บท 2: Birds and Berries

Staring at the glowing orb, he blanked. The sphere hadn't been there a moment ago. Remembering the thumping sound from before, he looked towards the sky. Reaching out over the opening of the pit, was a long branch covered in similar purple orbs. After connecting the dots, and with his curiosity mounting, he wiggled his remaining body from the egg, wanting to get closer to the mystery fruit.

However, he quickly discovered that his body had other ideas. Instinctively he began trying to take a step forward but realized that it wasn't going to work that way. Mimicking the movement he did to escape the egg, he wiggled. Yet there was no forward movement, instead, he just spasmed in the ground like a worm.

A wave of exasperated embarrassment washed over him and he quickly stilled his body. It was like he was a newborn learning to crawl. Realizing that that wasn't far from the truth, his embarrassment faded and was replaced by determination.

Taking a deep breath he began trying to move again. With the more, he wiggled the easier it became to adjust and control the movement of his body. He smiled to himself and he slowly but surely got the hang of it.

'This isn't too bad,' he thought as he slithered around in a small circle. Mentally striking his best victory pose, he then made his way over to the brightly glowing fruit. The deep purple fruit was the size of a kumquat, in comparison to Jasper's head though, it looked like a watermelon.

As he got closer to the fruit, an intoxication aroma assaulted his nose nearly knocking him backward. It was the most amazing thing he'd ever smelt, in both this and his last life. It smelt like the feeling you get when your starving and discover that your family's made your favorite dish for dinner.

With a look of intoxication, he jerked forward, pressing his nose right against the fruit. Without thinking he opened his mouth, revealing a shiny pair of hollow fang. The short white fangs descended from the roof of his mouth and easily sank into the fruit.

When the fangs pierced the skin of the fruit it was like a fragrance bomb went off. Light purple juices flowed into the hollows of his fangs and down his throat. The juices were slightly warm, making his whole body heat up. Closing his eyes he drifted into a state of pure bliss. The sweetness of the fruit was heightened by the crisp freshness of it, yet it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet.

He was so lost in the flavor that he was completely unaware of anything else until he discovered that he couldn't breathe. Panic shocked him out of his euphoric state as the fruit completely blocked his airways. He quickly tried to spit the fruit out of his mouth but to no avail. His teeth were acting as natural barriers, as they're supposed to, keeping the fruit firmly locked inside.

Clamping down his jaws with all his might, he tried to bite the fruit, yet he was hit with the reality of just how weak his jaw was. With no other choice, and with the fear of a second death setting in, he did the only thing he could. Using all the strength he could muster, he lifted his head, aimed, and slammed it down onto the ground. Using the force of the collision to push the fruit the rest of the way down this throat.

Stars filled his vision from the impact, but thankfully the fruit moved a little. Blinking the stars from his eyes he steeled his resolve and repeated the process. Three slams and a bunch of stars later, the fruit cleared the back of his throat. With a wheezing breath, he filled his lungs and collapsed weakly to the ground.

Instead of a small snake, he now looked like a semi-inflated balloon. Although he managed to get the fruit down his throat, he was now bloated and unable to move. Exhausted from the endeavor he just laid there and reflected on what just happened. He had acted without control due to a fruit and that horrified him. Glancing at his bloated belly he cringed. As it stood now he could do nothing but lay there and pray that his stomach could actually digest the thing. So with that in mind, he closed his eyes and decided to nap.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Jasper, two eyes were watching him in amusement. High up in the branches of the ancient tree, sat an old man in roughly made purple and brown robe. He laughed as he watched the little snake struggle to consume the first fruit he had sent it. It was funny how the little guy went at it with so much gusto. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew the little snake couldn't currently handle another, he'd continue to drop tons of fruit near him.

A flicker of caring flashed in his eyes before he frowned and looked towards the horizon. All around his tree, within a 500-meter radius, was a dead zone. But beyond the tree spread out a vast forest. As he stared at the trees near the edge a chilling laughter rang out.

"Humil, you old tree, how'd you enjoy last nights tribulation?"

Following the mocking question, a large purple crow soared above the treeline and hovered in the sky. The crow had a cocky look on its face as it looked around at the destruction.

"Well, well, well… If it isn't Luka's dog son, Alba. Tell me, child, does your father know you're out here shaming his name?" A deep calm voice responded, as the old man stood from his branch and stretched.

"Hump, you better watch what you say, old man. Everyone in the forest knows you suffered from a tribulation yesterday. Even though you've managed to survive, we all know you're currently weak. As you are now even I have no reason to fear you." As he finished his speech he gave a loud caw, and from the forest behind him a swarm of crows rose into the sky.

Looking at all the crows slowly gathering in the distance, the old man Humil, sighed. A look of contempt unhidden on his face. "Boy, do you really think that you can threaten me?"

"Call it what you like, but I advise you to peacefully hand over the Sanctioned Flare Fruits," Alba sneered.

Hearing that Humil laughed, "Kid you're a thousand years too early to be threatening me." As he laughed, seven long black branches rose from his canopy. Unlike the rest of the branches of the tree, these were bare without any fruits or leaves. Instead, they were covered in thin streaks of purple lightning.

Seeing the seven flickering branches Alba started, the smirk vanishing from his face. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. According to his father's adviser, the old tree had only undergone five tribulations. Yet the seven branches before him were like a slap to the face.

"Haha, come on kid! Show me just how you'll take my fruit from me!"