The Amazing Joni's
CHAPTER 19: NINETEEN

We landed from a portal lining up into the middle of a forest on the slope of a mountain. This mountain is covered with tall trees. Large-scale. This place has minimal sunlight. Light dim. Trees here have an average trunk circumference of 4.5 meters. It's 45 meters tall. Somehow the portal always takes us to places of responsibility. Why not take us directly to the enemy.

Our landing was all perfect. Already accustomed to the condition of floating portals not touching the ground. For a moment, we looked around.

“Wow! The amazon! It's the Amazon jungle, right?” Deni.

“This game, Den.” I reminded.

“I look forward to meeting Bekantan here, Jon.” Deni looked over, smiling. What does that smile mean?

“We are not on the island of Borneo, Den.” I reminded again.

“And I want to meet Tarzan.” Sem is talking. Deni and I turned around, laughing. Sem laughed too. Since when did he know Tarzan? Great, that's a word pinned to the maker of Sem figures. How not, a tarzan figure was inserted into his memory.

We continued our journey after joking around a few moments later. She leads in front. It's afternoon. We have to find a good place to take shelter tonight. And of course have preparations for dinner.

“You want to eat panther beetle, Den?” Shem asked, his hand rubbing leaves and twigs of young trees that blocked the face. Letting us through, then taking it off.

Deni. That's not a good menu. “ I prefer antelope meat than just.. What did you say? Tiger beetle? Let alone the tiger, the corn I don't want, Sem.” Deni smiled wryly. I nodded, agreeing with what Deni said.

“If we want to have dinner tonight, we have to look for it now. Or the dark will get in our way, letting our stomachs sing all night.” I am now in the back row of the group.

The road we walked was not easy. Many thorny plants can scratch the skin. That's the good role that our new armour does. They don't wear any thorns. Let alone thorns, a single surge of bison will not make it crumble. Apart from this great armor, our boots are the most reliable. Ramps, derivatives, slippery roads, everything can be passed easily. Like walking on a freeway race track.

We continue to follow Sem. Find a safe place to shelter tonight. This air feels cold, cool. Rays of light, occasionally burst through the cracks of the leaves. The ground is wet, mossy, slippery. The atmosphere was silent, silent, only occasionally heard the sound of animals from a distance.

***

Meanwhile, in another corner of the forest just as the portal opened and closed a battle ensued. A long distance battle. One of the people involved in the fight was a sniper. What was visible from the fight was only the sound of bullets, hitting here and there. A person with a tall, thin and jet-black stature stood relaxed, his body repeatedly targeted by bullets that came from nowhere. This man wore a long white robe without buttons on the front.

The trees, leaves, and branches around the man stood there, smelling of gunpowder. The man's eyes were staring straight ahead. His face was flat, expressionless. The movement is actually locked, locked by a bullet attack that came out of nowhere. The longer it takes, the more powerful the bullet is. The clang is getting louder. It caused a spark.

A bullet shot back, piercing through one of the two young green leaves. Back clanking. The man held her back, more precisely fending her off. Fend bullets? Yeah, the guy fended off the bullet with just a wrist. The sniper searched several times for another target. Head, neck, shoulders, waist, thighs, knees, legs, all the goals were futile. All bullets can be removed. The reflexes are incredible.

The holes in the tree trunk, in the big twigs, in the big leaves, were all the result of the stalking of the thin and black man. While from the shooting range, the sniper kept approaching, looking for a gap. The closer, the harder and sharper the puluru hits the target.

When the sniper returned to spit out a bullet. The skinny, black man closed his eyes. Listening to every swipe of the bullet with the air it passes through. His hearing is incredible. This time the man did not repel him, but made a bullet back to his master. His hands are tight, holding. The bullet remained motionless only a few inches from his open left palm. The bullet was actually rebelling, like a dog barking, wanting to get off its harness. Some shock, the man's right hand raised. Like pushing that bullet into one corner of a forest. The bullet shot back, even more heavily. Back to his master.

Where it was, the sniper had the bullet back. His shoulder was bleeding, bullet-ridden. The sniper only realized the bullet was back after a few more inches from his body. He only dodged a little, leaving the right side of the body, then his shoulders were inevitable. Snagged. Lucky not to have bones. The sniper decided to retreat, enough for today.

Wretch! The sniper was back unaware. The thin man was already behind him, not since when, a few seconds ago. That's the habit, appearing somewhere in an awkward way, all of a sudden. That man is Rem, one of Has's confidants. The sniper was aghast, his left hand was still holding his right shoulder, his weapon was already slung on his back. Brake hit the sniper. His body bounced as far as there was nothing in the way. The leaves at that place were scattered. The branches fell, broke. The sniper is hissing. His bones are crumbling.

When you stand up, allow your feet. The brakes are behind him. That's fast. Looks like Rem can switch places in a split second. The brakes came back, this time with a kick. A second later, the sniper fired a smoke bomb. All of a sudden it's foggy. Can't see 10 meters away. Brakes cover the face with wrists, worried that the smoke is poisonous. When the smoke clears, the sniper is gone.

***

A few minutes after the battle.

“Sem, you noticed this.” I pointed at a hollow tree. Bullet exposed. Sem watched for a moment.

“It must have been a hunter. It's a forest. Anyone can hunt deer or deer in this place.” Deni concluded the origin.

“I know who owns this bullet.” Sem looked up, staring at the other part. Go check some more trees. There are many of the same holes.

Silent. We checked some parts. Fractures of twigs that are still gummy, leaves that are still thick, hollow, even the smell of gunpowder is still smelled here. This is all a new occurrence.

“Wow, looks like the hunter is directly cooking his quarry in this place. Look, there's some tomato sauce here.” Deni. Me and Sem are approaching.

“This is not a saos, Den. It's human blood.” I'm so sure.

Hey, blood? Isn't this a game? Any blood? How come? Shem?

“Blood applies to us, Jon. But not for you guys. Do you remember the jet ski race this morning? Participants who fell in the fist also shed blood. Our lives here are real. Very different from you. If hit by a cut or a sword slash, you will only feel like you are losing energy.” She looked down, staring at the ground.

Could it be that those who are in this game also have feelings? I don't know.

I stared at Sem's face. Concerned.

“Who is the owner of those bullets, Sem? I hurried to switch the subject.

“I'm sure I've met him. She's a woman, but I don't know her name. Just passed by when I bought some apples in the country.” Sem replied in a flat tone.

“You can cross the portal without quizzes and confusing statements, Sem. But why don't we?” Deni raised his hand. It seems he forgot, Sem has already explained it.

“Portal is limited to you. But I have access to it. Only until this country. I never went to the fourth and fifth countries. I don't have the ability to. Even if I could open the portal to the fourth country, you would still not be able to enter. The portal is only specific to the inhabitants of this game, not for player.”

Deni nodded reverently. His head swept around.

The afternoon sky started to darken faster. Cloudy. Sunlight is cloud grey. Looks like it's going to rain. If it happens, we'll be more troubled tonight. We're looking for food, fruit. Not parting too far, I forbid it. When we looked up, we could still see each other's movements. The three of us gathered together edible fruit. Shem teaches how to detect poisonous fruit with a sophisticated wrist watch, which for the umpteenth time Me and Deni are unaware of the feature. And the way, how to store supplies without having the hassles of carrying it everywhere.

Fruits collected. We're moving. Still looking for a good place to shelter. The first raindrops had already started to fall to the ground. One or two alternating. The wind was blowing more and more, playing at the ends of the hair. We arrived at the river bank. The water was clear, I could see the rocks at the bottom of the river. Two small fish swim on the surface. Color is adorable. Sem takes water with a container of large taro leaves. It is already in the form of a container that can hold water. I don't know how Sem made it. When I asked, he just said the water in it certainly will not make skin itch when drunk.

Nightfall. Heavy rain is pouring. Lightning snatching. The thunderclaps scared the little animals, they curled up inside the nest. Thunder rumbled, whispering the forest ceiling. The three of us were still on the edge of that clear river. The water is falling in the rain. The shield I made like a semi-circular hood house was very helpful. Although the texture is just like glass, do not be heavy grains of rain water, bullets will not be able to penetrate. Deni had the idea. He called it perfunctory, but it was practicable. Perfect, we're not rained on. Sem even completes the idea. He said if I fall asleep, the shield will be gone. In order to keep the shield solid even though I have slept, I must make the flowing energy stop. The way? Sem again teaches using a sophisticated watch on our wrists.

The stomach is full. We spent the fruits. Drink with water from three containers of taro leaves Sem craft. Deni even intends to learn how to make it. By the time he has successfully quit this game, Deni plans to sell his own crafts in an online store.

“That's a great idea. You can get more pocket money.” I smiled, welcoming the idea.

“Thank you, Jon.” Deni smiled back.

After eating, we joked. Chirping. Laugh together. For a moment, Deni and I managed to forget how to get out of this game. Forgetting the real life of the two of us, forgetting the school, forgetting the houses with the rough mattresses. The night watch schedule was made. Two people sleep first. One man is standing guard. When the first third of the night is over please wake up another friend.

That night, the first one to stand guard was Deni. He chose to be the first person because he wanted to sleep soundly until dawn in the eastern horizon. There was no sound of the animals of the night, the roar of rain falling down on it shut down all the hustle and bustle of the night. Me and Sem are asleep. Deni watched around, being inside the shield felt safe from any distractions.

The first third of the night passed. Deni. I'm still yawning, eyes squinting, drowsiness. I think I just fell asleep. The schedule of the turn already made should be respected. I had to keep watch until the second third of the night was over, and then gave the last third of the night to Sem.

I'm staring around. The rain had stopped, leaving dew strewn on the ends of leaves and twigs. The moon again hung down, the stars spilling over in the black sky. From a distance the night animals again heard, even the sound of the strains dangling the tone of a pair of wolves sounded melodious, making the fur stiffen.

Bats fly overhead using supersonic senses. Looking fruit. Owls are engrossed in lurking, peering at cobras that confront mice. Frogs and frogs jump high on the banks of the river. Some crickets scratch his back. Other large animals huddled in the nest, waiting for the morning. Like our.

I stared dumbfounded. The last time I spent the night in the woods was two years ago. When I was active in scouts. Camped. From that moment on, I never again heard the hum of nature like this. City life used to be noisy, chaotic. All of these are indeed just artificial pixels that look perfect. Even Sem is part of it. Look, just a moment ago we were just schoolboys accustomed to the world of technology, sophistication, automatic grass, instant. Now we are in a place where everything seems natural. Breakfast just by making a simple fire, grilling. Not like at home, which is just by pressing a few buttons on the all-automatic stove. Sunnguh, I muttered reverently. Nature like this is not as easy to destroy.

When I was busy with the daydream. I heard a few footsteps from the shock. I jerked. Stand by. Lest those who had just fought in a place where there were many bullet holes come back to check. From a distance, behind the dim moonlight, I saw two people in royal clothes. Spontaneously, my hand shook the backs of Sem and Deni, asking them to get up. Immediately. Deni even protested.

“Do you want to cheat, Jon? It's still your turn. My night watch is also over. Let me sleep until the sun itself warms the trunk of my nose.” Deni with eyes squashed back to lay down his body. While Sem is awake. What was?

I pointed at the two people walking closer and closer. Who're they? Isn't it early in the morning? Sem stood up. I opened the shield. Deni was still curled up in a dream. The night wind gently caressed her face, getting more and more restful. The two men are getting closer.

“Who are you?” Shem exclaiming. Stand by. The bow is still in storage.

“We are just two people who are being ostracized. We are not bad people.” Someone looks old, his face is misty, his skin is sagging. His body looked weak, there were even some bruises. Her clothes looked very luxurious, sparkling in the dim middle of the moon. Someone else is very contrasting. He was young, dashing, his body still contained. But the wounds are more.

I'm trying to mediate, “It looks like they're good people, Sem.” I'm advancing forward.

“Are you two natives of this place?”

“Ya.” The young man nodded.

“They may be hungry, Sem. Wake Deni. You can join us. There may still be some food feed.” I've made my decision. Let the two men sit near Deni's body.

“What is harmless, Jon?” Deni whispering.

“About danger we'll take care of later.” I replied, whispering too.

Sem nodded. Take out some fruit, give it to the guests late at night. They're merging. Deni was also awake, his eyes still splashing. Trying to recognize.

“Are we in a situation called a dream together, Jon?” Deni raised his hand, asking. It seems like his brain is not perfectly awake yet.

“It's morning, Den. We're having breakfast.” Sem answers origin. Smilingly.

“Barakkah. Are we eating antelope again?” Deni asked, his eyes already round. We all laughed. Deni scratched his head, misbehaving. After I explain everything.

“What do you do in the middle of the forest like this?” The old man asked, finished biting a few times the fruits we had prepared.

“Sorry, Sir. Maybe we should have asked like that. We are just schoolchildren who are camping in this place.” Deni has finally started connecting, although the answer is still far from that.

The old man chuckled. “This forest is very wide, many dangerous animals here. Or maybe a robber. Lucky it seems you guys never met him.” Half joking, half making fun of Deni.

Half an hour passed. Various topics of conversation were discussed. The old man seemed to know a lot of things in this country, while the other one chose a lot of silence, occasionally nodding his ass. We didn't feel the conversation was actually taking a break. Early morning talk. As we joked, we heard another step. Like running. Getting closer.

“What's that robber he's talking about, Jon?” Deni came closer to my ears, whispering. I'm silent.

Silent moment.

“Oh, it turns out he's back.” The old man smiled. Looking from a distance. While we were, still trying to capture clearly the approaching shadow. But if this old man already recognized him, it meant that the new one coming was also part of this straying entourage.

Someone is approaching. His clothes were the same as the young man sitting next to the old man. There were also bruises. This one was different again, coming in with a stinged breath. He leaned over holding his knees for a moment, taking in some fresh air.

“Sorry, Your Grace. I can only go back now. They really took everything.” The person still gasped, stroking the chest a few times.

For a moment, our attention was on this newly arrived man. He's so exhausted. His breathing is irregular. But what did he say? Her Majesty?

I jerked. Pat forehead. His majesty? This old man is called His Majesty?