Eric woke up wrapped in a leaf blanket of sorts. His wounds patched and mostly healed. Looking around, Eric looked at the at Silver Cloud who was lying not too far away asleep.
Trying to get up he saw Silver enter their cave entrance. "I bet that was quite the fight. You and Silver Cloud probably went through a lot."
Looking at Silver, Eric could tell she was still concerned. "He fought valiantly. He was strong enough to defeat his opponent which is why she was able to get us to safety."
Silver looked at Eric and laughed a nasally snake like laugh. "You do know Silver Cloud is a girl right?" Blushing deeply, Eric scratched his head as he laughed. "I do now."
"You and Silver Cloud need more training. It shouldn't be long before you both get to the 2nd Order. By then, the two of you will have more power to move around."
Thinking, Eric thought about his current goals. 'I already completed the first one. Joining the army would only take place after...' Realizing he didn't know what day it was Eric asked. "Ma'am what day is it?"
Laughing once more, the motherly snake answered. "It's been a week sweety. We removed most of the poison but decided to leave a small amount so your body could build it's defenses." Looking back at Silver Cloud Eric inquired.
"Why is Silver Cloud still asleep?"
"She had some insights into her bloodline, a good price to pay in exchange for some surface level wounds."
Looking at Silver Cloud, Eric swore she was asleep but knew that this was because not all races needed to meditate.
"What level of integration have you reached Eric?"
Sighing, "I've only reached the 1st Depth of Nexus 1. I know hardly any techniques and I'm incredibly weak."
Laughing again, Eric could see the patience in her eyes. "You know, Blue Cloud and I are both children of large clans. We never got priority, and we were never looked upon favorably. We fought for a long time to gain power and then finally reached Silver Rank and eventually Knight level in our Bloodline. That alone allowed us to become masters of this mountain."
"Clans huh..." Eric was silent, thinking about the experiences he had with his 'clan'.
'They'll pay. They will all pay.' His mood dark and killing intent vaguely forming. Concern again lining Silver's eyes as she looked at the boy.
"Eric! Why don't you come with me, I'll show you how to deepen your connection with the bloodline. BLUE CLOUD, come watch our daughter while Eric and I go train!"
Blue Cloud groggily got up before walking over to his daughter's cave and standing guard. Silver wrapped Eric up and set forth with surprising speed.
"Aghhghhhghh." Eric hadn't thought a snake could go this fast but the wind blasted against his face.
10mins later they had arrived to the distant back of the cave were a waterfall was. The water was pristine and the vegetation seemed to dance with happiness.
Eric took in the sights before Silver threw a rock at the back of his head. Turning around, he saw Silver laying her head on a thick branch as her tail flicked rocks periodically.
"Lets start off easy Eric. I want you to talk to me while you dodge."
"What's your plan after you train with us?"
"Uh, I plan to join the military." Eric wasn't doing so bad but he had to focus in order to dodge, he talked slow so he wouldn't miss anything.
"Mmmm, many beasts join the military. However, why do you want to join." Silver's throwing speed increased as Eric dodged faster, now using most of all his strength.
"Well... it would give me the power I need to do something special. After I finish that special thing, the military's power could ensure I live a good and peaceful life."
Silver looked thoughtful of the boy's words.
'It's not a bad goal. Yet the boy doesn't know the horrors of war, what war is really like. That goofy smile will be blended and stomped on. Haaaaa, a peaceful life huh. That's war enough.'
Silver increased the speed as Eric dodged with everything he had.
"What's your favorite food, Eric?"
Sweaty and tired, Eric could hardly answer.
"Seafood----huh huh huh huh---soup with---huh huh huh huh huh---- Mandazi----Ughhhh- Jolof Rice, and." Finally, the boy couldn't take it as he fell to his knees from a heavy stone hit to the chest.
"Nice work Eric. 1min 30 seconds. Now it's time for you to get into the water."
"Wa-wa-wait a minute." Feeling the familiar scales around him, Eric was thrown into the water fall area. Floating downstream from the high-water pressure, Eric struggled to stay above water.
His nose filed with water while the pressure hit his already sore body.
"Eric, your bloodline is divided into two. Though the snake is the tail, it doesn't mean it's less than the monkey. Oh what am I talking about, you haven't even gained your tail yet. Or will you... I don't know how humans will be able to manifest the bloodline."
Now starting to drown, Eric cursed Silver endlessly in his mind.
"The monkey part of the bloodline deals with water and air. Both of which could be useful in your current predicament."
Eric was grasping for anything and decided to transform. In the midst's of his transformation, he felt a familiarity in the water.
'Ok Eric, stop struggling. Stop struggling and it'll be ok.' Easing, Eric felt perfectly fine in the water.
'I'm ok, I---I can breathe.' Swimming up Eric was about to ascend when he felt the instinct to dive to the bottom. Diving more and more Eric felt the pressure increase, yet still felt perfectly fine. Sitting cross legged on the bottom of the river. Bloodline pulsating Eric immersed himself in the process.
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Eric saw a large ape with a long serpentine tail. He was strong, easily walking through rapid waters that could rip the flesh from bone. The monkey sunk deeper and deeper into the water and felt the strength of the water enveloping it.
The monkey sank deeper and deeper until it finally hit the floor of the body of water. Inhaling and exhaling the gills on both sides of it's neck assisted in the exchange of water and air.
Eric watched the entire process and followed through with the same breathing.
'One in two out. Two in two out.' The process went on and on until Eric felt himself back in his body. Yet Eric could feel a difference in his neck as two small slits had opened. His breathing felt effortless. From his mouth and nose the process started, while the gills acted as filters and propellers that increased efficiency and gain.
Shooting upwards Eric splashed the waters everywhere as he landed on the riverside.
"Hahaha, Silver thank you..." Looking around Eric didn't see Silver anywhere. Getting in a ready stance and trying to see if there is any danger, Eric felt nothing wrong. Standing up, he felt something approaching his neck.
Eric had barely turned his head before he saw a huge snake's maw trying to slam on his shoulder.
On instinct, Eric activated [Primal Flight] and blasted backwards while turning so he could face the threat before him.
"Ahahahaha, I'm sorry Eric but I had to scare you. You did take forever down there so let's call it even." Eric breathed heavily, sweat dripping down his head like crazy.
'Silver's so nice that I forgot. She is an almost 20ft long spirit creature.'
"You were slow Eric, slow means dead. Never let your guard down, enemies come at the worst of times."
Calming down, Eric bowed to Silver as the two headed towards the cave.