Time passed by like the wind, as a month went by in what seemed to be a day to Alex. Yet his progress couldn't even fit in a month.
With Alex training everyday, sticking true to his word, his growth was unbelievable. Now Alex felt like a true swordsman.
During this time Alex wasn't the only one to grow. As the entire group had grown, this was extremely evident with a glance at their shelter.
Inside the plane the interior was unrecognizable. With Alex's hopes of creating a capitalistic environment completely working.
As within the plane shops were set up, while people started selling whatever they could. The need for food and the lack of skill had led to many merchants and shopkeepers.
Now the plane was split into four parts, the market where things could be sold and bought in the middle back of the plane.
The tub of water in the back of the plane. The restaurant in the front of the plane where food would be distributed.
Finally in the middle front of the plane was used for the people's beds. While the front middle back and back were still crowded with beds it was mostly concentrated in the middle front of the plane.
Alex kept to his spot near the front of the plane, finding the lesser the people around him the better.
Yet this was a bit of a challenge, as the centralized people in the plane all revolved around a campfire set up.
This campfire was the main reason for the centralized population. With people wanting to avoid cold nights as much as possible.
Although Alex was able to overcome this by wrapping himself up in a large amount of clothes.
While it was also a new tradition for people to now head to the freshwater lake to bathe themselves every once and awhile, with different genders going at different times.
With the sun just before its peak Alex was out training. Under the hot rays of the summer sun Alex had worked up a sweat.
Despite this he continued to swing his sword. With his trusty katana in his hand he practiced sophisticated motions.
As his blade cut through the air with the power and strength of fire, yet with the beautiful movement of water.
As his blade through the air Alex suddenly turned and slashed his blade diagonally down a nearby tree.
With the swift and fluid motion his katana travelled through the tree interrupted. While Alex then brought his blade back up.
Although this motion would usually be rigid Alex made it smooth and flowing, as any sharp motions were undetectable.
While once again Alex cut his sword diagonally down the tree, yet this time on the opposite time.
As Alex brought his sword back to his side he turned toward the tree. A sudden gust of wind blew onto the side of the tree.
Then the tree suddenly was split into four pieces, with two small triangular pieces falling to the ground.
Shortly after a rest of the tree followed as it fell quickly to the ground. As it slammed against the ground sending a poof of dust off the ground.
Alex then turned around as if not surprised by the outcome. As he headed back to the plane where a makeshift ladder led to the plane's entrance.
Made out of vines and stuck, the ladder was somehow able to support Alex's weight as he climbed up and entered the plane.
Alex was met by a small group that awaited his arrival. At his entrance the group's eyes seemed to glimmer as they all looked at him.
"Hey boss, are you ready to head out?"
"Yup let me just grab a quick drink of water."
Alex walked by the group heading to the back of the plane. Stopping by his seat he grabbed his water bottle and continued.
After a while Lyra decided it'd be best if she led a group to water and he led the hunting group. Eventually along the way his group of hunters started calling him boss.
Alex was annoyed by it, yet he didn't feel like telling his group off. As with their time together he had grown accustomed to the nickname.
While he had also started to slowly get attached to his group. With their constant happiness reminding Alex of dogs.
Alex was happy to have found friends on the unknown continent, even if they weren't his age.
Then as Alex came back to the group he was ready for their daily hunting trip.
"Alright let's head out boys."
The men were excited about the thrills of hunting, causing them to rush out of the plane.
Except the only problem with their rushing was the weakness of the ladder. With it only being strong enough to support one person at a time.
Yet this didn't stop the group as they split up between climbing down the tree and using the ladder, with Alex being the few that were able to use the ladder.
Once the entire group reached the forest floor they started travelling toward the volcano. Their greatest landmark.
Even on foggy days where they couldn't see the great volcano they had long memorized the path to and back from the volcano.
Yet today wasn't foggy, instead it was a clear day with few clouds in the sky. With Alex leading the group through the forest.
Every once and awhile Alex and his group would encounter a couple of huge bugs, retrieving any food they could from the insects.
Yet they would get lucky when they would encounter a preying bird or a wild boar. Making quick work of their prey, collecting the meat in a bag.
Then in a clearing of the thick forest trees Alex saw a huge brown lump on the ground. Intrigued Alex led his group to the clearing.
After getting closer Alex recognized what the bump was. As he did, a sinister grin set itself upon Alex's face.
Well this is gonna be fun.
Alex's hand tightly grasped his katana before releasing his grip to a more light and lethal grip.
In front of Alex and his group was a large brown bear. Just like every other creature on the island it was a corrupted abomination.
Yet Alex was not afraid or even worried, instead he was brimming with excitement.
In Alex's eyes he does not see a huge menacing brown bear, but instead a test, a final test to determine his growth.
Even in all the time that had gone by Alex had not encountered another bear, with today seeming to be his lucky day.
Alex raised his left hand in a fist. This was a sign to his group to stand back. Alex wanted to fight the bear alone.
While Alex's group was hesitant they let him go, as he walked toward the bear. With just his steps getting the attention of the bear.
The bear originally laying down got up quickly analyzing its surroundings before quickly noticing Alex.
At this the bear snarled at Alex before standing up on its hind legs and roaring.
This was obviously meant to scare off other creatures. Yet Alex was not backing down as he stared down the bear with a terrifying look in his eyes.
The bear was momentarily surprised but then started to charge at Alex Reacting to this Alex quickly dodged to the left, watching the bear run past him.
Alex then spun in a circle, not letting the bear recover from its miss. As Alex quickly struck at one of the bear's legs.
Yet this time the smooth and swift motion didn't just make the cut as deep as Alex's blade went, but instead cut straight through the bear's leg.
In the next moment the bear was missing one of its hind legs while letting out an agonized scream before turning back toward Alex.
As it turned around it was shocked to see Alex mere feet away from its head. With Alex in the air with both hands on his katana and ready to stab the bear's eye.
Alex shoved both arms forward piercing the bear's eye, before smithing cutting down causing his blade to be removed from the bear.
While with this motion he continued it to its side before slicing through the bear's nearby hand.
As once Alex stabbed the bear's eye it had immediately thrown its paw towards Alex, yet he had noticed this.
Now the bear was missing its fingers, the very ones that were supposed to hit Alex, yet now they were falling to the ground, just like Alex.
Alex landed on the ground and quickly ran back to avoid the bear's second attack, sent immediately after its loss of fingers.
Narrowly avoiding its swing at him Alex pulled out a ruin he had gained from a much smaller and less powerful spider then the one in his dreams.
This ruin was a sharp blade attached to a long and thin web string. Once materialized Alex threw the blade at the bear.
Piercing the bear's intact arm Alex quickly wrapped the remaining string of the web to a tree.
During his training he had hunted down as many beasts as he could to build up a huge fortune of ruins.
While he also tested them out, during this testing he had found that the web connecting the blade was nearly indestructible.
While the blade itself was like an arrow or harpoon, being immensely difficult to get out of one's skin.
The bear tried pulling at the blade but was met with immense pain. Realizing this the bear charged at the tree holding the rope, completely ignoring Alex.
During this Alex snuck behind the bear and got to its last working hind leg. Yet while the bear was moving Alex would not be able to cut its thick leg off.
Instead Alex swiftly cut down on the back of its leg. In one smooth motion a giant vertical gash was left in the bear's hind leg.
While this immense pain momentarily caused the bear's remaining leg to collapse. This sent the bear flying forward into the nearby tree.
The bear had tried catching itself with its front limbs but its lack of fingers on one limb and a harpoon hitting a nerve in the other caused its arms to collapse in the fall.
This series of events led to the bear tumbling forward and slamming its head into the nearby tree knocking it unconscious.
Alex quickly climbed atop it and stabbed its head in such a place that it was given a quick death, a gift in this wretched continent.
[ You have slain a toughened bear, you have been awarded two ruins]
While Alex was extremely joyous by his achievement and ran to his buddies.
"Jesus, that was an awesome boss."
"How the hell did you kill that colossal bear by yourself?!"
"That was fricking sick dude."
Everyone was surprised at what had just happened. Even Alex was surprised by his own growth.
…
Alex and his group had collected the meat of the bear before heading back to the plane. While Alex now finally felt that he was prepared to face the spider.
Yet not before he checked out his new ruin. As he quickly summoned the panel displaying us ruins and maneuvered to his two new ones.
Pulling up the two screens he focused on the crystal he had been awarded.
[Ruin name: Mutated Skin Crystals
Ruin type: Crystal
Ruin class: Skin
Ruin Abilities: Increase the power of a ruin inside the Skin class, or talents in the Skin class.
Ruin origin: Produced from the body of a toughened bear.
Stage: 2
Realm: 1]
Alex had now understood why the bear's skin was so tough. He had now realized that it must've had toughened skin.
Yet he was also surprised that the crystal was stage two. Which meant it was a broader category of a stage one crystal.
Then Alex navigated to his next ruin.
[Ruin name: Metal Coat
Ruin type: Armor
Ruin class: Toughened Bear
Quantity: 4
Ruin Abilities: Increase the power of a ruin inside the Toughened Bear class, or talents in the Toughened Bear class.
Ruin origin: Awarded to a person who passed a self proclaimed test.
Stage: 2
Realm: 1]
Alex was dumbfounded by the origin, not knowing whether he should be insulted or not.
Yet he was also extremely excited he had gotten an armor type ruin.
Even more than that Alex was surprised that it was a stage two ruin. Realizing this Alex then realized he must've been fighting a stage two monster.
Realizing his new strength Alex could rest at peace. Yet his dreams would be far from peaceful.