The afternoon sunlight illuminates the region. Volcanoes in the distance release thick columns of smoke that rise into the sky, while distant explosions, flashes, and violent winds echo across faraway areas, signaling battles between powerful monsters. In many parts of the forest, only traces of destruction remain, along with large craters torn open in the ground.
The sky is filled with giant birds. Even so, these creatures flee when something approaches through the air. A massive bird with red feathers crosses the sky, a powerful phoenix. The flames surrounding its body shift between shades of yellow and intense red. Clutched in its talons is the day's prey, a large ogre, dead from burns and puncture wounds. The phoenix flies away, heading straight toward one of the volcanoes.
Moments later, from the top of a tree, watching the phoenix disappear beyond the horizon, my face can be seen.
I turn my head from side to side, searching.
-Where…
Soon, I spot the five silvery mountains.
-There.
I finally find them. For a moment, I feared I had lost sight of them, but it's impossible to mistake them for anything else in this environment. I mentally trace the route I need to follow and jump from the tree, landing firmly on the ground. Knowing exactly where to go, I begin to walk.
My eyes fall on my left shoulder. The large tear in the cloak extends all the way to my chest. When I touch my back, I feel another, even larger tear, exposing part of my trapezius muscles and stretching almost to the middle of my spine. I grab the hood and pull it tight, seeing that it looks like a sieve, full of holes and cuts.
I sigh, discouraged.
-Haa…
-I still remember how vibrant and beautiful you were. Even as a black cloak, you carried a rare kind of beauty.
-But now…
-My dear garment… just look at you. Time isn't kind here, we both know that.
Without a doubt, this was one of the best gifts I've ever received. I have no doubt that without this cloak and its mystical protection, I would have died somewhere forgotten in this forest. It has been with me since the beginning, since the moment I woke up. We've survived together until now. Even in this poor condition, it still helps protect me in the inevitable battles.
I look around.
-...
Then I sigh once more and glance behind me.
-You can come out. I know you're there.
I hear the bushes moving toward me. Leaves and branches are pushed aside, but I can't distinguish anything, they're still invisible. Even so, I know exactly who they are.
Two green shapes begin to materialize right in front of me. Little by little, they reveal themselves as the same two green tigers from before. They stare at me in silence for a long moment before approaching. They circle my body and brush against me in a clearly affectionate gesture.
Despite the affection, I still remember the fight we had yesterday and how they were responsible for damaging my cloak even further. My expression remains neutral. I even consider pushing them away to create some distance. But when I hear the deep purring, any resentment dissolves like mist under the morning sun.
I try to pet their heads, but they're too tall. I stretch my arm as far as I can, only managing to reach their foreheads. Realizing how pointless that is, I start scratching under their chins instead.
We share a few moments of affection before I resume my path toward the silvery mountains. The two follow right behind me. I know many things happened last night, enough to erase whatever differences we had. But I still don't understand why they decided to accompany me. Maybe they see me as an ally, since we hid together in the cave. That's just speculation.
I pick up my pace a little. I avoid exposed roots, leap over natural obstacles, and move forward. The tigers do the same.
I glance back several times.
-(The monsters here also have an absurd healing factor, almost comparable to the forest itself.)
I realize the tigers are completely fine. Elegant steps, no limping, strong bodies without a single mark of injury or burn. Their green fur is full and healthy, with yellow strands scattered throughout, and their tails have returned to that intense yellow color. Anyone seeing them now would never guess they're the same ones from last night.
After leaving the cave, I haven't seen the yellow tiger or the chromed bear again. Even so, the traces of destruction they left behind are unmistakable. Comparing that battle to the fight I had against these two tigers would be like comparing a campfire to a flamethrower. I walk for kilometers seeing nothing but signs of devastation. Still, the forest has already begun to regenerate. You can watch it recover with the naked eye.
I stop for a moment when I notice a tree slowly growing. But fast, far too fast when compared to the trees of my former world.
I look at the tree for a moment, watching it grow and almost reach my height in such a short time.
-(Even after seeing this so many times, it never stops fascinating me.)
….
…
..
.
An ogre appears ahead of us. Large, powerful, with muscles that radiate strength and intimidation. Its dark-green skin and height, easily reaching three meters make it clear just how dangerous and powerful this monster is.
But it's badly wounded. Deep cuts are clearly visible across its body. Even though it still poses a threat, it looks like it's at its limit.
Its black eyes burn with fury. It lets out a loud roar to instill fear. In its right hand, it wields a heavy wooden club. Flames erupt and wrap around its body. With another roar, the fire condenses and is fired like a blazing cannon.
At that very instant, a massive wave of water intercepts the attack, extinguishing the flames and slamming the ogre to the ground.
It struggles to stand, staggering, but manages to plant its feet firmly on the earth. The ogre glares furiously at this small creature before it.
I take a few more steps and stop right in front of the ogre.
-(Tough bastard to put down.)
The ogre charges. I immediately summon more water and fire a high-pressure stream. It manages to resist, but I increase the flow and knock it down again.
The flames around its body intensify. My water begins to boil and evaporate. I step forward and move my hands, forcing my Ability to maintain the temperature. The water still evaporates, but now in a much slower and more controlled way.
The ogre rises once more and charges, about to strike me with its club, now sheathed in flames. I react quickly, sealing the water around it and forming a massive liquid sphere, trapping the ogre at its center.
The sphere floats in the air. Inside, it thrashes, roars, and intensifies its flames. Steam begins to form, but I force even more water, keeping it restrained.
My arms tremble under the pressure I'm exerting, and controlling the water like this is very different from simply firing a jet. Maintaining control over already-summoned water requires far more effort.
I bring my hands together in a single, sharp motion. The sphere compresses, becoming smaller and denser. The ogre screams in pain, I can even hear bones breaking.
It struggles with increasing violence and desperation, but soon its strength fades. In the end, air bubbles escape from its mouth. It's being drowned and crushed by the pressure.
Its movements slow. Then stop. I believe it's over.
Then, suddenly, the ogre's eyes snap open and turn red. The temperature of the water rises abruptly. Steam builds up inside the sphere, and I lose control.
The sphere expands and explodes, releasing a violent burst of steam pressure that throws me backward.
I roll across the ground as I fall.
-(Ah, no.)
-(I lost control of the water.)
I quickly get back up and look at the ogre. Once again, flames rise around its body, but then fade. It seems it no longer has the strength to use its Ability. It's still standing, but barely able to keep its balance.
Water pours in streams from its mouth and nose. Its lungs must be completely filled.
I'm about to attack again when a violent current of wind slams into it head-on. Even deeper cuts open across its body, and it falls flat on its back.
Before it can react, two deep bites sink into its thick neck.
The ogre trembles and lets out weak groans for a few seconds. Its eyes slowly close. Then it dies.
As soon as the body goes limp, two green figures reveal themselves, one on each side of its neck.
They're the green tigers.
They pull their fangs free and stare at me in silence.
I look at the tigers.
-...
-(Wait… are they waiting for me?)
Indeed, it seems they're waiting for my permission before eating. I gesture and speak to them, indicating that they can feed. I don't know if they fully understand, but soon they begin to devour the ogre. Each bite pierces its thick skin, tearing away large chunks of flesh.
The fight ends with us as the victors. Since I neither see nor sense any danger nearby, I sit down on the ground and watch them.
As they eat, I analyze their strength based on what I know so far, the Ability to create wind and their capacity for invisibility.
Their invisibility is astonishing. The ogre never even noticed their presence. From the very start of the fight, it had already suffered deep cuts across its body without ever knowing where the attacks came from.
Just like with me, I only notice the tigers when they're extremely close or when they decide to reveal themselves. This isn't mere invisibility, it's presence concealment.
I examine their bodies carefully, and a suspicion begins to take shape. Their fur is predominantly green, but there are many yellow strands, and their tails are also yellowish.
On top of that, their physiques are very similar to that of the yellow tiger.
Not to mention that both these green tigers and the yellow one from that day share the same Ability to create and manipulate wind.
I narrow my eyes.
-(Very suspicious…)
-(Do they evolve into yellow tigers?)
-(Like the ripening of a fruit.)
-...
-(Maybe.)
Before long, the two tigers finish devouring the ogre. Only bones remain. Even so, I can tell they're not satisfied. A three-meter ogre clearly wasn't enough.
I stand up, and we move on to another hunt, without straying from the path toward the silvery mountains.
….
…
..
.
Night falls, offering a perfect view of the moon and the stars for those hidden among the treetops.
Between branches and broad leaves, the green tigers lie down, gnawing on the body of a massive venomous snake, covered in jade-green spikes.
At the top of the tree, leaning against the trunk, I watch the five silvery mountains, still far away. I turn my gaze to the sky, contemplating its beauty, speckled with countless stars. I fix my eyes on the moon, large and bright, and extend my hand as if I could touch it, but as expected, I can't. Even so, I keep a calm expression. Several comets streak across the sky. A faint smile forms on my face.
The wind sways the leaves of the trees, and the cold air passes over my body, but it doesn't bother me. The beauty of the landscape makes up for everything.
….
…
..
.
Several weeks pass. The sun slowly sets on the horizon. The two tigers and I do many things together. Even though the forest is dangerous, it doesn't prevent us from having moments of lightness. The tigers even manage to draw a few smiles from me along the way.
My presence is also important to them. With my help, they manage to hunt prey that was previously impossible. With three members, the group becomes far more efficient, gaining access to prey rich in energy, the Source.
But, as they say, happiness doesn't last long.
The tigers lie down on the ground and lower their heads, allowing me to pet them.
-...
-Yeah…
-...I guess this is goodbye…
I stay there for long minutes, running my hand over their heads, aware that this may be the last time. When I step away, they stand up and look at me. They don't understand my words, but they understand my intentions.
I express, through gestures and actions, that we must part ways. They seem confused, but soon grasp the feeling behind the decision. They respond in their own way, I can see the sadness in their expressions. They gently tap me with their paws, as if asking me not to leave without them, but my decision is firm. Seeing that I won't allow them to come with me, they turn around and run into the forest. They activate their invisibility and vanish from my sight.
There was no way for them to continue with me. My journey leads down paths far too dangerous for them. I can rely on my high regeneration and on the protection of the cloak. They can't.
With every different biome we crossed, the tigers suffered from something new, making the journey slower and riskier. The delay itself isn't the real problem, that's easily ignored, but the danger is. The day before yesterday, they nearly died in a lightning storm. I could survive something like that. They probably wouldn't.
I look at the path ahead and move forward, alone once again.
….
…
..
.