Edward was running fast, with everything he got. He needed to find a place to hide or go out of the forest. But the problem is, he would be disqualified if he left the forest before dawn. So, the only option was to either find a way to hide or, well, defeat the beast. But could he defeat a Grade Two beast though?

No, it was not possible. A grade two beast is equal to a Body Metamorphosis realm cultivator. Although it was only in the first level of grade two, it was still an entirely different realm from the Physical Essence realm. After creating all nine physical essence rings and reaching the peak of the Physical Essence realm, a cultivator had to merge all nine physical essence rings into an Essence Sphere. With the aid of the essence sphere, the whole body of the cultivator, as well as all their physical essence, goes through a metamorphosis. With that, the Body Metamorphosis realm is achieved. That's why in both quality and quantity, it is at an entirely different level from the Physical Essence realm.

Edward kept running. Instead of running straight, he ran here and there, trying to confuse the beast. He knew that in a direct chase, he could not outrun the beast. He could only try to run in weird patterns finding the gaps among trees and through off the beast of his tail somehow.

All attempts were futile. The beast went past everything like a moving calamity and caught up to Edward in the blink of an eye.

Edward realized that running was no longer an option. The beast would catch up with him no matter what he did unless he went out of the forest. But that would disqualify him, and he would then have to enter the academy through paying money, money that Snow's fiance gave him, treating him like a beggar. If he had to use that money to even learn martial arts, then he really would be a beggar. Also, entering the academy with money will never be the same as entering through the selection exams. Those who compete in the selection exams then pass and enter the academy always hold a special position in the academy.

"Well, still, surviving comes first. I should not let my emotions cloud my judgment. Let's just escape the forest, whatever happens later will be left for later.", he finally made his decision. Then he started to run towards the forest entrance. That was towards the direction he came from. Soon, he saw the trees he marked with his ax. He started to follow the marks to find his way out.

A Grade Two beast had a little bit of intelligence. It soon realized that its prey was trying to escape the forest. After this realization, this beast became crazy. It went all out chasing Edward. It started to sprint like crazy. Before long, it reached Edward, and just as it did, it slashed its claws towards Edward.

Edward was sent flying with that attack. The flesh on his back was torn apart. He started to bleed profusely. It seems his spine had also taken some damage. He tried to get up, but he could not.

"Damn it! Am I going to die here?", he thought.

Many thoughts passed through Edward's mind. He remembered that just before he was attacked by the beast, he was thinking about his past. He was thinking about what kind of person he was, how his parents died, and how his fateful encounter with Snow changed his life. He remembered his plans, his goals, his dreams of roaming the universe as a powerful cultivator. Now, all has come to an end. He was badly hurt, and he was soon going to die. That was the end.

"Huh. Guess I was just an ordinally mortal after all.", he thought. In the end, he was still bound by his mortal origin and his pitiful destiny. That's just how it was. Maybe that was how everything was meant to be.

Edward relaxed his body. His body was lying at the bottom of a tree. He relaxed his whole body and mind and let everything go. At that moment, he felt very light. His story had come to an end.

"HUMPH!!! REALLY??? IS THAT WHAT YOU TRULY THINK? AND IS THAT WHAT YOU TRULY WANT?", said a voice. It was a sharp echoing voice with a mocking tone.

"What does it matter what I want. I'll die anyway.", he said. But then he suddenly realized something. Where did this voice come from?

"Who? Who said that?", he asked.

"It is your heart saying that", replied the voice.

"Huh? What do you mean? Who are you?" Where are you?" Edward looked around, but he could not see anyone. All he saw was that the beast was frozen at a spot. No, not just the beast, everything around was frozen. The clouds, the wind everything. As if time itself was stopped. No, not as if, time really was frozen. He could clearly feel it.

"Who are you? He asked once again.

" I am no one, at least not anymore. I used to be somebody, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is who you are, and who you want to be."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I did not think that out of all the beings in the multiverse, you would be the one to just let everything go and let yourself die at a place like this."

"What do you mean? I can understand any of what you are saying"

"Not now. Because you yourself set everything in motion and your true self knows that when the time is right, everything will be unraveled."

"What will be unraveled? What is it? What is that I don't know? Tell me. I need to know.", Edward was getting impatient. He realized that there might be some secret that will help him get stronger. If so, then he needed to know so that he can reach Snow and fulfill all his dreams.

"Deep inside, you already know. You are just waiting for the right moment. Well, I can not be the one to comment on your grand schemes, after all, you created me, and I am just a mere fraction of you. Yet once I ruled the multiverse as its utmost being. Then I wonder what you are truly capable of as the true mastermind behind this grand scheme.", the voice was excited.

"Just what are you talking about?", Edward was totally confused.

" Forget it. I should not intervene in whatever a mastermind like you does. If you have put yourself in this dire situation like this, then this might also be part of your plans. And you know the best. I will just wait inside you to return to my rightful place when everything is done."

"I don't understand! Stop saying things without explaining!", Edward shouted.

"No need for that. For now, just get up and face your enemy. Everything will happen when the time is right.", The voice slowly faded away while saying that.

Time started to flow once again. The beast came pouncing towards Edward. But Edward did not lie down this time, instead, he got up and looked eye to eye towards the beast. For a moment the beast trembled. It felt as if all of a sudden, the roles between the hunter and its prey had been changed.