Survive! Survive! Survive!

Tsuki and Mugen were on a small voyage. The two males were on a small little adventure, crossing the dirt-ridden wasteland as the sun beamed down upon them. "Where are we going?" Mugen asked, post-haste, his eyes taking to the man that guided him.

"Well, we're nearing Ebisu town. A small village that I was born in. Nothing should be left of it though..."

Hearing this, the young boy couldn't help but look ahead of himself. He frowned, realizing what this land had become. "What happened to this land? Everywhere... There's no grass, just brown rock and dirt... Why?" Mugen asked, but truly, he knew the reason why.

'It's because the warriors ran.'

Tsuki didn't respond to his question, he kept silent... "Not only had you abandoned my father... But you'd let the land fall to a corruption..." Again, Tsuki refused to answer. Infact, he simply watched the road ahead of him with stern eyes and a frown.

"I've heard that it's no longer possible for plants to grow amongst the whole land... When the people of this country needed you, why'd you disappear?" Again, Tsuki failed to answer Mugen's comments, leaving the boy in a dreadful silence...

Once the two had entered the small town, the painful realization had set in. The road that they walked amongst had been riddled with bones and dried up blood. The buildings set across each side of the road had been filled with a foul and heavy stench, rotting away in this deserted wasteland.

The wood of the buildings creaked with every passing wind. The windows remained shattered, providing a shower of glass on the floor before them. If you listened carefully, one could hear the pigeons of death; Vultures feasting away at the remnants of the residence. There was not a living soul present. It was disgusting in Mugen's eyes.

This town, this small birthplace of a strong man... Was left to rot... "Follow me." Tsuki took the lead once more as he tightened the grip of his bow. Mugen said nothing but followed. His blue eyes would often times drift to the side, catching the sight of the dead.

This wasn't done by a disease, nor beasts... It was done by pillaging... If these people hadn't been doomed to starvation via the loss of land, the pillagers would've certainly gotten them.

"Here we are." In the furthest depths of the village, came quite a surprise!

"It's a ditch!" Mugen stepped forwards, eyeing the dark cavern that waited below. "50 metres deep, 30 metres wide. This area was our village's prized possession." Tsuki commented before pressing forwards towards the ladder.

Upon their descent, the darkness had only grown darker and darker. The sun, although overhead, refused to illuminate the bottom of this ditch for some reason. It was abnormal. A blanket of darkness surrounded everything!

*Thud*

The two had finally touched the ground, then in an instant,

*Clack* - *Blaze*

Tsuki lit a large torch, seemingly attached to the walls. He manuevered around the full diameter of the area, continuing to illuminate the surroundings, until all had been completely bright.

Present within this massive ditch, lied massive boulders tied to ropes. There were see-saws, rocks present on many. A large railroad ran from the middle of the ditch, leading further down into a seemingly unforgiving mineshaft. The darkness alone was terrifying, let-alone what beasts could have been lying within.

"This is where your training will be held. You will not use a blade... Your training from here on out will be purely reminiscent of strength."

"What?" Mugen questioned, gritting his teeth. "Strength? I don't need that! I just need to practice my technique. That's it! Just speed and technique is all I need."

Tsuki nodded with a bright smile. He  made his way up to a nearby boulder then slammed his fist into it.

*Crack!*

Mugen's mouth had been agape, shock coursing through his body as he watched the male's fist carve a hole in the boulder. "Your too weak as it is now... You need meat on your bones, muscle and some weight." He smirked, finding this quite exciting.

"Yo, catch!" The man threw his bow, to which Mugen promptly caught. Tsuki then took Mugen's kodachi

"Oi!"-

"Relax kid, I'm just borrowing this... You'll get it back once you've taught yourself how to use a bow."

"The hell do I need a bow for?" Mugen turned to the silver bow. It didn't have a string, infact, it had twined wire instead. It was a thin combination of wires twined and twisted together in a tight formation.

"Samurai like me hadn't started with a sword. Back then, we weren't known for swordsmanship. We were known for archery. That's where my bow comes in."

Mugen still didn't like where this was going, but he understood just as much. "So what? I'm going to fight you with this or something?" He turned to the large boulders littered about the area, then redirected his vision to the large mineshaft opening.

"No, Muggy my boy. You just have to survive. Sounds simple right?"

Mugen's eyes returned to the man, "Yeah... Survive... One month, that's it... Just don't die for a whole month and I'll let you free." Tsuki spoke as though this task was but an easy one. "T-That's impossible." The boy reassured, "Where would I find food, water even?" He continued, now showing a hint of fear in his tone.

"Hehehe! What's the matter? Nervous? Well it wouldn't be fun if I told you everything huh? You'll just have to explore and find your meals." He tapped the boy on the shoulder before looking him into the eyes. "That is, unless you don't think you can do it."

Mugen grit his teeth, then turned away. What would his father do? What would his father say?

'No challenge is greater than an artist.'

"No challenge is greater than an artist!"

Mugen turned to him with a confident tune, allowing Tsuki to do as he wished. Tsuki simply smiled then nodded in response. "Alright! See you in a month kiddo! Don't die."

Tsuki left....

With Mugen's pride and joy, his weapon, his kodachi.

With Tsuki, also went the ladder. He pulled it up... The only way of escape known to Mugen had now left him...

Before the youth realized it, he was all alone. He was alone in a ditch where the sun refused to shine. He was alone in a ditch with bright blue torches that illuminated the walls.

He was alone in a ditch with massive boulders and a terrifying tunnel before him...

He was alone...

...

..

.

An hour had passed... Mugen had yet to do a single thing. Infact, he had been laying in the exact same spot that the young man left him.

'What do I do now?' He asked himself, but no one answered.

'Im getting rather hungry.'

Again, no one answered.

Soon enough, his eyes took to the tunnel. It was empty, completely void of movement and carried a darkness to it.

*Stomp*

The boy jumped to his feet, senses in a bundle as he listened keenly. "What was that?" The blonde gulped, tracing his blue eyes about the walls of this ditch.

*Stomp*

"There it is again!"

*Stomp*

...

Mugen turned his attention to the large opening. The cave, to be specific. There was a crippling silence amongst the living.

Mugen drew an arrow from the quiver he received from Tsuki. He was feeling threatened...

From the large opening, there had been a pair of red beating eyes... Two large orbs that shone through the very darkness. Mugen's heartbeat increased. He was unsure...

He could hear a scraping sound, followed by a narrow thudding of the floor. It was as though a bull was ramming it's hooves into the ground, preparing for a charge.

Then before Mugen knew it, there came a silence....

He dodged...

Mugen leapt out of the way, avoiding a massive blur that sped past him. This massive beast slammed into the boulder ranging at approximately 7 feet tall. This same boulder had been shattered into many bits and pieces, probing unworthy to step before the beast.

"The hell is that?!" Mugen felt a cold sweat race down his cheek as he scampered back to his feet, adjusting the bow and taking aim.

Before him?

What he saw was a large four-legged creature. It carried fur on its body with mighty white tusks that curved everlessly. It's nose was large, putting that of a pig's to shame. It's eyes were mercilessly blinded by a rage with a red glare. Every breath it took, flooded the ditch with an uncomfortable gust of air.

This boar... This demon, ranging up to 5 metres tall was nothing to scoff at. It's large chunky legs and bold body made it the perfect wrecking ball, not only being fast but powerful.

It's enemy? A boy, no older than 14, equipped with nothing but the clothes on his back and a bow.

How does Mugen intend on beating such a mammoth? A demon that towers over the very boulders he himself couldn't destroy.