Onto the Turtle!

The class gathered at the center of the hive, where Noel stood, ready to listen to the story of a man they had never met before.

'We have a monster that needs to be defeated,' Noel said with a serious tone.

'What kind of monster?' Alex asked, observing his classmates' growing interest in the mysterious cat man.

'It's a turtle, my friends,' Noel replied.

All eyes turned towards one another, and the class seemed to doubt if this monster was as ferocious as the queen bee. After all, it was just a turtle. Curious, Alex pressed for more information.

'Since you're seeking our help, this monster must be dangerous and formidable,' Alex commented.

Noel chuckled softly. 'Indeed.'

Alex nodded. He then looked at Kent, waiting for her response. Kent immediately got what Alex intended and asked Noel again. 'How strong can this monster be?'

'He's got a bludgeon in hand. If you're hit by it, your skull would be crushed into pieces,' he answered. 'This monster also had an impenetrable defense. My claws were useless against it. But I think it wouldn't be a problem for you, since your arrows are poisonous. We might win if we poison the monster,' Noel suggested.

Kent voiced her doubts, saying, 'But can my arrows penetrate its defenses? You mentioned its impenetrable defense, and your claws were ineffective.' Kent could not think of any possible way to defeat the said monster. She might have gotten a little stronger, now that she absorbed the queen bee's power. But, according to Noel, this monster is undoubtedly strong. If only she could summon a hundred guard bees, this wouldn't even pose a threat to them.

Noel fell silent, realizing that seeking help was a wise choice, but now they needed to devise a plan to breach the turtle monster's formidable defense.

'I think we can do it,' Alex said.

All eyes turned to him. 'How?' one of his classmates asked.

Alex sighed, 'I don't know yet. We will know if I can see it up close.'

'You can't just think of a way to defeat a monster when you're already on the battlefield. Our lives are at stake here!' said Cherry.

Alex sighed again but assured his classmates that his plan might work.

'Unlike the other time, we were helpless, but not this time. If we defeat this monster, this might become a great help not just to me but to all of us. Like the queen bee who we defeated, this monster might also have the same power that we could get and use,' Alex explained.

The class murmured, giving their own opinion on the matter.

Following a brief discussion, everyone agreed to the idea of confronting and defeating the turtle monster. The class recognized that this victory could significantly enhance their chances of survival in this unfamiliar world.

'But we need a plan,' Kent said.

'We need to know where the turtle monster is located,' Darline followed. She looked at Noel, and Noel immediately got it. Noel moved to the front, making everyone listen to his story.

'Like many parts of this marshland, the turtle lives 30 km west of this hive. It won't pose a threat with its speed, making itself here. However, its place is covered with big puddles. Well, of course, it's common when you're in a marshland, but it's different in his territory. It seems like he made it himself.'

'What do you mean he made it himself?' Alex asked.

Noel scratched his head, 'I'm not really sure, but when we fought, I stepped on one of them, and it sucked me in. It seems like he can command it,' Noel answered.

'Another one with extraordinary power. Now I'm convinced we are living in a fantasy,' said Jessie.

'So, we must not step on one of those when we fight him. If we do, we die. Right?' Alex looked at Noel, and Noel gave the nod.

'I learned the hard way. If the moon didn't rise, I would've been bludgeoned to death.'

'Going there in a crowd will not help us defeat the monster. We should send those who are willing to participate in this mission,' Kent said.

As Kent continued to decide who to send, the murmuring noises drifted away in an instant, leaving only the silence behind. Alex understood how fearful his classmates were. They were afraid of dying once again. But being fearful would not help them survive in this world. They were ignorant of this world. What if they are stronger creatures who are going to invade the marshland? What can they do with just Kent and Jay's powers? Therefore, he didn't have any choice but to show hope in this moment of despair. Alex thought of nothing and immediately raised his hand. He made himself seen to the class that he volunteered to be part of a dangerous quest.

'Are you sure?' Kent asked. 'Weren't you afraid of the danger within? You just fought with a monster, too.'

'What's more fearful is staying here and dying without doing anything. I won't die, not again,' Alex answered.

Kent patted his shoulder, 'I'm with you.'

'I, too.' One of his classmates stood from the crowd. Alex looked towards the familiar voice and was glad that his friends wouldn't let him go alone, even in this new world.

'Thanks, Gloyd.' He whispered as Gloyd walked towards him.

Gloyd smiled, 'Of course, I wouldn't let you die here alone. Hahaha.'

Ivan stood up, adding himself to the dangerous quest. Darline, Maeje, Christian, and Angel followed immediately.

'I would blame you if I would die!' pointing to Angel. Angel shrugged Darline's hand away, 'Oh, shut up! What do you want me to do? Everyone's participating.' They looked at each other and laughed. As if there was no danger waiting for them at their destination.

Alex felt secure and safe. With the presence of his friends with the bond that they have, communicating would not be a problem. He knew his friends were intelligent and strong. They needed each other's skills to win this fight.

'I should come, too,' Jay shouted.

'No, you stay here with them. Someone needs to be in the hive to keep everyone safe. Noel and I will accompany them,' Kent said.

Kent instructed everyone to have breakfast, and they gathered around their newly crafted table made from hardened nectar.

While the class remained occupied with their tasks, Kent approached Noel.

'Tonight,' he responded.

Kent nodded, 'I see.'

'I can scout the area first. With the moon, I can scout it freely during the night. Distance won't matter to me. Just be sure to be safe and meet me halfway there,' Noel explained.

Kent nodded, making herself agree to Noel's idea.

'How did it happen? You, acquiring that power?' Kent knows that acquiring such power must have been hard when you're still a human. Witnessing it firsthand, the feline man must have endured a lot.

Noel turned his back to the girl he had just met, 'Bloody.'

Kent walked and stood beside Noel, 'Are you like us, too?'

Noel sighed, 'Thirty-four of us. When the gas filled our classroom, we thought we would die. After inhaling it, I still feel how hard it was to breathe when it entered my lungs. We were breathing again but in a different world.'

'Was the marshland the place where you guys got teleported? I wouldn't really say we were teleported, but let's just say we were with limited knowledge,' Kent said.

Noel chuckled, 'Yeah, we may have been teleported. And, no.' We woke up in a forest.'

'Forest.' Kent's curiosity was triggered. 'So, what Jay said was true. You weren't from the marshland.'

Noel nodded.

'What happened to the class you're in?' Kent added a question.

Noel bowed his head as if he was sad about the question. Kent noticed his facial expressions changed. As if he's… grieving.

'Acquiring such power did not come without a price. In the middle of the night, we gathered everyone in one place, excited about living in this new world.'

Kent continued to look at Noel, listening.

'We laughed, and we talked a lot. We thought things were now completely perfect. We are now away from the toxic world we used to live in. No honking cars, tall buildings, and even pollution. The forest was perfect. It gave us fresh air, a type of air that we haven't experienced in the past world.' Noel added.

'So, what happened next?' Kent asked silently.

Tears welled up in Noel's eyes, and he continued with a heavy heart. 'We were attacked by a monstrous creature—a colossal, black cat-like beast.' One by one, my classmates' bodies were sliced apart, blood splattered on every tree trunk. We ran as fast as possible, not minding which way to go. B-----but we didn't stand a chance. He's a monster no human could ever defeat. I could still hear the screams of my classmates as they were torn by the beast's giant claws. But, what can we do? We're powerless against it!'

Kent understood the situation Noel had been in. They would have experienced it, too. If not for Jay's sudden transformation, thanks to Noel's help. They would've died just by leaving the cell they were put into.

Noel continued, 'We managed to defeat it with everyone's sacrifices. We ran towards it together and successfully caught it and defeated it. It was horrible! I saw my classmates' bodies torn as we ran towards the monster. I was the only one who survived. I saw the syringe come out when we defeated the monster. I had no hope of living at that moment. I tried to kill myself by injecting myself with a strange liquid and ended up becoming the monster myself.'

'No, don't say that.' Kent tried to comfort Noel by making him feel they had no choice.

Noel calmed himself, 'Yeah, I thought, my classmates, are still here with me. When I defeated a porcupine monster, I kept the syringe with me. I traveled towards the horizon, only to find out that there were other places besides the forest. That's when I met Jay. I knew Jay must have teleported with his classmates, too – like us. So, I gave him the syringe to help him survive and help his classmates. In that way, there wouldn't be a bloodbath like what we have experienced before.'

Kent looked Noel in the eyes, 'Without you, we could've all died back there. We will forever be thankful to you. All of us are indebted to you.'

Noel smiled, 'My classmates if they survived, must have chosen the decision that I chose.'

Kent decided to end the emotional scenery by inviting Noel to breakfast, which he accepted.

The table was full of laughter and chatter as different fresh foods were displayed on its golden surface. They were living a new life as one to be celebrated.

Kent stood up and announced the team's departure in its quest, which would happen in the evening, and everyone turned silent.

The day passed quickly, and the moon began to ascend, taking the sun's place. The team is getting ready for the departure. Jay gave them his quills for weapons. The group decided not to bring any rations, for the marshland was abundant in food where they could freely hunt and eat.

Noel bid goodbye to the eighth first, where he leaped from tree to tree and turned himself invisible by becoming the night itself. Noel would mark the trees with his sharp claws, and that would serve as their guide while they journeyed toward the monster's territory, following Alex's plan.

Soon, the class bid them farewell, where they prayed for their safety and brought hope with them, ready to partake in another journey in the new world.