A Failure's hopeful Journey

You Xi Wang was moving in the forest very cautiously with Maya sitting on his shoulder, her little ears were twitching and turning at the sounds she heard from the surroundings indicating that she was also alert. They moved slowly and steadily, You Xi Wang spotted some beasts but they were all weaker than him so he let them be, Maya was too young to hunt on her own, and You Xi Wang did not want to end up her getting injured.

They both neared a small swampy area there was fog around it, rotten beast carcasses could be seen inside the swamp. Xi Wang furrowed his brows, he did not like these murky places. The stench made him scrunch up his nose, Maya also disliked this type of atmosphere as it dampened her sense of smell.

Beasts depended on their instincts and when their instincts were dampened they would feel uneasy. You Xi Wang patted her head softly as he decided to move around the swamp. This decision might cost him a bit of time but it will be safer, that was his mindset as he set off.

Among the trees covered with fog two sinister eyes were trained on Maya, who set over You Xi Wang's shoulder. The figure moved and when it came out of the fog it turned out to be a snake, a snake that looked like the fog itself, it was twenty feet long and three feet wide. The head of this beast was gigantic. It slowly crawled to the swap and entered it. This beast did not leave a single mark on the ground.

You Xi Wang had yet to completely circumnavigate the swap. All of a sudden he took Maya down from his shoulder and he rolled forward. He stood up after rolling, discarded his bow and spear as wielded his sword. His motions were fluid, one thought from his mind and the battlesuit let the bow fall down on the ground.

Battlesuits were not only a piece of armor clothing, but they were also equipped with high tech features, such as suction, which strapped the weapons and bags on the users back with no actual bindings, they were also neurally operated.

You Xi Wang was quick to react as he turned back facing the swamp, he mumbled to himself, "I am sure I felt someone attack just now."

He closed his eyes and focused his soul to detect what his spirit energy could not see. His doubts came true, he detected a beast slithering and crawling in the swamp. He opened his eyes and used his spiritual energy to disperse the fog. After the fog dispersed he was surprised to see a behemoth in front of him looking at him with a malicious gaze. Maya growled at this sight.

You Xi Wang muttered, "Good timing, Maya stand back and guard the weapons, be alert of your surroundings, Okay."

Maya was very intelligent even if she was just a cub. She understood what You Xi Wang said and followed his instructions.

"Let's dance" his figure moved just as he finished his words. The sword was still sheathed. The Boa has never seen a prey so decisive in counter-attacking, while You Xi Wang thought he gave the beast too much time to put on his guard.

The snake coiled his body and struck at You Xi Wang with its mouth open, Cloud Boa had a structure to normal Boa species snakes from earth but the dimensions were overproportioned. It had sixty teeth placed in six rows with ten teeth in each row. One row on the upper jaw one on each side, same was the arrangement on the lower jaw while the last two rows were parallel to each other were on the roof of its mouth. It looked beautiful from the outside but was bizarre and deadly on the inside.

You Xi Wang was very alert of this strike but instead of retreating You Xi Wang suddenly leaned forward bending his back. The snake was unable to adjust its attack because of its fast speed. It missed the target and You Xi Wang would not let such a chance pass away, he draw his sword out of the sheath.

"Pheonix draw" he bellowed. A black glint flashed under the snake and it hissed as its head flew away from the body. The head landed on the ground it slithered and hissed in pain, yet it was alive. This was a specialty of Cloud Boa. It can stay alive for a week after it's head is cut off its body. It was not a poisonous snake beast, rather they killed through constricting its prey to death.

You Xi Wang moved to the slithering head and pointed his sword towards it. He poked the center of the snakehead with his sword and with some effort he managed to get through its hard bones. He dug the spirit core out of the snake's head, slowly the light in its eyes dimmed indicating its death.

The spirit core was as big as a peach, You Xi Wang tossed the core to Maya who was looking at it with glittering eyes. Maya immediately started licking it up after placing the core between its paws, she would look up to You Xi Wang form time to time with a gratified gaze.

You Xi Wang could have used the core for himself but he was practicing the five elemental physique which was faster than any other method in this world. He moved towards the body of the beast and skinned it whole, he was the maestro of material science after all.

'System.' You Xi Wang called out in his mind.

[Yes, master.] the system answered.

'I want to use my spiritual energy to augment my senses can we do that?' You Xi Wang asked for its advice.

[Technically yes, but the consumption will be very high.] system replied.

'Hmmm... how about I use it only when I am entering the den?' You Xi Wang thought about it and decided to follow this plan as he stored some of the snake meat away by wrapping it in the snakeskin.

He picked up Maya who was busy licking the core and placed her on his shoulder as they started walking again. spine

They moved around a bit trying to find the den and suddenly spotted some humans, You Xi Wang hid among the trees and ay low as he watched them walk away. He spoke with a cold voice, "Mirai Group dogs. You won't walk away alive.