"Urghh" Feeling the pain in his head, Bolemo opened his eyes. Greeting him was darkness. The moist soil and the pungent smell in the air made his stomach lurch. Utterly disgusting.
Not knowing how long he had been out, he surveyed his surroundings and realized it was still the same area he was with Harong and the others. Bolemo moved. He tried to stand up when a mind wrenching pain assaulted his senses.
Bones breaking, flesh tearing sounds echoed inaide his body. Something is repairing his broken bones or at least something had repaired it. Checking his arms and his chest, there was no sign of them being damaged or mutilated. The pain he felt just now was gone before he even notice it.
It was like the pain happened when it was repairing his body. A body memory he is happy of not relieving.
"How?" He confusedly asked himself. He didn't have any healing abilities, no item that could heal him either. So what in the world healed him?
Remembering the things that happened, Bolemo whisk away the thoughts in the back of his head and stand up. The flesh in the ground was gone. The golden striped centipede was also gone.
Heaving a sigh of relief, Bolemo patted the dust on his broken clothess and was about to walked out when he stepped on something. Checking it, he found it was the cloth bag he stashed and reclaimed from Harong.
Opening the bag, he found the spirit stones had turned to gray dust, leaving none of its sparkle. "Did the spirit stones nourish my body?"
Curiosity kills the cat, Bolemo knows that if he don't leave now, people will start to appear. Perhaps the beasts he saw might show up again. Hence even though he had lot a of questions, Boleno left the cave. q
On the way out, he found a big piece of rock and brought it up. Acting like nothing happened, he went to his make shift hut and rested. Knowing he might be implicated if people find out that Harong and his followers are dead, Bolemo discarded the bloodied clothes and pressed some dirt on his body, covering his flesh and claiming he was attacked by a giant rodent. He doesn't know if other people knew that Harong met him or that he went to the bottom of the cave, he just didn't want any attention.
"Let's see" upon arriving, Bolemo circulated the energy in his body and tried to siphon some spiritual energy in the air. It is painful. The same pain rack his body. He can never forget how painful it was when he did it the first time, however he could only try.
Feeling the energy in his body upon waking up, he vaguely have the idea that he broke through 1-Leaf Warrior. And there was this nagging feeling that something change. That something change and good happened to him. And whatever it is, it definitely saved him from the jaws of death! Painful as it may, he circulated the energy and let it tear through his meridians.
"Hahahahaha! Hahahah!" He cannot help but laugh. Feeling the energy in his meridians coursing throughout his body, Bolemo shivered in excitement.
Finally. He may not have the strongest sytem, a cheat,q or a farm. But he knew he can cultivate. The fact that he can already gather the energy in the atmosphere excited him so much. It had been a long time. Two years of grueling and hard life will end today. With his talent in absorbing spirit stones coupled with absorbing the energy in the air will make up for the lost time he wasn't able to cultivate.
Soaking in the good news, he acted on his thoughts right away. Bolemo removed the straw bed and dug the soil. He burrowed himself two feet under the ground and collected something out.
Looking at the fist size crystal in his hands, anyone would have salivated just from seeing the sparkle and the energy it contains.
Indeed. What he is holding is a low level spirit stones mined from the cave. The one he have is bigger and purer than what they normally mined. The gray area on the stone is thinner as well, having one thousand times more energy that what they get. He chance upon this spirit stone when he was tricked by Indi and Harong to go to the deepest part of the cave and survey the area in exchange of a favor from Thalen the manning disciple of Maya Queen who lorded the village he is in. He was told that the area needed to be checked and to confirm that there are no beast at the bottom. There was nothing but darkness there, however he did find the low level spirit stone sticking a piece of it out at one of the cave walls.
"I never thought I'll get to use you so soon. Better leave after absorbing you" Bomelo smiled and keep the aprrit stone in a cloth bag. He put it in another bag and went out. Venturing in the wilderness is better now that he can cultivate. Slaving himself to people is never his idea of becoming strong. With that, Bolemo secretly left the camp and traverse the Dark Woods a day after people started to look for the trio. The camp was located at the edge of Queen Maya terrritory, bordering Dark Woods, the woods that will change Bolemo forever.
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A old hunchback old man can be seen tugging his fishing rod from a small lake. With a little force a small creature with black horn at the top of its head was fished out if the lake causing small ripples in the water. The fish has six little golden eyes. Two are situated on its head, two each at its side of the body. A fe tentacles can be seen at the bottom of its body. The size of its fin are small but it glisten with sharpness that can cut even the strongest steel. It maybe small but the danger it brings is definitely way more than what its size projects.The fish mouth tried to bite the hook with is incredibly dense razor like teeth. However the hook that look like will snap anytime endured and persevered. The thin line never showed even the slightest damage.
The old man caught the fishing line and grab the wriggling fish like it was nothing. A kind smile bloom in the old mans face and tucked the fish in the basket located at his feet.
"Congratulations Master for finding another Six eyed spiritual fish!" A man in black attire suddenly appeared at the side of the old man. His head lowered a few centimeters below eye level and seem subservient to the old man.
"Tasting another delicacy from a six eyed spiritual fish is really not bad! It had been a while since I last caught one. Do you think I can rear this Mark?"
"With your prowess I believe anything Master does will be successful"
The old man nodded. Put another bait on his fishing rod and threw it at the middle of the lake. The throw was full of force but when it landed at the water, no ripple was made. If not seeing it being thrown, one would think it had been there all this time.
Sitting down crossed legged at the grass, the old man munch on a beef jerkey while Mark just stood there silently. Silence ensued. The lake was peaceful. The grass sways in the wind. Only the rustling of Marks clothes can be heard.
"Did you find it?" The old man asked in a very low tone. If not because there isn't any noise, Mark would surely missed it.
"No Master"
"Why"
"The presence you felt Master was located few hundred miles away from here. We found a low level mining group in the area led by low level Wood Carver. It was an area ruled by the Maya Queen a pinnacle Earth Shaper. She has few villages in her name and a town that she rules. The mining cave was at the edge of her territory. It is adjacent to the Dark Woods which is full of poisonous beast and variety of vicious beast. We only found that four people had been missing since yesterday at the depths of the cave. No clue was found afterwards. The beast dissapeared without the slightest trace before we arrive" Mark reported solemly.
He was tasked to find the beast his master felt when he was fishing yesterday. When he heard his Masters orders yesterday, Mark did not believe that he was serious at all. After all his master is one of the strongest people he knew. Master Elio is a 1st Level Elemental. His master is revered and even feared by some city lords and sect Elders. At his level he can already contend to be a country leader or even a create hiss own sect. Unfortunately his Master is a recluse and likes to live a life without responsibilities.
Being an elemental means he can control the elements. Any warrior under his level will feel like they are suffocated for they can never use their powers against him. It will be like blowing winds against a tornado.
Being revered, his Master has a lot of apprentices. He also have a lot of beast familiars that either guards the manor or being used as his mount. Thus, Mark almost did not believe him. Chasing a beast in an area that is considered poor is nothing short of laughable. Dark Wood may have a lot of eccentric vicious beasts and poisonous ones, but his Master never lacked these kind of beasts.
"It will feel wronged if you perhaps find it" Master Elio sneered and patiently waited at the side of the lake.
Mark who heard his Masters word was dumbfounded. 'Didn't you tell me to find it? Was it something I cannot find?'
Shaking his head, Mark gave a wry smile and swallow whatever thoughts he had. He guess that his Master was testing. Perhaps even the beast was just an excuse to order him around.
"I'am already a low level Water Blaster Master. I should be able to deal with any beast below Grade 4" Mark proudly said. Being a low level Water Blaster means he can fight with a low level Grade 5 Magical Beast. However he knew that beast are stronger than humans at the same level. Especially armoured magical beast. But he can surely contend with anyone Grade 4 and below.
Considereng it was just an excuse from his Master, he claimed he should have done the job.
"Death" Master Elio glance at him and said. Looking back at the serene lake master Elio pointed to the water. "The lake is small but we fished the rare six eyed spiritual fish. We caught a few dozen long snake and sometimes creatures that we cannot identify. This is the same as the cave you found. No matter how small it maybe, do not forget that small places breeds the most vicious creatures"
Mark nodded but seemingly still not satisfied. He knew he is powerful. He ranks 6 under Master Elio's 10 elite disciples. And being an elite means reaching Earth Shaper under the age of 25. He is 29 years old this year and had reach low level Water Blaster Warrior Stage.
"Mas.. "
"Grade 9 Magical Beast" Master Elio said cutting off whatever Mark was saying. "A Lighting Tiger Beast. That should be the kind of beast I felt yesterday."
Mark was astounded. His breathing quicken. Grade 9 Magical Beast that us equivalent to Nirvana Rebirth Stage expert. Something that even his Master is not a match. A beast powerful enough that can reign over any Empire or country in the continent. Sweat rolled down his forehead. His back was drench in sweat.
"I.. I understand Master" Mark lowered his head. He knew his being impetous made his Master unhappy. He bid his farewell and left his Master fishing in the lake.
The place returned to silence. The lake create ripples once in a while. Grasses on the ground dance in the slow breeze of wind. In this peaceful place a sigh came out.
"Grade 9? Could it be higher?"
If Bolemo knew that someone had been thinking of what happened to him, he would have been shock to know that his tattoo was taken as something exceeding Grade 9 Magical Beast. But Bolemo knew nothing of this. He traverse the Dark Woods cautiously.
He knew the Dark Woods is unchartered territory. There is no high class magical beast inside. But a myriad kinds of poisonous insects to vicious beast encamps the trees, swaps and the grounds. Any piece of land or sky here csn take his life away in an instant.
Bolemo walked in the forest silently. Every step taken was a step to safety. Being inside the Dark Woods is multiple times tiring than being in the cave. The pressure he feels accumulates every second he stayed inside.
'I have to find a safe place' With his back drenche in sweat, Bolemo stretch his hand and removed the leaves thats covering his sight.
This is the seventh day since he went inside the forest. In this seven days, he killed normal snakes, got coiled by a plant eating vines and nearly lost his life in a swamp he accidentally stepped on. It was a mini swamp. Reaching a diameter of only two meters, it was insconpicious and was covered with dry leaves. The sorrounding trees and its roots that bordered it assisted in making the mini swamp a fatal trap. None would have thought that the hard ground you see is not as hard it it seems.
Bolemo was running from a horde of devil honey wasp when he found the area a bit silent. He thus went inside to recuperate. Realizing that the Devil honey wasps did not follow anymore, Bolemo investigated the trees.
Finding no creatures in the few meter vicinity, he went further deep to find a resting place. That was when he stepped on the mini swamp. The swamp did not have any big or huge beasts. A dark demon vines coiled on his feet and drag him underneath.
Slashing the vine with his make shift stone dagger, he tried cutting the vine with all his might.
'Fuck! I have to get away'. Bolemo cursed. Waving his dagger, he continue to attack the vines on his feet but to no avail.
'I cannot breath anymore! Ahhhh!' The swamp closed in half of his body. His movements stagnated until his head was swallowed by the pit. Air cannot pass through the sticky mud. Thus breathing became harder the more time he spent in the swamp.
There was also a numbers of creatures gnawing his flesh. It may be little creatures but the numbers are overwhelming that he feels a thousand ants covered his body and eating his flesh little by little.
"Arghhh.. fuck this!" I held the spirit stone in my hand and started to siphon large sprirtual energy from it. "I will break through this fucking swamp!"
Being a 1-Leaf Warrior he can throw a force amounting to two hundred kilos. Bolemo accumulated a large amount of energy, punching out from the swamp, he jump up but was shocked.
All the energy he focused on his hands dissipated. The jump that he was supposed to do halted. Bewildered, Bolemo tried to siphon more energy from the spirit stone. But same thing happened. The energy he siphon left his hand.
Following the traces of energy on his meridians, Bolemo found out that all of the spiritual energy is concentrating on the left side of his back.
"What is happening?" I gritted my teeth because of the pain the gnawing monsters on my flesh. Concentrating my conciousness at the back, I can see the print of a black tiger becoming darker and darker.
When it was tattooed, the Tiger was consisted of thin strokes that made ita body. But now the print is becoming darker, the strokes bigger and the body of the tiger is slowly filling with black colors.
"The fuck?" Bolemo could not believe what his eyes are seeing. Even the pain he is feeling has gone away and all he knew is the print becoming larger and slowly taking shape.
Seconds passed.
"Roarrrrrrrr!"
A majestic roar was heard and Bolemo found himself thrown to the air by the force generated from the roar. His head buzzing, Bolemo calm his beating heart and look at the beast sprawled in the mini swamp.
Black lighting crackles in the sorroundings, heating the swamp that in a mere seconds it became dried up and become hard ground. Lighting coils the body of the tiger like it is sentient. Making the tiger ferocious.
Bolemo oggled the beast and froze at the spot. It was a tiger type beast. Reaching almost nine meters long and four meters high, it towered Bolemo and surely can swallow him whole, bones included.
The black fur that covers the tiger was shiny and smooth. It felt really comfortable in the eyes and surely is comfortable to the touch. The tigers mouth was raised in the sky, gjving Bolemo a condescending smirk. Its two giant fangs reaching almost one meter would surely threaten anyone. The fangs gives a chilling light that once bitten none will escape death. It has six whiskers in the mouth. Having three each side, the whiskers shines like mini blade that will cut stones apart.
Just the aura alone is overwhelming. A pure black tiger with purple eyes stared at him.
"Eh? Is this beast questioning me?" Bolemo cannot help but utter when he saw the gentleness in its eyes. "Right, I didn't feel hostility from it like I would get from other beasts."
Realization dawn on him. The beast really look ferocious but it hasn't move from where it is sprawling until now. Bolemo also realize that the fist sized low level spirit stone he is holding had already turn to gray dust. Not knowing if he had broken through or what happened.
"He.. hello" short of words to say, Bolemo waived his hand to the beast. Only it illicited an angry roar from the beast thinking its Majesty was sullied.
"Puny Human. Your King has come why are you not kneeling?" Arrogance can be felt in every word the Tiger King pronounces. Its presence growing stronger that even the slightest noise in the area cannot be heard anymore.
"King? Kneel? Didn't you come from me? You are King but call me Ancestor!" Bolemo grinned. He realized that the beast may be arrogant and powerful but there was no danger coming from it. It was the same as his cat back at his home planet, Earth. It would meow and snarl at him but will never bite.
"Roarrrr! Puny human you dare humiliate your King?!!!!!" Tiger King stood up and bared his fangs.
Bolemo did not budge. He had been absorbing spiritual energy in the air the whole time. It continues to dissipitate after coursing through his body. However he can feel the now vacant bottom left quadrant ( For easy identifaction, I have divided the back in four squares. Top left and bottom left. Same goes to Top right and bottom right sides where the tattoo are located) of his back tingling. It was the place where the Tiger beast was printed. It may now be vacant but he can feel the tattoo just becoming invisible, that it is still there and will be back if he willed it. As long as he has steady supply of spiritual energy, he can feel his connection with the beast. This is the reason why he was not attacked at all.
"Puny human? Yes I am a human. A puny little thing in your eyes, but I command you Tiger Beast! Be my mount and I shall bring you to greatness you will never be able to achieve!" Roaring with emotions, Bolemo proclaimed while beating his chest. He eyed the Tiger King and sneered.
"I your King! I a Celestial being of a higher plane, a poweful existence ordered to be your mount? Human.. you are going over.... " The angry roars of a Tiger reverbrated in the area and attacked Bolemo.
Bracing himself, Bolemo waited and met the eyes of the tiger. He will not back down. He is the artist and this mere cat was a mere tattoo. How dare him to call himself King? He circulated the spiritual energy in his meridians faster and glared at the tiger beast.
"I...King... will.. will. never... will..be your mount! "
Watching the ferocious beast with its aura shrinking, Bolemo smiled triumphantly. He was betting. He only realize that having more spiritual energy in his body streghtens his connection with it. He is still clueless about the conditions and rules with his newfound power, but this will not stop him. He will become powerful and be on top of the food chain someday.
"Call me Master! Master Bolemo!" Grinning from ear to ear he approached the beast and admired its beauty.
"Mas.. Master!" The tiger king grudgingly called out and let Bolemo neared to pet him.
"Finally! the break through I have been looking forward to" Seeing the beast lowering its head, Bolemo smiled and pet its head. He was so happy he did not realize the coursing lighting that crackles its body, electrecuting him to crisp and fell down with eyes wide open and hair standing up.
"Tsk... a Divine King class like me has an imbecile for a master? Is the world already in the brink of collapse?" The tiger king lamented, with unwilling looks on its face it bared its fang to the heavens and let out a terryfying roar. Black lighting strike down the trees and the ground, burning a huge part of the Dark Woods.
That day, thousands of inhabitants of the forest died, some fled venturing deeper in the woods, some relocated and left the forest shivering, fear and reverence painted in their faces. Bolemo remained still on the ground. The lighting did not harm him further.
Perhaps if Bolemo knew he was called an imbecile by a beast, he would surely retaliate. But it remains a mystery if he will win over the beast or be strike with lightning the second time around and burn to crisp.