Chapter 5: Red Band Adventurers!
Aaron had been training himself for the last 6 months. Mostly in the use of his Devil fruits and the 'Six Styles'. However, he kept moving North towards the Mountain hoping to encounter someone. He had just killed a peak Body Tempering realm Qi beast.
"Whew, that's the 36th one" he said out loud. He had been hunting higher realm Qi beasts but they were quite difficult to find. In the end he had to make due with mid and late realm Body tempering Qi beasts. This made it so he had to kill quite a few.
Just as he was about to move forward he heard something.
*Ding*
[Host has leveled up]
'Yes! Finally' he thought
"Status!"
[Status]
Host:Aaron Heart
Location: Stellar Void Continent
Age:14.5
Level:5
Points: 700
Strength: 750lbs
Speed: 100 Mph
Observation Haki: Lvl 1
Armament Haki: Lvl 0
Conquerors Haki: [Locked]
Abilities: Ito-Ito no Mi, Hie-Hie no Mi
Martial Skill: Six Styles
Kami-e– Lvl 2/10
Geppou – Lvl 2/10
Rankyaku- Lvl 2/10
Soru- Lvl 3/10 (speed x 5)
Shigan- Lvl 1/10
Tekkai – Lvl 1/10
"Hahaha" he couldn't hide his excitement after 6 months of constantly killing Qi beasts he had finally reached Level 5. With this he wouldn't have to worry about anyone not at the peak of the Core Formation realm. Even if he couldn't beat them at least they couldn't kill him. His Six styles were coming along, although 'Shigan' and 'Tekkai' fell behind due to the use of Devil fruits in replacement of these skills. He used his Strings and Ice to kill Qi beasts while he relied on his elemental body do negate damage. However, he could train them with time.
He had tried to train his haki but found that it was quite difficult. Even now he could only use his observation haki to sense anything around him for about 20 ft. As for Armament he didn't even know where to start. Conquerors Haki was still locked so he didn't give it another glance. He figured it would unlock at a certain level.
After viewing his stats, he opened his map and noticed that there was still only trees around him.
'What a massive forest' he couldn't help but exclaim.
Just as he was about to move close the map and head towards the mountain. He heard the sounds of fighting and shouting.
"People! Finally, after 6 months! Hahaha!" He was thrilled, being isolated in this jungle for 6 months was already challenging he didn't know how much longer he could go remain sane being surrounded by all these trees.
He lifted himself up with his strings and began to move towards the sounds. However just as he was about to reach them the sounds faded and there was only silence.
"Dammit, did they leave?!", Aaron yelled while starting to speed up. To anyone observing him, he appeared to be flying. He soon reached the spot were the battle had taken place and noticed the Deer's Carcass.
"They must of just left, I can still catch up!", he looked for there trails and soon found they had started heading north. Quickly he followed praying that he would be able to meet up. Soon enough he did indeed see a group a 4 people, 2 men and 2 women. However, right as we was about to approach he saw a massive green snake launch itself towards the light skinned women with wavy black hair.
'Damn snake! They're my ticket outta here! How dare you attack them!' He cursed the snake in his mind all white using his right hand to manipulate his strings. After training he found that he could now produce over 500 strings and it appeared with enough time there would no limit to how many he could produce.
Just as the snake was about to strike his strings latched on and immobilized it. Quickly he jumped over and landed on branch on top of the snake.
"Whew made it in time", standing on the branch he took note of the four. Of the two men, one had brown bushy hair and a tan while the other was bald and had strange eyes. Looking at the two women, he noticed that both were quite beautiful, especially the one with the black hair and green eyes, she was a level above most women he'd seen.
However, all of them had quite a strange expression on their face.
'Are they staring at me? Is there something wrong with my outfit?' he couldn't figure it out. He would have never thought that his looks could cause people to freeze like this.
"Are you okay", he asked the the green eyed woman.
"....."
"....."
'How come they're just staring? I saved your life and asked about your well being. You could at least respond!', he yelled in his head.
"Hello?", he called out again
It appeared to work as Jasmine and rest awoke from their stupor. Jasmine was able to respond.
"Ah...yes, I mean...Thank you"
"That's good, Actually I was wondering if you guys could help me."
"Whatever this young noble request of us we will accomplish as gratitude", said Josh with a slight bow. The rest followed suit. He was grateful to Aaron for saving Jasmine.
'Noble?', Aaron was confused. Why would they refer to him as a noble. Just as he was about to clear up the mistake Jasmine spoke up.
"Thank you for saving my life, If you hadn't come we might have all ended up dead.", she said while bowing deeply. As she was raised in a branch of the Royal Family she had undergone standard etiquette training. The young man in front of her was surely a high noble just based on his appearance alone.
"Its nothing, I'm glad to help. I've been trying to get out this forest for 6 months now but this damn place is just too vast! I was heading towards that black mountain when I heard you're previous fight and came over to check. Luckily no one was injured". Aaron said while smiling. However he didn't realize that his smile almost blinded the four.
Too beautiful! Too handsome! He was practically glowing!
Aaron and Josh couldn't even feel the slightest since of jealousy this was not something they could ever hope to have. Jasmine was able to maintain a facade trying to seem cool but Veronica couldn't stop staring one could even see drool leaking out the side of her mouth. She had never seen anyone this beautiful, she was completely immersed in Aaron's face.
Andrew was the first to come out this daze and recalled what Aaron had said.
'6 months?! Why are you roaming the forest in those clothes?! And for six months no less!' he thought to himself
"Young noble, don't go to that mountain. I can tell you're not from around here but that mountain brings nothing but misfortune. As for leaving the forest we're on way back to the city, you can come along with us.", Andrew responded
"Yes! Yes! Come with us, we're leaving you can come with us!", said Veronica while pushing Andrew to the side.
'Hehehe the longer he stays the higher my chances of trapping him' She thought to herself. If she could get a man like this it she wouldn't mind him being a little younger. He would grow. As she thought of this she fell into a daze and started drooling again.
'What a strange woman...ah she's drooling. How strange', Aaron thought while observing her. He couldn't help but feel like a piece of meat when she stared at him.
'Is it because of my looks? To think they would be this stunned!', Aaron was quite pleased after figuring it out. Now that he decided that he would follow them he figured they could use this snake as transport seeing how massive it was. With that he leapt from the branch and onto the snakes head. He scanned it and discovered it was a late Core Formation realm Qi beast.
'I wonder how strong my strings are? That they could bind it to the point it can't even move.',He wondered. He had yet to find a Qi beast capable of cutting his strings.
Even know the four couldn't understand what was going on. The Mirage Boa that threatened their lives had yet to move and if it locked in space. However, when the saw the young man jump onto its massive head without any trace of worry or hesitation they realized that he was the one that had it pinned down!
Strong! He must be at the Peak Core Formation realm for him to so easily subdue a Late Core formation Qi beast. What a Genius! To reach the Peak Core Formation realm at only 14! However when Andrew and Jasmine tried to sense his Qi they were shocked!
Nothing! He had no Qi! How was this possible?! Even if one hid there abilities there should be traces of Qi. However this young man didn't possess the slightest bit of Qi!
As they were lost in there thoughts a voice woke them.
"Hop on! We can use this guy to leave this damn place!" ,Aaron said
"Huh?!" the four were stunned. To think he would use the beast that came so close to killing them as transportation.
Aaron seeing there expressions responded, " Don't worry this guy can't do anything he's completely under my control. Isn't that right?" he looked down at the snake and released all the strings binding it but one that he kept wrapped around its neck.
The Boa now having recovered its freedom didn't dare attack. It could still feel something around its neck, if it attacked its head would fly. It submissively nodded its head while lowering it's body to allow the others to get on.
Seeing this the 4 couldn't hide there excitement. After staring at each other they started getting on the snakes back one at a time. Jasmine and Veronica sat behind Aaron while Andrew and Josh were behind them.
"Alright, just tell me which way to go. Also, I never asked why are you guys out here?" Aaron said while looking back the group.
"We were hunting a Crystal Antler Deer for materials to upgrade our weapons", Veronica responded while pointing to the Antlers on Andrew's and Josh's backs.
"Oh, so you guys are a team?", Andrew asked he was quite talkative considering he hadn't seen anyone in 6 months.
"Um, the 4 of us are members of the Adventures guild!", Andrew said while patting his chest proudly.
' Adventurers guild? A real Adventurers Guild!This world is Amazing! To think there are even guilds!', Andrew became excited. In his novels The Adventurers guild was where one could form a team and take on missions while traveling the world! How free! How exciting!
"Whats the name of your group", he asked. In his novels Adventurer Teams always had a name.
He wasn't disappointed as all four smiled and lifted their right arms and should a red band made of metal on their wrists.
"Red Band Adventurers!", they said in unison