The sun filtered through the jungle canopy in fractured beams. Edward wiped sweat from his brow, Ash and Fang circling at his feet. He glanced at Mark, who stretched casually on a moss-covered rock. His posture was relaxed but deliberate, each movement controlled.
"You move like you own the jungle," Edward said. "Not bad, it takes some getting used to."
Mark grinned, brushing a stray vine from his shoulder. "I don't own it. I just dance with it. Timing, distance, anticipation. That is the trick."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "And your fists?"
"My fists," Mark said, cracking his knuckles. A faint black sheen coated them. "Armament Haki. Just fists and feet for now. Makes striking harder than steel."
Edward studied him. "So you've trained your body too?"
"Yeah. Strength, speed, endurance. A little system boost to round it out. Makes jungle combat more fun." He winked. "You look like you bought brains, I bought brawn. Fair trade."
Edward smirked. "I got the 10 shadows, cursed energy and cursed energy manipulation. Good for precision, versatility. Helps if your fists are dangerous though."
Mark laughed. "Don't get jealous, genius."
Edward said nothing. He only noted it. Mark's confidence was effortless, but not irritating. Just there.
They spent the morning hunting together. Edward coordinated Ash and Fang against wild boars and monkeys while Mark's observation Haki allowed him to react before attacks landed. The black coating of his Armament Haki glinted faintly with every punch and kick. A charging jaguar leapt from the undergrowth, and Mark met it squarely with a reinforced fist. The feline tumbled back, dazed but unharmed. Edward's shikigami pressed the advantage, ensuring no creature could strike from behind.
During a short break, Edward glanced at Mark. "Do you have a Devil Fruit or something?"
Mark shook his head. "Nope. I like my fists. Devil Fruits are tempting, but water and sea weaknesses? Not ideal. I didn't know the environment when I picked ." He flexed his arms and grinned. "Boxing background. Makes the jungle, and humans, more interesting."
Edward nodded slowly. "That explains a lot. You move with confidence, like you expect to win before the fight starts."
Mark shrugged. "Confidence is useful. Don't mistake it for arrogance."
Setting out once again, they encountered a wild boar almost immediately. It charged with surprising speed, tusks aimed directly at Edward. He signalled Ash and Fang, and the dogs intercepted, slashing and dodging as Edward reinforced his body with a pulse of cursed energy. Mark stepped forward, black fists striking the boar mid-charge, sending it tumbling sideways.
"Nice coordination," Mark said, brushing dirt from his knuckles. "Your pets are impressive."
"Shikigami not pets" Edward deadpanned.
Mark laughed
They spent the rest of the day moving through the jungle, testing each other's reactions and training against animals of increasing strength and aggression. A pair of monkeys tried to ambush Edward from above, leaping from vines, but he summoned gama briefly to snare them mid-air. A jaguar sprang from behind a thicket. Mark's Armament Haki-coated fist met its pounce, throwing it off balance while Ash and Fang struck from the sides.
"You really enjoy this, don't you?" Edward said as they paused to catch their breath.
Mark shrugged and grinned. "I like seeing if I can keep up. You have to admit, this jungle is the perfect training ground."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "I can see why. Everything here tests patience, timing, and reflexes. And apparently our points as well."
By late afternoon, they stopped at a small clearing to rest. Edward summoned Ash and Fang, letting them circle the perimeter while he accessed his system interface.
System Interface
System Interface: Ten Shadows Technique (Subjugated Shikigami: 2 [Divine Dogs, Gama]) Beginner
Cursed Energy: 200/1000
Cursed Energy Manipulation: 95/1000
Points: 20
Edward rubbed his chin. "Twenty points. That's… more than I've gotten from my whole time here before today."
Mark leaned over his shoulder, eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe the jungle's just getting tougher. Stronger animals mean bigger rewards."
Edward frowned slightly. "So my points are relative to the strength of what I defeat?"
Mark shrugged. "Probably. I mean, think about it. That jaguar we just killed off… probably gave more experience than that boar from this morning. Makes sense, right?"
Edward nodded slowly, letting the information sink in. "That would explain it. That makes the next few days even more important."
"There'll be a power creep and we need to stay ahead of it"
Mark grew serious at the mention of this, after all no one wants to be left behind.
They spent the remainder of the afternoon alternating between scouting and hunting. Edward practiced summoning, commanding, and coordinating Ash and Fang with improved efficiency. Mark pushed his limits as well, testing how far he could extend his Haki without tiring.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward and Mark crept through the thick undergrowth, every step measured, every branch and root avoided. Ash and Fang circled close, ears twitching, tails low but alert. Gama shifted above, partially hidden, massive and ready.
Edward crouched behind a fallen log, scanning for movement. "I can feel three distinct presences. Not animals. Humans. All moving differently."
Mark's eyes flicked between the leaves and shadows. "Then let's see what we're dealing with before they see us."
The undergrowth opened into a small clearing. Three humans stood there, observing the jungle as carefully as Edward and Mark had been moving.
The first was a massive man, muscles rippling under his shirt, posture loose but intimidating. He shifted slightly, eyes scanning Edward and the shikigami, smirk faint but calculating.
The second was a woman with crimson eyes. Both irises had a single tomoe, glowing faintly as they tracked every subtle movement. Her stance was precise, alert, predatory.
The third, smaller and wiry, bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, limbs coiled like springs, constantly scanning the terrain.
Edward exhaled and stepped slightly forward. "We don't want conflict if it can be avoided. There's no reason to be enemies right away. We could-"
The massive man held up a hand, cutting him off. "No." His tone was flat, dismissive, not angry. His teammates stayed in position, alert, but he did not seek approval from them.
The woman tilted her head towards the man, crimson eyes narrowing. "Temporary alliances can be useful. Safety in numbers until the real battle begins. But it's your choice."
The smaller man grinned, bouncing lightly. Ready to fight.
Edward's hands glowed faintly with cursed energy. "Ash, Fang, keep her busy. Gama, stay ready. I'll handle the big one first. Timing and coordination are everything."
Mark flexed, black coating flashing across his knuckles. "I'll handle the springy one. Let's see what they're made of."
The jungle seemed to pause. Leaves shivered, light shifted, and the clearing became a stage for the fight about to erupt. Edward and Mark could feel the tension radiating off the three humans, every movement calculated.
Edward whispered to himself, "We've seen them. Every micro-movement, every threat. All we have to do is survive the first exchange."
Mark's grin was calm, almost amused. "Good. Let's see how skilled they really are."
The clearing was already ruined before the first blow landed.
Trees leaned at broken angles. The ground was torn up by earlier impacts. Leaves hung in the air, slow to settle, as if the jungle itself was holding its breath.
Edward crouched low behind a fallen trunk, cursed energy faintly glowing along his forearms and calves. Every breath hurt. He could feel the clock ticking inside his chest, a dull awareness of how much cursed energy he had left.
Six minutes. Maybe a little more if he was careful.
Ash and Fang prowled ahead of him, shadows slipping between roots and ferns. Gama loomed above, partially submerged in darkness, massive body pressed against branches thick enough to creak under his weight.
Across the clearing, three figures stood apart from one another.
The woman with the Sharingan did not blink. Red irises with a single tomoe spun slowly as her gaze tracked Ash and Fang simultaneously. She moved with small, precise steps, never still, never wasting motion.
The brute stood closer to Edward. Thick neck. Heavy shoulders. His posture was relaxed in a way that felt wrong, like he trusted his body to absorb whatever came his way.
The third man bounced lightly from foot to foot, body compressing and releasing with unnatural elasticity. His movements were erratic, almost playful, but his eyes were sharp. Too sharp.
Mark stood to Edward's left, arms loose, stance casual. His eyes flicked once across the field, then settled on the bouncing man.
Edward leaned closer, voice low. "I will keep the brute busy. The dogs will pressure the Sharingan. Gama blocks movement."
Mark smirked faintly. "Got it. Stretchy guy is mine."
The bouncing man grinned wider, as if he had heard that.
The jungle exploded into motion.
The brute charged Edward without hesitation, covering ground faster than his size suggested. Edward reinforced his legs and rolled aside as a massive fist slammed into the log he had been using for cover. Wood shattered. Splinters sprayed.
Edward came up on one knee and struck back, cursed energy surging through his arm. His palm slammed into the brute's ribs.
It felt like hitting stone.
The brute barely shifted. He grunted and swung again, faster this time.
Edward blocked with his forearm. Pain lanced up to his shoulder even through reinforcement. He staggered back, boots skidding in churned soil.
Too strong, Edward thought. Not skilled. Just built wrong.
Behind him, Ash and Fang lunged at the Sharingan woman. She pivoted smoothly, reading their trajectories before they committed. One dog snapped at empty air as she sidestepped. The other was forced to abort mid-leap as a kunai-like construct flickered into existence and clipped its shoulder.
Ash yelped but twisted, minimizing the damage. Fang darted back in, forcing her to move again.
Edward felt the feedback through the connection. Pain, yes, but controlled. They were adapting.
Gama shifted above, tongue uncoiling slightly.
Edward ducked another punch and drove his knee upward, reinforced with cursed energy. It landed solidly in the brute's abdomen.
The man coughed once, more surprised than hurt, then grabbed Edward by the collar and slammed him into the ground.
The impact rattled Edward's teeth. Air burst from his lungs. He rolled just in time to avoid a downward stomp that cratered the soil where his head had been.
Edward scrambled to his feet, vision swimming.
Think. You cannot outpower him.
Ash and Fang harried the Sharingan user relentlessly, forcing her to keep dividing her attention. She was fast, predictive, but even her eyes could not track everything at once. Gama's shadow blocked her retreat paths, her options narrowing inch by inch.
Mark's fight had already escalated.
The elastic man shot forward in a blur, body compressing like a spring and releasing in a violent burst. He rebounded off a tree, changed direction mid-air, and slammed a kick toward Mark's head.
Mark stepped aside calmly. The kick smashed into a trunk instead, splintering bark.
Mark watched closely, eyes narrowing. Each rebound had rhythm. Stored momentum. Predictable once you saw it.
The elastic man laughed and launched himself again, this time feinting left and snapping right.
Mark did not move until the last second. His fist flashed black as it met the man's face.
The impact distorted the elastic flesh violently, snapping the head back and sending the man flying into another tree. He bounced off it and landed on his feet, grin faltering.
"Okay," he muttered. "You hit hard."
Mark did not respond. He was already stepping forward.
Edward did not have that luxury.
The brute grabbed him again, this time catching his arm mid-strike. Fingers dug in like clamps. Edward felt something pop in his shoulder.
He screamed and drove cursed energy through his legs, headbutting the brute squarely in the face.
Blood sprayed. The brute staggered back, stunned for half a second.
Edward used it.
"Now," he gasped.
Gama's tongue shot down and wrapped around the brute's torso, pinning his arms. The man roared and strained, muscles bulging grotesquely, but Gama's grip held.
Edward did not hesitate.
He reinforced everything. Legs. Core. Fists.
He struck again and again, aiming not for power but precision. Throat. Solar plexus. Joints. Anywhere that reacted.
The brute's resistance slowed. His breathing turned ragged.
Behind them, the Sharingan woman finally clipped Fang again, a shallow slash across the flank. Ash lunged immediately, forcing her to retreat.
She spun, Sharingan whirling, and caught Ash mid-air with a kick that sent the dog skidding across the clearing.
Edward felt it like a punch to the gut.
Gama shifted, cutting off her escape. The dogs regrouped, battered but relentless.
Mark's fight reached its peak.
The elastic man launched himself higher than before, compressing every ounce of stored force. Mark saw it clearly now. Too much. No dispersion.
Mark stepped forward instead of back.
His fist turned black.
He punched straight through the man's chest as the stored momentum collapsed inward.
The elasticity failed catastrophically.
The man's body folded around the strike, rebounded weakly once, then collapsed in a boneless heap.
Mark did not look away until he was certain the body would not move again.
Edward heard the sound.
He barely registered it.
The brute's resistance finally broke.
Edward struck one last time, a reinforced blow to the chest as Gama tightened its grip.
Something inside the man gave way.
The body sagged.
Gama released.
The man fell.
Edward froze.
He felt it through the connection. No resistance. No life.
SYSTEM MESSAGE - CONFIRMED ELIMINATIONS: 1
Edward's vision blurred.
The Sharingan woman screamed and charged, desperation overriding calculation. Ash and Fang intercepted, teeth and claws forcing her off balance.
Mark appeared at Edward's side in a blur.
"Dogs on her," Mark said calmly.
Edward nodded shakily and redirected everything he had left.
Ash and Fang pressed relentlessly. Gama blocked. The Sharingan tracked them all, eyes spinning wildly, but there were too many angles.
Edward reinforced his body one last time and struck.
Mark struck with him.
The impact crushed the air between them.
The Sharingan went dark as the woman collapsed.
SYSTEM MESSAGE - CONFIRMED ELIMINATIONS: 2POINTS AWARDED: +85
Edward dropped to his knees, shaking.
His system updated.
Points: 105.
He stared at the number, chest heaving.
"They're dead," he whispered.
Mark wiped blood from his knuckles. "Yeah."
Edward's stomach churned.
Mark glanced at him once. "Breathe. You did what you had to."
Edward closed his eyes, hands trembling, Ash and Fang pressing close.
The jungle breathed again.
And the system was watching.