The trees were alive, singing in a language only the wild understood. Clouds gathered, thickening, as the sky darkened. The air held a charged weight, as if announcing that the rain was about to pour.
Deep in Mornleaf Jungle, an intense energy filled the air. Bon Everhart stood among the trees, his intent sharp and clear, an invisible force that seemed to pulse with his focus.
"That intent of yours is strong," Menma observed, tapping his head as he eyed Bon. "Didn't think you'd be able to fill the whole area like this." Bon turned, offering Menma a brief smile before returning his gaze forward, all attention back on the hunt.
"But you know," Menma continued, "that same intent might drive prey away. After all, who would willingly walk into danger…" He paused, mumbling to himself, "Unless, of course, something out there wants a challenge."
"What was that, Menma?" one hunter asked, catching his last words.
Menma shook his head, brushing it off. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud."
"Tch! At this rate, we're not catching anything," grumbled Broky, a burly, scarred man who watched Bon with a scowl. "The kid's pushing everything away with all that wild intent. It's like he's trying to scare off the whole jungle. " Relax, Broky," Colin, a lean, calm hunter, replied. "The kid's learning. He'll get it under control sooner or later."
"Or," added Mido with a grin, "I could teach him a lesson myself." Mido leapt up to Bon's branch and gave him a hard shove, his hand pulsing with spirit energy.
Bon didn't stumble. Instead, he used a small burst of wind to propel himself smoothly back to the branch, standing firm.
"Sorry, did I throw you off?" Mido asked, his grin widening.
"Not at all, Mido," Bon replied evenly. "I sensed your spirit energy, but since there was no killing intent behind it, I stayed focused on what's coming."
Mido raised an eyebrow. "What's coming?"
As if on cue, a low, menacing growl echoed through the forest. Mido's head snapped toward the sound, and his eyes widened as a massive black bear emerged from the shadows, its dark eyes fixed on Bon.
"What the—where did that come from?" Mido stammered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Did… did this kid summon that?".Menma's eyes gleamed with pride. "You guessed right, Mido. Bon used his intent to lure the beast out. Instead of waiting for prey to come to him, he chose to challenge something bigger."
The bear roared, rising onto its hind legs, and Bon tightened his grip on his sword, gaze steady as he prepared to face the beast.
"Formation!" Menma commanded, his voice sharp. "We're not letting it escape."
The crew quickly took their positions. Leny, the team's sharp-eyed female member, slipped to the left to cover the bear's rear, while Mido climbed higher to survey escape routes. Broky, massive and solid, took the center rear, prepared to intercept any charge. Colin mirrored Leny on the right, his posture calm but focused.Menma, taking his place at the front, looked at Bon with a nod. "Go on. It's all yours."
Bon stepped forward, drawing his sword. He met the bear's eyes as he moved in. The bear let out a guttural roar and charged, one massive paw swinging down. Bon raised his blade to block, but the impact threw him backward, sending him crashing through underbrush before he regained his footing.
"This strength…" he thought, steadying himself, "It's insane!"
The bear charged again, tearing up the ground as it barreled forward. Bon dashed toward it, a reckless grin breaking across his face.
"Is he insane?" Broky muttered, watching in disbelief.
"Be ready to jump in," Leny said, motioning to the others.
"Hold," Menma commanded, stopping them with a raised hand. "Let him handle it."
"Look at the kid, he is struggling against ball of meat." Leny said as she was ready to jump in. "You never actually taught he kid now did you?" She continued.
Menma released a soft chuckle then responded as follows "Spirit dives are abilities granted by the spirit to holders. No matter how an individual trains their skills, but if they cannot understand their spirit then they can never grow as holders.".
Leny was intrigued by Menma's response."Besides, having no technique is a technique of it's own.", He then continued. Leny irritated, "For a while I thought you make sense but you know what? you are the stupid person I ever met."
The bear swiped at Bon again, but Bon slid under its belly, slashing at its hind legs. His blade struck, but only lightly, barely slowing the beast.
"Damn it, you're durable," Bon muttered, smirking as he rose to his feet. The bear snarled, lowering its head to charge once more. On steadied his grip, feeling the thrill of the hunt in his veins. "Alright, you want to end this? it's time to go wild.", Bon said now with a serious look on his face.
The bear lunged, but Bon summoned the wind, his movements guided by the energy coursing through him. He dodged each swing, his blade cutting the air in swift, powerful arcs, grazing the bear but not yet finishing it.
"Focus, Bon!" Menma's voice called, cutting through the noise. "Feel the rhythm of the wild."
Taking a deep breath, Bon tuned in to the bear's pattern. Each movement slowed, each breath became clear, and he could see the bear's rhythm, feel its heartbeat.
Suddenly, he saw an opening—a slight pause in the bear's attack. Bon channeled all his strength into a final strike.
"Circle Slash!" he shouted, wind gusting from his blade in a circular arc. The gust disoriented the bear, giving Bon the chance to maneuver to its left side, where he thrust his blade toward its heart. The bear swung, but Bon twisted midair, using the wind to rotate, skewing the bear's arm before he brought his sword down in a powerful, final slash from neck to chest. The bear roared one last time before collapsing, its weight pinning Bon beneath it.
"Move!" Leny signaled, and the team rushed forward to lift the bear just enough for Bon to scramble free, bruised but alive. As he caught his breath, Leny looked down at him, her face a mixture of awe and concern. "Having no technique is a technique of its own, huh?" she thought. She glanced at Menma, mentally questioning him. What exactly have you been teaching this kid?
Mido scoffed, but couldn't hide a slight grin. "Lucky brat."
They readied to bring the bear back to the village, Broky groaning as he took on most of the weight. "Why am I carrying the whole thing?" he grumbled.
"Because you get the biggest bite," Colin teased, giving Broky a playful nudge.
As they walked, Menma turned to Bon, his expression thoughtful. "Killing's easy, isn't it? ". Bon looked puzzled. "Huh? Isn't this just… meat?"
Menma's face softened. "Killing is killing. Whether it's for survival or necessity, it all carries weight. Take life seriously, Bon. But don't let that weight hold you down."
Bon nodded slowly. "Understood, sir."
They shared a meal from the bear's catch, then dispersed to their homes. Bon returned home, a spring in his step as he entered his grandfather's house. "Gramps, I'm back!" he called, holding up a piece of bear meat.
The chief looked up, beaming. "My young ranger! Looks like you brought something special. "Future king of the jungle," Bon corrected, setting the meat down with a grin before heading back out.
He glanced up at the stormy sky, feeling a thrill in his chest. "Tonight's the night. I'll catch that rain rabbit squirrel.", Bon said to himself. When the storm hit, he dashed into the jungle, leaping from branch to branch as thunder crashed and lightning lit up the sky. After months of chasing this creature, he knew what he needed: patience and stealth.
He finally spotted one, shimmering faintly in the rain, its slick fur nearly invisible. But capturing it was another challenge entirely, and despite his best efforts, the rabbit escaped again. This chase continued for a year, countless attempts ending in failure.
One afternoon, Bon sat with Kor at Kor's home, frustration brewing. "You'll never catch it," Kor sighed. "I'm telling you, it's impossible. And even if you do, you know what they say about that rabbit—it brings disaster. "Bon glared at him. "You helped me, and now you're discouraging me?"Kor rolled his eyes. "It's been a year, Bon. We're leaving for the academy tomorrow. "he said.
A voice interrupted them. "Who's planning to commit a taboo?" Mido stepped in, his gaze fixed on the boys."Mido, sir!" Kor said, nearly jumping. "It's not what you think." His mind raced. He shut his spirit energy down completely. We didn't even sense him.