Chapter 17: Closure

With an indifferent expression, Zax turned to the remaining savage beasts and launched himself at the closest one, killing it and moving to the one after that and after that and after that...

Unhindered by the weight he once gave death, his body moved naturally and freely. With his mind set on killing, Zax did not ever bother of doing it brutally. To kill, he only needed one gesture of the hand. In a way, when killing was not ruled by hate or pain, its execution was somewhat even graceful.

In no time Zax and Carl were the only two living being on the mountain.

"Grrr!" Carl growled when Zax approached him.

"Carl..." Zax saw him and tears began to fall again, clearing the blood on his face. He lifted Carl's head, rested on his shoulder and hugged it. "I love you, big brother".

Zax snapped Carl's neck and he died.

...

For hours Zax cried besides Carl's corpse. But eventually he realized that he could not stay anymore, that his time in the Savage Cave should come to an end.

Zax insisted on carrying Carl all the way with him to the place where they met, to bury him in that grove, underneath a Blood Red Grapes tree that in Zri's abundant grove he loved to drink even for fun.

From one side of the cave to another Zax traveled with Carl. From one side to the other they traveled once more and if savage beast or humans were obstructing their way, they died.

To put him out of his misery on the mountain or in the grove was a decision that Zax did wholeheartedly. His big brother was lost and his body was broken and torn. Even as a savage, Zax did not want for him to live like that when death was already certain.

Zax proceeded through the cave and in six day returned to the grove in the first half of the Savage Cave.

He buried Carl under the tree he used to sit by and meditate. Since he was not familiar with the proper ceremony, Zax looked for a ripe Blood Red Grape. After the changes the dark attribute had done to his soul, Zax could use his Soul Sense to the best of its abilities, and with that, he easily found a few hidden grapes and rinsed Carl's grave with their nectar.

When he finished, Zax left.

...

Months earlier, at the entrance to the first Savage Cave.

The canines continued to safeguard the entrance of the cave, though, since the enemy was gone, they returned to their humanoid forms.

Around fifteen remained of the original twenty one. Among them the wolf boss was impatiently waiting.

"Boss, a captain has arrived". A canine head informed. Instantly the eyes of the wolf boss lit up and his gaze turned from the cave to the arrivals.

One of his unit members and another one in a human form, a captain.

"What is that your canine told me, Rolv, your unit lost to a human and a boy, at that". The captain said with a raised brow. His appearance was that of a black skin human with black hair that was tied by many beads. His height was over one meter and ninety centimeters tall and his physique was perfectly chiseled.

Rolv, the wolf boss, bit heavily with his teeth from the shame and addressed the captain with utmost respect. "Captain Kane, my canine should not have bothered you, a Core Master, with this small matter. Please forgive his impudence, I promise to put him in his place later". As he said it the complexion of the canine that escorted captain Kane, the captain in the human form, paled, but he did not dare to refute his unit's boss.

Although Rolv acted as if it was a mistake, he actually was very satisfied that with his canine. The tribe had eleven captains, only four of them were Core Masters, the only Core Masters of the tribe besides the two elders. To manage to bring one was no doubt a great feat accompanied by great fortune on his side. Though, his initial assessment called for a Mist Lord, if the boy comes out from the cave will it not be better to have someone on a different realm?

Rolv decided to reward his unit member when this matter will be over.

"I came here because that is as far as the elders let me to the Savage Caves. They even allowed Him to enter the first cave before me, even though I broke through to the realm of Core Master years before Him".

Captain Kane said in disdain toward the "Him" that received the elders' permission instead of himself to enter the first Savage Cave. What truly infuriated captain Kane, was the Him, get to keep half of what he may bring from the Savage Cave.

Rolv and anyone in the unit could tell who "Him" was, one of the Core Master captains of their tribe, and the only tribe member currently in the Savage Caves.

"Captain Kane, you should still not trouble yourself, this matter can be taken care off by a Mist Lord".

Rolv knew that this bitter captain Kane already made his mind to stay. What kind of higher rank canine of their tribe would let himself to be replaced by someone of a lower rank? Insisting that he should not bother was only to solidify the notion that captain Kane was staying on his own accord and that he, Rolv, would not be reprimanded by the elders for summoning a Core Master captain.

"Enough, Rolv, tell me about the human". Captain Kane demanded.

"Yes, sir! The boy was a practitioner of the Seven Stages Of Bodily Refinement bodily refining technique. I can't say with certainty what his level was, but the powers that he showed surpassed even our enclosing formation".

"How many of you formed the formation?" Captain Kane asked. With the one that escorted him they were sixteen, but he knew that several others were hurt and if he did not see them here, they must have been taken back to the tribe.

"After two of our Mist Master lost to the boy in the circle, the rest joined the formation. Our greatest number was nineteen, Fourteen Core Breakers and five Mist Master".

Captain Kane's pupils contracted. Nineteen canines forming the formation, even if all were Core Breakers, could restrain a Beginner phase Mist Lord. With five Mist Master even an Intermediate phase Mist Lord would not necessarily break through the formation.

From his assessment and what he knew of the Seven Stages Of Bodily Refinement bodily refining technique, captain Kane appraised that Zax was, at least, in the Intermediate phase of the corresponding level to a Mist Master for mist cultivators.

"Impossible!" Captain Kane suddenly muttered. For a human boy to reach that level in such a young age ... unheard off regardless of which bodily refining technique he followed. "Are you sure about his identity? Did he use some kind of treasure when you besieged him in the formation?"

The mentioning of a treasure startled Rolv as if he was awakened from the disbelief Zax shrouded him and his canines in. As a unit's boss, of course he knew who and what his unit can handle. To not manage to handle a human boy, how ridicules was it?

"It was a human boy, sir. He wore a fur coat that my unit's Calrob apprised to be of a Core Master Two Headed Beaver. That cannot be counted as a treasure, sir, but thinking back he must have had more stuff hidden on him. Otherwise, how could someone so young dare enter to the Savage Cave?"

Captain Kane nodded. "I see ... How long ago did he enter the cave?" he asked.

"Less than a day ago".

"I don't believe that the boy's soul was at the Core Master level". Captain Kane said decisively. "He must have possessed a treasure, and since even treasures have an expiration date, he would probably stay until his soul adapt to the savagery, depend on the treasures in his possession, or until the treasures will expire. Either way, I don't think that he was sent to die".

"Sir, at the chance that the boy did not use treasures in our fight, in the future he will definitely be a threat to the tribe for its involvement..." Rolv pointed.

"That cannot be allowed to happen! That woman that he took in is already showing that kind of potential. Another one with great potential cannot be left for them to cultivate!" Captain Kane howled. "If this boy is as you said, we don't need to worry of him staying long or dying without confirmation in the cave. From now on, this unit and I will settle near the cave's entrance. We will not get involve with those that goes in or leave it, if they are humans in the Core Master level or beasts from small tribes don't bother, anyone outside of this criteria can be questioned or dealt with however you want. These are the rules. And when the human boy will appear, verify that it is him and inform right away".