The spear shot straight through the Thornback Boar's left eye, piercing deeper until it hit the soft tissues of its brain. William held onto the spear, gritting his teeth as he used all of his strength to shove the weapon further into the massive beast.
With a sickening squelch, blood began to spurt from the boar's eye, showering down onto William. The red, viscous liquid splattered his thighs and stomach, staining his clothes a dark crimson. Amid the gore, the boar let out a loud, agonizing roar that echoed through the night, a harrowing testament to the severity of its wound.
But to William's surprise, the beast didn't immediately crumble. It wavered on the spot, its legs buckling under the weight of its large body, but it was still clinging to life. The boar was far more resilient than he had given it credit for, though it was clear that its end was near.
Taking no chances, William summoned the powers of Shadow Manipulation once more. From the darkness around him, he crafted a sharp, slender lance, blacker than the night sky itself. With a firm grip on the weapon, he lunged towards the Thornback Boar, driving the lance with all his might into the beast's remaining eye.
This second, brutal attack was the final blow the beast could take. With a final shudder, the Thornback Boar's life was extinguished, its massive body collapsing onto the forest floor with a deafening thud.
[Ding! Congratulations! You have successfully vanquished a Level 2 Thornback Boar. A reward of experience points has been awarded.]
With the body of the Thornback Boar collapsed at his feet, William found himself reflecting on his actions. The brutality of the beast's death was jarring. Back on Earth, he could never have imagined carrying out such a merciless act, yet here he was, a killer in a foreign world.
He looked down at his hands, stained red with the boar's blood. A feeling of indifference washed over him, replaced by a sense of acceptance. This wasn't Earth, and the rules he'd once lived by no longer applied. This was a harsh, unforgiving world, where mercy was often a sign of weakness and survival was the utmost priority.
He knew that if he were to protect those he cared about, if he wanted to survive, he had to be prepared to take lives, even if it meant becoming a monster himself. He needed to cast aside his past reluctance and embrace this brutal new reality.
With a heavy sigh, he turned his gaze from the dead beast, steeling himself for what lay ahead. "I'll keep going for a bit longer," he decided, his voice barely more than a whisper in the still night air. "Then I'll head back."
He checked the position of the moon in the sky. Less than half an hour had passed since his hunt began. It was still early, and he had plenty of time. With a renewed sense of purpose, he stepped over the fallen Thornback Boar and pressed on, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him in the heart of the forest.
"Hey there, lad..." The deep, raspy voice of an elderly man echoed in the stillness of the night, sending a jolt down William's spine. His body instinctively tensed, preparing for whatever danger might be approaching. Swiftly, he yanked his spear free from the boar's lifeless body, his grip tightening around the handle.
'When did he sneak up on me?' He wondered, his mind racing. His senses had been sharp and alert, but the appearance of the old man had taken him completely by surprise. He hadn't picked up on any hint of the man's presence until he spoke.
"Easy now," the old man quickly reassured him, lifting his hands in a show of peaceful intentions. "I promise, I'm not here to harm you or stir up any trouble."
William's eyes narrowed further, his suspicion deepening at the old man's words. "How can I be sure you're telling the truth?" He shot back. He found the whole situation incredibly strange. Here he was, deep within the forest under the cover of night, and an old man appeared out of nowhere. The elderly man had managed to approach him undetected, a feat that would be impossible for an ordinary person. All these elements combined to make the old man seem incredibly suspicious in William's eyes. He stood his ground, his senses on high alert, ready for any sudden moves.
The old man let out a long sigh, feeling the onset of a headache. Convincing this young lad that he harbored no ill intentions was proving to be quite a task. How was he to prove his sincerity?
"Perhaps we should start with proper introductions," he suggested, hoping to break the ice. "I am known as Elder Chronos. I run a Martial Arts academy in Emberfall City."
Elder Chronos closely observed William's reaction, hoping his name and the mention of his school might help to ease the young man's wariness. But William's face remained impassive, no sign of recognition crossed his features. It was then Chronos realized that this boy was new to the city. He probably had no clue about who Chronos was or the reputation of his Martial Arts school.
Chronos facepalmed in frustration. While he didn't expect every resident of Emberfall City to know him personally, he had established a significant reputation among the city's Ascenders, both for his individual abilities and his prestigious Martial Arts school. The realization that William had no idea about his identity was somewhat of a blow to the elderly man's ego.
"If I had the intention to harm you, I could've attacked from behind while you were unaware," Elder Chronos stated, a serious tone coloring his voice.
The response from the young man was brief, yet effective. "Understood... I'm William Lane," he said, accepting the logic in Chronos's argument. After all, the elder could've indeed taken him out before he even knew what had hit him.
"Do you need something, Grandpa Chronos?" William asked, his tone much more respectful now that he no longer perceived the elder as a threat.
Chronos inwardly beamed with satisfaction. 'That's right. This is how the younger generation should show respect to their elders. But these days, youngsters are so cocky and disrespectful.' Chronos approved of William's respectful demeanor, which was exactly what he expected from his prospective students.
Of course, he conveniently left out the fact that when he was young, he himself hadn't been the most respectful pupil. In fact, he used to skip Martial Arts classes to sneak into public baths and ogle girls. More often than not, he was caught and it always resulted in a solid thrashing and a tongue-lashing from his parents. However, those were stories from his past that he'd take to the grave, never to be revealed to his students or anyone else.
"You've got a spark in you, William," Elder Chronos began, his tone steady and earnest. "I've observed you battle - you've got potential, lots of it. But potential is like a lump of clay - you need to shape it, mould it to bring out its true form. Yes, you're improving at a commendable pace on your own, but with proper guidance, you can improve even faster. My martial arts school can provide you with that guidance, the necessary skills and techniques. Will you consider joining it? I assure you, you won't regret this decision."
As he said these words, Elder Chronos deliberately refrained from mentioning how he'd been amazed by William's exceptional learning capabilities and his innate talent for fighting. The way William adapted and evolved with each battle, was a clear sign that he was a natural-born fighter. However, the old man was careful not to voice these thoughts, as he did not want to inflate William's ego.
After all, the annals of history were filled with stories of young prodigies who'd fallen from grace due to their arrogance and overconfidence. These individuals, gifted with superior talents, often falsely assumed that their natural abilities made hard work unnecessary. However, the truth was that they were often outstripped by those who, although perhaps less talented, worked harder and thus reached greater heights.
Elder Chronos did not want William to be another name added to that list. He did not want him to be one of those talents who, consumed by their own pride, failed to reach their full potential. He had faith in William, and he wanted to guide him on the right path - the path of humility, hard work, and true greatness.
A broad smile stretched across William's face upon hearing Elder Chronos's offer. In truth, he had been yearning for a mentor, a guide who could shepherd him on this foreign path. Being an outsider to this world, he was acutely aware of his lack of knowledge and the gaps in his fundamental understanding of what it meant to be an Ascender. However, there were complications that he had to acknowledge.
"Grandpa Chronos," he began, his smile tinged with a hint of regret, "your offer warms my heart and believe me when I say that nothing would make me happier than to accept it. But, I'm afraid there are certain obstacles in my path."
Elder Chronos, rather than showing disappointment, looked thoughtful. "May I ask about these obstacles? Perhaps if we put our heads together, we might be able to find a solution or an alternative path," he offered gently, settling himself onto a fallen tree trunk, his expression radiating a grandfatherly warmth.
William hesitated for a moment, well aware that it was usually unwise to trust a stranger, regardless of how trustworthy they appeared. Yet, something deep within him whispered that Chronos was genuine, that he could be trusted. Deciding to follow his instincts, he decided to confide in the old man. "You see, I've only just arrived in Emberfall City today, with my family. We've traveled a long way from the Flaming Dominion Empire, a journey that took us over two weeks. My life outside of being an Ascender is quite busy. I have a daughter who needs my attention, and I'm also considering setting up my own business. These commitments would make it difficult for me to dedicate adequate time to a martial arts school."
Elder Chronos nodded thoughtfully, understanding William's predicament. "So, is that why you chose to train late at night, in the forest?" he inquired, piecing together the puzzle. With a nod and a faint smile, William confirmed his suspicion.
"Strength is essential in this world. I need it... not for myself, but to protect the ones I hold dear," William admitted, his tone carrying an undercurrent of resolve. After a brief pause, he continued, "My daughter... and her nanny." The importance and tenderness of these two people in his life echoed in his voice.
Elder Chronos sank into a contemplative silence, his eyes closed as he pondered over possible solutions. The idea of giving up on William was an option that didn't even cross his mind. After all, he was aware that locating someone with such innate talent and natural fighting instinct would be like finding a needle in a colossal desert.
After a few moments of thought, he finally opened his eyes and offered a solution, "What if I train you personally? We can do this each night, right here in the forest. You can choose a convenient time for yourself."
"What about now? This time seems good to me," William immediately proposed. The prospect of learning from a seasoned veteran like Chronos was too good an opportunity to let slip.
"Well then, do you wish to start immediately or would you rather begin tomorrow?" Chronos inquired, his eyes glinting with approval at William's enthusiasm.
"I have some time to spare. Let's start my training now. What's the first step?" William was practically brimming with excitement.
"I appreciate your eagerness, young man. To start off, I want to gauge your capabilities. So, I would like you to spend the next two hours hunting Monsters. Try not to rely solely on your Shadow Manipulation, but experiment with different combinations and movements during your battles," Chronos instructed.
"Understood, Master," William responded, his tone respectful.
Chronos gave him a warm smile. "You can continue calling me Grandpa. It suits me more," he said, his fondness for William evident. Perhaps it was William's exceptional potential or his respectful attitude towards elders that warmed Chronos's heart.
"Alright, Grandpa," William agreed, his nod full of reverence and anticipation for the training that was about to begin.
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