Memory (2)

"No, get out."

I was thrown out again.

I stared at the closed door blankly. It was my seventh try of the day and it has been over a week trying to get him to train me. But all of that was in vain. Just how could I get this hard-headed guy to teach me? I had no idea, and neither did any path reveal itself to me. I was drawing a blank.

"Haa… I am tired…"

I was grateful to him. Even though all I had been doing was being a nuisance to him, he was still taking care of me, providing me with a place to sleep and food. But above all that, I could see that mind-boggling swordsmanship.

I couldn't describe this feeling. It was strange. Every time I saw that blade soar through the air, cutting it softly but firmly as a falling plum, my heart pounded with an eerie urge. It was astounding to watch the legendary swordsman show his swordsmanship to me. I had no understanding of the sword, but that didn't matter to me. The blade just bewitched me.

"Fuu…"

The cold pair of eyes fell on me.

They were observing me, I could tell. Eyes deeper than most of the oceans I knew were piercing into me. It made me uncomfortable.

I cranked my neck, avoiding that gaze.

"Hmm…"

The sounds of footsteps slowly getting further from me entered my ears. Like always, that apathetic behaviour greeted me.

"And now, I have nothing to do."

The soft whispers of the wind breezing by my ears felt comforting. The pink plums rained above me in a beautiful cascade. It was beautiful and just like that, I fell asleep in the middle of the silence.

***

"No! We are gonna die at this rate!"

The muffled voices fell softly in my ears.

"Shit! We shouldn't have come here!"

"How is that thing here?!"

Where was I…? I couldn't remember.

"Fucking… don't think about the Eyes now! Get out!"

"AHHH! SAVE ME!"

"Attack that thing now!"

"Shit, I am out of here!"

"I am sorry, Kind. But you are our last hope. I am sorry."

What was happening…? My vision was hazy. I could see people… running… and screaming.

Something terrible was happening to them.

"Ugh!"

A strong pain.

It felt like my guts were being ripped apart. My body was splitting from the pain. My head trembled strongly. What… what happened to me…?

"Ack!"

Something was gone. My senses were still dull. I couldn't feel the pain yet but I could see my leg being dragged away by something, something so sinister and bloodthirsty that you can't help but shiver in the face of the unprecedented being.

"Haa… haa…"

It was quiet. Where did everyone go? Only the sounds of my rough breathing filled the air. Just a moment ago, I could see hazy figures all around me running and yelling, but now it was as quiet as the ocean. Where did everyone go?

Grr…

The sound of something ferocious.

"Ugh…"

The pain was getting to me. I looked down.

"...!"

A gaping hole in my stomach greeted me. Blood was oozing out like a waterfall. It was terrifying.

"Ah… ahhh!"

Fear struck me as soon as my senses hit me like a tsunami.

I remembered. Everything was coming back to me.

I frantically turned my head in search of someone. It was not safe here. It was a hellhole!

Grrr…

My body froze. My hands trembled. My heart thumped violently. And a realization struck me.

'I am sorry.'

A hazy memory. But it was clear what it meant. Those motherfuckers…!

Grr…

The sound got closer to me. I glanced for my safety.

'There!'

I could see it! Even if it was faint, I could see the light! I still had some hope left!

I had only one leg. A hole was gaping around my guts. The ferocious beast was right behind me, waiting to savour my flesh. It was a slim chance, but maybe I could make it out alive.

"Haa… haa…"

I started crawling with all my might. Putting all of my strength to my bones, I crawled towards my hope.

Grr…

As if it was mocking me, the beast growled as it slowed down its steps. But it was a mistake. It underestimated me.

"Haha…"

I had a trick up my sleeves. I couldn't count how many times this had saved me. I am sure it will be the same this time too. Yes, I had nothing to worry about.

"Haha, you made a mistake."

My hands quickly slipped into my pockets and grabbed the ring.

{Orb of Teleportation}

-Teleports the user to a short distance. Break it to use. The user must look in the direction of teleportation. One-time use.

I had five rings, giving me five uses. If used efficiently, I could escape this place with my life intact.

The Plum Locus wasn't that far from here.

Yes, I still had hope.

Crack—

It was hard to crack. The sharp edges of the glass-like orb skinned my fingers. Blood dripped from my hand but at that moment, I felt the space around me wrap in a beautiful distortion.

"Argh!"

I fell to hard ground. I looked behind and found the beast staring at me with fierce eyes. But I was safe. I was far from that thing.

"..."

Why was it not chasing after me?

I became paranoid. An ominous thought struck me. A piece of information I had not considered.

'Sabertooth Tigers stick together.'

Grr…

A sound close to me.

Drip…

The sound of drops falling right beside me.

"Fuck…!"

I didn't have time to check who it was. I knew all too well. It would be my death if I didn't make a move now.

My hands reached out for another ring.

"Fuck it!"

I turned my head as fast as I could. I couldn't care less about the Sabertooth Tiger beside me. As long as I could look and break the orb, I would survive.

But…

Grr…

Two canines protruding out of its upper jaw, a towering stature, eyes that tear you apart with their gazes and an insatiable bloodthirst reigning over you. The S-rank beast that rules over Forest of Death— the Sabertooth Tiger.

It was staring at me, blocking my view.

My hands went numb and gave up on myself.

"Ah… ahh…"

I was staring at my death.

Rawr—

An earth-shaking roar shook the place and five more Tigers moved behind the one in front of me, the bodies of the ones that abandoned me for their lives were being crunched in between the bone-crushing teeth of the terrors in front of me.

"Ha, haha…"

All I could do was laugh in vain. I was stupid to think that I could escape alive.

"ARGHHHHH!!!"

They leapt on me, crunched on me, not leaving a single place intact. Some were savouring my hands.

"ARGHHHH!! NOOOO! PLEASE!"

I was screaming at the top of my lungs.

My waist was gone, not even my bones were left.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

I was crying, still hoping that somebody would save me.

My guts were pulled mercilessly. Blood poured out of me incessantly. I was dying.

A Tiger filled my vision, its mouth wide open. My head was about to go in there. This was the end.

The Crimson Eyes… we shouldn't have come for that.

We shouldn't have risked our lives for that.

Eyes of the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal? Because of that, we had to lose our lives here.

Yes… it was a wrong decision.

Crunch—

***

"Uwahh! Ugh!"

What was that? That was not me for sure. But the pain and regret… it was too vivid to be passed off as a dream.

I looked around.

It was the same. Plum blossoms were flying all around accompanied by a calm breeze. It was not that cave.

I was confused.

"The Crimson Eyes? What was all that?"

I had to look into it.

***