"Huh?" Jake blinked.
He had extended his hand to click on the game system, only to find himself floating in the world of darkness. He momentarily thought that he had somehow entered Ender's Darkness Nest, but a screech on his right shoulder told him it wasn't the case.
"You're here, Ender! Wait, aren't we in assimilation?" Jake thought. He quickly noticed that he wasn't in this peculiar state as his right hand was back to normal.
He wore his casual clothes and was seemingly teleported to an unknown place.
It was so odd that Jake didn't know what to think of it.
Ender was also confused.
That was when the darkness before them spread like a curtain. It revealed skies and clouds bathing in the sunset. It was like an ocean of blood suddenly manifested before them.
It swallowed them whole.
Jake and Ender were now resting on a fluffy cloud, bemused. They were utterly at someone else's wish and didn't know what to do.
Jake wanted to stand up, but just glancing at the world beneath him was enough to throw him back to his seat. If he were to fall from this height, he would die.
Ender wouldn't be able to save him, either.
That was when something flew past him! It was so fast that Jake couldn't have caught a glimpse of it. He only felt drops of liquid splashing onto his face.
He touched it and looked at his fingers, finding blood.
A raw, warm blood bubbled on his fingers!
Ender screeched then.
Jake looked to his left.
Two existences were floating between the scarlet clouds, glaring at each other.
One of them was a man in his late twenties with pale skin, short black hair, and dark eyes. His tall height was draped by black robes that fluttered behind him.
He came across as a fallen angel because two wings unfolded behind his back.
Though his complexion must have been pale all the time, he was unnaturally alabaster now, meaning he must have lost a lot of blood. A streak of crimson liquid dripped from the corner of his lips.
That said, nothing could take away from his deadly glare.
It was a face that could kill countless weak people with just a stare alone. He wore an aura of authority and superiority.
Flying across him was a human.
He wore sandals with wings attached to them, which must have been the reason he could have chased after the dark-haired fallen angel up until now. The rest of his equipment was scarce. He only wore armored short pants and had a white cape flapping behind his back.
Jake extended his hand and invited him to perch there.
Ender sensed Jake's intent and flapped his wings. He slowly landed on Jake's palm.
"I won't let you suffer the same fate," Jake said as he brought his baby eagle close to his face. He used his nose to show affection to his eagle. Jake's nose was like a beak because he wanted to be as close to the eagles as possible.
Ender screeched. He wasn't alone like the man in the vision.
Jake's support and strength burned in Ender's heart.
He was confident in his future!
He was so full of pride, too!
He recalled how he had fought in The First Dungeon and how strong he could become along with his friend and master, The Archer. So much power meant that any dangerous human would suffer death at their hands!
Ender screeched. He said, 'You aren't bronze skinned!'
Jake laughed, "Yeah, I'm so white that it's dangerous for my skin! Haha! Well, not every bronze-skinned human is a bad human, though. We can't judge people based on their appearances, Ender. And even if we judge someone wrong, we'll always return because I'm a player who can die and fight until the end! I never give up!"
Ender screeched.
He screeched...
And he screeched... he couldn't help but believe in Jake, even though he was a human!
A mere vision wouldn't turn Ender into Jake's enemy.
He wasn't so shallow or stupid!
The baby eagle steeled his little heart and was now ready to become even stronger!
Odin howled from below.
These two exchanged glances.
To no one's surprise, Ender gave up on Jake's palm and perched himself on Odin's head.
Their bond had become better, after all.
Jake broadly smiled, "You two are so adorable together!"
Pathetique!
Woof!
Odin and Ender separated.
"Come on, guys!" Jake laughed aloud.