When the human domain was established, the United Human Council graded the cities according to the danger of the area, the abundance of resources in the area, and the quality of the city.
Usually, a place full of strong beasts also had an abundance of resources. It was because only in places blessed with the power of nature could these beasts thrive and grow.
The dangerous area could also encompass a large area that was filled with beasts' territories.
The way the humans expanded the human domain was through establishing outposts. When the surroundings of the outpost were already in control and the beasts were pushed back deeper in their territories, the outpost would become a stronghold.
The stronghold would not only have an increase in manpower but also an increase in resources and trades.
The stronghold commander with the strength of peak level 3 would become the highest authority and would further endeavor to expand the stronghold.
This was what happened to Red Wood City more than twenty years ago. The former stronghold commander was able to expand the controlled territories and develop the stronghold into the standard of a grade 1 city.
As his reward, the Human Council awarded him the writ of the authority of the city lord that can be inherited by his descendants. He was also helped to advance to Level 4.
Cities were classified into grades 1-3. There were also grand cities, mega cities, and region capitals. Each grade had a corresponding number and quality of soldiers.
As a grade 1 city, Red Wood City had a city lord's army. Their presence served as defenders against the spirit beasts' onslaught during beast tides. At the same time, the soldiers were also the peacekeepers and law enforcers of the cities.
Fighting was forbidden inside the city since Alterers' battles could cause large damages to the infrastructures of the city and could kill innocent people.
Of course, this world had an absolute law, 'Might is right'. So, abuse of power and authority also happened.
However, laws were still important to maintain order. Especially, the United Human Council promoted unity and protection.
So the appointed city lords maintained the laws in their cities. Some for moral obligations while some for the taxes they earned from the city.
This was also the reason why the letter Yeshua had read told him to go to the Red Wood Forest. Whatever the plan of Bobo's kidnapper, it seemed that he did not want the soldiers of the city to find out.
After following the direction in the letter, Yeshua arrived in the western outskirt of the Red Wood Forest more than a kilometer away from the city.
At this time, the setting sun colored the sky with an orange hue as the day reached its twilight. The eight moons were already peaking and were ready to shower the redwood trees with their radiance.
Still wearing his tattered clothes and barefooted, Yeshua walked steadily inside the forest. His calm face belied the anger blazing inside his heart.
As the orange light mixed with the redness of the forest, Yeshua's steps slowed down after seeing two silhouettes from a distance.
Yeshua steadily walked towards them, and at a certain distance, his footsteps completely stopped. He could not help but freeze on where he was standing as he looked at what was in front of him.
As anger blazed in his eyes, Yeshua heard a rough sinister voice of a young man. "So, you're the peasant that killed Grey, ha?"
Standing in front of Yeshua was the same young man that Bobo met outside of Yeshua's shack.
The young man looked at Yeshua with his dark foxy eyes and studied him. There was a light of disdain in the young man's eyes after seeing the state of Yeshua.
Yeshua did not answer his question. He was not even looking at the young man. His angry eyes were looking at the second person in front of him.
The person's rotund body was bloodied and full of injuries. His face was battered so much that his face was unrecognizable, but even so, Yeshua still knew that it was Bobo.
Looking at Bobo's pitiful state, Yeshua's face contorted. He could imagine what torture Bobo went through based on his injuries.
However, what made Yeshua's anger blazed further was the manner Bobo was presented.
Bobo's two hands were tied up and were already purple-black. They were raised above his head as the rope tying his hands hanged him from a tree like a pig that was being butchered!
Seeing Yeshua looking at his friend and ignoring him, the young man said with a sneer, "Oh, this is your friend, right? I'm just asking him some questions, but he's a tough one. Whatever I do to him, he still won't tell anything about you.
"Now, look at him. If he's not stubborn, I would not have to do this to him. It's good that you came early. If you were late, then, hehe…"
Yeshua then looked at the sneering young man. His face contorted by anger gradually calm down, but the flickering flames in his eyes burned stronger than before.
"What do you want?" Yeshua said with a hoarse voice while gnashing his teeth.
"Ha! What do I want? You're really asking that, ha? Well, like I said in the letter. I'm the master of that pest that you killed. So what do you think I need from you?"
Yeshua already knew about it and remembered Grey's warning about his master that was a Level 2 Alterer. Though he knew that he was going to face a Level 2 Alterer, Yeshua still chose to go here for Bobo.
Yeshua answered grimly, "If you want the Nefarious Blood Herb, I can't give it to you since I really lost it."
With a mock sigh, the young man said, "Ah, the blood herb… I really want to have it, but like you said you don't have it. I can't just force you to give something you don't have, right?
"However, you see," then he sneered with malevolence as his sinister eyes looked at Yeshua, "you really gave me a lot of problems, and I can't just pretend that nothing happened, right?
"It's not just the herb, but you also killed my dog, ah, the rat I mean. Do you know how many of my plans that you ruined?"
Then, the young man's face contorted as he lashed his anger at Yeshua.
"That damn servant that you killed was my way to become stronger and become ahead of my peers! I'm just starting my plan! It's only been two years, but all my efforts are wasted because of a peasant like you! So what do you think I wanted from you?!"
With a burst of maniacal laughter, the young man shouted, "Hahaha! Don't worry. What I want from you is simple! I'm just really angry, and I want to release this anger!
"So, I just thought that the best way to relieve my anger is to play with the person who ruined all my plans until I'm satisfied! So, that's it! I really just want to play you to death! Hahaha!"
The crazy laughter of the young man reverberated in the forest. The sky was already darkening and the radiance of the moons faintly illuminated the sinister face of the laughing maniac.
Even after all the things that he heard, Yeshua did not answer. Whatever he said he knew that this kind of person would not listen to him.
In this world, there were people who were drowned in their powers. They would abuse them and use them to torment the weak. They thought of themselves as superior and acted like they were the privileged ones.
Yeshua knew that this young man viewed him like an insect that he could easily squash. Since he was stronger than Yeshua, the young man thought that he could just do anything he wanted to Yeshua.
Then, the laughter of the young man stopped. He then stared malevolently at Yeshua.
"Heh, you're also an Alterer, right? You're here for your friend, right? You want to save him from me? Do you think just because you are lucky to become an Alterer, you are the same as me? I'll show you the strength that a peasant like you will never reach!"
As he said those words, the young man's body was shrouded by light and was transforming. The tall muscled body of the young man further enlarged while black metallic fur covered his whole body.
His hands turned into paws armed with razor claws while strength filled his bulky arms. His feet dug through the grassy ground showing the hefty strength of his large body.
A snout and maw replaced his face and a pair of dark brown eyes of a savage animal replaced his foxy eyes, but its sinisterness was not lessened.
His spiky black hair became a mane that started from the top of his head and reached the ends of his back. They bristled like steel needles glinting with a sharp light.
After a while, standing in front of Yeshua was a werebear with bristling steel mane and black fur. The werebear stood more than two meters tall and emanated strength as strong and hard as steel.
The werebear was also wearing white martial arts trousers while light vambraces and greaves armored his arms and legs.
Rooooooar!
The black werebear roared savagely releasing strength that filled the surroundings. Yeshua could feel a powerful force bearing down on his body. It was equal to the strength of the Champion Rank Boulder Orc that pursued him in the forest!
This time, Yeshua would face a genuine Level 2 Champion Alterer.