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The Ascension Games
Chapter 4 - The Fish Hunt.

Chapter 4 - The Fish Hunt.

Elias Snow's PoV

Waking up I immediately notice dried up tears & snott on my face. Remembering yesterdays events my mind slowly recalls them, the look of despair on Megumi's face before being eaten alive by that... thing. Remembering me knocking out Strawberry before attempting to escape makes a bitter smile creep up my face.

'If only I hadn't knocked him out...'

Remembering the backs of the two men running away from Beasties and Strawberry corpses once again makes my heart grow cold...

Sighing noticing my mood gradually worsening I decide to ignore it. 'You live in the present not the past, and my parents are still alive.'

....

'Shit. Mother, Father did they make it?!'

Remembering my father's figure I dismissed that thought as quickly as it came.

'It takes a monster to kill a monster.'

While thinking this a rare smile unconsciously forms on my face... Killing those things doesn't sound like a bad plan. According to these notices some kind of voodoo exist in this.. world? Hah I still can't believe I'm not on earth anymore... how did this even happen? Sigh...

I start observing my surrounding, not really remembering anything from yesterday night.

Maybe 2 m behind me I see the previously frozen river flowing with renewed energy. Surrounding the burnout fireplace is a bunch of rocks while a bit further away the forest growing semicircular from our position once again devour all space, a few strand of light penetrating through the treetops in the otherwise dark forest. Yesterdays screams and panic seemingly like a dream while gazing at the scenery... if it wouldn't for the girl sleeping on the opposite side of the fireplace.

Seemingly 17-19 years old quite tall, light brown hair which even in all the mud looks kind of beautiful. A pair of perfectly shaped legs with not to much flesh but enough to have those sexy womanly curves... Not to large breasts but it couldn't really be estimated which size they were while laying down. But as a man I think they are B maybe C sized maybe. In other words, obviously a hottie, would probably make my legendary moves on her if it wasn't for the bad mood I was feeling + her face being completely covered by snott and mud... 

OH and she's still bound by ropes.. I totally forg*cough cough* prioritised my health (sleep) yesterday. 

After releasing her from the ropes I head towards the river to wash my face when a *Ding* obviously smashes my improving mood.

Congratulations Competitor!

For surviving the first 24 hours of the Ascension Games the rules have bestowed you the right to see yours and other individuals . To see your just think 'Rank show'.

While Rank 0 is the lowest of the low (ordinary human) ranking it gradually continues until where you'll reach the peak of your tier. 

28 days 23 hours & 59 minutes remaining until the next stage.

Good luck surviving!

After reading the notice I immediately say 'Rank show' inside my mind and yet another notice appears in front of me.

RankingElijah Snow

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-

Rank 4 (Human level)

Reading through my I discovered I'm , not when I already have a ability.

Hmm must be some kind of overall judgement of your strength and not just strength as in muscle power but including abilities and mastery of abilities... hmm maybe there's something I'm missing but it at least feel somewhat accurate. 

Remembering the part that I could see other individuals I once again turn my gaze on the piece of eye cand*cough* oh sorry something got stuck in my throat, I mean the girl still sleeping next to the fireplace.

And as guessed over her body hovering in the air were the words

???

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Rank 1 (Human)

Hmm so if I don't know the name of the individual I'm looking at, the name won't show? Well that's the first thing close to ordinary in this freaking world... or maybe not... there's still letters hovering above someone... maybe I'm just crazy?... sigh... if only.

Sitting down once more I start debating with myself on what to do next.

'Hmm finding my parents will be like finding a needle in a haystack, and I'm sure dad'll take care of mother until we meet again, for now shelter should be priorised. Being so close the forest and other people doesn't sit well with me. But on the other hand, giving up an unlimited amount of drinkable water might also be a bad idea...'

While facing this inner turmoil I suddenly hear a sound of something moving.

Turning my head, my hand already on my knife's hilt I see the girl has woken up.

*********

The Piece of Ey*cough* Vera Cruze PoV

Waking up to the light pressing down on my eye lids I see a back and golden blonde hair in front of me. Seemingly gazing at the flowing crystal clear river and for a moment all memories of yesterday was forgotten. But life isn't that gentle...

Seeing the red colored dots and stripes on his clothes the memories come flooding back..

'So it wasn't a nightmare after all...'

Once again I feel tears running down my cheeks... after a while of silently crying I stop.. 

'This is no time to cry.. how do I know if I even am safe yet?!'

While thinking this I move my leg and surprisingly I'm not bound anymore. And suddenly I feel like the temperature drop into the negatives. Shivering consumes every square inch of my body as I look up seeing the eyes of the young man in front of me.

But surprisingly I don't feel fear when looking into his deep blue eyes, maybe a part of me has just given up on living.. but instead of fear I feel compassion? It's almost like looking into the mirror.. somehow I see myself in his eyes.. grief, sorrow, fear and surprisingly resolution?

After being mesmerised a few seconds I didn't even feel the shivering stopping or the temperature rising once again. And suddenly I can't hold in the tears as they flood down my face, I feel the taste of snott running down from my nose but some how I don't care. Jumping into this strangers chest my sobbing gradually turns into whispers..

"D-dad... m-mom..*sob*.. Eric..."

**********

Elijah Snow's PoV

It's been almost an hour since the once presumed hottie attacked my chest and started painting it with snott and tears. My first thought was if I should just slap her to get a hold of herself but without me knowing I found some kind of safety in her presence and salty water started running down my cheeks as well... without the disgusting snott though.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

After the sobbing stopped I got to hear her story and found her situation even worse than mine. The story took a bit longer than what I would've liked because she had to stop to sob several times.

Once the sun was at it's peak we both started feeling hungry, her blush when hearing her tummy growl like a beast was some what refreshing.

I stood back up heading towards the river but before heading towards the river a pull stopped me from behind.

"Th-thank y-you.."

I don't really know for what she was thanking me for but I still replied.

"No problem."

Giving the girl my sharpened stick from yesterday, we started hunting fish. Seeing her fall down repeatedly made a faint laughter escape my lips.

Surprisingly Vera, which she told me her name was, turned around and stared daggers at me. The vurnable girl from earlier seemingly like a mirage she sneered at me and said.

"I don't see you doing any better and I'm freaking hungry so get on with it."

Taken back by the change of personality I quickly connected it to her period... God I hope  so atleast.

Turning around I quickly located a fish enough to satisfy my hunger and I decided to test out my newly created ability...

Not really knowing how to activate it I decided to glare at it.. after 30 seconds it quickly got embarrassing, especially hearing the little devil snickering behind me.

Feeling embarrassment ans rage boiling up inside me I shot I glance one more towards the fish... and volah! A deep frozen fish float up towards the surface.

Feeling pride welling up inside me I grabbed it.

"Well hurry up you little devil, I got my meal already."

I said while waving the fish at her. Her face full of shock and disbelief quickly turns into a look of resolution as she continues her hunt.

--------

After eating we discuss where to go next. Even though she doesn't contribute to my survival I had somewhat grown attached to her. She was surprisingly a lot like Megumi and Strawberry, that fierce attitude from the hunt being a reminder of Megumi and her constantly looking at me when she doesn't think I notice being a reminder of Strawberry. 

After debating for a while we both come to the conclusion to follow the river. That way we'll have a constant source of food and water. Even though it may increase our chance of encountering danger I'm somewhat confident I can win... and my plan on killing as many as these monsters still haven't faded in my mind.

Traveling beside the river quickly got boring. After maybe 2 hours of walking we still hadn't encountered anything. Still, we kept our guard up at all times.

After noticing the clear blue sky darkening and Vera's constant nagging to take a break, I decide to make camp for the night.

Suggesting the idea of her starting to prepare a fire while I check the perimeter didn't sit well with me but after promising to not go far and keep an eye on her she reluctantly agreed.

After leaving her to set up camp I start heading towards the forest, our new camp by the way is sheltered by a bunch of large rocks so I wasn't that afraid the fire would attract any anim... monsters.

After walking semicircular our camp I suddenly hear a howl not to far from my position. Quickly heading towards the direction of the howl I can't wait to slaugh*cough cough* I mean someone might be in danger... right? 

After runing for a minute or two I see them almost camouflaged in the dark forest. Two gigantic black wolfs pushing and kicking a small white wolf cub. Above their heads I see a faint bunch of letters.

Big Black Wolf

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Rank 3 (Magical Beast)

... For real? That's their name? How original...

Seeing the faint letters above the wolf cub I inspect it aswell.

???

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Rank 0 (Mystical Beast)

Well I'm just glad its name's not 'White Wolf'... but why is it a mystical beast and not a magical beast?... what's even the difference? 

Looking closer I can see the wolf cub has red blood covering its fur and it seems at it doesn't even have the energy to retaliate anymore.

Focusing on the two black wolfs seemingly 5 m tall I start smiling.

Not even a second after my smile I can see frost gradually start covering the closest wolfs fur. And they both turn their viscous heads towards my direction. Staring into the frost covered wolfs eyes It lets out a painful roar. Noticing it shaking its head violently my smile widens. Focusing my gaze at the other wolfs eyes it also starts to roar slaming its head at nearby trees.

Standing up ans equipping my knife I start running towards the disorganised wolfs. Seemingly knowing of my charge the closest one rushes at me.

My sharpened reflexes save me as I jump to the side inserting my knife into its side. And surprisingly it stucks.

Losing grip of my knife I look at it slowly corroding while inserted into the beast. With no weapon a new plan forms in my head.

Remembering that it was these kinds of creatures which killed Vera's father a new level of killing intent flash through my eyes as I stare at the wolfs head in front of me.

It quickly stops resisting as it falls to the ground with a minor earthquake. Looking at the next wolf standing behind the corpse of its comrade it also quickly falls and once again the earth shakes. And then the dark forest once again consumes the area in its eerie silence.

Calming down I kind of have a general understanding of my ability. Now I just need to learn how to control my 'killing intent'.

Walking towards the corpse of the closest wolf I knock on its head... and its like colored ice. Shivering thinking about my ability I feel relief in knowing it was I who created it... unknowingly or not.

Grabbing one of its back legs I pull until it breaks. Tearing of the ridiculous flexible skin I then start heading back when a whimper stops me in the tracks.

'Ohh there was one more..'

Turning around I glare at the creature wanting it to be over quickly... but after just seeing squirm trying to stand up I just can't feel it.. my killing intent has abandoned me.

Seeing the little wolf cub barely tall enough to reach my knees I decided to continue leaving. Turning around a *duns* was heard from behind. Shooting a glance I see it collapsed on the ground it's snow white/red fur almost seeming like a source of light in this dark world.

Sighing I turn around and lift it up and once again head back towards the camp.

Falling Snow: wuuut? A neeew companion?!?!!!? Wonder how long it takes for it to die.. hoohohoh.