"Take care of yourself."
Isho had walked up to Reith, and his gaze was directly on Derek, and Reith understood what he meant.
"I'd be fine," Reith answered, and he patted Isho on the shoulders before walking towards his team.
He could already sense their hostility, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Right in front of him was a massive land filled with strangely curled branches and an endless mass of green trees.
The ground slightly sank beneath his feet as he stepped closer to his group and finally moved onto more solid ground.
The smell of wet bark and damp moss filled his nostrils, and a faint rustle echoed somewhere deep in the forest.
Looking around, he saw how three boys crowded around Derek, and it seemed like they were whispering something to themselves.
A boy stood on the other side in a simple stance, and unlike the uniform of Derek and his minions, the boy had a casual white shirt with a jacket.
He leaned lightly on a tree, brushing his long white hair out of his face.
Reith straightened his grey jacket and walked closer, his boots crunching lightly on fallen twigs.
"What are they doing?" Reith asked when he was closer to the boy.
The boy moved his white hair from his face, glancing at Reith with little interest.
"They must be discussing our fate." He sighed woefully, and Reith nodded, noting the dry humour.
Currently, he had no greater strength than Derek, who enjoyed going after those weaker than him.
"Aiden won't be around to protect me here." Reith placed his arms across his chest. His only option was to tread carefully.
The white-haired boy turned to Reith. "My name's Peter, and you?"
"Reith."
After the exchange of names, they both kept quiet.
The forest grew heavier with silence, the occasional groan of old branches echoing overhead.
The other teams had moved ahead of them, leaving the five of them in that dark area.
After holding their discussions for a while, Derek stepped forward.
And Reith was quick to notice that he was a lot calmer than he had been before.
Maybe Aiden's effect might last him through this activity after all.
"You two," Derak started, releasing his oppressive aura, and he glared at them.
"I am in charge here, and whatever I say goes." His frown deepened as he spoke.
Reith could only nod; there was no need to fight back.
Derek focused his attention on Reith, and he furrowed his brows, remembering what had transpired the other day.
It was because of this weakling that his elder brother had given him a severe beating.
He could still feel the aftereffects of his physical trauma even after using a healing pill.
"You are to walk behind all of us, trash. Not a step past Skinny here." Derek said, pointing to Peter.
Reith didn't make a sound, or argue back.
Even though he knew it was a terrible decision, he didn't want anything like yesterday to happen again.
"What if something happens? Or an attack from behind us?" Peter was the one who stepped forward and asked.
Reith turned to look at him. He wasn't used to strangers standing up for him, so he didn't know how to feel.
Derek laughed out. "You are underestimating him." He raised a finger to his eyes, acting like he was wiping a tear.
"Don't you know this guy's talent is rated SSS grade?"
Derek placed his arm around Reith's shoulder, bursting into a fit of laughter.
Reith forced a smile, but his lips twitched, betraying his true emotions.
He could hear the taunt in Derek's voice, but he chose to keep quiet.
Peter's eyes darted between Reith and Derek, until he focused on Derek.
"I know, but his cultivation grade—"
"That's it. I choose what happens, and if you aren't pleased. Then you are free to leave."
Derek commanded before pushing Reith to the floor.
"I'm sure the dreg has no problem with being at the bottom of the barrel. If he did, then he can tell me himself.
Also, Dreg, you can only pick your loot when the rest of us are done selecting ours."
Derek sneered. He would make this person's life miserable since he couldn't beat up Adrien.
Reith didn't say anything, and he looked at his Ralaxy watch.
They had an hour and a half to wander in this place, looking for supplies.
Seeing how Reith wasn't affected by his words, Derek inwardly fumed but, with a deep breath, he calmed himself down by taking a deep breath.
He had other things in store for this friend of his, and it would be best not to rush.
As soon as Derek moved, the rest of the group followed him.
They had no choice because he was the strongest in the group.
Reith silently followed behind the group as they went through the silent forest.
He could barely see the actions of the group members ahead of him, and why were they walking so fast?
Reith frowned when he saw the distance between Peter and the four others increasing.
These people were planning to leave them behind.
Seeing through their plans, Reith quickened his pace and rushed forward.
Then he caught up to them, and he was about to say something when Derek suddenly raised his right hand.
"I found one of the goods," Derek said, crouching beside a cluster of bushes.
Reith moved closer, but he was careful not to appear in Derek's line of sight, and he was able to see what they were talking about.
Looking down at his Ralaxy Watch, he searched for the items they were meant to scavenge, and different pictures appeared.
Reith realized that Derek had found one of the first three golden items.
Different explanations about the plant appeared on the watch, and Reith beamed.
"There are Soul flowers. A single flower is worth more than a thousand golden points."
One of Derek's minions exclaimed, and he wasn't the only excited one as the next person opened his mouth.
"And there are so many of them here." He chuckled.
"There should be enough for everyone," Reith muttered as he was also impressed that his group was very efficient.
Unfortunately, Derek had heard him speak.
Derek plucked the Soul flower, flashing it like a trophy "Remember the rules." He flashed Reith a mocking grin, " There's an order and I get first pick."
Derek reminded and his minions instantly agreed with him.
Reith had a bad feeling about it but there was nothing he could say.
He watched as Derek picked the largest flower and still kept picking more, giving space for his other minions.
'At least leave some for the rest of us.' Reith clenched his fists, but he silently waited and hoped.
"I think we should allow them something. We have to be generous after all." Derek made his point like he was merely pitying them.
Peter didn't think twice before moving to grab the second to the last one, and just as Reith was about to grab the last one, Derek moved.
Delivering a kick right towards Reith's face, Derek had separate plans.
Reith moved quickly and raised his hands, blocking the kick from hitting him square on the face.
"Derek, what do you think you are doing?"
Reith yelled out, as he got on his feet, unable to take it anymore.