In an inconspicuous spot of the Red Wood Forest, a cloud of dust blanketed the redwood trees. This happened after an explosion resounded in the forest.
After the deafening sound caused by a collapse of the earth faded, silence went back to the dark cold forest. Only the faint moonlight of the eight glowing globes hanging in the night sky filled the place.
Then suddenly, a desperate roar accompanied by a resounding crash thundered the area!
Rooooooar!
Boom!
As the crashing sound reverberated, another cloud of dust covered the place making the receding floating dust thick again.
In the obscuring dust filling the place, a giant silhouette could be faintly seen. Its proportion made it obvious that it was monstrous but had a humanoid figure.
When the floating dust settled, the giant monster gradually revealed itself. Having a green rough skin like stone and a bulky body full of might, it was a Forest Orc but with some glaring differences.
Its green skin was darker while its muscled body was clothed by a stretched martial arts gi. Its skin was also flaking with rock debris like a covering was slowly coming off its body.
Although blood flowed out from its mouth making its face more ferocious, a handsome countenance could be perceived from its ferocious face.
Savageness was suffusing its red eyes but a flickered of intelligence steadily shone from them. The green monster was breathing hard, and it seemed agitated by emotion.
Then, it roared furiously while raising its head high to the sky!
Rooooooar!
While releasing savage roars, the green giant's body glittered with sparkling starlights. Then gradually, its bulky body shrunk down and transformed into a human.
What replaced the green hulk was a young man. This young man's face was faintly illuminated by the moonlight and revealed Yeshua's face.
Indeed, it was Yeshua who crashed through and burst out of the collapsing cave using his new Alter Beast, Mountaincrash Orc!
As the falling boulder obstructed his way out, Yeshua desperately used his abilities Heavy Punch and Ground Smash as he crashed towards the boulder. He also covered his body with stone armor to further increase his defense and protect his body.
Although the distance was just more than three meters and would only take a few steps to get out, the collapse of the cave happened in a split second. Yeshua really did his best to desperately get out of the place in that short time.
"Whoo... I thought I'm going to get buried in that place. Haha, Lady Luck still loves this handsome me! Hehe... So where am I?"
Although he went through a dangerous situation, the joy of being free made Yeshua bring out his inner jester. However afterward, he focused on knowing where he was.
After looking around, Yeshua uttered, "Okay, there are redwood trees, so this is the Red Wood Forest... Of course, it's the Red Wood Forest! I just don't know what part of the forest. All these red trees make this forest the same wherever you look. I don't know where I am..."
Yeshua then looked up. He saw the shining eight moons and the numerous stars dotting the night sky.
"...Okay, I don't know how to tell direction using the stars. Whatever, I'll just spend another night in this forest and wait for morning. At least, I'll know where is the east then."
After saying that, Yeshua looked around and ascertained that he did not forget anything. He then left the place and looked for a place to rest for the night.
After all the things that happened to Yeshua, the young Alterer still walked bravely and continued on his way peacefully.
...
In a dirty alley in the western outskirt of Red Wood City, a rotund figure veiled by darkness could be seen. The figure was walking uneasily and was muttering something.
"It has been more than two months since Boss left to hunt in Red Wood Forest. He's still not back. I don't know if he is safe... Or maybe, something already happened to him!
"Maybe he was ganged up by a group of giant beasts, and then they mauled him and tore him to pieces! They might have eaten him alive and watched him scream and writhe in pain! Boss, what should I do? How could I retrieved your body?!"
The voice of the figure was like a squealing pig echoing in the dark alley. When the figure reached the area faintly shone by the moonlight, it revealed a young man with a striking visage despite the trembling fats on his body.
This handsome fatty was Yeshua's only friend, Bodiah Romaro or Bobo for short.
The night Yeshua and Bobo talked after Yeshua's battle with Grey, Yeshua also mentioned to Bobo that he was going to the Red Wood Forest to hunt.
Although he feared for the safety of his friend, Bobo still wished Yeshua good luck for his hunting. He knew that Yeshua was already walking his path as an Alterer. Bobo could only support Yeshua.
However, when Yeshua did not return after a month like what he said he would, Bobo became filled with worry for his friend.
In the past few weeks, after his work in the bakery, Bobo went to Yeshua's shack every day to see if his friend was back from his hunting and safe.
As usual, Bobo was going to Yeshua's place this night, and his anxiety that was built up for weeks made his imagination ran wild. This friend of Yeshua was really 'loyal'.
After a while, Bobo reached the tattered shack of Yeshua. Seeing there was no light inside the small house, Bobo was disappointed. However, he still knocked on the door loudly hoping that Yeshua might just be sleeping.
"Boss! Boss! Are you there?" Bobo was shouting but only quietness answered him.
Then suddenly, Bobo heard a voice, but it was not what he was expecting.
"So, he's not here? Are you his friend?" A rough sinister voice was heard by Bobo behind him.
Bobo was startled and looked back quickly. Then, he saw a young man around twenty years of age.
The young man had a muscular build and a height of more than six feet. He was also wearing a pair of high-quality shirts and trousers suggesting that he came from a good background.
What stood out the most in this young man were the dark eyes staring at Bobo. They were like the eyes of a crafty and sinister fox. Coupled with his dark spiky hair, the menace the young man was exuding terrified Bobo even if he did not know why!
Seeing Bobo afraid, the young man smirked, "Heh, why are you getting afraid? I'm just looking for your friend. We have something to talk about."
Though afraid, Bobo was still able to answer while trembling, "M-maybe you are in the wrong place, s-sir. M-my friend living in this small house is someone who doesn't interact with people. Y-you might be looking for someone else!"
Bobo did not know why, but the sinisterness the young man exuded had forced him to answer in that manner. Whatever he wanted to Yeshua, Bobo felt that it was not good. He would not let the young man know where Yeshua was!
"Oh? Is that so? However, these fellows here said he lives here." The young man said while leisurely gesturing his left hand behind him.
Just then, Bobo noticed that behind the young man, there were four trembling figures. Bobo remembered them. They were the gang members that were trashed by Yeshua.
Uwan, Tuwo, Triye, and Pora were shaking from fear while looking at the young man. They saw how this sinister person calmly tore apart someone. Without a choice and fearing death, they were forced to lead this man in this place.
"So, are you lying or they are lying?" The sinisterness of the young man's voice filled the quiet place.
The people neared the place who saw what was happening scattered away. The houses around the place were locked shut. They did not want to be implicated by the trouble of someone else.
However, before Bobo could think of what to say, the four goons shouted after hearing what the young man said.
"T-that young man lives there! I clearly remember it! Isn't that right, Pora?!"
"That's right, Triye! That brutal boy even clobbered us here! Tuwo, your face was crushed by that boy here, right?!"
"U-um, y-yeah! I think so, even if I don't remember it! Right, Uwan?"
The shaking Uwan looked at his shouting companions. He then took a deep breath and said, "The boy lives here. That fatty is his friend and I think they are very close. I think he knows where the boy is."
Anger filled Bobo after hearing what the four said, but the truth was, he could not blame them. This was the fate of the weak.
The young man then looked sinisterly at Bobo. "It seems like we have to talk about your friend, fatty."
With an evil smirk, the young man walked towards Bobo.
Bobo's body trembled uncontrollably as he felt the young man's menacing strength. And then...
...
"Haa! At last, I'm home! I really want to rest. I'll sleep all day, and if someone disturbs me, I'll turn them into ham!"
While walking towards his shack, Yeshua who just returned from Red Wood Forest exclaimed with a tired sigh.
After spending another night in the forest, Yeshua was able to determine the way to the city once morning came. He did not waste his time anymore. Without further detours, he beelined towards the city ignoring the beasts he encountered.
Yeshua already spent a lot of time in the forest, and he really wanted to rest. Many things happened to him, and not only his body was tired but his mind also needed rest.
Also, Yeshua did not want to encounter another mommy or daddy, alright!
And so, after almost a day of traversing the forest, Yeshua reached the city without any problems before the sun completely set.
However, when Yeshua neared his small house, he felt some apprehension. His instinct sensed something!
After carefully walking to his house, Yeshua reached the door without anything happening. However, he also saw some traces of blood around the place. They were already dry, and it seemed they were there for at least a day.
While seriousness filled his face, Yeshua opened the door slowly and saw nothing was changed. The bed was still there. The drawer and the small table were still in their place.
However, Yeshua noticed a piece of paper on his table. He did not remember leaving something like that before he left.
Yeshua reached the table and grabbed the paper. There was something written in the paper, so Yeshua read it.
While reading it, Yeshua's hand trembled while anger gradually filled his face!
It seemed that the trial Yeshua was anticipating had come and he did not have a choice but to face it. He could not just leave Bobo. He had to save him!
"Whoever you are, however strong you are, if you hurt my friend, I'll make sure you'll regret it!"
With blazing anger flickering in his dark green eyes, Yeshua said in his mind, "AI, initiate Plan: Alter Fusion!"
With a mechanical voice, the AI answered.
[Task received. Initiating Plan: Alter Fusion...]