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A week had passed since our new friends had arrived. During that I always went out for my morning runs with Analu and I tried to improve my flame powers just to get stronger overall. We both tried our best. During our practice sessions, Analu and I engaged in subtle contests of power, each one a veiled dance of strength and growth. But she was still faster than I am and always seemed to overwhelm me with her speed.
Strangely, Analu forged a connection with Atwaine, transcending mere friendship. The way she played with him and the other children was laced with a cryptic tenderness, as if she possessed a deep understanding of their innocent hearts. They all called her aunty when they saw her.
To be honest, I admired her strength both battle wise and also with the kids. I might have to take a page out of her book about balancing my priorities in my life. I haven't spent much time really with my nephew lately and his friends but i would soon change all that. I would even spend more time with my sis and Mom as well. I do really love them and I need to show them I care. It's not just about getting stronger, I gotta show them I love them from now.
Eugene, with his enigmatic demeanor, stood at the center of our growing unease. The way he seemed to divert his attention from the battle against the ants the other day, his power palpable but unused, whispered of a hidden agenda. We could sense his strength, his potential to shift the tide, yet he remained aloof, a spectator to what had happened. An unsettling thought wormed its way into my mind – perhaps his reluctance was a calculated move, a means to keep his true capabilities concealed until the opportune moment.
I grappled with my own doubts, questioning the motives that lurked beneath Eugene's composed exterior. Was it fear that held him back, as I initially speculated? Or was there something more insidious at play, a clandestine motive that we were yet to decipher?
"What do you think about all this so far?" I asked Kero.
"I'm not certain but let's keep at it." Replied Kero.
"Mr. Swayden had said something to me and I remembered after our little altercation the other day." I said, "he had said humans are the real monsters and one day someone will come and try to take what's ours." I continued.
"Yes that's.Why'd you think I reacted that way. It cant be a coincidence Rome. You're smart but come on." Said Kero.
I thought to myself, " it's not naivety but i choose to do good than face the facts in front of us, and if they're any consequences I'll face them head on."
So we just monitored all of them just in case. They chipped in and did whatever they could. Alexia, ever the helper, busied herself with tasks that carried an air of normalcy – cooking, washing, tasks that provided a comforting facade. The other two wanted to get stronger. As for Eugene, he had Earth magic so he could help Ted with construction. I think a solution would be for them to create small bricks and then put them together but we did not have cement to do that but we would get it soon enough.
This was a suggestion based on all their capabilities as one. One large Stone wall could not be constructed that was strong enough. That's why small bricks which were easier to make and stronger would be constructed and put together with cement that will be made soon.
Ted had sent out a team of 10 individuals to gather the necessary stuff to make cement based on my recommendations. We already had calcium from the bones of monsters. Now all we needed was sand, limestone and bauxite. It wasn't the exact ingredients but it would have to do until we could gather the right materials. Let's just say it's our own post apocalyptic cement.
The group went out a day ago so they should be back soon. They were headed towards a river that was near by. About three hours walk away based on my memory of the world before. This was an exact location where these material were in abundance unless they were eradicated or changed.
Apart of the team were Robert, Josh and Ariel so the others were in good hands. Josh had plant manipulation magic. He could speed up the growth of plants also use poison from various plants. It's like he could talk to the plants and use them to tangle monsters. His powers were off the charts in a sense, well he had his limits but his powers were unique.
Ariel was a good water user. She could create water walls and shoot water balls with great accuracy and Robert was almost as strong as Kero with flame magic. So yea the other 7 that went with them were in perfect hands.
Later in the day It was time for training at the training post. The training ground was almost next to the children's play area. It was an open area within the walls of our village, about quarter of an acre in size. We had a shed on the left where we stored some training gear like wooden swords and sticks. Analu and I arrived to see the new members of the community training vigorously. The sound of wooden swords and sticks clashed and sweat poured down their bodies.
There were four pillars made from wood on each end with beautiful trees around on the outskirts of the trainin ground. There was a set of benches on the right facing the childrens play area. If yoi wanted to watch someone train you could sit and at the same time you could monitor the children even though we had designated persons to monitor them while they played but better be extra safe than sorry right.
We wanted them to get stronger so we have been training them. Well Kero and John have been training them along with others. They have been making progress but they want to get stronger to prepare for the rescue mission.
We were going to take the best two along with some more of us to rescue Tiffany and her friends. So we needed two from Alexia's group to be strong enough for the journey. It all started with basic defense and attack skills like simple fighting techniques. They weren't so bad with that. Then we started with their powers.
"You're finally here weaklings." Said Sarah.
"Oh you wanna put that to the test cousin." Said Analu as they tussled playfully with each other.
"Wassup Everyone." I said halting the mock battles happening.
"Yo, what's spy guy up to?" I whispered to John.
"John looked at me seriously and said, " don't...leave that name thing alone Rome, that was so lame. But he's there still acting weak."
The fact that Eugene was still acting like he wasnt strong enough was rubbing me the wrong way. So I spook up.
"Eugene you're the strongest out of your group." I said.
"Me??" He snapped back quickly.
"Yes, so you can just drop the act now." Said Kero.
Eugene looked surprised but then he said he didn't know what to do also he was very much frightened the day so he was gripped with fear so he couldn't even help.
Thats kind of believable. Fear is a serious thing.
"Let's see what you guys can do since you're always talking tough." Said Eugene to Kero.
I know he was trying to take all the attention off him. It worked perfectly indeed. After this stunt I don't trust him at all.
Everyone was speaking in agreement with Eugene's statement. Cheering us on to show them what we're made of. "Well let's indulge them a little." Said John. "I'll sit this one out." Said Analu.
John created two ice walls. They were about 5 inches thick and about 5 squared feet. We would stand from a distance and shoot our attacks at his ice walls just to showcase how much power we had. Kero was up first.
"So Kero vs Rome, interesting." Said Sarah.
He was all pumped up and ready to showcase his strength. He charged up a fire attack and released it. There was a huge crackling sound as the fire hit the walls. After the steam that waa generated subsided. The wall was still standing but it had cracks all over. Not just one but both walls.
"Dude you should have hit one one." Said John. "Not my fault I'm so strong." Replied Kero. Everyone was amazed at how strong his attack was even though the wall was still standing that attack was huge. If you get a direct hit from that you would definitely have some second degree burns.
Now it was my time. John had touched the ice walls and repaired them so I was ready. I charged up my flame attack. I was thinking about the one I used when we were fighting the spiders. I tried and tried but the colour wasn't changing to purple again. I heard a little laughter as I tried.
Must be one of the kids or newbies laughing at the small size of my fire attack. One thing for sure, it was bigger than usual so I was Improving. Just as I was about to release my attack we heard some commotion near to the entrance of our village.
"This is boring, Let's see a real fight, come on let's make this interesting," Eugene exclaimed, eyes fixed on the impending clash.
"Kero's got immense magical strength, but they say Rome's agility and raw power are unmatched."
"Yeah, I've heard that too," another voice chimed in, the anticipation palpable in the air.
Sarah exchanged a glance with Analu, who leaned in and whispered, "It's finally time for Kero and Rome to face off."
"No surprise here, I predicted this showdown weeks ago," John added, his voice laced with confidence.
Kero spoke up, brimming with sarcasm, "I've got the strength, but I won't stoop to picking on the weak.
"Rome's retort was swift and loaded with a sense of triumph, "Funny, considering I was the one who landed the blow that crushed the Spider."
"Oh, you mean the same moment you froze up like a frightened child when our lives were on the line?" Kero's retort sliced through the tension.
John couldn't help but chuckle as he quipped, "Looks like Kero's hit a nerve."
The atmosphere grew heavy as Kero and Rome locked eyes, circling each other with bated breath. The anticipation was electric.
I wasted no time, charging forward with unbridled determination. However, Kero proved elusive, deftly dodging my flurry of punches with a grace that belied his raw power.
In a swift motion, Kero launched into the air, executing a spinning kick that seemed inevitable. Yet, I managed to bend backward, narrowly avoiding the incoming strike.
Without hesitation, I sprang to his feet, launching another assault. Kero a level of agility once more, pivoting on his other foot and nimbly retreating a few inches. Using my extended arm as a lever, he propelled himself off the ground, executing a breathtaking spin that culminated in a devastating kick to my face. The impact sent me hurtling backward, my body covering several meters in a spectacular display of force.
The air seemed to hold its breath as Kero grunted upon landing, the shock wave of the clash echoing through the onlookers. The anticipation had transformed into awe, as the battle had evolved into something truly epic.
As I staggered back from the powerful kick, I quickly regained my footing, with a fierce determination gleaming in my eyes. A trickle of blood marked on my cheek where Kero's strike had landed. The taste of my own blood only seemed to fuel my resolve.
I charged at him again, this time faster than before. With a swift series of calculated steps, I closed the distance between us in an instant, delivering a barrage of lightning-fast strikes. Kero's reflexes kicked in, and he managed to block and dodge some of the blows, but my speed was unmatched, leaving Kero struggling to keep up.
A well-timed spin brought my leg around in a sweeping arc, catching Kero off guard and knocking his feet out from under him. Kero hit the ground, the impact resonating through his body. But in a display of tenacity, he rolled and sprung backup, his eyes still locked onto Rome.
Everyone was fully locked into the fight.
"This fight is intensive," said Sarah.
"Yea, I've never seen them fight like this." Added Celestia.
With a growl Kero charged his fire attack. Energy crackled off his attack as the fire ball got larger. The onlookers could feel the heat coming from that attack.
"Wait, aren't they going too far now? Asked Celestia as she got up to try an intervene.
"No let them do this, it's a guy thing, you wont understand." Said John as he held her back.
"Sarah immediately created a water wall in front of everyone just incase the attack got out of control.
My eyes widened slightly, recognizing the shift in Kero's demeanor. He took me serious now so I braced myself, a hint of uncertainty crossing his face for the first time in the battle.
His power was truly incredible. I had to train harder to get to this level.
Kero unleashed His devastating Attack that would kill me if I didnt react in time.
I didn't have time to dodge but how could I block this attack. My thoughts raced but I had no solution. I just stood there with my arms out stretched trying to stop it. I then overheard Kero shouting to get out the way.
To my astonishment, I managed to deflect the oncoming strike, yet the sheer force behind it sent me hurtling backward, skidding across the ground for several feet before finally coming to a stop amidst a cloud of swirling dust and debris.
Amidst the commotion, the air filled with concerned voices, as if questioning whether I had succumbed to the attack. But I was far from defeated. My arms bore the marks of searing burns, a testament to the intensity of the encounter. Miraculously, they weren't as severe as one might have expected.
Gathering my resolve, I channeled my energy, readying an offensive maneuver aimed directly at Kero, who seemed disoriented amidst the lingering haze of smoke and dust, still unaware of my location.
With precision honed by years of practice, I unleashed the attack. However, instead of aiming to strike him, I skillfully directed the force to narrowly pass by Kero's ears, purposefully missing him.
Just then, a sudden, ear-splitting cry reverberated from the direction of the front gate, a distress signal demanding immediate attention. In an instant, instinct eclipsed the aftermath of our perilous encounter, and without a moment's hesitation, we abandoned our recent battle and raced toward the source of the urgent cry, driven by a shared sense of urgency and concern.
EUGENE
It had been a few days since I ventured into the woods, struggling to survive. I had almost lost hope, but then I heard screams. I quickly made my way towards the source of the commotion.
When I arrived, I saw two females and two males surrounded by five monsters. The creatures were giant sticky frogs, a relatively easy type of monster for experienced hunters, but these individuals were clearly struggling. One of the girls seemed to have some potential, but I knew I had to act fast. Without hesitation, I stepped in to help them.
With a powerful rock blast, I sent one of the frogs flying and startled the rest of the monsters. The attack was not enough to kill the creature, but it was enough to wound it and give them an opening.
"Run!" I shouted, but my words went unheeded as the group stood frozen in fear. Suddenly, one of the giant sticky frogs lunged forward, its massive tongue snaring the foot of one of the guys. At that moment, two of the others finally broke free from their paralyzing terror and sprinted away.
The giant sticky frogs quickly overpowered one of the men, tearing him apart before our eyes. Only one of the girls tried to fight back, but she too was quickly caught by the monsters. In a last-ditch effort to save her, I unleashed another attack at the frog and it reluctantly released her. Together we ran and caught up with the rest of the group. It was then that I joined their party.
"Hey, thanks a lot. I'm Alexia nice to meet you."
Said one of the females.
"Im Eugene." I replied.
We continued to face many challenges together and unfortunately, our journey eventually led to our capture by a swarm of giant ants, but we were eventually saved by a group of skilled hunters led by a man named Rome. Despite the tragic loss and near-death experiences, my mission to survive and meet up with this group of people that were going to see this Rome fellow was a success so far. This would make the boss proud and I could redeem myself but I didn't like their method of taking over. I did not like choosing violence first. There are smarter ways to get what you want in life.
I spent a week in the area, trying to familiarize myself with the surroundings and gauge the strength of the local inhabitants. Though there were over 200 people living there, only a small fraction of them were capable of fighting. Though I knew I could easily overpower five of them, I was not inclined towards violence unless necessary.
My goal was to find a way to take control of the area without causing any unnecessary bloodshed or damage to my new home. I pondered over a plan to take one or two of the children as bargaining chips and present the idea to my leader and the others for a peaceful takeover of this place.
As I observed the community, I spotted a child who I believed could serve as an effective bargaining chip in my plan for a peaceful takeover. It was evident that the child was well-loved and respected by all, and I knew that the community would not want to see any harm come to him.
I trained alongside them, but I held back, concealing my true abilities. I allowed them to see only what Alexia had seen back then. That was all they needed to know. However, Rome and Kero both seemed sharp and perceptive, making it difficult to keep my abilities hidden.
I constantly searched for a chance to snatch the child and flee, but the village was always bustling and guarded during the night. One day during training, I completed my analysis of the main threats in this village.
Though his attack was not as powerful as Kero's, it was formidable. It sliced through a tree limb, located 20 meters away, with incredible speed and precision after their epic battle. I had never seen a battle like that, only in an anime. These two were no joke. They were almost as strong as the right hand men for the boss but that won't be enough to help them if they have to defend themselves.
So far, those three seemed to be the strongest contenders in the village and also the girl that used the water barriers. But it did not really matter because I was nearing completion of my analysis of the village and its inhabitants, which I intended to use as leverage to take control. I hoped to accomplish this with minimal violence, if possible.
Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted at the village entrance, causing a distraction. I saw this as my chance to make my move. As the others ran to the source of the noise with no hesitation, I knocked out the guard watching over the children. As the only adult present, and with the children distracted, I seized the opportunity.
"Hey, kids, call for a nurse or someone," I said, feigning concern. Two of the children ran off, leaving three remaining. I quickly knocked them out and took the village favorite as a hostage. I then made my escape, heading for my base using the signature stones I had created and dropped on my way with a little of my energy. I would meet up with Trish and her friend who were suppose to be near by waiting.