They followed Haruko through the crowded streets until the reached the jungle entrance.
The moment they arrived, Haruko saw something was off. Imperial soldiers stood packed around the gates in heavy formation.
Haruko let out a quiet sigh. So much for slipping through unnoticed. If they wanted to get inside they had to pull away the guards first.
Kaito grinned the instant she explained the problem. Beside him, Toni laughed just as eagerly. "Making noise?" Kaito said.
Toni smiled. "Don't worry about it friend, we can handle that."
Haruko crossed her arms and gave them a warning look. "Alright, we're counting on you two. And don't get caught by the Empire. I'd rather not become a target right now."
Kaito smirked. "Don't worry about me. I never get caught."
The two split off in opposite directions. Toni blasted his music at full volume, drawing furious shouts from nearby soldiers as they rushed after him. Across the plaza, Kaito caused chaos in his own way.
hurling objects into the patrols and setting off random explosions that sent troops scrambling in confusion. Before long, most of the guards had abandoned the entrance entirely, chasing after the pair through the streets.
Using the distraction, Haruko quickly led the others through the gates and into the jungle. Dante kept glancing over his shoulder nervously until, Toni and Kaito finally caught up with the group, both looking far too pleased with themselves.
"Why's it always explosions with you?" Dante questions.
Kaito just smiled in retrun. "I gotta make an entrance."
The underground jungle stretched endlessly beneath the earth, hidden inside a cavern so vast the ceiling vanished into darkness. Thick roots twisted down from above like the limbs of dead giants, wrapping around stone pillars and disappearing into dense undergrowth. A faint blue-green glow came from clusters of moss, towering mushrooms, and veins of crystal embedded in the rock, bathing the jungle in an eerie twilight.
Warm, humid air clung to everything. Water dripped constantly from unseen heights, feeding narrow streams that wound through the tangled vegetation. Giant ferns brushed against hanging vines, and pale flowers opened in the dark like watching eyes. Every sound echoed strangely, the distant rush of waterfalls, the chirping of unseen insects, the occasional groan of shifting stone deep within the cavern.
The ground was uneven and alive with growth. Moss concealed cracks and roots thick enough to trip the unwary, while clouds of glowing spores drifted lazily through the air like fireflies. Despite its beauty, the jungle felt wrong somehow, too quiet in some places, too full of movement in others, as if the entire cavern were breathing in the dark.
As they pushed deeper inside, the jungle opened into several different paths, each leading into its own section of the forest. Haruko stopped and turned to everyone.
"Alright," she said firmly. "We split into groups from here."
She gives a look to the entire group with her. "Alright, Dante, you're with me and Jessie."
She turns her eyes over to Jin. "I want you to take, Kaito and Patty along."
Jin nods. Not protesting his bosses decisions.
Ashley on the other hand looks around. "You're leaving me with these two?!" She gestured at Nanami, and Toni.
Nanami didn't seem upset. "Well based on my usual party this one seems rather balanced. We have a tank, a support, and a strategist."
Ashley shakes his head. "Hooray." She sarcastically cheers.
"HEY!" A voice called out.
Haruko looked down at the ground and Bein was tugging at her pant leg. "What about me?" He asked.
She had completely forgot about him. "Oh uh, you go with Kaito, he needs someone as strong as you watching him." This answer seemed to please Bein and he walked over and jumped onto Kaito's head.
Patty trembles. "It's very creepy in here." She is quickly startled by a leaf that had fell on her shoulder.
Haruko walks over to Patty kneeling down to meet her eyes. "Be careful, okay and stay close to Jin so you don't get hurt."
Patty nods. "Yes ma'am."
Jin on the other hands, furrows his brow at Kaito. "I will be keeping a close eye on you." He says, still suspecting him of colluding with the thieves.
Kaito was oblivious to the threat however, "thanks Jin!" He pat him on the back. "I'll keep an eye on you too, it could be dangerous!"
Dante on the other hand felt nice and safe for a change. "I finally geta break, being in the company of these two strong ladies." He happily said.
Ashley places a hand on Patty's shoulder. "Before we split, you know you can leave if you're too scared. We won't blame you."
Patty takes a deep breath. "It-it's ok, I can do this." Patty says and Ashley pats her back.
Toni snickers. "Why isn't that a surprise, you can be nice."
Ashley ignores his sly comments.
Haruko takes Jin's hand and places something inside it. "You know the deal," she winks at him. "Always keep one." She had handed him an emergency escape tool, a magical crystal that teleports the user back to the location where the casting seal is.
"All right everyone. Good luck on your sides, and watch eachothers backs!" Haruko shouts.