Departure

Three days arrived quickly. It was now time for Alex to continue his journey towards a human settlement.

In those three days, Alex gained a enormous weight. Although it was said to be enormous, considering his bone-like appearance, his body returned to normal.

Even though gaining a huge amount of weight seemed impossible in three days, he still did. Coupled with his training, his body was being sculpted to that of a healthy body.

Before leaving the oasis, he checked all of his treasures; making sure that he didn't left anything behind.

The bracers in his forearms and the black 'dagger' that was long enough to be considered as a short sword. He carefully unsheathed and sheathed the dagger into his left bracer, making sure that it wouldn't jam when the need arises.

There was also his tattered maroon cape and the brooch that he picked up along with the bracers.

Lastly, the sword that he took beside the throne that has a red gem embedded on the butt of the hilt. It doesn't have any scabbard so he could only hold on to it for now.

"Did you bring all your equipments? If all is good, then let's go." asked the White Rhino. It was already waiting for him at the east side of the oasis.

"Yeah. I haven't left anything. Let's go!" Since it was still early in the morning, he jogged towards the White Rhino.

Once he got near the rhino, he could faintly tell that something seems to be different with the rhino. He just couldn't tell what it was with their huge level difference.

"Okay let's go kid." the White Rhino ignored Alex and slowly walked away heading towards the east. As for Alex, before he could catch up to it, he turned his head and gave a final glance at the oasis that sheltered him for two and a half years.

'Oh I will miss this place.' he muttered and continued to chase after the White Rhino.

Even though those two and a half years simply felt like a few days, he still cannot hide the fact that this place makes him feel safe and carefree.

'I will definitely come back here in the future.'

Hours passed and the sun finally reached its peak in the sky. Alex was huffing and puffing, sweat soaked his shirt since a few hours ago.

He was still jogging for the sake of his training.

"You want to take a rest or should we keep going?"

"Huff- we, should take a rest." Alex answered.

Just as he was about to sit down, his eyes turned big as he forgot something, "Hey, do you have any water perhaps? I'm really thirsty."

"What? Do you think a rhino like me would be carrying a bottle of water? Oh! You forgot to bring one, don't you? Haha."

"Hehe." he scratched, clearly he was embarassed. What can he do, his bag was left behind in the southern forest during the attack of the Silverback Apes, he didn't have anything on him that could serve as a container of water.

He could've asked the White Rhino for it back at the oasis, but he forgot about it because of his excitement to get out of this desert. Alex also thought that this journey would only last for a few hours.

"Nothing we can do about it. Get on." the White Rhino lowered itself and beckoned him to sit on it.

It looks like he would be having a free ride. "Uhm- where should I hold? I might fall off once you move."

"Don't worry about it, you won't fall."

"So how long would it take to reach this human settlement that you speak of?"

"An hour or so maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Yeah, if we're lucky and don't encounter other beasts then we'll get there in an hour. However, if there are beasts, then I would like to ask you to slay them for me. Because there was this agreement that was made by the three kings a long time ago. Something about not killing those beasts who have gained sentience."

"Eh? I can only handle some low level beasts. Let's just hope that there wouldn't be any fierce beasts or stronger."

'Rumble! Rumble!'

'Eh? How could I feel something coming from underground? Heck, why would I even feel something beneath the sands when I'm atop the rhino?'

'This feeling.' he could clearly remember what this rumble means. He quickly tossed those thoughts into the back of his head.

"Something's coming out of the ground!" Alex shouted towards the rhino, seemingly afraid of what follows.

It played out exactly what he had imagined. A large hole would emerge from the sands and a big creature would come out of it.

Except that this time, it wasn't a large desert centipede.

What came out was a big, reddish-brown horse. Although it is big, it is still relatively slender considering its size. Its rib cage was outlined and muscles were well-defined on its limbs. It looked pretty deprived of water.

Every time the horse exhales, one could see smoke coming out of its nose, like the ripples of sand once blown by the wind.

"Hoh, here comes a challenger. And it looks pretty strong too." Alex didn't even know what just happened.

In only a second or two of inattentiveness, his feet was already on the sand and the White Rhino has already retreated in a sand dune quite a distance from him.

"This shall serve as your first battle after you received this so called Madness that you spoke of. Use it and I might be able to guide you." there was confidence in its voice signifying that it indeed has the skill to help him.

The White Rhino wasn't privy to this skill of his. It would probably be good for him if he could use it without any repercussions.

However, it was not so easy to trigger and use it. A condition has to be met; and that is extreme anger.

Alex was rarely angry. He's a happy and bright person. Not counting those days that he was sent to the future, it could only be counted on one hand.

It was the time that they were struggling for food and was very poor. He had to suffer seeing his mother sacrificing herself for them.

He had to bear them almost every day, for a year. He even went as far as begging their neighbors for food, just so that he could let his mother and little sister eat.

Recalling those painful memories, his body started trembling, as his eyes started to moisten and his pupils began to change in the shade of red. His entire vision then descended into blood red.

A bloodthirsty aura was suddenly released!

It was really a tragic event and he didn't want that to happen ever again. He needed to become strong enough to survive, and the first thing that stands in his way, was this Fierce Beast.

A beast of the Mage rank!