Something Lost (2/2)

"Come on, then," I declared, tightening my grip.

Her eyes glowed with a venomous light as she lunged at me. I could see her intent, every muscle's movement, every shift in her form. She was about to spring forth, using the cave walls as leverage.

'It's nothing new.'

I could swat her away as if she were a fly. I could even predict her next move, turning into a 'ball' of death as she would continue to strike and enclose me 'in place,' not losing momentum from my redirection. Closing in and in, until I would finally get fed up and start tearing off her skin by jamming my fingers into her body, causing it to retreat.

I let out a small frown at my analysis.

'It's shadow boxing all over again.'

What was the fun in being able to 'see through' and react to your opponent's attacks so far in advance? What was the difference then between an imaginary opponent and a real one if there was nothing to look forward to?

'Reality is often stranger than fiction.'

But what was the fun in reality if it had turned into a mere game, where we would merely fulfill our 'roles' in this act for which I could see the script?

'Then she will spit venom, for which I would have already gained immunity, having sampled her blood.'

A fight that would no doubt have kept me satisfied for days before had turned into a farce. A waste of time...

"Crunch, crunch," I cracked my knuckles.

It was time to show this creature hell for ruining my expectations. But before I could move further, my eyebrows shot up, as I felt a sensation I was not expecting from this fight. I felt a strange sense of pain washing over my heart.

'Am I sad at that revelation?'

[Narrator POV]

Kuzan had made many difficult decisions before, the hardest of which was undoubtedly having to abandon his family, his world, to continue on this path he had chosen long ago...

He thought his new journey in this world would be something new, something fun, full of adventure and triumph. But he did not delude himself with these thoughts, taking his first steps with extreme caution, lest he face a similar fate to a fellow practitioner of Chinese Kenpo.

Most of all, he thought it would be something fun...

He was not saddened by the weakness of his opponents. Instead, he was briefly frightened by how little it now meant to him.

[Kuzan POV]

I realized with horror.

"No."

I could feel it, right away, as soon as an opportunity presented itself. This fight was to test out my newfound strength, but before it could even really begin, it had revealed something much greater and far more valuable towards my path.

Something had changed.

It was not merely physical this time; it felt as if something much deeper had finally revealed itself.

'It's not the dragon blood affecting my thoughts, I'm sure of it...'

I had worked so hard to gain complete control over my sensibilities, to ensure I would never have the same issue as before. After all, I learned from my mistakes.

'What is it then?'

'Why am I feeling so alarmed?'

'The little snakey snake couldn't be less of a threat, and I already accomplished perfectly what I originally set out here to do...'

It was not a problem with the circumstances, and especially not a problem with my thoughts...

It was something deeper, much deeper... something that I wasn't even sure if to call it a 'problem.'

At the very least I could tell, that it was something significant, something important.

'And the only thing so important has to be relating to my martial path, but what?'

Unfortunately, no matter how rapidly my mind tried to process my change, even with the snake moving with the same speed as if I was looking at it through a mutoscope, I could not arrive at a conclusion before it was time to make a decision.

'I might not care if it's not fun...'

It was no longer a matter of like or dislike.

'But I can make it fun.'

It was a matter of control...

A small grin hung off my face as I readied to perform my first fun magic trick since coming to this world.

"Now you see me," my grin hardened, letting out a whisper....

[Basilisk Queen POV]

"And now you don't."

"HISSSSSSS!!!"

The Basilisk Queen stopped in her jump, letting out an infuriated hiss from the deepest part of its being. Again this creature had challenged her rule. Again this beast had hidden from her being. Again this thing...

Had simply disappeared.

But this was different; this time she could feel it, in every muscle, in every scale, this time was different.

It shuddered.

For the veil of death was upon it...

[Kuzan POV]

I appeared squarely behind its head, having scared it with my 'tricks.'

[Walk of Grim] was not a skill that needed to be 'activated.' It was not a 'technique.' After all, would you consider how you walked to be a technique?

[Reaper's Shroud] was similar in use. Rather, it was just a bit of fun, as instead of letting my killing intent ooze out of my body I donned it as a suit.

The result...

[Narrator POV]

"Death."

A famous poet once said, "Death comes for us all; even at our birth—even at our birth, death does but stand aside a little. And every day he looks towards us and muses somewhat to himself whether that day or the next he will draw nigh. It is the law of nature, the will of God."

Kuzan did not believe in God. And he did not trust in death.

But death trusted in him...

[Kuzan POV]

The Grim Reaper was smiling behind me.

Obviously a mere mirage, only I and my soon-to-be-departed friend were able to see.

'Looks like I'll have to do the job for him again...'

[Narrator POV]

Death does not speak, it does not whisper.

It does not seduce, it does not forget.

It does not hurry, and it certainly does not wait.

And no matter how far you run...

Death comes for us all...

[Kuzan POV]

"No need to struggle," I spoke to the beast calmly as its body slowly processed its demise...

My hand and words touching its heart.

"I was confused like you," I spoke sincerely, "but you should not be afraid."

Every minute, every second, it approaches ever closer, crossing a path of unknown distance with each step.

Why then is one not afraid of the finality of death?

[Narrator POV]

Some people cling onto their family...

Some onto their faith...

And some onto what they have accomplished.

But nonetheless, on their deathbed, they all follow the same path...

They cling onto life.

But Kuzan couldn't understand their thoughts. Partially due to his change, he found it harder to think like them...

For he clung onto a different path...

And he clung onto it for dear life...

[Kuzan POV]

"You have nothing to live for."

My arm drew back...

"You will be as useless in death as you were in life." My mouth spitting out venom, before the snake had a chance to spit out its own...

'Death would come for it anyway, what difference did it make if I was the one to realize it?'

I was its savior, for it no longer had to be afraid...

"[Exploding Heart Release Fist]"

My punch connected.

"BANG!"

For a moment there was no movement, as the back of its head where my fist had struck did not move...

And then it began...

A small wave, underneath its skin, becoming bigger, slowly spreading throughout its head.

"Whooshhhh" The sound of calming waves on a beach...

A wave, trapped inside by its scales, carrying blood and shattering bone as it continued to travel across its entire head. Its face, its jaw, its mouth, its fangs, and especially its eyes...

They all exploded.

Although I could not see the light vanish from its eyes, it did not take an expert to surmise that the beast was clearly dead.

"THUCK!"

Its large body, having lost its strength, slammed hard onto the ground losing its support, releasing a shower of blood from where its head was located just a moment ago, instead replaced by a dedicated mess of blood and bones.

I avoided the 'rain,' as I did not want to dirty my clothes, especially considering how much they were 'worth.'

'Almost forgot about how valuable they are...' I was careful, as they were instrumental in a plan I had cooked up long ago...

"So much to do," I shook my head, for I could finally start my true 'exploration' of what this world had to offer, "and so little time..."

I was impatient. Impatient for a change of pace, to finally see new sights, to experience some new highs, to finally get out of this blasted forest.

'Was fun while it lasted...' There was nothing any longer keeping me here, and it was time for the 'caveman,' a word I found funny considering my current location, to become 'civilized.'

Of course, I couldn't leave empty-handed, as I had made some friends—OK, a friend, since coming to this forest.

"I sureeee hope she took good care of my cat..." I said sarcastically while whistling to myself, "would be a shame if Garfield got lost, or worse, kidnapped!"

"Haha," I chuckled, feeling my sense of unease subsiding a little by my actions, as if a part of me that was lost was coming back to me.

'Let's just hope they made the correct decision...'