《Forged Soul [Realms]》


 Chapter 1

    Panic, fear, and confusion were all Jack felt when he woke up in the dark forest. With only strands of blue light illuminating through the foliage of the trees, he frantically looked around, trying to get a sense of where he was. It was no use. Past the little light the blue moon gave him, he only saw darkness. Jack wanted to do nothing more than curl up in a ball and hope someone finds him, but as the son of the strongest human clan, he would be shamed if he did so.


    Jack got on his feet to start his trek in the forest, but the throbbing pain of his head and the taste of metal lingered on his lips. He wiped his face and brought his hand up to the light to see what it was. Blood. He touched his forehead and realized he somehow had a head wound. He had no idea how he ended up here, and the head wound raises even more questions. Did someone try to kill him? Usually, he would have half-step Forged souls with him to make sure he wouldn¡¯t be kidnapped or killed by his clan¡¯s enemies. Though he held on to that thought.


    Jack may have been a Seedling in Soul Cultivation and 14 years old, but he had found ways to lose his escorts. Then again, they were his guards. How dare they keep losing him in the first place? If he had better guards, he would not be in this position. Jack punched a nearby tree and quickly regretted that decision as he hissed in pain. He would have a word with his parents about punishing those guards and replacing them immediately.


    Jack walked towards the nearest tree to see if he could get a sense of where he was. He was lucky that he was the son of the Wind Flygon patriarch and received the best training and lessons they could give to a Seedling. Now if he could only remember what he was taught. He inspected the tree and noticed that in the blue light, the bark was nearly black and covered in some thick sap. He then took a closer look at the leaves and cheered inside. The leaves were green, elongated, stretchy, and absorbent.


    He figured for now he could use the sap to help seal his wound and the leaves to bandage his head. But that wasn¡¯t why Jack felt a slight relief. He knew exactly where he was. Well, at least the area. His clan was in the north-west region of the human realm, where the Dark Sayana tree populated a forest nearby. He wasn¡¯t too far from home. He just had to figure out what direction home was. He would have loved to just set up camp here and wait, but if he was where he thought he was.. He wouldn¡¯t last an hour before a tier 1 beast found him.


    He cleaned the blood as best as he could using the Sayana tree leaves, then used the sap to clog his wound, and if he remembered correctly, the properties in the sap should help it heal. After he wrapped his head and sealed it with sap, his stomach rumbled. Jack sighed. Injured, hungry, and lost. This would be the last time he kept around incompetent guards.


    He had no clue of what direction to make headway, but he picked one and started walking. He wasn¡¯t too concerned about getting lost because whoever his parents sent would catch his trail and follow him. Though that would risk whoever attacked him to find him as well. But if that was the case, why would they leave him alone in the middle of the forest? It made no sense, but he would just have to put faith in the guards his parents would send. It would most likely be Richard who is the head personal guard of his family. Jack shuddered at the thought.


    All of the guards treat Jack and his family with respect and wouldn¡¯t dare lay a finger on any of them, but Richard was like an uncle to Jack, who would have no problem dragging Jack back home by his ears. He was the only person outside of his family whom he would not dare raise his voice to. He could already feel the stinging sensation in his ear lobes.


    As Jack carefully walked through the forest with only dim blue light to aid his sight, he tried to keep a lookout for any berries or fruits that could be growing on some bushes. His stomach rumbled again. As only a Seedling soul, he realistically would not be able to kill a beast to feed himself. As a Seedling, he was constrained to one manipulation art, which was Controller. There were more manipulation arts, but he really only concerned himself with that one.


    There was another form called Weaver, but he wasn¡¯t sure what they specialized in. He only knew that as a Controller with the element of wind, he can manipulate the wind around him to help him do different things. A few things he was taught were to control the air around him to help make his steps more silent and to lighten his movements to make him travel slightly faster. With these two techniques combined, it was perfect to traverse the forest without attracting attention to himself.


    While he isn¡¯t even close to mastery of the Controller Form, he was ahead of his peers with his adept control and close to advancing in the next cycle of Soul Cultivation. Most of his age would struggle to even sense the Virya of their element to control. But for Jack and his advantages of being the patriarch''s son, he was born with talent and the best teachers his parent''s money could provide.


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    As quietly as he could, he came upon a bush with blue berries sprouting from it. He grabbed a handful of the blue berries and came close to ravenously devouring them, but a strange growl came from the bush. Jack paused as his eyes widened at the bush. He started to crouch backwards when a rustle came from it, and a creature burst out attacking him.


    Jack yelped and fell back with his arms raised to stop the beast from eating his face off. Jack¡¯s eyes closed when the creature jumped at him. The creature clawed into his arms, but Jack managed to kick the creature off and over his head. He scrambled back to his feet with a heavy breath and turned to where he had thrown the creature. Jack cursed under his breath when all he saw were trees swaying in the blue under the glow of the moon.


    Blood dripped from his arm, but he didn¡¯t feel a thing thanks to the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He backed up while keeping an eye out for anything that looked like a threat, and he kept his hearing sharper for any sounds. Nothing. He backed up against a tree, which caused him to jump in panic. He quickly turned around with his eyes closed again, yelling and wailing with his arms. When his eyes opened, he visibly sighed and dropped his arms.


    ¡°Just a tree.¡± He shook his head and leaned against it.


    His combat instructors always advised him to keep his eyes open in order to always keep sight of the ensuing battle, but he never took the class seriously. As the patriarch''s son, he was never alone, and so he never expected to have to fight his own battles. He was forced to learn how to wield a sword and take stances with it and his fists. But outside of training against wooden dummies who do not move, he never practiced any discipline. Now he saw that he would need to.


    Jack kept peering into the darkness, trying to track where the creature went, but after a few moments of silence and still movement, he decided to tactically retreat the other way. He would find food elsewhere. Never turning his back from where he last saw the creature, he stepped to the side and continued moving backwards until he felt he had gained a good distance.


    Once he did, Jack turned and bolted the other way, abandoning all his previous attempts at stealth. What is the point of stealth when running for your life?  He kept going until he heard a rustling from beside him as he ran. He looked to his side and saw the grass and bushes along him move as if something ran beside him. Something in Jack told him to dive for cover, and he did just that. As he dove down, a black blur jumped from the grass and over Jack as he dived down.


    He tumbled over and rolled into a tree with a crash. Laid out on the ground, Jack weakly lifted his head and finally saw what was hunting him. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t a tier 1 creature, but it was still a creature that could kill Jack. It was a mixture between a rat and a porcupine.


    Its claws were long and curved with spikey hair around its body that looked like a spiked mace, while a long snout lined with overreaching teeth that curled in different directions completed its horrendous look. Spikers. Like rats, they gather in groups to fight large prey, but when they are alone, they make it a hobby to kill weaker prey.


    Jack scowled at the ugly beast. Was he so weak that he was seen as weak by a Spiker? A rodent? Jack picked up a thick stick that broke off a growing tree nearby during his crash and stumbled onto his legs as the Spiker snarled at him. He pulled memories of his training to the forefront of his mind and placed himself in the first form of the Wind Flygon Sword Arts. With the stick in his right hand, he pointed it at the Spiker and balanced his other arm on his other side. As if a bell rung, the Spiker leapt at Jack with its claws outstretched. Jack raised his stick and controlled the wind around it as he swiped down on the Spiker, causing Jack to hit it with more force than he could physically output.


    The creature slammed into the ground, but rolled over and pounced at Jack again. After a few more strikes, Jack started to sweat, and the pain in his right arm from the claw strike earlier started to burn. He winced in pain, causing his control of the wind to drop and allowing the Spiker bite into his stick to snatch it out of his hands. Jack cried in pain as that made his hand snap back, making his wound rub.


    Jack backed up from the Spiker as it turned around to place its beady black eyes on him. Jack knew he couldn¡¯t fight this thing with his hands lest he risk them to the spikes. He desperately scanned the area in front of him for anything to defend himself without taking his eyes off the Spiker. There was nothing. Panic rose in Jack, and tears swelled up in his eyes. Would he truly die here at the hands of a beast who is essentially a mortal creature? Jack wanted to turn and run, but the longer he stared into those empty black eyes, he froze in fear. This is where he died.


    Jack started to silently accept his death until he heard something crack to his left. Jack and the Spiker turned to see a beast as big as a lion. Its head was elongated with the skin of a reptile. It had flaps around its head that flare into a bright orange when fully flapped out. It hissed as it came from the darkness of the forest. Before Jack or the Spiker could react, it shot a needle of orange light from its mouth at the Spiker, causing it to drop dead instantly. The reptile beast lazily trudged over and started devouring the Spiker with a crunch as if Jack were not only a few feet from it.


    Jack gulped. ¡°This is where I die.¡±

 Chapter 2

    The Wind Flygon Clan based their offensive arts on the dragonflies. Dragonflies were considered the apex predators of the old human world. With 360-degree vision, flight speeds of 35 miles an hour, and a prey catch rate of 95%, nothing in the insect world could contest. Well, that would only apply to how the human realm used to be before the Convergence.


    Before there was Virya, and before there were more realms than just the human realm. A time that Jack would only hear stories about from his mother. Jack never knew what to make of her stories. She regaled him with things like technology that seemed inferior to what a regular Forged soul can do.


    What¡¯s the point of an explosive grenade when a Forged soul could make a fireball? Or what would be the point of a plane when one could fly? He never understood why his mother shared her memories of her past. Maybe cause his life is flashing before his eyes. Or perhaps he wished his mom were with him. Jack stood frozen in front of the lizard beast as it munched away on the Spiker.


    Memories of his mother telling stories of her past filled his brain, and the rapid beating in his heart told him why these memories were surfacing. It was a safer time. His mother consistently told him of how the human realm used to be and how humans were the apex predators.


    No animal could rival them.


    Only humans could rival each other.


    In this world that Jack grew up in, there were more than just animals. There were beasts like Annoids, who are basically animals that could walk and talk like humans. Or Demons, which Jack only heard horror stories of. Even Angels and Spirits.


    Annoids were the worst.


    Jack¡¯s father has always told Grant and him how Annoids were the pinnacle of scum and would do nothing less than kill a human when they had a chance. Thankfully, he did not run into an Annoid, but that didn¡¯t make his situation any less dangerous.


    A loud crack followed by a crunch snapped Jack out of his stupor. He had no idea how long he stood frozen in front of this lizard, but it was long enough for it to get through half of the Spiker. Somehow, Jack broke the trance his own fear had placed him in, and he finally came to his senses.


    Jack slowly lifted his right leg and then carefully controlled the Virya under him to make him hover inches off the ground. He did the same for his left while keeping his eyes on the beast. The beast cared no mind for Jack as he used all his focus to make himself slowly glide backwards and away from the lizard.


    Even after losing the lizard in the darkness, he never took his eyes off that direction until he was sure he could turn around to glide away faster. But before he knew it, the wind from under him slipped from his control as well as his conscience.


    He woke in the forest with his body aching from the encounter with the Spiker. His right arm felt as if a thousand needles pricked him, though the pain felt distant. Jack turned over on his back and stared at the sky. He must¡¯ve used too much of his Virya Reservoir, which would explain what made him pass out. Or perhaps it was the blood loss.


    Regardless, Jack felt angry.


    He doubts an hour or so has passed by since he first awoke in the forest, and he has almost been killed by a Spiker, blessed by the disinterested tier 1 lizard beast, and passed out as vulnerable prey in the middle of the forest due to Virya sickness.


    Was he not the prodigal son of Gerald? The Human revolutionist? The strongest human?


    How could someone of Jack¡¯s stature fail so miserably? He would have a talk with his father and ensure his tutors are ones who know how to teach. It made no sense for Jack to fail to protect himself. It only made sense that the ones who failed were the ones who couldn¡¯t prepare Jack enough for such an experience.


    Jack¡¯s stomach rumbled once more as he tried to stand on his feet. With the sap to help his wounds and the Sayana tree leaves to hold his wounds close and free of infection, he would heal within the week or so. Jack sealed the last bit of his leaf bandages and leaned against a tree, staring at his hand that held a Sayana tree leaf and a clump of sap.


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    While the rumblings in his stomach yelled at him to eat it, his brain made him paranoid. He couldn¡¯t remember if it was safe to eat or even edible. What if there were parasites inside the sap? Many questions ran through his mind, but his hunger won out in the end. He shoved the leaf into his mouth and chewed with all abandon. His eyes widened at the surprise that met his tongue.


    The sap was sweet like candy, and it filled him with something he had forgotten entirely about. Hydration. He didn¡¯t realize he would also need water until he ate the sap. But the more he chewed, the more the bitterness of the tree leaf filled his mouth, and the more his mouth became dry again. He spat out the leaf and shook his head. What made him think a leaf could taste any kind of good was beyond him. If Jack wanted any kind of real food, he would have to hunt for it. The question was what he could hunt.


    Spiker¡¯s to Jack¡¯s knowledge, were not predatory at all. They were actually territorial in nature. So the fact that they attacked Jack at all meant that they were protecting something. Now that Jack remembered, he was about to eat a handful of berries before being ambushed by the Spiker. He wondered if he could find another berry bush; maybe he could set a trap to kill the Spiker.


    He would have fruits and meat. Not water, but the pouches of sap he made with the Sayana leaves would fill his need until he finds some water. Before he set off to find another berry bush, Jack decided to fashion himself a thick stick that would be his weapon until he could find an actual one. And by fashioning his weapon, all Jack truly did was find a thick and long enough stick, then wrapped where he would hold the stick in tree leaves. It was more like a baseball bat than anything, but against a spiker, it shouldn¡¯t break. He hoped.


    Jack¡¯s shirt was all torn from his fight with the Spiker, so he decided to turn it into a small cloth he could hold his items in. Items include a few pouches of sap and a few leaves ready to be used as bandages. He picked it up and put it on the end of his stick and hauled it over his shoulder, all while muttering curses of what others in his clan would think of him with this unsightly image of himself. A dirty, wounded, and shirtless boy who is weaker than a mortal. Jack nearly toppled over as he tried to control the Virya under his legs. He cursed again. He was too determined in hunting a Spiker that he forgot to meditate.


    Why was he not a Forged Soul already? He would have no problem handling a Spiker, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t pass out using such meager amounts of Virya manipulation. While his mother regaled him of times that were primeval, his father always talked to him about the world of today. Back when they were young, the world as they knew it relied on technology or their own physical strength to do what a simple Virya cultivator can do. Though in their day, anyone with wealth or connections could acquire any substandard strength. In the Convergence, they learned that any power they gain must be gained through their own hard work and talent. In this world where there are more realms than just the human realm, souls are born as a Null. A mortal soul.


    But through cultivation of Virya, a soul can ascend different levels that equate to different levels of power.


    While a seedling is more durable and in tune with Virya than a regular mortal, or Null, a Forged soul transcends a Seedling by a wide margin. Being thrown through a couple of trees would kill a mortal and wound a Seedling. A Forged soul would get up with a bruise. And that would be an early Forged Soul. While a Null cannot feel or sense Virya around them, a seedling would be able to sense and, to an extent, manipulate the Virya around them. But to manipulate Virya would require the use of your Soul Reservoir. Seedlings have a very small amount of reserves and cannot naturally replenish their reserves after they used it to manipulate Virya.


    That is why Jack sat with his eyes closed, cursing. If his teachers did their jobs and taught him instead of letting him skip lessons, he would have been a forged soul already. He probably would have never been in this mess if he had better teachers. His reservoir was slowly filling as he had these thoughts, and he took a deep breath in. As he let out his breath, he tried to focus on the Virya around him. He let it seep into his soul, but couldn¡¯t allow the thoughts of incompetent guards and tutors to leave his mind.


    After what seemed like hours, but more like 30 minutes, he stood up feeling a lot better. He grabbed his belongings and started to silently look for a berry bush. He knew he couldn¡¯t manipulate the wind Virya around him until his reservoir attuned the Virya he absorbed to his element. It was a similar feeling to how one would feel gas building up in their stomach until it subsided. For now, he would have to trudge around as if he were a mortal.


    With the blue moon still at the apex of the sky and nothing but its rays to light Jack¡¯s path, he could find no berry bushes. It was either too dark to tell or maybe the fear of being ambushed again that made him overlook the bushes. He was sure hours had gone by since he last set off, but then again, he had no sense of time.


    The moon did not look like it moved one inch, and the hunger that scratched at him didn¡¯t let him keep a focused mind. Eventually, his prayers were answered when he came across a tree he hadn¡¯t seen since he wandered around this forest. Unlike the Sayana tree, this tree had purple leaves and dry brown bark. Where there was sap all over the bark of the Sayana tree, this tree had no sap on the outside.


    This tree did, however bear green fruit. Jack was sure a spiker would be guarding this area. He would make no mistake like last time. This time he would prepare. He just needs to think of a trap.

 Chapter 3

    The trap Jack put in place could hardly be called a trap. It was essentially a medium-sized cage made of sticks tied together by leaves and sap. Inside the wooden cage, the ground was dug out about 3 feet and filled with sap. The trap did not take too long to make, but digging the hole took much of his time.


    The front of the cage was in Jack¡¯s hands. He plans to throw the front of the cage and use his wind Virya to make it land in his favor. Jack had to admit, though, he had no confidence in the trap working; but he would be too embarrassed in himself to allow his hard work to be wasted. He would use the trap and hope for the best results. Stuffing himself with sap these past few hours has gotten him to decide to never eat candy again. He needs food, and he intends to catch a Spiker to fulfill that need.


    There was one aspect to this trap that Jack forgot entirely about. The bait. If he were to trap the Spiker, he would need to lure it out. And to lure it out, he would need a bait. There were a few problems with that, though. He imagined using the sap, but with how much he gathered and how long it took him to gather the sap would have caused a Spiker to attack him already.


    So he figured that wouldn¡¯t be a reliable bait. He then thought about using one of the green fruits hanging from the tree, but if the Spiker was protecting that area, would that not mean the Spiker already has fruit? Not only that, last time Jack took fruit, the Spiker ambushed him soon after. Then that led to the only feasible option.


    Himself.


    He slowly walked up to the tree, noticing for the first time that the rays of blue moonlight that shone through the leaves shone violet. It gave the tree a more demonic look, and he couldn¡¯t tell if the green fruit, which looked a lot like apples, was laughing at him with a twisted smile.


    He shook his head and stopped his arm from shaking. He didn¡¯t realize his entire body seemed to be shaking as well. He took a few deep breaths before finally taking more steps towards the tree.


    ¡°C-come get me!¡± Jack hesitantly yelled.


    Nothing sounded or moved as Jack stood there with his stick held out towards the tree. He regained some of his confidence.


    ¡°T-too scared to face me?¡±


    The tree rustled, causing Jack to flinch and raise his stick towards the disturbance. The slight breeze hitting his chest and the lack of another surprise attack told him it was probably just the wind. Could he be wrong? That a Spiker would not be guarding this area?


    His back straightened as more courage filled him.


    Or maybe it was just the fact that he wouldn¡¯t have to fight for his life again.


    But he decided he should make sure there was nothing there just in case. He quickly ran up to the closest, lowest, hanging fruit to grab and booked it towards the cage. Once he passed the cage, he turned around, whipping his stick back and forth as if he were trying to hit everything and anything. He was proud of himself. His eyes were only closed for a little bit.


    When he saw no Spiker or any creature of the sort, he breathed out in relief. Jack puffed his chest out proudly as he held out the green fruit in front of him. It looks very similar to a green apple, but a closer inspection showed Jack the minor differences.


    This fruit had veins under the skin and swirls of nearly transparent lines imprinted on it. Strange fruit, but it¡¯s the first real food he found in hours, and he couldn¡¯t just sit and admire the fruit anymore. Jack bit into the fruit with a ravenous bite.


    Purple juices from the fruit dripped from his mouth and onto his chest. The flesh of the fruit was purple like the outside of the fruit, and the taste was sweet like a melon with a slight bitterness to it. Then he felt a cold wave wash over his body that made him shiver.


    At first, he thought the wind grew stronger, but then he felt his Soul Reservoir swirl. This fruit filled him with Virya energy! And his Soul Reservoir was able to instantly convert the Virya from the fruit straight into wind Virya, which is what his soul could only currently control. This tree would be considered a treasure! Thoughts of his family and clan praising him for finding such a boon filled his head.


    ¡°To fight and survive monsters of terrifying strengths for a treasure that would bring fortune to the clan! And as a Seedling at that.¡± He loudly said in triumph.


    Now there may not have been a fight, but no one else had to know. With fruit that revitalize your reserves and taste this good, Jack might just have to stay here and make it his territory till Richard finds him. Though he did find it odd that the fruit tree was not claimed by a Spiker or any creature, for that matter.


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    Foolish beasts indeed. Not an ounce of thought existed in their thick skulls.


    Quickly finishing the fruit, he picked up a rock and threw it into the tree¡¯s crown. He waited another minute before fully deciding that the tree was safe of any creatures. He grinned at that self-made confirmation. He picked a few more fruits and sat back against the tree, ready to enjoy a couple more fruits, then take a nap within the thick branches of the purple-leafed tree.


    He leisurely enjoyed his second fruit while daydreaming of his glorious return home until he spotted movement in the grass ahead of him. He immediately stood up, stick in hand. Jack assumed it was a Spiker that left the tree momentarily and was returning.


    Jack hoped it was the Spiker. Any other beast or creature, and he was dead for sure.


    He stood still with his stick raised and his other arm raised the other way, prepared to fight with the Wind Flygon Sword Arts. Fear began to rise in his chest as his legs and arms shaking betrayed what he wanted to show. He wanted to show the Spiker he was not afraid of it; that he would have no hesitation in killing it. But he just couldn¡¯t see much due to the darkness and canopy of the trees blocking out much moonlight. ¡°Come out! I¡¯ll kill you! All of you rodents!¡± Jack boldly yelled. Then black blurs jumped from the darkness and landed in front of him. Jack jumped back with a yelp, holding his stick out in front of him. Three Spikers landed in front of Jack and puffed their spikes out, which caused the spikes to extend longer than normal. Jack gulped.


    He only anticipated one Spiker.


    He made a trap for one spiker.


    Not only were they in the way of the trap, but now there were three? Even one would have to look past their skills and talent in the face of overwhelming foes. The ground started to shake and Jack tried to keep his balance. Were the Spikers causing this rumble? No, these creatures weren¡¯t even tiered! Impossible for them to sense Virya, let alone manipulate it.


    Also, if Jack wasn¡¯t delusional already, he could have sworn he saw looks of confusion on those hideous Spikers¡¯ faces. Which could only mean..


    Jack¡¯s eyes widened and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest when the same lizard from a while ago appeared behind the Spikers. Its orange flaps were flared as its eyes each looked in every direction as if it were trying to find something. Its maw hung open and teeth as jagged as broken metal, but no doubt sharp.


    The three Spikers turned to gang up on the lizard. All three of them pounced as they spun in the air, making themselves into a deadly projectile. At least deadly for Jack.


    With only a stick to protect himself.. He tried not to think what would happen to him. The lizard¡¯s eyes stopped looking around erratically and focused on the Spikers that launched themselves at it. A beam of orange light shot from its opened maw, instantly killing one Spiker.


    Then, with speeds Jack thought to be too fast for a beast that big, it turned and whipped the other two with its tail. The spikes on the little rodents shattered on impact with the tail, and squeals of pain came from them as they flew past Jack and into the tree, abruptly stopping their squeals. Jack flinched, but managed to keep his eyes open the entire time.


    Fear gripped Jack as he stared upon the one-sided fight.


    It ended in just a few seconds, and now the lizard¡¯s eyes rested on Jack. The flaps on the lizard¡¯s head flared, and its maw began to open. Jack knew what came next. But the results depended on him. Fear¡¯s grip was tight, but not tight enough for his anger. Anger filled his mind as he thought about his useless guards and teachers.


    It was their fault that his step in the cycle was Seedling, and having to face a Tier 1 beast alone when he should have been a Forged soul. He was angry with himself for being so weak, but he was just as angry with his teachers.


    But regardless, he was the son of Gerald Flygon! The strongest human, and here Jack was frozen in fear.


    His feet decided to answer him, using his rage, he broke fear¡¯s grip in time to jump to the side. As he landed on the ground, a part of the tree trunk blew apart. The attack from the lizard took a good amount off the tree, but not enough to knock it over. With no time to think, Jack ran for his life. He used the wind Virya to make himself lighter, which helped quicken his pace, though he nearly jumped out of his skin when he turned back to see the lizard right on his trail with its flaps open and jaw hanging wide.


    Jack¡¯s eyes widened in alarm as he jumped to the side again. A high-pitched sound passed his head as he dived. When he landed harshly on the ground, he heard a tree fall in the distance. Just one hit and Jack would blow apart like a balloon. He felt the rumbles of the lizard approaching him and figured running away from the lizard just result in him eventually getting killed or crippled to be killed.


    Jack came up with an idea and stood facing the lizard as it ran towards him. Its maw was wide open, and flaps around its head were completely extended to show a bright orange color. Jack knew by now that when the flaps opened, it was going to fire something from its mouth.


    This time, Jack saw the process. A small orange light built up in the back of its mouth and continued to get bigger as veins in the flaps around its head seemed to feed the ball of light with something. It was like it was pumping liquid that forms into light.


    Jack¡¯s legs shook, but he slapped them, hoping they would stop. He waited as the lizard charged its attack while Jack built up wind under his legs. Then as soon as the lizard flaps twitched, Jack launched himself in the air by pushing wind under him with the most force he ever mustered in his lifetime. He shot himself over the lizard as its attack shot right from under him. Jack kept his eyes open the entire time, especially at this crucial moment.


    Right before he landed, Jack stuck his palms out from his sides and focused the wind Virya around him. He controlled the wind to push him backwards as he was being propelled forward, which allowed him to land with much ease. The lizard turned around to see Jack a good distance away and cocked its head to the side. Jack didn¡¯t wait for the lizard as he landed and booked it right back to the purple-leafed tree.


    That idea now turned into a plan.

 Chapter 4

    Jack used his Virya reserves recklessly as he raced back towards the tree. He repeated the process of propelling himself with wind to gain distance from the lizard beast. He would need at least a couple of minutes to enact his plan. Jack looked back every now and then, seeing less and less of the lizard until he eventually only saw hints of the lizard chasing him.


    The tree with the green fruit came into view, and he decided it was best to run the rest of the way there. He didn¡¯t want to accidentally pass out due to his small reservoir. Jack ran past the tree to the Spiker the lizard first killed. Jack gripped a spike while holding down the dead creature with his foot to rip it off.


    Then another for good measure. Then he dragged the Spiker closer to the tree before shooting himself up into the purple-leafed tree to hide.


    Jack waited quietly in the tree as he watched the Lizard approach, where Jack dragged the Spiker.


    The lizard looked around before it quickly decided to eat the Spiker, and Jack could have sworn he saw the lizard do a sort of shrug before it did.


    ¡°Not enough of a threat for you to make sure I¡¯m gone, huh?¡± Jack muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    He held out a spike he ripped off from the dead creature and aimed it at the Lizard. He figured he could shoot the spike the same way he was able to propel himself to gain distance on the lizard. Jack closed his eyes and focused the wind Virya in his hands.


    He knew it was bad practice to close his eyes in situations of life and death, but regardless of how impressive his control is, he was still but a seedling. The amount of focus he needed to fire the spike to kill the Lizard would require everything he had.


    It would probably put him in Virya sickness, but the fruits on the tree were the only reason he even considered doing something so reckless. At least that¡¯s what he thought in order to convince himself that this was a good idea. The leaves began to rustle as Jack gathered the wind with the lizard, giving no mind to anything but its food.


    Perfect.


    Jack launched the spike towards the lizard, causing the wind around him to blow the tree¡¯s canopy into chaos with him included. Jack fell out of the tree with a pounding headache and landed with a thud, knocking the air out of him.


    Jack opened his eyes, gasping for air, and tried to scramble to his feet when all he heard were shrieks and explosions as he tried to regain his focus. ¡°Holy hell! A Spiker must¡¯ve got lucky and hit its eye!¡± Jack¡¯s eyes widened.


    He crouched behind the tree to see two large bipedal beasts. His vision spun as he tried to make out who was there. One of them was like a humanoid version of a rat, while the other looked like a goat with horns that curled like a ram. Annoids.


    Jack¡¯s father has always told him stories of Annoids. They were not to be trusted and are scum of the realms. His father told him of how Annoids started a war with the humans, but he never elaborated why. All Jack knew was that they won and humans cut all ties with the Annoids, blocking the pathways from the Annoid realms to the humans.


    Jack had only seen drawings of what Annoids looked like, and to see them now, he was terrified. The goat Annoid stood at least 7 feet tall with hands the size of his head. The rat Annoid was a little less intimidating with its hunched back, but its shriveled snout and clawed fingers raised the hairs on Jack¡¯s body.


    Jack finally laid his eyes on the lizard that was wildly shooting beams from its mouth. Jack gaped. He managed to hit the lizard in the eye, but instead of lying down to die, he only enraged the beast. The goat Annoid walked towards the lizard, not bothering to dodge its beam. Thanks to Jack, he wouldn¡¯t need to. He raised his hand and chopped down on the lizard¡¯s neck, cutting it clean off. Jack shuddered.


    The lizard that could kill Jack with a single blow was killed by the goat Annoid like it was a pest. ¡°Why did you kill the little cute Komo? I wanted it as a pet!¡±


    The goat Annoid turned to look at the rat expressionlessly. ¡°The last pet you kept nearly killed us all on the blood moon.¡±


    The rat shrugged. ¡°Who knew the tierless would change under the effects? I miss that little rascal. Anyways, you don¡¯t think this Komo is what that blue light was?¡±


    The goat annoid grunted. ¡°No. We saw a blue streak. Not yellow beams.¡± He looked around and sniffed the air. Its eyes landed on the tree Jack was hiding behind.


    Jack froze and stood behind the trunk of the tree as still as possible. His head still pounded from depleting his reservoir, and his legs wanted to give out from under him, but to move now would certainly mean death.


    ¡°An Alcina tree.¡± The goat Annoid said.


    ¡°Look, whatever that light was, it¡¯s probably long gone! But this Alcina tree should be just as good! Pick a bunch of fruits and tell Olaf about the tree! This is a boon!¡± The rat exclaimed as he hopped around, cheering.


    The goat Annoid grunted again. ¡°Then start picking.¡±


    The rat gave the goat a withering look. He muttered under his breath as he walked closer to the tree. Jack stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Thoughts of running or talking his way out went out the window when the Rat found him.


    ¡°Jelal! It¡¯s a human!¡±


    Jack turned to run, but the goat Annoid appeared in his path, stopping him.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°What is a human doing here?¡± Jelal whispered.


    ¡°Stay back, you beasts! My father will kill you if any harm comes to me!¡± Jack yelled.


    The rat Annoid laughed as he edged around the tree to get a better look at Jack. ¡°I doubt your father has any pull here.¡±


    The goat Annoid regarded Jack with his beady black eyes and expressionless face. ¡°Grab the boy. We will come back for the Alcina tree after the blood moon.¡± The rat jumped around giddily as if he had won a prize.


    ¡°Can he be my pet! He won¡¯t turn in the blood moon!¡± The rat stopped hopping around to look at Jack wearingly.


    ¡°I think.¡±


    ¡°Olaf will decide his fate. Now grab the boy.¡±


    Jack yelled again, trying to run, but the rat grabbed him with its bony clawed fingers. Jack couldn¡¯t find any strength in him to fight back, for the Virya sickness had rendered him useless, and the iron grip of the rat held his arms in place.


    ¡°I can barely sense any Virya in you. Must have used all you had to poke that Komo in the eye, huh? You¡¯ll make a fun pet.¡±  He tied Jack¡¯s hands together and started dragging him towards the path from which they came until everyone froze.


    The temperature dropped quickly, and even the trees seemed to stop swaying with the wind.


    Then it hit Jack like a mountain dropping on him.


    Fear and utter helplessness, along with cold air that threatened to freeze him at a moment¡¯s notice. Jack dropped to his knees to scream and gasp for air at the same time. The result ended up with him choking and falling to his side as he silently begged the Realm protectors to grant him mercy.


    He begged to breathe again.


    His prayers were somewhat answered when a giant axe came from the darkness past the trees and landed right in front of them, creating a large crater in the ground. Jack gasped for air as the invisible force that stopped everything and induced them all with fear disappeared. By the time Jack caught his breath and turned over to get back to his feet, the rat Annoid was killed on impact and was pinned to a tree with an ice spike the size of Jack, through the stomach. The goat Annoid held his arm as blood dripped from its head. His guards must¡¯ve finally found him. Jack cheered inside as he stood.


    ¡°I told you my father would come! Now face his wrath!¡±


    Though as Jack said the words, he looked from side to side and saw no one until he turned around to see exactly why it felt like the world froze earlier. A giant Minotaur stepped from the shadows of the forest. He was at least 9 feet tall with one horn that stretched out then curved up and was as large as his father¡¯s arm, while the other horn was broken halfway.


    Red eyes beamed through the darkness, almost glowing as they stared past Jack. Hooves the size of Jack¡¯s head shook the ground with every step.


    ¡°Toflann. Olaf would not approve of you killing one of us.¡±


    The minotaur named Toflann breathed out steam from his nostrils, causing the air to drop a bit more in temperature.


    ¡°Would he approve of two, Jelal?¡±


    Jelal tensed as he silently stared at Toflann.


    ¡°Leave the boy and go before I change my mind.¡± Toflann demanded.


    Jelal glanced at the boy, then back at Toflann as if he was deciding something. Then, without another breath, he jumped away into the forest.


    Jack stared up at the minotaur named Toflann. He fell back on his butt as he tried to scurry backwards, but the fear that made him shook uncontrollably also made him clumsy causing him to fall straight on his back. He tried to put his hands in front of his face, but forgot they were tied. Instead, he closed his eyes, turned away, and acted as any self respecting cultivator would in this exact moment.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t eat me! Or use me as target practice! Or make me a slave! Or kill me! My father! He will do anything to get me back! Grant me safe passage back home, and they will reward you."


    He opened his eyes to see the minotaur only staring at him silently, making Jack even more nervous. His father has told him about Annoids and how they were savage beasts, where no law ruled them, or that they had no sympathy or grace in them. Jack always believed his father about the Annoids, and his first encounter with them only backed his father¡¯s stories.


    ¡°Jack!¡± A voice cried out from behind Toflann.


    A scrawny boy with ragged brown hair, blue eyes, and dressed in red robes came running from behind the minotaur and towards Jack. The boy looked to be the same age as Jack and slightly taller. A slave of this Toflann perhaps?


    ¡°My name is Liam. Pretend you know me.¡± Liam whispered to Jack. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Who are you?¡± Liam hugged Jack, causing him to wince as Liam squeezed his wounds. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you everything with him here, my lord, but we have to rely on him for safety. For now, we are adopted brothers from the Songwind clan.¡± Liam whispered quickly, then changed his tone instantly. ¡°I thought you were dead, brother! We only have the grace of this Annoid to thank for reuniting us!¡± Jack thought Liam¡¯s acting was sub-par at best, but the minotaur did not seem to notice his facade.


    Though he just met Liam in this instance, he liked him already for coming up with a cunning plan to fool this beast-man. Though now that he thought about it, how did he even convince this Annoid to help him? Unless he planned to eat them both and used Liam to find Jack for that purpose. He knew for a fact Annoids had no care for humans. He threw those thoughts to the back of his mind after remembering how quickly he killed that rat Annoid. If he wanted them dead or as food, they would already be dead.


    ¡°Liam! Little brother! How I missed you so! I thought I¡¯d never see you again after we¡­¡± The words died in his mouth.


    Jack still had no idea how he ended up here. ¡°..got separated.¡±


    Liam cut Jack¡¯s bindings and helped him up to his feet, putting his arm around his own shoulder. Though Jack showed a moment of weakness in front of this minotaur, he must now put on a brave display to not show weakness. Annoids do not like the weak.


    ¡°Toflann is it? I must thank you for reuniting my brother and me. Can we count on you for safe passage home?¡±


    Toflann scoffed. ¡°And where is your home, human?¡±


    Jack looked towards Liam, but his face seemed genuinely clueless. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure, but I know this forest must lie east of our home.¡±


    ¡°If you think your home lies east of this place, you surely do not know where you have ended up.¡± Now Jack was completely clueless. Was this not the forest only northwest of where his clan was? The minotaur turned to walk away.


    ¡°Wait, where are you going! My father will reward you with anything you want for as long as you return us safely!¡± Toflann turned back, causing Jack to flinch. ¡°With where you both have ended up, this is your home now.¡±


    Both Jack and Liam were puzzled. ¡°And where did we end up, sir?¡± Liam asked. ¡°Nablar. Trial Prison of the Animal Realm.¡±


    Jack¡¯s heart sank. Nablar? Prison? Animal Realm? Just how did he end up here?

 Chapter 5

    The fire cracked and popped as it released plumes of smoke in the air. The smoke danced in the wind before it dissipated into tiny specs of Virya, only higher cycles of cultivators would be able to discern. Quiet nights in Nablar were rare and only allowed in the top layer of this inverted triangle prison. Though the quiet nights were quickly disturbed by the blood moon that plagues the human layer more often than not.


    The blood moon changes the creatures that lurk in this layer into demonic beasts that effectively turn them into bloodthirsty high-tiered beasts whose only goal is to kill anything in their sight. The Annoids who made a home in the human layer of this prison mostly hide from the blood moon and its beasts; only surfacing when the blue moon comes back in order to gather resources for when they need to hide again.


    Toflann, however, built a cabin fit for a minotaur like himself on the surface despite the blood moon. He was not bothered by the ravaging beasts that came within his vicinity. He was one of the few Annoids in Nablar who was strong enough to kill and fend off the beasts alone. But what else did Toflann have to do in Nablar? It was a constant battle and survival with no chance of a normal life.


    It was all fine with Toflann. He long accepted his fate here.


    Toflann hated blue moons. Though they last randomly each time, this blue moon seemed to last longer than other times. He had nothing better to do than be stuck in the confines of his mind. But on blood moons, he was able to thrust his mind into what the blood moons effects do to the creatures on this layer.


    Mindless battle.


    He rarely thought about heading down the layers of Nablar, for he¡¯d heard rumors of the second layer of Nablar. The spirit layer. From what he has gathered, rumor or not, the spirit layer is filled with illusions and forces the soul to undergo torture of the mind. That was something Toflann was not willing to put himself through.


    The mindless battle of the human layer fit him as an Annoid and as punishment. But as time passes, he wonders if he should traverse to the next layer to see the truth for himself. But the truths locked in the pits of his mind would surely come out. Truths that he would rather die to keep them away than to relive them again. He¡¯s heard of many rumors in Nablar and has found relics in this prison that seems to be the source of said rumors, but he dismissed them all the same. There was one he could not forget, no matter how much he tried.


    Comets of two shall become meteors that will shake the truths of the Realms. There is no escape. Only Enlightenment.


    The rumor was not so much a rumor but some verse scratched into a random tree he had come across. Toflann tried to shrug it off when he saw it, assuming it was another Annoid who was at their wits¡¯ end, but it was the only thing over the years that stayed relevant in his mind.


    When he saw those two streaks in the sky, he instantly remembered those etched words. He wanted no part of it, but could not resist investigating what those streaks of lights were, especially when the prized possession in his Soul Space beckoned him to. It had been dormant long before he was exiled to Nablar, and for it to awaken at the same time the blue streaks came made him all the more curious.


    The curiosity only increased when he saw a skinny human child with wavy brown hair dressed in red robes lying unconscious in an open field. Toflann looked up to the sky and sighed. Even when exiled to a prison locked away from the realms, troubles always seem to find him. He picked the boy up and headed back towards his cabin. Hopefully, this child would have answers for him.


    He sat in the cabin, staring at the boy until he woke up. To Toflann¡¯s surprise how however, the boy woke without panic when he laid eyes on Toflann. Even a regular Annoid with the vice of strength would panic at the sight of a 9-foot-tall minotaur, but this boy looked to him with the calmness of an ocean. The boy assessed his body, noticing the bandages wrapped around his wounds from when he fell from the sky.


    ¡°Thank you for nursing me back to health, honorable Annoid.¡± Toflann stared at the boy for a bit longer, slightly unnerved by his calm demeanor. In the end, Toflann settled for a grunt that he figured the boy would take as a welcome.


    ¡°Was there another boy who fell with me?¡±


    Toflann shook his head. If this boy were one of the blue streaks, then he could easily assume the other blue streak was the other boy this one was asking about. The boy gave a wry smile.


    ¡°You nursing me back to health is already a debt I have no idea how to repay, and I must ask you for a favor to which I also do not know if I would be able to repay. But as my family has told me before, Annoids are souls of honor, pride¡­¡± The boy paused contemplating his next words.


    ¡°.. And greed. While I cannot provide much currently, if you help me find my brother and help us on our journey home, our family could provide you a fortune.¡±


    Toflann inwardly scoffed at the child, while not giving any physical indication. Flattering and insulting him is how he plans to convince Toflann? Under normal circumstances, he would set this child on his way. But circumstances were far from normal.


    Not only did two human children find their way into an unbreakable prison, but the verse that seemed like prophecy was coming to fruition somehow. And the main irregular circumstance was the artifact in his soul. It still pulled him in the direction of the other blue streak.


    Toflann breathed out cool, visibly air from his nostrils that brought the temperature down to a chill despite the fire that burned in his brick fireplace. He noticed the boy flinch slightly, but did not give in to the fear he knew the boy felt. This boy was far too calm for a human, let alone a human child.


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    ¡°Your tongue might betray the goal you currently have set in mind, boy. Regardless of what your kin has told you, I have lost my honor, pride, and greed long ago. What I desire is what you can not provide.¡±


    The boy stared at Toflann with placid eyes for a long moment before smiling and rubbing his bandaged wounds. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true. About your honor that is.¡±


    The boy stood from the cot he lay on and bowed deeply towards Toflann. ¡°There is nothing I can offer for help or give for the help you have given me already. I am in your debt, and if our paths cross again, I do hope I have something I could provide.¡±


    Toflann stared at the boy blankly as he walked towards the door, no doubt to find his brother. If the blue moon turns or other Annoids find him, he would not make it far. This boy has been through much despite his age. Wise with words, but still a foolish child


    . Or was he the one foolish for falling for his words?


    ¡°Hold. What is your name?¡± The boy paused in his steps and turned to face the minotaur. ¡°Liam. Liam Mare.¡± ¡°I am Toflann. Death will await you if you travel alone. I will accompany you for the time being.¡±


    Traveling during blue moons was always quiet for Toflann. No beast dared approach Toflann, and the Annoids feared Toflann enough to avoid him. Traveling with Liam was no different from traveling alone. He was quiet and followed along almost flawlessly, only asking questions when he wanted to gain knowledge.


    ¡°And how did you figure that he went that way when his foot steps disappeared?¡± Liam asked.


    ¡°There is a disturbance of Virya close to the ground. A dispersion of the natural Earth Virya caused by concentrated wind.¡± Liam squinted at the ground past where the footsteps first disappeared. Toflann sighed.


    ¡°Your cultivation is nowhere near where it would be able to discern such small details. Not many are.¡±


    They continued on as Toflann followed the wind Virya, where they eventually found signs of struggle. It seemed Liam¡¯s brother had engaged with Spikers and was then interrupted by a Komo. ¡°It seems he ran this way.¡± Liam pointed in the direction where sticks and leaves were trampled over recklessly.


    ¡°It seems that way, but the tracks were not made by your brother. It was made by the Komo that followed him.¡± The tracks of the Komo overlapped with the wind Virya for a short distance until the Komo veered off, most likely distracted by something else. Komo, in the blue moon, was harmless, only going after easy prey, so he was not surprised when the Komo no longer followed the boy.


    ¡°He collapsed here. If he has been using the wind Virya like you say, then he must¡¯ve passed from Virya sickness.¡± Liam crouched down, then observed the area before pointing in another direction where small branches were snapped.


    ¡°He ventured off this way.¡± Toflann does not like to pry, but this child couldn¡¯t be a child. He was too knowledgeable for his age and too calm.


    ¡°You are an unordinary human boy. What of your past molded you into this?¡± Toflann asked as they continued on.


    Liam paused and turned towards Toflann, to which he saw Liam¡¯s eyes change. He knew that look all too well. A look of a past buried. The look quickly disappeared, and he looked up at Toflann with the same placid face he had held since he first met him.


    ¡°And what of your lost honor, pride, and greed that molded you into who you are today?¡±


    Toflann paused in breath, stunned. A human child wise and smart enough to evaluate Toflann¡¯s character and choose words that would not offend him, but also stop him from asking any more questions. Simple and effective message. No one likes to speak of their past. Liam turned back and continued on the trail with Toflann following behind in silence.


    Explosions sounded off that causing alarm for Toflann and Liam. It came from straight ahead of them where the trail left by Liam¡¯s brother led. They quickened their pace when they realized it and started to run when the explosions stopped. As they neared the area, Toflann held Liam back as he felt two familiar auras.


    Jelal and Catcher. These two Annoids were nothing of note, but if they were here, then that means they were also chasing after the blue streak. No doubt under orders from Olaf. He observed them from afar and saw Catcher leading a small boy with his hands behind his back.


    Toflann focused his senses to listen. ¡°¡­you¡¯ll make a fun pet.¡± Enslavement. Disgust rose in Toflann.


    He always hated the idea of slaves. He could wait and knock the two Annoids out and quickly retrieve the boy without them having any clue as to who took him. Then Toflann saw the boy more clearly as he was pushed and dragged.


    The boy looked like an animal with ripped pants, leaves covering his head and different parts of his body, and messy black hair. But what gave Toflann pause was his gray eyes and jet black hair with a face he had long left in the past.


    ¡°Jack?¡± Liam looked back at Toflann in surprise.


    ¡°I never told you my brother¡¯s name.¡± Liam¡¯s words barely came through to Toflann, and he didn¡¯t care. Rage overtook Toflann as his blood lust filled the forest with such oppression, Liam finally showed an emotion.


    Guttural fear.


    Toflann threw his double-sided axe to stop Catcher from advancing. Catcher jumped back, but Toflann anticipated it and launched an ice spike that pierced his body and pinned him to a tree. Jelal tried to advance on Toflann by flash-stepping to his right, but hesitated when he realized it was Toflann. Toflann didn¡¯t spare Jelal a look and simply used his horn to bash his head, which sent him flying back. The fight was over in one instance.


    ¡°Toflann. Olaf would not approve of you killing one of us.¡± Jelal said.


    Toflann did not want to cause trouble with Olaf, but the sight of the boy reminded him of his past. It has been long since his anger bested him. ¡°Would he approve of two, Jelal?¡± Toflann would not hesitate to kill him, and he knew Jelal knew that very well.


    ¡°Leave the boy and go before I change my mind.¡± Jelal disappeared without a trace. He then looked to the boy as he begged for his life. For brother¡¯s they sure do not act the same at all. But there was no doubt about it. The artifact in his soul has awakened and sought this boy. And this boy was a near spitting image of his dead best friend.


    ¡°Jack!¡±


    That¡¯s right, his name was... Wait, how did Liam know? Liam ran past Toflann and hugged the boy. ¡°I thought you dead, brother! We only have the grace of this Annoid to thank for reuniting us!¡±


    His brother¡¯s name is Jack? Was fate playing a cruel joke on him?

 Chapter 6

    ¡°What do you mean we are in the Animal Realm? That¡¯s impossible! Just mere hours ago, I was in the Human realm. It would be impossible for me to end up in the Animal Realm, let alone a prison!¡±


    Toflann scoffed as he trudged on, not caring to slow his pace to match the children behind him. ¡°Then how did you come across three Annoids in what you think is the Human Realm, and where Annoids are scarcely allowed to set foot?¡±


    ¡°You..¡± Jack stumbled on his words, but quickly found a plausible answer. ¡°You three must have sneaked into the Human Realm illegally! But it will all be forgiven if you return me and my little brother to our family!¡±


    The minotaur continued through the forest, ignoring Jack. Jack instead switched his attention to Liam.


    ¡°We aren¡¯t far from home, Liam. If it¡¯s you and me, we could potentially make it ourselves and report these Annoids!¡±


    Liam shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m inclined to believe Toflann. He would have no reason or benefit to lie to us.¡±


    Jack laughed. ¡°His reason is greed! He knows of what he has to gain from keeping us captive! Annoids are all the same.¡±


    Toflann paused in step, which caused Jack to jump back and Liam to scoot out of Jack¡¯s way. ¡°You naive child. You considered yourself captive? You are not tied up, and you are the one following me. Nothing is stopping you or your brother from going off on your own. I¡¯ve no need for a burden for when the blood moon comes.¡± Toflann snarled at Jack, making him cower.


    ¡°Blood moon?¡± Liam asked. ¡°Please forgive my brother¡¯s ignorance and disrespect. It is something that needs much work.¡±


    Jack threw Liam a scowl. ¡°And your ignorance and disrespect towards me is no better!¡±


    Liam ignored Jack¡¯s outburst and continued to talk to Toflann. ¡°What is the blood moon?¡±


    Toflann frowned at Liam, then turned around to continue walking with the two children following while Jack muttered curses under his breath.


    ¡°Nablar is split into 5 different layers based on the 5 realms. The layer we are on is the Human layer. This layer consists of two cycles. Blue moon and blood moon. On blue moons, the Human layer blooms with plants, fruits, bodies of water, and weak beasts. It would be considered a paradise depending on the soul. Though the blood moons happen so erratically, the last place you want to be when the blood moon comes is to be around said resources. Especially a resource like the Alcina tree. When the blood moon occurs, the land rots and the trees wither to dead wood, with some able to kill you with one hidden swipe of their branch. The weak beasts become high-tiered beasts that are blinded by the blood moon and filled with blood thirst, with some stronger creatures appearing as if they were summoned.¡±


    ¡°How long till the next blood moon?¡± Liam asked, with Jack surprisingly quiet for once.


    ¡°There is no indication of when any moon happens. It randomly occurs when the layer wants it to occur. Though blue moons do tend to be shorter than blood moons. Which is why we need to arrive at my cabin before the blood moon occurs. Blood moons are always longer than their previous blue moons.¡± They walked in silence for a moment, no doubt the two children were soaking in the information until Liam asked another question.


    ¡°You said there were 5 layers. How come no one has traveled down the layers? Surely there is a means of escape or perhaps a better environment than living here.¡±


    Toflann shook his head. ¡°There are only rumors of the other layers, and none of them are exactly confirmed. Those who have traveled beyond have never traveled back to this layer to relay information. And with how the human layer is already, assumptions would lead most to believe going deeper into the prison would only be worse. And no one has escaped from here. Ever. We would know.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Jack now asked.


    Toflann growled at the sound of Jack¡¯s voice, but answered him anyway. ¡°This is a trial prison. At least that is what the souls of old times have labeled it. Though there is one in every realm and each is different, one thing is the same with each one. One just needs to pass or escape the prison, and the prison opens up for all occupants to leave. At least that¡¯s what the tale says. No one knows the purpose of these trial prisons or if they were always called a trial prison. I can only assume that it was never intended for these places to be a prison, but over time, when countless souls are sent here and when none have ever been reported to leave, the souls on the outside used it as a prison.¡±


    Silence again took to the group as they made their way back to Toflann¡¯s cabin. Jack did not want to believe a single word Toflann spoke, but this all seemed too elaborate. Like a ploy to trap and kidnap him and Liam for whatever cruel and disgusting deeds they have planned. Jack fell further behind Toflann, urging Liam to do the same.


    ¡°You don¡¯t really believe this, Annoid, do you? He¡¯s just fear-mongering us into believing his lies to get us further away from human civilization.¡± Jack whispered. Liam glanced at Jack with no expression, which unnerved Jack.


    ¡°When I said I was inclined to believe Toflann, I meant to say I fully believe him.¡±


    Jack gave Liam an incredulous look. ¡°We should really wait to talk when not in present company.¡± Liam nudged his head at the giant minotaur quickly disappearing ahead. By quickly, Jack was more than positive it was his normal stride. The pair quickened their pace to keep the minotaur in sight and hopefully out of ear range. He dropped into a lower whisper.


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me a quick summary?¡±


    Liam glanced at Jack impassively before dropping his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not good news. You¡¯ll want to hear this sitting down. And he might hear us regardless of how quiet we talk.¡±


    Jack looked ahead to see the silhouette of the minotaur and considered Liam¡¯s words. Bad news could mean a number of things, and when it came to his clan, it usually meant disagreements with another clan that would have to be settled in court. How bad could the bad news be? Bad enough for the minotaur to take advantage? Maybe. It was probably best to try and discuss everything without his prying ears, but curiosity gnawed at Jack.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Even if it was another clan¡¯s attempt to kidnap and ransom Jack, it was obviously not successful. But considering he has only seen Annoids along with the tale the minotaur gave, his gut only gave him a feeling that the bad news was really bad.


    ¡°Just tell me!¡± Jack whispered loudly. Jack glanced ahead to see if the minotaur reacted and continued when he didn¡¯t notice anything different in the Annoid¡¯s stride.


    ¡°I woke up injured and hunted by null beasts! I deserve to know why I am in this position.¡± Jack whispered more quietly.


    Liam sighed. ¡°Wind Flygon clan has fallen.¡±


    The ruffles of tree branches and wind navigating through the trees filled the air around them, but all Jack heard was his heartbeat. Then he laughed hysterically, causing even Toflann to stop and turn towards them.


    ¡°That¡¯s a funny joke. I like you, Liam. You know how to brighten a bad situation!¡± Jack patted his shoulder in laughable praise. When he finally calmed to look at Liam, realization dawned on Jack. Liam¡¯s cold blue eyes stared back at Jack before dropping down as Jack came to terms with what he said.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t joking.¡±


    ¡°I hardly do.¡±


    The minotaur puffed out smoke from his nose, causing Jack and Liam to shiver. ¡°We are almost to my cabin. Let¡¯s hurry.¡± Liam followed him with Jack in tow, but now Jack was in stunned silence.


    He wanted to ask Liam more questions, like how that was even possible, who had befell his clan, and how that led to them ending up in the Animal Realm. He was now more inclined to believe the minotaur named Toflann, and that only made his situation all the more terrifying. Barely a seedling who is essentially stuck inside a prison with beasts that gives even a 9-foot minotaur a challenge.


    How would he survive here? Live here even? Jack would need to increase his cultivation, but how could he be nurtured here to become strong? Perhaps on blue moons, he could get away with cultivating and killing weak beasts to eventually increase his cultivation, but considering what Toflann has revealed, that would take a long time.


    Blood moons occur longer than blue moons, and there was no way to tell how long each would last. But surviving here was one of Jack¡¯s main concerns. Another would be how to escape a prison no one has ever escaped. Stooped in his thoughts, he walked straight into Toflann¡¯s leg, bouncing backwards and cursing as he rubbed his head.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re go-¡± The words died in Jack¡¯s mouth as he looked upon Toflann¡¯s home.


    A cabin was one word to describe it. Logs made up the exterior of the cabin and looked to be two stories tall. The roof was also ramped up with logs and shingles made out of black material that shone in the torches set around the cabin. If this were a cabin of an Annoid, what would a regular home look like?


    ¡°Go in and clean yourselves up. Do not touch anything that you might be curious about.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jack asked in a panic.


    Toflann grunted. ¡°We¡¯re going to need more food. You¡¯ll find some scraps on the meat drying rack behind the cabin and the shower next to it. I will be back.¡±


    ¡°But what if the blood moon comes and you¡¯re not here?¡±


    Toflann slowed his steps and then chuckled. ¡°There are some knives in the kitchen, I¡¯m sure would be like swords in your hands.¡±


    Jack paled as Toflann disappeared into the forest.


    ¡°Jack.¡± Jack turned around to see Liam waiting in the doorway of the cabin. The door was made out of wood like everything else, but the snarling minotaur face carved into the door gave it a terrifying aura. Not only that, but the size of the door was huge. It was twice as tall as he was and thrice as wide. Liam must be physically strong to push that open. Jack walked inside the cabin and wasn¡¯t too sure what to expect, but it truly looked normal. It looked as if a giant human decorated the cabin. A lone cushioned chair that was large enough for Jack to use as a bed sat in front of a fireplace.


    The edge of the tables was easily reached with his forehead when he stood full height. And like the minotaur said, the knives hanging on the wall of his kitchen were certainly big enough to look like oversized daggers in his hands. Besides everything being abnormally large for him, it would be comfortable for a human if everything were smaller. Homey even. This goes against everything he¡¯s heard about how Annoids live. His father always told him Annoids were closest in line to beasts. And like beasts, they would not care about the finer things. Only to kill, torture, enslave, and materialize humans. Out of their remains. But this told him something else.


    ¡°I first woke here after Toflann tended to my wounds. I doubt I would have found you if it weren¡¯t for him.¡± Liam spoke after letting Jack take in the cabin.


    Jack raised an eyebrow. ¡°That Annoid tended to your wounds? And helped you find me? I find that hard to believe.¡± He scoffed.


    ¡°And yet he not only saved you from other Annoids who detained you, but also allowed you into his home and is out hunting for food due to having guests. If his actions alone do not warrant your belief in his generosity, what would?¡±


    Jack admitted to himself that Liam spoke some sense, but everything he learned about Annoids is being challenged by what he is experiencing.


    ¡°But why?¡±


    Liam¡¯s eyebrows raised in question, showing more emotion than Jack had seen before.


    ¡°Why what?¡±


    ¡°Why is he helping us? We are humans. And they are Annoids. They hate us and we hate them. The only reason I can see why he is helping us is because there¡¯s an angle he¡¯s trying to get at.¡±


    Liam found a bundle of fur on the ground, which he promptly sat on. ¡°And what is the angle? If we were to take Toflann at face value and we are stuck in an inescapable prison, what does he have to gain by taking two children under his care when he has to fight hordes of monsters for days on end? Foregoing all suspicion, he has no reason other than he simply wants to.¡±


    Jack didn¡¯t want to listen to Liam, but what he said made sense and no sense. ¡°You said Wind Flygon has fallen. How do we know this whole debacle isn¡¯t part of their fall? Annoids had to be involved.¡±


    Liam sighed. ¡°Forget Toflann is an Annoid. What if he were a human? What difference would it make?¡± Jack leaned against a wall. He couldn¡¯t quite answer that. Back at his clan, he has ran into more than enough kids his age who tried to befriend him due to his status. They never wanted to be his friend without any other hidden intentions. Given the situation, it would make more sense to kill Jack and be done with the clan.


    If Toflann was human, then it depended on which clan he was in, which would give more inclination of what his intentions were. In the end, him being human would make more sense to all of Jack¡¯s claims. But Jack refused to believe any of it.


    ¡°Well, he would be more trustworthy. We do not stoop to Annoid¡¯s level of debauchery.¡±


    Liam shook his head and muttered under his breath. ¡°Humans are more than capable of everything you think an Annoid is.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jack asked. Liam sighed, and his shoulders sagged.


    ¡°The realms aren¡¯t as black and white as you see them. You claim all of this about Annoids based on what your clan has told you, but haven¡¯t met any of them to make your own judgment.¡± Jack wanted to interject, but Liam quickly spoke again.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t Annoids who befell the clan. It was the Misty Flames.¡±


    Jack¡¯s breath caught. The Misty Flames were the closest allies of the Wind Flygon. They were Wind Flygon¡¯s biggest supporters when they rose to power, so what happened for them to rebel and turn against them? Liam read Jack¡¯s look and continued.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the details. It was an obvious surprise to everyone. But you know as much as I do that the two clans were united, but their betrayal showed the true intentions they had. And they are humans.¡±


    Jack, once again, was in stunned silence as he struggled to believe Liam¡¯s words. After a long moment, Liam stood.


    ¡°Let¡¯s freshen up and get some of the meat Toflann said was on the drying rack. I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡±