Doggone Academy

Chapter 104 Circulatory System (6)

It took some time to reach the spot we had marked on the map.

All that could be seen were sprawling green meadows, fluffy clouds floating above the low hills, and here and there, occasional cork trees. That was it.

This was the borderland of the Sodderton circulatory system. Entering deeper, one would find a dense forest so verdant it appeared almost black and cliffs of strange rock formations.

After a long walk, I arrived at the designated meeting point as evening twilight approached.

A solitary tree stood in the middle of a round clearing, and there sat Luna, demurely leaning against it.

I approached slowly so as not to startle her.

At that moment, a bird flew towards Luna.

A blue bird perched on the back of her hand, tilting its head as it looked up at her face.

She lifted her arm closer to her face, locking eyes with it, sharing an understanding as if they had been together for a long time.

I had to halt my steps. It was like something out of a painting. I had never seen a wild bird willingly fly to a human and interact this way.

Perhaps this is what a truly special talent beyond reach of efforts and skills looks like.

Luna, sensing my gaze, shyly turned her head, and the bird flapped its wings and flew away.

Unable to curb my curiosity, I asked.

Did you communicate with the bird?

Luna shook her head.

Birds cant talk.

Ah, right. What a foolish question. Their interaction had appeared so natural, I thought there might have been some form of direct communication. It was just instinct after all.

I quickly changed the subject.

Did you wait long?

She shook her head again.

An awkward silence filled the air. Unlike Trisha, who would spill out words if left alone, Luna was restrained in expressing emotions and scarcely made small talk.

Well, its up to me to keep the conversation flowing.

You didnt have a meal on the ship.

She nodded.

That would mean she hadnt eaten since morning. My fault for saying not to bother with food supplies, and she hasnt shown any signs of complaint or discomfort.

Just wait a moment.

Id postpone any wilderness experience for now; it was time to fill Lunas empty stomach with worldly food. Having kept her fasting after shed been mostly bedridden depleted her strength, inducing a bout of guilt in me.

I snapped a few branches and gathered them into a proper pile for firewood. Luna, understanding my intention, sat in front of it and used magic to ignite the gathered stack of wood.

Without needing to converse, our teamwork was seamlessly aligned.

Then, from beyond the hill, a pack of silver wolves the size of bulls approached us stealthily, wary of my presence. I had heard of them beforethese were the spirits Luna controlled.

One of them, carrying a flat stone in its mouth, came up next to me discreetly, set it down, and darted away.

I was puzzling over why when I saw Luna sitting demurely on a similar stone. It was their gesture of considerationtelling me not to sit directly on the ground.

I gave the spirits a heads up, but theyre still scared of you. Please understand.

Of course, I understood. These grateful beings meant that Luna and I didnt need to keep watch throughout the night. The spirits were surveilling a territory wider than we could perceive with bare eyes.

Luna, alone, was fulfilling the role equivalent to several team members truly an astonishing capability.

I skewered the sausage Trisha had given me and cooked it until well done over the fire. The fire and meal did wonders to break the silence of the atmosphere.

I handed the cooked sausage to Luna.

She shook her head.

You first.

Ive eaten. Eat up now, you need the energy for tomorrows movements.

Luna gripped the stick firmly. Having been accustomed to forks and knives all her life, this method was unfamiliar to her; she blew on it and nibbled gingerly at the edge of the meat.

Observing her, every gesture bore a hint of noble decorum. She seemed from a world apart from mine.

Thinking Id be dragging such a delicate girl through a week of primitive living was unsettling. Her bright clothes would get dirty, and her body would likely ache from strain. Was I doing the right thing?

The sun had now set, and darkness slowly enveloped us.

Contrary to my concerns, calmness graced Lunas expression. She bit into the sausage once more and spoke softly.

Its good.

She fixated on the small campfire, a faint smile playing on her lipsan indication she liked the camping ambiance.

Tomorrow will be tough.

It was a mood-breaking remark but had to be said. Our destination differed from the others, and the path would be several times more difficult.

Its okay.

Still, Lunas smile did not waver.

***

When I opened my eyes in the morning, Luna had already risen, silently combing her hair in the morning sunlight.

Somehow, she had changed into new clothinga pristine white dress. The garb she wore before had disappeared, perhaps buried in the ground, and her bag was not brought along. Had she asked a spirit to run an errand?

Did you sleep well?

As I greeted her, Luna turned to me and replied.

Yes. Thanks to you.

?

Thanks to me? What had I done through the night?

Pushing idle chatter aside, I scrambled up and stretched out. I asked for Lunas understanding and changed from the clothes I wore under my mask to a different outfit, to avoid recognition once the mask was donned.

By the time I had somewhat finished preparing, Luna had stopped combing her hair and got up.

Just like before, she intuitively understood my intent and readied herself for action before I even spoke.

I felt almost apologetic for how well she synced with me.

I retrieved the Maladirut seedling I had planted before falling asleep and transformed Isildriens sapling into a wooden sword, securing it at my waist.

Shall we get going?

Luna nodded and followed closely behind me.

Now, we had to start moving in earnest.

To fully enter the circulatory system, we must become part of it by consuming the flora and fauna that sprout from it. But simply switching ingredients for a few days wasnt enough.

A week might allow us entrance to the early stages of the circulatory system, but reaching its heart was far beyond our current scope. A prolonged stay, perhaps months, was required for that depth of integration.

Our chosen shortcut to adapt was to hunt the creature at the top of the food chain.

According to Zverev, energy in the circulatory system accumulates up the food chain, condensing the most within the apex predators before returning to the earth.

My plan was to hunt the most powerful beast and usurp the circulatory systems energy.

For this reason, our destination was where others would not treada hazardous area inhabited by the supreme predators.

***

Kaang!

The sword in Sions hand flew off into the distance, lodging itself into the ground.

The last remaining member couldnt withstand her strike and tumbled onto the dirt.

Damn, damn.

The entire group was laid out flat, unable to muster any resistance against the surprise attack.

A plundering group composed of three top-ranked combat students and one from the Alchemy Department got decimated without getting a chance to fight back.

In the center stood a girl with black hair, unperturbedSion Izarel.

Her monstrous abilities were as rumored indeed. Astonishingly, without drawing her cursed sword or using any artifacts, she dispatched them with ease, not a single drop of sweat shed. One couldnt even begin to imagine her true potential.

Sion, the plunderer of plunderers, played over the heads of others.

The expressions of the group members sprawled on the ground contorted. They were a force formidable enough to stand against any regular team. The ease with which they fell was unexpected.

The man who had been the last to cross swords with her spoke.

Darn it What is it you want? Are you here to rob us, to exact revenge on some innocent group?

Sion sheathed her sword with an indifferent look and answered.

No. Jerky.

What?

She didnt repeat herself.

The group leader, taking note of the situation, said cautiously.

If its jerky its in that backpack over there

Sion then moved to where their supplies were gathered, rummaging through them. She tossed other rations like dry fruits, water bottles, bread onto the ground. Finally grabbing a bundle of jerky, she bit into a piece and stuffed the rest into her pocket.

She didnt forget to express gratitude.

Ill enjoy this.

Oh, by the way, havent seen a guy with a mask, have you?

No, we havent seen anyone.

Okay.

Without looking back, Sion walked away from the stunned group.

What just happened? Did she attack us over jerky?

Who knows, maybe we were just unlucky to run into her and the jerky was a convenient grab.

All their preparations against a sudden strike proved pointless against Sion.

Yes, we were just unlucky. Didnt you hear? The three disasters of joint class are unbeatable once you cross paths with them.

Among the combatants wary of highly ranked members of the plundering groups, there were specially flagged individuals: Sion Izarel, Gale Varianne, and that masked stranger.

One of them pondered out loud while watching Sion walk away towards the northwest.

Is she heading to the danger zone?

The place where over-energized behemoths residewhere the professors especially highlighted the risks.

The conversation continued in turns.

Maybe shes after that masked guy?

The story of Sion hunting the masked stranger since the entrance exam incident had become an open secret.

Probably. I count myself lucky for never meeting that masked freak.

Sion and Gale make sense, but why is the masked weirdo dangerous?

Some heard the combat instructors talking. During the entrance exam, atop the peak, that masked guy ambushed Sion fighting the golem. Then he fondled Sions wounded thigh and bolted. The guys definitely mad.

What? Wasnt he helping treat her leg wounded in the fight with the golem? Everyone thought so.

Think about it. Would she be so intent on hunting him down if he helped her? And why wear a mask if not to disguise some perversion?

They all seemed to agree, their eyes inadvertently trailing down Sions lower half as she walked away. Known for operating acceleration artifacts strapped to her ankles, she constantly wore short pants exposing her lower thighs.

Swallowing hard, they watched her disappear. Such rumors invariably grow out of proportionseparating fact from fiction was impossible.

Whatever the case, the one clear instinct was to stay away from the danger zone at all costs.