We need that Pillow!

He must have been running for months, Henry thought.

Every step the Sand Boar took, was like a nightmare to him. It felt like he was controlling a mountain to walk.

The previously fragile tree in the forest left a deep pang to him with every collision. However, despite his weary state, he didn't stop.

The dozens of Gigantic Beasts chasing behind didn't allow him to have such thoughts.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Henry grimaced. Each step would produce splitting headaches. It was the consequence of depleting his soul energy.

Despite the unbearable pain, he still carefully carried the two unconscious men in his back as he maneuvered from the Gigantic Beasts' frantic attacks.

'This is it, I could already see the light,' He thought after a sharp claw gashed the Sand Boar's buttocks.

Just as he was about to lose control of the Sand Boar, they were suddenly lifted to the sky. He could feel a bird's talon clasping the Sand Boar's bloodied body.

A rescue, Henry thought. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was people grabbing a hold of him as his Goliath Puppet turned into mist.

. . . . . .

In the White Cloud Inn, right after the Black Void appeared.

"W-What is that?" A woman asked with a frightened voice.

"Oh no! That's a Black Void!" A man with glasses shouted. They could see a puppeteer's badge in his jacket, hence they didn't hesitate to believe him.

After his voice faded, a commotion stirred the pub. Some knew it, while some were confused.

"Black Void? What's that?"

"A Black Void is a rapture in space that was caused by unstable soul energies in a particular place. Once a Black Void is formed, it would connect to the other dimension or plane, which is still unknown to mankind. The Pitch Black Werewolf James used is a Gigantic Beasts that came from a Black Void. They are ferocious, unprecedented, and most importantly, they are incredibly powerful," The man with glasses quickly explained.

Seth listened while he was in Tina's frightened embrace. He could feel her muscles and breathe trembling from fear.

Seth couldn't blame her though, he was also frightened by the red pupil-less eyes peeking from the black gap in the sky. Seth could somehow feel an uncanny pressure emanating from the eyes despite the distance.

"Are they going to be alright, dad?" Tina asked his father who was momentarily stunned by the tournament's unexpected development.

"Don't worry, a lot of rescuers were stationed around the green forest. They could respond to danger immediately. Besides, there's a teleportation portal, remember?" He calmed down as he spotted the brewing anxiousness on his daughter's face.

At this moment, a large rumbling suddenly whirled from the projector's speaker.

Everyone froze.

On the screen, they could see an endless wave of Gigantic Beasts streaming out from the Black Void.

Grotesque creatures with crimson eyes landed on the ground one after another. They didn't even stop before running in different directions, Seth could see the Gigantic Beasts raising their nose, seemingly searching the scent of their prey. And Seth knew very well what prey they seek.

The crowd in the pub opened their eyes wide in an attempt to try to get a better look at what creature was coming from the Black Void.

Just when they could finally get a better look at it, a shadow covered the whole place as though it suddenly turned into nighttime.

After that, there was a loud thud from the camera before the broadcast turned static.

"....."

The whole pub turned from rowdy to pin-drop silence. All their faces were ugly as every sharp buzz traveled to their ears.

"Okay everyone, the White Cloud Inn would be closing for today. Please come back tomorrow at exactly 8:00 am," Greg broke the silence.

The crowd didn't say much and walk out to their respective places. The situation from the Green Forest could potentially turn into a City-Wide Emergency. They have to prepare, even if it doesn't help, their minds would at least be at ease.

After that, time passed as Seth stayed at the pub with Tina and her family. Since there's currently no occupant in his room, Tina was allowed to keep him for now.

Had it been not for the sudden entry of an uninvited guest, Seth would be sleeping peacefully with Tina.

"We need that pillow!" A fatty huffed as he entered the Inn like he was chased by a murderer.

"Eh Fatty? Why are you here? What happened out there? Did the Puppeteer's Association removed the Black Void?" Greg bombarded the fatty with questions.

"Who are you calling fatty?!" Henry exclaimed before quickly saying, "Can the Association borrow your pillow? It is very crucial for the Puppeteers who are fighting the Gigantic Beasts," he pleaded.

"Why would this pillow be crucial to an enormous fight like that?" Julia asked suspiciously. Even though Henry was using the name of the Association—which is a huge crime that could lead to imprisonment—they will never know what hidden agenda Henry had in mind.

"Please. Sir Hans himself is requesting this," Henry pleaded once again as he revealed a golden badge. It was a circular badge with an intricate engraving of a doll puppet brandishing a majestic sword. The rim has azure blue strings that intertwined as they linked to the wooden puppet.

It was the badge of the Vice-President of Puppeteer's Association. With that, they finally believed him

"This...." They looked at Tina as if asking for her permission.

Tina also noticed this and said immediately, "If Mr. Pillow can help then he wouldn't mind."

"Thank you! I'll take care of Mr. Pillow properly," Henry thankfully bowed before rushing out once again.

The three of them then looked at each other, on their faces they could see a mixture of confusion, apprehension, and disbelief.

. . . . . .

(After Henry got rescued)

Henry woke up with heavy-laden eyes. He could vaguely hear people groaning in their sleep.

He stood up and looked around with a throbbing headache. They were currently in a spacious field that seemed to look like a stadium.

Utilizing soul energy too much would result in muscle aches, nausea, headache, and fatigue. It was just like a hangover from excessive alcohol.

There were few remedies for the affliction, but all of them were related to Divine Herbs and Fruits—which were too expensive even for him. Only the people with true power can obtain that.

Henry struggled to find someone he could inquire.

He was certain that the Black Void was still wide open as Gigantic Creatures run amok.

It would've been easy for the PA(Puppeteer's Association) if it were just a normal Gigantic Beasts, but a creature that came from a Black Void has abnormalities in them that inflicted humanity way too much.

These creatures craved for the flesh of humans, especially the puppeteers. It was like their flesh could give the Gigantic Beasts gratification and benefits at the same time.

It took Henry a few steps before he could stabilize his hazy vision. In the distance, he finally saw a medical team.

Henry staggered on the way as they noticed his movements.

"Hey, you shouldn't be moving around," A nurse said as she quickly went to his aid.

"What's.... the..... situa... tion?" Henry said with difficulty, the fat around his body trembled as he spoke.

"It's been 5 hours since the Black Void appeared. Puppeteers have already been dispatched for immediate confrontation, the battle is still in progress, some have retreated to take a rest. And..."

"How about the participants?"

"Only Ha.. Half were rescued, the other half are either dead or had lost their vital wristwatch," The nurse said, perturbed by the unexpected disaster.

At that moment, a bloody-red crow suddenly glided into the field, which later turned into a mist.

A lady with a braid of blonde hair landed. "A large number of Puppeteers are retreating to recover. We are slowly losing our ground on the battlefield!" she said as her face went pale.

"What?!"

"They are retreating already?!"

"I thought they still have reserved soul energy?!"

"The Gigantic Beasts coming from the Black Void suddenly increased!" she shouted anxiously.

Everyone gasped. The unconscious puppeteers also woke up and heard the conversation. Their face froze. They remembered what happened before they were rescued and went pale.

"What happened to the request for Soul Energy Potions?" The Vice-President of AP, Hans Quez came out from a tent with a solemn expression.

"The Federation only agreed to give half of their reserved. If we want more, then we would have to purchase it from them!" The lady responded as she took out a pouch.

It was a Space Pouch that is created from Dark-type soul cores. It was produced by the direction of the blueprint found at the same time as the Space Teleportation blueprint. It could store a space of 10 square meter room.

"Damn bastards!" The air in the field suddenly constricted. Hans noticed his impulsive actions and stopped.

"They are clearly taking advantage of our predicament!" he said gloomily.

After he said that, a weary fat man suddenly invaded their conversation, "Si-Sir I think I can help," Henry said meekly.