First Battle [2]

'Crap, I'm dead'

Isaac held inwardly as he witnessed the claw of the bloodlusted insect slash through the air, drawing closer.

However, instead what came was a loud BOOM as the insect shot through the air, crashing through all plantlife and creating a gaping hole in the once thick and lush vegetation, soon disappearing into the darkness.

Isaac, his eyes widened and jaw dropped, slumped down onto his buttocks, staring at Netero who now stood where the Insect was a few seconds ago.

To any regular person, it would have looked as if the insect had just rocketed through the air, the most likely reason being it had run.

However, because Isaac could see and sense Nen, he was able to tell.

He had barely seen it. If it weren't so clear and vivid in his mind, he'd have thought he was mistaken.

"A Golden Hand?" Isaac questioned, his expression still the same.

"Hoho, I guess you saw that, didn't you?" Chuckled Netero with his usual smile. The same type of smile the elderly would give when pinching the cheeks of their grandchildren.

"It was pretty hard to miss." Mumbled Isaac, slowly coming out of his trance.

"You, my boy, have just witnessed Hatsu. The manifestation of one's Nen. However, I try not to use it. Seeing as it draws too much attention."

Saying this, a rumbling suddenly erupted as the ground quaked. Isaac looked to his compass, seeing it pointing north.

Something was coming.

Smashing the trees in its way, a large and muscular bull-like creature with snakes for horns, 4 large eyes and sharp teeth charged toward the two of them as Isaac prepared to run.

However, Netero stood still as he placed both his hand together, as if he were praying.

Before isaac could question him, he witnessed a familiar large golden hand appear from thin air, smacking the bull with its palm.

As if it were a fly being swatted, the bull was sent soaring through the air, crashing through the forest creating another hole that could be seen from a bird's eye view.

To say isaac was surprised would be an understatement.

However, he had no time to ask questions as Netero turned and began to run.

"This is why we never use our Nen. Once this happens, and endless swarm of beasts will emerge which you will be forced to battle."

Saying this, isaac remembered the loud booms before he'd met Netero.

It was clear he was speaking from experience.

"I'm not one to run from a fight, but even I can tell when I'm outmatched. I learnt that during my first time coming to the Dark Continent."

Isaac could only gulp as he tried his best to increase his speed.

***

Isaac leaned against a tree as he tried to catch his breath. They had been running for an hour.

Maybe two.

Isaac had lost track of time.

"Congratulations, boy. You were able to hold your own against a monster in the Dark Continent."

Isaac squinted his eyes.

"What do you mean? I lost. I would have died if you hadn't saved me." Isaac knew this victory was not his.

"That's true. But you were able to survive against a creature faster and stronger than you because of your wits. That is more valuable than any physical attribute." The old man smiled as he said this.

"Even if you didn't account for the fact that your mere human bone sword was pathetic and fragile, or if the creature wouldn't be smart enough to fall for your trap. But alas, baby steps." Netero mumbled, still loud enough for Isaac to hear as the boy's face twitched in annoyance.

"Where exactly are we headed?" Isaac asked, changing the subject.

Now that he thought about it, he didn't know where exactly their destination was.

Looking around, Netero responded.

"It should be South East from here."

Isaac looked to his compass pointing east. Remembering the true direction from his base in Aionthos, he pointed in a direction.

"That way. Southeast." Netero looked to the direction Isaac was pointing in. Giving a thumbs up, they proceeded to walk in that direction.

***

In the same forest, not too far away from Isaac and Netero, was an insect-like creature with a cracked exoskeleton, one arm, mangled legs and loose human teeth, dug its one claw in the ground as it pulled itself toward a large gaping hole in the forest, beside the one it had come out from.

Soon reaching it, the insect sat up, digging through any debris and broken black wood that was littered in the area.

Soon, a small and fragile creature came into view as the insect held the delicate and unmoving foetus in its arms.

The small creature was dead.

The mother insect teeth cluttered as an ominous aura exuded from it.

One didn't need to communicate with the insect to know what it was feeling.

It was simply protecting its child from pink and peculiar monsters it had never seen before. What did the baby insect do to deserve such a fate?

Grabbing a black apple from the side and turning it over, the apple fashioned a human-like face contorted as if it had eaten something sour.

Without wasting a second, the insect downed the black apple. As it did, one could see her wounds healing and arm regrowing.

The insect couldn't die yet. It refused to die. Amongst all the emotions and rapid thoughts, one particularly stood out. One emotion that overpowered the rest.

Vengeance.

***

As Isaac and Netero continually walked for the past hour, Isaac started to spot gaps in vegetation, indicating the end of the forest.

Pausing, Netero stared with a complicated expression.

"What's wrong?" Isaac asked, to which he was given a quick response.

"Our Invisible Ten can only hide us so much. However, stepping out of the forest and walking in plain sight will be suicide, no matter how well we hide out Nen. After all, these creatures aren't blind." Upon hearing this Isaac looked toward the gaps in the vegetation.

Putting his fingers in a zero shape, over his eye and channelling small amounts of Nen into it, so little that it wouldn't be noticeable unless something was actively searching for them, his sight quickly started to zoom as if he were looking through a telescope.

This was a small trick Netero had taught him in between training the last week.

The air was vastly clearer than the misty Aionthis or cramped and compact forest. In fact, it was a clear dark wasteland that didn't seem too ominous at first glance.

However, as his sight fell upon the outside of the forest with his Nen ability, he unknowingly held his breath as cold sweat dripped down his back.

A giant centipede, resembling a train in length, shooting out from the ground as its large pincers grabbed onto what seemed to be a pterodactyl in the sky, soon penetrating through the ground again and disappearing.

A large hole that consumed an area so large it rivalled the likes of Aionthis. A dark abyss that seemed to be never ending.

What seemed to be a giant sea lion with two fangs protruding from his upper jaw and one from the bottom. With red eyes, it stood unmoving.

Even previous discoveries Isaac had found, such as the carnivorous volcano with tendrils were more visible, as Isaac witnessed it swallow what looked to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Isaac had gotten used to the horrors that were constantly presented to him in this hell, however, this didn't stop him from gulping subconsciously.

However, as this was happening, a black ball of fur suddenly appeared in Isaac's view, making him jump back in surprise.

Taking his hand off his eye, he searched at what had had gotten him to flustered, only to be met with a small black feline creature.

A small cat sat on the ground, staring at Isaac with its bright yellow eyes.

Contrary to all the mutated creatures he'd seen in the Dark Continent this cat seemed to be fairly normal, confusing isaac as he could only stare.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your untimely visit, Monet? I thought that you people did not interfere in Dark Continent matters." Netero asked with a sigh.

Isaac looked at him, noticing Netero was staring at the cat.

'Has he finally gone crazy…?' Before Isaac could finish his thought, a soft and delicate voice rang in his ear.

"Netero, why am I not surprised to find you here." Isaac blinked, noticing the voice had come from the cat.

In the blink of an eye, the cat suddenly morphed, its limbs extending and colour changing.

Soon, before Isaac stood a tall young female with lush blonde hair, sharp eyes and fair skin. To put it simply, she was nothing short of beautiful.

"Surprised?" Netero questioned. He was under the impression the female was here for him.

"But I should've known you were the creator of such a pesky Nen technique. If it weren't for the sudden Nen outburst in Aionthos and your recent use of Hatsu, I'd have never found you. Alas, it is but a poor imitation of what you've observed from your guide." The female spoke in an annoyed tone as he crossed her arms.

Netero, confused, squinted his eyes. Before he could ask any questions, the female shot out her arms, pointing at me as she spoke with a tone of disgust.

"Boy, how did you do it?" She spat, whilst staring at me.

Confused, I asked while darting my eyes between the confused Netero and the female.

"Do what?" I had barely answered before she spoke once again.

"No matter. For the act of illegally stepping foot into the Dark Continent, I, as an esteemed Gatekeeper, shall pass your judgement." My eyes slowly opened wide as the words entered my ears.

"Your punishment, Death."