THE INNER CIRCLE

"Should we eat it? I mean, it's already cooked," Kit Mi Kai wondered aloud, standing next to the scorched remains of the giant crow.

Jajwok scratched his head. "It *does* smell like roasted chicken."

Just as the two boys stood contemplating the crispy bird, the atmosphere shifted. From the eerie stillness, smaller crows began to appear, perching on branches, roots, and rocks. These weren't ordinary crows, though—each one radiated a sinister black aura. Their screeching was unnatural, not the typical "kaa" but a rhythmic chant of "king, king, king," growing louder with each passing second.

"Uh, Kit?" Jajwok's voice quivered.

Kit Mi Kai's eyes darted around. The crows weren't just gathering—they were multiplying, appearing by the dozens, then hundreds. Soon, the sky above was blackened by their wings as they circled ominously.

"Crack!"

The sudden snap of a twig under Jajwok's foot sent the crows into a frenzy. As if on cue, they swooped down from the sky, not towards the boys, but towards the giant crow's corpse. One by one, they merged into the fallen beast, sinking into its burnt flesh.

"What... the hell is happening?" Kit Mi Kai's voice trembled.

The giant crow's body began twitching. Featherless, charred limbs stretched out as if resurrected from the dead. Its bones cracked and shifted, reshaping into something far more menacing. Where once its talons had been, now emerged long, scythe-like blades, sharp enough to slice through steel. The creature's wings extended into a dark, cloaked form, its head remaining crow-like but even more monstrous.

"It's transforming...," Jajwok whispered, eyes wide in terror.

The creature—now the *Crow King*—stood tall, its once charred body now flexible, fierce, and pulsing with an evil aura. Its new weapon, a scythe, shimmered with dark energy as it raised its arm for a deadly strike.

"Jajwok, run!" Kit Mi Kai yelled.

Without hesitation, Jajwok was gone, already miles away.

"Thanks for the help!" Kit Mi Kai barely dodged the crow's scythe as it came crashing down where he stood.

Kit Mi Kai realized he couldn't rely on speed alone. He wasn't fast enough to outrun the Crow King. He needed to act. Spotting a piece of earth beneath him, he slammed his hand into the ground, manipulating it with a forceful pull. The chunk of land, flat and round, lifted from the earth. With all his might, he hurled it forward, jumped on top, and rode it like a surfboard, propelled by his earth-manipulation skills.

Now he was airborne, moving at incredible speeds as the Crow King gave chase.

"Ooh, hi," Jajwok greeted nonchalantly as Kit Mi Kai flew beside him on his improvised platform.

"Hi," Kit Mi Kai replied, equally casual.

The Crow King screeched, and out of its gaping mouth came a swarm of smaller crows, heading straight for them.

Reacting quickly, Kit Mi Kai pulled out his slingshot, nocking stones from his pouch, and shot the smaller crows out of the air with deadly precision.

But the Crow King was gaining speed. With each leap, it covered vast ground, closing in fast.

"Hey, Jajwok, let's split up," Kit Mi Kai suggested. "We'll see who it follows. If it's you, your lightning speed should get you out of danger."

Jajwok looked uncertain. "Wait, how do I know I'll find you again?"

Kit Mi Kai tossed him his small pouch. "Take this. I'll come for it, so you'll know I'll find you."

With a nod, Jajwok veered off to the right, speeding into the distance. Kit Mi Kai watched as the Crow King ignored his friend and zeroed in on him instead.

"Oh great, just my luck."

Kit Mi Kai kept flying, but suddenly, the Crow King halted its chase, hovering at the edge of a darker, more ominous part of the forest. Kit Mi Kai slowed his earth board as well, cautiously entering the shadowed area.

"Why did it stop...?" he whispered, glancing over his shoulder at the frozen Crow King. "And why is it getting so dark?"

The further he went into the forest, the thicker the air became. Kit Mi Kai's breath became labored, and the trees twisted in unnatural shapes, their roots bulging out of the ground like claws. He didn't know it yet, but he had just entered the most dangerous part of the Evil Forest—the *Inner Circle,* a place where survival was almost impossible.

He reached a clearing and noticed a faint light coming from a cave ahead. Cautiously, he approached the entrance, hoping for safety. The pressure around him increased with each step.

As he moved deeper into the cave, he could hear laughter. Creepy, bone-chilling laughter. His heart raced. He rounded the corner and froze.

Two hyenas were sitting at the entrance, laughing hysterically, their eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Hya, hya, hyahya!"

Beyond the hyenas sat two old women, their wrinkled faces smiling with twisted delight.

"Look," one of the women cackled. "Our grandson has finally arrived!"

[Next on *Africa Leveling*:

*"She threw me into a volcano!"*

**Chapter**: *Grandma from hell*]