After bidding farewell to Travis, Basil and Hamza stood on the riverbank, contemplating the path that lay ahead. They had to continue the journey alone, toward an unknown destination shrouded in unsettling mystery and overshadowed by an unseen danger.
Zires appeared on Basil's shoulder and said, "You must sail the boat across this river to its end."
Basil and Hamza boarded the boat and began their journey along the river, following the path set by Zires.
The waters were calm at first, but the atmosphere carried a strange feeling, as if something unnatural was stalking them.
During the journey, a group of bizarre creatures appeared. They had heads resembling koalas, bodies like monkeys, thick gray fur, and wide eyes staring at them with curiosity.
One of the creatures approached the boat, trying to steal their food, but before it could, Basil grabbed its hand and threw it into the water.
The group became enraged and attacked them violently.
These creatures had sharp claws, moved swiftly, and tried to knock them out of the boat.
The fight began, with Basil using his iron glove to fend off attacks, while Hamza skillfully used his sword to repel them.
During the fight, Hamza noticed one of the creatures running away quickly, holding something strange in its small hand.
That thing looked suspiciously familiar… resembling the wax piece that their leader Kyle had given them.
Hamza shouted, pointing at the creature: "Basil! That thing has the wax!"
Without hesitation, Basil jumped, caught the creature before it could escape, and snatched the wax from its hand.
Basil looked at Hamza and said, "This explains the disappearance of the wax when we faced the Sirena… it seems these creatures are the reason."
After a fierce battle, they managed to kill some of the creatures, while the rest fled into the tall trees along the riverbanks.
After some time, before reaching the end of the river, they noticed a massive mountain emitting thick steam, looming on the horizon.
At its end was a dark cave through which the river flowed, accompanied by a deep echoing sound from its depths, filling the place with awe and mystery.
At that moment, Zires suddenly said, "Stop."
Basil asked anxiously, "Why?"
Zires replied, his voice more cautious than usual: "I feel something strange in this place. I will explore the cave first."
Zires entered the cave carefully, and the air grew hotter as he ventured further inside.
As he approached, he noticed the river water flowing into the cave began evaporating rapidly, the heat from deep within the mountain boiling it instantly.
Zires continued forward until he reached a huge chamber deep within the mountain. The heat there was unbearable, and steam rose from every direction, emanating from the cracks and the ground. The mountain breathed living fire from its depths.
Zires realized that this place posed a great danger.
He quickly exited the cave and returned to Hamza and Basil. Standing before them, he spoke firmly:
"This place is extremely dangerous."
Basil looked at him with concern and asked, "How is it dangerous?"
Zires replied, "The heat inside is unbearable. It's strong enough to evaporate the water instantly. Nothing can withstand it… not even the river itself disappears before reaching the depths."
He then added, "But there is a way we can cross the mountain."
Basil looked at him with curiosity and asked, "How?"
Zires answered, "We must wrap the boat and your bodies with rarity leaves; they can withstand extreme heat and are fire-resistant."
They searched for the rarity leaves growing near the river, among the roots of large trees. They were broad, smooth, and astonishingly cool to the touch even under the blazing sun. They were known for their ability to resist high heat, and they needed them before entering the cave.
After finding them, they worked together to wrap the boat and cover their bodies with the rarity leaves, then cautiously headed toward the cave.