Bai sighed.
"I'm not trying to defend my species," he said quietly. "We are parasites." He paused. "I know how we treat the weak. I know how we treat the powerful. And I know what we do to those who have outlived their usefulness."
His gaze lowered. "Trust me… I know exactly what we do to our own people. And I hate us for it."
Silence held for a few seconds.
"This is the first time I've encountered another intelligent species inside a Dead Realm," Bai continued. "Before this, the only things I've seen here were contaminated beasts. This is also the first time I'm hearing that the war outside is racial."
He shook his head slowly.
"I'm near the bottom of my species' hierarchy. There's a lot of information I'm not allowed to access. I'm not saying this to excuse myself. Or to defend my people. What I want right now… is survival."
He looked up at the two towering Sylvans.
"I was thrown into a Dead Realm far above my level. My goal is to find the others from my world who also fell here. If I can gather them together, we might stand a chance to escape. And if traveling with you teaches me more about the truth of this war… I would welcome that."
He slowly pushed himself to his feet.
"I'm walking a different path from my species. One day I want to change us for the better. But that's a dream for the future. For now… I just want to survive."
Ilyth remained silent.
Myrren snorted. "You people really aren't helping your reputation. The most deceitful species in existence." Her glowing eyes narrowed. "How many of your kind are in this realm?"
Bai shrugged slightly. "I'd be happy to discuss that when I'm no longer a prisoner."
A thick branch shot toward him. Another branch lifted Bai off the ground just before impact. The first slammed into the spot where he had been standing. The wood instantly rotted. Decay spread through the trunk, reaching the stone floor beneath.
"What are you doing, Myrren?" Ilyth said sharply.
"Tch." Myrren crossed her arms. "How dare he speak as if we're equals. He needed a reminder."
"I'll handle this." Ilyth gently lowered Bai back onto the restored floor. Her voice turned colder. "Your words are touching. But we don't care about your dreams. Or your species. If I decide you're a threat, or even a potential threat, I will kill you immediately."
Bai nodded. "That's fair."
"Good. You're correct about one thing. We all need to survive. But our reasons differ." She gestured toward the mist beyond their tree shelter. "This Dead Realm operates on a reset cycle. Every fourteen days. There are two days left until the next reset. So we must escape this mist canyon before it happens." Her eyes focused on him. "Now tell me. What abilities do you possess that might help us accomplish that?"
"My abilities don't enhance me physically, but they make me… resourceful. If you explain the reset in detail, I can demonstrate how my abilities might improve our chances of escape."
Myrren spoke immediately. "So you want information from us, but you won't tell us what you can actually do?"
Bai shook his head. "You already know far more about me than I know about you. You know my species. You clearly have information about us that I don't even have access to. The only thing you don't know is my ability. And I would prefer to keep that secret. Meanwhile, I know nothing about your species, your powers, or how you operate. So I believe this is a fair compromise. I'll use my abilities to help us escape. If you figure out what they are along the way… that's fine."
Ilyth considered his words, then nodded. "That's reasonable. First, introductions. We are Sylvans. The eleventh species on the universe's power ranking."
Bai blinked. "Wait—" His mind stuttered. "There are multiple species rankings? And what exactly is a universe power ranking?"
Myrren scoffed. "I thought your people were supposed to be intelligent. When you hear power and ranking, what does that suggest to you?"
Bai smiled faintly. "The most powerful species in the universe."
"Correct," Ilyth said. "Tell me something, Bai Zixian. Have you ever conquered a Dead Realm?"
"No," Bai answered honestly. "I've only participated in retrieval missions."
Ilyth nodded. "That makes sense. Each Dead Realm has unique mechanisms that must be understood before it can be conquered. We haven't fully deciphered this one yet. But we know a few things."
"The reset occurs every fourteen days. If someone dies within five days before the reset… they return during the reset as a contaminated. The reset also resurrects every contaminated creature that has died, including those you personally killed. And each time they return… they adapt to whatever killed them."
Myrren smirked. "So every reset makes them stronger. And reduces your chances of defeating them again."
Ilyth continued. "The only way to permanently clear a region is to kill the leader of that region and leave it behind. If you ever return… the enemies resurrect again. Adapted to your powers."
The Matriarch. If he had stayed in the nest, she would have returned. Stronger. Adapted to him. He would have died.
He slowly exhaled. "So what's the problem? There are three of us here. If the leader of this region is still alive… then the reset shouldn't be catastrophic."
Myrren interrupted. "Oh, it will be."
Bai looked at her.
"That thing out there? That isn't the leader. The leader is already dead."
Myrren pointed toward the mist. "That creature outside… is the leader's child."
Her voice hardened.
"We lost our captain killing it."
"So we need to kill it… and get out of this canyon… before the reset."