Shadow Puma LVL 48

This was one of many beasts he encountered after leaving Orca Village. Acma was heading toward northwest from Orca Village, searching for the centaurs village. This was an approximate direction of their village according to the hunter’s report and Alice’s analysis. He was going to pay them a visit and uncover their intent toward Orca Village because only he was capable of doing so right now. The hunters of Orca couldn’t do it because they had to guard the village and completing their Beginner Village’s tasks.

Although there was another beastman tribe attacking, he believe that the centaurs have a deeper grudge against Orca village compared to the werewolves because of two reasons. They were defeated twice and their 3rd young master was still in custody. They had lose face badly and they should be trying to get it back.

“This Shadow Puma's skill is quite good”, thought Acma after killing it.

Its jet black body moved like a smoke and it's hard to pinpoint its location especially in the darkness of the forest. It also able to release a body double to confuse the enemies and then attacked them with a powerful claw. Realizing the elusiveness of the beast, Acma took his time battling it to familiarized himself with his skills. Although he reached a Master level in several of his skills, he still needed a real battle to hone them further.

After leaving Orca Village, Acma found no dangerous beasts within 15 kilometres area from the village. Maybe they avoided the village because of the battles. That’s what Acma thought. However, once he stepped out that range, one by one, he was attacked by predators. Great wolves and jackals were just a few of them.

Earlier at the village, he caused quite a ruckus when he voiced out his intention to find the centaurs' village. Chief Pai kept blaming himself although Acma had repeatedly assured him that his decision had nothing to do with it. He repeatedly assured them that he was strong enough to take care of himself plus his ability to teleport would ensure his safety, the elders finally gave in. He also revealed the fact that he wanted to polish his skills further, only then the elders agreed to let him go. He even got a refreshing view from Elder Daquan and Elder Fai who were martial artists. They said, the grandmasters were someone who weren’t bound by techniques or skills. They knew the in and out of that techniques but never be restricted to it. If someone only followed the path forged by the predecessor, the could be a master, but never be a grandmaster until they came out of that cocoon. Not straying out of the path, but innovating it. Each path has an essence. As long as someone adhered to that essence, they will never deviating from the path. Acma was so indebted to that insight. He kept thanking those two masters repeatedly. They’ve opened a new world to him.

Before leaving, Acma gave a communication sphere to Chief Pai, reminding the latter to contact him immediately if something serious happened. He gave his words that he would immediately return. He also visited Sister Zi Yi. Under the watchful gaze from Yan Zi, he thanked her for the information about skill level advancement. Duo Nan tried to avoid him but to no avail. So he got back all the weapons he lend them previously. He also didn’t forget to eat dinner with Auntie Pai. Only then he leaved the village.

In the forest, there was quite a distance since fought with Shadow Puma. He choose not to mount Silver, but walked. Right now, Acma was fighting against several tusked creatures which were renown of their deadly charge. The wild boar. But these wild boars were giving more pressure because of its height of one metre and half tall, in addition to its ability to use skill to plough the earth. Anything in line of this skill was immediately split apart. The boars used this skill before they began their charge.

Acma was fighting leisurely, not rushing to end the fight quickly but not delaying either. He wanted to recall the sensation he felt during his training with Alice but it was clearly different because of the pressure given by these boars. They might be weaker, but they fought with the intent to kill. The pressure he felt was due to this killing intent.

After a while,

Wild Boar LVL 53

This boar was the last member of its herd and it was charging madly. Acma sidestepped to the left while pointing his left-hand sword finger at its head.

‘Puchi’

An Earth Splinter bore through its skull, killing it immediately. Soon after, its carcass glowed and then disappeared.

Acma found this type of activation during this fight against the wild boars. When he stumbled upon this herd, their amount were close to two dozens, given him enough target to try his theory. He found out that Earth Splinter could be activated not only with a thrust of sword, but also with palms and sword fingers which made him very delighted. To him, sword finger was really cool.

“I should try to unleash Wind Blade with sword finger too”, he thought.

He continued his journey. He wish to arrived at the centaur’s village before sunrise.

After several tens of kilometres, his beautiful tiny High Fairy suddenly flew out of his chest and reported.

“Master, I found a centaur scout closing in. Its range is about 3 kilometres from the northwest direction. If we continue, we will meet it after half an hour”

“Okay, we continue for 15 minutes and then wait for it. We will follow it afterwards. I hope it will lead us to their main army”

Acma never expected he would found the centaurs in the forest. He thought, even if they wanted to take revenge, it shouldn’t be this soon. They already lost twice, even with the help from the werewolves. Just how many troops they have? Acma couldn’t find the answer.

After 30 minutes, he saw a skinny centaur walking cautiously in the darkness. The darkness wasn’t a problem to Acma, because he equipped his FREEDOM suit which has a night vision camera.

‘PHANTOM STEP’

Without making any sounds, Acma appeared on top of its horse body while his sword was pressing lightly on its throat.

“Don’t make a sound or die”, he said coldly.

The skinny scout trembled and sweating profusely. It tried to keep its body stable but failed to do so. It was terrified. It never thought that a humble and handsome scout like it ever get a sword pressed on its throat.

“Tell me, are your people attacking the human village again?”

“Please, don’t kill me”

“Are you a retard? If I want you dead, you’ll be dead. Now, answer me”

“T..Thank you. We’re not attacking. We just sending an envoy”

“What for?”

“T..To discuss the terms to release third young master”

“How many?”

“H..How many what?”

“Tsk..Wanna die? Envoy group, how many?”

“Ple..please sir, don’t kill me. Our group have 2 envoys, 15 guards and me”

“...”

“Lead me to your group”

Acma jumped and distanced himself from the scout. The scout immediately limped down, losing all its strength.

Acma ordered the scout to lead the way because he wanted to make sure that it wasn’t lying. He also anticipated that, when the scout returned to its group, it will delivered the news about him. This way, depended on their reaction, he could prevent any unnecessary conflict.

“Thank you sir. Thank you”

“Shut up. Move”

The scout immediately stood up and turned its body around. It started running and disappeared.

After following the scout for half an hour, he saw it reached the group. Acma was watching silently the reaction of the envoys from under the cover of the bushes. Unrest immediately erupted among them. All the guards encircled the envoys and kept watching around with their weapons at ready. They’re preparing for any attack.

Acma kept watching in silence and didn’t do anything. He knew that nothing good would come from attacking these envoys. Obviously he could win easily, but its effect to Orca Village would be very bad. So he stayed his hands.

The stand-off continued for a half an hour. Both sides didn’t make any move or sounds. But the envoy group were clearly grew restless. After a while, one of the envoy suddenly spoke.

“Sir warrior, I know you’re watching us right now. Please don’t be alarmed, I want to assure you that our people have no desire to continue fighting with your people. My mission tonight was to ensure this message is conveyed as clearly as possible. Please excuse us”

After that envoy spoke, the guards lowered their weapon one by one. Then they rearranged their formation and continue walking towards Orca Village.

“That was unexpected, nobody was provoking me. I thought with their temper, one or two of them will doing so. Looks like those envoys were really influential among them”, he thought.

Acma just watched those group walked away. Soon after, he also proceed toward the centaur’s village.

He was following the trail of the envoy group, so he didn’t encounter any beast or monster along the path. Since the night still long and he wasn’t rushing, he familiarized himself with the surrounding and letting Alice mapping the area.

“Master, we’ve arrived. However, a large group of centaurs and werewolves were gathered in front of the village”, Alice reported.

“Large gatherings? Are they wearing equipment?”

“Weapons and armours”

“They were preparing for an attack. So the envoys were just a diversion. Alice, lead the way”

“Yes, Master”

Acma reached the edge of the forest and hiding himself. From a far, he could see a lot of centaurs and werewolves like Alice had reported. Among the werewolves, there were many groups wearing an iron chest plate. They clearly a higher ranked fighter compared to group who attacked Orca Village yesterday. As for the centaurs, their equipment was about the same, but with a better quality. Looked like they were preparing for an all out battle.

He scanned those armies and saw a familiar face among the werewolves troops. A long scar across its chest was a proof that it was the werewolf he fought yesterday. But he might be wrong because all werewolves looked the same. So double checked it with Alice.

“Alice, that was Bardalph right? The leader of the werewolves I fought yesterday?” “99.99 % it is the same werewolf, Master”

“How should I approach it?” he thought.

He look around and picked the most inconspicuous route to get close to Bardalph who was now facing its troops.

Bardalph was standing at the front, talking with some of the werewolves closed to him. It didn’t realized that Acma was approaching yet. Some of the werewolves noticed him but choose to ignore since he didn’t exclude any threatening gesture. He just walking out of the forest like someone walking in the park.

“Hello Bardalph, I can’t believe I get to see you so soon”

Bardalph turned its head around. When it finally noticed Acma was standing so close behind it, its eyes bulged out and scampered several steps backward until it fell on its butt. Even when it was on the ground, it still trying to get away.

Acma’s right hand scratching behind his head. He can’t believe that Bardalph was this afraid of him.

“Hey, don’t be like that. Am I that scary?” he asked.

“You...you.. What are you doing here?” Bardalph stuttered. The other werewolves wore a shocked face, looking at Bardalph and Acma alternately.

“Bardalph, is this your friend? Introduce him to me”, one of higher level werewolf who wore an iron chest plate looked at Acma and asked.

Acma was wearing his full body armour and no one could tell he was a human except Bardalph and its troop. In this world, an elf race which have the similar built with human existed, so they might be thinking that Acma was an elf who made a friend with Bardalph.

“Thi..this is the monster I told you from the human village”, Bardalph ‘introduced’.

“WHAAAATTTT!!!”

Bardalph’s testimony caused a huge uproar among the werewolves troop. Everybody instantly jumped out and distanced themselves, leaving Acma and still on the ground Bardalph.

“Hmmmm... Looks like I have quite a reputation among your tribes”

Acma looked at the werewolves in front of him. He raised his right hand and waived.

“Hello everyone”, he said cheerfully.