Lake - Strength

Waking up to warm golden light shining through the canopy and into the cave entrance, the duo felt as refreshed as one could be after sleeping in a cold cave in a forest full of dangers. With his Mana mostly recovered he poured it into his Golems, slowly healing the cuts and burn marks covering their soft bodies.

After storing a few bits of cooked monkey meat in whatever pouches they could find, they left the cave, however this left them with a new decision, where to go.

Reinhardt wanted to eventually kill Lord Invon, as well as any one who wanted to stop him, however he wasn't anywhere near that level yet, while Osirus also wanted Lord Invon dead, it wasn't his top priority, instead, his passion was to explore this new world, to discover mythical creatures and to live a life he enjoyed..

Thus, they had no actual direction or location to head for, although, that wasn't to say they had no drive, because they certainly did.

After a short discussion, they decided to continue through the jungle, not that they had much choice since yesterday Osirus wasn't really in the right state to have kept track of where he walked.

Furthermore they both benefited by killing creatures, and this jungle was full of them.

Traversing the thick foliage and killing a few creatures, Reinhardts sharp senses suddenly picked up an extremely weak smell; he wouldn't have even noticed it if it wasn't so different compared to the usual smell of the vegetation.

"Wait."

Osirus immediately paused, his attention raised to the max, his eyes scanning every inch of greenery around him, but even after standing still for over 100 seconds, nothing happened, however he didn't believe Reinhardts were incorrect, thus he stood completely still.

But even Reinhardt started to second guess himself, he knew just how weak of a smell it was,, the only reason he stopped was because he felt it carried a feeling of danger, 'Maybe the wind carried it over? Tha- Wait! There it is agi-'

"Get down!"

Grabbing Reinhardt, Osirus threw him to the ground while dropping himself, "Swish.", an extremely quiet sound appeared above them, followed by, "Agh.", a painful sensation erupted from Osirus's back, checking it with his hand, he felt a warm liquid; it was blood.

Spinning his head around, he searched, but before he could see what attacked him, it disappeared into the thick foliage without a moment of hesitation.

"Shit. What was that?", Reinhardt, still slightly shocked at the sudden change, stood up, swiping the dirt off what was left of his clothes, however seeing the almost 30cm long gash across Osirus's body, he immediately turned serious, whatever they were facing was capable of serious damage.

He knew just how tough Osirus's body was, although it might not compare to the current him, it certainly took an extremely sharp object for it to only take a glancing strike to cause so much damage, thus he stayed alert.

As the one who took the attack, Osirus was much more alert, using the pain and adrenaline to keep his brian fully awake. His 3 Golems surrounded them, prepared to block any attack targeted at them.

However, even after staying on high alert for more than 10 minutes, it didn't attack again, even Reinhardt wasn't able to catch its scent, nor was Osirus's {Threat Detection} activated, but they couldn't stay still forever, thus they were forced to move forward, even though they wouldn't be as prepared for an attack while travelling.

After walking for a few more hours and killing a few weaker creatures, the mysterious flash still hadn't come back, furthermore, the duo couldn't stay on high alert for much longer as their minds were already starting to show signs of fatigue.

Thus after relaxing their guard slightly, they continued forward, Osirus's wound having already stopped bleeding due to his decent cultivation.

After traversing the jungle for another hour, they finally came across a change in scenery.

Instead of thousands of trees layering on top of each stopping one from seeing further than 10m, the scene before them was much different, a vast lake spread across the horizon, surrounding by a bowl shape line of trees, its crystalline water reflected the golden rays of the sun, making it glisten like liquid diamonds. It was a breathtaking sight.

Osirus glanced at Reinhardt while Reinhardt glanced at Osirus, no words had to be spoken for the message to be sent, without a moment's hesitation, the 2 ran forward, their speed faster than the average human's eye could follow.

"Splash!"

The duo canon balled into the water, disturbing its tranquil waters, spreading out ripples that could be felt for miles in the calm lake.

Deep within the lake, an eye larger than Osirus slowly opened, sensing the disturbance in its home.

The duo frolicked in the water, the cool, refreshing water calmed their minds, their tense bodies ever so slightly relaxing for the first time in the last couple of days.

"Ahh. That's nice.", "It certainly is."

Soon the once translucent lake beginning gaining a hint of red and brown, the days of blood and dirt slowly being wiped from their bodies, revealing just how muscular they were, but that wasn't all, the hundreds of scars scattered across their skin were revealed, a testament to just how much they had both been through.

Without them realising, the duo swam quite far into the lake, to the point that even with the crystal clear waters, its true depth could be seen.

"Ay Reinhardt, I say we stay here for a bit, what do you think?"

"..."

"Reinhardt? Huh? Where did you g-."

An alarm had barely been set off inside his mind before he felt a slippery, mushy thing slip around his leg before pulling him down into the depths of the lake. He tried to open his mouth to shout, however it was soon filled with water.

If one were to look at the lake from above, its calm waters had returned, however it was that calmness that would cause one to feel uncomfortable, afterall it was a lake, the perfect place for the many creatures of the jungle to quench their thirst, yet not a single soul was in sight.

Below the peaceful waters was anything but that, a figure struggling while plummeting downwards, however no matter what he tried, Osirus couldn't break free of the slippery tentacle, his movements were significantly slowed by the water.

Furthermore his {Fire Ball} couldn't even ignite while {Metal Sphere} was too difficult to move in the water, and {Guardian Golem} was even more hopeless as he left them by the shore and with their inability to swim, they would be like inanimate rocks plummeting to the lake floor.

Calming down, he looked for anything that could help, but instead he saw Reinhardt going through a similar situation, however unlike him, who had calmed down, Reinhardt wasn't ready to give up as he clawed at the tentacle, using his monstrous strength , to tear chunks off, however it was just too massive for him to cause any serious damage.

Catching his eye Osirus was able to tell him to calm down and wait to see what would happen, since it was pointless to struggle and would only lower their chances, furthermore, at their level they were able to hold their breath for at least 30 minutes just by using the Mana within their cells before they would be weakened.

Both of them stayed still, conserving their strength for whatever was attached to these insanely tough and long tentacles.

Having gone through a few dangerous situations by now, Osirus was able to stay pretty calm, or at least calmer than the average person could, however, feeling the increasing water pressure as they travelled deeper into the lake was enough to cause a ripple in that calmness.

And after sinking for another minute, that calmness had all but disappeared as the powerful force pushing into him from all sides increased even further, looking up, he wasn't even able to see the surface.

Just as he was about to start struggling once more, his descent finally slowed, eventually coming to a stop.

"Why Are You Here."

A voice, filled with unfathomable depth, spoke from the darkness, every syllable increasing the pressure surrounding Osirus, slowly crushing his organs.

Looking towards the origin of the voice, the duo were greeted with nothing but endless water, no matter how hard they tried to focus, nothing changed.

"Answer."

It sounded once again, the pressure increasing a step further.

Osirus noticed that this time, the voice carried a sense of threat, he knew that if he didn't answer, he would stay within these infinite waters forever, however no matter how hard he tried, it was impossible to speak.

"Oh."

A realisation came with the voice, Osirus was able to sense Mana begin to move around him, but something was different about this Mana compared to his, it was on a completely different level, both in density or purity.

If this beings Mana was like clear river water, his own felt like sludge being pushed up stream.

Just that was enough for him to realise that this creatures' {Mana Cultivation} was way beyond his own.

The Mana continued to condense and move, until it did something he thought impossible, an air bubble expanded around his head, allowing him to breath even while 100s of metres under water, an action he thought unfeasible even with the profoundness of Mana.

The reason he wasn't able to create a {Fire Ball}, was because it was practically impossible to find that special substance in the water, that he discovered was called the Fire Element, let alone gather it into a high enough concentration and use it to create a ball of fire.

Yet this creature had managed to do just that, although with the Air Element instead, such a level of precision and accuracy required an incredible affinity with the Air Element, furthermore, this thing was able to do it within a moment's notice and with ease.

All of this just increased the extreme caution he already had.

"Now Speak."

This time, the voice wouldn't take silence as an option, the pressure had increased to the point Osirs felt his bones creaking and bending, however he could only grit his teeth and speak through the pain.

"We are not here for any trouble. We didn't know this lake belonged to you."

"That Was Not My Question. Why Are You Here."

"Agh!", the pressure had reached an unbearable point, even though he hadn't even seen his foe, he was nearing death, nonetheless, he resisted best he could, and spoke.

"W-we came t-to the la-lake to clean our-ourselves."

"You Dare Use My Home To Clean Your Filthy APE Bodies!"

The voices had been apathetic the last times it had spoken, however it carried a sense of anger and spite as it spoke, 'Ape'.

Even while his bones were crushed and organs twisted, Osirus's mind was just clear enough to notice the creature's change in emotion, Osirus fought through the pain and thought, joining different theories and ideas, eventually clinging to a single hope before speaking up.

"W-we a-are n-."

"Speak!"

"We are not apes!"

"What."

The unbearable pressure that had already caused his bones to begin to fracture, vanished in an instant.

"Hah. Hah. Hah.", both Reinhardt and Osirus could finally breathe, if it wasn't because they were floating in water, they would have collapsed to their knees.

With his lungs not being crushed, Osirus was able to speak much easier, however there were still gaps in his speech as he took large breaths, filling his once collapsing lungs, "We… are humans… not apes."

"What Is The Difference."

This time Reinhardt spoke up, having started to regain his composure, "We are… not from here…we came from a town a long distance away."

"Hmm, You Don't Have Fur Like Those Vile Apes."

It didn't take a genius to realise this creature hated apes, Osirus assumed they were the same ones he had faced before, thus he tried to use this to his advantage.

"Do the apes you're talking about have red fur?"

"Hmm, If I Remember Correctly, One Of Those Bastards Did Have Red Fur. How Did You Know?", even just mentioning the apes caused anger to rise in the abyssal creature's heart, causing the pressure to involuntary increase.

"Because we fought with them recently."

"Hmm? But You Are Too Weak To Fight Those Apes. Unless…Interesting. They Must Have Fallen From Grace Over The Past Few Centuries. Anyway, Did You Make Sure to End Their Pitiful Lives"

With a smile, Osirus answered, "Naturally."

"Good. Good."

Deciding to take advantage of the improving situation, Osirus followed up with the most important question as Reinhardt stood by the side with bated breath, "Could you let us live, we promise to never come here again. And we will make sure to kill as many apes as possible."

"Hmm. I Guess You Can, So Long As You Slaughter Every Last Repulsive Ape."

Both Reinhardt and Osirus hurriedly agreed, even though they knew full well that killing every single ape was way beyond what they could do, even fighting what they can assume was just a scout squad of monkeys left them in a dire position.

However they could worry about that later, right now their survival was before anything else.

Luckily it seemed that this creature either blindly believed they could or just didn't really care for anything that wasn't the apes he so hated.

Thus from the endless darkness, tentacle grasped Reinhardt and Osirus respectively, faster than either of them could hope to react before they dragged the pair towards the surface, the speed causing the resistant water to pull their skin back, causing a comical sight for no-one to witness.

"Splash!"

The 2 broke the surface as the tentacles released them, however with their momentum they shot into the sky, their soaked clothes flapping in the wind.

"Ahhh!"

The duo screamed as the thick foliage rapidly approached them, Osirus was the most worried as Reinharts thick skin would most likely protect him from any grievous harm, unfortunately Osirus didn't have a natural protection, furthermore his Golems were still by the lake shore were he left them and with their speed it was stupid to think they could catch up to his falling body to soften the impact.

Realising every avenue of protection was blocked, Osirus could only mutter a single word before he collided with the canopy.

"Shit."

********

"Tch. You truly are scum, brother.", on his knees was Lord Invon, his once handsome face disfigured and covered in ugly purple bruises, his beard now patches plastered irregularly across his face.

His mighty physique now pathetically hunched as he stared at the feet of the person before him, although Invons body position was that of obedience, his eyes spoke of a much fiercer emotion, it is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and for Invon that soul burned with rage.

However before the man in front, his own brother, he dared not release that fury.

"Who did this.", his brother's voice hid little emotion, there was no anger that his brother was attacked nor pity that he was injured, just disgust.

Invon stayed silent.

"I said, WHO DID THIS.", a mighty force erupted from his brother, his voice carrying such power that Invons ears began to blood, seeing as he had no other choice, Invon recounted the situation that led to his grievous injuries.

*******

Scurrying across the forest floor, its spindly legs danced over the fallen leaves and rocks as it relentlessly hurried in a single direction, that sweet metallic smell fueling its urgency.

*******

"Agghh.", Osirus's, eyelids slowly lifted, the sun's light piercing into his eyes being the least of his concerns, as along with regaining his conscious was an debilitating pain.

"Ahhh!!", gritting his teeth, his eyes hurriedly scanned his body, the few remaining scraps of his clothes had been dyed a deep crimson, ripping the rags off his t-shirt off, a lengthy gash was revealed.

Running across the right side of ribs, reaching from his hips to his nipple, blood continuously trickled to the floor, his accelerated healing trying its best to staunch the flow of crimson liquid.

Suddenly his vision gained shade of red as a stinging sensation erupted from his eye.

A simple touch of his forehead revealed another injury, a long cut ran above his eyebrow, feeding blood into his eye, and affecting his eyesight.

Acting quick he ripped a strip cloth from the bottom of his loose trousers before tying it around his head making a makeshift headband with the tied ends loosely hanging from the back of his head, gently flapping in the wind.

His wavy ear-length hair that was covered in a mixture of blood and mud, flopped over the top of the headband, splitting at a centre part.

Straining his exhausted and injured muscles, Osirus slowly stood up before inspecting his body once more, apart from the long gash across his chest and forehead, he had now other grievous injuries, just lots of small cuts and bruises, far too many to count.

Finally given the chance to look at his surroundings, Osirus realised they looked the same as what he had seen for the past couple of days, thick foliage and small trees surrounded him from every direction, the only distinguishing difference that differentiate where he was now from everywhere else he had been was the large spotlight of sunlight that broke through the canopy.

Looking up and following the direction of the spotlight it was easy to figure out how it had been created, a small crater covered in blood was the focus of the beam, his body trajecting having been the cause of the gap in the canopy.

"Crunch.", suddenly the distinct sound of twigs snapping and leaves squishing sounded to the left of Osirus.

Fearing the worst, he readied himself for a fight, although his body was in no state to battle, he still had a decent amount of Mana, even if it was slowly being drained to fasten his healing. Furthermore his Golems were quickly approaching his location from the lake shore, though it would still be a while before they crossed the vast distance Osirus had been launched.

Followed by the crunches was a quiet mumble. Focusing his hearing he was able to catch some of the words.

"For fu..ake, whe…are you Osirus.", a smile broke across his face, a rather gruesome sight for others considering the blood and cuts, however he didn't care about that as he quickly spoke out, "Reinhardt, i'm over here."

The crunching sound suddenly quickened as a broad figure broke through the surrounding bushes, the figure seemed relatively unharmed compared to the state Osirus was in, apart from a few scratches across their muscular physique, it looked as if they hadn't just been launched hundreds of metres through the air before plummeting into the hard forest floor with little protection.

Seeing that Osirus was pretty banged up, Reinhardt spoke, "How you feeling there.", with a tired smile Osirus replied, "I've felt better, how about you."

With a grin Reinhardt flexed his muscles, revealing his relatively undamaged body.

Osirus mood was slightly lifted as he replied, "Alright, alright I get it, your fine."