Book 1 Chapter 19: Apollos Push

Chapter 19: Apollos push

While far way Spectre was crafting and learning, Apollo had been training hard with his weapons and had surprisingly mastered the basic movements and techniques within the last several days of training. Bo, surprised at Apollos tenacity as well as ability to learn knew he found a genius built for war, set off out of the massive cave into the forests.

Some were built for battle, they learned and picked it up quickly. Some were born for magic, and the stronger the affinity the stronger the path and perception of magic they had. Apollo was definitely someone with a high affinity potential yet to be unlocked, and was main streaming training of the body or in essence tempering his foundation.

Apollo carried his weapon on his back as directed by his teacher, as this would strengthen his bond with it, he carried the staff part in his hands as it would be too tall, the blade just barely kept from the ground and stuck up above his head a foot and a half even at an angle.

They traveled for several days on foot at a pace Apollo could handle. He had much longer endurance then before, at least by 30 percent due to the constant floated track running. The teacher had him kill wolves or small beasts to get food and as training, before barbecuing it up to supplement the constant running. Apollo much enjoyed consuming a lot of food, when he rested he stored strength, and then used it in bursts when he needed to traverse terrain to train his control of it. Slowly over the course of the last less-than 2 months, he could control it to release down to about 5 percent of release rather than the natural flood it gave off from before.

It was the difference between the original openings of a flood gate; to a gate he had the turnbuckle on to control the gate opening. He also had been feeling a tingly sensation in his body he hadn't before, like they were twitchy. Bo said this was normal, as when one trained the body the body in turn was conditioning itself. Apollo understood this as they travelled further along and forward.

They arrived at a clearing under a cliff about a week later, they had gone slow due to not running every hour and second of the day, but rather traversed around in circles and then looped on moving forward. This lengthened the journey traveled over all to condition Apollo and also give him a feel of the forests. They had travelled past a mountain, and as Apollo looked forward, he saw trees well over several hundred feet tall!

It would definitely take several grown men, at least 8 to wrap completely around the tree with their arms spread. What surprised him the most was these were the small ones! The trees past them reached up into the skies!

"Teacher why have I never seen these!" Apollo asked with an O face as he turned to Bo.

"Hahaha, we live in what they call the spring twigs valley, a great catastrophe long ago struck the earth there and blew the trees away, those large trees we see all the time of about 30 feet to 60 feet tall are actually…seedlings!"

"What the actual fuck!" Apollo exclaimed.

"Who taught you that language? Hahahaha fuck man, you're too young! Oh…whoops." Bo laughed heartily.

They approached after about half a days journey to the forest line of the behemoth trees. The place the main clan lived in was only a square several thousand miles, and as the north city was close to the edge, very close, travelling several hundred miles was enough to reach this place. In fact, the far west, south, and east cities were also right at the edges. The crater was 100's and hundreds of miles across, and was struck thousands of years ago. The clan after that occurrence grew here, and planted new trees; which was only a 1,000th of the size of the entire forest.

They stayed here for many passing moons, Apollo trained constantly in agility and strength, fighting the different beasts Bo pointed him to. If the beast was much stronger than Apollo, Bo could kill it, but decided to teach Apollo when to sense this and how to go about moving around it. These forests easily had level 8 beasts and above in the deepest reaches, but as they were at the edge, level 3 was maxed usually.

"Apollo… it's time for me to go back, and await you."

"Await me?" Apollo asked surprised.

"Yes…I brought you here to awaken your spirit, as the spirit needs the natural environment as the catalyst to manifest, unless another technique is used such as in the rare or large clans. This is the system you must go by, as well as the one with the best results. By relying on your instinct, your spirit will manifest in congruence to that. I'll leave now…"

He understood what he meant, but this was litterly leaving a child in a forest. Although Bo was hesitant, he did as commanded by Asher, and that morning left while leaving Apollo there alone.

Apollo heard the calls of animals, as well as the rustle of powerful winds against the trees causing the ends in the sky to sway back and forth in rhythm. He was truly alone and away from civilization, what a feeling!

Apollo carried on his routine, moving about and not staying in one place while keeping a good pace he would go around beasts that were too tough for him, or packs of lower beasts as there was too many. Several days passed, as slowly he adapted to not speaking with any human, and getting into the motion and energy of the forest. His senses became constantly on high alert for sounds as well as any hidden movements.

As night fell, he had been walking by a stream when he felt a deep tingle on his neck, he swiveled back to see two red eyes amongst the bushes. At first he thought it was a wolf before he realized that 2 more sets of eyes opened above those. He felt deep fear, but knew this creature would out run him easily…he slowly drew out his blade from his back, and held a mountain stance ready to the fight before him.

The creature slowly came out of the bush, creating very little sound, as it noticed there was nobody else with Apollo its intelligent eyes flashed with greed as it slowly crept forwards. The night sky shining deeply, tonight was the night of the water moon, casting a deep blue across the forest.

Creating a serene and surreal feeling as the blue light cascaded past the leaves, spreading green and deep blue colors around in deep contrast to the 2 sets of red eyes.

Apollo slowly as well realized the precarious situation he was in, this was a large wolf and a level 2 wolf that was nearing level 3. It was just shorter than a full grown teen. Apart from the wolf shape, it actually had no fur, but sleek black skin.

Like a hairless wolf of darkness, it was mix of feline and wolf lineage and was called a Jet Night wolf for its dark color, wolf shape, as well as jet speed. It had the affinity for air, and played towards the dark end of energy as it was a very hatred filled creature.

Apollo's hands were sweating, as he steadily gripped the handle. He was prepared and went through many scenarios in his mind, a lot leading to his death as well as severe wounds. He had one choice…to fight head on!

"Ahhhhh!!!" Apollo let out a howl, as he ran forwards and completely burst open the flood gates to his strength, his arms, legs, and muscles bulging profusely.

His steps quickened instantly as he tread on the dirt which cascaded behind him. He swiveled his body in a full round house swing, stopping his feet and bringing the blade up in a curve from the ground. With his feet halting, his full momentum carried in the swing, which he put all the weight he could pour energy into from the arm band.

The blade whistled, as the blade carried in weight over 400 pounds! The beast saw this daring move, and at first was surprised before huffing to itself. 'This small imp thinks he can just hit me?' It thought to itself.

This was its mistake, as although Apollo was a child, if he erupted with strength he could double his strength and as it was already abnormal and also trained for the last many weeks. He didn't lag as he hit its body, which stayed normal as it assumed this attack wouldn't even scratch it. To its dismay, it felt like a large boulder hit its body, smashing its leg into its chest and sending it flying until it hit a massive tree. It looked like Apollo had god smacked it against a wall as it slowly rolled down to the ground.

Apollo ran up with the strength slowly waning down as he swung overhead onto its neck. A loud crack issued as the blade…stuck into the tree!!

"Fuck meeee!!!!!" Apollo screamed, as he yanked it back, and rolled missing a swipe from the angered creature. It was howling in anger!

It stepped forward and bent low about to pounce onto Apollo when a silver flash flew by and bit at its neck.

Apollo with the blade held up stood open mouthed, as this bigger wolf chomped down on the jet night wolf. Ripping and tearing out its jugular vein causing dark blood to spray everywhere.

The silver flash, now looked up and at Apollo who shivered in fear. The wolf the height of a full grown man trotted forward, Apollo realized this was a Silver mountain wolf!

A full grown one at that, and was a level 4 wolf creature with the earth affinity as well as wind. He noticed a large scar on the side of its body, as well as another wolf that came lumbering into the clearing.

After that a whole pack surrounded Apollo who was motionless between them all, as he had no escape route. He would be eaten alive, without any thought to why he was so unlucky to go and have to stop to take a shit next to a stream… that's just shit luck!

He thought for a second, before dropping the blade, as well as the stick from his waist, he swiped his ring and got out barbecued meat he had made the earlier morning, and got on his knee with his head hung low holding it up. He felt the wolf sniff it and enjoyably gobble it down, before biting the rest and bringing it over to what Apollo assumed was his female companion who had a limp, and was actually carrying…her dead young upon her back, with its brother beside her.

It set the piece of meat upon the ground, the brother hesitated before poking it with its snout.

The mother obviously pained from most likely the Jet Night wolf killing its young, was in dismay and mourning and couldn't eat. The wolves beside it sat down in respect to her, obviously the Alphas companion.

Apollo noticed that the small wolf had a slight breath to it, the one he originally thought was dead! She was still carrying it, because it was barely alive.

He had the urge and will…and slowly got up standing, before walking over slowly to her. The Alpha of course noticed this as his ears perked up, turning with its mouth open, it sensed no killing intent from Apollo.

It still was angered by that Jet Night wolf guerrilla attack on his child and only took the good smelling offering from Apollo to appease his companions sadness. Apollo stopped and looked it straight in the eye, before pointing to the wolf with a motioning sign to bring it to him. The Alphas eyes began to redden, but to its surprise the mother stepped forward and slowly knelt down before grabbing the nape of her child's neck and setting it down in front of Apollo.

Apollo slowly placed his hand on its chest, feeling its weak heartbeat, and lungs.

Apollo had been taught some first aid last month, as well as had some medicinal potions from Yuki, he hadn't any use to use healing potions as they had been useless compared to the lake in the cave.

He appeared a vibrant red potion in front of him, and opened the maw of the wolf child and poured it slowly down its throat so that it wouldn't choke, he eased its neck to help it flow down to its stomach, and then took out several leaves and rubbed it across its fur. The mother wolf sniffed these and found them to give off a vibrant feeling and energy as she inhaled, and realized that this human was indeed giving it herbs to heal itself. As it was short notice, the tribe couldn't go and search at night for plants, and chewing and trying to feed it to their pup was too difficult, the humans method for alchemy may not be known to them, but this proved they were good with them.

The Alpha wolf sat down on its hind legs, its head right next to Apollo who was slowly less nervous, his heart slowing and the anxiety washing away.

This occurred because as the potion took effect on the pups body, it slowly twitched, as it inhaled the Vigorous momentum leaves its eyes popped open, it slowly looked up to this human who bent his hand down and picked its head up. Apollo made a blanket appear, and then folded it and placed the wolves head on it, and began to rub its stomach causing its leg to move. The Alpha looked at his companion, to find tears actually streaming from its deep black eyes she moved over and layed next to her son and licked its head, nuzzling beside it to keep it warm as it layed its head on the blanket.

Apollo started to cry…he didn't know why but seeing this deep love from a mother to a son, he felt a pain in his heart. He began to weep and tears streamed down his face, the wolf mother grabbed him and pulled him next to the other pup.

The Alpha wolf watching this, turned and lowly and silently howled to the other wolves, who moved out and created a wide circle, before sitting down in groups.

Leaving Apollo, the pup, and its brother to sleep against the Wolf mother. Apollo slowly drifted off, as the sadness made his eyes heavy.