Rise of the Demon Dragon

Chapter 5: Recognizing Poison!

Running from a swarm of angry hornets is a far cry from a regular run; it’s utterly exhausting. Before Zyren could even reach the cave, he collapsed from sheer fatigue. 

The old man, who had been observing him from above, descended from the tree and effortlessly dispersed the hornets with a single wave of his hand, a chuckle escaping his lips.

Moments later, Zyren regained consciousness.

“Why didn’t you tell me today’s training would be like this?” Zyren groaned.

“On the path to becoming a warrior, you never know who your opponent will be or when they will strike. Sometimes, their weapons arrive before they even reveal themselves.”

 “If you’re already complaining about being chased by hornets, how do you expect to become a warrior? Today’s training is over. We’ll continue tomorrow,” the old man replied sternly.

With his body aching and weary, Zyren trudged home behind his master. He didn’t argue; instead, embarrassment washed over him. 

He realized that the strength he had once boasted about as the leader of bandits and soldiers in Aetherion meant nothing to this old man.

Unbeknownst to Zyren, today’s exercise was merely a warm-up, not even the real training.

Several days passed since the hornet chase, but his master had yet to summon him for training again. 

Instead, Zyren was tasked with gathering various types of poisonous insects, toads, and snakes from the forest.

For two days straight, Zyren combed through piles of leaves and decaying wood, overturned rocks, and sat patiently, waiting for his prey to emerge. 

In that time, he managed to collect an assortment of poisonous creatures. However, he still had no idea why his master wanted these animals.

“You’ve gathered quite a bit. Not bad; you’re not as hopeless as I thought when it comes to this,” the old man remarked.

“What are these animals for, Master?” Zyren asked, curiosity piqued.

“You need to start learning how to make various types of poisons and their antidotes. Pay close attention to what I’m about to show you,” the old man instructed as he pulled out an array of tools: needles, a small knife, and a few small clay bowls.

The old man began selecting poisonous insects from the basket woven from tree bark that Zyren had used to collect his prey. 

He watched in amazement as the old man handled the dangerous creatures without a hint of fear. 

Despite being stung multiple times, the old man’s body remained unaffected—no swollen marks, no sign of poison’s effects.

“Every poisonous creature carries its antidote within its body. This is what you need to understand,” the old man explained as he carefully dissected various insects, showing Zyren which parts were toxic and which contained the antidote. 

He casually handled the venomous snakes as though they were harmless ropes.

The aggressive snakes delivered their final bites before succumbing to death, but the old man’s body showed no signs of poisoning.

“Why are you immune to these poisons?” Zyren asked, astonished. He shuddered each time a snake bit the old man.

While dissecting each snake one by one, the old man explained, “I’ve been dealing with poisons for decades. My body has developed an immunity to various toxins from insects, snakes, plants, and other sources. This is the result of years of training, as you can see.” 

The old man continued to show him which parts of the snakes were poisonous and which parts could be used as antidotes.

“A single poison from one source is easy to counteract. But mixed poisons, those concocted from multiple toxic sources, are far more challenging. They can come from animals or plants, and this forest holds many such dangers. Later, I will show you, and you must remember them well,” the old man instructed.

Zyren focused intently on every word the old man spoke. Luckily, the young man had a sharp mind and an excellent memory.

Throughout the day, the old man demonstrated how to concoct poisons and create antidotes. But it didn’t stop there. Zyren also had to experience the effects of these poisons and learn how to treat them. 

Zyren groaned in agony and shivered with fever as the old man pricked him with needles dipped in poison, only to swiftly administer the antidote. 

The poison training was excruciating and terrifying. Zyren would have preferred facing the hornets and snakes together over enduring this kind of torment.

After the painful ordeal, he asked, “Master, what kind of poison did I just experience?”

“Zyren, the poison you just endured is a simple one. In the real world of martial arts, this wouldn’t be enough to kill an opponent, especially a skilled warrior. Poison masters can even produce toxins from their own bodies—through saliva, blood, or even their breath.”

 “It takes years of practice to reach that level. The truly dangerous poison masters are those who delve into the dark arts through occult practices,” the old man sighed, allowing Zyren to absorb his words.

“What are these occult practices, Master?” Zyren inquired, his curiosity deepening.

“Do you remember the half-snake human?” the old man asked.

“He was a half-demon human. His abilities were negligible before he walked the dark path, which allowed demons to take over his body. On the other hand, if a warrior with high skills walks the dark path, they gain demonic powers without becoming a demon themselves.” 

“There are many ways to attain supernatural abilities. I will introduce them to you one by one, but first, you must master martial arts. Your body is the vessel of your power; without a strong body, you won’t be able to learn much.” The old man suddenly stabbed him with a poisoned needle while he was off guard.

Zyren’s body convulsed violently. His eyes rolled back, and foam frothed at his mouth, but the old man quickly restored his condition. 

This method of gradually introducing poison to Zyren’s body was intended to build his natural immunity.

Zyren sat up slowly after the old man revived him. His body felt weak, and his head was heavy.

“Rest for now. For the next few days, we will continue the same training. Your body needs time to adjust to the poison before moving on to the next phase,” the old man advised.

“What other training will you give me, Master?” Zyren asked, his curiosity still undimmed. 

Despite being 20 years old, he often exhibited a childlike wonder. He was easily fascinated and eager to learn about new things he had never experienced or seen before.

With the old man, he was learning something new every day. 

It was this constant discovery that motivated him to endure the intense pain. 

The training was not just physically demanding; it also tested his emotional resilience.

“I will take you to the Poison Valley. There, your real training will begin,” the old man replied.

The Poison Valley was a considerable distance from the cave they called home. It earned its name from the poisonous natural gases that filled the valley, capable of killing anyone who entered.

Zyren didn’t ask further about the valley. He already knew the kind of answer the old man would give.

He was eager to train there, but he understood that first, he needed to learn more about poisons under his master’s guidance.