Chapter 10: Present – Ryun

Chapter 10: Present – Ryun

ACT II Ryun

Fugitive

Ryun followed the strange group as they moved through the forest, his senses tracking them easily. With most of his power sealed, he had some trouble estimating just how strong they were. He did not have any inspect skill, so he couldnt look at them and see their levels and Cultivation. Based on the pace they set and the way they moved, he could make an assumption. The crustacean was the most powerful by farby Ryuns estimates, at least level sixty and in the Mid Foundation Realm. He didnt think that his Cultivation was all that strong for his level, but Ryun had never really met anyone who had cultivated to the same extent as he himself had. Most just gathered the Essence needed for advancement and spent it to reach the next level. Very few Cultivators actually cycled Essence through their cores to strengthen them. Why waste the Essence? Ryun alone had had the opportunity and means to cycle for long periods of time before advancing.

The rest all appeared to be still in the Mortal Realm of Cultivation, and without an evolved Class, putting them at below level sixty. None of them were a threat. What had been interesting, however, were the monsters that the group had encountered in the forest. Ryun had seen no sign of the Dire Wolf pack that he had encountered the night before. Most of the monsters were close to level sixty, only one being had been over that level at seventy, and none of the creatures were beyond the Mortal Level of Cultivation. They had encountered a bear-looking creature and some giant rats that had moss growing on their backs, but that was the extent of it, and the group had been able to handle everything that they encountered.

They didnt speak much, to Ryuns disappointment. They were acting in a straightforwardly professional manner. Ryun was somewhat impressed. The group was well trained, and the crustacean was a good commander. Eventually, as the sun in the sky dimmed, they turned around and headed back to their base. Ryun followed, jumping from branch to branch silently. Just before nightfall they led him to a large hill that had been cleared of trees and where the start of a small town could be seen. Ryun stayed in the forest, looking at the construction from a safe distance. In the dimming light he saw a couple hundred people, some digging large holes in the ground, others cutting trees down and more making planks. They had a simple palisade running halfway around the hilltop, with two buildings already erected. Both made out of black wood, one looked like a long barn, and the other was clearly a residence of some kind. There were banners with an image of a black serpent on a field of red and green, and most people wore the same colors. Ryun sat in the tree top, looking on as the sky turned to night and the people lit torches and abandoned their work. Most retreated to the barn, a few to the tents erected next to it, and a handful to the residence. Ryun counted the guards, seeing that there were around twelve set on watch around the town boundaries.

As he watched the town he sensed another presence some distance away from him. The vibrations of its passage through the air were slight, but enough for him to notice. He turned his head and looked into the darkness, seeing nothing. He waited for a long while until finally the presence took a step into a beam of moonlight. The Dire Wolf Alpha stood there looking straight at Ryun. That surprised himhe could see intelligence in those eyes, but not only that, the monster had actually been able to tell that he was there. The wolf turned its head and looked at the town, its red eyes narrowing and studying it the same way Ryun had. Ryuns senses didnt catch any sign of the pack, which probably meant that the wolf was alone.

Then he felt a vibration in the air, one he was familiar with. His eyes turned, looking in the direction of the source. A stray beam of moonlight illuminated the source for just a moment, but enough for him to see its name.

Twilight Owl (LVL 65Early Mortal)

Ryun changed directions, increasing his speed. He jumped over the heads of the two running forms, his feet making one of the branches creak as he used it to shoot off into the distance. He sensed the womans head rise alertly to the tree branches above, searching for any danger. Ryun flew and intercepted the swooping owl as it was preparing for the attack on the two running forms. It didnt even see him coming. His hand grabbed the birds head, squeezing and cracking the skull, eliciting a loud pained and surprised screech from it. He landed on a branch and twisted with perfect balance, turning around and smashing the birds head against the tree trunk, cracking the wood as he pulverized it. A loud crack echoed in the forest as the owl died, and he sensed the woman stop and turn toward the direction of the noise. She pulled her sword out and put the child behind her back, looking into the darkness.

Ryun put the bird corpse into his ring and crouched on the branch, looking at the barely visible shape on the forest floor. The womans head was swiveling, looking for danger, but she couldnt see him. After a long moment of silence, she put her sword back and pulled on the child, continuing their run. Ryun followed.

They ran for most of the night, going toward the mountains in the distance, and stopping only near dawn. Ryun could tell that the woman could still go on, but it was the child that couldnt take it anymore, even after being carried by the woman for a while. The woman appeared to be Early Foundation Realm, but didnt appear to have an evolved Class. Ryun had learned to recognize the signs. Upgrading ones Class made people give off a slight sense of power, one that he couldnt feel from the woman. He watched as she found a shrub with an opening that allowed her and the child to crawl inside. They hid, and Ryun could no longer see them. The child fell asleep nearly instantly, by the feel of her breathing at least, while the woman kept watch.

As the moon turned to sun, Ryun turned around and went back to the town. This was an interesting series of events, and he wanted to see what the reaction from the people in the town was going to be once they found out that the woman was gone. He crossed the distance in barely a fraction of the time it had taken the woman to get so far away.

Settling in to his hiding place, he watched as the town woke up.