The Against All Odds

CH 45 - Used Ice Cream

Leo and a feathered, stocky penguin named Cat sit together on a park bench, a gentle breeze playing Leo's hair and clothes as they speak. If the cat does not wear clothes, the wind hit its thick fur.

Leo laughed as the penguin referred to himself as a 'cat'. He could not imagine talking to a strange penguin as if he were a human. But he tried to focus on the problem at hand.

When the stocky penguin named Cat explains the situation and the bond between them, Leo frowns with concern. He doesn't know how to.

He ducked with his arms folded, and asked, "So what do you want from me?"

The cat shook his head. "I don't want anything from you, Leo. I just want you to be strong. It's my pay for living inside you."

Leo frowned, not yet fully comprehending. "So, are you a Nythorian power?" tanyakanya.

Cats seem a little distracted by the term 'strength'. "No, I can't use my powers. I'm sealed inside Menhir Bastion and joined in you. I want you to be strong so I can survive too. If you die, I'll die too" he explained in an anxious tone.

Leo was still hesitating, and he interrupted, "But what should I give him instead?" Leo touched his head. "Cat, I just... I can't take your help for free."

The cat penguin keeps licking the ice cream in his hand. "I'll give you my strength. Use it to protect yourself, and help others." He smiled, his gaze full of warmth as he looked towards Leo.

Leo sighed, then returned his smile. "Okay, I take it." Then fold both hands on the chest. "I accept you because you intend to help me, even when I'm running out of hope. So, I want to accept you as a friend, and you can do everything as you please, no need to force yourself to always help me, you also have to get your own happiness."

The cat was silent for a moment, and seemed touched by Leo's words. Then, he smiled widely and thrust his ice cream at Leo. "Eat!" he said cheerfully.

Leo refused by raising both hands, slightly disgusted, "Es this cream?"

"Yes, this is the only way my power can be channeled."

Leo still looks doubtful, especially after seeing how the Cat ate her ice cream. However, suddenly the form of a Cat turns into Alisha.

"Woy! Why is he? I know you just changed your form!" Leo's surprised.

The cat laughed at Leo's anger. "I can read your mind all this time, Leo," he said in the Cat's original voice. "I know you like this woman." He smiled cunningly.

Leo rounded his eyes. "But what you're doing now is too late to know, Alisha looks terrible because of your voice."

"If that's the case, eat it eat this ice cream, stupid!" The cat stuffed his ice cream into Leo's mouth which opened forcefully.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Leo immediately returned to reality, looking at the line of zombies moving closer. "Has time just stopped?" muttered. After what he had just experienced in his memory, the question of time made sense.

Leo clasped his sword, ready to fight, as the sound of Lucas' laughter continued to echo over the stands.

"Oh yeah, why would cats prevent me from attacking these zombies? Shit, I forgot to ask you that." Leo paused for a moment, recalling the words of the Penguin.

"That's because you just made Lucas know your true power and recruited you into his organization," the voice of the monster again rang out in his mind.

"Cat?"

"Yes?"

Leo smiled with confidence. "I don't think I can talk to you anymore."

"I like your voice too" added Leo.

"Wahaha! Of course we can, we're fused now."

"So what should we do now?"

"We will pretend to lose and I will neutralize the effect of the medicine they gave you, so that you can activate the magic you have to escape."

"But Cats, I don't yet understand the Nythorian power I have."

"That's your strength now, you can't?" Ask the Cat in an annoyed tone. "Sobso stupid."

"Hmm. The monster's voice is so prickly."

Leo feels a little offended but he is not carried away by emotions, because this is the nature of the Cat. "All right, I'm ready."

They prepare to face the approaching zombies, while setting up a plan to escape.