Mars spent the 2 mounts hunting together with the elvers when they where low on food, and spearing with Rex and Alvin training and helping him get used to his [Swordsmans.h.i.+p] skill, even learning a little hand to hand combat from Isabel that was even better than Rex at hand to hand combat, he also learned some more spells from Chloe and even though she was more restrained compared to the now infamous first lecture Mars could still see a hint of joy in her eyes when he called her teacher

"....and done!"

Mars was currently inside the cave, left alone as Victoria was playing with Chloe, he had just finished making a s.h.i.+rt and a new pair of shorts out of some newly hunted wind deer hide, the hide was a light brown color and pretty though so it made for some good materiel, most of the leather armor the elvers wore was also made from wind deer

"...i wonder what the others are doing"

as Mars had spent more time... well being alive he had discovered he had a tendency to lose sight of all other things when he was working on something, just like now he had no idea how long he had been working on his new project and after quickly changing into his new clothes he walked out off the cave and looked around the clearing spotting Rex that was practicing with his sword sending out sharp slashes that even seemed to cut the air as the fallen leaves on the ground seemed laid completely still while Rex send out even more cut and stabs into the air, Mars gave a slight smile and picked up his bone sword that was leaning against the cave wall at the entrance of the cave and walked over to Rex and suddenly slashed at him

"let me join in on the fun!"

Rex effortlessly blocked Mars's slash with his own sword and fell back a little as he opened his eye and saw Mars

"...oh it's just you Mars"

Mars gave a sigh, even though he knew Rex's [Swordsmans.h.i.+p] was a level lower than him at level 3 he still had not manegred to best him in a pure sword fight witch irritated him somewhat as he slashed at Rex again with a wide smile on his face

"let's train a little!"

Rex blocked again and also gave a smile as he counter attacked with a stab

"your on!"

what followed was intense sword fight, with slashes so fast it was hard to see them just using your eyes, as Mars and Rex even began to laugh as Rex gave a sudden kick that landed solidly on Mars's stomach sending him back a few meters as Mars showed a even wider smile while his horns started to grow out of his forehead while his eyes turned red before he launched at Rex again as the sword fight picked up speed, and the only thing heard the next few minutes was laughter and swords clas.h.i.+ng until Mars pulled back slightly out of breath and lowered his sword

"...i still can't beat you"

Rex was not out of breath and looked perfectly fine showing the difference actual experience made over a higher skill level as he gave also smile as he praised Mars

"your getting better fast, in another 5 years i might not be able to keep up in pure speed"

Rex also lowered his sword before throwing it to Mars that caught it easily before he activated his [Energy: restoration] skill restoring and repairing the 2 sword at the same time with 10 energy units each before he threw the sword back to Rex that caught it and inspected the blade before he gave an approving nod

"no matter how many time i see it, it's still amazing, that skill of yours"

Mars started to undo his transformation as he wiped the sweat off his forehead when his ears picked up movement in the forest moving towards the clearing and tensed up for a moment before he recognized the footsteps and gave Rex a quick look before he sat down on a tree stump and waited for a few seconds until suddenly a blur shot out from the forest and jumped into Mars's lap and began purring

"Mars... i'm back"

Mars began to give Victoria her usual head pates while he looked her over, she was still about 1,5 meters tall from paw to shoulder when she stood up so there was not much change there, but what had changed since he made a contract with her was red orange spider web pattern on her smooth black fur had grown more and more p.r.o.nounced that now it looked more like stripes, Mars even felt like a unknowing hunter might not be able to identify her species anymore

"yeah, welcome back Victoria"

Mars was about to ask what she had been doing when Alvin, Chloe and Isabel walked out of the tree line into the clearing, they all had stern faces and Chloe looked a little pale and was leaning on Isabel when she walked and Mars noticed her lower leg had been bandaged but was still bleeding as Mars could smell fresh blood and burned flesh from her leg was about to ask what had happened when Rex beat him to it

"what happened?"

Alvin put on a even more bitter face looking like he just ate a bitter bug before he looked away as he answered Rex

"...it was the d.a.m.n spiders again"

Rex also made a stern face and looked at Chloe as his face paled slightly before he gave a sigh and asked with a heavy tone in his voice

"how is Chloe's leg, can it be saved?"

hear what Rex was saying Mars suddenly got the gravity of the situation as he also had been infected by the spider poison once, so he knew how nasty it was

"it's fine, she acted quickly and burned it clear but..."

Rex clenched his fists and stood in silence for a bit before he turned to Mars and suddenly bowed down to him

"please let us return to the village so Chloe can get proper treatment!"

Mars was a little overwhelmed by his sudden requested and looked at Alvin and also a strong will in his eyes as he also wanted the same thing for Chloe, Mars gave a sigh and stood up before he gave his answer

"no"

Rex raised his head and looked at Mars in disbelief and was about to argue further when Mars raised his hand signaling him to remain quiet as he gave a slight smile as he repeated himself

"no, i can treat her here"

not only Rex but also Isabel and Alvin let out a sigh of relief, Chloe showed a little more complicated look on her face and opened her mouth to say something when Mars interrupted her

"Isabel, Alvin bring her over here and lay her down"

Alvin gave a nod and walked over to Isabel and Chloe to help her walking over to Mars, before they helped her lay down on a tree stump as Rex also walked over with concern clearly visible on his face as he looked at Chloe

"Isabel help me get the bandage off"

"okay"

Mars quickly gave a command to Isabel as he reached down to Chloe's injured leg and carefully garbed her foot and raised it, while Chloe clenched her teeth clearly in pain as she looked down on her leg while Isabel carefully unwrapped the bandage that started off being pure white but as more and more was unwrapped the bandage turned more and more dark red

"...s.h.i.+t"

Alvin cursed as he saw the wound that was revealed under the bandage, most of Chloe's lower right leg was gone from the right side all the way to the bone looked like it had melted away, likely from a strong acid and what was left was badly charred by a flame, the wound looked horrible but smelled even worse as the smell of burnt flesh and blood mixed together was freed when Isabel finely unwrapped the bandage completely, Mars inspected the wound briefly before he looked up and Chloe's pale face and gave her a rea.s.suring smile

"don't worry, you will be as good as new in no time"

Chloe didn't answer but gave a quick nod as the look in her eyes became a little lighter as she looked at Mars

"...now to work my magic"

Mars focused on her leg and put his hand lightly on the wound, casing Chloe to give a m.u.f.fled gasp of pain as she laid down on her back not daring to look at her wound anymore, Mars closed his eyes and focused on loading his [Energy: healing] skill with 100 units of energy and opened his eyes as he activated it

"...here i go"

as Mars activated his skill a clear fluid appeared on Chloe's injured leg, first covering the wound completely before the charred parts of the wound began to melt off and dissolve and less than 5 seconds later the wound had changed completely as it now was a red pink color showing a neat cross look at the inside of her leg for a moment before it rapidly began to regrow as new flesh and muscle regrew until finely it was covered by a fine layer off smooth skin, and just as Mars had said good as new

"this is..."

Rex was in complete disbelief, he had seen more wounds then he could count, and from his first look at the wound he judged that Chloe would likely have her leg amputated even if she returned to the village for treatment, so he like the other 2 elvers was in complete disbelief, Mars however gave a approving nod as he thought that this was how a treatment should look when he used 100 energy units and gave Chloe a quick pat on the leg where her injury was just moments ago

"there you go, see as good as new right?"

Chloe raised her head as she sat op again and looked at her leg, before she looked at Mars's face then at her leg again she was clearly in disbelief as she lightly touched her leg before she looked at Mars again, and slowly tears began to form in to corner of her green eyes before she suddenly rushed forwards and hugged Mars while she silently began crying, leaving Mars competently dazed as he suddenly had no idea what to do with his arms, not knowing if he should hug her back he just sat there awkwardly with his hands in the air as he gave a questioning look to Isabel that also had tears in her eyes as he sent her a question only using his eyes

'err... what should i do?'

Isabel gave a sigh and with stern eyes she replied to him

'hug her you idiot!'

Mars clearly got the message and softly laid his arms around her while he lightly patted her back, while gradually a thought formed in his head as he mumbled silently while a sharp killing intent could be felt from his red eyes

"...looks like i need to kill all these f.u.c.king spiders"