“Yo kid, wake up.”

Raja Kint opened his eyes to see a grizzly beard hovering over him. Immediately knowing it’s Tobias Shizen. Raja Kint closes his eyes to take a deep breath when he’s kicked in the leg. Opening his eyes again, Tobias Shizen is still standing over him. Causing his brows to scrunch.

“Get away.”

“No need to be so mad.”

Raja Kint gets up and goes to the nearby stream. Cupping the cold water into his hands, he splashes his face.

“You have a weird sleeping habit, Raja.” Raja Kint raised an eyebrow. “You were reaching and grasping for the sky. Something tells me you weren’t really reaching but more so crushing something. Anyways you’re a weird sleeper, haha.”

“Did you tell the others?”

“Haha, where else would we get such good joke material.” said Lucas Shizen with a laugh.

Raja Kint sighed to himself as he finished washing up. Afterward, they all continued on their path alertly as today was the official first day of the Shinrin Tribe’s siege.

Elsewhere in the forest.

A white-haired man walks alone in the forest. After a few steps, he stops as a hooded man appears from behind a tree.

The white-haired man says, “Today is the day so you best uphold your end if things reach that point.”

“Hmph, to question me like this is foolish. There is nobody in this forest that can take a single blow from me.”

Silence ensued before the hooded man extended his hand. Within is a small vile. “This will overflow you with ki for a short while.”

The white-haired man didn’t reach for the item, “Drawbacks?”

“You’ll be in recovery for at least 4 months afterward due to the strain on your body.”

The white-haired man’s eyes showed struggle before finally taking the vile. “You’re sure this is enough to take that old man down?”

“He may have some understanding of laws but how much can he draw forth? He’s a child trying to wield a devourer class weapon at best.”

“Even a devourer class weapon can kill with weak users. How long ago did you check his strength?”

“What are you so paranoid for? Do you think he’ll find a way forward after he’s been trying for so long? Hurry up and unite the forest.” The hooded man left. While the white-haired man sighed to himself with a troubled expression.

“Of course, I’m paranoid you damned fool. That old man has been at the apex for so many years. That nobody knows how high his ceiling is. Because of him, his entire tribe has become stronger as well. Truly a generational talent and still not enough for the ancestors’ acknowledgment? Either this doesn’t exist or the requirements are simply too high. I just hope this is all worth it.” The white-haired man turned around to leave.

Midday.

Raja Kint looks over the side of a cliff and sees the main battalion in the distance. With the troop taking a break Raja Kint practices his hand combat. Over his time with the troop, his hand combat has improved drastically as a combination of fusing their techniques and his homeworld. He’s also gained more experience in different scenarios. It’s also made him realize that the mere basics from his homeworld are truly advanced compared to others. He had to admit the techniques he knew, which only non-cultivators would bother learning, were more advanced than this tribe with history.

After some practice, Raja Kint sat down at the edge of the cliff. While sitting there he looks down at the beasts roaming around and fighting. Thinking back to the coliseum his eyes became cold. I knew the world was a cold place. In the end knowledge and experience still must be bridged to fully understand.

“Let’s get back to patrolling.”

The group spent the rest of the day walking their path with no conflicts which surprised them. At night Raja Kint went to rest as another two would be patrolling.

“WAKE UP!”

Raja Kint immediately appeared outside his tent along with the others. They all looked toward Elias Shizen.

“I caught a glimpse of the enemy.”

“Where!”

Michalis Shizen spoke, “Quickly pack up, we’re leaving in a few minutes.”

Everyone quickly gathered their items. Raja Kint swiped his ring over his items and placed his spear on his back. Within a few minutes, everyone was following Elias Shizen. Moving through the night, the roars of the beast made it seem like the beasts were closer than they actually were. Can’t these beasts shut up at such an important moment?

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Soon enough they caught a glimpse of a group slightly bigger than theirs. With 11 men sleeping, there were sure to be others nearby surveying. Michalis Shizen whispered, “Spread.”

Everyone spread out to encircle the men while looking for those who had to be awake. As Raja Kint was moving he was right behind Tobias Shizen. Suddenly Tobias Shizen quickly attacked at a location. Raja Kint used his spear to stab behind some greenery toward the direction of Tobias Shizen’s attack.

A gurgle sounded from behind the greenery before a thump was heard. The two sheathed their weapons and continued surrounding.

“INTRU-!”

Raja Kint held his spear as he darted toward the men. He was able to quickly kill two before the men were able to equip themselves. Falling back to Michalis Shizen the two groups stared each other down. The enemy quickly counted the dead bodies as their faces were chilly.

“Taking down five of us so fast. It would seem only fair to trade a life for a life.” spoke a robust man. “This little twerp is quite quick as well.”

Michalis Shizen responded, “With your group now down to nine members you’ll all die tonight.”

Immediately the group charged forward. Michalis Shizen confronted two men who were in the late-stage outer ki realm. Leaving the rest to a seven-on-seven scenario.

Vasil Shizen roared, “Battle formation.”

The troops partnered up as they fought. The only person who could move freely was Raja Kint. With his spear, he closed in on an enemy.

Raja Kint blocked the sword strike and immediately swept his spear. Blood poured from the man’s stomach. Raja Kint thrust his spear through his head before going to help the others. When the enemy witnessed such dominance their faces revealed shock. Raja Kint was only a kid yet he was strong enough to easily handle a fifth-stage outer ki cultivator! Plus, a kid so young has no qualms about killing!

Like a reaper, wherever Raja Kint arrived bodies would lifelessly drop. After a few moments, the troops finished their battle and looked toward their commander.

Vasil Shizen said, “Secure the area, Raja with me.”

The two sped toward their commander. “Left.” They aimed their weapons toward the man on the left. He’s a seventh-stage outer ki while the other man is an eighth-stage. When the two enemy commanders saw two enemy troops arriving their hearts went cold.

The man on the right suddenly turned and began fleeing. The man on the left fled immediately as well. Michalis Shizen hunted the right man. Raja Kint explosively increased his speed stunning Vasil Shizen. He soon caught up to the enemy as the man turned around and stabbed forth with a saber. Raja Kint narrowly dodged as his spear also stabbed forth. The man used the base of his saber to deflect the stab. Sending a left kick forward, Raja Kint side-stepped the kick while sweeping his spear.

The man blocked the sweep and stabbed forth. Raja Kint used his full strength to sway out of the way. Simultaneously sweeping his spear again. The man swung his free left hand to stop the spear further down its shaft. When he connected with the spear he grunted as blood dripped from his side. Raja Kint pulled his spear back before quickly thrusting forward. The man deflected this thrust and struck toward Raja Kint’s open body. Raja used both hands on the bit of spear still near his body and blocked every strike sent his way. The man frowned as Vasil Shizen had just arrived.

Vasil Shizen swung his sword forcing the man to be defensive. Raja Kint took this moment to send thrusts forth. The man looked at both of them with dread in his eyes. “Who are you, kid?”

“A prodigy.”

The man’s face fell. “It would seem you’re an unforeseen variable.” The man began attacking with no regard for injury or his life.

Raja Kint and Vasil Shizen continued to inflict the man with scars. Before twenty moves even passed the man collapsed. Vasil Shizen stabbed his sword through the man’s head before heading back toward the troops. Once back they learned that their commander hadn’t returned yet.

“Let’s go,” commanded Vasil Shizen.

They were going in the direction their commander last went. After traveling for a few moments they found Michalis Shizen surrounded by six dead bodies. When he looked over at the troops one could see the tiredness on his face.

“Heh, he was banking on being followed. With multiple fifth outer ki appearing around me. And in a battle formation to boot. Let’s make some distance before settling down for the night.”

The troop found a spot near a cave and got some rest.

The sun shined through the trees awakening the troops as they quickly prepared a meal after the battle. Luckily, everyone was in good condition. The commander had a few flesh wounds but he was fine. As they were eating they heard rustling in the forest. Everyone grabbed their weapons to find a brown bear looking at them. Raja Kint gulped as the ki from the bear suggested it was at the peak outer ki realm!

“Roar!”

Footsteps sounded within the cave as two smaller bears came out. The bear looked at the two cubs and then back at the group before it. Everyone sheathed their weapons, packed their things, and left for the rest of their route. Midday they ran into another enemy group. This group had two eighth outer ki cultivators, one man and one woman. Followed by 11 mid-outer ki cultivators.

The woman said, “So the ones ahead are probably dead, huh? Well, it doesn’t matter.”

“To meet Michalis Shizen is an honor. You’re strength is marveled throughout this forest.” said the man.

“You are also a great figure within this forest.” responded Michalis Shizen.

The man looked at the woman and said, “Leave him to me, I wish to know whether he truly is the strongest eighth outer ki within all the tribes.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders as she went to sit beside a tree. Michalis Shizen and the man went out a bit for an undisturbed fight. Leaving eleven men for the troops.

The woman muttered, “That boy isn’t in Michalis troops. He must be a trump card but how much can a kid do?” She closed her eyes to the battle about to start.

Vasil Shizen said, “Weave formation.”

Immediately the troops including Raja Kint entered a circle. With Elias Shizen standing in the middle holding a bow and a full quiver. To Raja Kint’s left was Bane Shizen and to his right was Jackal Shizen.

The eleven men slowly surrounded this formation, bloodlust filling the air.