CHAPTER 212: THE CONTRACT

Adam sat on a high branch. He watched the fire-breathing horses. He felt no fear. He knew what he could do to them. He was free now. No more seals held him. He had an idea. I should capture one of these horses, he thought. Travel would be much easier.

He stood up. He jumped from the branch. He flew up into the open sky. The black winged horses saw him. They thought he was food. They turned and charged. Their horns pointed at him. Their mouths started to glow.

Adam smiled. He knew how to tame beasts. But these horses did not understand him. They only saw a meal. They flew at him very fast. Adam was still in the air. He was starting to fall. He held out his hand. "I will destroy you with your own attack," he said.

A small spark appeared in his hand. It grew into a tiny flame. The flame got bigger. Then it shot forward. It was like an arrow made of fire. But it was more than that. The fire spread out. It became a huge wall of flame. It filled the sky. Adam used his will to feed the fire. It grew and grew.

The winged horses saw the fire. They tried to turn. But it was too late. The fire surrounded them. It was a cage of flame. The fire burned them. One by one they fell from the sky. They hit the ground hard. They made strange pained sounds.

Adam landed on a high branch. He looked down at the mess. His fire had not just killed the horses. It had also set the forest on fire. The old trees were burning.

He raised a hand. He made a strong wind. It was like a small storm. The wind blew through the forest. It put out the fire. Then Adam looked at the fallen horses. They were amazing creatures.

They had four wings each. Two big wings for power. Two small wings for control. The fire had burned their wings. Their beautiful black coats were now scorched. The horses cried out in pain.

Adam jumped down from the an a high branch, landing silently on the forest floor. He walked forward until he stood before the herd of fallen, suffering beasts.

"Alright," he said, his voice calm and detached. "Let’s see how much willpower you have left."

He raised a hand, and behind him, seven large spheres of pure water materialized in the air. At his command, the spheres moved, hovering over the smoldering bodies of the winged horses.

One by one, they descended, dousing the magical flames that still clung to the creatures’ hides. The burning stopped, leaving behind the smell of ozone and charred flesh. Their wings were burnt stumps, their black coats scorched in patches. Adam stood there, waiting, observing. He wanted to see what they would do next.

One of the horses, larger than the rest, staggered to its feet. It let out a defiant, pain-filled snort and charged at Adam, lowering its demonic horn, intending to impale him.

"So," Adam said, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "You still have some fight left in you."

He raised his hand again, the one he had lowered moments before. This time, he formed it into the shape of a gun, his index finger pointed at the charging beast.

Without a word, two thin, crackling bolts of black lightning shot from his fingertip. They struck the horse squarely on its forehead.

The beast’s charge came to an abrupt halt. It stumbled backwards, its legs trembling, then collapsed to the ground, its body convulsing from the electrical shock. The lightning strike had been weak, a carefully measured attack. Adam did not want to kill them. He just wanted to make them understand. They had to submit.

He lowered his hand and waited. After a few tense moments, the convulsing horse grew still. Slowly, painfully, it rose to its feet again. But this time, it did not charge. It walked towards Adam, its head lowered, and knelt before him. One by one, the other horses followed its lead, rising to their feet and kneeling before their new master.

Adam smiled. He had not just tamed one horse. He had subjugated the entire herd. He walked towards one of the kneeling horses. He held out his hand. A gentle green light flowed from his palm.

It spread out and touched each of the horses. The healing light washed over them. It mended their burned skin. It soothed their pain. The horses felt their strength return.

They stood up. They let out happy snorts. They trotted around the clearing. Adam watched them. He felt a small smile on his face.

The largest horse the one who had charged him first walked up to Adam. It lowered its head. It was a sign of submission. Adam knew this was the leader of the herd. He placed a hand on its head. He poured a small amount of his magic into it. He made a contract with the beast. The horse’s body glowed with a bright blue light. Changes started to happen. White lines like tattoos spread across its black coat. Its wings which were once black turned pure white. Its horns also turned from black to white.

"My contract with you is complete," Adam said.

The horse now felt very powerful. It stood tall. Adam jumped onto its back. The horse spread its new white wings. It flew up into the sky.

As they flew Adam leaned forward. "To the north," he commanded.

The horse cried out. It understood. It flew forward very fast. Adam held on to its thick mane. They flew through the air like a rocket.

Back in the village Anastasia returned home. Rachel and Ricky saw she was alone. Their worst fears came true. "He is not there," Anastasia said.

Then Edward came back from his search. "I did not find him in the jungle," he said.

Other villagers started to gather. They were all worried. Anastasia felt very guilty. She knew this was her fault.

Ricky’s face was very serious. "Edward," he said. "Gather the hunters. We will go find my son."

"I will go with you," Rachel said.

Ricky stopped her with a hand. But Anastasia stepped forward.

"I am going too," she said.

Ricky was about to say no. But Edward said "Let her go brother. She can help."

Ricky thought for a moment. Then he nodded. Anastasia turned to her mother. "Do not worry Mother," she said. "I will bring him home."

But Rachel was still very worried.

Soon a search party of more than twenty hunters left the village. They were led by Ricky Edward and Anastasia. Everyone in the village knew what was happening. The chief’s son was lost in the jungle. They all knew Adam. He was a mischievous boy.

As they went into the jungle Ricky said to Edward "Tell everyone to report any sign of him."

The group split up. They went in different directions. Ricky kept Anastasia with him. He knew she had only been in the safe parts of the jungle. The deeper parts were very dangerous. The scars on his own body were proof of that. But Adam was his son. He had to save him.

The scene changed. Adam was still flying on his new horse. "I will call you Alpha," he said.

Alpha cried out happily. It flew even faster. Below them Adam saw a big river. He saw a huge crocodile in the water. The crocodile looked up. It saw them. Then it disappeared under the water.

Adam felt a strange feeling. He looked down at the river. The water was rising. It was making a big bulge. His senses screamed a warning. Move!

He teleported himself and Alpha to the side. Just then the huge crocodile jumped out of the river. Its giant jaws snapped shut on empty air. Adam was shocked. The crocodile had so much power. It could jump into the sky.

The crocodile fell back to the ground. It landed on the river bank. It was not hurt. It looked up at them. Adam knew this was no normal crocodile.

He was about to order Alpha to attack. But his senses screamed again. He made a magic barrier around them. At the same time two more giant crocodiles jumped from the river. They hit his barrier from both sides.

Adam looked down. The river bank was now covered with them. There were dozens of giant crocodiles. He had only seen one. He did not know it was part of a pack.

A slow smile spread on his face. He patted Alpha’s neck. The great horse understood. It opened its mouth. A stream of white fire shot out. It was Adam’s own power. The fire covered all the crocodiles below. It was a storm of cleansing fire.

Adam needs to locate a place to rest. Because he encountered many beasts in his way there and without any rest for his body, which has low mana compared to his previous body, especially the spirit body.