Chapter 111: Attack of the Sabretooth

He thrust his palm to the tree and was showered in dead leaves. More than 100. But he bit back a curse and focused his ki into a small a rotation of Swirling Swaths. Carefully, he moved the focal point up, while keeping an eye n his output to ensure no leaves were shredded by his spinning ki. He failed miserably. The leaves that entered the swirl lasted only moments before being blown apart and the focal point as oving clumsily to its target until his efforts destabalised the technique so much that it fell apart.

He screamed in anger as he slammed his fist against the tree, sending the rest of the leaves falling down and just like that, he had lost another tree. His frustration subsided, only to be replaced by exhaustion. For four days straight he had been doing this. First it was class, then it was training with Cong before foregoing his own hand-to-hand training to practice the ki technique until he had only a little ki left at the end of the night. He could not risk using up all his ki as he was deep in the forest, and knew that dangerous beasts were waiting for any weak prey, soethiing he suspected he was even if he was at full strength. Then, he fitfully slept for an hour or two before he had to get up for his daily meditation.

It was beginning to take a toll on him. At that moment, his head began to swim as stars danced in his vision along with the falling snow. He collapsed, propping his back against the tree as he looked at he fiery flash that was Shibi training in the snow and naked treetops. His eyes slowly lidded as he watched the snow-melting light the Scorch Ape was emiiting and soon he was engulfed in darkness.

It was the most peaceful sleep he had had in a while. The only complaint he had was that it ended. A sound, deep and gruff came to his ears and he slowly opened his eyes. It took a moment for him to realise that he was looking at a sabretooth leopard, making its way to him. Once it knew he was awake, it sent a wave of killing intent to the boy.

He jumped up as the leopard pounced, missing him as he sailed over it and landed on its head with a stomp. Rolling away, he dodged as the leopard got up and retaliated with a ki powere swipe. The leopard looked at its prey and roared, sending out sound enfused with ki which sent the boy’s bones rattling and brought him down to a knee.

It pounced again and he rolled to the side as the paw landed where his body had been, sending snow exploding up. He withdrew his storage stone as he unsuccessfully dodged another ki roar, coupled with a swip that found his chest. He was sent hurtling into a tree where his back crashed and he coughed out blood.

He quickly got up, ignoring the ain as he brushed his fingers against his storage stone to summon his blade. Then…

Nothing.

No yellow lights.

No materializing blade.

He looked at his hand in alarm and instantly knew why.

No storage stone.

He looked around and saw a black dot. His storage stone, that had flown away from his grasp from the attack. He race to it, putting as much ki into his legs to make himself run faster but the sabre-toothed leopard was much faster, intercepting him before he could reach the stone. He attempted to leap over it when it pounced but it twisted in the air and its swipe caught him again, sending him tumbling along the snow, away from his weapon.

While he was getting up, it was already closing the distance between them to finish the fight but he activated his ki technique just as it had, and he had proven to be the fastest as 80 punches throttled into the leopard in the space of a second.

Now was his chance! He ran to the storage stone while the beast was down. He dove for it, his fingertips brushed against its smooth surface before he heard another roar, this one however was not infused with ki but instead with elemental energy! The wind engulfed him, shredding his skin and clothes as it sent him flying away from the storage stoe and into the snow.

He winced as he got up. Looking around as he had lost sight of the storage stone but not of the leaopard which was bounding to him. He activated his technique again, and when the leaopard was in range he throttled out another ridiculous set of punches. This time, his punches found only air as the leopard had dodged by going around him and now had its paw coming for his head. He knew that if it connected, he would be knocked into unconsciousness and would be beast food but then a miracle happed, another beast saved him! Shibi intercepted the leopard with a flaming punch to it s jaw stopping it in its tracks and allowing the boy to finish the job by kicking it away.

The leopard landed on the snow and rolled to its feet. Shibi was already bounding after it, his flame covered body melting the snow unserfoot.

The sabretooth leopard roared another wave of ki energy but the Scorch Ape shook it off and continued forward. It roared again, this time with elemental energy and Shibi was sent flying, its screams vibrating into the boy’s ear. The Scorch Ape was still not strong enough.

The boy jumped over the fallen ape to engage the leopard before it could reach his companion. He dodged swipes while retaliating but the leopard stayed away from his attacks with its swiftness. The boy knew that they were out of their league against the beast.

It swiped at him and he blocked by crossing his arms but the blow sent him tumbling back, his arms numb from the attack. It sprinted for him as he shuffled on his hands and butt to get away. That was when Shibi came for him, yellow light glowing in its hands.

The boy realised that Shibi had gotten a hold of his storage stone and was summoning his blade on his behalf. The Zen Blade fully materialized and Shibi threw it at him. He caught it and just as leopard fell on him he thrust the blade out!

The leaopard cught it between its oversized teeth! The boy tried to pull the lade free but it held on, using its grip to ragdoll the boy into the snow. He let go of his weapon and activated his technique, surprising the leopard. Numerous punches smashed into the leopard’s head but it still held the sword in the dead grip of its jaws.

Next, Shibi cae in, punching it in the face again but instead of a fire punch this one was a ki punch, Dazzyling Jab! The leopard let go of the sword in its stupor and the boy caught it before running the leopard through with it, ending its life and the fight.

Zen collapsed, staring at the dead body. He knew he needed to skin it, collect its pearl and store it before the scent of death drew any more beasts to his position. Training this deep into the forest was becoming a hassle., it meant he could not really let his guard down in case he and Shibi had to fight powerful beasts that decided tto attack them.

That was when Zen realised something. Training this deep in the forest was also training in itself. He was garuanteed to come across beasts that were much stronger, which meant he had to quickly grow strong enough to defend himself without coming so close to death or learn how to sneak around and becoe fast enough to outrun them.

He knew the chances of outrunning a beast like a sabretooth leopard was difficult.

“Hmpf, then I guess I’ll become stronger.” he resolved before walking to the closest tree, gathering ki in his palm and thrusting it into the tree…