Humans.....
I hadn’t even finished testing out the possible ability’s I received from the rabbit before evading the new presence in my sense. Once I far enough there were multiple humans approaching the rabbit corps.
About 4 or 5....To think there were actually people in here.
Ever since that first time I came across the bloodied body before fighting the bear I hadn’t came across any other humans. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say I thought I was the only person in this place.
“Is this really where the bunny went?”
“Captain look, the bloody corps.....”
It seems that the group was looking for the rabbit I just killed, but why? And this group was something of a squad because of evident rankings, there’s probably a village or something....
Where there was a captain must be chief.....of course this is just some of my cautious thinking. If I were to show myself and they turn on me with those people.... it could turn ugly,though I wasn’t scared.
Then why not do it?
I don’t know those people, if something goes wrong they might try to kill me....
But you do want to....
I.....do
If they attack, you must as well.
Yeah.....they, wouldn’t dare turn on me right?
There was nothing wrong with killing those who try to kill me....as such I openly approached the group of people.
“Captain someone’s coming....”
“Yeah I know...”
Their so damn loud....
This must have been a side effect of eating the rabbits meat. Hopefully in the future I could ‘fine tune ’ my senses such as smell and hearing so that it won’t be a hassle. It didn’t take long for me get close to the group, it was obvious they were cautious but they still they called out to me keeping their guards high.
“Who are you?! Where did you come from?!”
“Well....Im the one who killed that rabbit.”
“You.....killed this bunny?”
It was a bit irritating to hear them constantly call this rabbit a bunny but that was alright–since they were actual people and not monsters there was possibility of us working together, which is much better than having to rely solely on myself. With that in mind it wasn’t surprising the see the hunter baffled at my unexpectedly relaxed an demeanor confused.
“That is correct....I killed the rabbit.”
“That can’t be true captain, he looks so weak.”
For the first time after eating the rabbit I gathered only a bit of strength in my legs to dash at the guy who choked those words.
Ching!
“You know your....pretty fast for someone that looks so weak.”
It was the captain....I was already going half the speed of sound using only a portion of my strength. That rabbit truly was fast. Not only that but the captain was able to keep up with my speed, even though he was a bit out of breath he was fast. Though since I never had the intentions to kill this guy I backed down.
“I-i guess you may really have defeated this thing..:..my a-apologies.”
It seemed after I dashed at him he begun to comprehend my power, and of course started singing a completely different tune. I let it be a warning for how easy it is to make someone change their ways.
“Whatever dumbass.”
After watching and intervening the captain turned his head away from his hunter. The gestures he did made it like he wanted to say something.
“We’ve been worried about this thing for quiet sometime, it’s really powerful.”
“I guess you could say that....”
“You guess?!....what kind of....would you like to come back to our village?”
“That’s random, don’t you think it’s dangerous for a stranger to come back with you?”
“In normal cases yes....but this is different.”
Even if they were too much of a nuisance I was probably powerful enough to kill them all. But still, under the circumstances that outcome was rather undesirable. There was also the possibility that I may need these people.....not to mention how they get water.
“Are you capable of teaching me how to produce water?”
“Produce water? What do you mean?”
“It obvious isn’t it captain, there are no natural means available....as such there are artificial or supernatural. So which one is it, captain.”
“Errm—ah yes there may be possible ways to teach you how to produce your own water.”
“Good, now lead the way....”
“Oh, then please come along.”
He was definitely nervous just then.....I don’t know what I did but I just had the intention to intimidate him and he backed down. I guess it might have something to do with bloodlust or instinct. Whatever the case it was certainly affective.
~are you sure about this captain?~
~better than leaving him be.~
It seemed that they didn’t realize I had excellent ears as I was listening to their whispering like it was nothing. Though I guess the were just cautious of me inside and out because of the show of power I preformed. The captain told the other hunters in the group to get the rest of the rabbit corpse. Once everyone was ready we departed....
*****
I had been following the group of hunters back to their village for several meters until little huts could come into my sense of range. It wasn’t large by any means yet it wasn’t small this place could hold quite a bit of people. And when we entered the village grounds some even came out to see.
“Who is that?”
“He looks weak....”
Even though the captain was quick to apologize for whoever said those word I didn’t care. The only reason I had acted out before was an act but now I had no interest, I had currently no clue what I looked like but if these people said I looked weak then I might look so. It’s not like it’s affecting me....as such even as the captain continuously apologized for the villagers rude actions I focused on scanning my surroundings. From what I could tell despite the size it was a relatively small village with only about 15 people. I guess there really weren’t many people in this void.
“Everyone go freshen your weapons and stuff while I’ll take this guy to the chief.”
“Alright.”x5
As such I followed the squad captain to the chief. I could sense the middle aged man inside the stone like hut. It’s surprising that it is only this rock like substance that made the village. Even the supposed weapons seemed to also be the same thing. It was pretty odd because where would these people have the necessary tools to make things like this. While I was thinking about this I had to put it to the back of my mind send we were now entering the chiefs hut.
“Captain....”
“Hello chief, this guy killed that bunny.”
“The bunny?! By himself?!”
“Yes chief, completely alone.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Errm....You must be quite strong....?”
“I don’t know, but the captain agreed to telling me how you produce water in exchange for a bit of help.”
“Is that so....?”
The chiefs head turned towards the captain who had a rather tense smile on his face. I guess he wasn’t supposed to one sidedly agree to things like this. But that didn’t really matter.
“Yes so tell me how to make water.”
“You see, the only person capable of manipulating energy like that, would be my daughter.”
Or maybe that was the reason, no father would want some strange and supposedly dangerous man by their daughter.
“That doesn’t matter, just hurry up so I can help you guys and—”
“What this guy means to say is that he has no ulterior motive with your daughter.”
The captain was quick to sugar code my words, though there really was no need for it....it was already clear what the his decision was.
“....alright please follow me.”
Although reluctant the chief agreed to my proposal. And I then followed them to his daughters hut.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
“Chief? Why are you guys here?”
“You heard about the guy who defeated the bunny monster right?”
“Yes....is this him?”
“He wants to learn how to use his energy to make water.”
“To make water? That quite an odd not to mention probably impossible request isn’t it?”
“Yes....but I believe he can make it like you.”
“Huh?! Is that so, then I’ll do my best.”
Of course this was my first memory or even encounter with other humans so I didn’t know their tendencies and habits. This was a fact, but it was weird how she was so adamant before, now she’s accepting so easily. But the thing at the absolute top of my priority is water, as such I’ll just keep this in mind.
“Chief go ahead and leave us be.”
“.....alright....”
It was the obvious the chief still didn’t quite agree to the current circumstances, but maybe he thought of it as a risk needed to be taken......for my help. now that I think about it, I should ask what kind of help they want. I thought this as the chief and captain took their leave.
“Before we get started....can you heal me? And if you can teach me how to do that as well.”
“What do you mean heal you?”
“The rabbit battle was a tough one, it gave me a couple of broken ribs.”
“You’ve been acting like they don’t hurt until now?”
“I’ve been through worse.....so this isn’t as bad as what I’m used to, so it doesn’t hurt me as much.”
“Yes, your injury’s would only be a nuisance to the training process.”
She told me to lay down and started touching the wounded areas. I’d be lying if I said I was completely comfortable in the current situation, but I decided not to fight it. a dim light formed as the girl gathered energy in her palms, though it wasn’t bright enough to actually let me see her face, that was the downfall of this ability even though I had great senses I couldn’t see facial detail or skin color....maybe if I practice or take down bigger prey I’ll be able to.
Hmm....It’s actually working.....
I had yet to experience any healing ability’s so it was weird feeling all the pain in my body disappear in this way.
“There....your bones are healed. Now tell me, where did you come from.”
Such a random question....
I couldn’t understand how that knowledge would help her in any kind of way. Besides I don’t even know where I came from.
“Does it matter?”
“Not really, there just isn’t very many people like you in this abyss.”
“So your the only village in this place?”
“From what I know yes.”
It was just as I thought, not even the residents of this void know what this place is or it’s residents. If everything were to work out we could have a useful partnership to increase my survival, such as a safe point or something.
Since the cloths I was wearing where pretty damaged in the last battle she also gave me new cloths to where. It was still similar fashion to the primitive clothing I had before, except it was all wolf pelt.
“So you must know how to control energy?”
“If I didn’t?”
“Then there would be no way for me to be able to teach you.....my apologies.”
“That’s nice to know, yes I have the ability.”
“.....that’s all you had to say, Anyways show me the type of things you can already do.”
“You want to see?...alright that should be manageable.”
This is probably a good time to gain some trust. But I’ll just show the fire breathing thing.
Personally I had no intention of trusting these people. But if I wanted thief help with anything in the future I had to gain their trust. And maybe eventually if they show it they’ll also gain mine.
FUEE
“Impressive, is that all.”
“That’s all I’ve managed to teach myself. And my muscles are a little stronger than ordinary, but otherwise that’s it.”
My reason for showing the fire ability is because I thought it was weaker than the lightning variant.
“Taught?!...well it makes sense that you would only have one ability, it’s extremely difficult to do that alone.”
That makes sense, I probably never would have been aware of them if not for that hint of curiosity. But then again that raises another question....
“So how come you can use energy in this way, and why are you the only one who can use them?”
“Me?...well I was just born with them I think. Weird huh?”
“Maybe....”
That by itself sounded a bit suspicious, but she was willing to tell the truth about it being abnormal so I decided to just keep it in mind.
“But I don’t know if you’ll be able to use water if you already have a gift for fire.”
“It’s meaningless to question weather or not I have the ‘gift’ for water. Just focus on teaching me.”
“Alright....”
And now I learned that people are usually ‘gifted’ with a certain chain of ability’s. Basically those who have an ability to breath fire will usually have ability’s within the fire category. Though I who gained these things through the monsters roaming around this place could have multiple chains (fire/lightning). Of course, I had no way of knowing weather or not her teaching me would actually work but it didn’t hurt to try. And it wasn’t too long before we started.
*****
“Told you....you probably can’t use water if you already have fire.”
Maybe I’ll just have to find a monster with a water ability, wherever that is.....
It had been sometime after we started, but I hadn’t manage to bring about a droplet of water. But there was still another thing I wanted to attempt.
“Then just teach me the heal technique you did on me earlier.”
“It may come out the same result.”
“I’ve already told you to just teach me.”
“Right....anyways so the first thing you do is gather you energy in you palms while thinking about he—”
“That was easy.....”
“What?? You can already do it?!”
“Seems like it.”
I gathered energy into my palms like all the other monster ability’s and the dim white glow started forming on my palms. I started to wonder if I could really heal myself with it.
“That....shouldn’t....be....possible?”
“Is that so?”
“No...just good for you.”
That was odd....
Her actions and speech made it seem like I had done the impossible, but I guess it makes sense considering that I couldn’t even manipulate water and now I could use the healing ability so easily.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
“Daughter, the bunny is ready.”
It was the chief, evidently they cooked that rabbit and was serving it for the whole village.
Ah, that reminds me....
“Should we go eat?”
“You should probably go stop them from eating or they may die.”
“Die?! From what?? Eating?!”
“Yeah, the rabbit was poisoned before dying.”
“Poisoned? By wh—?”
“It’s probably better to go stop them from eating it instead of staying here.”
“Yes, yes...we have to go!”
She attempted to grab my wrist but my body from habit moved to evade her. Well some of it was habit, and the other part was because I didn’t want to run with her nor get grabbed.
“I’ll....catch up with you.”
“Alright, just don’t be too long.”
Once she left, I too took my leave following her trail until making it to the cooking area. There wasn’t a fire or anything, as it turns out these villagers definition of ‘ready to eat’ was just dicing the rabbit up even more than I did. I guess they didn’t have a way to make a lasting fire either.
“Don’t eat the bunny chief! Chief?! Where is the chief?!”
“I’m right here, what are you yelling for?”
In response to his frantic daughter the chief calmly asked her what the problem was. Even though the situation was dire for these villagers It was still entertaining watching her scurry around.
“Chief! The bunny is poisoned!”
“Poisoned?...”
“Yes!—“
Without saying another word or even letting her speak the village chief dashed away at an astonishing speed, for a human at least. He was probably going to the dining area, I guess he served it before we were ready....and now his people could be paying the price for it.
“Chiiieef?!”
“You should probably go after him.”
“Y-yes!”
After a quiet reminder from me, she immediately began to chase her father. Of course I loosely followed behind them. Eventual we made it to the dining room where all the people were gathered to dine. Well it seemed quite a few were already eating.
“STOOOOOP!!”
.......
One word was all that was needed to gather these peoples intentions, I guess at the end of the day these people truly respected the chief. Even the ones who were already eating stopped chewing.
“It’s believed that the food is poisonous please to not eat it!”
But his choice of words wasn’t exactly those of what a leader should say to a crowd of people.
“Poisoned?!”
“Spit that out!”
“I-I’m ok right??”
In total probably only half the people had little to nothing but problems started to accrue already.
Thump!
“H-hey this guy collapsed after e–a–t.....”
Thump!
The guy who was trying to talk just like the first guy collapsed, and so did the rest of the people that ate some of the rabbit. The chiefs daughter was already working to heal the people. Seems she’s pretty fast at times like these. The healthy people also began to carry other poisoned villagers to a central location.
Their pretty smart....and organized....
It was actually amazing how they worked further like one entity. It’s probably why they survived this long with all these powerful monsters. That being said they were so completely self sufficient I wasn’t needed to help.
“How does it look.”
“Ah.....well it was a lethal dose of poison but as long as I heal them all before long they will be fine.”
“Ohh that’s a relief...”
“Yes but now the only problem is food.”
“That is true....we will have to go out again.”
“.....”
The talk about going hunting had abruptly stoped as the two of them look in my direction. As if they were expecting something of me.
“What do you want...?”
“As you can see most of our hunters are down and need to recoup....you are strong so can you help us secure some?”
I guess whoever kills the prey usually eats first, that makes sense. but they didn't even kill it and now they wanted me to kill a monster for them?
I did want to gain their trust, but this seemed like a hassle. But then again I do need to meet new monsters, get more ability’s, and get stronger.
“Alright.....but give me time to rest. That fight with the rabbit was intense.”
It was true that the fight with the rabbit was a difficult one, but physically I was just fine. It was just that I didn’t feel like fighting anything right now.
I wonder if the only reason for my procrastination is because someone else is asking me to do it.
This was the first time I had ever put off a task since waking up in this void. But these people are asking for a favor and I put it off. Well it was their fault for eating a random rabbit sitting in the dark. I guess the chief realized this as he looked like he wanted to say something but held himself back.
But now that I think about it I guess this is good timing.
I hadn’t properly had the chance to test my newly gained abilities from the rabbit, if I were to come across anything stronger than that big eared thing then I need figure out my new skills as soon as possible.
“Actually I guess it wouldn’t hurt to stretch out a bit....just don’t complain on whatever I bring back.”
....maybe it really was just because they asked me to do it.
Not too long after our talk ended I left making sure no one followed me.