CHAPTER 1: LIMITLESS BEGINNING

CHAPTER 1: LIMITLESS BEGINNING

MARKO gulped down in fear, "It can't be!"

There he stood, the apex predator of the night woods.

And not just that but a Terror!

It had pitch black fur with blazing green patches, eyes that gleamed in the dark, and a mouth full of large fangs. The terror carried a powerful presence.

The Dark Leopard growled softly as it approached them carefully, taking its time. The roar sounded almost like a stomach rumbling, which should have made it less frightening but rather did the opposite.

"Tch", Marko grunted. "That's at least a level two terror."

The crescent moon high in the starry cloudless sky beamed down a whitish light on the open clearing in the heart to the dark forest. Beneath their feet was the short green grasses swaying in ambience with the dancing wind.

Gollum!

Marko swallowed hard as a drop of sweat trickled down the side of his head before sliding down his next and vanishing into the fine cotton fabric of his cloth.

The Dark Leopard was a terror that was responsible for the onslaught of humans in the neighbouring villages, it's thirst for human flesh was well known. A hundred warriors with spears could not even puncture its thick hide, so imagine how fearsome it would be.

"Ma- Marko", Shayla was quaking in her boots.

Against the Terror that always left a trail of destruction in it's wake, what threat would both of them pose to it?

Was there even a chance against it?

Terrors were Monsters that only crept out when the day was darkest. No one knew where they came from but meeting was spelt a surefire doom.

Marko locked eyes with the dark leopard, and prayed for a miracle silently. He was never the religious sort also he had never encountered such a situation before so he found himself unable to act. His heart beat hard against his ribcage as hot air expended from his lungs.

…IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING QUICK, WE WILL PROBABLY DIE…

But what could he do?

…SHAYLA, I AM REALLY SORRY FOR DRAGGING YOU ALONG…

The girl who had been his closest and only friend…!

…WHAT AM I EVEN DOING?…

"Shayla?" He called out to her. "I want you to run!"

There was no reason for them both to suffer the same fate. So at least he would give her a chance to escape.

But…!

Shayla stood there crippled by fear throwing Marko into even more panick. If only they had not gotten lost in the forest none of this would have happened, he told himself.

Their village was located nearby, it was Marko's first hunt and Shayla had chosen to go with him.

In terms of hunting she was more skilled despite being a girl but Marko resented hunting. He would rather spend his days at home helping his mother in anyway he could. He did not have many friends due to the fact that his father was late, and all the boys all made fun of him for it.

There was also the fact that he was born with a limp in his left leg.

Marko had wanted to prove himself by going on his hunting trial since the other boys had all done that at his age.

"Just why did I have to be the one with bad luck?" He said between gritted teeth.

The dark leopard crept closer instilling more fear to his already rattling bones.

Marko raised his hunting knife he had yet to use at the terror beast. It was supposed to be an act of self defense but his hands shook violently against his will, "Ge- get back!"

But his threat fell on deaf ears…

Since Terrors exist only to destroy!!

The terror called the dark leopard was called that because it had features very much similar to a leopards.

Marko was surprised by the lightning quick speed displayed by the dark leopard as it charged at him. Becoming a blur almost invisible to the human eye.

"W-- what?" Marko stuttered losing his already failing composure in an instant.

In one quick swoop Marko met with the hard ground.

"Omph!" He grunted.

It happened so fast that his mind had to take a moment to comprehend it.

But a swollen head would be the least of his concerns at the moment.

Marko felt a strong paw pin him to the ground as the leopard stood over him and roared with pride. The claws at the end felt sharp and slightly curved as they grasped his insides. He could feel something cut open but could not tell if it was a muscle or a vein.

A wave of adrenaline shot into his brain causing him to panick.

He reached for his knife that had fallen to the ground a short distance from him, sensing this the leopard clawed at his back ripping apart his shirt and shredding the delicate skin underneath.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!"

He yelled out in pain as the beast retracted it's claw from his back. He could feel blood gushing out of him; and the life force being drawn out of him.

At a fast speed the Dark Leopard slashed Marko down his back, leaving another huge cut on him.

"Urgh!" Marko shrieked.

The pain he was now feeling, he could not explain it…

But it hurt like hell!!!

It was warm and sticky and red.

Hot sweat poured down his face and his eyes reddened, the pain seething through his back had him crippled.

His mind started to run wild with regrets.

WHY DID I HAVE TO DRAG SHAYLA ALONG? He thought. I'M SO STUPID! WHAT DID I HAVE TO PROVE ANYWAY?

"Grrrrrr!" The Dark Leopard growled at Marko who could barely keep himself together.

MOM MUST PROBABLY BE TROUBLED NOW, BECAUSE OF ME!

The Dark Leopard slashed him again on his back, this time more deeper than before.

"Acccccccckkkk!!!" He screamed through the writhing pain.

Drops of his blood splattered everywhere.

…JUSTIN, SYLVIA! YOUR IDIOT BIG BROTHER JUST MADE THE DUMBEST DECISION OF HIS LIFE…

He could feel his eyes begin to dim. His chest felt heavy and his breathing largely weighted. Marko was sure he would die.

But…

HISS!

WHAT IS THAT STING? He thought. WHY IS MY NECK BURNING RIGHT NOW?

His vision started to blur and his breath dwindled.

Even under the intense pain and regret Marko only had one regret…!

BUT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE IF I WAS A GIFTED…

THE OUTCOME MIGHT BE DIFFERENT!!

"MARKO!?" Shayla screamed at the top of her lungs with tears rolling down the corners of her face.

Marko's blurry vision began to settle, he could feel his insides burning like a wild hot flame eating him up.

The dark leopard jumped off him and started for Shayla who had backed up into a tree. Marko rolled over on all fours with every strength he could muster and immediately regretted his action.

"Kuuuueeeeekkkk!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs while expending blood from his lungs.

Looking up he saw the Terror almost by a catatonic Shayla.

"No!" He cried. "What should I do?"

Shayla was about to die right before his eyes and he could do nothing to stop it.

Marko willed himself to get up and but he could not muster even a morsel of strength in his feeble body.

Powerless!

He had always hated that feeling!!

The feeling of not being able to change anything!!!

He felt himself about to break through these limits and he let it. And for the first time he felt it- FREEDOM!!

His face met with the cold hard ground.

Then everything went black.