17 Survival (I)
''----''
''Apollo made a beeline through the training area. Since it was earlier than he usually got up
the yard was vacant. Thus
he continued forward and made a detour to Cynthia''s home.''
''When he reached
he knocked on the door. Shortly after
the ring of his aunt''s velvety voice sounded
"Who is it?''
''"Apollo
" he answered.''
''Not long after
the door opened revealing Cynthia''s matured smile. "Apollo
how are you? I''m sorry for yesterday."''
''"Don''t worry about it
Aunty. It''s not your fault. I understand that Kayn''s word is final. I just wanted to know if Aaron is up?" Apollo responded
brushing the matter aside.''
''"Yes
he is still here. If you want to see him. He''s in his room. If he isn''t up
then wake him
" Cynthia replied with a smile. But
her expression turned into one of surprise.''
''With the changes that took place last night
although his appearance didn''t alter greatly
for someone like Cynthia
they were apparent.''
''''A spitting image
he looks just like him. Why is that? Compared to just yesterday
he looking more and more like his father. The resemblance is uncanny
'' Cynthia thought while Apollo entered Aaron''s room.''
''"Aaron
are you awake?"''
''In response
Aaron moved. He turned over and looked at Apollo. However
his expression was glum as he looked at Apollo. "Yeah
I''m up. Yesterday was my fault
I shouldn''t have agreed. Now look what happened
you were the only one punished!"''
''"Don''t worry about that
I think it''s better this way. But
before I go
I thought I should come to tell you goodbye
" Apollo shook his head.''
''At first
Aaron was frozen in shock but then he jumped out of bed
"G-goodbye? You''re leaving? Where will you go?"''
''"I don''t know
but I can''t stay in this family any longer. Don''t worry though
I''ll just take my own path
" Apollo smiled.''
''On the other hand
Aaron sulked
"I understand. I just want you to know
I''ll miss you."''
''A silence was shared before the two gave each other a brotherly hug
"I''ll see you in the future Aaron. Perhaps
by then
I''ll be much stronger."''
''With these last words
he grabbed his belongings as he left the room.''
''Amid his departure
he waved to Cynthia
"Bye Aunty."''
''She waved back but she remained perplexed by something. She felt this bye sounded odd. It was only when he was a notable distance away that she noticed the small bag on his shoulder.''
''At that instant
Aaron ran out of his room.''
''Aaron flung the door open and screamed at the top of his lungs looking at the departing figure of Apollo.''
''"I swear to you Apollo
even if you continue to be unable to... then I will become strong and right every wrong! This is unfair and their words and behavior don''t justify their actions."''
''Lifting his hand
Apollo turned and waved with a smile. He would also miss this fellow that was prominent in his memories. However
in his eyes
remained a gaze that meant: "Don''t worry
I will be someone who doesn''t need protection. I promise you."''
''Cynthia walked up behind Aaron
placing her hand on his shoulder. As he gazed as his small yet distancing she was overwhelmed with curiosity
"Where is Apollo going?"''
''"I don''t know...but he said he is leaving. Even if he was lacking in talent
why couldn''t they just treat him like a normal person?" asked Aaron as he turned to his mother.''
''However she sighed and shook her head
"It''s not that Apollo is lacking in talent. It''s because of that event that happened that his body is that way. If not for that
I believe his talent would have been even stronger than Lily''s.''
''"Although there are some infrequent aberrants
talent of the body is something more so inherited. Lily''s father had a Top Tier Spirit-Grade Inner Talent
however
Apollo''s father possessed a Middle Tier Heaven-Grade Inner Talent. What I''m trying to say
even though they were the top two talents of their generation-..."''
''Cutting her words short
a melancholic sigh escaped her lips. She missed both her younger and older brother yet
she was unable to see either of them.''
''"If Uncle was so talented
why did they treat Apollo in such a way?"''
''"Well
you see sweetie
not everything can be explained simply by what you see. They treat Aaron that way because of the backstory. But
that is wrong
it isn''t his fault that the family''s rising stars perished. The blame should be placed upon those Terrors. But the family is too scared. As a result
he became the subject of their scorn."''
''"Tch...cowards looking for someone else to blame
" scoffed Aaron as the look in his eyes changed. They were slightly cold.''
''"Mom
I promise...I will be stronger than anyone present in the family."''
''"I believe in you. After all
after my brother''s death we need someone suitable to fill the Patriarch position. The person next in line... well let''s just say they aren''t situated for the task. I see our downfall in the future."''
''----''
''Passing through the gates of the Kaiser Family residence
Apollo looked into the distance. Ignoring the populated sidewalks
he was fascinated by the scenery before him for a moment. In truth
outside of the times he was bullied
this was the first real experience he had outside of the family estate. Intaking his surroundings
he began muttering to him.''
''"Wow
it seems so... expansive. Based on the books that I''ve read
the continent I''m on is the damaged Western Continent—Zephus. However
it isn''t called that anymore. Instead
it is split in two now namely the Endless Death Domain and Zephus Domain which sandwich the Ruination Boundary."''
''"I should learn more about the breakdown of society. That way
I''ll be able to prepare myself in the future. After all
I''ll need to possess some knowledge to blend into the selection and enter a War Academy."''
''As he talked to himself in a low voice
Apollo wandered aimlessly. Taking note of this he paused. His knowledge of his surroundings were all one-dimensional and from the books. He didn''t necessarily understand where to go. Hence
his only choice was to seek help.''
''"Azridan...uh where exactly am I headed?"''
''[Hmm
based on the information you possess
there should be a large forest nearby concentrated with both Spirit and Mortal Beast. However
it also seems from what I can sense to be explored frequently. Are you prepared to face challenges? We might not return here for a while.]''
''"Ah
I made my choice already Azridan. I''m ready to face what you deem fit
" answered Apollo before following Azridan''s directions. Turning east
he began his trek into uncharted areas for him. Although it was a new sensation for him—traveling; he couldn''t say he hated it. The constantly changing scenery was refreshing.''
''It wasn''t long before Apollo reached the forest. The forest had a simple name: The Shadowy Forest. All types of things could be found inside ranging from Spirit Beast to Spiritual Herbs to people. But at night the towering tree cast shadows among each other giving it an ominous atmosphere.''
''[Rememeber to avoid Rank 1 Spirit Beasts at all costs. Seek Mortal Beasts which are just extremely weak versions of Rank 1 Spirit.]''
''"Okay
" nodded Apollo as he attentively inspected his surroundings. However
contrary to his directions
the area which he entered from was littered with nothing but Rank 1 Spirit Beast.''
''Making his presence as sparse as possible
Apollo crept past this area
heading towards another part of the forest outskirts.''
''[Although it isn''t advised to engage in combat training with these monsters until you reach the level of a 5th Rank Mortal
we will be doing things differently.]''
''"Ok."''
''[For now
let''s hone your hand to hand combat. Once you complete this mission you will be rewarded.]''
''?System Alert! New Mission?''
''Quest Name: Initial Step to Superiority''
''Information: Strength means everything; so this is what you need to gain. Reach a suitable standard to travel deeper into the embrace of Azridan''s succession.''
''Task-''
''-Kill 5
000 Rank 0 Mortal Beast or above monsters. (0/5
000)''
''-Reach the Rank 5 Mortal Level. (Incomplete)''
''Time Limit: 3 years''
''[?Bonus Task?]-''
''- Complete within 2 years 6 months = 100% Experience reward increase.''
''- Complete within 2 years = 200% Experience reward increase.''
''- Complete within 1 year = Experience reward increased to 500%''
''Reward:''
''- 50
000 Experience''
''- ????
????''
''"So... I have to kill something. Erm
Azridan this will be my first time. I might have died but I have never killed. What does it feel like?"''
''[At first
it is a sensation that is wholly unsettling
however
when you are put in the correct situation you will understand. In a moment
it could be your death or theirs. What would you choose then? Being merciful to your enemies is to be heartless to yourself.]''
''"I understand." exhaled Apollo.''
''Settling his belongings under a large tree
Apollo marked it. With that
he returned to searching for monsters. Soon enough
he found a small fox type monster. However
unlike normal ones; this one wasn''t timid.''
''Upon Apollo''s appearance
it pounced.''
''?System Alert! Battle Mode activated.?''
''?Body is in prime battle state.?''
''Monster Name: Red Fox''
''Cultivation: Rank 0 Mortal Beast (On par with Rank 3 Mortal Cultivator)''
''Health: 50/50''
''Chance of Defeat: 49%''
''Widening his feet into a horse stance
Apollo shifted to the side as the fox dashed past him. It was hard for him to keep track of the foxes'' movements. After all
it was an agility-type beast.''
''''This little red fox is quick. It may take a lot to deal with it...''''