A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

"Oh, great," I groaned, pacing nervously. "So, we need to find her. But how? She could be anywhere in that cursed forest!"

As if answering my plea, the core fragment began to glow even brighter. It cast a thin beam of light toward the crystal, which suddenly projected a holographic map into the air. At the center of the map was a blinking sun symbol.

"I think we've found her," Jiuge said, pointing to the marker on the map.

"Whoa, this core fragment is lit!" I exclaimed, grinning despite the situation. The rush of adrenaline hit me like a jolt.

"Alright, my special guardians, it's time to head to that damn forest! We've got a Sun Goddess to rescue!"

Agnos and Jiuge sighed in unison, their groans of reluctance echoing behind me as they turned to leave.

"Wait!" I called out, stopping them mid-step. "I need to take a photo of the map."

They both stared at me, bewildered, as I pulled out my phone and carefully snapped a picture of the holographic map. "There. Got it!" I announced, feeling oddly proud of my quick thinking.

Agnos raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? That thing's literally burned into the crystal, and you're worried about losing it?"

"Hey, better safe than sorry! Besides, we can't carry a huge floating crystal, now can we?" I countered, tucking my phone back into my pocket. "Alright, now we can leave."

Jiuge shook her head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You're something else, Carl."

"Something brilliant," I corrected, already heading toward the exit with a grin.

**********

We were flying—yes, flying—toward the forest in an MECCP-issued buggy. It didn't take long to figure out the buggy's optimal settings, and once I realized flying was faster, I didn't hesitate.

The buggy even came with a built-in GPS that automatically plotted the best course for us.

Efficiency at its finest.

Before setting off, I insisted on stopping by a convenience store to stock up on survival supplies. Food, a camp set, extra clothes—basically anything that screamed "Jungle Survival Kit."

I thought I was being pretty resourceful.

Agnos, however, didn't seem to share my enthusiasm. As he watched me pack the "mundane" items, he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting choice of supplies you've got there," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You do realize the forest is crawling with magical creatures and unexplained mysteries, right? And here you are packing like you're going glamping." He snorted, clearly unimpressed.

Jiuge chimed in, shaking her head in disbelief. "And to think MECCP decided to make you their permanent employee," she muttered.

"Hey!" I shot back, zipping up the bag. "These are essential for survival in the wild. And, for the record, I also bought tea."

At the mention of tea, Agnos's attitude did a complete 180. "Excellent choice," he said, nodding approvingly. "You're absolutely right. These are vital supplies for survival."

I couldn't help but smirk as Jiuge rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath as we climbed into the buggy.

"Don't worry, I still have those items you made me buy back at Dwarftopia," I said, glancing at Agnos with a grin. "If things get dicey, you two can just blast those creatures with your godly powers, right?"

Agnos raised an eyebrow, his expression teetering between amused and exasperated. "Sure, Carl. Let's just fry everything in sight and call it a day," he said dryly. "Because subtlety and diplomacy are totally overrated."

Jiuge sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "If only it were that simple. Using our powers recklessly in a forest full of magical creatures could create an imbalance. Besides, you do realize not everything in the forest is hostile, right?"

"Hey, I was just kidding," I replied, throwing up my hands in mock surrender. "Mostly. But it's good to know you've got the firepower if things go south."

Jiuge muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, "We're doomed."

Agnos smirked but didn't disagree, and I couldn't help but feel a little more confident—or reckless, depending on how you looked at it.

As we reached the forest's edge, the buggy's GPS chimed in with its calm, automated voice.

You have arrived. Switching to land mode. You are safe to drive manually.

The vehicle slowed as the flight thrusters retracted, and the wheels smoothly transitioned to the forest floor. I didn't grab the wheel right away, though, and sat there for a moment, taking it all in.

Agnos, lounging lazily in the seat beside me, finally turned to give me a pointed look. "What are you waiting for? Drive!" he said, his voice tinged with impatience.

I blinked at him, gesturing at the wheel. "You're in the driver's seat, genius!"

Agnos froze, his eyes darting to the controls in front of him. "Oh," he muttered, his casual demeanor faltering for a second. Then, with a shrug, he leaned back even further, crossing his arms. "Well, I'm not driving. That's your job."

Jiuge, from the backseat, let out an exaggerated sigh. "Unbelievable. The gods are getting lazier by the century."

"Hey, I'm an not a chauffeur!" I shot back, climbing over the center console to reclaim my rightful position behind the wheel.

Agnos grinned smugly. "Glad we cleared that up. Now, let's get moving, Carl. Time's wasting."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Sure, your divine majesty. Hold on to your seatbelt—I'm about to show you my 'safe driving' skills."

As we followed the core fragment's guidance, the projected map reappeared like clockwork the moment we reached the edge of the Forest of Forgotten Tales.

Jiuge couldn't resist snickering, her laugh sharp enough to cut through the eerie quiet of the forest.

"So much for your genius idea of snapping a photo of the map earlier, Carl. Turns out the core fragment can project it. Like magic, you know, because we're in a magical realm."

Agnos leaned back in his seat, smirking. "Yeah, Carl, real cutting-edge survival tactics there. Remind me to nominate you for the Mythica Genius Awards."

I groaned, glaring at them as I maneuvered the buggy over the bumpy terrain. "Oh, ha-ha. Laugh it up, you two. Excuse me for being prepared. What if the core fragment malfunctioned or something? You'd be thanking me then."

Jiuge rolled her eyes dramatically. "Sure, because a malfunctioning ancient artifact tied to the creator's life essence is totally plausible."

Before I could come up with a snarky retort, the ground beneath us trembled, the buggy jolting slightly. The air shifted, and an uneasy silence fell over us.

"Did anyone else feel that?" I asked, gripping the wheel tighter.

Agnos straightened, his smirk vanishing. "Yeah, we felt it. Keep driving, but stay sharp."

Jiuge scanned the dense trees ahead, her expression serious now. "That wasn't just the earth settling. Something's moving. And it's big."

I swallowed hard, adrenaline already kicking in. "Great. Just what we needed—a welcoming committee."