Diana and Mark were disappointed to see they would no longer have the chance to keep the fox.

  Since there was nothing they could do, they ate something and went to sleep.

  Stella stayed awake a little later.

  She needed to care for and warm her newly acquired familiar before doing anything else, yet she also went to sleep after resolving the matter of her familiar and eating.

  Seeing everyone go to sleep peacefully, Alexander was amazed at their courage, or stupidity, in going to sleep without organizing a guard duty—especially in the Star Forest.

  "Ignorance really is a blessing," thought Alexander, who dismissed the thought and spread out his bear skin to sleep as well.

  Alexander couldn't tell how much time had passed since he fell asleep, but he knew it wasn't morning yet when Ocean started pushing him until he woke up. It was still dark.

  Dazed from being woken up like that, Alexander tried to pet Ocean to calm her.

  However, feeling more clearly what she was feeling, and noticing her fur was standing on end, he went on high alert.

  Vigilant and alert to possible threats, Alexander was surprised to discover he couldn't sense anything.

  Even though he couldn't sense anything, he didn't doubt Ocean's instincts for even half a second.

  After all, it was by trusting their instincts that he didn't establish night watch shifts.

  Since he couldn't risk any of them screaming and attracting whatever it was to them, Alexander woke his team already covering their mouths, which caused all sorts of misunderstandings.

  Since the situation was serious, he didn't have time to worry about it at the moment.

  "There's something out there stronger than Ocean… Something stronger than me," explained Alexander after waking and gathering everyone.

  Upon hearing his words, his group didn't even pay attention to Alexander placing himself above Ocean.

  They were already too worried about the existence of something stronger than Ocean in the vicinity of the cave.

  "We have two options: stay here and hope the thing outside doesn't find us, or try to flee," said Alexander, almost whispering. "Which one do you prefer?"

  While his group was deliberating on what to do, Alexander felt a powerful fluctuation of energy and became anxious. "Change of plans, we are fleeing… That thing is approaching."

  Upon hearing Alexander's words, Mark mounted his horse and Diana was basically placed on Ocean's back by her.

  The only problem was Stella, who didn't know what to do, as she didn't know how to take her familiar.

  "Get on the horse with Mark and call for her," said Alexander. "She should be able to keep up with the horse's speed for some time."

  "What about later," asked Stella.

  "That will depend on what exactly is out there, and whether it will pursue us or not," answered Alexander grimly. "I don't dare face what's out there in a narrow cave like this."

  With no time to keep talking, Alexander climbed onto Ocean's back—who had no problems with his and Diana's weight—and it took the lead in the attempt at a silent withdrawal from the cave.

  To their surprise, the situation outside the cave couldn't be more peaceful and they managed to exit safely.

  The calm scene made the group sigh in relief.

  This peace didn't last long. As they soon heard Alexander let out a command shout that pierced the night: "RUN!!!"

  Without even understanding the reason for this command, Mark spurred his horse to run in the direction Alexander had indicated earlier.

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  A few seconds after they left the spot where they were parked, a loud collision boom sounded.

  When they turned to see what had happened, they found a large rock where they had been. But the enemy was nowhere to be seen.

  "ON THE GROUND!" shouted Alexander as Ocean advanced toward the other group. "IT'S INSIDE THE GROUND!"

  With Alexander's hint, the mounted group finally knew where to look.

  They saw a stinger rise from the ground and begin accumulating a significant amount of dust, earth, and small rocks at high speed.

  Realizing they wouldn't be able to dodge in time, Mark jumped off the horse. He drew his shield, summoned his {Iron Will}, and deflected the rock the stinger had formed and fired at them.

  Mark was knocked down with the hand holding the shield a bit numb from the impact, but that allowed those with him to stay safe.

  Alexander, who changed Ocean's direction upon spotting the enemy, drew his spear.

  It was his turn to jump off his mount and strike the stinger with all his might.

  The stinger shuddered and emitted some sounds from the impact, but there was no sign of any cut—much less blood.

  "RUN!!!" shouted Alexander again. "LET'S TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE!"

  Everyone immediately agreed with the idea, returned to their mounts, and began moving away as fast as they could.

  Unfortunately for them, the creature didn't seem to agree with their escape and began to pursue them.

  Turning his head and estimating the speed of what was pursuing them, Alexander came to the conclusion that all of them wouldn't be able to escape.

  The creature was moving faster than the horse.

  With this information in mind, Alexander urged Ocean to pull alongside the horse and turned to Stella: "Turn to my side and get ready to jump."

  Alexander's order left Stella so stunned she had no reaction to respond before Ocean moved away from the horse to make space for them.

  Stella was determined not to do the madness of jumping from a horse at high speed until she saw Alexander.

  He jumped off Ocean’s back and, with a wobbly but powerful run, began approaching her horse.

  As Stella shifted into position and prepare to jump from the horse, Alexander approached the horse and shouted to her against the wind: "JUMP WITH YOUR LEGS AND ARMS SPREAD!"

  Stella, who was about to jump, became even more confused by Alexander's last words.

  Since it was too late to back out, she could only obey to avoid getting hurt.

  When Stella jumped from the horse, Alexander kicked the ground, going to meet her.

  Just before their bodies collided, he grabbed her waist and spun her, still in the air, backwards while moving his body in front of hers.

  To minimize the impact from their speed difference, Alexander moved swiftly.

  In a single fluid motion, he placed his abdomen between her legs, spun her in the air, and cradled her head on his shoulder.

  He completed an almost perfect spin, still in the air, and resumed running as soon as he touched the ground.

  The position they ended up in couldn't be more ambiguous, but Alexander couldn't care less about it in that situation. "Stabilize your body as needed and fire your explosive spell at that thing."

  Upon hearing him, Stella, who couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by the situation, finally understood his plan.

  She was far more stable than she’d been on horseback, and now she was facing the enemy.

  As soon as Stella finished adjusting her body, Alexander held her with his arms and increased his speed upon feeling the thing behind them getting closer.

  "Don't aim at the part that's visible," warned Alexander upon noticing Stella was about to cast her spell. "Its real body is a bit ahead, below the ground."

  "Alright," said Stella before casting her spell.

  "BOOOOOOM" roared the explosion.

  "What was the result?" asked Alexander.

  "It tried to dodge. I didn't manage to hit it squarely," answered Stella, feeling a bit disappointed.

  "What are you waiting for then?" asked Alexander. "Fire another."

  Stella was about to say she couldn't. Casting several spells of that level in a row was very difficult.

  She then noticed Alexander's irregular breathing from excessive effort.

  Knowing it made no sense to ask if he was okay, Stella just forced herself to keep casting spells.

  Noticing that his idea wasn't driving away the thing that pursued them, only slowing it down a bit, Alexander told Stella to stop and catch her breath.

  The group would soon have to make a decision about what to do next since his idea had failed.

  After speeding up a bit and pulling alongside the horse and Ocean, Alexander "laid out the cards on the table": "My idea failed."

  After catching his breath, he continued: "Since this thing is faster than your horse, we only have two options: split up, so that you have at least a chance to escape; or we all stay together and fight."

  The team members looked at each other for a moment. This wasn't an easy choice—especially for those who could escape in relative safety on Ocean's back.

  Knowing Alexander couldn't wait much longer, Stella was the first to speak: "Let's stay and fight."

  Seeing that no one objected, Alexander nodded: "Then we fight."

  "But remember that it was YOU who CHOSE to fight," added Alexander in a deadly calm and cold voice. "So, if any of you betray me to try to escape, I will ensure your end is premature and very painful."