8 Meeting

"So relax for these few days. All beings must die, how gloriously you die is what's important."

"Nice way to encourage him, Rodan. Listen kid, you are the first one to take the black skill seed, so be proud."

"Sorry, we lied to you Arthur. The pond is the only trial that we are in charge with. There is nothing we can do if they are with weak in will power and the mindset to stay alive.

Sometimes if you stare directly at death, there are some things that you will see in yourself that you never seen before."

"Kid, you are the only mortal who arrived here. All the past trial takers are hybrids or atleast C-class beast. Maybe that's why the pond reacts more naturally to you. You are god damn lucky."

"Guys thank you for guiding me, teaching me and feeding me this whole year. I know you are task to do so, but I know you gave it your all, specially those meals. I think you are next to my mother when it comes to cooking, Lord Saven."

"There is nothing more delicious than that Arthur. A parent will always provide his child with the things he needs without caring for his own well-being. Comparing her food with mine is miles apart."

All of them talked happily while eating breakfast. Rodan will brag about his wives and how he never forgets all their names even if it's too long.

Kripkey would spout nonesense about his pursuit of "knowledge of the opposite sex". There is this story that Arthur loves that Kripkey once told him in a serious manner. Kripkey told him that an S-class monster dated with him for real and that was when he was still a weak monster. It seems believable, but Arthur knew, it was not all truth.

Lord Saven on the hand is a total bad ass. Once he liked a female monster, he would erect some kind of arena and challenge the female's suitors. A hundred arenas, one hundred total victories. No one died, but he made sure that all of the enemies would rather bang their heads into metal many times over than to fight him again.

"A fighter must fight to get stronger. You can get the strongest weapon, but if you are weak, then their is a flaw that your enemy will exploit." Lord Saven, a battle junkie, would often tell these wise words.

"Learn from observing your enemies. Steal techniques to your battle partners. Be fast and accurate. Be attentive and improvise. You need to use your mind everytime, whether you are on the advantage or not."

"Kid, do not be fooled by something because you have seen it. Look at me, I am an orc, however, but I can still kick Rodan's ass sometimes."

"Hehehe I never had the chance to beat you up this few days. Maybe I need to remind you that I am still stronger".

"As if I'm scared. I will just finish my meal and beat your ass again."

I guess their rivalry will never end.

After breakfast was over, the two monsters, quickly left. After a few seconds, there sounds of fighting not far away.

As Arthur have nothing to do today, he volunteered to accompany Lord Saven to get some rations for dinner. It is his first time having dinner here, as he never felt hungry after pond time.

The monster agreed but with a condition.

"You can't go near that place, so when I tell you to wait, just stay there."

Both of them travelled for half hour before Arthur saw a land of ice. Lord Saven told him that the basic requirement to enter here is that you need to be a hybrid or a D-class monster.

You need to be stronger to go deeper in.

On the third day, they had breakfast as always but it is a bit early this time. This is the only day that the monsters, specially Kripkey, is quiet because they do not want to say anything that would make the child nervous.

After the meal was over, they immediately set forth towards the black tree.

"Get on my back, it's faster that way." Rodan, being the fastest of them all, volunteered.

It only took a minute or two for them to make it near the black tree. It was surrounded by an orange fog. The monsters stopped fifty meters away from the black tree and told Arthur to continue alone.

"Goodluck". All three of the monsters yelled at the same time.

Arthur gave them a shy victory pose and proceeded.

'This tree is so tall.' This tree was several times taller than the one he saw when he was home.

"Come nearer child. Do not be afraid". A motherly voice suddenly sounded in his mind. It was so relaxing.

"I am here now." Arthur yelled when he reached the foot of the tree.

"Welcome, young one. Congratulations! I am the black skill on your right side. My title is Defender. You can call me Thea."

The same voice came out again while two black hexagram shaped emblem came falling from the black tree. There is some kind of shield well engraved on the right emblem while there are two fangs on the left.

"Hello, I am on your left side. My Title: Abyss Devourer. You can call me Bolton." Suprisingly, a male voice came out from the second skill seed.

"For being the first one to arrive here after so long, and seeing that you are a mortal, we can generously reward you. You can choose any of us to be your main skill seed."