Invaders

Chapter 28: Final Trial

Kim's body has withered until the point he would be crumbled to dust with a single touch of a finger. His face was all wrinkled, making it hard for him to be distinguished. He emanated an archaic aura that makes it seem he had lived for the longest of years. However different he may seem to be, to Momo he was still Kim. Her one and only Master.

Kim then stood up from his form of respect. He took a single breath and circulate his mana. This time, his mana didn't only circulate within him, it also connected to nature. From his body to the ground, then to plants, rocks, river and trees. One by one, everything inside the world shines with brilliant white lights. Even Momo was affected as well.

By this time, Kim is again one with heaven and earth, but now... he had more connection. Before he only had a feeling, now he has more understanding. The nature of mana. White orbs circled around Kim to form a giant sphere.

Mana continued to circulate in and out of his body into nature. Slowly, his body started to recover... and his flesh started to rejuvenate. From his hair to his toes, and every limb started to recover. His veins started to be newly reformed, and fresh blood begins to circulate rapidly. His heart thumped explosively as if it could burst out from his chest.

Cracks slowly formed, splitting the sphere to half.

From being one with Kim before, Momo was able to sense what was happening to her Kim. Her violet pupils contracted and dilated excitedly. Her cheek flushed as she felt a gentle warmness leaking out from the cracks of the white sphere. This was Kim's mana.

She opened her mouth calling out to Kim

"Master!"

The sphere shattered with a loud boom followed with brilliant white light radiating out! From inside, a sea of mana spread wildly to envelop the whole world. The breeze blew gently causing all the trees in the forest to sway back and forth… producing a melody that could soothe one's heart and relax one's mind. Suddenly, birds, wild boars, monkeys, deer and a whole bunch of other animals popping out one after another from inside the forest.

Those animals didn't appear out of nowhere... they were hidden before by nature vast mana as a camouflage. Enggang also helped by continuously emitting its domineering mana pressure. Now, along with nature itself, they come out to get bathed by Kim's mana as if they have longed for it. Enjoying themselves every single breath.

Kim gently landed on the ground and the moment when his feet touched the ground, the world emitted a brilliant white light forming a connection with Kim. He then took a single breath and all mana suddenly concentrated into one single point with Kim as the centre.

"This boy… he didn't just gain recognition from nature… he's trying to own it for himself! Who do you think you are?!"

Enggang was set in rage when suddenly, it smelled a pleasant smell near Momo. When it looked toward Momo, it saw that Momo was drinking from a cup made of clay.

It heads tilted, looking at Momo with a weird expression.

"Is that tea? Where did you get that?"

"The birds gave me some leaves, and the monkeys gave me one their cups. So, I made some tea. Would you like some?"

"Oh, yes. Please."

Enggang flew down to sit near Momo. It walked carefully to avoid stepping on other animals circling around Momo. It then sat down in a well mannered. Momo then put another cup in front of the Enggang.

"Enjoy"

"Thank you"

It used its long beak to take a small sip from the cup and let out a pleasant sigh. Suddenly, the earth trembled, scaring the small animals to hide behind Momo.

Enggang grinned and glared toward Kim.

"Trying to own this place, are you? Your trial isn't finished, boy… the one who's going to decide is not me… but him!"

The earth trembled, again and again, becoming stronger each time it occurred. Kim finished absorbing all the mana and with a gentle expression, he stared directly into Momo's eyes to check her condition. Momo glare back at him and they look at each other for several breaths. After sensing her well being and seeing how playfully she are with the other animals, even tamed Enggang itself… Kim breathes out a sigh of relief and turned around to see the oncoming silhouette coming towards him.

When looked closely, its whole body coloured with earthly brown. Leaves and vines become its clothes and on top of its head is decorated with birds' feathers. Its left hand is holding a shield with intricate and mystique design on it. On its waist is a parang that is ready to be wielded any time. It faced showed a faceless expression, however, deep in its eyes…an emotion filled with sadness could be seen.

With a single glance, Kim was able to distinguish it to be similar with the other Iban Warrior he fought just now. However, he could somehow recognize the warrior from the flashes of memories he was reliving before. Every step the warrior took caused a tremor that shook the whole world… as if the whole world is resonating with him.

Enggang looked at the warrior with a perplexed feeling. It could feel the sadness coming out from the warrior. It understood thoroughly well how the warrior has lived…and especially how the warrior has fallen. Feeling empathetic, Enggang took another sip from the cup of tea to relax its heart. Momo then poured another filling and patting the feathery body.

The warrior and Kim is standing just a few metres apart from each other.

Kim looked into the warrior eyes with full of respect. The sadness portrayed from its eyes made Kim feel like how he felt when he was undergoing the whole experience. Kim clasped both of his hand and bowed down as a show of respect. Kim readied his stance with a face full of determination.

"Show me some guidance, Sir!"

The warrior dropped its shield down which absorbed into the ground. Then several shields appeared circling both Kim and the warrior to form a border of hundreds of metres in radius.

The warrior released its mana pressure and stomp the ground within the border to shook violently. Kim stayed focus and stood on his ground without losing his balance. Both Kim and the warriors within a line of sight and started to rush toward one another… leaving a blurry afterimage behind. Their punch connected, creating ripples in the air.

Cracks forming at the arm of the warrior… however, Kim felt even more astonished. A strong earth-shattering vibration surging into his arm. Painful sensation piercing his arm like a thousand needles. Due to imminent danger, he took a step back and let the warrior go through. If Kim was a second late, every bone in his left arm would be shattered to pieces.

Kim turned around while moving sideways, allowing a near miss from the warrior punch. A slight graze caused his cheek to bleed a bit. Using the spinning momentum of his body, Kim countered with a back kick hoping to land a direct blow. The warrior, however, stood upright without any intentions to guard against Kim's back kick.

Kim enhanced his leg making his kick powerful enough to split a whole mountain. The kick landed, only… to form cracks at the warrior body. The warrior remained unfazed. It grabbed Kim's leg and tried to elbow Kim's leg. Even before the blow hit him, Kim could feel the same powerful vibrations that could shatter the earth!

With a slight gesture, Kim manipulated the earth to cover his leg as like a sheen guard. He then used the warrior body as a holding and jumped with another leg to kick the warrior's neck. He enveloped his kicking leg with hellfire.

"Explode!"

Kim kick and the warrior's elbow hit their target at the same time. The bursting fiery flames of explosions sent the warrior flying. Both Kim's arm and leg are numb. While the warrior trying to recover he opened and closed his hands several times to check his injury.

"That boy is talented. He's able to manipulate two elements and enhanced his body at the same time. And… for him to be able to manipulate earth… he really did gain recognition…"

"Yes, that my master"

"Are you that strong as that boy, girl?"

"It's Momo, and that's Master Kim"

"…So, Momo"

"Yes?"

"Are you as strong as that b-"

"Say boy once more and you won't get more tea"

Enggang stayed silent and Momo poured another filling of tea.

Momo and Enggang took another sip.

Kim looked at them with mixed emotions.

"Is Momo trying to tame that monster? Looks like it is sitting in seiza position"

When Kim averted his eyes from the clashes of attacks, the warrior didn't waste a single breath to take the chance attacking Kim. It used a single point enhancement on its arm. It poured all its mana to increased its arm strength by several folds and unleashed a single mighty punch! After this, the warrior would be entirely empty of mana.

It's a single punch that caused the whole world the feel tremor. It's a single punch that could decimate the earth. It's a single punch that could shatter the sky.

The whole lustrous green world was trembling, shaking in fear just by this one single punch and... a 17 years old boy is standing in front of the mighty force that could shake the entire world... or even the universe!

What the warrior didn't expect was Kim didn't even let his guard loose for even a single second. Halfway before the powerful shockwave hit him, a figure appeared in front of him. It grew larger and larger until it reached 300 metres tall. It used both its arms to protect Kim by enveloping him. Then 4 more arms grew from behind. It then madly unleashed barrages of fist to go against the shockwave.

"That's... a mana spirit. How can this boy..."

"Ahem!" Momo gave a light cough

"I meant this KIM, able to do so much at a young age. As if... he had trained mana for hundreds of years!"

A huge boom exploded every time each punches connected. The clashes between the two powerful forces sounded like a someone is running through a minefield!

Kim was sitting crossed-leg in the middle of the huge figure as its nucleus. His eyes were closed, trying to concentrate his mana toward his counterattack. However, that single punch proved to be more powerful than what Kim had expected.

He commanded the huge figure to keep on punching and punching but clearly, Kim was pushed backwards. Kim felt astonished as the single punch from the warrior overwhelmed him. He gritted his teeth as blood ooze from the corner of his mouth. In the end, just the shockwave broke his guard and shattered his mana spirit in pieces.

But that was only the shockwave! The fist was still coming!

"What a blow! If quantity gets me to nothing then I'll gamble it all with this one attack!"

Kim's body, along with nature emanated a brilliant white light. Even Momo who was sitting there sipping some tea was shining!

"Fist of the Heaven and Earth!"

Their fist directly clashed with each other. Creating huge ripples in the air. Sucking the air dry.

They seemed to be evenly matched. But when one look closely, Kim was slowly losing. Kim felt more astonished than he was before because obviously, he was at his utmost limit now. Although just slightly, he was still losing.

"Give up boy, the warrior, although being at the level of a superior legendary monster, its most powerful attack could go against a heavenly monster!"

More blood ooze from the orifices of Kim's face. Most people would give up trying at this point, but Kim's mental was more astonishing that his physical capability! He didn't lose focus and continued to stand on his ground. He didn't give up. More like he didn't want to give up. He wanted to win no matter what!

It's not because of pride, or stubbornness. It's actually an act of kindness from Kim. He knew what the warrior has been through. He knew why the warrior is still alive until today. He knew that if he loses, the warrior will continue to live... live in regret.

Regretting not being able to find his successor. Finding someone who is strong enough to protect his beloved. The warrior is a true son of Sarawak who thought not only for himself but also his people. The one who fought relentlessly, to gain freedom and independence for his land! The one who had shaken the world just by his name alone! He's the mighty warrior, Rentap, the earthshaker!