More Spars

Chapter 11

    They got set back up, easily recovering thanks to Elder Hao, and started sparring, this time Koji being a bit more fair. Although Koji was being more fair, there was simply too big a power gap and even with Mark suspecting Koji not using his full power, he was still being overpowered at every strike against Koji's sword, relying on the sturdiness of his weapon. 

*Bringgg*

Sounds of metal on metal resounded out, Mark just barely being able to stand and bring back his weapon before the next hit, the strike almost throwing his weapon out of his hands, only being able to grab on thanks to the almost fusion between his hands and the spear, although his whole body ached, his skin feeling like it was ripping off. 

*Bringgg*

Mark, driven by his fear for death, barely managed to hold on for a while longer, before he tried to stop the sword.

A screeching sound echoed out, Mark pushing the sword attacking him down, also sinking the sword in the ground, managing to catch Koji's sword and pushing it down, stopping its momentum, instead of Mark being pushed back. 

"You little…" Koji stopped there, pulled back his sword, and as expected, stopped holding back as much. 

A clashing sound, much louder than before, reached Mark's ears before he got sent flying backwards, the spear that he thought was unlosable in his hands flying away, taking a layer of skin with it. 

Mark, although no matter how much damage he endured before, simply couldn't take this repeated punishment and pain, and although he didn't faint this time, simply lost himself in embarrassment and fury, collapsing on the ground until his health recovered, and taking his spear and running away, deep into the forest, determined to get stronger. 

He ran, farther than he had ever been in the forest, disregarding his fear of the forest in the hate of Koji, a seemingly unstoppable wall, more hateful than Elder Hao who was just trying to see his power, Koji just laughing at his weakness. 

He ran so far, lost in hate, that when he finally overcame his frustration, he found himself lost far in the forest. He had never been this far and didn't recognize anything in this forest. Suddenly stopping, he regained his clarity and tried to find a way out of here. He looked behind him, finding no other solution but to walk back the way he came, but knew he turned some ways through. He thought about staying there but it was simply just forest all around. 

He walked forward, the day turning to night, the usually cheerful forest filled with birds chirping turned to crickets, the peaceful day being filled with the screams of winds traveling through the trees. 

He was walking forward when he suddenly heard a howl, making Mark tense up, ready for another confrontation, taking his spear out of his weapon ring. 

He waited for a couple of minutes, hearing nothing and seeing nothing, before deciding to continue on full alert. 

He walked peacefully a couple of minutes, before he was interrupted by a growl. 

He looked behind him to see a wolf chasing him, seemingly moving slow, at least compared to Koji.

He readied his spear, meeting the wolfs charge dead on with his spear

"Impaled Explosion" He Screamed, very nervous, only able to hold the spear thanks to its abilities. 

He gave a lackluster thrust with his spear, burdened by nervousness, but luckily the slow movement of the wolf didn't give it enough time to divert its momentum, barely avoiding getting stabbed in the head for the spear to sink into its chest. 

The previous technique came into play, a muffled boom echoing out through the spear, the Wolf stopping dead in its movements, before collapsing almost immediately, falling off the spear, leaving the spear covered in its insides. 

The blood almost immediately evaporated, as almost it didn't dare to disgrace the spear with its mortal blood. 

Not thinking about that, Mark collapsed to the ground, hungry from his expenditure of Qi, and exhausted, finally able to relax his tense senses. 

Little did he know that the wolf wasn't the only one, but the rest backed off, fearing cultivators, only attacking mortals. 

Mark sat there, having a canteen of water mostly full, but lacking food. 

After a while, he got up and used his basic survival skills he gathered in the forest for fun, collecting sticks and stones and finally setting up a fireplace after a while. 

With much difficulty, he managed to stomach cutting a piece of the wolf, seeing this happen before in the village with pigs, before starting the fire with two sticks, managing to catch a flame after 10 minutes. 

He stuck the meat on his spear and cooked it, pushing away his sleep with his strengthened body from Qi. 

He ate and continued in the forest, resolving himself to learn how to cook.

He continued walking forward before learning that despite walking about the distance he ran, he did not run into any familiar areas, and turned once again, figuring he would eventually find the correct direction to go. 

He soon walked into a clearing, filled with rocks instead of the normal trees.

Deciding it would be a good idea to get out of the monster filled forest, he walked over the rocks. 

A sound echoed out throughout the almost silent night

*Crack*

The ground started to rumble.

Mark suddenly felt his stomach drop, not daring to move. 

The cracking suddenly escalated, and Mark, knowing it would not stop, tried to jump off the rocks. 

"Qi Infusion!" He yelled out, using most of his Qi in a last ditch effort, jumping 10-15ft, but even then it was not enough

"AHHH!" He yelled, falling down into the deep black abyss below.

Mark braced for the impact, infusing his hands and legs and putting them out before him.

He didn't know whether he landed or not, he fainted before he could find out.