KING OF STIGMA

The Mark.

After Blaze finished his meal, he lied down to gaze at the night sky through the opening of the cave. He was basking in the massively large moon up in the sky. 

"Wow," Blaze whispered, awe coloring his voice as he marveled at the spectacle before him. "I've never seen anything like it."

Suddenly, another celestial body emerged. It was a smaller red moon on the distant horizon. Blaze couldn't help but develop a feeling of uneasiness. 

" What's that? An illusion?" he murmurs, his voice tinged with apprehension.

Unlike its larger counterpart, which bears a resemblance to the moon of Earth albeit magnified in scale, the smaller red moon didn't sit well with Blaze. 

Each time a dark red spot materializes upon its surface, he felt his body growing weaker. 

"Something's not right," he mutters, his brows furrowing in concern.

Blaze's suspicions were confirmed after he surveyed the cave. 

The once lively group of orphans were on their knees wincing in pain and crying out loud. 

Blaze gasped as he realized the gravity of their situation. 

"This is no illusion, The Dark spots, their draining our strength!" Their collective vitality was being drained by the dark red spot on the smaller moon. 

The anguished cries of the children echoes through the cave as moans of discomfort fill the air. 

With each passing moment, Blaze felt his strength wane even further. 

"I have to resist it, I have to find a way to fight back," Blaze muttered through gritted teeth, determination burning bright within him. 

As Blaze struggled against the suffocating grip of weakness that overwhelm him, a sudden burst of flames erupted, engulfing the entire Clan in a fiery embrace. 

The searing heat washed over him like a cleansing wave, banishing the oppressive weight of fatigue that had dragged him down moments before.

"What... what just happened?" Blaze gasped, his voice tinged with disbelief as he staggered to his feet, renewed vigor coursing through his veins.

"Is this the power of the Stigma? I've seen glimpses of it from the vessel's memories. The pain, It's soothing our pain and restoring our strength. It's... Remarkable." 

As he glanced around at his fellow orphans, Blaze could see the relief in their eyes. 

"Everyone's alright... That was close." 

Blaze recalled another memory - During the middle ten days of the month, when the Bloody Marks appear, even the mightiest Stigma warriors find themselves losing strength. 

This makes it difficult for Stigma Warriors to fight beasts of a level cap that they would normally be able to beat. 

"So that's why most Stigma Warriors come back to the Clan after sunset?" Blaze muttered as he plops to the floor from the exahsution of having his strength sapped. 

He quickly fell asleep. The next morning, Blaze woke up to his fellow orphans gently nudging him—a boy and a girl used to the tough life in the Clan. Blaze groaned as he got up from his makeshift bed, feeling tired as he got ready for another hard day.

"Blaze, wake up! It's time," urges the boy, his voice tinged with excitement. "We've got work to do."

With a groan, Blaze pushes himself upright, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep as he prepares to face the day ahead. 

"I'm up." 

Beside him, the orphan girl offers a reassuring smile, her presence a comforting anchor amidst the uncertainty of their circumstances.

Together, the trio makes their way to the Hunting Logistics Yard, where they are met by the bustling activity of fellow hunters preparing for the day's expedition. 

"Weapons, cleaning tools, and everything in between," remarks Blaze, surveying the array of equipment laid out before them. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."

At the Clan's gates, three groups of Stigma Warriors were gathered, each set to embark on rhe hunting trip. Blaze joined his assigned group as he follows them from behind. 

"Thankfully, my vessel has a decent experience with the hunting logistics," Blaze remarked, as he gazes at the back of the other Stigma Warriors. 

"Gotta keep up with them if I want to make it through this."

Blaze could sense the pace of the Stigma Warriors slowing, their movements deliberate as they maintained order within the hunting group.

"Stay close, everyone," one of the warriors called out, his voice carrying a note of caution. "Nobody's going to save you if you're not with the group." 

Blaze was aware of the harsh reality of the wilderness. 

"Being left behind meant facing the unforgiving elements alone, a fate that few could hope to survive." 

In this strange world, Blaze knew the danger lurking in the wild.

"Unlike Earth, where nature's more controlled, here, danger's everywhere. Staying with the group is the safest bet for survival," he thought.

This was especially true for those not part of the elite Stigma Warriors.

At first, he was amazed by the incredible sights—huge trees, fruits like baby elephants, and mosquitoes as big as chickens.

"Wow," Blaze breathed, his eyes wide with amazement as he took in the surreal landscape around him. "I've never seen anything like this before."

But as the hours stretched on and the weight of his burdens grew heavier with each passing step, Blaze's enthusiasm waned, replaced by a growing sense of fatigue and discomfort. 

His legs ached with every stride, swollen and sore from the exertion of carrying his assortment of tools, while his shoulders screamed in protest under the weight of his responsibilities.

"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up," Blaze muttered under his breath, his voice strained with exhaustion as he struggled to maintain his pace.

However, despite his best efforts to press forward, Blaze found himself lagging behind, his energy waning with each passing moment. 

"I can't... I can't keep going." 

Suddenly, The Nine-headed Dragon mark on his left hand began to glow. 

"What's happening?" Blaze exclaimed holding out the hand. 

Suddenly, a faint golden and red Stigma Energy engulfed him. 

"My stamina..." 

Blaze felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. 

"Did the strang tattoo did this?" Blaze shook his head, "I'll worry about that later, now is my chance to catch up to the others." 

Blaze grinned as he took a sprinting position, he leapt forward with a massive burst moving at incredible speeds. 

"This is awesome!"