The Earth After Rebirth

"Hubris, why are all your attacks frontal? That's dumb and unstrategic. With your speed, you shouldn't just run straight for the enemy. Your attacks are way too easy to read!" Kiro reprimanded him for the hundredth time.

"I'm trying, it's just hard to beat what I'm used to master."

"Well, try harder. We don't have time here."

They hadn't stopped training since. Kiro realised that Hubris relied too much on easily readable patterns and just pure strength. If he had a chance to win, he should be unpredictable.

"Can't you use your precognition to predict your opponent's moves, like I do with vibrations?"

"I can, but it consumes quite a lot out of me."

"We have potions, you better use that in battle, okay?"

He nodded. He continued to attack randomly, there was zero strategy but it worked. Kiro's muscles were screaming for him to take a break, but he persisted. He had to, the luxury to laze around ended when they stepped out of the tower. He was prepared to lose his entire character progress to help Hubris.

After what seemed like days, Hubris was finally getting it. He was properly using his speed, with his attacks effectively.

He thought about using precognition just once during this to get the hang of it. It seemed like they were dancing around each other, as they avoided attacks, slightly able to predict where the other would attack.

Kiro was thoroughly impressed as he couldn't land a single attack as he previously could. Hubris was starting to look like a king, but he could feel that he would lose as he didn't have a pool as large as his. It was inevitable, but he stubbornly persisted.

Hubris managed to fool Kiro's vibrational sense, using intangibility and appearing at his blindspot on his left side, just as fast. He finally managed to connect an attack that sent Kiro flying and crashing into the nearby trees.

"Master!" He ran to his side, "what happened? I thought for sure your golden armour would block it, otherwise I wouldn't have..."

Kiro laid on the dirt, he didn't even attempt to get up. He was feeling giddy, so he started laughing. Hubris was sure he had hit his head way too hard because of the strange behaviour.

"I'm okay, I'm okay. I think I've depleted my energy that's why it didn't activate."

"You're quite weak when it comes to stamina, master." Hubris joked.

"Look at you, making jokes." He sighed deeply, "good use of your skills there, keep it up and you will soon have your revenge."

Kiro was completely beat, but he noticed that, every time his energy drained, his pool got a little bigger and his absorption speed becomes faster. So, in a way, this was a huge gain for him. He wasn't complaining at all.

He looked at the sky, he didn't notice it before but grey clouds were gathering throughout the Underworld sky. He didn't pay it much attention, but he was sure the sun was always out in this realm. But not today.

The sun didn't go down without a fight, it tried melting away the clouds but it eventually lost the fight, it seemed like, they were here to stay.

"It may just rain. I'm scared to even find out what kind of rain this world gets. Probably some acidic liquid."

Hubris chuckled, "I may not remember much about this world, but I do remember that, it never rained. Except for the solar rain, no water falls from the sky."

"Then, how do the oceans and rivers not dry?"

"Beats me. We should've asked the monkey King." He said drinking a bunch of potions to ensure that he was ready for action.

Just then, a gust of wind appeared out of nowhere. It blew for a while until Kiro realised that the spectres were back. The one that was left behind, zoomed in coming from the underground base, to join his brethren from doing gods know what.

After a while, the winds calmed down and they started communicating with Kiro about everything they've gathered so far. Hubris was listening attentively but he still couldn't hear anything.

Curiosity and anticipation caused him to notice that his breathing was louder than usual. He could hear his own heart pumping within his chest, keeping him alive. He could hear insects crawling under them.

He had concentrated so much that he heard things he normally wouldn't. But he still couldn't hear them, it was frustrating.

"Your uncle's castle is South of here, about a 5 hour walk even with our speed. He keeps himself isolated in a sort of an island."

"Coward!"

Kiro ignored his distasteful hatred, "they have told me that, your uncle is being manipulated by a man named Ammon. Rings any bell?"

"No!" He bellowed, "it matters little to me whether he's being controlled. His blood is already in my hands."

"That's likely what this Ammon wants, but I agree with you. Your uncle has to die along with his loyal subjects."

Hubris looked at Kiro and nodded, he calmed down a bit.

"The traitor who told them about your return was one of the arachnids, the one who died under suspicious conditions. That Ammon sent that assassin after you, to speed up our plans."

"How cunning!" Hubris interjected, disgusted at this old hound who thought he owned the Underworld. "But is that all, master?" He noticed that Kiro had stayed silent for some time.

"His castle is difficult to reach, bringing an army there would prove problematic. But not to worry, he chose to move first, his army is already marching towards us."

Hubris nodded in understanding. "Master, get your things, whatever that is. We need to go, I'll gather my people and we shall meet them half way."

"That's my line, the spectres have discovered an advantageous field that we need to get to quickly. If we leave within 5 hours, we will get there in a day before they do."

Hubris went and gathered his people, with Kiro by his side. The rumour people have heard of was right in front of them, begging them to fight with him. He was taller, bigger and stronger than them, most of all, he was their found King. They wouldn't say no even if they wanted to.

With that, the hounds that could fight followed right behind the hound they claimed as their King. Most were adorned in battle leather armour. Marching forward, to reclaim their home.