Have a few bites of fruit to tide you over first."

Shalria took a fruit, casually rubbed it, and bit down hard.

"Ptooey, ptooey! What kind of fruit is this? It's so astringent!"

"Is it really that bad?"

Amina picked up a fruit herself and took a bite, only to spit it out immediately.

"This fruit doesn't seem to be ripe."

The two looked at each other and sighed together.

"Sigh... when will they come back?"

A sudden sound came from deep within the jungle.

"Who's there?"

The two immediately stood up, taking fighting stances as they stared at the shadow approaching the bonfire.

After a moment, the shadow slowly came into view. It was Amira.

She was drenched from head to toe, covered in branches and torn leaves, and looked utterly bedraggled.

"Hey, Sister, why is it you? Where is Saint Charlos?"

"I'm here."

Charlos returned as well, his head hanging low and his face filled with dejection.

"You didn't bring back any food?"

"I did."

"Where is it?"

Charlos slowly turned around.

When Shalria and Amina saw what was behind him, they immediately burst into laughter.

"Stop laughing. Help me get them off first. It really hurts."

"Then why didn't you ask Sister to help you take them off?"

"We tried. These fish are biting down too hard. We can't pull them off at all."

Shalria hurried around behind Charlos and reached out to try pulling one of the fish.

"Ow, it really is biting hard!"

She tilted her head, her face full of confusion.

"But come to think of it, why did these fish only bite Brother Charlos?"

Amina also came closer.

"Come to think of it, the two fish are pretty symmetrical. One bite on the left, one on the right."

"Enough, stop talking and help me get them off. I'm afraid my butt won't survive today."