n

n

nGail gathered the surrounding energy and condensed all of it into his fingers and snapped

n*SNAP*

nA large scale ripple appeared in the surroundings and it went straight at the cat who is still looking at the incense.

nBut it didn't even take a fraction of a second for the beast to react and prepare its defence. But while it is focused on the defence, Gail managed to inject his spiritual energy into the puppet.

nIt started glowing and glided in the air directly while the cat is busy dispelling the ripple and before it could concentrate, the puppet went through the waterfall curtain and landed straight in the cavity.

nGail went on ahead and got into a fight with the cat. Meanwhile, the puppet started doing its job.

nThe cavity is actually an entrance to a big cave and the cave is filled with white crystals. The walls, rocks, the ground, ceiling, everything is covered with white and milky crystal.

nIt is glowing and flashed slightly as the puppet moved and recorded everything. But as it is trying to get every nook and cranny of the area, all of a sudden from the top of a large white crystal rock a few protrusions appeared and caught the puppet.

nThe puppet tried to move away, but it couldn't move at all. The spirit of the puppet tried its best to struggle the body out of it, but the protrusions modified themselves into a cage and completely pulled the puppet into the crystal rock.

nFinally, after a few minutes, the rock returned to normal. The puppet was nowhere to be seen. There is not even a sign of it.

nGail who is fighting with the cat sensed the connection between him and the puppet vanishing. He became vigilant and turned to look at the waterfall, but the cat took the chance and slapped the daylights out of his head.

nHe came back to his senses and started fighting with the cat, but he appeared distracted and unfocused sometimes and the fight was over within fifty minutes this time.

nGail looked at the cavity and then at the cat.

nHe doesn't understand what is there, but it is definitely not just some resource like Sam said. He also felt that the cat is honest the last time he was here. Something dangerous could be there. This possibility made him reluctant to explore this any further.

nHe also looked at the cat and thought of something before sitting along with it.

n

"So, if there is something really dangerous there, why are you not leaving this place? It could be dangerous to you too, you know?

"

nGail asked in a low voice.

nThe cat looked at him in disdain and rolled its eyes.

n*meow*

n

"What? You are way too strong for something to happen to you?

"

nThe cat nodded without any hesitation.

n

"Alright, don't be such a narcissist. You are just a tad bit stronger than me.

"

nCat looked at him once again and grunted in response as if saying.

n'Who is being narcissistic now?'

nGail managed to catch the meaning and frowned.

n

"Okay enough the dismissal. Tell me, what is hiding in that cavity that made you stay here. A friend of mine said that you like to play with some special resources within your territory. But since you are so adamant about not letting me go there, I will assume it is not a resource.

nIf it is such a dangerous thing, why would you even go there?

"

n*Meow*

nThe cat dismissed his question without even considering it and closed its eyes before focusing on the incense coming out of the device.

n

"Alright. I have a really smart friend who can think of some really random ** that could change the situation here. If you are really stuck with something, just tell me what it is.

"

nThe cat yawned lazily completely ignoring him.

nGail just sat there for a while before leaving.

nAfter he left, the cat lazed around for another hour before entering the cavity behind the waterfall.

nIt directly jumped into it and spread its aura and energy like it is afraid of whatever is residing in the cave would miss its presence.

nThe while crystals all around started extending protrusions rapidly as they all moved towards the cat. The cat closed its eyes and created a barrier around it that gave out ripples of energy along with a booming sound.

n*BooM* *BooM*

nThe sound is odd, but it made the protrusions that are coming at it, started vibrating because of both the energy and the sound. They slowed down considerably and by the time they reached the original position the cat was standing; it was already gone.

nIt nimbly ran in the air and stepped on the protrusions and with every step, it turned the crystal under its feet into very tiny and small pieces that almost looked like flaky salt.

nThe crystal on the floor slowly moved a bit and tried to absorb the small pieces.

nBut the cat jumped into the air once again and aimed at the ground before screaming.

n

"MMMMEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWW

"

nEven though it appeared like a normal scream, sound waves and energy waves combined created multiple ripples making the small patch of the ground completely powdered.

nAlong with the crystal that was there on the ground from the start, the new pieces also turned into powder.

nThe powder acted on its own as if it had a life and tried to solidify again by joining with the rest of the crystal in the surroundings.

nBut the cat made it impossible.

nIt started dodging the protrusions attacking it from different sides with the speed of sound and started attacking the same patch again and again.

nUntil finally it stopped moving and lost its milky texture. It also lost its white colour and turned to grey before finally turning into some kind of grey sand-like material.

nThe rest of the crystal didn't go near the grey sand. It didn't occupy it, rather it tried to build over it and cover it up as a whole.

nThe cat started painting as it looked at the massive crystal structure surrounding it.

nIt looked at the never-ending protrusions coming at it.

nThere is an expression of anger, frustration and deep-seated hatred in its eyes as it turned around and went back out through the cavity.

nIt jumped into the water and swam around a bit before it went out and stood against the massage pillar for a moment and went to sleep while hugging the bolster and taking in the incense.

nAfter a few hours.

nGail reached the Gaja clan. He went to meet Sam directly and took out a bracelet from his hand.

nThere is a special crystal on it which Sam injected into a crystal tablet.

nA video was displayed.

nIt is the video of the puppet exploring the cave.

nBoth Gail and Sam looked at it eagerly and when Sam got a clear view of how the protrusions swallowing the puppet, he took in a breath of cold air.

nGail frowned as he looked at it.

n

"What the hell is it? Why did it act like it has a life of its own?

"

n

"Because it has.

"

n

"You know what it is?

"

n

"Yes. It is a naturally born cursed creature. The Bone ash crystal symbiote. Now I understand what the deal with your cat is. This is indeed the reason the cat is there.

"

n

"So, this is a resource?

"

n

"For us? Yes. For that cat, it is more like a training partner.

nThe Bone ash crystal symbiote is created when there are a lot of skeletons stacked in a single area where both energies of death and energy of life are clubbed together at the same time.

nThe bone ash turns into a crystal form and it starts hunting down creatures around it. As long as it feels like the creature is an animal, it tries to use the protrusions to drag it in and absorb all the vitality and the skeleton. The rest of the blood, flesh and other tissues are turned into manure which it throws into the surroundings and supports it with life energy.

nThis makes the vegetation grow wildly around it and then attracts creatures of different kinds.

nIt then eats those creatures again and the cycle repeats as it expands its size and shape.

nNow I understand what is happening there. The symbiote is living off of the surrounding ecosystem as it lured the weaker creatures and increased its size bit by bit.

nBut Sonic cat entered the fray and because of it the high-level creatures are completely out of the menu for the symbiote and no matter how much the symbiote tried to expand further, the cat must be destroying it bit by bit.

"

n

"Isn't this whole thing easier for the cat? Since it can just all the animals leave the place with just one roar? The symbiote would die of hunger.

"

n

"If only it was that simple.

"

n