Chapter 14

The black-scaled centipede that was once running after me froze its place, the fervor it once had extinguished from its eyes like an unprotected ember in the stormy winter.

Unbeknownst to me, as the surge of crimson aura shot across the forest, every single beast, insect, or animal, in general, looked in my direction with fear. Fear that whatever had emerged in the middle of their forest would soon take over and destroy everything within its sights.

In a cave dozens of miles away from where I was sat a large figure covered in shadows, making it so anyone who would enter would on see the silhouette of the terrifying being that they had just come to face.

The sleeping figure slowly opened its eyes before a membrane-covered eyeball slid to the sides of the eyes, leaving their verticle slits for pupils visible for the world to see. Its wings unfolded and spread themselves wide while Its piercing red eyes darted in a certain direction as it got up.

Once it left its cave, it was finally able to get a better view of the red aura washing over the forest, as well as a red beam of lighting shooting towards the skies, enveloping everything in a crimson hue...

'That thing... for something so weak to have such a powerful killing intent...' The figure narrowed its eyes and its legs began to shake violently. This was no longer a difference in strength, but a difference in class.

In the other corner of the forest stood a monkey with fiery red fur. Its eyes pierced through the forest before they finally narrowed down after they landed upon the figure in the middle of the crimson spire.

"Father, is something that matter?" A smaller red monkey asked while dropping to the ground and kneeling towards the other.

"Yes my child. It seems like there is a new candidate. One that can reap the crown for himself."

Back where I was, I found myself standing in the middle of the forest with sweat dripping down the drenched clothes that I had on.

Eventually,  I collapsed onto one knee because it was only then that I felt the exhaustion of whatever I had done seep into my body, almost knocking me unconscious. something I tried to fight with all my power to the end.

Yet, even after trying so hard, I could feel my consciousness slip out of my mind, sinking me into the darkness of the abyss.