Kaiden woke with a start, his mismatched eyes snapping open. The cave around him was still, the faint scent of blood and charred flesh lingering in the air. His body ached from the earlier battle with the Red Tigers, but the hour of rest had done wonders for his stamina. He sat up, stretching his sore limbs as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Time to lock in," he muttered to himself, shaking off the lingering fatigue.
Gathering the Remnants
Kaiden moved toward the spot where he had stored the strange egg earlier. The ground beneath it had been covered with what looked like dried leaves, bits of glowing ash, and strange fibers that didn't seem natural. Must've been some kind of nest, he thought, carefully collecting the remnants and storing them in his wristband's storage unit.
The wristband hummed faintly as it absorbed the materials, and Kaiden couldn't help but marvel at the technology. It was so advanced, yet so practical.
After clearing the area, he turned his attention back to the tiger carcasses. He needed to eat, and the Red Tigers would provide more than enough food. He unsheathed his shortsword, cutting the meat into manageable pieces and skewering them onto sharpened sticks he found in the cave.
The smell of roasting meat filled the air as Kaiden cooked the tiger over the small fire. He took his time, ensuring each piece was cooked evenly before tasting it. The flavor was bland, the natural juices providing little satisfaction.
"Needs some seasoning," Kaiden muttered, his shoulders slumping slightly as he stared at the skewer. Memories of rich, flavorful meals from his past flooded his mind—meals with his family before everything went wrong. A wave of melancholy washed over him, and for a moment, he sat in silence, the flickering firelight casting long shadows across the cave walls.
Moving Forward
Kaiden snapped himself out of his thoughts, shaking his head. "No time for this," he muttered. He stored the cooked meat in his wristband's unit and quickly set about destroying any evidence of his presence. The fire was doused, the blood cleaned up as best as he could manage, and the carcasses disposed of far from the cave.
Once satisfied, Kaiden stepped out into the open, shielding his eyes from the harsh afternoon sun. The heat had subsided slightly, but the oppressive atmosphere of the volcanic terrain remained.
"Half a day gone already," he noted, glancing at the position of the sun. The thought made him uneasy. He had to move faster if he wanted to stay ahead of the competition.
The Encounter in the Forest
Kaiden moved swiftly, his steps light as he navigated the rocky terrain. His senses were sharp, scanning for any signs of traps or ambushes as he made his way through the forested area that bordered the volcanic region. The dense foliage provided some relief from the heat, but it also brought new dangers.
As he moved, Kaiden heard voices up ahead. He slowed his pace, creeping forward until he could make out the source.
It was the same boy he'd seen earlier—blue-haired, awkward, and clearly out of his depth. He was being cornered by three older participants, their tones harsh as they loomed over him.
"You really thought you could hide it from us?" one of the bullies sneered, grabbing the boy by the collar.
"Please, I don't have anything!" the boy stammered, his voice trembling.
"Don't lie to us," another said, shoving him against a tree. "We know you have the herb. Hand it over, or we'll take it from you."
Kaiden watched from the shadows, his expression blank. He had no interest in getting involved. This isn't my fight, he thought, turning to leave. But as he moved, his ears caught something that made him pause.
"The Brightflame Herb," one of the bullies said, his tone greedy. "You know how much that's worth? We could pass this trial easily if we had it."
Kaiden's gaze flicked back to the scene. The mention of the herb piqued his curiosity. A resource like that could be useful, he thought. And they're too busy with him to notice me coming.
The Ambush
Kaiden moved silently, his training coming to the forefront as he approached the group. He waited for the right moment, his mismatched eyes narrowing as he planned his attack.
In one swift motion, he struck. The first bully didn't even see him coming—Kaiden's elbow collided with the back of his head, sending him crumpling to the ground. The second bully turned, eyes wide in shock, but Kaiden was already on him, delivering a precise kick to his chest that sent him stumbling backward.
The third bully raised his fists, but Kaiden closed the distance in an instant, grabbing his wrist and twisting it sharply. The bully cried out in pain, dropping to his knees.
The blue-haired boy stared at Kaiden in stunned silence, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the words to speak. Kaiden didn't give him the chance.
"Thanks for the herb," Kaiden said flatly, plucking the Brightflame Herb from the boy's bag and storing it in his wristband.
"W-wait!" the boy stammered, but Kaiden was already turning to leave.
The Wristband Turns Red
As Kaiden stepped away, his wristband began to vibrate faintly. He glanced down and saw it glowing red, the light pulsating in a steady rhythm.
"What the hell?" he muttered, frowning.
Before he could make sense of it, the blue-haired boy and the bullies vanished. One moment they were there, and the next, they were gone, as if the earth itself had swallowed them whole.
Kaiden stared at the empty space, his expression blank. "The Flow is so weird," he muttered before turning his attention back to the path ahead.
The Beast Awakens
As Kaiden continued his journey, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him. The forest had grown eerily quiet, the usual sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls replaced by an oppressive silence.
He tightened his grip on his shortsword, his senses on high alert. Whatever was out there, it wasn't friendly.
Unbeknownst to Kaiden, the Brightflame Herb he had taken had attracted the attention of something far more dangerous than the bullies. A pair of glowing red eyes watched him from the shadows, its breath heavy and labored as it stalked him.
Kaiden paused, his mismatched eyes narrowing as he scanned the treeline. He couldn't see anything, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
"Something's coming," he muttered, his voice low.
End of Chapter 49
Kaiden's journey through the Ember's Path takes a darker turn as he unknowingly attracts the attention of a formidable enemy. With the Brightflame Herb in his possession and danger looming, Kaiden must prepare for whatever comes next. The trial is far from over, and survival is becoming increasingly uncertain.
To be continued...