The next morning, Ryan's physical training began with the usual grueling routine.
After five laps, Fen chimed in with a tone a mix of seriousness and a hint of sarcasm. "Harness your Mana Core's power. Channel energy into your movements. Because, you know, running five laps isn't hard enough."
Ryan blinked, confusion etched on his face. "What?"
Fen sighed, clearly amused. "Visualize energy flowing from your core to your muscles."
"Oh… O-Okay…" Ryan stuttered.
He tried it, trying to channel energy from his core to his body, focusing on his legs. After all, his legs did most of the work when running.
To his surprise, as he concentrated, his legs felt lighter—as if they were suddenly made of air. It was the same sensation he had experienced during sit-ups and push-ups, but this time, it was different. With this new energy flowing, he felt his agility increase.
"Very good," Fen complimented. "Do this for your everyday movements. Soon, you'll do it instinctively. Like breathing. Or forgetting your keys."
Ryan nodded eagerly.
"By the way, Ryan. I overheard your little chat with your colleagues yesterday. You're off today too, right?" Fen asked as they walked back to Ryan's room.
Ryan furrowed his brows.
"Yeah."
"Aha, then let's go hunting today."
"Hunting?"
"Yeah. I need to eat, remember?" Fen replied as if it was the most relaxing thing in the world.
Ryan stumbled. Hunting? The thought twisted in his mind. He imagined Fen stalking humans in Luxor, The City of The Gods. The image was unsettling.
Fen laughed, "No, no. I was only teasing you. I can eat wild animals."
Ryan let out a sigh of relief. However, the thought of hunting made him uneasy. "Where are we going to hunt?"
"I'll take you somewhere. Just wear your light clothes."
"...Okay."
Ryan's stomach churned. He wasn't sure what "light clothing" meant in this context. Were they going to be running through dense forests? Or worse, climbing a rock cliff?
"Is this a good idea?" he asked. "What kind of wild animal are we talking about here? A rabbit? Or something that might eat me first?"
Fen grinned in his mind. "Trust me. It'll be fun."
"Fun? Right. Because there's nothing more fun than being chased by a bear."
Fen shrugged. "If you're lucky, it'll just be a deer. I promise they don't bite."
"Great. Now I'm supposed to worry about dodging wildlife too?"
"Relax. I've got this covered."
Ryan felt the tension rising again. What if Fen wasn't as confident as he seemed? The thrill of the hunt could quickly turn dangerous.
"Let's hope your idea of a wild animal doesn't include anything with sharp teeth," Ryan muttered.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you. I promise you'll walk away with all your limbs intact."
Ryan snorted. "Thanks. That's reassuring."
He took a deep breath.
It was going to be an unusual day.
***
After an hour, Ryan had showered and finished his breakfast. He exchanged pleasantries with his team members. Then, he returned to his room, saying that he needed to continue deciphering.
As he closed and locked the door, Fen's voice boomed from the other side. "Ryan, choose your weapon."
"What weapon…?" Ryan asked, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his tone.
"You need a weapon for hunting, right?" Fen replied, clearly unimpressed.
Ryan frowned. "I thought you were the one hunting…"
Fen roared, "You should hunt too!"
Ryan stiffened.
"Choose."
He hesitated for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I-I choose… Automatic pistol…"
"No. That won't develop your skills any further."
"…"
A silence hung in the air. Ryan felt the pressure building. He was afraid of Fenrir for sure.
"Listen. Time Lords use scythes. Most Guardians? They use swords, bows, and spears. Pretty standard weapons."
Ryan frowned. "But guns—why not just use them? They're faster and more accurate."
Fen shook his head. "Guns are secondary. You should master at least one of the weapons I mentioned."
"Why?" Ryan's confusion was evident.
"Because you'll be traveling back to ancient times as well. Do you think they had guns back then? Good luck trying to pull one out in a medieval battle."
A hint of understanding crossed Ryan's face.
He sighed. "Okay then. I guess I'll use a sword. Maybe something like the B*st*rd Sword."
Fen chuckled. "Finally. You're starting to get it."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'll keep my sword. Hopefully, that'll be enough."
"Now we're ready to go," Fen replied, shaking his head in amusement. "We will teleport now."
Then, shadow particles erupted around Fen and Ryan. Dark, wispy shards swirled chaotically, like living darkness. The particles coalesced into tendrils, wrapping around Fenrir's body, momentarily obscuring his face. The shadows then disappeared, leaving behind a fleeting, eerie afterimage.
***
Ryan stumbled forward, his stomach churning like a blender in overdrive. Dizziness swirled in his head. It was like riding an elevator up and down, at the speed of a speed train.
He closed his eyes, massaging his temples. When he opened them, the vast expanse of a desert stretched out before him.
"Where are we…?"
"You humans call this place the Savanna desert." Fen walked around, sniffing the grass beneath his feet.
Ryan's eyes widened. The Savanna was home to a parade of animals. Elephants, zebras, gazelles, baboons, ostriches. But the real stars of the show were: cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and lions.
He looked around nervously, half expecting a lion to break from its slumber and eye him like a snack. Luckily, the predators were nowhere to be seen.
"Ryan," Fen called, pulling him from his thoughts.
Ryan turned to Fen and saw the sword in his jaws.
Frowning, Ryan took the sword from Fen's mouth and drew it.
It was a beautiful, solid b*st*rd sword, gleaming in the fading light. The blade was 110 centimeters long, sharpened to a sharp point, and balanced perfectly in his hand. Its intricately patterned hilt, adorned with vines and Celtic knots, glinted, while the worn leather grip fit snugly in his palm.
"I've never used a sword before, Fen…"
Fen chuckled. "It's simple, Ryan. Just focus on building up the mana in your muscles. Then swing or stab. You'll see what happens."
Ryan hesitated. "Why don't you hunt by yourself? I could just follow you."
Fen laughed, his voice echoing through the tall grass. "That was the plan all along. How could a puny human like you possibly win against a wild beast? Hahaha."
"This jerk…"
With a frown, Ryan followed Fen through the tall grass, sword poised.
***
Fen darted with astonishing agility, his imposing body belied by his swift, menacing movements. His dark gray fur blended into the tall grass, making him nearly invisible.
Ryan pushed himself harder, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. His legs felt numb, even as he channeled mana into them. 'Damn, he's too fast…'
Without hesitation, Fen closed the distance. In an instant, he lunged forward. Only a dozen meters separated him from his prey. In a blur of fur and fangs, Fen caught the largest of the wildebeests, his jaws closing around its struggling body.
The remaining wildebeests charged, terror driving them to flee. They narrowly missed Ryan, who was only a few meters behind. Panic surged. He dodged wildly, weaving through the chaos, his heart pounding. The thundering of hooves echoed in his ears. Dust clouded the air, creating a suffocating haze. Then, silence.
The dust settled, leaving an unsettling silence. The faint cry of a wild deer echoed through the silence.
Ryan fell to his knees, panting and stunned.
Then, Fen's jaws snapped shut with deadly precision on the wildebeest's neck, and a quick popping sound rang out, signaling the end of the wild deer's struggle. The brutality of nature was evident. Fen began to devour him, his teeth tearing into flesh.
Ryan watched, his stomach churning. Blood and flesh splattered all around them, each drop increasing his disgust. The sight was overwhelming. He felt a wave of nausea rise inside him. He turned away, but it was too late. His stomach lurched. The urge to vomit overwhelmed him and he did.
Ryan stood, still shaken. The bloody scene still played in his mind, a haunting image he couldn't shake. He walked away, desperate to escape the pungent smell that hung in the air.
Fen glanced at Ryan as he left, but he continued to eat, his eyes fixed on his prey.