“What do we do now? We were supposed to climb up with the rope, but it’s gone now,” Bubble frowned, looking somewhat helpless.

Bimple also gazed at the flowering tree, his lips slightly downturned. “Yeah, without the rope, how do we climb up with our bare hands?”

BOBO, deep in thought, wrinkled his tiny brow. “BOBO also doesn’t know, it looks really difficult.”

The three stood silently at the entrance of the cave, feeling a hint of frustration at the current predicament. However, at that moment, Bimple’s eyes lit up as he thought of a possible solution.

“Perhaps we can use the protruding parts on the flowering tree as footholds and climb along the tree. Although it’s challenging, if we’re careful, we might succeed,” Bimple suggested.

Bubble and BOBO were surprised by the idea but also felt it might be their only option at the moment.

“Maybe we should give it a try; after all, there’s no better option right now,” Bubble agreed.

BOBO nodded, giving a little hop. Although the method sounded difficult, they had overcome many challenges before and believed this time would be no exception.

The trio decided to climb the flowering tree with their bare hands. They approached the tree, carefully reaching out their palms, attempting to find a sturdy protrusion as support. However, the surface of the tree was exceptionally smooth, making it challenging for their hands to grip.

Bimple was the first to attempt, gripping the tree with force, but his fingers slipped, and he nearly slid down. Clenching his teeth, he refocused and tried again, this time with more caution, successfully grabbing onto a protruding part.

“I did it!” Bimple exclaimed joyfully, a victorious smile on his face.

Bubble and BOBO applauded and cheered; after some effort, they finally found the climbing technique. They approached the flowering tree one by one, carefully climbing along the protrusions.

However, as they climbed higher, the shape of the flowering tree became more peculiar, with fewer protruding parts, increasing the difficulty of the climb. The heartbeats of Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO quickened, and they all felt the growing pressure.

BOBO, in the process of climbing, accidentally slipped. His little paw slid, almost causing him to fall from the flowering tree. His face turned pale in fright, but quickly, he regained his composure, grasping onto the support again and continuing to climb upward.

“Be careful, BOBO! Don’t be afraid; we’re all here,” Bimple hurriedly reminded.

Bubble also looked at BOBO with concern, saying, “Yes, BOBO, you’re doing great. Let’s keep going together!”

BOBO nodded, biting his lip, summoning courage, and continued to climb. Encouraging each other, they collectively overcame the challenges of climbing, striving towards the direction of the flower.

During the lengthy climb, their palms had become somewhat red and swollen from friction. Despite feeling tired, their determination remained unshaken. They knew that as long as they persevered, they could get closer to the flower and achieve their goal.

Finally, after continuous efforts, Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO reached the vicinity of the flower. They took a deep breath, feeling the joy of victory. The flower was now within reach, its mirage glow shining brighter, like a presence from a dream.

“We did it!” Bubble exclaimed excitedly, his face filled with excitement and joy.

Bimple also nodded with a smile, saying, “Yes, we finally did it!”

BOBO proudly added, “BOBO helped too!”

The three patted each other on the shoulders, expressing mutual encouragement and joy. They successfully overcame the climbing challenges, approaching the flower—a significant milestone in their adventure.

However, just as they were about to pluck the flower, a sudden low roar echoed from the vicinity of the flower. A powerful gust of wind swept towards them, causing their bodies to involuntarily sway.

Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO looked in astonishment toward the direction of the flower, where a gigantic pterosaur was circling above, its eyes fixed on the trio, emitting threatening roars.

“What… what is going on?! He never expected that a pterosaur, only seen in prehistoric legends, would appear right before his eyes,” exclaimed Bimple.

Bubble, too, stood there dumbfounded, too scared to utter a word.

BOBO was trembling with fear, screaming, “Pterosaur! So scary!”

BOBO’s scream echoed through the cave; he was completely terrified by the appearance of the gigantic pterosaur. His little claws clung tightly to the flowering tree, but due to excessive tension, his hands and feet slipped uncontrollably, and he plummeted from the tall flowering tree.

“BOBO!” Bimple and Bubble simultaneously shouted, their hearts seeming to pause for a moment.

BOBO’s figure rapidly descended, his eyes filled with fear and helplessness. In a critical moment, Bubble reacted swiftly, extending his hand and grabbing BOBO’s tiny paw.

“I’ve got you!” Bubble’s face tensed, but his eyes were resolute.

BOBO’s body swayed violently as it came to an abrupt stop, supported by Bubble’s strength. BOBO quickly clung tightly to a protruding part of the flowering tree, trembling as he took a deep breath.

“B-Bubble, thank you…” BOBO’s voice quivered, and he looked at Bubble with gratitude, tears welling up in his eyes.

Bubble managed to squeeze out a smile from the tension, saying, “Don’t mention it; we’re friends, helping each other is what we should do.”

Bimple rushed over, his face still somewhat pale, and asked, “BOBO, are you okay?”

BOBO nodded, still clutching the flowering tree tightly. His heart hadn’t settled yet. He had just escaped from the brink of danger, and this perilous experience made him realize the fragility of life.

“I’m… I’m okay…” BOBO’s voice trembled, and he struggled to calm himself down.

Bimple and Bubble exchanged glances, understanding without words how fragile BOBO’s current emotional state was. They comforted BOBO, offering encouragement and support, hoping to help him regain composure.

“Now, what do we do?” Bimple furrowed his brow, looking at the pterosaur still hovering above the flower. He was filled with uncertainty.

Unexpectedly, the pterosaur spoke.

“You guys have some nerve, daring to enter the cave and attempt to pick the mirage flowers. Do you have a death wish?” The pterosaur scolded loudly, its voice full of condemnation and threat.

Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO’s heartbeats quickened, their gazes involuntarily focusing on the pterosaur. The massive creature had a bluish glow to its skin, and its eyes sparkled with sharp light. The pterosaur’s gaze pierced through Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO, seemingly trying to read their minds.

Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO were shocked; they hadn’t expected the pterosaur to question them with such anger. Bimple tried to explain, “We didn’t intend to pick the mirage flowers; we just wanted to find them to rescue our friend.”

The pterosaur’s eyes filled with confusion as it slowly asked, “Why do you want to find the mirage flowers? Why are you doing this?”

Bubble spoke to the pterosaur, saying, “Our groundhog friends were captured by a large group of desert scorpions and trapped in the scorpion nest. We heard that the scent of mirage flowers can mesmerize the scorpions, so we wanted to find them to save our friends.”

The pterosaur’s gaze softened slightly, seemingly reassured by Bubble’s response. “Indeed, the mirage flower has a hypnotic effect on desert scorpions. Its fragrance can induce illusions, captivating the scorpions and rendering them temporarily unconscious. However, the power of the mirage flower should not be used indiscriminately, as it can have a severe impact on the entire ecosystem.”

Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO stared at the pterosaur, their eyes filled with hope and anticipation.

“Great Pterosaur, could you please grant us a mirage flower?” Bimple respectfully asked.

Bubble and BOBO quickly added, “Yes, Great Pterosaur, with a mirage flower, we can more effectively enter the scorpion nest and rescue our friends.”

The pterosaur gazed silently at the three, seemingly contemplating their request. After a moment, it nodded slowly, indicating its agreement.

“I understand your intentions; indeed, the power of the mirage flower can assist you. However, remember, this power must be used with caution, only for justice and protection,” the pterosaur warned, its tone filled with solemnity.

Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO unanimously nodded, expressing their commitment. The pterosaur’s caution made them even more aware that the power of the mirage flower was a double-edged sword, requiring careful application and not to be used recklessly.

The pterosaur lifted one of its massive claws and gently touched a mirage flower on the flowering tree, delicately plucking it. The flower floated gracefully down to Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO.

“I lend you this flower. Use it to protect and save, but do not forget your original intentions,” the pterosaur said.

Bimple, Bubble, and BOBO gratefully accepted the mirage flower, their fingers gently touching the petals, savoring its faint fragrance. Their hearts were filled with gratitude and determination; they knew this mirage flower would become their beacon of hope.