Upon the first step into the cave. The foul smell immediately struck their nose. The smell of blood and flesh was clear and strong.
Ugh! Why am I even doing this!?
A thought of running came up in his mind. Why would he need to help this old man? He could have fled away and let him die.
No... he's my only ticket to reach the civilization.
That's indeed the truth; he's the only human he ever met since he woke up. He couldn't let this chance get away.
Also, August was quite confident in Rein's strength. He was sure strong, especially as an ascender. Now, August has a chance to see how he got such a name.
The chilling wind was not as strong since they're in closing space. The cave was sure big, maybe thrice August height. The dark eerily feeling disturbed August, while it has no effect on Rein and Paley. Both look confident and comfortable. Paley the wolf moved in front of its master and August, sniffing the trail into even darker lair. Every step in, the more blood scent floating in the air. The tense of darkness consumed three of them as they came a long way from the entrance.
August started to lose his awareness of his surroundings. He thought back at the bonfire, that fire was always flickering without any sign of dying. Maybe if they go back, it would still be igniting bright.
Should have brought some...
That was truly a useful thing to have. But earlier he had no idea that they would be exploring the cave. Hence, he didn't think of bringing a light-emitting object. And now he's regretting that decision.
"Can you create any sort of light, kid?" Rein asked.
August once asked himself the same. When moving around in the dark many days ago, he once tried to create a small amount of light. However, there's nothing. But that was way before he grasped the concept of his domain. The Sun should be able to create a light, right?
Then, he tried again. This time using a different method. Before, he tried to conjure the light with the same technique when he created the heat ray. By focus purely on his palm, he counted the rhythm of his heartbeats. Every pulse, he concentrated on the movement of his hand muscles, by tensing up his on hand, the heat ray come out of his palm.
Now, he didn't try to focus on his pulse anymore. Instead, he tried to create his own rhythm, his own beat. By doing so, a light flickered in his clenching palm.
Yes!
He tried again.
One. Two. Three. Four.
The light lit up again. In the pure darkness, just a small flash of light is able to distract every living being within its distance. Now that Rein and Paley noticed the light repeatedly coming out from August's palm. They began to slow down.
One. Two. Three. Four.
Again, but the light is just too dim. Barely, given a light.
Rein suggested, his voice echoed in the blackness, "Your signal isn't clear enough."
Huh?
Even in the dangerous place, Rein's confidence didn't reduce just one bit. He still used his full volume when he talked, while August use his minimum, he just whispered, "What? How did you..."
"Oh, trust me, kid. You're not the only one who came up with the rhythm method. In fact, almost every ascender used it when they try to learn about their abilities. One, two, three, four is not a bad method either. But different person has their own preference. Me, personally, adapted it to my breathing tempo. It's hard to get used to, but once you're able to do so, rhythm method is as easy as breathing, haha."
Is that supposed to be a joke? Or am I missing something?
"However, the most important part is four. It's the moment where you unleash your power. That's why you need to have the clearest sign to use those abilities at that exact moment. Also, that's why some people prefer to chant their move before using it. I'm not suggesting you to do that, of course. That's just dumb. Try to snap your finger at four, instead."
August nodded in darkness,
One. Two. Three. Four.
He snapped his right-hand fingers. The flash of light lit up from the tip of his previously snapped fingers instead. Though it was smaller, it was a whole lot brighter.
Yes! It worked!
He did it again, creating light that almost blind his own eyes. He tried keeping it lit up for longer, but he couldn't. The longest time he counted was three seconds before the entire cave return to its original state.
So, instead of trying to keep the light lit for more than three seconds, August just continued snapping his fingers every three seconds. Which not entirely convenient but still work just fine.
They continued to walk deeper in the cave. The size of it didn't shrink just a bit. Paley still sniffing, Rein didn't speak a word, just silently looking around.
It didn't take long for August to adapted to his new ability and it didn't take long for them to finally reach the point where the scent of blood and flesh become so foul, August almost vomit, luckily, he didn't.
Another flash of light bright up the room. This time, something caught August's attention. A pile of bone and flesh that was not yet frozen.
What the fuck...
Again, a growling sound echoed in the darkness. August stopped snapping fingers. He afraid that it might be too late now. Such a simple mistake, how he hadn't thought of this!
Whatever it is, it sees them now. Emitting from behind that flesh pile. A shadow of something huge slowly growing until it has reached the ceiling of its lair.
Rein didn't command anything, he said nothing even. Somehow, he also saw this shadow, even in the darkness. In this moment, as the shadow made a terrifying low growl. August was trembled. His legs shook, his body froze, his breath stopped. As alive as he is, his mind was already dead.
"Focus!" Rein shouted loud and clear.
The shadow slowly became bigger. It's not growing, it's coming nearer. August used his last bit of sanity to snap his fingers. A light lit up the cave again.
That shadow has four legs, black thick fur like a coal and a set of sharp fangs in its mouth. Clearly, it's a wolf. Clearly, it's not a normal wolf.
August still maintained his mind to snap his fingers again, trying to gather the most information possible. This time, he focused on that pile of flesh. There were also bones mixed in them. Skulls of an unknown animals can be seen from far away. As he thought, there was no human remain in there.
Rein stepped forward. He remained calm and solemn. He cracked his hand in amusement, "Stay with Paley, kid. And don't stop using your power, I want you to see this."
What...
He had no authority to deny. So, he continued doing as Rein said.
Rein stepped forward even further. The black wolf slowly confronted Rein. There's a clear stain of blood on its mouth and nose.
The black wolf howled, its sound was so loud, it created a vibration on the cave wall. August was sure that a couple time more it could made this place their tomb.
There was an advantage Rein used to fight against this beast. The fact that its body was the same size of the cave made it hard for the wolf to move around. Maybe it was intentionally plan by Rein from the start or it just coincident.
But the fight was already started. August creating light every three seconds with each have a second blackout after.
Rein rush toward the wolf, he was fast, so fast that made August realized how he held himself back when they ran here. He never thought human could be this fast, compare to the wind, Rein was a storm. Just in two flicks of light, Rein was already a couple meters away from the wolf front legs. It crouched just a little, now it capable of moving freely, but its speed was certainly limited.
It used its front right paw to attack Rein. Swung slower than Rein movement speed, it's not even a challenge for Norhtern Fang. By the time it reached Rein, he was already somewhere else.
Rein, also, moved like a beast. He moves with his hands and legs, like a wolf. August was sure that at some point, Rein was smiling.
The fight doesn't seem as equal as August thought. Rein just playing with his prey. The big wolf has no chance against him. Which made August felt relief and scared at the same time.
Another three flicks of light, Rein done dodging all those attacks. He had decided to launch his attack back. The tension of the fight made his blood boiled. Joy, excited and rage was unleashed at the same moment. He leaped into the air. Using his right hand, he grabbed the wolf nose. The height of his jump was unbelievably high. Once he attached himself with the wolf, it began to shake him off. That's a normal behavior of an animal, but for Rein it's the act of his prey.
Rein used his strength to pull himself once. That one and only pull he took was enough to send him flying toward the wolf face, right between both of its eyes.
August saw the scene and was in shocked. Rein stabled himself on its skull as it swung its head left and right. Rein just couldn't care enough, in the silent, only destruction from the wolf make a sound. The rocks were falling around the scene. August could have died again if it wasn't Paley who dragged him to safety.
Rein never looked back at them both, he fully focused on the beast in front. As he winding up his punch, he grinned, "Died, beast!"
His fist penetrated through the beast right eye easily. While its face was covered in blood, Rein whole body was also dyed in red.
The wolf screamed in pain. It stopped swing its head, instead, it hit its head with the cave ceiling as a last resort. It's hitting the ceiling over and over. The rocks that falling after beginning to grow bigger.
This is not good...
He didn't stop snapping his finger. While looking at Paley, it's still watching its master without blinking. August couldn't help but worried.
Suddenly, the beast stopped. Its jaw dropped; blood ran down its mouth. Slowly, it began to fall to the ground. Once it hit, a strong wave of wind and a loud bang emitted, sending August a couple meters aback.
August was unable to calculate the situation just yet. The fight was intense but also, short. This already showed the difference between the beast and Rein. But more importantly, it showed that August couldn't make a scratch on Rein.
After the intense fight, the most scared and worried person must be August, that's for sure. He could barely keep his legs together.
The wolf's body lay on the ground. August didn't dare to investigate the body just yet. He waited.
Then, Rein appeared from the wolf's head. His body was entirely covered in blood. All red from head to toes. He was hammered into the wolf's skull. It literally hammered itself to death.
Just how strong are you, old man!?
Using himself as a nail was something August couldn't even think of. It was just too dangerous and even more, too scary. Now, it prove that Rein was stronger than both the black wolf and a literal rock. That's a chilling thought he couldn't properly process.
Rein slowly walked himself to August, who was currently snapping.
"How was the show?" Rein asked. There's no exhaustion in his voice. He made it seem like a morning exercise.
"Terrifying." August didn't attempt to lie. He almost pissed himself to death.
"Hm. Take whatever you need. We're going home."