The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the village’s remaining intact houses. Smoke still lingered faintly in the air from the burned-out homes, curling upward like ghostly fingers. The village chief’s decree had been clear: Poo and Lulu were to clean every corner of the village for a full month and, in addition, hunt three to five deer each day using the small, sharp knives he had handed them. Both beasts had reluctantly accepted their punishment, heads bowed in front of the villagers’ curious and whispering eyes.“Today has been exhausting,” Joanne murmured, collapsing onto her bed. The three of them—herself, Jackson, and Smith—had spent the day helping villagers repair damaged houses and salvage what remained from the fire. Some homes had been completely reduced to ash, while a few had survived, including the one they were currently resting in.Jackson flopped onto his own bed, brushing his fur from his forehead. “I can’t believe those two were the ones trying to steal the

Poo’s attention suddenly shifted to a faint light flickering in the corner of the room. Inside a glass-covered wooden box, he could clearly see the Grand Porcupine Pendant sparkling. In an instant, its shimmer seemed to reach into his very soul, enchanting him, hypnotizing him to take it and make it his own.“So that’s where he’s hiding the Kane Collection?” Joanne thought, silently observing the village chief. She clenched her fists under her sleeves, trying not to let her excitement show.“We should leave. There’s nothing interesting here anyway. Besides, we still need to find Willy,” Lulu suggested, her voice calm but firm. Poo and Joanne snapped out of their daze, their minds refocusing on the task at hand.The three of them quietly rose and continued toward Willy’s location. Every step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of their mission pressed down on them.Night fell, just like the nights before. The sky was bright, adorned with a full moon and countless twinkling

“Village Chief!” the beast shouted again as it banged on the chief’s door. After pounding several times, it finally managed to wake the man up and pull him out of his house.“What is it? Why are you yelling like that?” the chief asked, clearly irritated at having his sleep disturbed.“Chief, it’s bad! I saw those three travelers heading toward our secret chamber!” the beast said, panic in its voice.“What did you say?” The village chief’s eyes widened in shock. “Are you sure?”“Yes, Chief. I saw them enter with my own eyes.”“What business do they have there?”“I think they’re trying to steal something from us!”“This can’t be allowed! I’ll go check it myself. Call the head guard and order him to come with me at once!” the chief commanded.“Yes, Chief.” The beast immediately darted off to carry out the order.Meanwhile, the village chief, still half-awake, hurried toward the hidden chamber where the three travelers were.Jackson and Smith had already pressed the Light-Antlered Deer cr

“I really am beautiful…” she murmured again, watching her reflection ripple across the flowing river.Her focus shifted abruptly when a sharp scream echoed from the direction of the village.Poo turned toward the sound. Smoke was rising in the distance, and the night—supposed to be calm and peaceful—was now filled with terrified screams and the deafening roar of a tiger.“What’s happening…” she whispered softly.She stood up quickly. “Lulu…” she muttered, worry flashing across her face. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the village, her heart pounding as she prayed her friend was safe.“Come on, get him down!” Jackson shouted, rushing to help.The three of them climbed down from the ledge, dragging Smith toward the riverbank to sit him down. He was still writhing in pain, his face pale and drenched in sweat.But as the moon slipped behind drifting clouds, the pain seemed to fade—vanishing as if swallowed by the darkness.“KYAAA!!”The beast’s scream tore through the air again, f

“Let’s end this. Right here. Right now.”Jackson rose to his feet, with Joanne and Smith standing beside him.“That’s enough stalling,” Joanne said, gripping her pistol tightly. “I can’t waste another second. I’m done holding back.”“Defeat him,” Smith replied, drawing his gun. “Then we’ll deal with the villagers afterward.”Jackson exchanged a firm glance with his teammates.“We strike together!” he shouted.Joanne and Smith nodded in sync.“This time… I’ll destroy you all!”The tiger roared furiously, charging forward. Its claws gleamed under the moonlight, eyes glowing blood-red, fangs extending menacingly.Jackson, Joanne, and Smith raised their weapons and fired—three beams of light struck the golden-fanged beast directly in the stomach.The impact sent the tiger flying backward, but they didn’t stop. They kept shooting relentlessly as its roar echoed through the night sky.“ROAAARRR!!!”The beast writhed in agony as its body began to break apart—its fur, flesh, and bones dissol