Revenge

Swish—

Zeus' figure dashed through the mountain trail, leaving a strong gust of wind behind his path. It's been a day since he and the others part. While they go back to their territory, he, together with Shelly, plans to go down the mountain.

Unlike 7 years ago, he has more experience in mountain climbing as it had become part of his training where he jogged from day to night with weights on his back.

Therefore, descending from the mountain became much easier. However, he still needed to be wary of complex trails, hidden traps and monster attacks.

After all, he's still far from what they call a safe zone.

Day and night passed. Aside from occasional rest, most of his time went from continuing to descend. He could have used Shelly to fly him up, giving him a boost in mobility, but Zeus wanted to find that guy so he tasked her to find him in his stead.

She didn't disappoint as the following day, the cries of Shelly woke him up from his rest.

Caw! Caw!

Zeus raised his arms and ruffled Shelly's soft and fluffy feathers.

"Have you found him?" he asked.

Caw!

Shelly nodded.

"Really?!" His eyes widened. "That's great news! I thought we won't be able to find that guy before we leave but it seemed like fate favors me this time."

The Beastial Mountain Peak was an enormous landmass stretching as far as his eyes could see. If this mountain is placed back on Earth, its summit might be able to reach the atmosphere.

Finding someone here was like finding a needle in a haystack. It's nearly impossible for Zeus to stay any longer just to find that guy. However, it seemed like they were really destined to meet.

"Good job!"

Shelly lowered her head and rubbed it on his palm. Looking at the bird who had also accompanied him till this day, Zeus smiled tenderly. He decided to reward her with a snack.

"Here."

He picked up meat from his bag and gave it to Shelly. As soon as she saw the meat, her eyes brightened and without hesitation, she immediately munched it up like a glutton.

Zeus rearranged his belongings and prepared several knives in case of emergency.

After he was certain that he was ready, he raised his head and called out for his pet.

"Shelly, you lead the way! I'll follow you from behind!"

Caw!

With his eyes burning in determination, Zeus' figure vanished from his position.

….

Thirty minutes had passed. Shelly led him to an unfamiliar trail. The trees are much more dangerous as he spotted several snakes crawling on its branches. He even stumbled a few times after bumping on rocks hidden beneath the lush brushes.

Looking at the narrow passages, Zeus fell into a deep thought.

"Is it really this way?" He asked Shelly.

Caw! Caw!

"No, no, I'm not complaining. I was just wondering if there are easier pathways than here. It's hard to move."

Caw!

"None? Sigh—."

Zeus quickened his pace and soon, he saw a strong light ahead. As his figure gradually approached it, he finally saw the place that looked like the den of a monster.

He stopped behind a tree, while Shelly increased her altitude to not get noticed. Zeus observed the scenery like a detective trying to solve a horrible crime.

As he scanned the surroundings, the musky smell of blood began to enter his nose.

'Was he always this hungry?' he thought.

Corpses of animals were scattered everywhere. Rabbits, bears, tigers, and some varieties of animals he couldn't recognize laid there with some of them having their bodies missing limbs. Based on the blood oozing out of their bodies, it seemed like it was still freshly scavenged.

As his eyes surveyed the area, he soon darted towards a corner where faint sounds could be heard.

At that moment, Zeus' eyes brightened.

'I finally found you!'

Looking at the familiar hyena who chased him 7 years ago, the blood on his body boiled.

He had trained for this day. Just so he could get back at this bastard who almost ate him whole, he practiced like there's no tomorrow.

"It's been a long time, beast."

The hyena stopped eating and hurriedly looked at his location with a puzzled gaze. However, upon seeing it's a human, its red eyes radiated with a bloodthirsty killing intent.

Despite sensing the hyena's killing gaze, Zeus quietly stood still.

"If it's seven years ago, I might have peed and passed out from your killing intent. Unfortunately, this won't work for me now." He said disdainfully.

"Who are you? How can you talk to me?"The hyena asked.

"Oh, you don't remember?"

"Why would I remember? I never encountered you before. Humans are rarely seen here. I have encountered a few but none of them looks like you."

"Because it's been seven years since we last met. I was just a weak child at that time so you probably have forgotten me now. Can't really blame you."

"Seven years ago?" The hyena tried to recall but nothing came to his thoughts. "If you're a weakling back then, I probably won't remember. You're probably just another food in my eyes at that time."

"Well then, since it's our reunion, why don't we reminisce our past? I'm sure if I beat you to a pulp, you'll remember me. Don't you think so?"

Zeus grabbed the staff from his back and gripped it tightly between his palms.

"Hehe." The hyena bared its fangs and grinned. "Then, don't cry begging for mercy by then."

At that moment, the hyena sprinted towards Zeus.

Roar!!!

"Since you're here, prepare to die!!!"

When Zeus saw the hyena charging toward him, the smile vanished on his lips. A serious expression formed on his face as he readied for battle. His breathing gradually became faint.

'Here he comes!'

Once the hyena was close enough to Zeus, it opened its mouth and attempted to gobble him whole.

'It seems like he's still underestimating me.' Zeus smiled after realizing that this beast still liked to play mindless games.

However, he was not here for that.

'I'm here for revenge, you bastard!'

Zeus leaped into the air, successfully dodging its giant mouth.

Shu—

As soon as he landed on the beast's back, he slammed the staff to his head.

"Ha!" Zeus roared as he swung the staff as hard as he could.

Bang!!!

Crack!

The staff cracked the hyena's skull. The beast released a painful cry and wiggled its body, trying to shake the human above him.

However, Zeus did not stop. Instead, he leaped towards its rear and smashed both of its legs in quick succession.

Crack! Crack!

The beast growled in pain. Two of its legs broke causing the beast to lose its center of gravity and collapse.

When Zeus was about to finish the fight, the hyena swiped its paws frantically around it. Its razor-sharp claws drilled through the ground and seemingly ripped the air apart.

Zeus pulled back quickly and distanced himself a few feet away.

"Human!! Ahhhhh!!! I'm going to kill you!!"

"Have you not realized it yet?" Zeus sneered as his body began to heat, causing his body to redden.

It was the effect of activating the skill 'Enhance'.

"You are no longer the hunter, beast!"

Zeus leaped through the air and smashed the beast's skull with his fist.

Smash!!!

Its head plunged to the floor. Then, as he saw the opportunity to finish it, Zeus raised his staff and rammed it into the hyena's head, shattering the ground in the process.

Bang!

"Roar!!!"

The hyena twitched in pain. It tried to move away but the heavy staff above its head restricted its movements.

In the end, due to the amount of pain it's enduring, the hyena eventually gave in. Zeus pulled his staff and ended his skill.

The hyena twitched fiercely, before its movement slowly ceased. Blood gushed out of its forehead, soaking its body into a puddle of blood.

Zeus wiped the blood off his face with the back of his wrist and heaved a deep sigh. Despite defeating the hyena, he felt oddly unsatisfied.

Even then, the pleasure of his revenge couldn't hide the smile on his face.

"Do you remember me now?" Zeus approached the hyena and glared at its fluttering eyes.

Despite the pain in its body, the beast managed to answer. "I… d-don't… k-know y-y-you."

"Seven years ago, you chased me as I fled for my life. You played me like a toy and almost killed me in the process. Maybe, I was too powerless back then that you can't remember. But for me, I have never forgotten that day."

The beast's eyes shrunk.

Fragments of memories resurfaced in the beast's head until it stopped to a man who almost killed him with just a gaze.

"A-are you… t-that—?"

Before the hyena could respond, Zeus interrupted, "You don't have to remember."

He placed the staff behind him and began to walk away.

"It was fun but I don't have a habit of playing games like you. Anyways, thank you for making me realize again that I'm really in a dangerous world." Zeus raised his head and yelled, "Shelly, finish him."

Caw!

At that moment, a huge raven glided through the air and swiped its claws toward the beast's neck.

Slash—

A clean slice slit the beast's throat ending its life in the process. Shelly landed on her claws and hurriedly followed her master.

"That guy is quite tough, isn't it?"

Caw! Caw!

Shelly wiggled her wings.

"Hahaha." Zeus laughed before putting his hand on his chin. Then, he continued "...but seriously, you should've eaten him. That's a lot of meat!

At Zeus' suggestion, Shelly turned her head in disgust.

Caw~

Zeus smiled and stared at the raven he adopted when it was born.

'Maybe, a beast as a companion wasn't a bad thing at all.' he thought.