Prince awoke to the sound of screeching.
He blinked his eyes open, staring at the lush canopy above him. Prince slowly sat up, his whole body sore.
Prince then found that he was on fire.
He didn't freak out immediately. The reason was because he didn't actually feel like he was burning. He felt completely fine, actually. The flames were helping him to heal, knitting his broken bones back together.
Prince took in his surroundings, finding that he was at the very peak of the mountain, suspended in a leaf hammock.
Around him, monkeys went about their day through the treetops. There even seemed to be some sort of gym up here, with stone weights and a bench press.
More surprisingly, there seemed to be flaming bananas growing on each tree.
They were literally on fire.
It didn't make any sense. More importantly, why were fire monkeys in a forest full of trees? Why would monkeys even be augmented to fire, anyway? Prince would've guessed something along the lines of earth.
A monkey noticed that he was awake. Quickly, it bounded over. It leaped, plucking a fire banana, and then dropped to a branch in one swift movement. The monkey handed it to Prince.
Prince tentatively looked at the banana, then at the monkey. The monkey seemed expectant, so Prince touched it.
Just like the flames, the banana didn't hurt Prince. Prince gratefully took the banana and examined it.
Firanana (F-Grade)
Firanana's are flaming fruits that when eaten can restore energy and improve one's connection with essence, specifically Fire Essence.
"Ah." Prince mumbled. "Interesting." He took a careful bite.
Immediately, he felt his body calm down. A wave of energy washed over him, most heading toward his Essence pool, the rest being used to invigorate his body.
The Fire Essence weaved in between the chains and recycled themselves into pure Essence for him to use.
Nice.
As Prince was contently munching on a firanana, a notification appeared.
You have entered the boss lair for the Infernal Ape! As a result for fighting this dungeon boss on home turf, you can no longer leave until you kill it.
Prince's eyes widened as the monkeys quieted down, their attention on a monkey who was now on the ground.
The monkey was giant, muscles rippling through blood-red fur. It was nearly as tall as Prince. Flecks of dormant flame rippled off of its skin, and it seemed calm and intelligent.
Prince scanned it.
Infernal Ape - Level 28
Infernal Apes are the calmer, intelligent versions of Flaming Monkeys. They are naturally stronger and are more adept with their flame, able to wield it with natural skill and form attacks.
This specimen possesses higher understanding than most.
"Great." Prince muttered. "Just great." He opened his status screen.
Attribute Screen - Prince Collins
Species: Human
Faction: N/A
Class: Martial Warrior
Subclass: Champion of Victorious Fighting
Titles: Planetary Frontrunner (1000), Planetary Dao Prodigy (100)
Grade: F
Dao: Node of Martial Arts
Level: 20
Strength: 42
Endurance: 27
Dexterity: 40
Vitality: 26
Mental: 23
Wisdom: 21
Free Points: 15
Prince quickly poured all of his points into endurance. The last of the flames were disappearing from his skin, and he finally stood up and stretched, not losing his balance on the flimsy hammock.
He then leaped downward, dropping a dozen feet onto the ground. His legs bent, cushioning the fall so that he felt nothing.
The Infernal Ape turned its head to him, examining him. Two golden eyes seemed to bear right through Prince, the heat radiating from this thing oppressive.
It was much stronger than the wolf, and Prince had just faced that thing too. He was still a little tired.
Still, Prince felt a smile come onto his face. He held his fist out. "Wanna fight?"
All noises ceased. While the monkeys didn't understand English, they could understand gestures and emotion.
Prince had just challenged their alpha!
The Infernal Ape just stared at Prince.
Prince was sweating, feeling as if he was a pre-System human standing before a gorilla.
Now, Prince was much stronger than a gorilla, but so was this Infernal Ape. The ratio was the same.
The ape snorted and waved him away. It had weighed him as too weak, and was seeking to spare him. All the other monkeys understood this.
"You're gonna back down?" Prince asked. The ape paused.
"Back down from this, then!" Prince called out.
In an instant, he drew all the moisture in the air into his hand, forming a floating blob of Water Essence around it. Then Prince stomped the ground and delivered a Thunderous Palm, his bread and butter.
The ape reacted quickly, slapping Prince's palm away to redirect the strike. The monkey then counterattacked, delivering a palm of its own right to Prince's face.
Prince couldn't dodge the lightning-quick blow, his head snapping back. His vision went blurry, blood leaking from his nose.
And the ape wasn't even angry, no flames bursting from its fur. It was already beginning to turn away.
Prince twisted into a backward somersault, sticking the landing easily. He stared right at the retreating ape.
"You think I'm done?" Prince asked.
The ape let out a noise of surprise, turning around.
"[The Odds Are Against Me]." Prince said, cracking his knuckles.
The truth was, if he hadn't poured those 15 points into endurance before the start of the fight, Prince likely would've been knocked out. That's how strong this monkey was.
Prince entered a martial arts stance, blobs of chilly water surrounding his hands and feet. He could only do so much with Phase Shift.
The Infernal Ape watched him, then cracked the barest hints of a smile.
It assumed the exact same martial stance, its hands and feet becoming alive with flame.
Prince's blood was pumping. This is it. This is how he wanted to live his life. Pitting himself against things and even stronger things, and coming out victorious.
Prince and the monkey dashed toward each other at the same time, one smirking, the other grinning.