“Where are you going?”

  Yona asked as she followed Kuzunoha on the wall of flesh. Kuzunoha still hadn't answered, so the girl could only follow.

  It didn't take long for them to reach a place where they could walk. Albina and Yoru were now relieved enough to get off the backs of their two carriers, their feet feeling the ground again instead of empty space.

  “If this follows the creature's anatomy, this is the way.”

  Kuzunoha muttered instead of explaining. She led the group through corridors thick with a fishy draft, the damp ground constantly rising and falling with a heartbeat. They followed a long path filled with thick red cords, as massive as thousand-year-old trees. Following it to the end of the path, they saw a gleaming surface.

  “We've arrived.” Kuzunoha exclaimed, grinning widely.

  “It looks just like a giant mirror.” Yoru commented upon seeing his yellow-tinged reflection on the concave surface.

  “Is this the back of the snake's eyeball?” Albina asked.

  “Exactly, Albina-chan.”

  The female Beastfolk gave a thumbs up, her fox ears swaying. Her gaze shifted to Yona. “And you, kiddo, will take on the role of 'opening the eyes' of this snake, with firepower!”

  “If we've made it this far… how do we ensure we destroy the Black Giant Snake's brain as well?” Yoru asked after looking around.

  “In that case, we need to split into two groups, because I don't think I can destroy both at the same time.” Yona commented.

  “Nice, you're thinking things through! Because of that, this big sis has a present for a good girl.”

  Kuzunoha clapped her hands together. A small, smoky explosion erupted right next to her. Inside the grey smoke were a few items: a detonator box next to bundles of wired TNT, and finally, an RPG.

  “Jajaan ~.” The fox Beastfolk sang out, gesturing toward the items like a magician finishing a trick. “This is for you, Yona-chan ~.” She tossed the RPG to the girl.

  “So…” Yona caught it, her hands caressed and her gaze fixed on the gun. “I need to use this to shoot the Black Giant Snake, right?”

  “That's the plan.” Yoru nodded slightly.

  “Then, what's all this explosive for?” Albina looked at the remaining items and turned to Kuzunoha.

  “Might as well use it to fully roast this black snake's brain ~.”

  The fox Beastfolk smiled radiantly, her pair of glistening fangs clearly visible.

  “Very… explosive.”

  Yoru chuckled, trying to cover his mouth.

  Zap

  The sound of crackling electricity rang out. Flashing blue light drew the group's gaze. They saw electricity running all over Yona's gun. It transformed, its shape bulging, its structure becoming more grey and metallic, with new parts emitting a faint pale blue light.

  “Same power as Allan, just as expected.” Yoru commented.

  “A gun like this has much more firepower than an Assault Rifle. Destroying this snake is entirely possible!”

  “This gun…” Yona shifted her gaze from the weapon to the giant golden eyeball. “How big will the explosion be…”

  “We'll find out soon enough.” Albina said resolutely. ”But we need to update Ms. Elina and prepare a safe spot before we fire.” She touched her index fingers together. “It would be nice if we could test its effectiveness and safety first, but unfortunately, the situation is urgent.”

  “Why don't you use something with even more firepower, like from a game, or pull out a mech?” Yoru rubbed his chin and asked Kuzunoha.

  “Thanks to someone having low magic energy, my abilities are also very limited.” The fox Beastfolk glared at her master.

  “My bad…” Yoru bowed his head slightly, giving a forced smile.

  “Will everything be okay…” Yona looked at her own metallic hands and murmured. “I let myself get eaten by a Monster, now Allan-nii is a stone statue... Can I save him and protect Mama…?”

  “We can't know for sure.” Albina gently gripped Yona's hardened hand. “But we have to try.”

  “But…” Yona replied, her voice trembling slightly.

  “Just like how Allan and everyone else are fighting outside.” Albina held her hand with both of hers, a gentle, unwavering smile on her face. “As long as you haven't given up, you can still succeed. So don't be afraid, everyone will lend you a hand.”

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “...”

  Yona fell silent. She contemplated her family's current situation—some imprisoned, others unsafe. The image of Allan shattering, the sight of Elina being swallowed by the snake, all made Yona shudder.

  “...You're right.” Yona gripped Albina's small hand. “If I do nothing, everything will only get worse!”

  Without answering immediately, the young Bard picked up her ocarina and played a melody. Light radiated with the music, twisting and flowing toward Yona. It permeated her hearing system, slowly soaking into the energy core beating inside her chest.

  “We'll be right behind you.” Albina stopped playing and smiled gently, an expression that brought a feeling of peace.

  “...Um!” Yona nodded firmly, a new energy coursing through her circuits. “Let's do this!” She gripped the gun tightly, her radiant face having returned.

  ---Outside the Black Giant Snake, on the sand---

  “Well… I never thought such unbelievable things existed out there.” H?ggormur stroked his chin, his thin, snake-like tongue flicking out. “Buildings filled with glass, tall, shining day and night. Cars that need no beasts, flying through the sky. Great Portals in cities that can easily reach the stars.”

  “Hahah, and I have to admit, this wine, this Goodberry fermented with poisonous bee honey, has such a hilarious origin.” Cide laughed loudly while sipping from a wooden cup, his other hand slapping his thigh. “A bee got so engrossed in eating magic fruit that it let honey spill everywhere, forgetting the rest of the fruit until it fermented. Then a thirsty monk came along and took a drink, hah!”

  Cide took a gulp, then quickly put a hand to his ear. He nodded slightly and set the cup down.

  “Looks like my side is ready.” Cide stood up and brushed the sand off his pants. ”Thank you, sir, for your patience.”

  “So soon…” H?ggormur chuckled, rising slowly to his feet without using his hands. “Since you treated me, I will ensure you are the last to be killed, or perhaps spared, depending on your attitude, Cide of the USA.” He tossed the phone back to its owner.

  “I won't forget your generosity.” The corners of Cide's mouth curled up high as he put the phone in his pocket. ”And, if you'll excuse me.”

  The instant Cide finished speaking, he vanished. Or rather, he was a considerable distance away. When H?ggormur tried to look closely near the horizon, the gun-wielding Fighter shrank after each disappearance and reappearance, until he was completely out of sight.

  “...A land where life isn't something so easily discarded.”

  H?ggormur murmured, his smile fading. The night scene before him was filled with tall buildings, and on the sand, streams of people walked about without a care. The sound of laughter and chatter gradually drowned out the cold wind, and the night sky was illuminated by warm sunlight, not a scorching heat.

  “It sounds like a dream.” H?ggormur blinked, and the desolate desert landscape under the moonlight returned. “I wish I had heard of such a promised land before.” He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at the Black Giant Snake in the distance.

  ---Allan's Location---

  “Hm?” Allan blinked a few times and looked around. “I thought… I was turned to stone?”

  He looked down at his hands and his body. The grey color was still on Allan's body, and the notification screen inside his helmet still indicated his body was now stone.

  “What's go-” Allan wondered, then another question appeared in his head. ”Is my voice… getting higher?”

  “And you've grown ears.”

  “Huh?”

  Allan jumped at the voice behind him. When he turned, he realized Jei was standing there with his arms crossed.

  “What do you mean?” Allan asked.

  “I've cured your body's paralysis.” Jei smirked.

  “But…” He touched his throat as he spoke. “My voice… sounds different?”

  “Take out your phone and see for yourself. It'll be easier to understand.”

  Jei pointed a finger at his pocket area, though it was currently part of the leg armour. Allan pulled his smartphone from it, switched to the front camera, and turned on the flash. On the phone screen, he saw two sharp things on his helmet that looked like animal ears. His frame and armour seemed slimmer, making him feel less masculine.

  “... What happened?”

  Allan asked after a moment of failing to comprehend the phenomenon. Instead of answering, Jei just smiled and nodded.

  “Don't tell me you…” Sweat began to roll down his cheek.

  “That's right.” Jei gave a thumbs-up. “You can call me Dr Stone.”

  “But my body is still stone!” Allan shouted as he put the phone away.

  “Better than not being able to move.” Jei said, patting him on the shoulder reassuringly.

  “Also…” He touched his helmet, then startled. ”That's right! Who's with Elina-san right now?!”

  “Cide's already handling that.” Jei replied.

  “...What about the two Gunbeast girls?”

  Instead of answering, Jei pointed off into the distance. Following his finger, Allan saw the Black Giant Snake moving. In front of it were a few small, flashing specks of light. Zooming in, he saw the two Gunbeast girls. They were struggling to flee from the Monster snake, looking back to fire a few shots as they ran. The snake wasn't moving fast; in fact, it was rather slow, its head held high above the ground. It didn't seem to be in any hurry to chase the two girls.

  “... You gave them a tough job.” Allan narrowed his eyes.

  “They'll be fine.” Jei nodded while pulling a scroll from his Bag of Holding. “Meld into Stone.”

  The scroll in Jei's hand glowed brightly, then disintegrated into grey ash. He walked forward calmly, passing straight through Allan.

  “Huh!” Allan yelled. ”What are you doing!”

  “Preparing, of course.”

  Jei's voice echoed from inside Allan. The Artisan doctor's arms phased out, and he pulled a pair of gauntlets, a pair of boots, and a chest plate from his bag. Jei calmly put them on, then slipped Allan's hands into the gauntlets and his feet into the boots.

  “What's the plan?” Allan tried to grasp the situation, but it was too bizarre for him to imagine.

  “I'm going to 'pilot' you to fight the Archdruid.”

  Jei said as his hands began to move. Allan's arms were pulled along by the gauntlets' movements. His hands took the new chest plate, unstrapped the old one, and put the new one on over his petrified chestplate.

  “This feeling of being controlled is so weird.”

  Allan commented. The situation couldn't help but remind him of the game Meta Child—how he controlled Yona to help her fight.

  “Will this be okay?” Allan asked, unclear if he was worried or curious.

  “Have faith in the healing skills of this Jei-sensei. I have years of experience.”

  Jei replied, his voice unchanged, without a single stutter or tremor. His demeanor made Allan think more of a fighter before a match than a doctor. Of course, he'd feel calmer if the opponent was a normal human, not a Spellcaster using a snake bigger than Godzilla!

  “I'm still not clear on what kind of healing this is, Dr Jei.” Allan asked for more details. “And what exactly is your 'experience' in!”

  “Just trust me.”

  Jei said, then began to try bouncing on two feet, and Allan's whole body bounced along. The doctor raised two fists and threw a few punches. Each one made a whooshing sound, despite the surroundings being mostly the sound of sandy wind.

  “Your body is light and easy to move.” Jei commented as he picked up Allan's Assault Rifle. ”Even the weapon feels as light as a feather.”

  “... You figured that out fast.” Allan was dumbfounded.

  “It's a professional habit.”

  Jei replied. Based on his tone, Allan could imagine the doctor was smiling with the corners of his mouth pulled up high.

  “Can you change the gun?” Jei asked.

  “Change it…”

  Allan wondered at the request. But the next second gave him his answer. The weapon in his hand grew longer, cylindrical, looking like an RPG.

  “Perfect.” Jei nodded, which made Allan do the same.

  “Eh, how!” Allan held the gun, his brain still failing to process the new information.

  “It's because your sister received a weapon from Kuzunoha.” Jei explained simply. “You two share the same type of power, like Star Platinum!”

  “So…” Allan sighed in relief. “Yona and the others are still safe.”

  “Correct.” Jei clenched and opened his hand. “So, we have to do our part, too. That is, if you want to be the hero who saves the damsels. Not counting Yoru, of course.”

  “Hah,” He chuckled. “If I'm the hero, then so are you, Dr Jei.”

  “I'd rather be the president.” Jei replied curtly, and began to walk toward the massive target.

  “I just hope… I can be a Hunter who can take down any Monster.” Allan stopped laughing, his eyes fixed on the Black Giant Snake.

  [Whose voice is that?] Yona's voice came over the comms.

  “Yona, are you okay!” Allan put a hand to his ear and quickly asked.

  [Ah, I'm fine. But who is sister?] Yona was confused.

  “Ah, well…” Allan hadn't thought through the explanation.

  “It's Allan.” Jei answered the question. “By the almighty power of my medicine.”

  [EEEH!] The girls' voices shrieked in unison over the comms.

  “I hope it's not what I'm thinking.” Yoru's voice was skeptical.

  “You can call me Dr Stone.” Jei announced loudly, pointing a thumb at himself even though no one was there to see.

  [Shouldn't it be Ishmael?] Yoru snorted.

  “I haven't gone whale hunting. Not yet.” Jei snapped his fingers decisively.

  [I'm pretty curious what you look like now.] Cide chimed in, his voice flat.

  [You must look hilarious.] Kuzunoha said with an accompanying giggle.

  [Or he might look very cute.] Yona sounded eager.

  [If Allan-nii was in a Monster form, I bet it would be very interesting.]

  “...”

  Albina commented, followed by a silence from the group.

  Notes:

  Mech: a large, piloted machine

  Dr Stone: Doctor Stone

  Meld into Stone: merge into stone