A painfully continuous throbbing in his head woke Nicolas from the icy grip of unconsciousness that had taken him as a price for disobedience to Xylos.He blinked, his vision blurry at first, then slowly sharpening to reveal the rough but cozy interior of a small cave. Sunlight entered the safe haven through a single, tiny hole positioned right above his head, casting dancing patterns on the animal skin rugs that covered the floor.Nicolas tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him back down. His hand, the one that had channeled Abron's power, throbbed with a dull ache. He winced, his gaze falling on the other occupant of the cave.The man from yesterday sat hunched over a small fire, a large, blackened leg of some creature roasting over the flames. The pungent smell of roasted meat filled the air, a stark contrast to the sterile coldness of the wasteland.Nicolas felt his stomach go sick immediately he realized what the man was roasting to serve as food.Th
Sunlight, delightful and warm, surrounded his entire body and made him silently thank the gods that he didn't have to deal with dying from hypothermia.The air which was thick with the sweet scent of blooming flowers vibrated with the melodic chirping of unseen birds whom seemed to be close by as he stood outside enjoying bimse and the warmth that followed.Gone were the biting winds and desolate white expanse of the frozen wasteland, accompanied with the numerous threats of unknown monsters and abominations. In its place, a beautiful jungle filled with delight that stretched as far as the eye could see.Nicolas stood frozen, mouth agape, as he surveyed the breathtaking transformation. Skepticism and apprehension worked hand in hand with awe.Could this be some kind of illusion? Or maybe it was a trick sent by Xylos to mislead him. He pinched his arm, the sharp sting confirming this was no dream. He had truly entered a world unlike any he had ever known.He glanced back at the cave en
The air crackled with a sudden shift in tension. The man, who had been silent as he devoured his game mere moments ago, now seemed to vibrate with an unseen energy. His eyes were more alive and it wouldn't be a mistake to say that he enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, along with the dangers that came with it.A ferocious growl escaped his hairy throat, a primal challenge that sent shivers down Nicolas' spine. He was still trying to recover from the sight of the three monstrous figures emerging from the within the jungle.They kept their blood red eyes on Nicolas, as if measuring if he was an easy prey. They would have kept up their attempt to intimidate Nicolas if the man's guttural sound had not drawn their attention."What the hell are these monstrosities?" Nicolas asked aloud, his voice audible enough for the man to hear, despite the monsters' growls.One resembled a grotesque parody of a jaguar, its dark and luxurious fur rippling with muscle, its eyes glowing like embers. Beside it
The clearing where the fight had taken place was a scene to behold. Although the fight had already ended Nicholas still found it hard to believe than one man had been able to take down three incredible beasts with his hands without any use of magic. It shocked him to see that such a being existed in this fantasy world when he thought that everything depended, including survival, on magic and the ability to use powerful spells.The jaguar, lying stiff with glazed eyes, looked almost feline in its repose – almost. The hulking creature, however, was a grotesque tableau of ripped flesh and destroyed fur, which was a testament to the man's brutal efficiency."I don't even know what to say. What are you even? Are you a man or a beast or some kind of god?" Nicholas asked, his mind field with various questions.The man didn't answer but rather he kept quiet as he fixed his eyes on his trophies which laid on the ground motionless. Truth be told, he didn't care much about Nicholas and his pres
Nicolas waited patiently in the cave, his senses on high alert as his ears registered the rustle of the jungle outside. The night when they had returned from the lake was as cold as ever, perhaps even more than his first night in the ice wasteland, just as Abron had said.Come to think of it, Nicolas hadn't really heard all that much from Abron and he wondered if the demon king had gone into hibernation.The air was thick with the scent of earth now that it was slowly returning and also the lingering aroma of the meat the man had left earlier which he had forced himself to eat.He could hear the distant calls of several possibly harmless creatures awakening, and his heart beat in sync with the rhythm.His thoughts, however, were a whirlwind of anticipation and anxiety as he prepared himself for the first day of their training.After killing the venomous beast that almost ended the man's life, he had decided to train Nicolas as a way of showing appreciation for not ending up dead.The
The rush of wind roared in Nicolas' ears as he plummeted through the air, the ground rushing up to meet him at a terrifying speed. His stomach lurched, and he felt sick.This was it; he was about to die. The realization struck him with a cold finality, and every second felt like an eternity. Nicolas closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact.Then, a sharp whistle cut through the chaos, and something massive and powerful surged beneath him. In an instant, strong talons wrapped around his torso, and the sensation of free fall ceased. His eyes flew open, and he gasped as he saw a bird, majestic and enormous, soaring upwards with him in its grasp. The bird’s feathers glimmered in the sunlight.Within moments, Nicolas found himself back in the sky, being lifted toward the man and the first bird. The change from impending death to sudden rescue left him breathless and shaking. As the bird finally leveled out beside the man, Nicolas clung to the feathers, his knuckles white.The m
The birds beneath them let out warning cries and adjusted their flight paths to give Nicolas and the man better positions to defend themselves. Another beast lunged at Nicolas, its talons extended and fangs bared. Before it had time to fully attack Nicolas, it's found itself getting struck in the head in an instant.“Good!” the man shouted. “Keep moving, don’t let them overwhelm you!”Nicolas barely had time to register the man’s words before another beast was upon him.This one was larger, more aggressive. It swooped down with terrifying speed, its claws aiming for Nicolas’s face. He ducked at the last moment, feeling the rush of air as the creature’s talons whistled past his head. He swung his knife upward, catching the beast in its unprotected belly. It howled in pain, thrashing wildly before retreating.All around them, the battle raged. The man moved with a grace and precision that left Nicolas awestruck. His movements were a blur, his weapon flashing in the moonlight as he st
Nicholas stirred from a restless sleep, shivering beneath the thin blanket he had wrapped over himself the night before.The cave, once a temporary haven, had offered little protection against the bitter cold that had transformed the jungle into a frozen wasteland. His breath emerged in visible puffs, and he rubbed his arms continuously, trying to bring warmth into his limbs.As he emerged from the cave, blinking in the early morning light, Nicholas' eyes registered the significant change in his surroundings. The cold desolation of the previous night had given way once again to a lush, vibrant jungle. Birds chirped cheerfully, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of plans and trees. It always felt unreal how the jungle had reborn itself overnight, shaking off the icy grip that had held it captive. The beauty of it all marveled Nicolas each time he sees it.Standing at the edge of the clearing was the man who had taken Nicholas under his wing, training him for the Armageddon