Ch 206.

  As Matt found himself sitting and waiting for over a day by Earth’s old standard, the reality of his situation sank in: he was waiting for the Raven Association to respond to his request for a meeting. To his dismay, it became clear that this wait would stretch into weeks rather than hours or even days, at least according to the time scales he was accustomed to, as he had yet to acclimate to the galactic standard time. Meanwhile, life on Earth continued its relentless march forward. Matt’s puppets, which had fled the island upon Spencer’s arrival, returned to restore order, meticulously cleaning up the remnants of their chaotic second battle. They took extra precautions to conceal his raft, cleverly positioning one of Matt’s own on the opposite side of the island to divert any attention. Additionally, they remained hidden, anticipating Rose’s emergence, which occurred approximately three days after she had entered.

  If anyone had been present to witness her, they would have seen a figure steeling herself for a fight, an expression of resignation etched across her face as she prepared to confront Spencer. Yet, unbeknownst to her, he had seemingly just left, leaving her unsure about her next move. She had been convinced that Spencer wouldn’t leave until she faced him, and with the knowledge that others were en route to the island, she felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to protect them. Her decision to step out was fueled by a desperate desire to save them, knowing all too well that anyone below B rank stood little chance against Spencer after witnessing his abilities firsthand.

  With Spencer gone, Rose confronted a new and daunting set of challenges as she wrestled with the decision to stay and warn the others about him. Yet how could she shoulder that responsibility when she believed it was her fault that Matt had fallen victim to Spencer? No, she had to track him down and be the one to end his reign of terror. To do that, she needed to grow stronger. But the thought of remaining on the island filled her with dread, for it would mean facing the painful truth of her role in Matt’s demise. Compelled to escape, she began scouring the island for anything that could aid her departure.

  In her search, she stumbled upon the raft that Matt's puppets had left behind. Alongside it, she discovered provisions— prepared rations made from the edible monsters Matt had harvested from the depths of the dungeon. The sight of the food stirred a flicker of hope within her, while also making her mourn Matt’s death once more.

  With both sustenance and a means to flee, Rose wasted no time. She oriented herself using the sun’s position, ensuring she was headed south. Her goal was the dungeon entrance at the south pole, a place she believed would offer her the chance to grow stronger and prepare for the inevitable confrontation. She speculated that Spencer had likely moved toward the north pole or sought out other members the organization he was part of, but the thought of crossing paths with him didn’t terrify her as it once would have. After all, she felt as if she were already dead inside, numb to much of the world around her. If he hadn’t cared enough to wait for her, she assumed he didn’t view her as a threat and would probably just mock her suffering.

  Determined, she resolved to endure whatever hardships lay ahead, knowing that each obstacle would only fuel her resolve to become powerful enough to confront him. Until that day came, she would confront every challenge head-on, prepared to either overcome them all or perish in the attempt.

  As she departed, Matt’s puppets, careful to remain out of sight during her brief search, observed her quietly. This included the giant octopus-like creature they controlled, with its tentacles weaving through the water as it guarded her raft from below, ensuring she navigated the waves around the island without facing any underwater threats. A few times, it even nudged her forward when the currents threatened to pull her back, though she remained oblivious to its assistance, her thoughts consumed by her own turmoil. Once she was safely away, one of the puppets forced itself to sleep, sharing its memories with Matt that she had left, and he could resume his normal actions. They were especially focused on the puppet stationed on a ship, which was just days away from reaching the island. Indeed, the moment had finally arrived for the group led by Apricity and Jaelyn to make their approach. They would have arrived sooner but had paused at a nearby island where Louie would likely be held captive someday. It wasn’t until Matt’s puppet stirred from its slumber after receiving this crucial update that they made plans to set sail. The following morning, Matt stepped into the tent that had been serving as Apricity’s base of operations and found her seated comfortably with her mother, Cassie, both engaged in a moment of relaxation.

  “Rose has left the island,” Matt’s puppet announced, a frown creasing its brow at the swiftness of her departure. “Things aren’t ready for Louie and me to stay here yet.”

  “What are you saying? Are there monsters you can’t handle?” Cassie asked, skepticism lacing her tone. “This isn’t too far from the other island—just a day or two of sailing, and we should be there. I suppose we could leave a few of those who came with Jaelyn if necessary.”

  “No, they’re all here to reach the dungeon, and Louie has already controlled them once,” Apricity replied, shaking her head. “I think it would be best if Jaelyn stays behind, although I doubt she would be much help. So, what exactly do you want?”

  “For Louie and me to go to the dungeon island and bring back two more puppets like myself,” Matt’s puppet replied earnestly. “Once all of you arrive, the need for them will diminish significantly, and it will allow me to avoid the risk of sleeping alone when he’s around.”

  “You really believe he’ll kill you,” Cassie retorted, disbelief etched across her features. “What have you been doing to him? I thought you could just create more of yourself.”

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  “I used to be able to, but things became complicated when Matt reached B rank, and no, I can’t elaborate further,” Matt’s puppet explained. “As for Louie, he’s just being forced to battle every monster I encounter before being tied up and left to sleep in a tree.”

  “Okay, he’s definitely going to kill you if he gets the chance,” Cassie remarked, shaking her head in dismay. “What made you think that was a good idea?”

  “Being nice to him only makes his behavior worse. Cassie, the few times I tried the carrot approach, it only led to more whining and pleading, as he hoped I would take pity on him.”

  “You should be cautious; one of these days, he might succeed in influencing your mind,” Apricity warned, her eyes narrowing. “Even if he could never influence the real you, what happens if he hijacks a puppet's mind and it rejoins the collective?”

  “I kill him,” stated Matt’s puppet flatly. “Or rather, the real Matt does. If he did something like that, I’d have no choice but to act.”

  “Then why help him grow at all?” Cassie asked, her brow furrowed. “Wouldn’t it be better to ensure he never becomes a threat?”

  “I don’t believe he’s evil—just a coward who will take the easy path when it’s presented. So, I’m simply not giving him that option. Besides, Paige needs a chance to develop the skills necessary to control him. After all, that was the agreement. It’s just unfortunate that she won’t be able to take him into the dungeon.”

  “That’s your plan?” Apricity shot back. “You’re going to set her up to clear the dungeon as if he were part of her party so that he can join her later. Now, how do you intend to get the rest of her party to agree to that?”

  “They’re a four-person party,” Matt’s puppet replied matter-of-factly. “Adding another member should make things 25% harder. I’m sure my main body dropping hints about wishing he could make things more challenging will work wonders. Besides, they’ll start off facing things that will be a joke to them, so even if Louie tries to mind control them, they’ll manage to escape. Even if Louie wanted to avoid that, he would eventually realize he can’t stay in their company indefinitely, as there are too few safe places to sleep.”

  “They can also fight on floors below their level until they’re ready for Louie to join them full-time,” Cassie added thoughtfully. “It’s not a bad bit of reasoning when considered from that perspective.”

  “You don’t need to sound so surprised,” Matt’s puppet replied, a hint of pride in its voice. “I’m capable of coming up with good ideas just as much as any of you. Plus, even if they say no, I can always force him to face the dungeon alone like my main body is.”

  “No, it’s the fact that you’re thinking about things beyond just your immediate needs,” Cassie stated, her expression serious. “That has always been my concern with your mindset; I never saw you considering anything beyond what you needed to get through the next supply run. If you had ever returned the attention Apricity gave you, I would have either chased you off or forced you to learn everything about running my lodge.”

  Matt’s puppet shook its head, dismissing the previous conversation as they turned their attention to the necessary preparations for departure. They busied themselves with the tasks at hand, and by that afternoon, the salty sea air enveloped them once more as they set sail. Louie, however, was confined in a sturdy trunk, tightly bound with a blindfold and gag to prevent any chance of him exerting his influence on the others. Despite the harsh treatment, Matt’s puppet couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him; this confinement had been his reality for the majority of their trip, and it was unlikely to be the last time he would have to endure such conditions. Yet, it was still preferable to death, though Louie certainly didn’t seem appreciative of that fact.

  As they approached the shores of the island, Matt’s puppet smiled at the dramatic transformation that had taken place since Matt’s initial arrival. The landscape had changed significantly; the towering mountain that once dominated the scenery was now nearly erased, leaving behind a flat expanse of land that felt almost surreal against the backdrop of the ocean. The fort's walls stood firm, but the absence of buildings made the area appear desolate, yet it was easy to envision the potential for growth and development. Soon, this barren stretch would evolve into a thriving hub, ready to confront the myriad dangers that lay ahead. Matt’s puppets had already noted that the monsters prowling the wilds had reached low C rank, a troubling sign for Matt’s puppets. As they seemed forever stuck at only half the strength he had achieved at the peak of C rank, the world was rapidly becoming an overwhelming and perilous place.

  At the same time, it meant that people had to adapt quickly or face dire consequences. With that in mind, it was only a matter of time before more dungeon entrances would manifest, given that three were currently being completely overlooked. But that was a discussion for later, as they dropped anchor and lowered the first raft into the churning water. Apricity took charge of the initial group disembarking, her demeanor resolute. They were met by Matt, who had stepped away from the depths of the dungeon to greet them.

  As Apricity approached him, instead of embracing him in relief, she delivered a sharp slap to his face, hands firmly planted on her hips, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief. “How dare you make Rose believe she had killed you? I don’t care what your reasons are; if she finds out the truth and decides to take revenge, I will help her do it.”

  “Good,” Matt replied coldly, his voice devoid of warmth. “If you want to understand why I had to handle things this way, reach B rank. Until then, all I can say is that it was necessary.”

  “You’ve been saying that a lot in our chats,” she retorted, her frustration simmering just below the surface. “Anyway, I need Emily and Yumiko to arrive first. They’re still a few weeks out based on their last estimates, so I figured I would make a few more round trips to ensure everything works out.”

  “I assume you were left alone on your way here, then?”

  “You know that,” Apricity shot back, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Your puppet is always keeping you updated, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but it was preoccupied guarding Louie the entire time, so it didn’t catch much else,” Matt replied, his brow furrowing slightly.

  “Whatever. The most we encountered were a few flying monsters that got curious about our lower-level crew members. They were easy enough to dispatch, but I’m concerned about heading back with only eight people. Any chance you could spare a few puppets for me?”

  “Sure, I can send you three and allocate two to keep watch over Louie,” Matt said after a brief moment of consideration. “Now, how about you signal for the rest to come ashore? I need to explain how the dungeon operates and ensure everyone is comfortable with their party arrangements. Once they step into that dungeon, they won’t have the option to change things up.”

  “Maybe I should check if Greg and Kal want to join my party after all,” Apricity murmured, glancing back at the ship. As she did, another raft was lowered, and two men began hauling the one that had brought her ashore back to the vessel.

  Thanks for reading Primal Path!

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