And with that, the group ran into the forest, following the trail. Shouts and screams filled the air as many carried weapons, ranging from swords and spears to knives or even pointed sticks, while some didn’t. With conviction echoing in their heads, they charged forward.

Today was the last day of destroying the tree, but Jack couldn’t do it. He wasn’t strong enough. It wasn't like he wasn’t trying. No matter how hard he punched the tree, he couldn’t create a hole in it. Not only that, he was starving. He didn’t have the resources to carry food, and he didn’t possess any methods to preserve it. All odds were against him. His best friend, Sten, was in the same position but worse off.

“I’m tired. I don’t want to fail,” thought Sten, who was lagging behind the group. He didn’t want to die like that commoner who was slit in half.

“Sten, hurry up! We are almost in the clearing; we are close to the river,” shouted Jack, who was in the middle of the group. Jack and Sten were friends from their kingdom, always seen together as best friends, but they were different when it came to physical autonomy. Jack loved to run through the streets of his kingdom, while Sten enjoyed eating, he didn't like physical activity.

But before Jack could help his friend, Sten fell on his face, and a bug the size of a baby’s head took the opportunity to have a quick meal. It bit down into Sten's neck, ripping apart his cervical vertebrae, and killing him.

“No, Sten, please don’t die!” Jack screamed out with tears running from his eyes. He stopped running, but his action caused another students to push him over by accident. He fell face down on the grass, weeping, hitting the grass with his hand over and over again, cracking the bones in his hand.

“I’m tired. I don’t want to die,” thought Jack, who was crying on the grass. After losing his friend to a bug, he lost all his motivation to continue. How would he tell his friend's parents that he ran and left his best friend to be eaten by a bug?

Then he turned around and started walking towards his friend's body, slowly with tears. He trembled at the thought that he would die alone. He resolved himself and dashed towards the bug.

Bang, he smashed into the bug's head with a kick; the bug flew in the air from the impact. Jack closed the distance. His left hand came down with a wide swing. Bang, the bug was thrown a few meters away from him. He dashed towards the bug appearing in a split second. He raised his right hand. It glowed a red line of blood, it was his essence. It covered his hands, like fire.

He felt pain and the need to protect; his body responded to that. Essence was gathered. His fist came down like a rocket. Bang, the bug was smashed into red and blue juice. Then he ran to check on Sten. Jack didn’t want to admit it, but Sten was dead, gone. Before he could process anything else, a bug appeared out of nowhere to get another free meal.

Cling, it was cut in half. Luther a

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As the rest of the group moved toward the Red River, they saw multiple crocodiles moving under the shallow water's surface, timing them perfectly. There were more crocodiles than usual. When they first arrived, there were two or three crocodiles, but now there were six or more. Even Clark killed them almost every day; their numbers were steadily increasing.

Back to the group.

The group has faced these crocodiles every day, and they haven’t lost one student in weeks; all they did was move in a group through the river. Clark, who was leading, was ready to jump ahead into the water, killing his way through, but someone said, “I am sorry, but I can't let you live.” A blonde-haired girl in a green dress matching her eyes fell into the river, her face filled with fear and confusion, not understanding what happened or why this guy wants to kill her.

Splash, splash. Multiple gray crocodiles swam towards her, ripping her apart limb by limb, dyeing the river red once again. Unlike the other times, no one jumped in to save her like a foolish hero, and not a single sound escaped her mouth. Splash, splash. They all started running through the water in fear. But one student shed a tear, knowing what he had done.

Clark stood there, he stared down Maich, then he took out his sword and walked towards Maich. That stood in front of the river. He raised his sword ready to cut Maich down, until Leo held his hand from behind him. Clark was shook, he was beyond confused.

“I can’t have you killing my friend now,” said Leo as he gripped Clark's hand tighter.

“When, no how,” asked Clark, clearly surprised by Leo's presence. Seeing that Leo doesn’t plan to respond to him, Clark released the sword from his hand that fell face down on the ground. In response, Leo released his hand and said, “my apologies, good man,” with a bow. “I do not wish to bring you any harm.” Massaging his right wrist, Clark picked up his sword and sheathed it on his waist, without losing eye contact with Leo. ‘’ He's strong, no he's powerful, he wasn’t there until he made himself,” Clark smiled. “What is your purpose?” Clark asked in an intrigued tone. But before Leo could answer, Clark asked, “No, why do you pursue power?”

“To protect my own,” answered Leo as he stared down Clark, understanding that he's a threat too.

“I see, so that girl is not one of your own,” said Clark as he stopped staring at Leo and turned around with a sad smile. “How cruel,” he whispered. Clark looked at the sky and said, “I have to go; see you later.” Then his leg glowed red. Clark leaped over the river and continued running. While everything was happening, Maich was quiet; he didn’t say a word to defend himself, maybe he didn’t need to. It was clear as day. He was worse than Luther, he thought to himself. He looked at her in pieces and thought, “Forgive me, because I am just a sinner.” “This is not over, the man who protects his own and murderer,” said Clark as he disappeared on the trail.

"Can I be one of your own?" said a voice behind Leo, prompting Maich to turn around to see a guy covered in blue and red blood. Maich recognized those eyes. It was the eyes he once held, filled with rage, the type of rage that would push him to commit murder and a secret sin.

Jack walked past Leo and stooped down in front of the river, washing his hands away from the blood, he demanded aggressively, "He could have taken you two down. The only reason he didn’t was because I was here, so at least answer my question."

"Do you want to be friends with a murderer? It's not a good idea," said Maich in a rhetorical tone as he continued to stare at the water.

"And I don’t think you like royalty. After all, it's this unfair world we created that caused your friend's death. You and your friend just needed food, and many of us could share, but they didn’t," said Leo as he walked right behind Maich.

“ We have to go, it's almost noon"