On the third day, Kamikaze hunted methodically. He tracked and absorbed the essence of three more forest creatures, each one strengthening his cultivation base further. By midday, he had reached the fifth stage of the Fleshforged Realm, a level that would have taken most cultivators months or years to achieve.
The process had not been without cost. His body bore numerous wounds, and his meridians were strained to their limits. But the pain was inconsequential compared to the power he had gained.
As the sun began to set, Kamikaze made his way back toward the eastern gate. He moved with deliberate slowness, allowing the forest mist to cling to his clothes and skin. The resentment energy he had absorbed was carefully concealed beneath layers of suppression techniques.
When he reached the edge of the forest, he paused to consider his approach. The elders would be watching for signs of his return. How he presented himself now would shape their perceptions and expectations.
Kamikaze tore his already ragged clothes further and rubbed dirt into his face and hands. He deliberately reopened several of his wounds, allowing blood to seep through the fabric. Then he stumbled forward, affecting exhaustion and disorientation.
The guards at the gate spotted him immediately.
"It's the Nightshade boy!" one called out. "He's alive!"
A small crowd quickly gathered as Kamikaze was brought through the gate. He allowed himself to collapse to his knees, head bowed as if barely conscious.
Elder Vex pushed through the onlookers, his face a mask of surprise and suspicion. "So, you survived after all."
Kamikaze raised his head slowly, meeting Vex's gaze with carefully manufactured gratitude. "Thank you... for the opportunity to prove myself, Elder."
Vex's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly did you learn in the forest, boy?"
"That I... have much to learn," Kamikaze replied, his voice weak but clear. "And that Graveclan's resources... are not to be taken lightly."
A murmur ran through the crowd. This was not the defiant or broken response they had expected.
Matriarch Shen appeared beside Vex, her ancient eyes studying Kamikaze intently. "Take him to the healing pavilion," she ordered. "We will speak with him once he has recovered."
As the guards helped him to his feet, Kamikaze caught sight of Mira at the edge of the crowd. The record keeper was watching him with an expression of cautious interest. Their eyes met briefly before he was led away.
In the healing pavilion, a clan physician examined his wounds with professional detachment. "You're lucky to be alive," the man commented. "The forest usually claims those with far more cultivation than you possess."
Kamikaze said nothing, allowing the physician to apply medicinal salves to his external wounds. The man had no way of detecting the changes to his internal energy or the carefully concealed cultivation base he had established.
"Rest," the physician instructed. "The Elders will want to speak with you tomorrow."
Left alone, Kamikaze closed his eyes and entered a light meditative state. He extended his senses throughout the pavilion, mapping escape routes and identifying potential threats. The building was lightly guarded, they still considered him harmless.
A soft footstep at the entrance caught his attention. He remained motionless, breathing steady as if asleep.
The door slid open silently, and someone entered. From the lightness of the footsteps, Kamikaze identified the visitor as Mira, the record keeper.
She approached his bed cautiously, studying him for several moments. Then she placed something on the small table beside him and turned to leave.
"Why?" Kamikaze asked softly, not opening his eyes.
Mira froze. "You're awake."
"Why did you come?"
She hesitated. "I... knew your parents. Before the purge of the Nightshade branch."
Kamikaze opened his eyes, studying her face. She was young, perhaps in her early twenties, with the composed demeanor of someone who had learned to hide her thoughts.
"What did you bring me?" he asked.
"Medicine. Better than what they gave you." She gestured to the small jar on the table. "The physician is loyal to Elder Vex. His treatments are... deliberately inadequate."
Kamikaze nodded slightly. "Thank you."
Mira seemed about to say more, then thought better of it. "Be careful tomorrow. The Elders were not expecting you to return."
After she left, Kamikaze examined the jar she had left. It contained a high-quality healing salve, worth far more than someone of his status should receive. Interesting.
He applied a small amount to his wounds, confirming its quality, then set it aside. His body would heal on its own with his enhanced cultivation, but the gesture itself was valuable information.
Mira had connections to his supposed parents. She had resources beyond her apparent station. And most importantly, she was willing to take risks to assist him.
A potential ally, then. Or perhaps a tool to be used.
Kamikaze closed his eyes again, this time entering deep meditation. Tomorrow would be crucial. The Elders would test him, probe for weaknesses, and decide his fate within the clan.
He would need to be very careful about how much of his true nature he revealed.