The trap Jack put in place could hardly be called a trap. It was essentially a medium-sized cage made of sticks tied together by leaves and sap. Inside the wooden cage, the ground was dug out about 3 feet and filled with sap. The trap did not take too long to make, but digging the hole took much of his time.

  The front of the cage was in Jack’s hands. He plans to throw the front of the cage and use his wind Virya to make it land in his favor. Jack had to admit, though, he had no confidence in the trap working; but he would be too embarrassed in himself to allow his hard work to be wasted. He would use the trap and hope for the best results. Stuffing himself with sap these past few hours has gotten him to decide to never eat candy again. He needs food, and he intends to catch a Spiker to fulfill that need.

  There was one aspect to this trap that Jack forgot entirely about. The bait. If he were to trap the Spiker, he would need to lure it out. And to lure it out, he would need a bait. There were a few problems with that, though. He imagined using the sap, but with how much he gathered and how long it took him to gather the sap would have caused a Spiker to attack him already.

  So he figured that wouldn’t be a reliable bait. He then thought about using one of the green fruits hanging from the tree, but if the Spiker was protecting that area, would that not mean the Spiker already has fruit? Not only that, last time Jack took fruit, the Spiker ambushed him soon after. Then that led to the only feasible option.

  Himself.

  He slowly walked up to the tree, noticing for the first time that the rays of blue moonlight that shone through the leaves shone violet. It gave the tree a more demonic look, and he couldn’t tell if the green fruit, which looked a lot like apples, was laughing at him with a twisted smile.

  He shook his head and stopped his arm from shaking. He didn’t realize his entire body seemed to be shaking as well. He took a few deep breaths before finally taking more steps towards the tree.

  “C-come get me!” Jack hesitantly yelled.

  Nothing sounded or moved as Jack stood there with his stick held out towards the tree. He regained some of his confidence.

  “T-too scared to face me?”

  The tree rustled, causing Jack to flinch and raise his stick towards the disturbance. The slight breeze hitting his chest and the lack of another surprise attack told him it was probably just the wind. Could he be wrong? That a Spiker would not be guarding this area?

  His back straightened as more courage filled him.

  Or maybe it was just the fact that he wouldn’t have to fight for his life again.

  But he decided he should make sure there was nothing there just in case. He quickly ran up to the closest, lowest, hanging fruit to grab and booked it towards the cage. Once he passed the cage, he turned around, whipping his stick back and forth as if he were trying to hit everything and anything. He was proud of himself. His eyes were only closed for a little bit.

  When he saw no Spiker or any creature of the sort, he breathed out in relief. Jack puffed his chest out proudly as he held out the green fruit in front of him. It looks very similar to a green apple, but a closer inspection showed Jack the minor differences.

  This fruit had veins under the skin and swirls of nearly transparent lines imprinted on it. Strange fruit, but it’s the first real food he found in hours, and he couldn’t just sit and admire the fruit anymore. Jack bit into the fruit with a ravenous bite.

  Purple juices from the fruit dripped from his mouth and onto his chest. The flesh of the fruit was purple like the outside of the fruit, and the taste was sweet like a melon with a slight bitterness to it. Then he felt a cold wave wash over his body that made him shiver.

  At first, he thought the wind grew stronger, but then he felt his Soul Reservoir swirl. This fruit filled him with Virya energy! And his Soul Reservoir was able to instantly convert the Virya from the fruit straight into wind Virya, which is what his soul could only currently control. This tree would be considered a treasure! Thoughts of his family and clan praising him for finding such a boon filled his head.

  “To fight and survive monsters of terrifying strengths for a treasure that would bring fortune to the clan! And as a Seedling at that.” He loudly said in triumph.

  Now there may not have been a fight, but no one else had to know. With fruit that revitalize your reserves and taste this good, Jack might just have to stay here and make it his territory till Richard finds him. Though he did find it odd that the fruit tree was not claimed by a Spiker or any creature, for that matter.

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  Foolish beasts indeed. Not an ounce of thought existed in their thick skulls.

  Quickly finishing the fruit, he picked up a rock and threw it into the tree’s crown. He waited another minute before fully deciding that the tree was safe of any creatures. He grinned at that self-made confirmation. He picked a few more fruits and sat back against the tree, ready to enjoy a couple more fruits, then take a nap within the thick branches of the purple-leafed tree.

  He leisurely enjoyed his second fruit while daydreaming of his glorious return home until he spotted movement in the grass ahead of him. He immediately stood up, stick in hand. Jack assumed it was a Spiker that left the tree momentarily and was returning.

  Jack hoped it was the Spiker. Any other beast or creature, and he was dead for sure.

  He stood still with his stick raised and his other arm raised the other way, prepared to fight with the Wind Flygon Sword Arts. Fear began to rise in his chest as his legs and arms shaking betrayed what he wanted to show. He wanted to show the Spiker he was not afraid of it; that he would have no hesitation in killing it. But he just couldn’t see much due to the darkness and canopy of the trees blocking out much moonlight. “Come out! I’ll kill you! All of you rodents!” Jack boldly yelled. Then black blurs jumped from the darkness and landed in front of him. Jack jumped back with a yelp, holding his stick out in front of him. Three Spikers landed in front of Jack and puffed their spikes out, which caused the spikes to extend longer than normal. Jack gulped.

  He only anticipated one Spiker.

  He made a trap for one spiker.

  Not only were they in the way of the trap, but now there were three? Even one would have to look past their skills and talent in the face of overwhelming foes. The ground started to shake and Jack tried to keep his balance. Were the Spikers causing this rumble? No, these creatures weren’t even tiered! Impossible for them to sense Virya, let alone manipulate it.

  Also, if Jack wasn’t delusional already, he could have sworn he saw looks of confusion on those hideous Spikers’ faces. Which could only mean..

  Jack’s eyes widened and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest when the same lizard from a while ago appeared behind the Spikers. Its orange flaps were flared as its eyes each looked in every direction as if it were trying to find something. Its maw hung open and teeth as jagged as broken metal, but no doubt sharp.

  The three Spikers turned to gang up on the lizard. All three of them pounced as they spun in the air, making themselves into a deadly projectile. At least deadly for Jack.

  With only a stick to protect himself.. He tried not to think what would happen to him. The lizard’s eyes stopped looking around erratically and focused on the Spikers that launched themselves at it. A beam of orange light shot from its opened maw, instantly killing one Spiker.

  Then, with speeds Jack thought to be too fast for a beast that big, it turned and whipped the other two with its tail. The spikes on the little rodents shattered on impact with the tail, and squeals of pain came from them as they flew past Jack and into the tree, abruptly stopping their squeals. Jack flinched, but managed to keep his eyes open the entire time.

  Fear gripped Jack as he stared upon the one-sided fight.

  It ended in just a few seconds, and now the lizard’s eyes rested on Jack. The flaps on the lizard’s head flared, and its maw began to open. Jack knew what came next. But the results depended on him. Fear’s grip was tight, but not tight enough for his anger. Anger filled his mind as he thought about his useless guards and teachers.

  It was their fault that his step in the cycle was Seedling, and having to face a Tier 1 beast alone when he should have been a Forged soul. He was angry with himself for being so weak, but he was just as angry with his teachers.

  But regardless, he was the son of Gerald Flygon! The strongest human, and here Jack was frozen in fear.

  His feet decided to answer him, using his rage, he broke fear’s grip in time to jump to the side. As he landed on the ground, a part of the tree trunk blew apart. The attack from the lizard took a good amount off the tree, but not enough to knock it over. With no time to think, Jack ran for his life. He used the wind Virya to make himself lighter, which helped quicken his pace, though he nearly jumped out of his skin when he turned back to see the lizard right on his trail with its flaps open and jaw hanging wide.

  Jack’s eyes widened in alarm as he jumped to the side again. A high-pitched sound passed his head as he dived. When he landed harshly on the ground, he heard a tree fall in the distance. Just one hit and Jack would blow apart like a balloon. He felt the rumbles of the lizard approaching him and figured running away from the lizard just result in him eventually getting killed or crippled to be killed.

  Jack came up with an idea and stood facing the lizard as it ran towards him. Its maw was wide open, and flaps around its head were completely extended to show a bright orange color. Jack knew by now that when the flaps opened, it was going to fire something from its mouth.

  This time, Jack saw the process. A small orange light built up in the back of its mouth and continued to get bigger as veins in the flaps around its head seemed to feed the ball of light with something. It was like it was pumping liquid that forms into light.

  Jack’s legs shook, but he slapped them, hoping they would stop. He waited as the lizard charged its attack while Jack built up wind under his legs. Then as soon as the lizard flaps twitched, Jack launched himself in the air by pushing wind under him with the most force he ever mustered in his lifetime. He shot himself over the lizard as its attack shot right from under him. Jack kept his eyes open the entire time, especially at this crucial moment.

  Right before he landed, Jack stuck his palms out from his sides and focused the wind Virya around him. He controlled the wind to push him backwards as he was being propelled forward, which allowed him to land with much ease. The lizard turned around to see Jack a good distance away and cocked its head to the side. Jack didn’t wait for the lizard as he landed and booked it right back to the purple-leafed tree.

  That idea now turned into a plan.