016: Poison

Time flowed onwards as it always has and as it always will.

It's been a day since I fought the birdman.

Nothing too eventful has really happened since then.

I spent the day training to accommodate my body to the new abilities I have discovered.

But one thing stood in my way…

*GRUMBLE*

I'M SO DAMN HUNGRY!

*chirp*

Huh?

What was that noise just now?

*chirp*

Behind me.

Right over…

THERE!

Wait…

What?

After I killed the birdman, I cut up its body and ate it.

I made sure to remove all the organs and I decided to leave them intact because it's kind of gross to carve open organs.

I don't think I'm the only one who thinks that way.

Just like the lion, it also had a circular white organ.

It almost seemed like a heart, but maybe I was wrong.

The birdman has come back to life.

Or at least sort of.

It's a lot smaller now.

Like a baby.

But there's a hole in its chest where the circular heart is.

I get it.

I was right.

If I destroy that then they die, but if I don't they live.

How interesting.

The bird was barely able to move.

But it's okay because it won't be able to move in a few seconds.

The baby birdman looked me straight in the eyes.

All it could see was a beast thirsting for destruction.

And now, you will die.

Sorry, birdman, but that's just how life is.

It's cruel and unrelenting, and there's nothing you can do about it.

…

No, that's not true.

There is something you can do about it.

I dropped my weapon and picked up the chick.

The chickman?

Does that even make sense?

I left the chickman on a nearby tree.

"Live your life, I won't stop you, but if you challenge me again, don't expect me to go easy on you."

I picked up the rest of my belongings and left.

I stayed in the same place for a little too long.

I have to keep moving, or else I'll never make it back.

I'll make it to the center today, and nothing will stop me.

*GRUMBLE*

But the first order of business is to get some food.

What's that?

I can sense it coming.

How close is it?

One hundred, no maybe fifty feet away.

It's coming fast.

From the right.

If you can't tell, I spent the previous day not only training my body and abilities but training my mind too.

I began to pick up on little things with all of my senses.

Subtle smells.

Small noises.

Things you can barely see.

And I combined all of these senses to be able to sense living beings.

I can see the slight movements of their muscles.

The difference in their smells.

I can differentiate between them.

With all of this, I could sense the incoming creature, and thus I was ready for it.

Sorry, but you tried to fight the wrong guy.

*STOMP*

Loud.

Too loud.

It has to be big and heavy.

*STOMP*

It's almost here.

Just one more step.

*STOMP*

Here it is.

…

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

A very small elephant appeared through the trees.

It was about knee height.

So small, yet so adorable.

I was looking for something to eat, but I can't kill this thing.

It's way too cute.

Alright.

I claim you.

You're my pet.

I placed my hand on its back, and it nailed me right in the stomach with a ferocious kick.

DAMN THAT HURT!

While refining my senses, I also gained the ability to see something special.

When I looked at that birdman, I could see a fire inside it.

The fire was about as big as a baseball and it glowed an unnatural white color.

It was small but powerful.

This elephant's white fire was barely the size of a pebble.

It's weak, yet fierce.

It doesn't give in.

Reminds me of myself a few days ago, but I'm no longer weak.

Alright.

I think I'll name you Smele.

Like small + elephant = smele.

Oh yeah.

It's perfect.

How do you feel about that name, huh?

I placed my hand on its back again, and it nailed me in the stomach for a second time.

Meanwhile, a ferocious creature approached from the sky.

Above?

My senses are flaring.

This thing feels strong.

I looked up, and a giant butterfly covered the sun.

It was like an eclipse.

It left the elephant and me in the darkness.

Is this the man she is so scared of?

The butterfly thought.

What type of threat could he possibly pose to us?

Whatever.

I'll just kill him right now.

Beautiful.

Just what is this creature?

It's so beautiful.

Such an array of colors.

It's wonderful.

Absolutely captivating.

I can't look away.

Its wings are beautiful enough to be featured in an art museum.

But what is this residue that it's leaving behind?

It's slight, but I see it.

No one else would be able to see it unless they've refined their senses like I have.

It's hard to tell what it is.

It doesn't smell strange nor can I hear it.

I can't tell if there's anything special about it.

I placed my hand on the elephant, and I could feel it shaking.

Its breath was shortening.

It was dying.

I could sense it.

He's weak, he's bound to die eventually.

But his death isn't just a coincidence.

This powder is poison.

Why isn't he dead yet?

The butterfly thought.

The poison should have killed him already.

How is he still standing?

If the elephant is dying and I'm not, then is the poison weak?

The butterfly is powerful after all.

The birdman's white fire was the size of a baseball, but this white fire is a pillar even taller than me.

It's so strong I couldn't possibly beat it.

But I won't sit back and let the poison kill me.

It hasn't taken effect yet, so what's stopping it?

There's only one possible answer.

Asol.

He's using his power to make me…

This boy, he doesn't seem to falter.

The butterfly thought.

He's stronger than I first thought.

Maybe this is why she's scared of him.

After all, he's…

Immune to the poison.

If this boy is immune, then he must have more spirit energy than I do.

That's bad.

He is truly powerful, he just doesn't seem to know it.

The elephant collapsed.

It died.

Smele.

I won't forget you.

I'll get revenge for you.

I pulled out the knife and prepared a slashing attack.

I put my left hand on the blade to cut my hand before releasing the red energy.

This is something I learned during my training.

The red energy feeds on destruction and it grows stronger when I feed it the essence of destruction and death…

Blood.

It feeds on blood to make itself stronger.

I found that if I cut myself just before I release an attack, the red energy doubles in strength.

"You think you are allowed to kill others just because you're stronger than they are?"

I said to the butterfly.

No response.

"WELL?! TALK! I KNOW YOU CAN! WHAT DO YOU TAKE LIFE FOR EXACTLY!? I KNOW YOU'RE INTELLIGENT SO WHY WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR TIME KILLING THE WEAK?! NO, NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?!"

"You talk all high and mighty,"

It responded.

"But is that not what you have been doing this whole time, killing those weaker than you?"

"I ONLY DID THAT WHEN THREATENED!"

"And we are simply responding by doing the same."

"WHAT THREAT DO I POSE TO YOU?!"

"The biggest threat of all, the unknown."

"I see, so there's no getting along. Fine then."

Red energy swelled into my right hand, so much so that it emerged from my hand like a flame.

SO MUCH POWER!

The butterfly thought.

"Blood-soaked red slash."

I sent a slash of strong red energy its way.

It propelled itself into the air with its wings.

The wind was so strong that while it dodged the attack, the wind also created a wall that blocked the attack in its tracks.

The butterfly escaped, and I couldn't stop it.

I swear I'll get back at that thing, for you Smele.

But to do that I need more power.

*GRUMBLE*

And some food.

That boy was much stronger than I prepared for.

The butterfly thought.

If my poison doesn't work, then I can't take him down.

I leave him to you, dumb wolf.

He'll reach you next.

Deal with him or I'll kill you.

Whatever you do, don't underestimate him.

And try not to get hurt, okay?