The dust hit the clouds as the creature stood on its many legs. Even within all this fog, this sightless beast knew its way around trees and could still find them. The duo had yet to use their Chi, and even if they wanted to, their bodies were still sore from the night before. All this running and fighting had left them looking half-dead. Their skin was pale, their breath labored. Kaito had fallen to his knees from the weight of his axe, and Haruto didn't seem any better. The beast swooped in for the kill as its fangs pierced the dirt, missing Haruto and Kaito by a few. Beads of water fell from the heavens, kicking up the scent of earth, and clicking teeth filled the air, a distorted hiss from the creature that seemed unnatural.
"If this creature doesn't have eyes, how can it move through the forest so well?" Haruto wondered.
The once serene forest was now covered in mud and chaos. Haruto and his friend could barely move, but at least the cold water forced them to focus, each drop feeling like a stone on their battered bodies but offering relief. Kaito couldn't move anymore. Although Haruto was still on his feet, there was no way he could defeat such a beast himself. The many holes on its body opened up, revealing a welcoming abyss as if the beast had no flesh or blood. In a few seconds, it turned its attention somewhere else.
*HISS!*
"It bared its fangs at the sky?" Haruto said. And a few moments later he could see why. With fur that rivaled the gold of the sun, and arms bigger than his square room, an ape-like creature with four eyes and arms landed on the snake with a heavy crash. The collision kicked up dust and for a second created a dome that stopped the rain. As the dust settled, Haruto and Kaito watched in awe as the newcomer emerged from the cloud of debris, their hearts pounding with a mixture of relief and apprehension. The towering ape-like creature stood before them, its golden fur glistening in the dim light, its four eyes gleaming with a fierce intelligence. With a primal roar, the ape-like creature launched itself at the black serpent, its massive arms swinging with devastating force as it unleashed a barrage of powerful blows. The serpent, caught off guard by the sudden assault, reeled back in pain, its hissing growing louder as it struggled to defend itself against the relentless onslaught.
Haruto and Kaito took this chance to escape deeper into the woods of the bamboo forest. The sounds of feet splashing on the wet ground were heavy as Haruto dragged the limp Kaito away. The axe dragged behind them, scarring the wet ground.
"We need to get out of here quickly. We can't fight those things. Kaito is the expert in Chi, and although my Chi has a different system than most, I have no idea how to manifest it," Haruto said.
"I can't fight while protecting Kaito. We can't get far in this rain, especially in our condition. I can't see anything apart from Kaito and me."
"If this keeps going we'll fail the test. So far we have only killed one beast and we need three more. I can't use Chi, and Kaito can't fight anymore. Going alone is a bad idea... only one option left then," Haruto thought to himself.
The sound of labored breath and sloshing steps halted. Haruto's expression had darkened a bit, his eyes looking at Kaito. He placed him down and handed him the battle axe.
"Where are you going?" Kaito asked.
Haruto looked around the bamboo forest, took as much nature as he could, and ignored Kaito's question. He walked up to a tree before cutting it down. The cold water and wind harassed his senses, and yet he swung his katana with precise calculation.
"Hey... what are you doing?" Kaito asked, sitting on the wet muddy ground and watching in confusion as his best friend cut down the glass bamboo. The sound they made as the sword made contact with them was unpleasant, but Haruto kept at it. The crystal jade bamboo hit the ground, the beautiful color now defiled by mud.
"Haru... can you hear me?" Kaito asked, but Haruto continued his endeavor until he had created a full circle around Kaito. The trees were heavy, but cutting at just the right spot made them stack up randomly, creating a wall of jade.
"Stay here and rest, okay. I'll be back shortly," Haruto said as he grabbed the head of the beast they had defeated earlier, blood still trickling down but covered expertly by the rain. Haruto's wet hair obscured his vision a bit, he placed his hands on the base of his forehead and swiped back, forcing his hair back.
"What do you mean, where are you going?"
Leaving his friend sheltered behind the fallen jades, Haruto cautiously navigated through the dense forest, his sword at the ready, slashing at the trees in a frantic attempt to both clear a path and deter any potential threats.
The scene of fallen trees bore the marks of a fierce confrontation, with massive trunks strewn about as if powerful creatures had clashed in a battle of titans. It was a place that no novice with basic control of their Chi would dare to approach.
As Haruto's blade cut through the trees, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area, momentarily dispersing the thick fog and granting him a glimpse of his surroundings.
Amidst the relentless pelting of cold rain, the earthy aroma filled his senses, and as the chaotic symphony of the clashing trees subsided, an eerie silence descended, broken only by the sound of water in the distance.
As the fog rushed back to fill the area cleared by the trees the wave hit Haruto obscuring his view once more.
"I need to find people weaker than me, let me revise the rules again, I wasn't paying attention so I heard glimpses... Killing other students is allowed. Each student must have two beast heads. The use of Chi is allowed. Help from the teachers isn't coming. Failure means expulsion."
"Kaito will only get in the way of what has to be done, we need three beast heads to pass, therefore I need to kill someone who has them"
Haruto's expression darkened as he talked to himself, a desperate attempt to fill the silence left by Kaito, as well as a reminder of what he had to do.
He walked around the forest, his prestigious academy uniform mud, his sword at the ready, his grip reflecting his resolve.
'If only I could manifest Chi this would be easier' He thought to himself.
Haruto moved stealthily through the dense bamboo forest. His senses were on high alert as he followed the faint sound of chatter echoing through the fog. The voices seemed to come from multiple sources, indicating a group of students nearby. His grip tightened on his sword, his heart pounding with anticipation and caution.
As he weaved between the towering stalks of bamboo, Haruto kept his footsteps light, mindful to use the rain to his advantage, covering the sound of his steps. The thick fog veiled his surroundings, obscuring his vision and heightening the sense of unease as he pressed forward.
The voices grew louder, their tones shifting from casual conversation to hushed murmurs, indicating a possible change in their surroundings or a shift in focus. Haruto paused, pressing his back against a sturdy bamboo trunk, his ears straining to catch any hint of what lay ahead.
As he cautiously peered through the thick foliage, he caught sight of a subtle flicker of movement amidst the dense fog. The shadows seemed to dance in the mist, their forms appearing indistinct and elusive, yet undeniably human.
"One... two... three... four... five... six... seven"
'They have seven beast heads, there are 14 youth in total meaning all they need are seven more' Haruto thought
"Some look more injured than the rest, I'm guessing they are the frontline attack, I see heavy heaters and even those who can provide support... I see, so they joined together and delegated tasks to everyone"
"Humans don't work well with each other, I can simply assume desperation drove them to this alliance but then again, there should be a leader somewhere here"
After a while of watching, Haruto took his sword and placed it on his shoulder, the edge threatening to tear it apart.
His heart rivaled matching drums as his gaze widened at his shoulder, he gritted his teeth and swiped the edge of his blade. Blood trickled down his uniform as he gathered his composure, with his head down he dragged his sword as he faked a limp and walked right into the open.
Haruto raised his head and was met by the gazes of 14 people, their weapons drawn. They all wore determined expressions, and Haruto could sense the formidable strength emanating from each of them. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" demanded a stern voice from the group.