It had been weeks since Eratz first set foot into the forest, and by now, he had conquered nearly every corner of it.
Each day brought a new challenge, and he kept evolving. He had grown used to the routine: helping around the house, assisting his aunt at the village market, and then retreating into the forest for training.
Life was simple, and he liked it that way.
Their home was a modest one, tucked near the edge of the village. Wooden walls weathered by time, a small garden in the back where his aunt grew vegetables.
His uncle, a carpenter, would work in his shed all day, while his aunt prepared vegetables to sell at the market.
Eratz spent most mornings sweeping the floors, cleaning the windows, or chopping wood for the stove. These tasks felt natural to him.
He wasn't doing it for praise. He never sought attention. It was his family, after all, and doing these things for them felt like the least he could do.
They had taken him in, treated him as one of their own after his parents had abandoned him.
That sense of duty was engrained in him, and though he spent hours each day honing his skills in the forest, his family always came first.
When the chores were done, Eratz would help his aunt at the village market.
Cassie, was a lively woman who seemed to know everyone in the village. She had a smile for every customer, and her laughter filled the market air.
The market itself was bustling with life with children running through the streets, merchants shouting out their wares, and the smell of fresh products filling the air.
Many races were mixed, making Eratz satisfied of being part of it, even if he mostly kept to himself.
"Eratz, are you sure you don't want to go to an college?" his aunt asked one morning as they set up the stall. She looked at him with a mix of concern. "Your uncle and I are ready to pay for it."
Eratz smiled softly, shaking his head as he set down a basket of carrots at her stall.
"I'm fine, Auntie. I don't need school. The forest is my teacher." He nodded toward the forest, where he spent his afternoons. "Besides, it's better if you focus on Colin. She's the one who should be going to school."
Cassie sighed, placing her hands on her hips as she gave him a look.
"I just worry about you out there all alone. You're only seventeen, and the forest is wild. You should be with other teens your age, learning, I don't want to see you wasting your life for revenge."
He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I am learning. It's just... different from what most teens do, I guess. And honestly I'm not even thinking about theses people anymore, I'm doing it because I like that. I know what I'm capable of, I'll get the best for us, so don't worry about me, focus on helping Colin get into a good school. She deserves everything."
At the mention of Colin, his aunt's expression softened. His little cousin was a shy girl with long white hair, blue eyes and a skin slightly paler than Eratz.
She was always hiding behind her mother's skirt or watching Eratz from the corners of rooms with wide, curious eyes.
Whenever Eratz caught her watching him, she would blush and look away.
"She'll get there," Cassie said, her voice filled with pride and a bit of sadness. "But don't forget to take care of yourself, too."
She reached out, ruffling his hair the way she used to when he was smaller.
"You've grown up too fast, if you keep being like this, I won't be able to pamper you anymore." she said with a sigh.
"Why would you stop? I'm never going to stop asking for it. I'll always be your little boy."
Cassie didn't s answer, but her eyes showed that she was still worried. She wanted him to live a normal life, but he didn't see the point anymore.
The forest called to him in a way that nothing else did. The power he was cultivating, the strength he was building, it was all part of a path he felt attracted to.
Later that afternoon, after helping with the day's work, Eratz returned to the forest, without releasing his beasts.
His presence was feared by most of the beasts in the forest, and they had learned to steer clear when they could feel him nearby.
Eratz felt a strange energy coursing through him, an itch beneath his skin that made him restless.
His goal was to break through his own limits. He wanted to push his body and power to new heights. For him, it was the key to defeat tame stronger monsters.
Dressed in a simple black tank top, Eratz began his routine. He started with a sprint, dashing through the forest at full speed, his feet pounding against the earth.
Each step came quicker than the one before, his legs moving in a blur as if they had a mind of their own.
His breath came in fast, sharp gasps, his chest rising and falling as he darted between the trees like a thunderbolt, but it wasn't enough, he needed more.
Skidding to an halt, he faced a massive boulder, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.
He tightened his fists and began slamming them into the rock, each punch harder than the one before. The impact sent shocks up his arms, but he didn't stop.
His blows were measured at first, each hit calculated and controlled, but soon they increased in speed and intensity. Each strike sent tremors through the stone, his fists moving so fast they were almost a blur.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of his fists hitting the rock echoed through the forest, sweat dripped down his forehead, the pain in his arms growing heavier with each punch. His muscles screamed in pain, but Eratz didn't stop.
He focused on channeling the energy in his body, pushing it into his fists, feeling the heat of his own power building up.
"Faster," His mind urged him. "Stronger."
Eratz's knuckles were bruised, but he didn't care. The rush of power surging through his body was too thrilling.
Each punch made his heart pound harder, and cracks spread across the boulder's surface with every hit.
The feeling was electric, as if he could break through anything if he just pushed a little more.
With one final, forceful punch, the boulder shattered, chunks of rock scattering to the ground.
Eratz stood still for a moment, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face. He wiped his brow, grinning as he looked at his hands, his knuckles bruised, but he felt alive.
The pain didn't matter, the thrill of pushing himself beyond his limits gave him a rush he couldn't explain. But he wasn't still done.
He stepped away from the crumbled rock, leaping high into the air, moving from tree to tree with quick, agile jumps. He tested his agility, landing on thin branches that barely held his weight.
He dodged and moved as if invisible enemies were coming at him, flipping through the air with ease. His movements were raw, like a wild animal, but focused.
He was learning to control his body, to push past the pain and exhaustion, to see how far his body could follow his imagination.
Time passed quickly, and the sky began to glow with the colors of sunset. Eratz could feel the fatigue deep in his muscles, but he wasn't ready to stop.
Dropping to the ground, he started push-ups, the cool earth pressing against his palms.
His arms shook with each push, and the strain built with every movement, but he clenched his jaw and kept going, determined to finish.
His body ached, his arms trembling with each repetition, his muscles screaming for rest.
One hundred. Two hundred. Three hundred.
By the time he was finished, the forest was dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of a quarter of moon.
Eratz collapsed onto his stomach, staring at the bushes, completely drained.
His tank top was soaked through with sweat, and his body was covered in dirt and scratches, but the smile on his face never left.
He had pushed his limits again, and the euphoria of it coursed through him.
As he lay there, breathing heavily, he realized how far he had come. Weeks ago, he was just a talented teenager among thousands others, with everything to be happy, but one day, he lost everything.
He was at the bottom of life, trashed by everyone, but on the brink of his despair, someone died in him, and something was born.
He was stronger, more confident, more in control of his power. He wasn't just training to become stronger, he was learning to master himself, to push himself farther than possible.
He felt an uncontrollable desire to improve, to protect his family, to understand the strange power that flowed through his veins.
He was a boy who understood that his body was a powerful weapon.
After a few minutes, he finally stood, stretching his arms and wiping the sweat from his face.
It was time to head home, his aunt and uncle would be wondering where he was by now, and though they trusted him, he didn't like worrying them more than necessary.
As he made his way back through the forest, his steps were slow but steady. The beasts kept their distance, and the night was quiet, peaceful. His army of creatures remained in his shadows.
He was exhausted, but felt like he didn't need them to deal with any monster coming to him, He was strong enough on his own.