Biting down the bear rips off Jugo's torso and left arm. It swallows him whole. Sniffing Jugo's lower half and left arm the bear is deterred from eating them. In the dead of night after the bear left the arm reactivated glowing green. A small cylinder slides out of the shoulder of the arm firing off and landing inside the trunk of a tree. After injecting a green liquid the cylinder falls to the ground. Over four months, the trunk of the tree grew larger and larger. A single drop of water rings through his ears waking him in a panic.

"What the- Where the hell am I?" looking around Jugo finds himself in a strange realm where the sky is perpetually dusk and water covers the ground. Standing up Jugo thinks.

"Wait didn't I die? What's going on?"

"Look at how big you've grown." With Just one sentence shivers are sent up Jugo's spine. Slowly turning around he starts shaking uncontrollably.

"Hey kid, can you guess what I'm thinking?"

"Zero!"

With tears running down his face Jugo runs to hug his brother.

"Hold on now. Don't get me wrong I'd hug you and never let go if I could but we can't." Stopping within arms reach he asks.

"Why not?"

"Look up, The tori of death separates the living and the dead. Jugo you're still alive."

"How I got my head bitten off by a giant bear?"

"Giant bear? What did it look like?"

"Big, green, and like a bear I guess." Thinking for a second Zero asks.

"Were you in the wandering woods!"

"Yeah, I left the sanctuary with some friends. Sorry, but I borrowed your map and compass."

"Compass? Oh, my pocket watch. When did you earn yours?"

"What do you mean earn?"

"After you complete the Ophis trials you earn your pocket watch. You did complete the trials right?"

"No, we failed."

"No wonder you died. You're not even an Ophis and you tried to take on a zenith beast. That's gotta be the dumbest idea ever. At least you're trying your best though. It looks like our time is running out but find my pocket watch and keep it safe." Slowly fading away Zero's voice echoes."And don't forget the ground we walk on loves us all; listen to her." Cracking down the middle the enlarged trunk releases a reborn Jugo. Falling to the ground and hitting his head Jugo wakes up.

"Ow! What the hell happened? I'm back in the forest. Zero's pocket watch! Where is it? Standing up two cylinders drill back into his shoulder. Searching the area he finds his decomposed lower half.

"Please still be here." Rummaging through his pockets Zero's pocket watch was found. Putting his pants and boots back on Jugo collects his bag and scattered items in the area. Moving along he learns the lay of the land again.

"How long have I been gone for? All the snow and ice are gone." The wind blows sending a strong scent up Jugo's nose. Following the wind, a pack of wolves searches the area for food.

"Shit!" Hiding from the wolves Jugo climbs a tree. Waiting for the wolves to leave he checks his shoulder and is startled by a chameleon.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Ya scared me, little buddy. Do me a favor and stand still for a- got it!" Pinging green Jugo's arm collects another DNA sample.

"Perfect." Changing colors to blend in with the trees Jugo stalks them back to their den. Waiting till nightfall Jugo takes a nap in the trees. Realizing he overslept he climbs to the top of the trees to see where the moon is. Reaching the top of the trees he's greeted by a sky full of glistening stars.

"Zero said to listen to her but he was talking about the ground. What am I supposed to hear? If you can hear me whatever you are can you help me find my friends?" a glint appears in the sky. Falling Jugo realizes it is a meteor. Rushing to pull out his map he checks to see what direction the meteor fell.

"If Zero said to listen to you I will. Next stop Handel town after I deal with this bear." Climbing down to the branches Jugo looks for a sleeping wolf. After collecting the sample without any problem he thinks.

"Now it'll be easier to get around the forest." For the first time, Jugo attempts to fully transform into a wolf. Midway through his transformation it cancels and he passes out instantly. Hearing another drop of water Jugo complains.

"Did I almost kill myself this time?" opening his eyes he stares off into a misty abyss.

"Where am I this time?" emerging from the mist the wolf he took a sample from appears. Growling at him the wolf bears its fangs.

"Hold on I don't want to fight you!" Charging at him Jugo tries to defend himself using his reindeer hoof to kick it but doesn't transform. Biting down on his leg he punches the wolf in the face. Grappling the wolf he pins its head down.

"Stop!" Intimidating the wolf it calms down disappearing into a swirling cloud of mist. Defeating the wolf the misty realm fades away and Jugo wakes.

"Ugh, things just keep getting weirder and weirder. The first time I try to fully transform I get attacked by my own sample. I've never had any problems with any of my other animals except for the bear sample." Thinking for a second Jugo realizes that the only difference between his animals is that some are predatory and some are prey. Testing a theory he tries to transform into a wolf again and this time he's successful. After shifting back to human form Jugo comes to the conclusion that the misty realm is used to overcome the predatory instincts of the predators he tries to transform into.

"If I'm right then that means I have to go there one more time." Finding a safe branch to rest on Jugo closes his eyes and attempts to transform into a bear.

"This time ill be ready Comet." Opening his eyes Jugo comes face to face with the same bear from that day. Chasing him down he realizes.

"Why is it moving so slowly? I can see and dodge all its attacks easily. Is this the wolf sample?" Jugo turns his arm into a wolf's. Unbeknownst to Jugo he can use the the powers of previously defeated predators by overcoming the predatory instincts of a new sample. With his newfound strength, Jugo uses his sharp claws, speed, and knowledge of the bear to attack its blind spots. Growing more and more enraged Jugo slashes it from all angles. Pushing it back into a corner he clenches his fist. Looming over the crouched bear Jugo angrily plunges his hand into the bear's right eye turning it into a swirling cloud of mist. Waking from the failed transformation Jugo sheds a tear from his right eye. Wiping the tear away the sun's rays shine through the canopy blinding him. As he takes a step back Jugo loses his footing and falls from the tree. Breaking his leg jugo wails from the pain. Exasperated from the fall he shifts his body back to lay up against the tree. Investigating his screams the pack of wolves return.

"Go away I don't have time for this." Growling and barking the pack surrounds him. As the pack encroaches closer Jugo angrily roars just like a bear. Scarring the pack away he thinks.

"Reon's DNA should be able to heal this, and using the beetle's fast metabolism my leg should recover faster than normal." While waiting for his leg to recover Jugo practices switching between his new samples. Testing the gecko and chameleon samples he changes his skin texture and color.

"Oh yeah, Hisoka did say using my gift too much will cause the curse. How do I even train to increase my energy pool? The ground we walk on loves us all? Can you show me the way just like with the meteor?" Waiting for something to happen Jugo thinks.

"This is what I get for talking to the dirt. At least no one is around to hear that."

"Why are you talking to the ground?"

"Ah! Who are you?"

"I'm me."

"No what's your name?"

"Don't have one but mother calls me Drosera." Looking at the dirty child Jugo questions if their mother is actually present.

"Where is your mother?"

"In the forest. She doesn't like people so she only talks to me."

"That's a little hard to believe."

"Watch mother taught me how to do this." Taking a wide stance she takes a deep breath. Channeling a massive amount of nature energy into her legs Drosera springs up to the top of the tree to grab a peach. Swiping at it she breaks the stem causing it to hit Jugo in the head knocking him out. Scared of what he might do Drosera scurries away. Woken by the same strong scent as before Jugo groans as he lifts himself.

"Can't I just sleep without something interrupting me?" Approaching the boy the bear looks confused.

"So we meet again."