Emperor of Soul Pets

Chapter 4: Hunting the Berserk Warthog

5 Years Later,

Elder's Forest.

"Ooh-ooh-ooh!"

In the corner of Elder's Forest, several Steelback Apes huddled around two massive Ancient oak trees chanting and hooting two competitors.

Bam! Bam!

Leaves fell from the trees' branches as they were repeatedly struck with rhythmic intervals. "Ooh!" One of the competitors, a young Steelback Ape gibbered. It beat its chest and then once more ran at the tree. Bam! It crashed into the tree with its shoulder. The great tree trembled, and several pieces of bark fell off, revealing the young Steelback Ape's strength. Emboldened, the Steelback Ape beat its chest and then roared at its competitor.

"Hehe... Just this much? I can do it too." Shockingly, the Steelback Ape's competitor was a child who seemed to be seven to nine years old dressed in a pair of torn shorts and a dirty scarf tied over his head. The child's mischievous gray eyes shone with determination as he stared at his tree.

"Let's go!" The child, the now seven years old, Rao Wu, screamed at the top of his lungs and then charged into the tree. Just like the Steelback Ape, he used his shoulder to ram into the tree at full speed. Bang! Although not as much as the Steelback Ape, several pieces of bark fell off the tree.

"Guooo!" The young Steelback Ape stamped its chest as it taunted the child.

Rao Wu grumbled as he took a step back and glared hatefully at the tree. "Aish, Forget it. I'll never be as strong as you guys." He lifted his left arm to inspect the surface abrasions caused by the tree bark and then smiled when the injuries healed at a visible rate. Within a few seconds, it had scabbed over, and within a minute, the scabs fell off to reveal fresh new skin.

Rao Wu nodded like the healing was par for the course and then turned to face his competitor. "Alright. You won." Rao Wu regretfully raised his left hand and tapped the ring. A large, red, delicious fruit appeared in his hand. Gritting his teeth, Rao Wu handed the Seven Dew Fruit to the Steelback Ape, who chuckled as it threw the fruit into its mouth.

Rao Wu's eyes twitched when he saw the red juices flow down the Steelback Ape's mouth. "You! What a waste." The Seven Dew Tree bore a single fruit once every seven months. It was one of the tastiest fruits in the forest, and Rao Wu only stole this one after months of hardwork. He had just been anticipating mixing the fruit with Sour Nettle to produce the best-tasting bowl but to think he would lose it to a bet.

"Argh!" Rao Wu frustratingly scratched his hair, and then let out a frustrated sigh. "Aish, whatever, I'm going hunting." The youth picked up a stick that had a bone tied to the end and began walking away.

"Hoo-ooh!"

Rao Wu turned to look at the young Steelback Ape. "You want to come?"

"Hoo!"

"Alright, but you listen to me, alright?" Having received the young Steelback Ape's confirmation, Rao Wu jumped ran up a tree and then began traversing the jungle through the treetops. The Steelback Ape easily kept pace, swinging with vines or branches.

The young Rao Wu's eyes were peeled on his surroundings as he ran. The jungle was a dangerous place. Death lurked at every corner. Its inhabitants had to keep alert at all times, or a predator would snatch them.

As he ran, Rao Wu thought back to his life in the jungle over the last few years. His earliest memory was his Uncle Twilight telling him that he had to learn to survive in the forest on his own. As a result, ever since he was five, Rao Wu had to hunt for his meals by himself.