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Chapter 14

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The New Teng

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In the morning after he has meditated, he goes about his fishing wanting some downtime and a nice breakfast. As he works, he ponders what he should do next. Now the North Valley is mostly free of dangers, it leaves only the West Mountains and Southern Volcanoes. He even saw a few patrols on his way back last night. It seems it might be a matter of time before the snake beasts find his camp, and he isn’t too keen on moving.

Besides that, his training is moving along nicely. He noticed this morning that as he absorbs the rift energy, his body is changing. As the energy fills up his vessel, his laws are digesting it into a purer version of it. This helps tremendously improving his physique.

He would say he is at least as strong as martial art masters who dedicate years to strengthening their bones and muscles. He probably even above that, as his punches are starting to feeling like flexible wood. That’s without his Law of Rain strengthening him.

Teng believes his law will start to shine more and more as he gains more energy. It’s basically like receiving extra percentage bonuses a level. Furthermore, as more energy circulates, Teng suspects if he was poisoned, it would have no chance surviving and be instantly eradicated by his body. If it isn’t, he should have no problem manually expelling it.

Teng thinks hunting the snake monsters today is his only option. They are the only ones actively trying to kill him. He is unafraid though. He has already slain dozen of their kind, and wouldn’t mind killing some more. Teng has really changed over this time on this island. Nobody would be able to recognise him anymore.

Clothes that looks like rags, covered in dried blood. Blue animal scales of unknown origin running across his arms, torso and legs. A missing arm, and a Spear made of bone and black wood held in the other. Standing tall at nearly 2 metres in height, a grisly beard hangs around his jaw, sharp eyes, and pearly white teeth. His hair is tied back with a reed that looks suspiciously alive. It’s colours of dark green and yellow far vivid than any tv special effected. He honestly looks somewhat heroic, if only not for his barbaric edge, and wisp of blood lust hanging around him. I suppose some would call that a plus though.

His left arm even seems to have grown back by at least 30 centimetres too. The energy Teng absorbs usually just nourishes his present body, but it seems when he gains insights into his law, it weaves him a new and stronger body. Therefore, his lost arm has started recover. Honestly, he wishes it would come sooner, but he must be patient.

It seems the snake creatures are moving into his side, where he fled to. There side is more jungle in the south, while his is more of a forest in the east. Not waiting any longer, he heads out.

At noon he spots a patrol. Swiftly hiding behind a bush, he peers through. They consist of five snakes in the front holding bone spears or knifes, while two in the back, hold bone bows of some kind.

Thinking about his battle strategy, he glances at the snake creature at the back. Not feeling too confident at dodging arrows he decides to take them out first. He does not hesitate to kill, after all both Teng are at war with him already killing a dozen before.

Teng feels he is lucky as they the archers are grouped together. Obviously not used to patrols.

Rushing forward like a crashing wave Teng pierces the first archer in the heart, taking no chances with their strong vitality. Moving quickly, he slices the other one beside him, although it tries to quickly raise its bow as defence, Teng smashes his spear right into its weapon, overpowering it in an instant, his spear quickly slicing past its neck. Its head falls to the ground.

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The other serpents see their comrades dying so quickly, are not discouraged, but instead quickly rush toward Teng in an aggressive nature. It seems these creatures know no fear. Perfect.

Teng makes quick work of them moving onto another group. Such is his day, moving around like a phantom, their bodies strewn all over the forest. Deciding its not enough he heads further into their territory, moving from forest to jungle. Before he leaves though, he picks up their bone spears, knives, bows, and arrows leaving them at a place where he will return for later. They will be useful for his crafting.

Reaching closer to their camp, he sees their houses are mostly made out of mud. Feeling confident he decides to end this today. He was going to wait, but seeing the rift shift, and churn recently he figures he doesn’t want to waste any more time. Who knows if more sea creatures will pop up through the Rift.

Heading past the jungle terrain he nears the buildings. As far as he can see most have left to patrol, some are building new huts, and only a few others a guarding a bigger looking building. Not wanting to wait until it becomes night, and more patrols return he decides to act now.

Nimbly moving forward, careful not to step on any twigs he closes the gap, his spear steadied in his right hand. As he moves forward nobody seems to take notice of him. Teng has even learned how use his laws to lower his body temperature recently. It’s a working progress at the moment, but it seems none are paying much attention. He even covered himself completely in mud for this expedition. As he creeps closer, he gets about four metres from the nearest one. They guard the big building. He is hidden behind one of the closest structures. His plan is to throw his disposal spears, and then wait to see what comes out. If he can fight it, he will, if not he will run away. No need to lose his life. His potential is extremely high after all.

Not waiting a second longer, he switches for a throwing spear. Imbuing it with energy, he throws it. It seems they sensed the energy disturbance; however, it still doesn’t dodge in time, getting skewered into the mud like structure. Teng wastes no time in picking up another spear and throwing it. This time its prepared and blocks it with his bone spear.

This serpent creature is nearly twice the size of its regulars. Charging forward it arrives in the blink of an eye, its tail swishing with large amounts of wind.

Realising he can’t avoid a close quarters fight, Teng brings out his nearest weapon, a one metre long bone knife. Not nearly as proficient as the Elite Serpent in front of him Teng is pushed into a stalemate, neither side having much an advantage. Knowing he doesn’t have much time before their fight attracts others, he stomps his foot on the ground. A water rushes up beneath, like a small tide seeking to off balance him.

The serpent snorts, unaffected. It seems his large snake like body, is not for show, completely shrugging off his trick. Before they can begin again, he hears a roar in the distance.

Looking past the Elite Serpent Guard he sees a monstrosity. It’s tails his nearly five metres long, and its upper body reaching nearly six metres, a trident in its hands. It seems to be furious at the outsider who infiltrated his camp, not only killing its guard, but resisting another. Hot rage is in its eyes.

Knowing his limits Teng quickly tries to disengage from the guard serpent and rush away. But how can he let Teng escapes after killing his brethren, and his King watching. Slapping it’s tail it quickly intercepts.

Underestimating the power of the muscle this guard has, its speed reaching his. Running nearly a hundred metres Teng is unable to free itself from the guard, and it seems his throw earlier was a valuable ambush. If he had to face two of these, he would be dead meat.

Seeing Serpent Chieftain getting closer, Teng roars in rage. Alone, by himself he has to survive and fight, almost becoming a beast himself. His anger rises to its peak. His enemies will become his stepping stones.

Grasping his main spear, he steadies himself.

He remembers when he just arrived. He had to pressed forward to survive. When he wanted to give up, when he wants to cry, and say it was all too much he endured. Something in him died and was reborn arriving on this island. He knows it himself, he can’t return to being the old him, so he might as well embrace the New Teng.

Gazing at the serpent guard, he stabs fast, no tricks, just a simple stab.

A bloodied hole appears in his belly, water spiralling through the opening. Before it can register it, it coughs a large amount of blood, before weakly falling to the ground. Barely anything is left of its waist.

Teng gazes at the Chieftain as it approaches.

Thinking about the actions that lead to this life, he feels like they happened a millennium ago, even though it surely hasn’t been longer than a month. In fact, the more he presses into his new martial art path, the less he remembers about his old life. These serpents will just be one more obstacle in his path.

Steeling his heart, water bursts around his arms, legs, even covering his face. He looks like a God of War. An elemental in the flesh.

The War Chieftain pauses for a moment, but quickly raises its trident, wanting to defeat the intruder here who killed its kin.

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