The Dangerous Heist

As Siltri and Vee were closing in, a faint rustling sound was heard from behind the trees. Vee growled and his senses were on high alert. They both knew that danger was lurking in the shadows, and they had to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.

"What is it, Vee?" Siltri whispers while scanning the area with his scouter.

Siltri become silent for a moment and heard voices from people. Siltri could hear the rustling getting closer, Siltri quickly draw his gun and moved behind a nearby boulder, signaling for Vee to follow.

He peered out from his hiding spot and watched as the mercenaries approached, their faces hidden behind masks, and their weapons at the ready. They carry with them a strange machine that appeared to be a detector of some kind.

Siltri counted at least 30 mercenaries approaching, all dressed in black tactical gear and carrying an assortment of weapons. Some carried assault rifles, while others wielded pistols or blades. One of the mercenaries even had a rocket launcher and jet thrusters attached to his back.

As they drew nearer, Siltri could see that their equipment was state-of-the-art, with night-vision goggles, body armor, and communication devices. The strange machine they carried appeared to be a high-tech scanning device, likely used for detecting the presence of the Panacea fruit.

As Siltri scans the group of people he notices a familiar symbol. It was the symbol of the illegal group of mercenaries, the Black Brigade.

Black Brigade, is a dangerous and notorious illegal organization made up of highly skilled mercenaries who engage in illegal activities like assassination, kidnapping, and extortion to achieve their clients' objectives.

It was clear that whoever had hired the Black Brigade to retrieve the fruit was willing to spare no expense to get their hands on it. Siltri knew that he and his team were outmatched in terms of firepower and technology, but he also knew that they had something the mercenaries didn't - a deep understanding of the terrain and the ability to navigate it quickly and quietly.

Siltri gestured to Vee to retreat back into the cover of the forest, hoping to avoid detection for as long as possible. He knew that their mission had just become much more difficult, but he was determined to succeed despite the odds stacked against them.

"Vee, we need to find out what they're up to," Siltri whispered to his loyal companion.

Vee nodded and darted off into the shadows, following the mercenaries from a distance. Siltri monitored the situation from afar, observing the mercenaries' movements and trying to decipher their intentions.

After a few minutes, Vee returned, his collar translating his findings. "They're looking for a fruit. They might have been hired by a rival company to retrieve it," Vee reported.

Siltri gritted his teeth, knowing that this could complicate matters. If the mercenaries found the fruit before Siltri and his team, they could steal it, sell it on the black market, or use it for their own purposes.

Siltri tried to contact the lab to give an update about what is already happening.

Siltri tried to connect with his communicator and attempted to contact the lab. "This is Siltri. We have encountered the Black Brigade. They are searching for the same fruit and may have been hired by a rival company. We need backup, but we're too far out from the dimensional Gateway. It could take hours for them to reach us."

"Understood, Silt." A familiar voice responded, it was Dr. Lewis. " We'll send a message to our contacts in the nearby area to provide backup. But in the meantime, you need to keep the Black Brigade away from the fruit. It's too important to fall into the wrong hands."

"By the way, here's a little surprise for Vee, that vial will enhance Vee's gene, that gene is from the horned lions that you send a while ago. I found it compatible with Vee's and it might add to his abilities." Dr. Lewis smiled, her face cannot hide her little excitement. "I send it through your item bag, you're lucky to find a great compatible gene."

"Also, please be careful, and don't let those thugs get their hands on that fruit." She added.

Siltri nods, understanding the urgency of the situation. "Copy that. We'll do what we can to keep them at bay."

As he ends the transmission, Siltri knows that they are in for a dangerous and unpredictable confrontation with the Black Brigade. They will need to use all of their skills and resources to protect the Panacea fruit and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

They stalked the mercenaries down the eerie grove, his heart hammering in his chest as he listened to their hushed conversations, "I don't know about this fruit, is it really true?" one of them said doubtfully. "It seems too good to be true right?"

"Don't worry about it," One of the mercenaries snapped and speak, with a great voice of command. "Our client wants it, so we're going to get it. And also our boss told us that we will be rewarded generously. So it does not matter."

As they approached the center of the grove, their detector beeped incessantly, indicating that they were getting closer to their objective. "We're almost there," the leader said. "Be ready for anything."

Siltri's eyes darted toward the tree at the center of the grove, which glowed with an otherworldly light. He shivered, feeling a sense of uneasiness. Something wasn't right about this place.

"Vee stay here and wait for my signal, also please have this," Siltri handed a vial, which was given by Dr. Lewis to Vee, He then slowly move out following the mercenaries.

As the mercenaries drew closer to the tree, the light began to fade, and the trees surrounding the grove started to stir. The wind howled like a dying beast, and Siltri's sense of uneasiness grew stronger.

Without warning, the tree in front of them moves and twists its trunk, startling everyone, and stopping them from moving. Everyone's attention was so focused on the tree, anticipating what will happen next.

Seizing the one-time opportunity, Siltri loaded his gun with a grappling hook and aimed it at the tree, hoping to climb up and retrieve the coveted fruit. The gun pulled him quickly towards the tree.

"Shoot idiots! Don't just stand there, stop that man from getting to that fruit!" the leader shouted. Siltri quickly dodges the bullets by maneuvering his movements faster toward the tree.

Then one of the mercenaries activated his jet thrusters, propelling himself up the tree faster than the grappling gun. Just as he was about to reach the tree, it shook violently, uprooting itself and revealing its monstrous nature. Its colossal branches moved with lightning-fast speed, and in a matter of seconds, blood spattered on the ground as one of the mercenaries was brutally swatted down leaving a small crater on the ground.

Everyone was shocked and stopped for a moment trying to assess what just happened in front of them. Siltri quickly detached his hook, taking precautionary measures about the monstrous creature in front of them.

As the tree stood tall, its shadow loomed over the grove, casting an ominous veil across the sky. The other trees joined in the fray, lashing out at the mercenaries and unleashing a horrid onslaught of violence and destruction.

Siltri watched in horror as the mercenaries fought for their lives, desperately trying to fend off the trees' relentless assault. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the sounds of gunfire and screams echoed throughout the forest.

Determined to complete his mission, Siltri gritted his teeth and again loaded his gun. With steady hands and a clear mind, he shot the grappling hook toward the tree and pulled himself towards the fruit doing an almost impossible maneuver to dodge the coming attacks. He reached for the fruit, snatching it from the branch with a fierce grip.

But as he was about to descend, he felt something cold and slimy brush against his leg. Looking down, he saw a writhing mass of roots and vines slithering toward him, hungry for flesh. He struggled to break free, but the tendrils were too strong, wrapping around his limbs and pulling him closer to the tree's gaping maw.

From a distance, a strange figure immediately sprung into action with lightning-fast speed. With enhanced strength, the figure leaped towards the tree, knocking the tendrils aside with a fierce growl. Grabbed Siltri's arm, pulling him away from the tree's grasp.

Siltri fell to the ground, gasping for air, and looked up to see a majestic wolf. It was Vee, his loyal companion, standing over him growling fiercely.

Siltri was so amazed at Vee's new form, which is truly a sight to behold. He retains his wolf appearance, but there are some striking differences. The most noticeable is the addition of a magnificent mane that surrounds his head and neck. The hair on his body stands out, almost as if it's constantly charged with static electricity. The sparkles of electricity can be seen sparkling at the tips of his fur, giving off an otherworldly glow.

In addition to his mane, Vee now sports two protruding small horns that point forward, adding to his already impressive appearance. These horns are sharp and menacing, making it clear that Vee is not to be trifled with.

Vee's already impressive size has also increased significantly in his new form, and his thick fur has become even more pronounced, giving him an almost regal appearance. His claws are now bigger and sharper than ever before, allowing him to easily tear through almost anything in his path.

Despite his new form's fearsome appearance, Vee remains fiercely loyal to his master and he will stop at nothing to protect them from harm. His strength, intelligence, and now, his impressive new form, make him a force to be reckoned with in any situation.

Vee let out a loud angry bark that echoes loudly around the surroundings, this shows how mad and angry he was.

Siltri stumbled back, his heart racing with fear and adrenaline. He looked up to see Vee baring his teeth at the tree, ready to protect his master at all costs.

Together, they ran for their lives, their hearts pounding with fear and adrenaline as they fled the grove. The sound of the trees' fury followed them, haunting them for miles to come.

The mercenaries and the trees were still battling fiercely, and Siltri knew they needed to leave before they got caught in the crossfire. He turned to Vee, his voice hoarse with pain, "We need to get out of here, Vee. I'm not going to make it much longer."

Vee nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. He gently scooped Siltri up onto his back, taking care not to jostle the injured man too much. Siltri clutched the fruit tightly in his hand, unwilling to let it go.

The trees and the mercenaries had noticed their escape and were quickly closing in on them. Siltri could hear the pounding of footsteps and the sounds of gunfire growing louder by the second.

"Vee, we need to move faster," Siltri gasped. "They're getting closer."

Vee pushed his legs to the limit, sprinting through the grove with incredible speed. He dodged the trees' branches and leaped over the mercenaries' traps, his senses on high alert.

The mercenaries were hot on their trail, firing their guns wildly and shouting curses. The trees seemed to be working in tandem with the mercenaries, attacking them with ferocity and determination.

Siltri felt himself slipping in and out of consciousness, the pain in his side almost unbearable. He gritted his teeth, refusing to give up. He knew that if he lost consciousness, they would be doomed.

Suddenly, they burst through the edge of the grove, their eyes widening in shock as they saw the sky above them. The sun was already rising, casting a yellow and orange glow across the horizon.

Vee's pace slowed down as they neared the edge of a cliff. Siltri could feel his grip on the fruit loosening, his strength fading.

"Vee, we need to jump," Siltri gasped. "It's our only chance."

Vee nodded, his eyes focused on the cliff ahead. He took a deep breath and leaped off the edge, his powerful legs propelling them both into the air.

Siltri screamed as they fell, the wind rushing past them like a hurricane. He closed his eyes, hoping that they would survive the fall.

Suddenly, they hit the water with a loud splash, the impact knocking the breath out of Siltri's lungs. Vee paddled fiercely, pulling them both to the surface.

They gasped for air, their hearts pounding with adrenaline. Siltri opened his eyes, staring up at the cliff above them. He could see the mercenaries and the trees standing at the edge, watching them with anger and frustration.

"We made it," Siltri whispered, his voice filled with relief. "We made it."

Together, they had overcome incredible odds and had managed to survive the horrifying ordeal. But as they swam towards the shore, Siltri felt the poison from the tree beginning to take effect. He knew that they weren't out of danger yet and that they had to keep moving if they wanted to survive.