He ventured inside the forest, the sounds of leaves and small branches breaking and crunching with each step he takes. Carrying the boar on his back as he walked, his ripped shirt used as a bandage, wrapped on his shoulders.
Along the way he saw some small houses, each having a notable distance from the other. It was a village that thrives in farming, with their wheat fields as far as his eyes can see.
Golden wheat danced gently as the wind blew, its color adds a picturesque scene alongside the sun, the wheats were ripe for harvest. The village is situated in a hilly land, and the paths are usually dirt paths made by villagers as an easy way to walk around, Joan followed the dirt path while the wind gently blows over to him, slowly he made his way towards their house.
As he paved the path, he remembered Joan's memories of where their home was. As he scanned the place, his memories resurfaced, and he remembered many things like he was the past Joan himself.
He was walking past some small wooden homes that have wooden fences and the villagers were waving at him. He waved back as he remembered them in Joan's memories.
Walking home while the wind was brushing his hair and skin, he smelled its freshness and he felt that it was a nice day.
While his clothes were tattered, he attracted some attention from the villagers. Some were worried at him as they saw his condition.
Walking for several minutes, he saw young kids like him who had wooden swords.
He recognized them as the bullies of Joan's past life. Their leader was named Kendrick. He was a notorious kid that bullies especially the weak kids and most kids in the village were his lackeys.
They tend to bully him because he was very weak, and they considered him as a trash who only knew how to fire an arrow. Cowardly enough to use the said weapon on them.
As he was approaching them, he was immediately recognized by their leader. Smiling wryly as they tend to know he was carrying a boar that was enough to feed them.
"Hey, Joan! You got some good stuff in your back! I don't mind sparing beating you up if you will leave that boar here. You don't wanna get another swollen face, right? The last time that I punch you was very nostalgic. You are holding tight your hunted deer even though were smashing your face hard. So, this time around, I'll give you a choice, you will hand that boar over to me or you might get crippled. You know, something like, breaking your leg or hand. It's your honor to choose between the two. So, what's your choice?" He said then chuckled looking at his lackeys. And slowly surrounding Joan.
All of them have a good build. Contrary to Joan's fragile thin structure. His ribcage is visible on his tattered clothes. And the thinness of his body almost makes him easily blown away even by a gentle wind.
The bullies were also one of the reasons that he was unhealthy as he was battered every time he went home, and they would usually steal all his hunted prizes in the forest.
He can only pity him for his predicament. It was a thing that made the old man almost break his heart. He didn't experience it, but memories of his host were resurfacing.
In many days, they suffered starvation and it made the poor child learn how to hunt to lift his family from starvation. He gained experience as many years has passed but his physique didn't improve.
There were also times where they were raided and looted of their belongings. Joan can only sigh at his host's past. He also pitied the other kids of his age.
'Sigh.... these kids need discipline,' He thought and so he offered.
"I refused to give this boar. But I can teach you to hunt," Joan said to him tapping the boar on his back.
"Nah, did you hear what I just said? You will give me the boar or if not, we will cripple you. It was an easy question, right? But you refused, so this will be in a hard way," He cracked his knuckles and launched his attack.
He dashed and clenched his fist. As he came closer, Joan ducked, dodging the attack and quickly shifted his position. Disappearing on his sight as he went on Kendrick's back. Tapping his head while he measured his height. He saw him having a big and broad body.
Being taller than him by feet and he was only on his shoulders.
Kendrick jolted as Joan disappeared in a split second. After he felt that someone touched his head from the back, he turned around while Joan ducked so fast that Kendrick's eyes only saw his after image. After seeing that he disappeared, he turned around and jolted as he saw him on his back. Joan poked his cheeks; he became irritated and tried to punch Joan in the face.
Joan removed gently placed the boar down as he ducked at his punch. It wasn't quite a handicap for Joan, but carrying the boar meant his hands were full and his speed lessened. Being able to move freely and have full control of his body was better at facing the bullies. Seeing that his enemy is taller, he chose wit over strength, quickly kicking Kendrick's legs to make him lose balance, Kendrick, surprised of the attacked, stumbled on the ground.
"What the? I will surely cripple you this time and make sure you can't move in your bed for the rest of your life!" Kendrick bellowed.
Joan only yawned as he felt sleepy on his performance.
"You can do better, right? Come on, show me what you can do," Joan said to him.
He immediately stands up and grabbed the practice sword of one of his lackeys. Swinging the wooden sword left and right.
"We will see who will cry after this. I will make you crawl to the ground as you will go to your house!" He bellowed.
"Oh, you wanna spank me with that?" Joan can only smile with his weapon.
Joan walks slowly towards him, and Kendrick slashed his sword vertically. Joan clipped the sword like a scissor with his hands and it made the wooden sword shattered by his force.
Kendrick can only look at his sword in awe as it shattered. He throws his sword and furiously attacks him with his hands this time around.
Joan retaliated and moved his two hands to clip his punch.
Locking his arm with his left arm and his right arm went to his face. It all happened in split second. Although it landed, Joan didn't stop there.
Three left and right punches were released on his face and Kendrick can only step back on his blows. Kendrick retaliated with a punch, but Joan dodged it again while grabbing his hands.
Joan landed another hit on Kendrick's face and another hit on the stomach.
He made sure the punches are strong enough to make his bully feel pain but not very damaging for him to handle. He didn't stop there but rained another combo of hits on him and he can only take the hit like he was expecting it.
It was relatively, a very easy fight for Joan, and his enemy began to cry. His lackeys feared to intervene as they couldn't believe how strong the enemy was.
"All men attack!" Shouted Kendrick while tears falling on his face.
Hearing his orders, they all mustered up and surrounded him as they launched a unison attack. However, it didn't faze Joan, he evaded all their attacks and kicked their feet, making them lose their balance and drop on the ground.
"Anyone who stands up will be punched furiously on the face. Now, it's my turn to ask questions. As for my question, do you want to learn hunting? As the idiom says, give a fish to a starving man and it can save him from hunger for a moment. Teach him how to fish and it will make him feed himself for a lifetime. So, are you in? Or I will beat you all again?" Joan said to them.
They only nodded in agreement. Kendrick stands up and he clenched his fist.
"I will never forget this! I will tell this to my father! He will batter your father black and blue! and he will also not let you get away with this! He is the captain of the guards here and you will not live happily anymore!" Kendrick bellowed.
Joan who was calm and composed, he inhaled a deep breath. Slowly but surely, he closed his eyes, and a great aura was emitted from him. Crimson colored aura was seeping out of him and killing intent was released. Making all the habitants to feel its pressure. Even breathing was painful for the others and their souls were suffocating in the process.
Joan then smiled at them and clenched his fist. Eyes closed, but what they saw was not a kid anymore, but a roaring lion prepared to devour them. They were like small mice in from of a huge beast, with such aura, they couldn't help but fear for their lives, sniffling and trembling in fear, their tears mixed with their nose's mucus.
"So? Are you interested in hunting? I will teach you?" Joan asked politely.
He asked politely, but for them, it was not polite in the slightest. They all nodded in him.
"Forget about hunting only, I want to serve you as our leader and learn how you fight!" said Kendrick in his swollen face.
"As my pride won't let me but the strong rules the weak. It is a matter of fact in this world, and I acknowledge that I am weaker than you. If you want to teach us how to hunt, then why will we refuse?" Kendrick added as he tried to make amends with the scary beast.
"Okay, meet me tomorrow and I will guide you all. I will go home, for now, see you tomorrow!" Joan said then grabbed his boar, waving goodbye at them. Killing intent vanished.
"Thank you master!" they all chorused.
He went home and was walking confidently.
Finally, he arrived at their home, as he walked towards the small gate, he saw his mother was waiting busily hanging clothes to the clothesline. As his mother looked around, she saw her young boy had arrived home with a boar in hand, but his clothes tattered and his entire body, dirty and messy.