Leaving the whispering canopy of the Aethel Forest behind, Jiraiya continued his journey into the island's interior, instinctively heading toward the mountain massif that dominated the central horizon. The terrain became progressively more rugged, with deep valleys, rushing rivers, and jagged peaks that disappeared into the low clouds. The vegetation took on an even more primordial feel, with strangely shaped trees and bioluminescent flowers that gave the nights an ethereal, slightly eerie glow.
I felt the island's energy with growing intensity. Not just the wild flow emanating from the earth, but also pulses of massive energy that seemed to vibrate over considerable distances. These pulses were different from those I felt near the Olwatu settlement or in the bamboo forest; they were more powerful, more... conscious. They were the echoes of the Titans, the true ruling forces of this world.
The traces of giant creatures became more frequent. He found footprints in the mud the size of small boats, claw marks tearing at the bark of ancient trees, and devastated clearings where battles between colossal beasts had recently occurred. He moved with extreme caution, using all his stealth and tracking skills to avoid direct encounters with creatures that could crush him without even noticing.
It was in a misty valley, near a river that cascaded down a cliff, that he had his first significant encounter with the Great Ape race. He had been following the trail of a giant herbivore, hoping to hunt it, when he sensed a disturbance in the energy, different from that of the prey. It was a pulse of energy that resonated with intelligence, strength, and a strange familiarity, similar to that of Father Mountain described in the legends, but less ancient, more... youthful and vibrant.
He hid in a group of mossy rocks on the hillside, using broad leaves to camouflage his position. From there, he had a clear view of the valley below. And then he saw them.
They were giant apes, with dark fur and musculature that dwarfed even the largest beasts he'd encountered so far. They weren't as colossal as the Titan Ape he'd seen fighting in his early days, but they were impressive. There were several of them: a huge, dominant male, several females, and some juveniles playing nearby. It was a family, a social group.
The dominant male reared up on his hind legs, beating his chest with his fists in a display of power. The females foraged, digging up giant roots with ease. The juveniles chased each other, their clumsy play sending shock waves through the ground.
Jiraiya watched, his shinobi mind analyzing every detail. Their size was overwhelming, a raw physical strength that surpassed anything he'd seen in his world. But it wasn't just strength. He saw the intelligence in their eyes, the way they communicated with grunts and gestures, the social hierarchy within the group. Their movements, though massive, were surprisingly coordinated and efficient. They could scale cliffs with ease, swing from giant trees, and strike with devastating accuracy.
He watched as they interacted with other beasts in the valley. The giant herbivores avoided them, sensing their dominance. Lesser creatures fled in their presence. They were the kings of this territory, and their power was based as much on their physical strength as on their intelligence and social organization.
A juvenile, chasing a small creature, came dangerously close to Jiraiya's position. The latter's heart pounded. The juvenile, though small for a Kong, was still many times his size. It remained perfectly still, using its stealth techniques to become almost invisible against the rocks and moss. The juvenile passed a few meters from him, unaware of his presence, absorbed in its game. Jiraiya could see up close the detail of its fur, the texture of its skin, the intensity in its curious eyes. It was a mixture of wonder and the primal instinct of a predator stalking.
As he watched them, he couldn't help but let his perverted mind find "research" material even under these circumstances. He observed the Kong family's social interactions, the mannerisms between the dominant male and the females, the way the juveniles interacted with each other. Could their courtship patterns or social hierarchy be adapted for his future novels? It was an absurd idea, but Jiraiya's mind found "inspiration" in the strangest places. Mentally, he began taking notes on "courtship rituals among giant primates," though he knew it would be a challenge to adapt for a human audience.
He also continued to experiment with the energy of this world. Near the Kongs, the energy felt different, more concentrated, resonating with the same life force emanating from them. He tried to tune into that resonance, to feel the energy within them. It was like trying to feel the throbbing of a volcano; overwhelming but fascinating. He managed to perceive subtle variations in the energy flow when they communicated or demonstrated strength, as if their emotions and actions were intrinsically linked to the power of the island.
He watched as one of the Kongs used a rudimentary tool, a large rock, to break the shell of a creature it had hunted. They weren't just creatures of instinct; they had intelligence and problem-solving skills. This reinforced the idea that Father Mountain, an ancestor of this race, would not just be a powerful beast, but a being with wisdom and, perhaps, a form of communication.
He spent most of the day observing the Kong family, learning everything he could about their behavior, their social dynamics, and their relationship to their environment. He realized that, despite their size and power, they weren't inherently evil; they were part of the ecosystem, apex predators, living according to the rules of nature.
As night fell, the Kong family huddled together to sleep in a makeshift nest of giant leaves. Jiraiya quietly retreated from his position, moving with the same caution with which he had arrived. The experience had left him with a mixture of awe, respect, and a deeper understanding of the scale of power in this world.
The "shadow of the giant apes" was no longer just a legend to him; it was an imposing reality. He had seen up close the race of Titans who protected (or dominated) the island. Each observation was another piece in the puzzle. Understanding Father Mountain's descendants was, arguably, a necessary step in getting closer to the ancestor himself. His mind filled with new observations (both about gigantic combat tactics and "perverted ethnography"), Jiraiya continued his journey, the distant roar of the Kongs a constant reminder of the power he sought to understand and, ultimately, match.
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