Sunlight is filtered through the dense leaves of the trees on this day.
The wound on my chest has been completely healed for quite some time now. But my cloak, unfortunately, is becoming more and more worn. Besides the hole in the fabric and the burn marks, there are now several visible tears, revealing parts of my skin. The hood also shows even more evident damage.
I keep walking, now with a direction to follow.
-(Am I closer?)
I used a mountain as a reference before, but I lost sight of it after the previous events. Now, however, I find other mountains to guide my path.
To make sure I'm going the right way, I take a great leap and begin to climb. I move through the branches of the trees until I reach the top.
As soon as I get up there, I can see the sun, the clouds, enormous birds flying, and countless treetops of gigantic trees. No matter where I look, there are only trees. Even farther away and more imposing than the trees are the mountains and the volcanoes.
I take a moment to appreciate the scenery.
-...
Soon, I turn my attention back to the five mountains.
-(I've been walking for days, and those mountains are still far away.)
The mountains I follow stand out from the others. While the mountains in this region vary between shades of brown, gray, reddish, and even blue (because of the ice), the five mountains I follow have a black coloration mixed with silver. It's a very unusual color for mountains around here.
That caught my attention, and since the day I first saw them, I've been using them as a reference. Up until now, I haven't lost sight of them. Throughout all these days, I constantly climb trees to check if I'm still on the right path.
I climb down from the tree and keep walking.
-Curious…
-This part of the forest looks more beautiful than usual.
I look around. The trees are enormous, but they seem well cared for, their trunks almost giving the impression of being polished. The branches and leaves don't completely block the sunlight. I don't see rotten or withered leaves. The ground is clean, and even the smaller plants and bushes seem trimmed. Each step I take is slow, like someone savoring the beauty surrounding this place.
I keep walking, and my expression softens, showing a rare smile.
-(It almost feels like someone is taking care of this place.)
There don't seem to be any creatures nearby.
-That's strange…
-I haven't seen any monst…
A gentle breeze immediately puts me on alert.
I feel two presences approaching at high speed.
Suddenly, a wave of wind closes in around me.
The attack is fast and violent.
Two converging wind cannons tear through everything in their path, crossing exactly where I was standing. The gale knocks down plants, rips leaves apart, and exposes the bare ground, leaving only deep scars carved into the soil.
Moments later, two green tigers return to the spot. They observe the scene in silence and realize they missed their target.
Or rather, the target had vanished without leaving a trace.
They look at each other and then scan the surroundings, searching for me, but they don't find anything. There is only the exposed ground, devastated by the previous attack.
Suddenly, my feet collide violently with the head of the second tiger, delivering a flying kick. In the next instant, I stretch out my hands and release flames toward the first one. The tiger isn't hit directly and manages to retreat for a moment.
I plant my feet firmly on the ground, unafraid of the green tiger standing right in front of me.
-Look at that, it's been a while.
I observe the tiger carefully, now able to see its features and the extent of its body much more clearly than that day. From the front, I notice details in its fur. Besides the predominant green, there are yellowish strands scattered across its body, and its tail is completely yellow. Its eyes are an intense green. Its paws are large, robust, and threatening, its jaws strong and ferocious. And, of course, its imposing size. This tiger must be between two and a half and three meters tall.
I observe the surroundings, noticing the destruction the tigers caused.
-(Good thing I managed to escape.)
To evade the initial attack, I quickly dodged to the right and jumped. The force of the wind launched me upward, helping me reach the top of a tree and hide for a surprise attack.
Without wasting time, I drag my foot slightly forward. I extend my right arm, palm open in front of me, while the left remains clenched into a fist, close to my abdomen.
I take on a fighting stance.
-(I don't know martial arts, but maybe striking a pose like this will give me some kind of advantage.)
From a distance, emerging among fallen leaves and broken branches, I see the second tiger approaching slowly. It shows no injury to its head. Apparently, my flying kick wasn't strong enough to even hurt it. The tiger moves toward the other one, and soon the two stand side by side.
The memory of almost being devoured makes my mood sink.
-(They're green tigers, just like the ones that almost killed me.)
Suddenly, both charge straight at me, and I charge at them. My hands release massive amounts of flames, while the wind gathers around the tigers.
Our attacks collide and explode. I take damage. I'm thrown far away, my back slamming against the trees. Deep cuts open on my hands, as if blades had passed through them.
But my regeneration quickly deals with the injuries, and I return to the fight.
On the other side, the tigers are pushed back by the force of the impact, but they take no damage. Without hesitation, they rush at me with everything they have.
The wind released by the green tigers almost hits me. I crouch to dodge. The attack violently strikes the tree behind me. I glance at it for an instant and see a horrifying cut running through the trunk, the tree is nearly split in half and brought down.
Seeing this, I gather even more flames around my body and hurl them at them. In response, they unleash wind blasts. The attacks collide and explode. Even with the smoke in the way, I can feel their presence. I advance with clenched fists, releasing even more fire.
The tigers manage to withstand my attacks and rush in to strike me. The paw of the first tiger grazes past my face, but I manage to dodge to the left. The other tiger nearly splits me in two, but I escape by rolling across the ground.
I get back up and try to put some distance between us, but the tigers are fast and extremely flexible. In just a few movements, they twist their bodies and are already upon me again.
My arms tremble with the amount of fire I'm about to release.
I stare at the two tigers with determination and charge forward with all the strength I have.
Both tigers, already surrounded by their wind Abilities, leap and raise their paws toward me. With rapid movements, both I and the two tigers vanish from sight. The only things visible are the exploding flames, making the area tremble, and the cutting wind, which carves deep gashes into the trees and knocks many of them to the ground.
The paw of the first tiger collides with a fist. The force of the impact injures both of us.
My hand is torn apart, while the first tiger is left with a burned paw.
Unlike the green tiger, my hand begins to regenerate.
But before I can react, I'm struck by the second tiger. Its paw slams violently into my stomach, hurling me far away.
My back crashes against trees and rocks along the way, and I roll across the ground until I finally stop. I manage to get back up, only to be hit by powerful gusts of wind. The force of the wind slips through the gaps and tears in my cloak, slicing into my skin and throwing me back to the ground once more.
In an instant, I see the gaping jaws of the first tiger right above me. I quickly raise my arms and grab its fangs, preventing it from closing its jaws around my body.
I strain with everything I have to avoid being devoured. But its fangs are already brushing against my face.
-Grrr!!!
-Hey!!!
My eyes widen as I release an enormous amount of fire. The explosion hurls the first tiger backward. It crashes hard into the ground, its body and fur burned, yet it still manages to get back up, showing impressive resilience.
I get back on my feet.
-(Wait!)
I look at the burned tiger and realize something is missing.
-(Where's the second tiger?!)
When I notice it, I feel something right behind me. I turn my head, but I see absolutely nothing. In the next instant, a violent impact strikes my back, deeply tearing my cloak. Cutting wind throws me far away. I slam into the trunk of a tree, and my body lands on a branch.
My spine and several bones break. Blood runs from my mouth. Everything blurs. Severe internal injuries. Little by little, my vision adjusts, and I see the first tiger, still with burned fur, advancing toward me through the air.
I can't stay still. I force myself and focus my regeneration to act immediately. In just a few moments, I leap from the tree and land on another. The tiger lands where I was, but jumps again right after me. It's chasing me.
Before long, the first tiger matches my speed. The moment my foot touches a tree trunk, it's already right behind me. Without losing momentum, I turn and crouch quickly to jump and attack. I force my legs even more to gain momentum. Stress, exhaustion, and tension pile up, but my regeneration manages to handle it.
We exchange close-combat blows and long-range attacks as we move through the branches.
When our feet strike a trunk, it gives way, and we end up falling from the trees almost at the same time. We regain our balance midair. Some of the tiger's attacks hit me, but thanks to my regeneration and the protection of my cloak, I can better withstand the assaults.
The tiger's paw, wrapped in violent gusts of wind, slams into my left shoulder, destroying it. My cloak tears even more, but it manages to protect me, allowing me to endure such a direct blow. The pain is intense, but I don't retreat.
I end up slightly lower than the tiger, and for a brief instant I have a clear view of its belly and chest. I seize the opening. I swiftly raise my other arm and fire a large sphere of flames at point-blank range, hitting its chest and belly head-on.
The explosion knocks down several trees. We're both thrown in opposite directions. The tiger, already injured, suffers even more burns and wounds, its belly taking the worst of it. It crashes directly into the ground.
I'm falling as well, but my injuries are healing very slowly, and my left shoulder begins to regenerate little by little.
-O-oh…
I focus my mind, deciding where regeneration should take priority. The shoulder is restored first.
-(I have to end this.)
I feel my Source approaching its limit. Even my regeneration is slower than before. Ending this fight quickly is the best decision.
I propel myself with flames bursting from my feet, perform a somersault in the air, and land on a tree branch, ready to jump and charge at the fallen tiger.
My eyes widen as I sense a presence. It's already in front of me, but I can't see it. I force my legs to jump and dodge, but it's useless. My body is struck by a blast of wind that disrupts my escape, and in the next instant, I feel a paw slam into my chest.
I'm launched straight into the ground, opening a deep crater in the earth.
-(It got me…)
-(But who was it?!)
-(I felt the presence, but I didn't see anything.)
-(The second tiger disappeared too.)
The answer comes to my mind.
-(Of course!)
I leap out of the crater.
-(How could I forget? That's how it was at the beginning.)
Just like our first encounter, I remember that these green tigers can turn invisible and hide their presence. Knowing this, I begin to plan a way to finish both of them at once. However, I realize there's no sign of either of them nearby. They've completely vanished.
I look toward the spot where the first tiger had fallen, but it's no longer there. It almost looks like they fled.
-(Both of them must be invisible.)
I scan every direction, but I don't see any green tigers. The wind blows softly, which only reinforces my certainty that they're here. Quickly, I move behind a tree.
I weigh the information I have.
-(They're agile, fast, strong, and can turn invisible.)
-(My Source reserves are large, but not infinite.)
-(I have to finish them in one move.)
-(The first tiger has already taken many wounds, that definitely made it weaker and slower. But the problem is the second one.)
I remain still, eyes closed.
-(I can see their Source if I keep my eyes closed, but that's still impractical for me. Fighting like this is risky.)
I open my eyes.
-(I only sense them when they're really close, and I only notice the attack at the very instant the blow is about to hit me.)
My breathing stays steady, and my body remains tense and ready.
-(I have to react faster. I have to be faster and… blow everything up at the right moment.)
The wind intensifies, shaking the leaves of the surrounding trees. I give a faint, crooked smile.
-...
Everything around me is torn and sliced apart, but I manage to come out relatively unscathed. As my feet touch the ground, I feel the heat of a paw about to strike my head. I crouch, dodging by a hair's breadth.
I jump to avoid another blow coming toward my legs.
Still in midair, I feel them right beside me, one presence to the right, another to the left.
I spin in the air and, at the same time, release fire from my feet and arms, setting my surroundings ablaze and forcing the tigers to retreat. But a powerful wave of wind hits me head-on, snuffing out my flames.
I get up from the ground, feeling that the wind is much stronger now. Deeper wounds open where my cloak is torn.
I plant my feet firmly on the earth, my palms crackling, and keep my gaze fixed ahead. I may not see either of them, but my instincts tell me, they're both there.
I close my eyes. For a brief instant, I see the Source of both tigers as they charge at high speed. But one of them is much slower, breaking their synchronization slightly.
The wind, however, remains intense, ripping everything apart along its path. Realizing this blow could kill me in an instant, I concentrate my entire Source to end this once and for all.
I open my eyes and, in a single moment, release the flames.
The wind and the fire collide.
The explosion can be heard from afar. Everything around trembles. Several trees are knocked down, and those still standing are left charred. On the ground, there are even smoking patches of lava scattered across the earth.
At the center of all this destruction,
I'm still standing.
Amid the flames, I look exhausted, with burns spread across my body. Very slowly, my regeneration begins to work.
-(I hope I got both of them at once.)
I look around, searching for the tigers, but I see nothing but black smoke rising into the sky and fire spreading in every direction. I begin to feel relief, believing I've won this battle.
But then, I see something move.
Beneath the burned trees, the two tigers rise.
My eyes widen in shock.
-They survived the explosion?!
-(This is bad.)
But looking more closely, I realize they're in terrible condition too. Their green fur is completely ruined, and their bodies are covered in deep burns.
The first tiger, already injured, can barely stay on its feet. Even so, they walk toward me.
I get ready, keep my hands open, trying to summon flames, but only small sparks appear before fading out.
My Source is practically exhausted.
-...
When I realize they're already right in front of me and show no sign of retreating, I prepare for the inevitable. There's no other choice. I'll have to face them in close combat.
I clench my fists and charge.
Then, a thunderous roar interrupts everything.
The sound is so overwhelming that both the tigers and I freeze instantly. When we look to the side, we see a colossal tiger, easily reaching five meters in height. Its fur is completely yellow, its eyes of the same color, shine with fury, and its paws are enormous and robust. Two fangs protrude from its mouth, giving it the appearance of a mix between a tiger and a saber-toothed beast.
The yellow tiger roars furiously.
The land it so carefully tends and protects is destroyed. Its territory is unrecognizable. It looks to the right and sees entire areas completely cleared, trees wiped from the ground. To the left, it sees trees and rocks that were once orderly now reduced to rubble. Finally, its gaze turns to me and the two green tigers, surrounded by fire, molten earth, and deep craters in the ground.
The hatred in its eyes is so intense that the clouds in the sky begin to spin, forming multiple hurricanes around us. A true wall of wind advances like a marching army, with the yellow tiger at its center.
The tigers and I widen our eyes as we see that destruction approaching.
-...
-...
-...
I look at the green tigers.
-...
The two tigers look at me.
-...
-...
No explanation is needed. The three of us bolt, running as fast as we can.
The first tiger can barely run, so the second carries it on its back.
But the yellow tiger charges right after us.
….
…
..
.
It's already night, and the two tigers and I are inside a cave.
The environment seems quiet and calm, but a distant roar makes everything tremble.
The two green tigers shake with fear. I show no fear, but I'm worried. Outside, a deadly battle is underway.
Another roar, deep and powerful, coming from a bear, shakes the shelter. In response, a heavy wind forms, ripping out even the trees near the cave's entrance.
I watch the rocky ceiling gain new cracks.
-(They've been fighting for hours.)
During our escape, in the condition the three of us were in, it was inevitable that the yellow tiger would catch us. But just when everything seemed lost, we crossed paths with a massive chromed bear, nearly five meters tall. Fortunately, it completely ignored us and charged straight at the yellow tiger, probably believing the feline had invaded its territory.
Another tremor makes part of the cave collapse. Faced with this, the two tigers retreat even further and cling tightly to me.
I remain still, stunned, unable to believe that I'm being squeezed by two enormous green tigers.
Only one thought fills my mind.
-(How did everything end up like this?)
….
…
..
.