****(POV) Still haha

"Good thing you are here little one. I've been meaning to tell you something. You want to follow the king around? You are unworthy. Get lost. Otherwise, I'll end you myself."

Her words are accompanied by pressure so intense I would have lost my mind already had I been weaker.

Okay. The cute innocent little wolf turns out to be not only a beast king but also a possessive one.

What are my options? Leave and go back to my old life? No way in hell. Stay and get killed? No way I'll accept that outcome either!

Accepting such a fate would be shameful. We are masters of our destiny. The sectmaster said so himself.

I look at her straight in the eyes.

"You think I am unworthy? HAHAHAHA what a joke! I was personally invited by the sectmaster himself! I am a proud member of The Unnamed God Sect! You think I'll cower before something as simple as a beast king or death?! In your fucking dreams! Unworthy? Unworthy my ass!

I am Zero! The one that will become the strongest swordsman. The future second elder of this sect! I will follow the sectmaster to the end of the world and beyond. You have a fucking problem with that? Still think I'm undeserving? I may not be strong enough to contend against you but try me. I will gauge these blind eyes of yours that cannot see the leader's wisdom!"

I can feel killing intent radiating from her. The fox on the side is kneeling, having difficulty even breathing.

So what! Killing intent is all about mental resilience. The way of the sword requires the most resilient heart. Dying is no issue. Giving up is.

In normal cases, I would stand no chance against such a monster. But it doesn't matter. I have a trump card. By burning my life essence I will attain the power I require. I am no fool. I am aware that I will die. But all of it doesn't matter. I will leave her a scar she will never forget. A curse that will eat her body away and be uncurable.

How I even know about such a thing is the biggest coincidence there is. Something my father stumbled upon in his younger days. Something that should never be used really. For it inflicts more damage on the user than the opponent. Something he would never have shared if he didn't drink too much that one night.

I am grinning right now. They say men cower before their own demise. Not me. I have something to defend. The fox on the side is wriggling on the ground. I am still maintaining eye contact with my opponent. After all, it is how I will judge the most opportune moment to strike.

She opens her mouth again. Is it an attack? Doesn't look like it.

"You really are unworthy. Trying to die? What good will that do? Your fearlessness is praiseworthy but misguided. You need to stay alive to serve him well. What use is a dead man? No matter how many enemies you take down with you it is always better to survive and keep fighting. That is a huge character flaw."

*gasp* Was that all a test?

The shadow of death I felt was all from a casual bluff? What kind of being is this wolf. So much killing intent while retaining a peaceful heart?! This is something I should strive toward.

I can't help but imagine all the possibilities. How much my swordsmanship could improve pursuing such a state of mind. What if I …

No! Now is not the time for that.

I'm about to reply but I notice she is not done.

"You are also are extremely weak at the moment. You following us around would only be a burden to him. I believe nothing in the current world can currently best him. Not with the current seal on this plane anyway. You tagging along would just add a target for his enemies. Do you expect him to babysit you? That is a huge ability flaw."

It seems I failed to grasp his true power. Him being stronger than anything in the entire earth realm? How insane is that?! What about the seal? There seems to be some backstory with huge implications right there.

"There is something even worse. You have been taking so much of his free time lately! If it's not baking, it's playing with pointy metal with you?! You failed to even care about how it would affect me, your elder in this sect! This is a critical moral flaw!"

What?! That's why I'm unworthy?! I wasn't expecting that one. I don't know why but I feel this one right here is the actual reason I am getting driven away right now. Not the lack of ability, not my impetuousness, but the fact that he trains with me too much?

That…. how should I react? I was just trying to help him become stronger….what? What kind of relationship do these two have anyway? They are always sleeping together, but one is a wolf the other a man.

I've never seen Wolfie speak ..ever. He also seems to get worried about her easily.

What the hell is going on? Does he think of her as a normal wolf?

That's impossible, right? Or not.

Is it one-sided admiration?

Actually, I know exactly how to deal with such a situation. I'll act as if I'm clueless and just ignore it.

Yes, seems like the wisest decision I've ever made.

"Representative, next time you test someone could you exclude me from it? It's painful not being able to breathe."

"Then why are so weak then? Just become stronger and you'll be fine."

"…."

There is something I am wondering about.

"Should I call you Wolfie or representative? Also, do you have any idea how I could quickly become stronger?"

"Representative is fine. How about you stay in this forest and train? By the time you can single-handedly defeat all the kings here at once you should be ready to come out."

That. Is that even possible? Then again, I should aim for that much if I want to realize my goal.

With a firm heart, the archaic trees with traces of an apex sword master's slash, and a lot of pressure from strong opponents it should be possible.

As I am steadying my resolve and imagining all the many ways I can strive for more power I hear a scream in the distance.

[Wolfie! Saaaaavveeeeeee me!]

The sectmaster is here. Being chased by a big white snake.

But seriously we just established how strong he is…. why is he running?!