Chapter 4 - Steps Towards Destiny

On a road next to a small village, about a hundred kilometres from the city of Jura, there is a handsome teenager with a large bag on his back, walking with faltering steps. Steps towards achieving unparalleled success.. or death.

With every step Robin revises his decisions and wonders if what he's doing is the right thing, every now and then he would stop for a moment till finds enough courage to keep his legs moving again without looking back, it was a difficult decision.

Maybe if he had one true friend Or Even a good parental relationship he wouldn't have chosen this path. but this is his destiny and cannot be changed, he can only control what comes next.

And what comes next for him was a few dozen years of meditation! For any ordinary young man.. this is the definition of the word torment.. he found nothing to drive him forward except his firm will... and that nothing was waiting for him even if he returned.

his destination of choice was the Outer Beast Zone, a desolate place about 300 kilometres from Jura City filled with mountains, swamps, and forests. it wasn't very vast, but it was a forbidden area for those below the sixth level.

However, it was considerably safe for an energy cultivator at the tenth level, the monsters in it were basically a source of meat for someone of his strength, and the lack of humans in the area made it an ideal place to live secluded for a long time.

...

a few more days passed quickly, the outskirts of the outer beast zone appeared in front of him, after hesitating for a few moments he resolved and entered it, started looking for his new home for the coming years.

He didn't have high standards; a hole in a mountain would do.

But even so, it took him a few days until he found a decent cave high enough from the ground , it is true that the cave was the residence of two level 7 snapping bears, but he easily dealt with them and occupied the cave~

Robin sat deep in the cave in a meditating position, looking at the entrance, thinking..' What now, Robin? Which path will you take? Maybe.. the path of the plants? No, How is this different from the paths of natural elements such as wind and water? i need something new..'

At his level, Robin can stay in meditation for a few days without needing to eat or drink.. and that's exactly what he did, after five days without any success, his stomach rumbled 'well, I can't figure out paths and change the world with an empty stomach'

Robin went and took large pieces of the bear meat that he dried up earlier then head towards the entrance of the cave, kindled a fire, and sat down to grill his first good meal in days.

When he was about to bite off the first piece of his food he heard a screaming sound coming from afar, it was the sound of a human female screaming! 'What's a girl doing in a place like this?' Robin thought to himself then rushed toward the voice direction

About two hundred meters away, a girl was running at full speed while a huge spotted leopard pursued her. Whenever it gets close enough to bite her she screams, hits him on the head then rushes forward at a faster rate.

This scene startled Robin who had just arrived. that huge tiger was at the ninth level! but what really made him open his eyes full was the girl who was about 15 years old and also at the ninth level!

A girl with a talent that almost reaches him would certainly be known, but it was the first time he saw her. Robin did not care about the details anymore, he just knew he had to save the girl for now.

even though he had no battle experience he still has his brain. He Choose an opportunity when the spotted leopard was about to attempt pitting again then pounced towards the tiger with a punch from one of the primitive martial arts he had learned before..

the girl looked behind her and she stopped in her place after hearing a painful cry. When she saw Robin smashes the tiger's head with one hit, she knew the danger was over and walked towards him "Hey you! Who asked you for help?! You interrupted my training!!" The girl put her small hand on her side and said in annoyance

Robin looked at her, carefully this time, the girl was really pretty! medium tall with cute features. Although her breasts were still small, she was a beautiful young lady.

Robin, who had been in training isolation for most of his life, did not know how to deal with girls, especially the beautiful ones "Um.. sorry, I saw you screaming so I came to help, Shouldn't have I?" Robin said with a smile while scratching his head

"Yeah, weirdo! I'm here in survival training and you interrupted it! Make it up for me!!"

"...what do you want?" his smile turned into an emotionless face, there was no need for her to talk to him this way, especially since he saved her life, right?

"Can you cook?"

"Huh?" Robin was very surprised.. this was never expected this question

"can you or not!?" This time, she said in annoyance while furrowing her eyebrows

"... I guess I can"

"Great, I accept your invitation then, I haven't eaten anything good for a month!"

"what invi-.. ahh never mind, just follow me" Robin gave up on trying to reason with her

.....

"Hmmm..it looks like you're not completely useless, this meat is good!!"

"It has hardly any salt on it and was just thrown on the fire, what have you been eating lately?" Robin was surprised and said

"just vegetables or raw meat. Those damn old men are trying to kill me!!" She said while nibbling at another big piece of the bear meat.

" Old men want to kill you? Are you hunted?!" said Robin who started looking around

"Huh? No! I mean the old men of my family, they made me come here to train myself because -I'm so used to the lavish life- Hmph! I'll prove them wrong!"

"is one of them here?" Robin returned to look at her.

"Of course..and it's not like they're going to let this young lady gets killed! Uncle Brown should be behind one of the trees or under one of those stupid rocks~"

Robin was silent for a while, not knowing how to deal with her "I don't remember seeing you on the important events in the Duchy of Alton before...where are you from?"

" hahaha you're speaking like you're attending those important events, old man! Have some shame!!.. Anyway, I'm not from this duchy, I'm just spending some time in the beast zone for some survival drills then I'm going to Jura city to challenge someone there called Robin Burton. He is said to be the greatest talent of the century blah blah blah~ So I came to show him who is the boss!"

Robin was surprised several times during this simple discussion.. he excused her for calling him old man, a person of the tenth level can live up to 150 years and therefore will keep his youth for a long time, only someone stronger than him can easily determine his age.. but he did not correct her and let her think that he is old

The second is that she's here for a survival drill, but an elder is nearby watching over her? What survival bullsh*t is this? she knows that she will not die even if she wanted to commit suicide!

The third thing that surprised him was that she is here for him! Likely, the news of him entering the tenth level hasn't spread yet, or she wouldn't have dared to come challenging him.

Did she come from afar to use him as a stepping stone?

'this girl!! if I beat her up and tie her to a tree, would that uncle brown mind?'