The town was barely blinking awake, its roosters only beginning their sleepy crowing, when Alex landed at the foot of the mountain—quite literally. A big black raven dove from the morning mist, wings slicing the air like blades, before shapeshifting mid-air into a very naked, very human Alex.
A fraction of a second too late, his clothes blinked onto his body from the spatial ring—but not before Trisha got an eyeful.
"Nice butt," she said casually, arms crossed, leaning on a tree like she had just come back from buying pandesal.
"Enough of that, princess," Alex muttered, yanking at his pants like they had personally betrayed him. "What's your plan? I'm heading into the jungle. Time to do some cleansing. You in?"
"That's what I'm here for. Not for your body," Trisha smirked. "Although that was an unexpected perk, let's scout first."
Together, they crossed the waking town, avoiding early risers and stray dogs as they approached the dense edge of the forest. The trees towered above them like ancient soldiers guarding secrets far older than man.
"There's a big chance we'll encounter rebels… and maybe the military too," Alex said, scanning the terrain. "We must avoid both. What's your perception level?"
"Very high," Trisha replied, flipping her dagger playfully. "I did find your hotel window, remember?"
Alex grunted. "Fair enough. Then you can detect movement within a kilometer radius. But can you hide during the day?"
"Please," Trisha scoffed. "I've got camouflage skills and the agility of a jungle cat. I'm a high jumper, remember? Plus, I'm not made of glass."
"I know. I can feel it," Alex said, raising an eyebrow. "You've got strength and vitality, but you lack one thing."
"Let me guess… experience?" she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Exactly," Alex smiled. "You'll get it today. I'm a Druid—this forest is my kingdom. I can talk to animals, commune with the trees, and vanish and reappear. So, I'll know where you are as long as you're within the forest."
"Copy that," Trisha said. "Just don't go all Tarzan on me."
They parted with a nod. Alex burst into the sky as a hawk, his mind overlaying a glowing 3D map from his sentient. Trisha, agile and sharp-eyed, began hopping from branch to branch like a ninja raised by monkeys on a parkour scholarship.
Two hours passed. Trisha crouched on a thick branch, eyes narrowing at a rebel camp below. Eight armed men lounged under a dried tree. Two women—clearly captives—were cooking. Three more prisoners sat tied nearby: two elderly and one child.
The women captives looked scared but composed. One whispered to the child beside her, who was clutching a wooden toy soldier with both hands.
"I don't like those men," the boy mumbled, barely audible. "They smell like my drunk uncle."
"I'll protect you," whispered the older girl, squeezing his hand.
After the meal, the mood changed.
Two rebels approached and untied the two young women. One of the elders stood and cried out, "Please, not them—take me instead!" The elder woman pleaded, but they shoved her down like she was garbage.
"Shut up, grandma," sneered one of the rebels. "They're more fun."
As they dragged the women away, Trisha's face darkened.
The two rebels took the two female captives away to a secluded area. The girls cried. One rebel slapped the younger woman.
Trisha dropped from the trees like a shadow sent from hell.
One kick, two fists, a blur of black.
Both men hit the ground before they could blink. She knelt beside the terrified girls and whispered, "Dress. Fast. I'm getting you out."
She wrapped an arm around each girl and leapt—tree to tree, fifteen meters at a time, moving like a possessed squirrel with vengeance in her veins.
Ten kilometers later, she landed with the grace of a gymnast. The girls were panting, trembling. Then, Alex appeared behind a tree, dressed and handsome, handing them water and packed biscuits like some forest vending machine.
"I saw everything," he said. "Nice kicks."
The girls, still panting, nodded in gratitude.
"Th-thank you," one whispered. "They kidnapped us a week ago. We tried to give them food—rice, dried fish—but it wasn't enough. They... took my brother and grandparents too."
"We'll get them," Trisha said, her voice hard as steel.
"You girls head east," Alex said. "Take the river path. No rebels there. It's safe."
"Will we see you again?" the younger girl asked softly.
"Hopefully not," Trisha said with a wink. "Means you're safe."
Alex nodded. "Those rebels know someone's out there now. We have to move fast."
"I'm fine with that," Trisha said. "I hate hurting people, but I hate abusers more."
"No killing," Alex said firmly. "Just knockouts."
"Roger that, Captain Forest," Trisha replied, winking.
Back at the rebel camp, two men leaned on their rifles.
"You believe in those Awakened rumors?" one muttered.
"The ones flying on Twitter? Pfft. All staged. Government psy-op."
"I don't know," said the other. "I heard one of 'em flew. Like—really flew. Wings and all."
"Probably wires or drones. Kids these days."
"Shut up," came a bark from the camp leader. "Stop yapping. We've got prisoners to—wait. Where are the girls?"
"Gone," said a panicked voice.
Alex, in hawk form, divebombed nearby, distracting them. A wild boar burst from the thickets next, sending two rebels running after it.
Trisha moved like lightning. She landed beside a rebel, hit him behind the ear, spun, and kicked another into a tree with a sound that echoed like a drumbeat of justice.
Two others tried to draw their guns—only to be yanked into the air by vines that slithered from the ground like green snakes. The vines wrapped their arms, their chests, their throats… until they passed out like overcooked spaghetti.
The last two rebels were returning—tired, annoyed, and empty-handed.
Trisha descended from above, split-kicking both men like a Mortal Kombat fatality mid-air, landing with a smile.
Back in the clearing, Alex dropped from the canopy like a curtain call and knocked out the last two rebels with mild strikes to the nape.
"Show's over," he said.
Trisha untied the elderly couple and the little boy.
"Are you hurt?" she asked.
"We're... alive," said the grandfather, trembling. "Thanks to you."
"You saved my sisters," the boy said to Trisha. "You're like... like the people on TikTok but actually useful!"
Trisha laughed. "That's the best compliment I've ever received."
The grandmother bowed low. "Thank you, child. I don't know who you are, but you saved our family."
"Don't thank us yet," Alex said. "We just cleared the area, but the jungle's still full of things worse than rebels."
"We'll go now," the grandfather said. "Thank you again."
Alex handed them more supplies and whispered a path through the woods.
Later, high up on a tree branch, Trisha nibbled on dried mangoes while Alex devoured an entire roasted chicken from his ring.
"So… ready for the main event?" he asked, licking his fingers.
"I was born ready," she said, tossing her mango pit over her shoulder. "Just make sure you can keep up, jungle boy."
Alex grinned, flexing a little too obviously. "Then let's suit up."
And like a spark setting the jungle alight, they disappeared into the darkness.