Chapter 57: Jiahai to the Rescue

Wang Zen did not know why. Maybe it was because he now had a better chance of surviving. Maybe it was because his friend was here. Maybe it was because Shibi was back at his side urging him to. But now, he found the strength to get up.

More blood welled up his throat from internal injury, threatening to drown him but he coughed it out, staining his clothes in red.

“Wang Zen, your still alive.” Jiahai said as he faced down the lizards. “Good.”

“Jiahai… thanks.” Zen said. “Now, let’s…”

“You have to go.”

“What?”

“You’re in no condition to fight.” Jiahai said. “Go. Escape. I’ll stay here.”

“You can’t take them on your own!” Zen said.

“I’m not going to,” Jiahai said. “I’m simply going to hold them off. Keep them distracted while you get as far as you can, then I’ll join you.”

Zen opened and closed his mouth. He clenched his fists, unsure of what to do.

“Please trust me,” Jiahai said. “I’ll be okay.”

Zen nodded. “These beasts, they have two main attacks. One is an Earth Type which crushes anything under it while emitting a shockwave. The other a charging ki type technique.”

Jiahai nodded. “Oh, before you go.” Jiahai reached into the chest of his shirt and withdrew Rizon, before he threw the brown beast at Zen who caught it in his arms. “Take care of her as you would Shibi.”

Zen nodded with determination as Shibi leapt to his shoulder. He turned to the side and ran away as Jiahai and the beasts ran at each other.

-

Zen could not help but feel like a coward as he left his friend behind and Rizon, whimpering in his arms, did not make him feel any better. He looked up at Shibi as the Scorch Ape bounded from tree branch to tree branch, leading the way. Zen did not know why but he trusted that Shibi was leading him out of the forest.

More blood rushed up his throat. This was happening more and more times as he ran. He could not help but fee sorry for Rizon, who, because he was held beneath his face, had blood being rained down on him every so often.

After what seemed like an eternity, he could see the entrance to the forest or in this case, the exit. Shibi climbed on his shoulder as he exited, the red ape looking back at the forest, almost as if to ensure nothing unsavoury followed them out.

A bird call drew Zen’s eyes up. There he saw a bird flying above. Its snow white feathers a sharp contrast to the night sky behind it.

Shibi yelped, drawing his attention to the two people ahead. A ring of darkness had appeared around his vision, stretching into the centre, threatening to plunge him into unconsciousness. He gritted his teeth as he knew he was about to pass out.

How… pathetic! He thought to himself. Not strong enough to defend myself or my friends. Not talented enough to get stronger.

His legs trembled and he collapsed to his knees.

“Help!” He managed as he crawled to the two. He still held Rizon in one hand as Shibi walked beside him in worry. “Help.” The closer he got the more enclosed the ring of black got into his vision.

“Well well well, this is quite ironic.” A familiar voice said.

The closer he got to them, he could see that one of the people was none other than Chen Jian.

Chen Jian looked down at his pitiful figure in amusement.

“He looks bad,” a female voice that Zen did not look at said. Zen guessed that it was the other person he had seen.

“Leave him,” Chen said. “It’s better if he dies now for he won’t last long in this world the way he is.”

Zen could manage one more hateful glare at Chen as his vision closed up on his smug face.

“You see?” Chen said, “Even now at this critical moment, he can’t manage to reign in that killing intent of his.”

A sudden weakness of body came over Zen and his vision failed, the last thing he heard was Shibi’s panicked cries…