Chapter 8 - Fighting Beasts (I)

Chapter 8 - Fighting Beasts (I)

After arriving at the region where the Brown Lotus Cave was located, with the help of one of his uncle's driver who operated a Hyperidonbolter—one of the fastest flying vehicles in the Mortalverse, and was of the highest grade, Hilgamech prepared to seek out the cave so he could enter.

Using a well-detailed map which he followed, and after a few days of walking alone in the wilderness and studying everything he could, he finally arrived in front of a mountain that had the Brown Lotus Cave at its foot.

When he first saw the mountain, he couldn't help but be shocked. The mountain—which was the only mountain in this region, looked divine and majestic. Though it was the only mountain present here, it however stretched far more than his eyes could really see.

"What a mountain. So huge." He muttered with awe filling the entirety of his heart.

Then he looked at the cave, which was situated at the base of the mountain. Whether it was formed by nature or by man, he couldn't really say.

Bringing his awe-filled mind back to the huge, imposing mountain standing in front of him, which exuded a kind of pressure that pressed upon him—his whole being, yet didn't exist, he began to feel that the mountain was one that will stand the test of time—the constant weathering by the infinitely long river of time.

After being astounded by the magnificence and majestically imposing nature of the mountain for quite a while, he inhaled deeply and immediately walked into the cave. However, his eyes shone with great wariness, and a light with that showed he was ready to slay any creature that will dare rear its face to challenge him.

As he went deep—but not too deep into the cave that had hundreds of wide and narrow labyrinthine routes, with many of them going thousands of feet into the earth, his nostrils became assaulted by numerous sweet scents that saturated the air. Then he looked at the cavern's ground and could see how brown lotuses abounded everywhere.

After walking for sometime, he began to hear human voices. But he felt this was normal, since people—cultivators, would come to this place from time to time to either kill beasts that would be skinned for their durable skins, or captured and then trained to be tremendously useful in battles or wars.

He walked close to where these voices sounded from then hid behind a rock to see who they were.

Gazing at them with a curious look on his face, trying to see who they were and if they were really dangerous people that he wouldn't be able to handle, he could count about ten people. Also, to his surprise, these people were young boys and girls who were between the ages of twelve and fifteen.

Their group consisted of six boys and four girls. The boys wore purple shirts and blue trousers, while the girls wore purple blouses and blue skirts.

'This look like uniforms. They must be from an academy.' Hilgamech said within himself, studying them.

As he scanned around from where he hid, he suddenly heard someone say with a threatening, loud voice, "Who's there?"

This, had come from someone that seemed to be the oldest in the group. While Hilgamech whose eyes widened with surprise, asked within himself. "How did that big guy know someone else is around? Ugh!"

Then he got up from where he hid—in a crouching manner and confidently walked out with a broad smile carving its way onto his lips.

He however felt like a thief that was caught red-handed, trying to steal something.

"Hello, guys. I am sorry if you felt I was sneaking up on you." He said with his lips curving into an apologetic smile.

The older one named Varthan, who called Hilgamech out, asked with a suspicious look setting on his face, "Why were you hiding behind that rock? You thought we wouldn't discover you?"

"Not at all. I only hid to see if you guys were dangerous. Assuming I noticed a heavy and choking sinister aura from any of you guys, I would immediately turn around to leave. My safety comes first."

"I have heard stories of this cave and the nefarious people that come in here regularly to hunt. These guys are so wicked that they would slaughter even babies without conscientiously batting an eye." Hilgamech calmly said, seeming like he wasn't afraid of them.

"Who did you come here with?" The older person—Varthan, suddenly asked.

"I came here by myself." Hilgamech responded.

"What? You came in here yourself? Really? Seems you don't like your life. Forget about the evil people that will butcher newborns. How would you leave with your body intact when hundreds or thousands of beasts suddenly emerge, pouncing at you to tear away your flesh or bite off your bones?" One of them in the group unexpectedly asked, after being shocked by Hilgamech's calm and confident response.

'Well, I can run.' He answered inwardly.

Then he said to them with a confident look on his face, "Of course, I will try to escape. I have great evasion techniques. So, I would evade all of them. None will definitely be able to match my speed."

"Besides, I won't go into any of the cavern routes that will run deep into the earth. I only came here to develop my battle prowess. So, the beasts at this level shouldn't be too strong for me to handle. If they number in hundreds, I should be able to kill them all. I am not joking." Hilgamech said, his eyes radiating confidence and unwavering resolve.

Having tirelessly practiced, where he had practiced many moves over a thousand times, he had built a certain level of confidence in himself, and in his abilities. Besides, he had confirmed that his offenses—attacks, were many times more powerful and destructive. He had tried to understand why, but he just couldn't. So, in the future, as he diligently and relentlessly trains, he will get to know why his attacks were astonishingly powerful.

The group heard what he said and became fully lost of what to say.

Who does this boy think he is? Someone not from an academy, who hasn't gone through refining or the baptism of competitions in an academy, was claiming he could fight hundreds of beasts himself?

They subtly shook their heads in disgust and turned around to enter a particular route, leaving him behind.

They couldn't be bothered about him, since there was really no point arguing with him. Besides, they needed to achieve something quickly and return to their academy.

Though Hilgamech understood that it was a really large stretch, where he claimed to single-handedly fight and slay hundreds of beasts. They weren't large armies of ants that he could step on and exterminate as he liked.

Still, even with large armies of ants trying to attack him, he would immediately realize that that there was power in numbers—except when one reached a degree where numbers won't matter anymore. All opposers or challengers will be like moths to that person—a dazzling, burning flame.

So, if he became covered up by the ants while stepping on them, trying his best to eliminate them, that would become a problem.

Therefore, claiming to fight and kill a large number of beasts all by himself, felt like an absolute, impossible feat. It was an unattainable display of skill, might and prowess.

However, Hilgamech only said so to carry himself with pride and unwavering confidence before these people that came from academies and were subtly looking down on him.

Yes, he didn't study at an academy. But he could if his uncle allowed it. Besides, his uncle was definitely tens of thousands of times wealthier than all of their families combined. So he believed. Only if he knew how much is uncle was worth.

Furthermore, he studied an A-grade Trinity Methodology that only gods—higher-ranked gods should have. So, he was definitely better than them and should be the one to look down on them. But unfortunately, such a thing wasn't inculcated into him by his stern and morally-guided, principled uncle. Others might think this wasn't so if Hilgamech was around him. But if he wasn't there, they would immediately understood that he had principles—lots of them.

When Hilgamech thought up to there—that he should be the one to look down on them, he simply smiled. Then he said to them with that smile still on his lips, "Hey guys, can I come with you? I promise not to cause any harm or trouble. And I assure you, I can fight pretty well. My moves are solid."

"Hmm. With your measly mid-phase Entry stage? Open your eyes and look well. We are all in the late-phase and peak-phase Entry stage. Besides, you are not someone from an academy. So, what battle skills would you possibly have? Also, how would you be able to help us?" Someone from the group suddenly asked.

Varthan stared at the person who spoke and gave a eye that hinted he should shut the hell up. Then he looked back at Hilgamech and said, "Sure. You can come with us. Just make sure you don't cause problems for us. Also, it would be great if you can support us in battle once we become engaged with certain beasts that suddenly emerge from different areas within selected routes to attack us."

"I will. I promise." Hilgamech said while Varthan nodded his head.

So, in that manner, Hilgamech joined their group. Not quite long, he learned of their names and the school they were from. And as a well-versed person who was taught by his uncle that seemed to have great knowledge about a lot of things, they couldn't help but be impressed—slightly.

GRRRRRAAAAA...!!!

After walking for a long time—for more than forty-five minutes, they began to hear loud, rageful howls of beasts sound out from a far distance within the large route they were in. And from the way the spine-tingling, seemingly furious howls rang out, it seemed like a frightening, large horde of beasts was currently dashing towards them at a great speed.

"They have perceived the smell of our bodies. Everyone, ready yourself." Varthan said as he and the others immediately pulled out gleaming swords and blades from their glittering tough sheaths, their bodies exuding bloodthirsty auras and the intent to slaughter.