As Demos slowly regained consciousness, he looked around, taking in the scene before him. The Perezoso's lifeless body lay at his feet, and Gorthok and Kael stood nearby, their faces etched with concern.
He tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse from the battle. He cleared his throat and tried again.
Demos: "What... happened?" he asked, his voice weak but determined.
Kael shook his head, still staring at him.
Kael: "You took down the Perezoso, but... something strange happened. Your body started healing itself at an incredible rate."
Demos looked down and saw that his wounds were indeed closing with alarming speed. He felt a strange energy surging through his heart and veins, as if something ancient within him had awakened.
Gorthok spoke up, a mix of awe and unease in his voice.
Gorthok: "What's going on, Demos? What's happening to you?"
Demos shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his thoughts.
Demos: "I... don't know," he admitted, still weak. "I feel... different. Stronger."
Kael and Gorthok exchanged nervous glances.
Kael: "We need to get you back to the tribe. Akira can help you understand what's happening."
Demos' expression turned skeptical.
Demos: "Akira can't help me," he said, shaking his head. "I know exactly who can, but... I'm not sure I should tell."
The two warriors glanced at each other, curiosity flashing in their eyes.
Gorthok: "Who is it, Demos?"
Demos hesitated, scanning the area, looking for Maverick and Ryker.
Demos: "I'll know when the time is right," he said quietly. "But for now, let's deal with the matter at hand."
Kael and Gorthok nodded, concern still heavy in their expressions. Demos turned and walked over to where Maverick and Ryker lay unconscious, their bodies mutilated from the Perezoso's brutal assault.
Seeing them like that, panic surged through Demos. He feared the worst. But then, Maverick twitched. Quickly, he checked Thane's breathing—barely there, but present. A sigh of relief escaped him.
Suddenly, the system interface appeared before his eyes.
SYSTEM INTERFACE
Name: Demos S. Sparta
Age: 15
Level: 1
Health: 100/100
Strength: 12
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Abilities: (##$#) sealed | (#_#$#) sealed | (#$$#$$) sealed
Unique Abilities:
• Five-Colored Lightning – Sealed
• Ice Age – Sealed
Language Pack Installed: Azuran Language
Skill: Hand-to-Hand Combat (Level 1)
New Mission:
(FIRST HUNT: Hunt a Perezoso) – COMPLETE
REWARD: 50 Healing Potions
Demos stared at the reward, mind racing.
Can these potions really heal wounds this severe? he wondered.
His expression hardened with resolve. A small, intricately carved box materialized in his hands. Opening it, he pulled out a potion glowing with faint energy. Without hesitation, he applied it to Maverick and Thane's wounds.
Both warriors stirred. Their eyes fluttered open as the potion's magic began mending flesh and bone.
Slowly, they sat up, looking around in confusion. Then they saw Demos.
Maverick's eyes welled with emotion. He dropped to his knees.
Maverick: "We owe you our lives, great Spartan warrior." His voice trembled. "We pledge our loyalty to you."
Thane nodded firmly.
Thane: "You saved us from the brink of death. We'll never forget this."
Demos smiled, his face softening.
Demos: "You don't have to say that. Just... let's get back to the tribe."
As they stood, a bright light engulfed the area. In the blink of an eye, the Perezoso's massive carcass vanished.
Maverick, Kael, and Thane stared in disbelief.
Maverick: "What the...?"
Demos smiled, clearly enjoying the moment.
Demos: "It's a gift from my mother."
The others looked at each other, then back at Demos, clearly skeptical.
Gorthok: "What kind of gift makes a behemoth vanish into thin air? And... you have a mother?"
Demos chuckled.
Demos: "Let's just say it's a special gift. And yes—I do have a mother."
Kael and Gorthok exchanged glances, uncertain. The Perezoso was a nightmare of the jungle, and Demos had not only slain it, but stored it away like it was nothing.
Who is this warrior?
Before they could speak again, Demos turned serious.
Demos: "We need to return to the tribe."
Thirty-nine minutes later...
Ryker returned, his face pale.
Ryker: "Tribe leader, I have ba—"
Before he could finish, Demos raised a hand.
Demos: "What did you find? Was the settlement safe?"
The word safe triggered something in Ryker—an ancient fear. His voice trembled.
Ryker: "The tall people... they're coming for us. They're tracking us."
Demos remembered Akira's story—the massacre that claimed their warriors, the sacrifice of their first tribe leader so fifty could survive.
Suddenly, the system interface flickered to life again, revealing two new missions. Demos' smile returned at the first... then vanished after reading the second.
He looked at Ryker.
Demos: "We killed the Perezoso."
Ryker wasn't surprised. Instead, he asked:
Ryker: "Where is the body? We need to carry it back."
Demos laughed.
Demos: "Don't worry. It's in my inventory."
Ryker blinked.
Ryker: "Leader... what's an inventory?"
Demos: "It's where I keep whatever I want to carry. Just another gift from my mother."
Ryker: "Gift? Wait... you have a mother?"
Demos: "Yes. And she is a... never mind. Just don't speak of the task I gave you. We'll survive. And one day—we'll kill them all. Now let's get back to the tribe. I have an announcement."
Demos led the warriors back to the settlement.
Demos: "There's something I need to discuss with the tribe. Let's go."
Gorthok, Maverick, Thane, and Kael followed, still torn between awe and disbelief.
The dense jungle gave way to a rocky terrain. Dead trees loomed over them. At the foot of the cave, the tribe's huts blended with the earth, like ancient sentinels born from soil and hardship.
As they reached the center of the camp, all eyes turned toward them.
Tribe (in unison): "What is it? Did the hunt fail, Tribe Leader?"
Demos stepped forward, choosing his words carefully.
Demos: "We have returned. And we have slain the most formidable beast—the Perezoso. Its meat will feed our celebration tonight."
He removed the beast's body from his inventory. Gasps and stunned silence followed.
None questioned how it appeared from thin air.
Hours Later...
Laughter and cheer filled the air. The tribe feasted on the Perezoso's meat. Demos took time to mingle with the people, playing with the children.
As their laughter rang out, Demos suddenly stopped, the system mission echoing in his mind.
Children: "Ahahaha! Tribe Leader, why did you stop? That was so fun!"
Demos: "Everyone, I know this is sudden... but we must migrate within the next three moons if we want to survive. Prepare to leave in three moons."