"Infrared Waves."
"Hmm?"
"That what he used to stop the young man's moment."
"Damn! As far as I know this kid is Fire-element Astral lord.
How the hell did he possess Infrared waves a special type skill out of nowhere?"
"Exactly! Only a 6-Star Fire-element Astral Lord can acquire Infrared waves. This kid is just a 1-Star Astral, yet he can use Infrared waves?"
"There is a possibility that his Fire skill have infrared waves attached to it."
Hearing the explanation, everyone was surprised and understanding as they watched Simon and Ivan disappear into the forest.
…
"Simon are you okay?"
Simon's face was pale as a clean sheet of paper which made Ivan worry about him but seeing that Simon not say a word, Ivan stood there silently waiting for him to speak.
Giving him time to accept what just happened.
Because he himself was having hard time accepting what just happened and Simon was the one that took action and took the strike.
They had seen blood but those bloods were of Dreadbeasts, never of another human.
And accepting that Simon early took one another man life was not something he could accept readily.
Five minute later…
Simon cleared his head and looked at Ivan standing beside him silently.
He could not help but nod his head in approval.
"Ivan, let go!"
Hearing his call, Ivan wakes up from his daze and looked directly into Simon's eyes in which determination and confidence burned like hell-fire.
Seeing those eyes, Ivan felt this new flame ignite inside him, as his eyes also started to change into that of Simon's.
Filled with determination and confidence.
"Where are we going?" Ivan asked his voice filled with conviction.
Simon pointed towards deep into forest, "Core of the city," said as the temperature around then started to increase, both nodded at each other.
"Let the Hunt began!"
…
They started to hunt down all the Dreadbeasts that came to their view like mad men.
Slowly the number of hearts in their space belt started to skyrocket throw the roof.
4 hours later…
Looking into his nearly filled space belt and panting Ivan, Simon was both satisfied and un-satisfied.
Satisfied because Ivan was trying his best keeping up with him a 1-Star Astral Lord with Ivan's 0-Star strength, as they both killed their way through forest alternating between one other whenever a new Dreadbeast come to their view.
Unsatisfied because the number of hearts in his hands where way less than his expectation and was lagging behind by a lot which made him restless.
Ivan clearly understanding that he was dragging Simon behind, with voice filled with guilt and hesitation he spoke, "Simon, go forward I will catch up with you in time."
Even though he knows that without Simon he will be in more danger, and going forth he would be hunting alone which would put huge amount of strain on his body and mind, going solo would not be a great choice for him but he still spoke.
Hearing his voice Simon understood what he was trying to do, so he only gave a silent nod.
Then without wasting any time Simon dashed into the forest, in few second his silhouette disappeared into the dense forest.
Watching Simon disappearing, Ivan felt the weight of his choice.
Looking down in his space belt, he saw more than 15 hearts, which was more than enough for him to rank in top 30s but seeing his friend shine so brightly and walking a path that was dangerous but rewarding that made one question his insanity.
But it was his path, one that he chose.
Reflecting to himself, He saw a young child that followed his parent's words, a man who chose his life's major choice by following someone else's choice.
Every decision shaped and directed by others, never ever made decision of himself.
Slowly understanding dawned on him that it was time to make his decision, where he will end up, will the path he chose allow him to soar the sky like a dragon or a demon lord that will burn down all and everything in his path.
Or will he become pebble that's washed away in storm.
Everything depended upon his choice.
With determination burning in his eye, he summoned his flames, with a quick swipe flames propelled himself towards west of where Simon went, silently promising himself to rank in top 10.
…
Some distance away…
Simon calmly watched as Ivan propelling himself into the forest with flames dancing around him like it was approving him of his decision.
A smile broke on his lip, watching Ivan finally make a choice that he himself made, in Simon's memory Ivan knew what kind of character this carefree and clueless youngster he was, a talented but aimless youth that followed whatever his parents said.
"Now that he had chosen his path, I need to out-do myself too."
Simon dashed into the forest as he made his mind in speed far faster than before as Muscle reinforcement playing its part beautifully.
…
Deep in the forest.
Simon became a ruthless hunter, that hunted down all and every Dreadbeasts that came in his view with cold precision.
Number of hearts in his possession increased rapidly as Simon became a machine that tracked down and killed without count.
Slowly the sun disappeared into the horizon and night welcomed him.
But night was not something Simon could mess with, because in night hidden danger larked in the shadows that will bite down in the slightest moment of carelessness
Finding an abandoned building that held no signs of life in the middle of night most important, because you never know how easy its to die in your sleep because you never live to say it.
Night passed without any problem.
Then morning light hit Simon's face waking him up.
With high spirit, Simon started his hunt.
"Roarrrr…."
Suddenly a deep, thunderous roar echoed through the forest, carrying a dangerous weight behind the roar, that made Simon's hair stand on its end.
His instincts screamed to him.
RUN!
Every fibre of his being urging him to flee.
Yet curiosity clawed its way to the surface, overpowering his fear of life.
"What could make me feel this threatened?" he wondered.
Until now, not a single Dreadbeast in the forest had stirred even a hint of fear in him—but this was different. This was something powerful.
And he needed to see it.
He spirited, and in a few minutes…
Simon reached the source of the sound, and when he closed in, he noticed several participants fleeing away from the direction of the roar, their faced filled with panic only increase his curiosity.
Pushing forward, he saw an awfully familiar flames flying through the forest, burning everything around the Dreadbeast.
Seeking a better vantage point, Simon quickly scaled a nearby tree which was unaffected by the spreading fire.
From the top, he gained a clear view of chaos below.
Spotting Ivan, locked in battle with a Dreadbeast, relentless streams of flame pouring form his hands. Each burst forced the Dreadbeast back, preventing it from advancing.
Level-3 Wooder bear—a towering giant with bark-like skin, its rough texture mimicking that of ancient tree. At a single glance, it resembles a tree becoming a part of the forest itself.
But its size and raw aggression revealed its true nature: a man-killing beast.
Seeing the beast, Simon became concerned about Ivan's safety.
Even though Ivan's ability was the best match against Wooder Bear, the power difference made that advantage become irrelevant.
Seeing Ivan hurl wave after wave of flames at the towering Wooder Bear, Simon grip tightened around the tree branch. Despite Ivan's relentless assault, the Dreadbeast barely faltered -its thick, bark-like hide absorbed much of the heat, flames dancing harmlessly on its surface.
Simon jaw clenched "He is not going to last much longer like this".
Ivan's movements were growing sluggish, his fire streams thinning as exhaustion crept in. The Wooder Bear, sensing the weakening offense, roared and changed forward, its massive claws tearing through scorched earth as it closed the gap.
Without any hesitation Simon jumped from the tree, with flames burned fiercely aimed only to kill.
Flames burst from his feet mid-air, propelling him downward like a meteor.
Landing hard, directly between Ivan and the advancing beast, his flames erupted in brilliant arc hitting straight on its chest, forcing the Beast behind.
Ivan gasped seeing Simon Infront of him.
"Simon? What the hell are you doing here?"
Without looking back, his eyes were looked on the wooder bear, which was readying for another charge.
"You were about to be man-handled by that bear you know that? Figured I'd drop in."
Ivan coughed out a laugh seeing his friend coming to save him even when the situation was dangerous for both of them.
"What can I do? That thing's a damn tank."
"I noticed," Simon muttered, flames flickering around his hands, he unleashed a concentrated blast.
Again, interrupting its charge giving both of time to think.
"Damn… My normal attack is not gone work."
Standing face to face with Dreadbeast, understanding dawned on him that his normal attacks was not gone cut it.
Simon burst forward without wasting another second, his speed skyrocketing.
Ivan, still catching his breath behind him, gasped as when Simon's figure blurred in his vision—his movements so fast that Ivan couldn't even track him.
"He's that fast?"
Closing the distance in an instant, Simon leaped diagonally over the Dreadbeast's head. Mid-air, he conjured a spear of flames, spear spinning in extreme speed like a burning drill.
Roarrr…
Sensing danger, the Wooder Bear let out a roar and instinctively raised it massive arms to shield its head, thick bark-like muscles locking together. But in doing so, it left its lower waist wide open.
"Perfect!" Simon smirked.
With a flick of his waist, the flaming spear fell downward, aiming straight for bear's head behind the crossed hands.
At the same moment, Simon land gracefully on the ground.
Sliding into a low stance he pulled out a steel baton from the space belt, yanking it out the flames in his hand, surged through the steel baton heating it which started to glow in fierce red-orange.
Ground cracked beneath his feet as he pushed off with explosive force, closing the gap once more in a blink.
Wooder bear barely had time to process the first attack—the flaming spear hurtling from above.
And right beneath it, another one with blood-hot baton.
Heat intensified. Air trembled.
"Let's see you block this!" Simon roared.
With a deafening impact, the flaming spear struck the bear's upper body just as Simon's baton slammed into it exposed side, fire and colliding in perfect harmony.
Flaming spear struck first, slamming into the wooder bear's raised arms with explosive force.
Flames erupted outward, splintering chunks of its bark-like armour, but it still held—that is if only for a second.
Then came Simon.
Blood-Hot baton charged with heat, connected with the Dreadbeast's exposed side in a vicious vertical slash. The heat was so intense that the hardened bark hissed and cracked on impact.
Combined force of the falling spear and Blood-hot baton sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.
For a heartbeat everything was still.
Then, with a deep, resonating crack, Wooder Bear's body shredded into two parts, brutally.
Flaming spear, still burning bright, had pierced through the top the moment the bear lost all its strength. While baton carved through its core like heated blade through ice, clean but messy.
Massive body of the beast trembled before its upper and lower halve slide apart in the most brutal way.
Simon straightened, Baton still glowing faintly as he exhaled a breath of steam.
"Guess that worked out well!"
Behind him, Ivan stood frozen, mouth slightly open. "You… Split it in half."
Simon throwing the melted baton away.
"Yeah, didn't really had a choice in that."
Wooder bears massive body laid there in two pieces, smoke rising from the cuts.
"Damn," Ivan muttered, "Remind me never to piss you off."
Simon grinned. "Good call."