Chapter 54: Chapter 48: Into the Wilderness
A/N:
Warning: This Chapter contains graphic content that involves coercion and child abuse.
I do not endorse or promote abuse of any kind, be it mental, physical or sexual on anybody regardless of age, gender, or affiliation.
Do not forget that this is just a dark fantasy novel and even here, abuse is not cool.
You have been warned.
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In these six months, Zeke’s research had made gratifying progress. With the foundational compound rune he had discovered, he was able to differentiate two formations, one from each technique. From the Three Origins Technique, he was able to find a formation consisting of four runes.
After he tested all of them out, he tentatively named them; ’Sahacharya’(Go with the Flow’), ’Shuddhi’(Purify), ’Avirodha’(Peace), and ’Sammilit’(Inclusive).
This formation + the compound rune created a formation that could be roughly translated into, ’Go with the flow to gather natural energy and refine it into extremely inclusive, pure, and peaceful internal qi.’ This was also the whole point of this technique.
The formation from the Nine Lotus Hells Technique was a little more complicated. It consisted of three runes and two compound runes.
After testing their effects, he tentatively named the runes; ’Parivartit’(Transform), Sankṣepit’(Condense), and ’Nau’(Nine). The two compound runes were; ’Narak’(Hell) and ’Kamalkaid’(Lotus Prison). ’Narak’ was created by fusing three runes, ’Param’(Absolute), ’Andhakaar’(Darkness), and ’Maut’(Death).
’Kamalkaid’ was created by fusing two runes, ’Kaid’(Prison) and ’Neeraj’(Lotus). ’Narak’ granted the Hell Qi its attributes and ’Kamalkaid’ gave it its form.
(Kaid actually means ’imprison’ in hindi. The word for prison didn’t fit here so I used Kaid instead.)
This formation + the foundational compound rune created a formation that could be roughly translated as, ’Gather natural energy and refine it into internal qi. Transform it into the energy of Hell(Hell Qi) and condense it into nine lotus prisons.’
Zeke was absolutely amazed. With just two techniques, he had been able to identify fourteen different runes. If he could obtain more techniques, he might be able to complete this language. And his speed would only increase as his database grew.
He would worry about that later. Right now, he had to design his own cultivation technique. As he was sitting and reorganizing his gains, he heard somebody entering his cabin.
He turned around and saw that it was Rank 2. She looked worried. She said, "Rank 1, you need to see this."
Zeke picked up his weapon and exited the cabin. He followed Rank 2 to the place where the drums of meat usually appeared. But today, he didn’t see anything there. He first looked at Rank 2 and then at the eight remaining trainees that were gathered there. Yes, in these six months, 12 more trainees had died. Now, it was just the ten of them. They were the only ones left. They were the only ones who had survived this hellhole.
’I guess that’s what they were waiting for. The strongest ten out of two hundred orphans. They must have waited three years to see if the orphans had some hidden potential that could be brought out under extreme conditions. I wonder what they’ll do to us now.’, thought Zeke.
He looked at Rank 2 and said, "Don’t worry. Remember what I told you a year ago."
Rank 2 nodded. He said, "Inform me if anything else happens."
He then returned to his cabin. He started packing his notebooks. He currently had four notebooks, and three cultivation techniques. He had gotten an additional notebook by dropping a note in one of the drums. The notebook was included with the meat the next day. At least, the old man had kept his promise. He used the notebook to document the runes. He took off his shirt and wrapped the notebooks in it. He could easily survive with his shirt and those notebooks were very precious. He was hoping that these had not been discovered in Dimension Zero yet. Because he could already smell the System Achievement that he would get when he introduced them there. But he was getting ahead of himself. Right now, he had to focus on actually returning home.
An hour later, everybody was starting to get anxious. Just then, they saw five silhouettes in the distance. They were the five original instructors. Seeing this, Rank 2 went and called Zeke. He picked up his weapon and the bundle of books and went to the group. By the time he reached there, so had the instructors. The instructors stared at the trainees in front of them and felt a little proud. Of course they didn’t show it.
The head instructor walked forward and said, "We brought you all here three years ago when you were just seven years old. We have trained you and turned you from weak kids begging for food and water into capable young adults. Now, we will give you your last mission. After completing it, you will become official members of the Divine Demonic Cult.
We will divide you into two teams with five trainees each. You will be transported to an unnamed mountain forest in the Cult’s territory. You must survive there for four years and become Third Rate Warriors.
It is not an ordinary forest. Inside that forest, opportunities and danger go hand in hand. The only thing you will receive from the Cult will be a weapon. Four years later, the stronger team wins. As for the prize, survive, and we’ll talk about it. Now, Rank 1, step forward."
Zeke stepped forward. The head instructor looked at him and said, "You have proven yourself by ranking first for two consecutive years. As a reward, you can choose your team members."
Zeke nodded and said, "Yes Sir."
He looked at each trainee, staring deeply into their eyes. He said, "Rank 2, Rank 5, and Rank 9, step forward."
He looked at the rest of the trainees and shook his head. He then looked at the head instructor and said, "I choose them. The rest are too weak."
The head instructor looked at him and asked, "Are you sure?"
Zeke said, "Yes Sir."
The head instructor looked at the other 6 trainees and said, "You can decide on a leader yourself. Follow me."
Without waiting for anyone, he started walking. The trainees started following him and the instructors without a word. As they were walking, Zeke suddenly sensed danger. His hand gripped his weapon and he was about to get in stance but he suddenly lost consciousness. As he was falling down, his last thought was, ’Daamniiit!’
[Something was seriously wrong with this Cult. Why were they obsessed with knocking kids out? Who was giving these orders? Did they have a strange fetish?]
When he woke up, he found that he and the other trainees were in a forest surrounded by huge trees. Seeing them wake up, the head instructor said, "Now that you’re all awake, take this."
He handed them all their new weapons. Unlike before, these were real weapons made with metal instead of wood. As he held his new weapon, he could instantly tell that it was very well made. Unlike his previous weapon, this one’s blades were slightly curved inwardly. He brandished it, and he felt almost no air resistance. The blade was really sharp and the blades seemed to slice the air almost effortlessly.
The other trainees also tried out their weapons. Looking at them like this, the head instructor thought, ’I guess they’re children after all. Even if...’
He said, "Hopefully, we’ll meet again in four years."
Then, he used a movement art to leave. Zeke looked at his teammates and said, "Let’s go."
The trio nodded. The four of them then left, leaving the other team there. While they were running, Zeke said, "Control your breathing. Don’t speed up too much. Save that stamina. The first thing we need to do is to find a water source with potable water."
While they were running, Rank 9 hesitated and said, "Rank 1, why did you choose me?"
Rank 9 was also a bulky boy. Although not as exaggerated as Rank 5, he was still a big guy. Zeke didn’t look back and said, "Because of your weapon."
Rank 9 used a two handed battle ax. He looked confused and asked, "My weapon?"
"Yeah. We might have to cut trees now that we’re in a forest. For that, I needed an ax. Among the trainees left, only you use an ax."
Rank 9 almost tripped when he heard that. He thought, ’No wonder Rank 1 chose me.’
He wasn’t offended at all. Rank 9 idolized Zeke. He wanted to be as strong as him. Suddenly, Zeke stopped. The trio stopped behind him. They were about to ask why he stopped but he signaled them to stay silent. He was extremely silent because he had just found their water source. Or at least a living compass to it. It was a deer. His plan was to follow the deer.
When it was thirsty, it would go to a water body like a creek or a lake. That would be their water source. Not. Doing that would be dumb. Because there would be other wild animals there. What they needed to do was find its source. Where it was getting the water from.
(I live in a city and have no idea if this is even remotely correct. Do not follow this advice under any circumstances.)
