Outer Parts of the Forbidden Jungle
In this densely packed jungle with towering trees, a black-haired girl with unusual white eyes, around 20 years old, in a torn red dress, was slowly moving forward.
The fear and exhaustion on her face were evident.
At this moment, she suddenly heard a sound behind her. When she turned around, she saw the movement of trees—as if something massive was forcing its way through.
As if a big monster was walking toward her, and the trees were parting to make way for it.
The already exhausted girl was now terrified, unsure what to do. She lay on the ground, trying to breathe as slowly as possible, and pretended to be dead.
'Maybe, just maybe, this monster will think I'm just a skinny, lifeless girl with barely any meat and won't waste its time on me.'
As she feigned death, the sound of trees moving grew closer and closer, and her heartbeat quickened in response.
But when the noise was almost upon her, it stopped abruptly, leaving only silence.
Then, in her extreme nervousness, she heard a child's voice right above her:
"What in the world is a non-cultivator doing here in the middle of this jungle? I thought Mr. Tiger said this place was a 'no-no' for normal people. What's this, then?"
Silence followed.
The girl in the red dress wanted to open her eyes, but the moment she heard the name 'Mr. Tiger,' she didn't dare.
She was sure this voice belonged to a little monster because a human child couldn't be here, and even the weakest monster in this place was a hundred times stronger than her, let alone one that could speak.
So, she kept pretending to be dead.
Then she heard him again, muttering to himself:
"Oh, I know what's going on—she's bait to catch monsters! Those crazy cultivators are using this lady as bait… Look at her clothes; it's clear she's been used more than once as bait. But she's still alive and breathing, so where are the evil cultivators controlling her?"
The red-dressed girl didn't know what to think.
This little monster's imagination isn't bad.
After a while, she heard him speak again:
"Now that I look at this situation, it feels familiar… What was it called again?"
The 'pretending-to-be-dead' lady was on the verge of tears.
'Just eat me or leave me! Why all this thinking, analyzing, and remembering?'
"Oh, now I remember! It's that situation called 'damsel in distress'! Good, now I know what to do."
Before she could figure out what he meant, she felt herself being wrapped in something, picked up, placed inside something else, tightly tied down, and then lifted again.
Soon after, she heard the sound of trees moving once more.
Cautiously, she opened one eye to see what new trouble had befallen her.
The first thing she noticed was that she was wrapped in a sleeping bag and tied to a large backpack.
'Monsters use backpacks and sleeping bags now? No, wait—these must be spoils from killed cultivators.'
Growing more frightened, she tried to see what kind of monster was knocking trees aside.
But there was no monster—just a moving backpack, with her tied to the top. When she looked ahead, she realized the trees themselves were parting, not some massive beast pushing through.
This revelation didn't comfort her. Instead, it crushed her last hope of survival. The remaining color drained from her face.
Knocking trees aside meant strength.
But trees willingly making way?
That meant this was a respected big boss of the entire Forbidden Jungle.
The red-dressed girl gave up.
'Eat me, kill me, I don't care anymore. First, I was kidnapped from the Sword Sect right under my father's nose. Then my mother couldn't save me, forcing me to flee here since cultivators can't use their spiritual sense in this place. And now this… Only the heavens know what this little monster boss plans to do with me.'
She closed her eyes and continued pretending to be dead—it was the least she could do.
Strangely, the sleeping bag was so comfortable that she grew drowsy. Without realizing why, she soon fell asleep.
Was it because of exhaustion, helplessness, or resignation? No one knew.
Time passed peacefully.
Some time later, she awoke to the little monster's excited voice:
"Oh, I found the river! I found the river!"
She thought to herself,
'What river could excite him? Don't tell me he thinks I'm dirty and wants to wash me before eating me?'
"Okay, now that I know where I am, it's time to catch some wild cultivators and uphold justice before continuing my journey. In this place, there's no authority to judge this kidnapping case, so everything falls on me."
The red-dressed girl was baffled.
'Why does this little monster talk like some hero of justice?'
"Hey, big guy, put the hostage down and bring out the recording device to document the evidence."
She felt herself being placed on the ground again.
Then she heard something that terrified her:
"And you, 'damsel in distress,' keep pretending to be dead."
She gulped.
'What? He knew I was acting the whole time?'
"Okay, bait's been placed, the scene is set. Now we need final coordination before waiting for the targets."
The red-dressed girl suddenly felt a flicker of hope.
'The ones who kidnapped me were as strong as my father, and they even fled from my mother! If they fight this little monster, what will happen? I'll probably die in the crossfire, but maybe Mother will find me first… or even Grandmother might come to my rescue!'
As she wavered between hope and fear, she heard the little monster speak again—this time not to himself.
"This is Commander Sect Master speaking. Agent Morty Meven, do you hear me? Over."
"Shhh, loud and clear, Commander Sect Master. Over."
"Agent Morty Meven, are you in position? Over."
"Shhh, I am in position and have eyes on the targets. Over."
"Describe the targets' appearance. Over."
"Shhh, two males, black clothes, black masks, 1.8 (5.9) to 1.9 meters(6 feet) tall. Over."
"Agent Morty Meven, hold your position for now. Over."
The red-dressed girl grew even more confused.
'There's more than one of these monsters? Why do they sound the same? Twins? And what's with these weird names? Code names, right? And those two kidnappers are coming already? Was I marked? I'm doomed—no way Mother or Grandmother arrives in time…'
"This is Commander Sect Master speaking. Is the support team ready? Over."
"Shhh, support team is in position and awaiting orders. Over."
The red-dressed girl's bewilderment deepened.
'Now there's a support team with the same voice? Those two villains are in for a tough time. These little monsters seem so professional! Since when did monsters become more organized than humans?'
"This is Commander Sect Master speaking. Judge 'Bredd,' please stand by at all times. We must act fast. Do you copy? Over."
"Shhh, copy that."
The girl felt a twinge of annoyance.
'Now there's a judge too? And why so many 'overs' and 'shhhs'? And enough with the code names already!'
"'Damsel in distress,' do you hear me? Over."
Her heart skipped a beat.
She knew 'damsel in distress' was the name he'd given her. Trembling, she mustered her courage and replied:
"Sh-shhh, l-loud and clear. Over."
A gasp followed, then a low mumble:
"This lady is so smart?"
"'Damsel in distress,' you are the victim. Be ready to testify in court. Do you copy? Over."
Completely baffled but deciding to play along, she answered:
"Shhh, copy that, Commander Sect Master. Over."
The little monster issued his final order:
"This is Commander Sect Master speaking. From now until the targets are arrested, radio silence. Over."
Silence fell.
'What's 'radio silence'? Does it mean everyone shuts up?'
At this point, the red-dressed girl resigned herself to playing dead and leaving her fate to whatever came next.
About five minutes later, she sensed two figures with terrifying auras land lightly beside her.
'They're here. Let the battle begin! Mother, Grandmother… I'm counting on you!'
Then came a man's voice, speaking to his companion:
"We finally found her. This jungle is so annoying. Lucky she's out cold… But what's with these chairs and that big backpack?"
The other replied:
"Doesn't matter. Let's take her before that old lady arrives. She was closest to this part of the Forbidden Jungle. If we found her, she can too. We need to avoid unnecessary fights—the boss is already dealing with those two. Hurry."
The red-dressed girl felt herself being lifted and placed onto what felt like a chair.
Confused, she wondered when the little monster's team would strike and unleash an apocalyptic battle.
Then she heard the monster's voice again, accompanied by the sound of wood striking wood:
"The court session is now in session. Everyone, please take your seats. 'Damsel in distress,' you may open your eyes now. I appreciate your cooperation."
Her heart leaped into her throat.
'Where's the earth-shattering battle? The collapsing mountains and rivers?'
Gulping nervously, she slowly opened her eyes.
First, she saw herself seated on a small silver chair. Glancing left and right, she spotted two others bound to identical chairs.
Ahead stood a wooden podium, behind which sat a small figure with long, curly white hair—likely a wig—wearing a plain black robe.
In his right hand was a small wooden hammer, and on his face rested simple black-framed glasses. He regarded her with a stern expression.
"I have other matters to attend to, so let us proceed immediately. Please introduce yourself and state your complaint."
At first, the girl scanned the bizarre scene for signs of the monster, but hearing the little boy's voice, she realized—he was the 'monster boss' she'd feared.
'What happened? Why is the monster boss a child now? When were these two captured? Was I unconscious during the fight? But they seem unharmed, and there's no sign of a struggle…'
Swallowing her confusion, she forced herself to answer:
"I-I'm Rose… and I was kidnapped…"
After a pause, she added:
"...Honorable Judge."
The moment she said 'Honorable Judge,' the little boy's eyes sparkled, and a smile almost broke through before he suppressed it.
He nodded solemnly.
"The two defendants may wake to defend themselves."
Rose heard ropes tighten, followed by cracking sounds as the two men jolted awake in pain.
They looked around in panic, their faces hidden behind masks.
One stammered:
"Wh-what just happened?"
The other replied:
"I don't know—wait, why are we tied up?"
Their voices trembled with fear.
Knock.
The little judge rapped his gavel.
"Silence. Support team, present the evidence so we may conclude swiftly. I have other duties, and the defendants have no statements in their defense."
The three bewildered spectators then saw a rectangular screen materialize from a crystal device beside the judge, displaying recorded footage.
The first scene showed Rose lying on the ground, with three silver chairs arranged just as they were now.
Then the little boy appeared—barefoot, in black martial arts attire, a headband, and wristbands—talking to himself.
When he was 'Commander Sect Master,' he spoke normally.
When he was 'Agent Morty Meven,' 'Support Team,' or 'Judge Bredd,' he held a hand to his mouth, altering his voice.
All three were stunned for different reasons.
Rose thought:
'This is the 'professional monster team'?'
The two kidnappers thought:
'We don't care about this brat's games—just show how we got caught! And why can't we break these ropes?!'
They exchanged glances and simultaneously tried to flee with their chairs—but couldn't budge an inch.
The recording continued.
After ordering 'radio silence,' the Commander Sect Master climbed into the backpack and shut the lid.
Five uneventful minutes passed before the two masked men arrived, landing between the chairs.
Then, as they spoke, the little boy's head popped out from the backpack.
With a mischievous grin, he tiptoed toward them, giggling silently.
In moments, he stood between them, bent his knees slightly, and—with arms folded—leaped into a perfect midair split, kicking both in the temples in slow motion.
His expression? A lone hero gazing confidently at the horizon.
That was it. Fight over.
The two men swayed, unconscious, before collapsing into their chairs as ropes snaked out to bind them.
The little boy then placed Rose on the third chair, walked to the recording device, and the footage ended.
The judge rapped his gavel excitedly.
"Look, look! That move was the 'Split Kick'! Did you see that flawless execution?"
The three stared blankly.
"..."
Clearing his throat, the judge composed himself and addressed them sternly:
"As you've seen, with the Commander's assistance, the criminals were apprehended. The evidence confirms their guilt—and on top of kidnapping, you're illegal immigrants from another planet."
The two men paled beneath their masks.
'We've been exposed? Who is this kid? Some hidden expert living in the Forbidden Jungle?'
The little judge flipped through a small notebook, then read aloud:
"The accusations and evidence have been presented. Witnesses and jurors have voiced their opinions. You two are hereby sentenced to imprisonment. This court is adjourned."
And he struck the podium with his gavel.
Before the two men could protest, the little judge returned to the backpack.
A moment later, he emerged as 'Commander Sect Master,' now in black martial arts clothes.
After surveying the scene, he approached the two criminals, punched them unconscious again, and tapped a small cage at his waist—previously unnoticed.
With a 'woooosh,' they vanished inside.
Commander Sect Master,
"-_-"
Rose,
"O_O"
The End.