The forest stretched endlessly around Ash, its canopy casting a quilt of shifting shadows and golden light across the forest floor. The gentle rustling of leaves above was accompanied by the occasional distant chirping of birds. Yet, despite the serene beauty, Ash's mind was a storm.
He walked alone, his wolf companion left back with Pyre to rest. For once, Ash had requested this solitude. The fresh air and the earth beneath his feet helped him think. The warmth of the sun on his skin was a stark contrast to the cold, sterile walls of the lab, yet that place haunted him like an unshakable specter.
As he stepped over a fallen log, Ash's thoughts sank into the depths of his memory. He could still hear the buzz of machinery from the lab, the sharp clang of metal, and the muffled screams of other experiments. The creatures he'd seen—grotesque amalgamations of flesh and steel—were forever burned into his mind.
*They called me weak. They saw me as nothing but another broken thing to test and discard.*
Ash clenched his fists. The muscles in his arms rippled under his tunic, a far cry from the frail, malnourished form he once had. Yet, despite all his progress, the whispers of inadequacy lingered. His power compared to Pyre's was like a candle beside a blazing inferno. The memory of Pyre incinerating that gorilla with a mere gesture filled Ash with equal parts awe and frustration.
"I'm so far behind," he muttered to himself.
But even as the thought crossed his mind, he smiled faintly. "Doesn't matter," he said aloud, the words steady. "That's what the training is for."
The forest changed as he walked further. The vibrant greens and golds of the sunlit woods gave way to a darker, denser part of the forest. The air grew cooler, and the canopy thickened, blocking out much of the light.
Ash slowed his steps, his crimson eyes scanning the surroundings. The familiar rustling of leaves above was gone, replaced by an eerie silence that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
*This place feels alive,* he thought, his instincts sharpening.
Every step seemed louder now, the crunch of twigs underfoot reverberating through the stillness. He stopped abruptly, his senses tingling. Something was watching him.
Ash's breath caught as the ground before him began to shift. The earth cracked and crumbled, and a sleek black worm, larger than any snake he had ever seen, slithered out. Its body was a grotesque combination of slick, oily flesh and jagged, armored scales. Rows of teeth lined its circular maw, glistening as it opened and closed with a sickening sound.
The creature hissed, a noise that resonated like a grinding blade. Ash instinctively fell into a defensive stance, his mind racing.
"Not running this time," he whispered, more to himself than the creature.
The worm coiled, its body undulating as it prepared to strike. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its maw aimed directly at Ash's chest.
Ash sidestepped with a fluid motion, his training kicking in. The worm's jaws snapped shut inches from his side, and it struck the ground with enough force to send dirt flying into the air.
"You're fast," Ash muttered, wiping dirt from his face.
The worm hissed again, its body curling back before lunging once more. Ash dodged, his movements precise, but the worm was relentless, twisting and snapping with unbridled fury.
It wasn't just fast—it was relentless. Each strike came closer, and Ash could feel the air shift with every attack. The ground beneath them churned into a chaotic mess of dirt and roots as the battle raged on.
"You would've killed me back then," Ash said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Back when I didn't know how to fight."
The worm lashed out again, and this time, Ash didn't move. Instead, he stepped forward, raising his hand.
"But not now."
With a single, precise motion, he thrust his finger forward. His strike pierced through the worm's head, the force of the impact sending a ripple down its long, twisted body. The creature convulsed violently, its armored scales cracking as its movements slowed.
Ash pulled his finger free, stepping back as the worm collapsed in a heap, its lifeless form sprawled across the forest floor.
Ash stood over the creature, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. He wasn't winded. His heart wasn't racing. The fight had been simple—too simple.
*I've come a long way,* he thought, staring down at the fallen worm. Its black blood seeped into the ground, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in the world.
He crouched beside the creature, running a hand over its slick, armored body. "You were strong," he said quietly. "But strength without control is nothing."
Ash rose, wiping his hands on a nearby leaf. He glanced at his palm, flexing his fingers. "Just a few months ago, this would've been impossible," he murmured.
His thoughts drifted to Pyre. The intensity of the training, the endless drills, and the harsh lessons—all of it had brought him here. But more than that, it was his own determination that had pushed him forward.
*I'm still weak,* he admitted to himself. *But I'm getting stronger. And one day… one day I'll stand at the top.*
The forest grew brighter as he continued his journey. The dark, oppressive atmosphere of the deeper woods faded into something more open and alive. Birds flitted between the branches, their songs filling the air. The tension in Ash's chest eased slightly, replaced by a sense of calm.
He stopped by a small stream, crouching to wash the black blood from his hands. The cool water rushed over his skin, carrying away the remnants of the battle.
Ash stared at his reflection, the crimson eyes that gazed back at him filled with quiet resolve. He smiled faintly, the expression softening the sharp lines of his face.
"This is just the beginning," he said to himself.
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Ash rose, the water dripping from his fingers, and turned toward the horizon.
The road ahead was long, and the challenges waiting for him were greater than he could imagine. But as Ash took his first step forward, he knew one thing for certain.
He wasn't the same creature who had crawled out of the lab.
He was stronger now.
And he was just getting started.