Chapter 35: Rebirther
-Dark Forest Entrance-
Ai and Anuna went to a different place but this time, Anuna's about to do something else.
"Stay here." She said. Ai looked around but with not much Qi left, he couldn't use his heightened senses.
Then, "Anuna, it's you. Why did you come back? Have you found them?" A couple of the guys who wear a 3-star uniform from the Sting Clan appeared.
"I'm sorry but..." Anuna started to make hand signs from the Black Fist Clan.
"DEMON'S FIST!" Before the others could even defend themselves from Anuna who hasn't shown any hostility towards them, "Wait, what are you doing?!" To their surprise, *BOOOOOOOM!* all of them were crushed to death by a giant fist that came from above.
Ai couldn't help himself from admiring her power. 'How can she attack her allies without even showing bloodlust... a massive attack like that in an instant, she's a monster.'
"What did you do to be this strong?" Ai finally asked.
"It's not really me who should be asking that, prince. It's you. How could you be that strong in a short period of time?" How could she just tell her secret to Ai while he has something as well?
Couldn't tell her, "I..."
She only smiled. "It's ok, naughty prince, keep your secrets. You don't have to tell me but have you heard about reincarnation?"
"I've heard of rebirthers before but isn't that just a myth? Why do you ask? And please stop calling me naughty prince when we're alone. That creeps me out." He asked while Anuna started to loot the dead people's bodies.
Without showing any expression, "I'm a rebirther, young prince." She said.
Ai couldn't believe it but still, at such a young age, she managed to reach Grandmaster and no one has achieved that ever when the Xaltan's Realm was created. It explains a lot now to him.
They say that when someone who reached a higher rank could be able to retain his or her memories in the process of reincarnation and it might be in this situation where myth is actually real.
He just followed his heart and trusted her words and instead of responding with doubt, he wanted her aid. "Are you sure you're going to follow me?" After what she said, there's no point on someone who has lived maybe hundreds of years before would follow a guy like him so he has to make sure.
"As I said, you got my interest. I don't care who you are or who you were before, I just want to see how far you can go from being the weakest to maybe something big. Even if I've lived for a lifetime before, I may learn something new from this generation." So in the end, she's here to have fun watching him grow.
Ai, still surprised and couldn't really process what he learned, "Then I would ask you to lend me a hand to rebuild my home." He decided to accept it as she could be a valuable member of his clan.
"That's my plan from the start. Now let's go back. I could only take down Masters as of what I am right now so let's join your friends." And so they took off avoiding more conflict.
From someone who lost hope and at the edge of giving up, Ai's fire has started to grow stronger.
-The Deeper part of the Dark Forest-
Ai and Anuna managed to catch up with the others and found them in a small camp. Unlike the entrance of the Dark Forest, this part of the forest has thinner Miasma that eating and absorbing a small amount of miasma won't cause too much harm to their physical bodies but only to their Qi. It's more important to regain their physical strength right now.
"Ai, you're back. Do we have any problem?" Duno was worried about Ai's safety.
Sitting as well as he's really tired, "It's all right now. We won't be having trackers on our tails for a while. Let them rest for a bit."
Duno also let out a sigh of relief and then sat beside him. "Then I guess it would be fine to slack off for a bit." After the fall of the Black Petal Clan, Duno doesn't have a choice but to stay away from Ai but he always paid attention to him, all of his suffering of being alone, and the struggle of trying to be acknowledged after training and cultivating through these years, Duno was his guardian. Seeing Ai as he is now, Duno couldn't help but be happy for him. Everything that happened, even after the fall of the Two Great Leaders of Black State, a new leader has arisen. He saw how the people of the Black Fist Clan accepted him for his bravery and kindness.
"Of course, I know your burden, old man. As for me, let me rest for a bit and because I've been here before, I have potions I made to protect us from the miasma of this place. I just need more Qi to open up my magic ring." Trying to release Qi, Ai still couldn't produce enough to even use a magic ring.
Anuna made a hand gesture emitting a blue aura, "It's ok, I've got you covered. AQUA WAVE ART, PROLONG PURIFICATION!" That blue aura spread through the place erasing all the impurities that affect them. It caused them to even widen their curiosity of her.
'Using Fist Art and Wave Art... How many arts did she learn?' Ai couldn't help himself but be envious of her knowledge.
"Ho.... how did you manage to use a higher rank Art from another clan?" Everyone couldn't believe it. It is said that every State strictly forbids their clan members to share their arts with another clan as their arts are their most precious treasure.
"Well... I got quite a few arts from the black market. Learning it requires great practice though, but isn't that normal nowadays?" Both of Ai's eyes met after he knew that she's not telling the truth... and Anuna just smiled at him. 'What a show-off...'
"Oh... I guess you're right. I heard of a black market before but I didn't know they even sell those kinds of books. To even sell your own arts, what a disgrace. It must have cost you a lot."
"Sure, it did but as you can see, it's worth it."
After a few hours, they finally decided to leave and go back to their hideout. With the blessing from Nin's master, Duno managed to locate the hideout.
-Nin's Master Hideout-
Unlike before, the place is now empty. Even Nin's master's house disappeared as well. Duno couldn't be wrong as he was guided by Nin's master's aura. It was really here but it's as if no one has lived here before.
"Here we are." Duno welcomed them to their new home.
Ai is filled with wonder, "Wait, I remember this place but it must be missing something." This is the place where he has awoken his Qi. Now it's like an abandoned place with nothing.
"I know, I thought it was just me but like you've said, it looks like Kin's master left," Duno added.
"Yeah, wait... where's Kin? I haven't seen her with you guys." Worried as something might have happened to his friend but he knew that Kin was one of the strongest students he knows so battle wise, she could protect herself fine.
"She's... her Qi core is damaged and she's having a hard time recovering." Ai's eyes widened. 'How can this be happening?! I thought she only needs a little bit rest before!'
Worried, "Where is she?! Take me to her!" Panicking of what might have happened to her, Duno led the way.
They arrived at the place but the one who needs the most care wasn't Nin, "Su'e! What happened to her?!" Su'e's condition has come to its worst point.
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