The Hunter’s Path

The morning sun peeked through the towering trees, casting long golden streaks across the wooden hut. Tianze had never felt so alive. For the first time in his short life, his body felt light, free from the constant pain of his harsh treatment. His small hands reached out to chase a butterfly, his laughter echoing through the air as he ran wildly, climbed trees, and leaped over fallen logs. His world, once confined to the four walls of his home, now stretched infinitely before him.

Sitting on a large rock, Arthur, the rugged hunter who had raised him, watched in silence. His sharp eyes followed Tianze’s every movement, his weathered face betraying a hint of warmth. The boy survived. Against all odds, he lived.

Tianze soon tired out, collapsing onto the ground, panting with a satisfied grin. But excitement still burned in his eyes. He turned to Arthur, his voice eager.

"Take me hunting with you!"

Arthur raised a brow. "You're not ready."

"I can do it!" Tianze insisted. "I want to see the world outside!"

Arthur sighed, rubbing his scarred cheek. He knew the dangers of the Forest of Death—a land filled with poisonous creatures, cunning beasts, and unseen horrors. The boy had potential, but he was still too young.

"Fine," Arthur finally said. "On one condition—you’ll be tied to my back the whole time. No talking, no moving."

Tianze beamed, nodding eagerly. He didn’t care about the rules. He was finally stepping into the unknown!

Into the Forest of Death

Arthur moved like a shadow through the trees, his spear slung across his back. Tianze, securely tied, clung to him in silence. The boy’s heart pounded as he took in the massive trees, their roots twisted like the claws of ancient beasts. The scent of damp earth mixed with something bitter—the unmistakable odor of poison lingering in the air.

Arthur’s voice was calm but firm. "Listen well, boy. The forest is alive. Everything here is either hunting or hiding. If you don’t learn the difference, you won’t last long."

He pointed to a tree. "See those vines? They’re not vines. Touch them, and they’ll coil around you like a snake and crush you."

Tianze shuddered. Arthur continued.

"That flower there—looks harmless, doesn’t it? One whiff of its pollen will make you hallucinate until you wander off a cliff."

The deeper they went, the more Tianze realized—this wasn’t just a forest. It was a battlefield where the weak perished, and only the strong thrived.

Suddenly, Arthur halted. His muscles tensed. Without a word, he crouched low, his sharp eyes locking onto movement ahead.

A horned boar.

It was smaller than the beasts Arthur usually hunted, but its thick hide and razor-sharp tusks made it dangerous.

"Our target," Arthur whispered. "Watch closely."

Tianze held his breath. Arthur moved with the precision of a predator, silent as the wind. In one swift motion, he flung a small pouch into the air. A powder burst forth, scattering over the boar. The beast sniffed, hesitated—then staggered as its limbs weakened.

Arthur lunged. His spear struck true, piercing the beast’s neck. The boar let out a final gurgle before collapsing.

Tianze’s eyes widened. "That was… amazing!"

Arthur smirked. "That was only a weak prey. Next time, we go after something bigger."

As they prepared to head back, Tianze realized something deep within him had awakened. He was no longer the frail boy confined to a hunter’s hut. This was his first step toward the unknown—a world where only the strong survived.

And he would become stronger.

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