On their way up the mountain, Alek and his master would be attacked multiple times by different people. They would easily deal with them one blow and quickly move on.
''These guys really aren't that strong.'' Alek said
''This is the usual level of adventurers. I've said before that they are weak. Our training has also made a difference. You may not realise this, but energy has begun flowing through your body when you fight.'' The man in a hoodie responded
''Really? I can't tell the difference.'' Alek said very unsure
''Yes, although It's very subtle and weak. There is still a long way to go. You need to learn how to activate it on command.''
As they were speaking a man with a sniper riffle was watching them, laying on the ground in a hidden spot above. He was dressed in a blue trench coat, gray pants and blue shoes. His sniper riffle was also blue.
He looked through the scope and saw Alek and his master tied together with the rope. He aimed at Alek's Master's head. When he felt confident, he pulled the trigger.
*click
''oops, I forgot to load the gun.'' He said to himself
He carefully loaded the gun with bullets from his pocket. When he looked through his scope again, he didn't see the man in the white hoodie. He only saw Alek, who was now looking in his direction. He looked behind himself and saw the missing man looking down at him.
He was now tied with the rope like Alek and his master.
''We are taking this guy with us.'' Said the man in a hoodie
''Why?'' Alek asked
''Yeah, can you just let me go? I promise I'll be good now.'' said the sniper
''You shut your mouth!'' Alek's master responded roughly ''You were just trying to kill us weren't you? We will be using you as a meat shield.''
''Can't you take someone else?'' the sniper asked with tears in his eyes
''There is a reason why I chose you.'' the man in a hoodie responded ''Show Alek your ability.''
''Ability?'' Alek said curiously
''H-how? How did you know?''
''Your bullets are filled with energy.'' Alek's master begun explaining ''I've been an adventurer long enough to know that you aren't skilled enough to use techniques. I saw how energy was flowing through your body. You can't fool me.'' he then turned towards Alek and said ''I'll run my energy through you, so you can see better.''
Alek nodded his head and the man in the hoodie put his hand on Alek's shoulder
The sniper looked troubled and then said ''Okay, I'll show you.''
He picked up a rock from the ground and held it in front of Alek. The man's body begun emitting a white aura, which then went into the rock.
''Wow....'' Alek said while looking very impressed
The sniper looked pleased with Alek's reaction
''I can put my energy into other objects. It makes them stronger, so I usually use it on my bullets. That is my ability.'' He said proud of himself
Alek turned his head to his master ''Can I do that too?''
The man in a hoodie scratched his head ''It would require training. You would be able to do it eventually, but you need to learn how to awaken your energy first.'' He looked at the sky while thinking ''Although, If you ask me, this ability is not very useful, you'd better focus your efforts on something else.''
The sniper looked offended.
Alek's master looked at his watch ''Anyway, we need to go.''
They begun walking.
''What is your name anyway?'' Alek asked the sniper
''Oh, it's Sam.'' Sam responded
''Nice to meet you Sam, I'm Alek''
''I've figured that out already.'' Sam sighed
''Don't talk to him too much, Alek'' said the man in a hoodie
''Why are you so mean?'' Sam asked angrily ''What was that about my ability not being useful earlier?''
''It's because it isn't. Even if you shot that enchanced bullet, it wouldn't even pierce my skin. You need to take better care of your gun also.''
''Is that so?'' Sam asked mockingly
They couldn't finish their conversation, because they soon arrived at the top of the mountain where the life stone grew.
''We made it.'' The man in a hoodie announced
''Is that the life stone?'' Alek asked
Before his eyes was a withered tree that had a singular, translucent, diamond shaped stone growing from it.
''What do we do now?''
''We wait for the stone to drop on it's own.'' Alek's master responded ''The earthquakes will also start soon probably, so hold tight.''
''Wha-?'' Alek asked before the ground started shaking ''What is happening?''
''The mountain is moving.''
''What do you mean it's moving?'' Sam started panicing
''Well, the mountain is alive.'' The man in a hoodie said with a calm expression
''It's alive!?'' Alek and Sam both asked
''It wakes up every now and then, eats a bunch of rocks and goes to sleep. While it's asleep, the life stone grows and then drops shortly after the mountain wakes up.''
As they were talking, the mountain opened up it's mouth and began to swallow rocks and trees.
Alek, Sam and the man in the hoodie stood still, trying to withstand the earthquakes.
The life stone nearly fell from the tree, but an adventurer hiding nearby was able to take it before it dropped.
''I GOT IT!!!'' he shouted
After that happen, 10 more people emerged from their hiding spots and surrounded Sam, Alek and his master. The ground was still shaking so it was hard for everyone to move. Despite this The man in the hoodie looked at Alek and said:
''Let's take care of these guys and get the life stone back.''
''Yes master!'' Alek responded
The men ran at Alek and his master.
One of them was holding a long stick, which they tried to attack with. Upon impact the stick was broken by Alek's master. He grabbed the man and threw him at another one, knocking them both out.
3 tried to hurt Alek, but they were unable to get a hit on him. Alek dodged all their blows and countered them. They were finished off by Alek's Master.
Another 3 surrounded Sam.
''I don't have anything to do with these people.'' He plead to the men
Before they could do anything, the man in a hoodie got behind them and choked them until they passed out.
The adventuter who took the life stone realized they couldn't win.
''We need to run away!!'' He yelled ''Catch the life stone!'' He shouted before throwing the stone to another adventurer.
The man in a hoodie tried to jump and get the stone before it reached the adventurer, but at that moment the ground shook and he was unable to move.
Thankfully Sam noticed what they were trying to do and shot at the stone. The bullet made the stone go in another direction and land on the ground.
Everyone tried to reach it, but before they could get it, Alek's master knocked all of them out in a single blow. He picked up the stone.
''Thanks for the help Sam'' He said
''Don't worry about it, it's not like I'm getting paid, anyway'' Sam responded
''What do you mean?'' The man in a hoodie said a little confused ''You could have taken the stone.''
''That's not why I was hired'' Sam answered ''I was hired to kill you or restrain you at least''
The response shocked the man in a hoodie. He thought for a second before realizing.
''Alek!'' He shouted before noticing that Alek was nowhere to be found and that the part of the rope that was connected to him was cut.
He turned his head and saw a man holding a sword up to Alek's neck.
''Sup'' he said ''Give me the life stone or the kid is dead.'' He said in a casual tone
He was dressed in all black with a sword sheath on his back. His hair was dark and so were his eyes.
Alek's master looked at Alek and noticed he was very scared, he then looked back at the man and said:
''Take it'' he reached his hand out with the life stone in it ''Just don't hurt him''
The man looked pleased ''Pleasure doing business with ya'' He said very casually with a smile on his face and walked away.
Sam, Alek and his master looked on as the man disappeared into the distance.