It was getting colder as the sky had yet to be cleared. For some reason, it hadn't rained yet. He was getting a lot thirstier.
The soot blocks sunlight and he has no idea when it will clear up.
Getting down the tall mountain, Asher was under the dark clouds once again.
With his mind clearer before he climbed the mountain cliff, Asher remembered a terrifying phenomenon.
Volcanic winter.
When there's a giant volcanic eruption, its soot will cover the sun. The temperature will plummet, creating a temporary winter.
It may also delay rain for months while the phenomenon itself may last up to weeks, even up to a year.
... but this is not just any volcanic winter.
Asher might turn crazy thinking about it so he stopped.
The climb down was much faster than climbing up. With his strength and control, he was able to slide down where normal people wouldn't even dare stand on.
In just a few hours, he was back on the foot of the mountain.
With the change in atmospheric pressure so suddenly, Asher became nausea. He utilize the remainder of the World Energy within him to quickly adapt.
[Minor Recovery]
The weight on his body turned lighter.
That used up all the World Energy remaining within him.
Grrr*
Thus, he had to stop and get something to eat.
After taking some underground vegetables to roast, Asher took a bite of a raw potato. This potato turned into a small stream of World Energy within his stomach.
While one potato was nowhere near enough to get one strand of World Energy, Asher didn't need a strand to use a common Earthern-Rank Soul Skill: [Light Spark], which kindled the campfire alive.
Asher felt the hunger he had been ignoring. That's why he got more food than usual.
And as he was roasting the food...
Rustle*
Startled, Asher turned around to the sound of rustling. It was night again and the only source of light was his campfire.
Beyond the reach of its light was like the void, there was nothing he could see past this haven.
Asher's heartbeat hastened.
"Is someone there?"
With a low voice, he called out. He doesn't need to worry about being found out by calling out. If someone or something was out there, they had long seen him as he is the only one with fire.
But even a moment later, there was still just silence.
Asher became confused. He looked around from the mountain peak and didn't see any sign of life.
Was that a sound of wind? If there was someone out there, why wouldn't they make themselves known?
Or, was it an underground beast? Worse... a Fallen?
With that thought, Asher stood up and readied himself. Within his memory, he was searching for the strongest barrier-type skill he could use right now.
Usually, Asher wouldn't be scared. However, he had just exhausted the World Energy within him. He wasn't in the best state to fight right now.
...
But there was nothing.
Huh... was it really just the wind?
It must be it then. If it was a Fallen, it would've charged right through and tried to kill me.
Was I turning crazy?
Asher didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He wouldn't be surprised if he had turned mad, hearing something that isn't there.
But as he sat down, something moved in his peripheral vision.
He's not crazy!
Something is out here and he knows what it is!
Asher's mood became complicated. Even though he didn't directly see it, it was fairly obvious. That 'thing' moved too close and entered where the light could reach.
When he saw the vermillion color, he was sure of it.
It's that devilish bitch!
It would be impossible to make a mistake. What else has that kind of color in this darkened world?
He didn't expect to encounter her this early right after deciding to find her again.
It was also startling because he didn't see any sign of life when he was at the mountain peak. He didn't think that days after separating, she would be nearby, thus, he didn't see her when he was looking far out into the horizon.
The question was, what is she doing here?
Asher wasn't sure but he acted as if he didn't see her for now. It didn't seem like she regained her power. If she did, he wouldn't be alive to think about it.
So, why was she here?
Staring at the fire, Asher thought of two things: The heat and the food.
She must be pretty cold and hungry.
That made him delightful, thinking about it.
Karma? He thought.
For the first time in days, he smiled as he bit through the roasted food.
"Mm," he murmured, "so sweet."
Grrr*
A stomach growl replied to him from a distance.
Hehe
Asher controlled himself from making an expression, or else the devil might find out.
Soon, he was on his last roasted food- a potato. He was already full. Food provides him World Energy, albeit small, and it still have to be digested.
Staring at it for a moment, he bit on it, chewed, and spat out onto the fire. His actions may seem strange for a person trying to survive in the wild. However, Asher didn't care about saving it for later. He could always get some food later on.
So, he continued this pointless act of eating and spitting it out. When there was only one bite left, he threw it away like it was some trash.
After a while, he lay down but did not sleep.
Although he needed to meet her, Asher was reluctant.
He wasn't sure he wouldn't try and grab her neck again.
Now that she's here, there must be for a reason, namely, food and heat. For that reason, even if he didn't try, she might stick to him like a tail and that's why he had to throw away that last bite.
It was bait.
Since her power was gone, they must be in the same boat. Cold, hungry, and thirsty. No, seeing that she's here but not showing herself, she must be in a more desperate situation.
Thus, that Phoenix should take this bait.
As for why it's only a bite? Asher was petty in that way.
No matter how much he needed her help, she was still that devilish bitch who look down upon humans like they were ants.
That might be true for a Divine Being, but as an ant, that would never be a good feeling.
Me, lucky? How does it feel to be the lucky one to get food for free?
Thoughts like this spiraled and soon, he fell asleep.
The next day, Asher looked around and found that the bait was gone.
Did she take it? Or, did he just fail to find it with all the ashes around?
He shrugged his shoulders. He got this feeling he will see her again soon.
Making a makeshift shoulder bag from his extra clothing, tied with tough roots, Asher used it to store food in case of emergency.
After having a heavy breakfast and feeling satisfied, Asher continued on his journey.
His feet brought him over the dark land until it was dusk again.
Going over the routine, he created a campfire and began roasting the food stored in his bag. He had to fill himself up to make up for the World Energy he exhausted.
Although he can absorb it from his surroundings, consuming food taken from the world was a natural way and wouldn't harm his body. However, the problem was that it was a very small process.
World Energy is extremely powerful and he wouldn't be able to get much from just eating ordinary food.
Putting that aside, there's moisture in this food, so while others are being roasted, he ate the first one raw just to provide water to his body, albeit little.
After some time...
Rustle*
She's back.