Stranger [1]

"Death?!" Isaac yelled in surprise.

"Monet, I must urge you to rethink…" Before Netero could finish, Monet snapped back at him.

"Don't involve yourself, Netero!" Saying this, a wave of Aura exploded from Monet, crashing into Netero as he stood with an expressionless demeanour.

Meanwhile, Isaac's eyes opened wide as his breath became uneven.

'Is she crazy?! She'll attract every monster in this hell hole!' Isaac yelled inwardly.

It seemed Netero shared his same train of thought as he spoke.

"Monet, think carefully about what you're doing."

"Leave now, Netero. If you don't, I cannot guarantee your safety. From me or whatever is on their way." She said, not taking her hands off me.

Taking in a deep breath then looking at me, Netero wore a soft smile as he called out to me.

"Isaac, throw me an Aroze." Staring at him for a few seconds, Isaac quickly rummaged in his pockets, tossing a glowing blue berry.

Meanwhile, Monet took note of the boys identical first name as Netero, as well as the blue berry the old man popped into his mouth and swallowed.

"Have you finally gone senile, old man? Eating an Aroze raw? You must be suicidal." Monet commented as she looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"Hoho, you're not fooling anybody, Monet. We both know you're older than I'll ever be. Even with your age, it seems even you don't know everything about this place."

Ignoring the latter part of Netero's response, the wave of Aura intensified by ten folds as Isaac could no longer take it and wore a face of discomfort.

"This is the last time I'm telling you. Get out of my way!" Grumbled Monet, seemingly angered by the age comment.

As her Aura intensified, Netero took a step forward, taking a deep breath.

Because of the still silence, one could hear him exhale. As he did, all space seemed to distort for a second as an ominous Aura tackled both Monet and Isaac.

Monet's eyes twitched as she tried to keep her composure.

Meanwhile, Isaac struggled to breathe as it took all his willpower not to drop to the ground in submission.

"Isaac, would you mind giving me a minute with this stranger." Netero cheerfully smiled without looking back.

Isaac stood for a few seconds staring. He didn't want to leave, after all, this problem was because he'd suddenly spawned in Aionthos.

However, he knew he'd be nothing but a burden. Because of this, Isaac gritted his teeth, turning around and disappearing into the forest.

"You're a fool, Netero."

"What can I say, the boy has grown on me."

"Oh, come off your high horse. We both know you've been craving a fight with me ever since we first met."

Netero looked as if he were about to say something, but paused as he nodded in agreement, "Well, you aren't wrong."

Clicking her teeth, Monet held both her hands in a zero shape, slowly expanding it as a thin blue layer of Nen appeared from her palms, expanding at an extraordinary speed, soon enveloping the both of them and the area around them.

Simultaneously, Netero took a stance as he slowly brought both palms together like he was praying.

As he did, his aura took shape as it expanded rapidly, changing colour and forming a figure.

It wasn't long until a tall colossal golden figure, resembling a Buddha with countless arms stood behind Netero.

"100 type Guanyin Bodhisattva."

Monet stared with a determined look, unmoving.

"First hand."

One of the many hands of the golden buddha shot vertically at a rapid speed. The air whistled and split as the air carried behind the attack was enough to knock a normal person into the ground.

However, Monet seemed unfazed.

With a click of her finger, a resounding BOOM was heard as the golden hand was knocked back, seemingly defended by the air itself.

Without saying a word, Monet dug her feet into the man eating dirt, disappearing and leaving an afterimage as she rocketed at unprecedented speeds toward Netero.

"Third Hand."

However, her path was soon obstructed by a golden hand soaring toward her. She was also quick to notice the second hand that came from behind.

She knew she'd be squashed in between if she didn't move.

With a clap of her hands, another but louder BOOM was heard as both hands were knocked back once again.

As this happened, Monet's eyes widened as she snapped her head up, too late to notice the third golden hand coming from above, metres away from her.

Too late to make any effective movements, Monet yelled.

"No!"

As she did, a visible wave of sound escaped from her lips, soon clashing with the golden hand as another explosion-like noise was heard, kicking up the dust.

"It seems we are at a stalemate." The uninjured Monet, who was finally visible once again, commented.

"Stalemate? I was only getting warmed up." Netero replied with a sly smile.

Monet closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath.

"Me too."

Snapping her eyes open, her once vibrant blue pupils had changed to an ominous and bright red.

Seeing this, Netero's smile faded.

"You…"

***

Running for a few minutes, Isaac stood to take a breath. He knew he'd have to conserve his stamina for what was going to happen next.

He knew he was no help to Netero in a direct confrontation against Monet, however, that didn't mean he couldn't be of help any other way.

A plan formulated in his mind as he controlled his breathing, ignoring the golden giant in the distance and the constant loud explosions.

Rummaging through the fair pocket space his bulky jacket offered, he pulled out a few small unbloomed flowers that could fit in his hand.

He wasn't going to leave Aionthos without his spoils of war. Before his time to master Invisible Nen was over, he'd made sure to take as many Aroze and unbloomed flowers he could.

However, there was one problem Isaac was struggling with.

Soon, very soon, this whole area was going to be swarming with whatever abominations hiding in the shadows.

Isaac needed to work fast before it was too late.

However, the lack of one crucial piece of information had eluded Isaac till now.

It was the fact that most of the creatures in the Dark Continent carried a survival instinct.

The instincts that separated the prey from the predator. The same instincts that every living being shared.

Instincts that made one want to run from danger as the King of the Jungle roamed freely.

It was the same reason Isaac hadn't seen a single monster till now.

Isaac looked toward his compass as he prepared to sprint back toward the ensuing battle.

He thought the item to be useless as the two monsters fighting not too far away from him would attract most of the compasses' attention.

However, he was wrong. The compass was pointing South West, directly opposite where Netero and Monet were fighting.

As he'd seen this, a voice made him jump a little.

"Hello."

A hoarse and calm voice came from where the compass was pointing.

Jumping back, Isaac searched for the voice, quickly noticing a silhouette partially concealed by the vegetation, standing still as it stared at Isaac with a smile.

Isaac was still able to see the figure's face.

With an oval shaped face and short stature, as well as heavy wrinkles, thin eyebrows, large eyes and wide mouth, what Isaac noticed was…an old man?

No, Isaac didn't know if what he saw was real. Additionally, an eerie feeling circulated around Isaac's gut the more he looked at the figure.

''It' would be more suitable' Isaac didn't know what it was, but referring to it as if it were human felt…wrong. Like writing with your non-dominant hand or walking backwards.

As Isaac analysed this, the smiling thing spoke once again.

"A mere child in the Dark Continent? You're either extremely powerful or the outside world has gone crazy." The thing let out a slight chuckle which only seemed to put Isaac more on edge.

Without saying anything, Isaac stared, listening to the next words that came out of the thing's mouth.

With his smile fading and his squinted eyes opening fully, the thing stared at Isaac with intent.

Isaac gulped as the words rang in his ear. His heartbeat quickened and he gulped loudly. He knew he was in trouble.

"Tell me your name." Commanded the thing.

Isaac hadn't known, but he'd encountered a predator.

An anomaly.

The King of the Jungle.

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