"Go," Four Eyes said again, but the little beast continued to cry instead, its eyes filled with determination.

"The beast said he wants to stay by your side and serve you," Chatty said absent-mindedly, drawing questioning looks from everyone.

Chatty himself was stunned, looking at the little beast suspiciously. The fox jumped and flew happily to Chatty's shoulder, licking his face before starting to bark again.

"Murphy, did you truly understand what the beast said?" Fatty skeptically asked, his brows furrowed.

Chatty was so scared with his newfound talent that he ran towards Four Eyes. "Chu Yan! Chu Yan! What is happening to me? I can talk to the beast!" Chatty cried, his voice trembling with fear and excitement.

Everyone laughed at Chatty's frantic state as he almost climbed onto Four Eyes' body, clutching him tightly.

"Did you truly understand the little fellow?" Four Eyes asked seriously, his eyes narrowing as he observed Chatty.

"Yes, this beast said you are his first friend and have saved his life, so he wants to be by your side all his life," Chatty anxiously declared the fox's words, his eyes wide with wonder.

The fox was once again happy. It leaped onto Chatty's shoulder and licked his face. "Stop! Stop!" Chatty yelled at the little beast, laughing despite himself as it flew towards Four Eyes, landed on his shoulder, and cozily wrapped its tail around Four Eyes' neck.

"This is indeed a well-known trait of Enfields. They are very loyal guardians, and they don't forget the first creature they befriend. They would protect them, even the remains of the person, for the rest of their lives," Shun explained, nodding thoughtfully. I read it in one of the books Ren handed me.

Chu Yan patted its head. 'I'll find a way to let go of him before we leave this place,' Four Eyes thought as he patted the little beast on his shoulder again.

Four Eyes pointed at the lizard since no one seemed to care about it. Jack was too engrossed with the little beast on Four Eyes' shoulder. He even forgot that he was reprimanding him.

"Let's roast this since we are almost out of food," Four Eyes suggested. Everyone moved to do what they were asked, their movements stiff with exhaustion.

When the little fox saw that they were going to roast the lizard, it cried out loud. They all stopped, thinking it was warning them of something, and turned to Chatty for an explanation.

Instead of getting an answer from Chatty, he yelled, "Are you crazy? We are not cannibals!" His face contorted in disgust. "No way!"

The fox cried out again, more insistently. "No! I am not telling them!" Chatty retorted. But the little fox growled, fixing Chatty with a steely gaze that made him jump and run toward Shun and Fatty.

"Tell us what the beast said," Jack demanded, his tone urgent as he peered at the fox, who was eyeing Chatty as if ready to attack. Chatty shivered under its gaze.

"This beast… he… he… said it is best to… to eat the beast's internal organs raw to make us stronger," Chatty stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The rest wanted to vomit as they examined the lizard in front of them. Shun turned to Four Eyes, his face pale. "Are we seriously considering this?" he asked, his voice filled with apprehension.

The fox went back to Four Eyes' side. "Is it true?" Four Eyes asked the little beast, his voice tinged with curiosity and skepticism. The fox leaped onto Four Eyes' shoulder and licked his face.

The fox then made another cry, more urgent this time.

"The blood essence is the most important, and the internal organs," Chatty informed them, his voice steadier now. However, he still clutched Fatty's arm for support.

The lizard had been cut open, and its crystal core was taken. Its blood, a grotesque lime green, made it even more disgusting to look at.

The little beast flew off Four Eyes' shoulder, landing on the lizard, and dug through its stomach. It flew back and forth, carrying the lizard's spleen and pancreas, placing them in front of Four Eyes.

Four Eyes narrowed his eyes. "Do you want me to eat this?" he asked, his voice heavy with disbelief.

The little beast yelped in affirmation, its eyes wide and earnest.

Four Eyes and the little beast stared at each other, neither wanting to be the first to give up. The beast cried out loud, turning to look at Chatty.

"Your friend said you are his savior and won't harm you. He desires to gain your trust," Chatty shakily relayed to Four Eyes.

The little beast looked at Four Eyes again and barked, its gaze unwavering.

Everyone waited with bated breath for what Four Eyes would do next.

Shun whispered to Jack, "Do you think he'll do it?" Jack shrugged, his eyes fixed on Four Eyes.

Four Eyes could tell that the little beast meant no harm and wanted to help him, but looking at the raw lizard's spleen and pancreas in front of him was truly a test of courage.

Four Eyes decided to sit in the lotus position and meditated for a while, the tension thick in the air as everyone watched him in anticipation.

Fatty muttered under his breath, "I don't think I could do it."

Finally, Four Eyes opened his eyes, nabbed the spleen, and devoured it without chewing. He then gulped the pancreas, finishing it in less than a minute. Everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes wide with shock.

They were even more stunned when Four Eyes suddenly screamed loudly in pain. Jack jumped to his feet, ready to rush to his side, but the little beast howled, shooing him away.

"He said Chu Yan is having a breakthrough. We cannot disturb him!" Chatty said excitedly, his eyes shining with anticipation.

The little beast guarded Four Eyes during his breakthrough. In contrast, the others struggled to summon the courage to eat the raw lizard themselves, the sight and smell turning their stomachs. Nicu hesitated, "If it makes us stronger, should we try it?"

Four Eyes' scream subsided as he fell into deep meditation, the little beast keeping a vigilant watch over him. The rest of the team exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that their own trials might soon begin.

__________

Pharsa should be so proud of Chatty!

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