This is the bonus chapter for reaching 150 Powerstones.
--
At the edge of the forest lay three humans, all unkempt and dressed in rags.
There were two adults and one child. The child had not yet begun to develop, making their gender indistinguishable. Beneath messy long hair, a filthy face with large, wide-open white eyes stared straight ahead.
They were surrounded by three apex predators, each a full head taller than a human.
The leading beast was covered in scales, closely resembling a pangolin. The other two looked like toads, sporting chitinous carapaces.
The foul stench radiating from the beasts left the three ordinary humans frozen in place.
It wasn't until Zeke's footsteps grew louder that they snapped out of their daze. There was no joy of being rescued on their faces; they merely shouted at the top of their lungs:
"Run!" As they yelled, the adult holding the child used every ounce of their strength to toss the kid toward Zeke. "You can't fight them! Take the child and run!"
"Guilliman, protect the child." Zeke brushed past the kid and dashed toward the two adults.
Following right behind Zeke, Guilliman securely caught the child and held them in his arms.
Zeke had already reached the leading pangolin beast. He stepped, leaped into the air, and clasped his hands together on his hilt. The Netherite Sword, carrying the weight of a thunderbolt, smashed down right between the beast's sharp horns.
The pangolin beast's head was viciously slammed into the forest dirt. It all happened so fast that the rest of its body didn't even have time to fall with its head.
Seeing their companion killed provoked the other predators. They joined forces and lunged at Zeke. A hideous, muscular long tongue suddenly shot out, stabbing toward him.
Guilliman wanted to step in and help Zeke, but someone else was even faster. A figure darted past him with a sudden burst of speed, kicking up a gust of wind.
"Lion." Guilliman's body trembled. Even though Lion hadn't removed his helmet, just from the design of his armor and his imposing aura, Guilliman instantly recognized his Primarch brother.
Lion did not recognize him.
Guilliman was wearing the Player Head mask Zeke had given him. In the eyes of this newly awakened brother, he was just an ordinary stranger.
Wherever Lion stepped, flowers in the forest bloomed one after another.
This was the Lion's power: Forest Walk. With this ability, he could teleport anywhere. It wasn't just for short distances; he could even teleport across the universe, acting much like a single-person Webway.
Lion arrived beside Zeke and looked at the people crying for help.
The two ordinary humans were clutching bundles of wooden sticks. These weren't weapons, but firewood they had collected.
Too weak.
Looking at them, an unprecedented emotion surged from the bottom of Lion's heart.
Protect them. Lend them strength until they grow to the point where they no longer need me.
With this thought, Lion joined Zeke's crusade against the beasts.
He had just awakened. Aside from the power armor already on his body, he had no other weapons.
He simply reached out, grabbed the long tongue attacking Zeke, wrapped it around his arm twice, and gave it a violent yank.
The dynamic between prey and hunter awakened the physical instincts within Lion. Like a true lion, he entered a hunting state.
Baring his canines, he forcefully tore the giant toad beast's tongue right off, sending its body flying toward him.
Lion opened his hands, caught it in a death grip, then twisted his torso and swung the entire giant toad beast into the air.
The giant toad spun and smashed into one of its kin. The two beasts crashed into a tangled heap, tumbling and shrieking.
By this time, Zeke had already finished off the leading pangolin beast.
Lion was shocked that this human, who was as thin as a bean sprout, actually possessed combat capabilities stronger than an ordinary Astartes.
Speaking of which, what is an Astartes? Lion chewed over this familiar word, then simply shook his head, deciding not to think about it for now.
Guilliman, holding the child, tried his best to control his facial expressions and avoid looking directly at Lion El'Jonson. With a stiff face, he finished off the final predator.
The hunt was over.
Lion removed his blood-spattered helmet, and Zeke unhesitatingly witnessed his true appearance.
This face was deeply lined, as if carved by a knife and axe, and his hair was grizzled.
Between the long locks, a few hints of gold occasionally peeked through, while the rest had faded to a grayish-white.
He looked like an old man in his twilight years.
What a huge change. Who could have imagined this person is the famous Lion El'Jonson?
"My Lords, my Lords," one of the men finally spoke up.
"My name is Halin. May I dare ask your esteemed names?" Halin asked timidly.
"Zeke," Zeke replied.
Lion instinctively compared himself with Zeke, sizing up Zeke's approximate strength.
This human is not to be underestimated. It would take me at least five moves to take him down. As for the one next to him, Lion looked at Guilliman, One move would decide the victor.
Guilliman froze when asked for his name. He couldn't say his real name, otherwise, his entire disguise would be blown.
Zeke picked up the conversation. "This good brother here, you can just call him Smurf."
Guilliman begrudgingly accepted this title and handed the child over to Halin.
"My name... I don't know. Maybe I'll remember it, maybe I'll take a new one." Lion, on the other hand, shook his head.
He even forgot his own name? Hearing Lion's words, Zeke realized that the moves Lion used to deal with the beasts just now were entirely based on ingrained instincts.
Sure enough, Lion El'Jonson is a born hunter.
Lion looked toward the horizon; the sun had already touched the distant skyline. "Most forests become much more dangerous after nightfall. I reckon this place is no exception. Do you have a camp?"
"Yes, yes, we do," Halin nodded profusely. "If you would condescend to share our campfire, it would be our greatest honor. I am quite certain our Guardian would also like to meet you."
"Guardian? That should refer to the Dark Angels stationed here," Zeke said, picking up a few pieces of leather and scales dropped by the beasts.
Lion frowned. "Your Guardian... they don't look like they've been properly fulfilling their duties, otherwise I wouldn't have needed to intervene."
"Ah, please don't say that!" Halin hurriedly said. "There is only one Guardian, and he ultimately cannot be everywhere at once."
"Is that so? Is it convenient for us to go to your camp?" Lion spoke up. He wanted to find a safe place to properly sort through his memories.
"Of course, of course!" Halin nodded repeatedly and started leading the way.
Lion hoisted the beast he killed onto his shoulder. He wouldn't waste his prey; the fur could be used for warmth, and the meat to satiate hunger.
He casually paid a few extra glances toward Guilliman. This person had an annoying smell about him.
Watching Lion effortlessly carry such a massive corpse, Halin's face was written all over with absolute worship.
Zeke followed along, pulling a bit of distance from the main group to quietly exchange a few words with Guilliman.
"What do you think?"
"Lion has grown old." Guilliman felt a complex mix of emotions. He hadn't expected his brother to have aged to this extent. "And his personality has changed a lot too. I don't know if it's because of the amnesia, but he used to be much more hot-tempered."
"Hey, speaking of growing old, I have a good item here." Zeke pulled out the golden dandelion. "Not 998, just 668, and you can stay young forever!"
Guilliman declined Zeke's goodwill. "You should give this to him personally."
"Alright, I'll hold onto it for now. Let me know when you want to use it. By the way, when do you plan on revealing your identity?"
"Let's wait a bit."
The group traveled together. The smell of burning firewood and cooked food gradually permeated the air. They had reached the camp.
It was a camp that could only be described as pathetic.
They had merely cleared away the surrounding bushes and erected a few makeshift huts cobbled together from branches and scraps.
Zeke even saw a few piles of folded clothes. These people probably slept on these clothes to cope with the damp ground.
There were about a hundred people here. There was no singing or laughter in the camp, and all necessary communication was kept to a minimal whisper.
Too shabby. Zeke looked at the camp, and his builder's hands started to itch again.