Under the scorching sun, within the forest near the village, Ace was on a monster hunt. His target was a Salamander living inside the swamp, in the deepest part of the forest.
"Daaamn!" he exclaimed. "This forest is so dense."
"It had been a long time since I had some alone time. I've been too busy trying to 'fit in' in this weird world. Though I'm also quite weird myself."
He had made a few discoveries. First, was that he had a natural aptitude for using magic especially Shadow Magic as his magical attribute was the Dark Attribute, an attribute that could control darkness in its entirety. It was mostly used in creating 'Curses',' Status Hexes' and other forms of Dark magic. Second, the idea of holding a sword and practicing swordsmanship wasn't so alien to him, in fact, it almost felt nostalgic.
And lastly, his own self. The fact of addressing Chris and Ellie as his parents didn't bother him too much, even acknowledging Shaw as his brother. The memories that flooded him of 'Ace Blakelord' and 'Asaru Takayoshi's' personality seemed to completely merge. More than feeling as though they were two different entities, he felt as though they were actually one and the same.
"That's why this feels creepy. More than being confused about who I am right now, the fact that they seem to be blending together so seamlessly is too disturbing. Just as I can identify myself as 'Ace Blakelord', I also identify myself as 'Asaru Takayoshi', making me both confused and sure of who I really am. There's definitely something going on here, but what exactly, I've got no idea?" were his thoughts as he travelled through the forest.
'Ace Blakelord' and 'Asaru Takayoshi', what could they have in common for me to end up in this body? Or was it simply a coincidence? And why exactly…" his thoughts were interrupted as Dire Wolf jumped on him. Using a spell
In the meantime, back in the village, Ellie was sharing her worries with Chris. "Do you really think he'll be okay?"
"I'm telling you, you're worrying over nothing," said Chris, trying to reassure her. "He's stronger than you think."
"He might be strong but I'm still he's mother. Of course I'm still worried," added Ellie while Chris seemed to have something on his mind.
"Yeah, I know. But… should a kid be so comfortable with a sword that he's able to hunt beasts without fear so easily?" thought Chris as he remembered the first time Ace accompanied him on his hunts as he easily killed the beasts without any ounce of hesitation. Looking through the window with a sigh, he mumbled, "I just hope I'm worrying over nothing."
Back in the forest, Ace had made significant progress. He had finally reached the swamp where the salamander was said to reside. "Daaamn! Finally found it!" he exclaimed.
It was dim and shrouded in mist, with sunlight barely breaking through twisted, ancient trees. Their roots, rising out of dark, still water, formed tangled paths. Strange glowing fungi clang to the trees, casting a faint, ghostly light.
The air was thick and smelly from wet earth and decay. Small islands of moss and colourful plants were floating on the water, some looking like they might bite if you got too close. Firefly-like insects were drifting lazily, their soft glow adding an eerie charm.
"Now where is it?" he said as he looked around the swamp, his sword unsheathed, ready to face whatever may lay ahead.
"Guess I'll need to…" he started as he sensed something unexpected. Just as Ace was about to turn back, he suddenly felt a shudder run down his spine. His instincts screamed danger. He had heard of them before but the creature advancing in front of him, emerging from the shadows, emanated a more menacing air than what he could have anticipated.
It was darker, bigger, taller and stronger than what he was told about by his father. Its green skin was mottled with dark scars, and its muscles bulged grotesquely. It wielded a massive club, the wood gnarled and splintered, brimming with an aura of sheer brutality as its surface was stained with dried blood.
"What the? I've never heard of a thing like that. A-an orc? W-wait, is that even an orc? A new breed? Well, whatever it is, it's too late now to run away," Ace's thought, his heart pounding in his chest, recalled Chris's advice. "Dad told me to trust my instincts, and right now, they're telling me that that thing is dangerous."
And so, as soon as they made eye contact, the beast roared, a guttural sound that echoed through the swamp. It charged at him with terrifying speed, swinging its massive club with absurd strength. Luckily, Ace barely managed to block it, but the impact sent him skidding across the swamp which was supposed to be the salamander's habitat. The strength of the blow was immense, leaving him breathless and disoriented.
Regaining his footing, Ace swiftly unleashed a torrent of black blades at the orc.
The beast roared again, undeterred, and continued its relentless assault. Ace dodged the attacks and darted around the lair, desperate to find a strategy. He blasted the ground to create a smoke screen, hoping to obscure the orc's vision. But the gigantic and heavy steps of the beast blew away the smoke effortlessly, and soon, the club came crashing down once more.
Ace barely had time to react, and the club struck with devastating force. He was hurled backwards, slamming into one of the trees. Pain erupted in his chest, and he felt a sharp pang from internal injuries. He gritted his teeth, the realization of the giant orc's formidable strength sinking in.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIIIIT!" Ace mentally screamed, his mind racing. "This was supposed a simple monster hunt. But I had to stumble on this freaking monster. It already has incredibly thick skin, so attacks have minimal effect on it. Not only that, but it also has a huge physique and enormous strength. How the hell am I supposed to beat that thing?!"
As he lay on the ground injured, his body aching and his vision blurring, The giant orc slowly approached Ace, coming closer and closer while raising its club, preparing to strike again with a killing blow.