Chapter 9 NOT AN EASY JOURNEY
At another part of the forest, a young boy with fiery red hair could be seen running at intense speed, from a danger beast.
Roman was leaping from trees to trees trying to out run a gorilla like beast with four arms, a basic ranked beast, and a really persistent one at that.
"Dammit leave me alone already "
Roman groaned as he took large leaps over branches, he's eyes scanning for clearer pathways. He's breath was rough, he had been running from this same beast for a long while now, yet he couldn't shake it off.
"That does it!"
He snapped
He suddenly halted on his tracks and unshealt his dagger. Filling it with Spirit energy, the dagger transform in a long blade, a katana.
Holding the hilt with both hands, he prepared for a fight.
The trees parted and the four armed gorilla launched at him with a roar.
Channeling his energy, Roman leaped into the air causing the beast to fly past him.
"Arrghhhhhhhhh"
Roman screamed, spinning his body and threw the sword with so much force at the beast.
The beast turned towards Roman, but received the fury of his blade instead, right into it's eye and coming out of the back of its head.
It froze.
It was a quick process with no time for it to react. It fell of the tree, landing on the ground dead.
Roman landed by the side of the beast, breathing hard. He was battered, bruised and covered in blood, some of it belonging to him. It has been three days since he set out for his journey, three days of hell for him. He had slayed multiple beast while avoiding the higher ones with multiple close calls. He was tired and low of energy and hungry.
Looking at the dead beast before him, he frowned then removed his blade from it's eye.
"I can't let you go to waste, but I need somewhere to lay low for the night.
Looking around the forest, he smiled.
"Finally, something good "
It was a cave some meters away from him.
His smile turned into a frown
"There might be a beast in the cave, better be careful"
He took careful steps towards the cave then glanced inside.
The cave was dark, he managed to see the creature living inside, it was bear and it was asleep.
"Reminds me of Billy "
He frowned.
Holding his sword tightly, he tip toed towards the sleeping beast, raised the blade then stabbed it into it's neck.
The bear's eyes widen, then slowly went dim.
"This should be ok for the night"
Sometime later, Roman was sitting over a campfire, roasting part of the gorilla he had slained
After eating to satisfaction, he walked outside and dipped his face into a small pond at the side of the cave.
He then washed the blood and dirt of his body the went back in.
He relaxed against the cave wall exhaled.
"I need to recover my spirit energy before tomorrow. A good rest would do, I'm tired anyway"
He glanced towards the beast carcass and as if remembering something, he stood.
"I wonder what beast crystals look like. I've been on the edge ever since that I haven't had the time to check"
He sliced open the chest and brought out a glowing circular ball.
"Wow, so this it. It's even filled with energy"
He scanned the crystal with an amazed look
"It's very sturdy too. Hmmm, I wonder if I can absorb the energy into my body"
He sat down legs crossed, then focused.
Roman sat down with legs crossed, then focused the crystal energy. It felt so foreign, and different from his own energy but he persisted.
After a while, his shoulder slumped.
"I guess it can't be done"
He sighed
"Let me try something else "
This time, he focused on his own energy, the flow and vibe of its familiarity washed over him. He slowly channeled it into the crystals and to his surprise, it entered. Then he tried reabsorbing his energy back into his body, and it worked, but not only that, the foreign energy of the crystal, mixed in with his and flowed into his body.
His eyes widen as the energy left the crystal and filled his lower dantian.
"It worked"
Roman slowly stood as his body flowed with energy. He was also energized like never before and he could fill his strength rising.
Without wasting any time, he rushed to the dead bear, too out the crystal and did the same process.
"Amazing"
He laughed
Suddenly his smile turned into shock, of horror and he screamed out loud in pain.
His body was flooded with excessive energy, and due to his small body, the foreign energy needed a way to settle, so it flowed into every part of his muscle tissues and cells.
Roman screamed and gripped his body in pain and in response to the pain, his brain shut down, then he passed out.
****************
The morning sun shone in the distant horizon, casting it's dull rays on the forest trees wet with morning due.
Roman slowly opened his eyes and groaned.
Strangely he felt energetic, and he jerked to feet.
"Wow"
He had never felt so alive, stronger, faster and energetic before.
"I guess the pain was worth it"
He took off his his shirt and was amazed to his lean muscles, and past sores and scars were gone.
"I should have thought of this sooner"
He remembered the beast he managed to slay three days ago.
"No need crying over that now"
After having roasting another beast meat, and drinking to his fill, he gripped his dagger, smirked, then dashed out of the cave.
*********
Some moments later, a dark figure landed at the entrance of the cave. Clad in a large overhaul coat and hood covering his face, he emmitted a strange purple aura.
The figure stared at the direction Roman had ran to. He grinned.
"Let's see if he's as special as she says"
The figure said, then disappeared.
TBC