The Rise of the Legendary Santhigar

Chapter 8: Kapre

Zoriel’s eyes widened as he turned to the creature behind him.

It looked human—yet its sheer size gave away that it was anything but.

Its dark skin was covered in coarse black hair.

In its right hand, it held a smoking tobacco pipe, which it puffed on slowly while keeping its gaze fixed on them.

When the breeze passed, Zoriel almost gagged from the strange, pungent scent it gave off.

“What the hell are you?!” Alfred shouted.

He stumbled back, nearly falling in fright.

Jessa quickly ran to him, clinging tightly to his arm.

Alfred’s bodyguards froze, instantly taking defensive positions in front of the pair.

Meanwhile, Zoriel remained on his knees, still facing the creature.

The creature bent down slightly, studying Zoriel closely. He held his breath as the creature blew smoke right into his face.

“Your blood... it smells familiar,” the creature said in a deep, gravelly voice.

Zoriel swallowed hard.

“W-What do you mean?”

The creature didn’t answer. Instead, it straightened up again and turned its attention to Alfred.

“Y-You! Stay away!” Alfred stammered, trying to sound bold, though his voice trembled.

“You stink!” Jessa added, covering her nose.

The creature groaned and took another drag from his tobacco.

“So, what’s going on here?” it asked. “Why is he tied up and kneeling?”

Alfred gulped.

“T-That’s none of your business! Leave if you know what’s good for you!” he snapped.

He signaled his bodyguards.

They moved quickly, drawing their guns and aiming them at the creature.

But the creature only chuckled.

“You humans are always so amusing,” it said, shaking its head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you harm this guy.”

Zoriel furrowed his brow. The way the creature spoke... it was as if it knew him.

Before he could even voice his confusion, he suddenly felt himself lifted into the air and tossed gently to the side.

The creature took a step toward Alfred and Jessa.

“S-Stay back!” Alfred yelled.

“Alfred!” Jessa cried out in terror. “Kill him!”

The bodyguards immediately opened fire, their guns roaring—

—but before the bullets could even reach the creature, they froze mid-air.

Zoriel blinked rapidly, stunned by what he was seeing.

As he focused on the creature, the realization finally hit him.

A Kapre.

A massive being, larger than any man. Its body was covered in thick hair, skin dark as the night.

It wore no shirt, only a piece of cloth wrapped around its waist—Zoriel could even see part of its rear.

Kapres were known for their beards and their love of tobacco. They dwelled in trees, away from human society.

And as Zoriel blinked again, the bullets finally dropped to the ground.

Jessa let out a scream, and Alfred shouted in panic.

Their bodyguards, overwhelmed by fear, fled without hesitation.

The two were left clinging to each other, trembling as they stared at the creature.

The Kapre took another puff from his tobacco and blew smoke directly into their faces.

Moments later, Zoriel watched as both Alfred and Jessa collapsed, unconscious.

“W-What did you do to them?!” Zoriel asked, alarmed.

The Kapre turned to him.

“I just let them sleep.”

Zoriel swallowed again, panic rising in his chest as the creature began walking toward him.

He instinctively shut his eyes when it raised its hand, bracing for pain—

—but instead of hurting him, he was surprised to feel the ropes around his wrists and ankles fall away.

Zoriel quickly scrambled to his feet and stared at the Kapre.

“What do you want from me? Why did you help me?”

The Kapre grinned.

“I thought you were him. But it’s strange... I can smell him on you.”

“Who?”

The Kapre leaned in close, his face inches from Zoriel’s. Zoriel instinctively stepped back, gagging from the odd, earthy scent.

The creature didn’t seem to care and simply smiled wider.

“You are his descendant, I see,” the Kapre said. “Be careful out there, kid. Your powers are beginning to show. Soon, it won’t just be evil humans like them who come after you. You’re lucky I am the only one who showed up this time.”

Zoriel’s brow furrowed.

“What do you mean?”

The Kapre took another long drag of tobacco, then exhaled straight into Zoriel’s face.

He coughed violently, waving his hands to clear the smoke.

“Stop doing that!”

“No more questions. You should go back now. It’s not safe for you here.”

Before Zoriel could say anything else, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head.

Dizziness hit him like a wave, and within moments, everything went black.