Chapter 66: Chapter 60: Tooki
A lot of time passed. Yonggi and Zeke kept traveling, fighting any Spirit beasts that they came across. The only time they rested was when they found a natural treasure. Although it was hectic, their strength also increased dramatically.
Zeke had reached the peak of the Third Rate Warrior realm and could break through to the Second Rate Warrior realm at any moment. If one were to see his Lower Energy Core, they would find three black and gold twelve petalled lotuses.
Yonggi had reached the level of a Second Transformation Spirit Beast. His size had increased a lot but fortunately, he was able to control it. Just like the ability to transform, controlling their size was something that every Spirit Beast with a pure enough bloodline could do. It didn’t need a catalyst. He also gained a lot of battle experience in both his forms.
One day, they were resting after sparring with each other, when they heard a loud bang. It had come from the sky. They both looked over and realized that it was a flare. An unusually loud and bright flare. Zeke said, "Has it been four years already?"
He looked at Yonggi and said, "Looks like it is time to leave this mountain. Now, you have three choices. First, stay here. Se-"
Before he could continue, Yonggi said, "No. I’m leaving with you."
Zeke continued, "Then you have two options. Either come with me in your beast form, or come with me in your humanoid form. Know that you won’t be able to switch your forms for some time so choose carefully."
Yonggi thought about it. He decided to accompany Zeke in his beast form. He thought that he would be able to help Zeke more that way. He switched into his beast form and looked at Zeke. Zeke understood Yonggi’s choice and said, "Hide your wings. I might be able to explain a Bloodborne Unicorn but not a Bloodborne Horned Pegasus."
Yonggi neighed and his wings were absorbed into his body. It was a bloodline ability, Camoflauge. He had learned how to do that from his bloodline memories. Zeke mounted him and said, "Let’s go."
Yonggi started galloping towards the flare. They had underestimated the distance as it was very far away. It would have been much easier if they flew but considering the risk of exposure, it just wasn’t worth it. They traveled the whole day and night, resting only for an hour or two in between. The next morning, another flare was fired.
Zeke guessed that the instructors must have been firing the flares to guide the trainees to them. When they were nearing the site, they heard another explosion. It was another flare, but it was fired from a different place. They didn’t change direction and continued on to their original destination. When they reached there, they found something unexpected.
It wasn’t an instructor waiting for them but a formation. It was responsible for firing the flares at regular intervals. They also found a note. Zeke picked it up and read it. It said, ’Follow the direction of the arrow in a straight line.’
He saw that an arrow had been engraved below the note.
He mounted Yonggi and they left in the direction to which the arrow was pointing. Some time later, he arrived at another site. They had to go to about ten such sights. Finally they reached the site that led them to the base of the mountain.
Two weeks later, they arrived at the base of the mountain. Zeke saw that a small camp had been set up there. One of the guards must’ve spotted him as he called the instructors. He returned with a group of men. Zeke finally saw a face that he recognised.
It was the head instructor. Zeke got down from Yonggi and greeted the instructors. He said, "Rank 1 greets the instructors."
The head instructor said, "So you survived. Good. I see that you’ve had your adventures."
He glanced at Yonggi. Zeke said, "Yes Sir,"
The head instructor said, "You’re the first candidate to reach here. Have you broken through to the Lower Demon realm?"
Zeke was confused. Lower Demon realm? What was that? Looking at his confused face the head instructor said, "I forgot that you don’t know. In the Dive Demonic Cult, we call the realms by different names.
They are; Lower Demon, Demon, Higher Demon, Supreme Demon, Demon Monarch, and Ultimate Demon corresponding to Third Rate Warrior, Second Rate Warrior, First Rate Warrior, Peak Warrior, Supreme Warrior, and Transcendent respectively."
Zeke didn’t like the overuse of the term ’Demon’ but he still replied, "Yes Sir."
He then fully released his aura. Sensing his aura, the head instructor was both shocked and satisfied. He thought, ’As expected of them.’
He said, "I would like to congratulate you on becoming an official member of the Divine Demonic Cult."
Zeke said, "Thank you Sir."
The head instructor led him and Yonggi into the small camp. He was given a fresh pair of clothes and food. It felt good, eating food with actual seasoning after so long. By nighttime, all of the members of the other team had arrived.
They hadn’t split up like his team had so they returned at the same time. Another day passed and his teammates still hadn’t arrived. Zeke thought, ’Did something happen to them?’
The head instructor came to him and said, "If your teammates don’t arrive in the next two days, then..."
Although he didn’t complete his sentence, Zeke understood what he was saying. If Woong, Bum, and Woo didn’t arrive in the next two days then they would be abandoned. Another day passed and it was the final day. It was already afternoon and there still wasn’t any sign of the trio. While they were eating lunch, the head instructor suddenly stood up. He said, "Did anyone hear that?"
Everybody shook their heads.
He said, "Everybody, get your weapons."
Everyone was looking at him in confusion. He said, "That’s an order."
Everyone stood up and armed themselves. They looked towards the entrance of the camp. Half an hour passed and Zeke sensed something. It wasn’t very obvious, but he could feel a slight vibration coming from the ground. Another 15 minutes passed and the vibration became extremely obvious.
Zeke could only think of one thing that could cause this. A beast tide. And he was right, because he heard the roar of a tiger. No. It wasn’t a single roar. There were multiple tigers. He was confused. Weren’t tigers solitary animals? They wouldn’t have banded together unless...a tiger Spirit Beast had appeared.
The head instructor shouted, "Archers, ready your bows."
The group of tigers came into sight with a humongous tiger leading them. He said, "Take aim."
The archers drew their bows, aiming for the tigers. The head instructor commanded, "Fi-"
"Wait! Do not fire!"
Before he could finish he was interrupted by Zeke. He wanted to reprimand Zeke but one of the archers said, "There is someone riding the leader of the tigers. It is a human."
The group of tigers came to the entrance of the camp. One could feel the ferocity and the killing intent that the tigers radiated. The leader of the tigers suddenly knelt and a human got off its back. He rubbed the tigers head and the tiger...purred. It purred like a fucking kitten.
The human scanned the lineup before spotting Zeke. He shouted, "Ryeong!"
He ran towards Zeke. Zeke carefully looked at the person in front of him and asked questioningly, "Bum, is that you?"
Now that Zeke looked at him carefully, he did resemble Bum. But there were some very obvious differences. Similar to himself, the person in front of him had strong muscles but he was not at all bulky. Bum was very bulky, second only to Woong. His hair was now a dark orange with black streaks. He also had a ’王’ character on his forehead.
Bum said, "Ryeong, I’ve become much stronger than before. Let’s fight."
Behind him the head instructor coughed. Bum looked at him and realized that he had completely ignored his existence. He said, "Bum, I mean, Rank 9 greets the instructors."
The head instructor said, "Explain."
Bum was confused as to how he should explain the group of tigers behind him. He said, "Um...they are my, hmmm, pets. Yup, they are my pets. Look"
He looked at the leader of the tigers and said, "Tooki, roll."
Zeke wondered if his teammates were sick. First Pooki, and now Tooki? Funnily enough, the humongous tiger rolled on the ground before standing back up. The head instructor was shocked. He asked, "How?"
Bum glanced at Zeke before looking around. He mumbled, "Woo and Woong mustn’t have arrived yet. Looks like I won our bet."
He then looked at the head instructor and said, "I can only explain that after Woo and...I mean Rank 2 and Rank 5 return. You might have to prepare yourselves though."
