What Makes a Man

"Big Boss, well said. Damn it, my blood is boiling from excitement."

Lord Saven looked very awesome but the image was instantly broken by him handing out the third batch of meat.

"Okay, that is enough for today don't you think? I will answer your questions at another time. I will promise to help you gain the strength needed for the trials. I just wish you would survive for a change. I do want go back home and see if some of my relatives are still alive."

"Wait I just have one more question. How can I go home when this is all over?"

"We can't tell you. I mean none of us three knows how. But the black ones did tell us that there is a way home for all of us guardians, so you can just come with me, I guess. I promise to get you back home."

The whole breakfast lasted for another hour before Kripkey was satisfied and drunk as hell. Arthur used his remaining time before lunch by doing some push-ups.

In the afternoon, Arthur started his routine again and now he was joined with Kripkey.

" Hehe kid how long do you sleep here in the pond?"

"Well, I had some progress for the last few months and I get to wake up before sundown now. When I first arrived here, I start in the morning and always wake up in the middle of the night. I think it is taking too long to finish this task."

'This kid is a freak. I spent three days sleeping here on my first time'.

Arthur really had serious problem of staying awake in the pond. However, there is this feeling of tranquility. His whole body felt so light but he knew the he is becoming stronger as days go by.

On the second month of Kripkey's return, Rodan came back. The white wolf had a huge burn on his back a lot of wounds all over his body. It was early in the morning before Arthur go in the pond, just slowly walk near the cooking Lord Saven and nodded. Then, he just plunged weakly in the pond.

Out of his time here, he observed that the pond never gets dirty or decrease volume. It was crystal clear and mysterious. Even when it rains, the raindrops never hit the surface of the pond.

The only time that the pond showed reaction is when lightning strikes down the black tree every three months.

One year has passed, and finally he accomplished the first task.

"Arthur you don't have to go in the pond tomorrow. Now that you have finished the first task, it is time. You are ready to become a hybrid. Rodan, Kripkey and I will escort you near the black tree three days from now."

"Little boy, I advice you to answer honestly if the black skill seeds ever ask you a question. Do what it tells you as much as you can. Don't be like this idiot orc who always kept bragging".

Ever since Rodan came back, there is no day that the two will verbally attack each other and Lord Saven always will break off the two.

"Hey hey hey, don't listen to that ugly wolf. Trust me and just be yourself. If you are horny for many girls, then be proud of it. What makes a monster, in your case to be a true man, you have to follow your urges.

Do it with finesse, if you have a girl you like, then pursue her without being shy."

"Hehe once in a while we agree on one thing. But you are still weak, you only have five wives. Back home I had thirty wives, and they all adore me."

"Enough, you both are weak, I had fiffy wives and they would never had a thought of leaving me. Now eat and shut up."

"Big Boss is the most powerful ahaha." Kripkey helped bring the meat over.

"Listen, Arthur. Just remember to follow your principles and take responsibility for your actions. Women love that.".

"Yeah kid, everyone is entitled to what he wants. If you do like boys and not girls then it is okay. We are also entitled to respect your decisions. We will just hunt you down and destroy you for the benefit of this world."

Kripkey teased Arthur with a righteous tone while Lord Saven and Rodan readily agreed by nodding.

"Of course I like girls. I guess I am like my third uncle. He is so handsome that women line up just to be near him. That is something I wanna experience when I grow up."

"So your third uncle is a classic womanizer? I guess I will visit him some time when I get out of here and discuss life with him".

"No he is not womanizer. At least I do not think he is. Wait a second, why are you so sure that I will pass the trials?"

"Well that is because you are still alive until now. Well, as long as you are alive, we will still hope you can pass the trials. You can be considered one of us now. Besides, no one ever got this far except for you."

Lord Saven explained that some of the trial takers tried to escape from them when they revealed that if they failed, they die. They died when they crossed the boundary of the zone.

Some just never woke up in the pond and died there. Some never finished the first task, and they were tasked to kill them. There are some who just killed themselves out of fear.