Morning.
As the early cold wind blew in the Red Wood City, a young man wearing a linen shirt and trousers entered the establishment of the Trade Association. Yeshua Solus was back in this place to prepare for his hunting in the Red Wood Forest.
After resting for the whole night, Yeshua was almost fully recovered. With the body of an Alterer, it was just a matter of time to be fully healed. He did not want to wait anymore and wanted to start his cultivation. So he was here to buy all the necessities he needed for his hunting.
Yeshua lined up to the familiar purchase counter to buy what he needed. There were a lot of people inside the establishment. Since it was morning, most people buying were hunters. These hunters were preparing for their hunting like Yeshua.
While observing his surroundings to past time, Yeshua was thinking of the things he needed for his hunt.
"Okay, I need to buy gene medicines that will help me while I'm in the forest. There are healing medicines for injuries and recovery medicines to recover soul energy. I also have to buy soul tempering medicines."
Soul tempering medicines were gene medicines that sped up the cultivation of the soul. They were made using different gene plants and gene materials by gene pharmacists. Alterers could increase their soul temperance through maintaining their Alter Beast and engaging in battles but it could also be supported with soul tempering medicines.
Depending on the quality of the medicine, the increase in cultivation would be different. Once the Alterer consumed the medicine, their soul would gradually digest it. When they were in their Alter form, the speed of digestion would increase.
"But soul tempering medicines are expensive. With the money I have, I don't know how many I can buy. Hmm, what else do I need?"
Then, Yeshua heard a timid voice behind him. "Um, you also need antidotes and rations for emergency…"
"Oh, right! I also need those supplies…" Yeshua then looked at the source of the voice.
Yeshua saw a woman around her mid-twenties. The woman had a simple beauty coupled with her short flaxen hair. Her hazel eyes were looking at him timidly like a meek sheep.
Seeing the woman, Yeshua smiled and said. "Thanks for reminding me."
The woman smiled timidly as her face blushed.
"Haha, it seems our little Sheila is smitten by this handsome man." A teasing laugh escaped on the man beside the timid woman. The man was around his late twenties and had a lean body. He also had a goatee that emphasized his lecherous grin. His words made Sheila's face turned redder.
"Stop teasing her, old goat!" Yeshua heard an angry voice as he saw a muscular man approaching them. He was around the same age as Sheila and had a grumpy appearance. His black eyes looked at Yeshua with irritation as he hid Sheila behind his bull like body.
"What? Are you jealous, Jason? Haha, and don't call me old goat, bastard! I have a respectable name."
"Yeah, Cesar, you have a respectable name but you're not respectable, haha." A loud laugh accompanied his big steps as a bulky man reached them.
"Oi, James, don't tarnish my reputation! I'm a gentleman who just likes to admire the beauty of this world, hehe." Cesar grinned lecherously. It was obvious in his expression how he admired beauty.
James just laughed at him. He was already used to his friend's attitude.
These four Alterers were companions. Sheila and Cesar were going to purchase their supplies but seeing Sheila's situation Jason went over, so James followed. Now, they crowded the line behind Yeshua.
James then looked at Yeshua and smiled amicably.
"Hey, friend. Don't mind my younger brother. He's normally like that. Sheila is like a little sister to us and we're very protective to her especially Jason." James's voice was sonorous as he exuded calmness like a grazing bison.
"Ah, it's alright. I'm actually just thankful for her reminder." Yeshua was really just thankful to Sheila and was actually surprised by the reaction of these four Alterers.
Yeshua looked at the four Alterers. Though they were older than him, he could feel that their strength was not much stronger than him. Aside from James, he felt that the strength of the three was around his elite rank strength.
While Yeshua was inspecting them, the other four were also looking at him. They were actually surprised that Yeshua was already an Alterer at his age. Looking at his clothes, they did not think that Yeshua came from a family that could support him to become an Alterer.
"You're quite young, eh. When we're at your age, we're still saving money to buy a genome potion. No wonder little Sheila here is charmed by you, hehe."
After hearing what Caesar said, Sheila turned red again. "I-I'm not charmed by him…," said Sheila shyly as she stole glances at Jason.
Sheila just reminded Yeshua to help him when she heard him talking and did not mean anything. She was just really timid and shy.
"Humph! Sheila is just really kind. Leave her alone, old goat!"
Looking at his companions, James sighed then he turned to Yeshua.
"Just ignore them. They're always like that, haha. You just became an Alterer? Is this your first time hunting?" Feeling the cultivation of Yeshua, James asked him.
"Yeah, I just became an Alterer and I plan to hunt in the Red Wood Forest." Yeshua felt that James was really a friendly person so he answered him politely.
"Then, you have to prepare thoroughly. The forest is huge and full of dangers. Most hunters died not because of spirit beasts but because of other hazards in the forest. That's why you have to prepare medicines such as antidotes.
"You also have to take note of your injuries. If you don't have enough medicines, your injuries could cause you to lose your life. You have to be very careful and vigilant while you stay in the forest." James calmly advised Yeshua.
Yeshua could see that James was sincerely trying to teach him, so he smiled thankfully at James. "Many thanks. I'll remember your reminders."
After a while, it was Yeshua's turn for the purchase counter.
Yeshua bought healing medicines, recovery medicines, and other necessary supplies. Healing and recovery medicines also had qualities. Since Yeshua only had a limited budget, he bought medicines with ordinary qualities. Antidotes were also quite costly so Yeshua only bought general antidotes for common afflictions.
Yeshua planned to stay in the forest until he ran out of his supplies so he could maximize his time. He also would not venture deep for his first hunt.
After buying the necessary supplies, he still had around 300 gold coins, so Yeshua was able to buy three soul tempering medicines of the lowest quality. Though these medicines were only the lowest quality, once he digested them, it would be comparable to almost one month of normal cultivation.
Before he left, Yeshua thanked James and Sheila for their help. Sheila just shyly smiled and hid behind Jason who was still grumpy. James calmly nodded and smiled at him.
"Good luck, boy. Don't easily die in the forest or you won't be able to see beautiful things anymore, you know what I mean, hehe," said Caesar lecherously.
After politely bidding them farewell, Yeshua left the Trade Association. For him and the four hunters, this was only an ordinary encounter and not enough to nurture feelings.
For hunter teams, being with people you thoroughly knew was very important. That was why Yeshua did not expect to be invited by this group of hunters. He was already thankful that he met kind Alterers.
Yeshua went out of the city and walked towards the direction of the forest.
…
Yeshua entered the Red Wood Forest wearing navy blue gene clothes. These clothes were a pair of sleeveless shirt and trousers.
"I only bought the common gene clothes as the others were not affordable to me even if I spend all my money. These clothes are stretchable and durable. After I fought that gang leader, my clothes were tattered that I walked home almost naked. It was good that it was already dark and no one saw me last night." Remembering his shameful state last night reminded Yeshua to buy gene clothes.
Gene clothes were the most common equipment of Alterers. They were the results of the research of genome scholars and gene artisans. These clothes adjusted to complement the transformation of Alterers. They were durable since they were made using gene materials. Of course, Yeshua only bought the stretchable variant which was the cheapest and did not need a soul imprint.
Gene clothes could also shape-shift and complement the Alter Beast. For example, if Yeshua wore shape-shifting clothes and he transformed into his Windrage Wolf, the gene clothes would transform into a wolf fur that would fit his body. It would cover every part of his body like natural fur.
Depending on the materials and quality of the gene clothes, shape-shifting effects and other effects varied. Some even had defensive and recovery effects. Some gene clothes would adjust aesthetically like a complementing costume.
Gene clothes could be simply used as the Alterer could just leave a soul imprint in the genome crystal and they would be able to easily control the transformation of the gene clothes.
"But my boots are still ordinary… Well, it's alright. I can just walk barefooted in the forest. Some hunters are like that anyway," muttered Yeshua while lamenting being poor.
"So, I'm really inside the Red Wood Forest now. Though young Yeshua forage herbs in the outskirt of the forest, this is really my first time here."
The Red Wood Forest was a Captain Class beast territory. In this huge forest, beasts of level 4 strength or Captain rank spirit beasts existed and gathered an army of hundreds of beasts. The forest was also filled with big tribes and small tribes of spirit beasts, especially in the outermost region.
When these tribes gathered, they could form a beast tide with the strength of a thousand army. It was good that spirit beasts were also territorial creatures. They would not just leave and enter other beast territories without a reason.
Yeshua looked at the redwood trees around him. Though these trees were ordinary, they were very hard and needed the strength of Alterers to cut. These trees were filling the forest but some other trees and plants could be found in the forest. Hunters ventured inside the forest not just to hunt spirit beasts but also to forage these gene plants.
After walking for some time, Yeshua met his first prey. It also detected his presence and looked at him. The beast then felt strong rage after seeing the young hunter in front of it.
Roar!
"A savage beast!" After seeing the characteristics of the creature in front of him, Yeshua was able to identify it.
"Heh, a savage beast for my first battle in the Red Wood Forest? This will be a good warm up for this hunting."
With focused eyes, Yeshua then prepared to battle the ferocious beast.