Return of the Lost One

Desperation And Hope

Pant! Pant! Pant!

It had been an hour or two since Dugo started running away. And since he didn't have any kind of energy to support his body, he naturally had gotten tired after an hour of continuous run. Thus, he decided to put a rest under the shade of a certain tree as he leaned his back against its trunk.

To how was his big brother Gulang or Alu who was chasing him, he didn't know exactly what happened to them.

But he was hoping for his big brother to be fine and for Alu to be in the worst condition. Although he hoped that Alu shouldn't die since he would kill him himself, for the other party to receive severe injuries was a kind of relief. And imagining the rage of the parents of that baby Ashen Ape that he used on his scheme, Dugo was more than certain that Alu would have at least one of his limbs go missing once they meet again. That was indeed a good thing. He could even imagine that if Alu had instead died and gone to hell, the other party's frustration towards him would surely reach the heavens. Thinking about it, Dugo couldn't help but wear a slight smile. His tiredness had even subsided as the heavy panting released by his mouth had slowly calmed down.

But that wasn't important now. The slight smile on Dugo's lips was suddenly replaced by seriousness as he stared at the clouds floating in the sky. His eyes wore a complicated expression as they emanated a faint luster. Memories of the past slowly coming back as he recalled many things that could give him warmth.

“Should I return home now...” Dugo Zugath muttered under his breath. Hesitation and willingness were blended together as he didn't know what to do. He wanted to go back home but the slave mark on his face was more than enough for him to dismiss the idea. Because he knew clearly that once he went back home, some people might see his face. If that happened, they would definitely turn into a hungry wolf and catch him with all their might. He might have nothing to do with them, but the reward of catching a slave and then return them to their owner was more than enough to ignite their greed. If that happened and he really was caught by the people, he might even implicate his family as he would put them in danger.

And that was what Dugo worrying about. Although he had escaped the pursuit of Diego's dog, he had nowhere to go at all other than the mountains. But everyone knew that mountains weren't a safe place to reside. With the beasts lingering and lurking all over the place, he might even die in every passing second.

“Damn it...” And thinking about it, Dugo Zugath could only cursed in his heart. Tsk! He even cursed the misfortune he suffered as he couldn't help clicking his tongue before letting out a gritted teeth. Just why in the world did he not awaken any kind of energy at all? This was something that Dugo couldn't accept no matter how he thought about it. And with that in mind, he only realized even more that weaklings had no place in this world.

But how could he get stronger?

This was something that Dugo Zugath was worrying about as well. Without any kind of energy in his body, he knew clearly that his future was limited as his strength might only stay the same or improve a little even after several years. It might even remain stagnant even if he died due to old age.

Right!

Suddenly, a wild thought entered Dugo's mind. He took his back away from the tree as he stood up straight. His thought was wandering, his eyes filled with determination and doubts. But having without any other option, he clicked his tongue before he started running in a certain direction.

“I hope you won't disappoint me...” As he ran, Dugo couldn't help but doubt his decision. How could he not if what he was planning about was something that only those who were desperate enough would think about. Or perhaps, even fools would think of it as well.

“Portia...” Dugo muttered as his figure went past trees and grasses. Naturally, he was planning to search for the legendary flower that finally had bloomed after a hundred years. It was a kind of flower that could heal any kind of injuries and disabilities. And other than its healing properties, it could also cure almost all kinds of curses. This flower was so potent that it could even change the future of anyone who ate it.

Thus, Dugo Zugath had thought of looking for its whereabouts. He was already looking for it in the first place though. He wanted to find it so that he could give it as a birthday present to his crippled little sister. With it, he was more than sure that she would be healed.

It was just that, he was only halfway through his journey when he was caught by the slave hunters. As a result, Dugo thought that he had no fate with the Portia flower as he finally have given up looking for it a long time ago.

But now that opportunity opened its window for him again, Dugo changed his mind as he was thinking that he really had some fate with the Portia flower. His hope to find it increased significantly as he thought about the rumors. Because they said that only those who were fated would find the Portia flower. It was not decided by abilities or skills, nor wealth or power. It was predetermined. Who knew if he was that lucky individual. Since he had nothing to do anyway, and he had nowhere to go, he might as well try his luck in search of the Portia flower.

And his feelings were telling him that he really was that lucky fellow.

Naturally, he was only thinking about it because he had no other things to think about. He even forgot that he was a Forsaken One and was treated as a misfortune by everyone. His kind was so hated that even God had forsaken him and didn't grace a shred of energy. How could be someone like him be the lucky fellow who would find the Portia flower?

But since he had no other option left, he didn't think about his fate as a Forsaken One. In fact, he didn't even care about it at all. What he wanted to do right now was to at least try his luck and search for the Portia flower.

And as if Dugo Zugath had already found the Portia flower, what he was worried about even more was, “Could it really heal me and give me an ability to wield a certain kind of energy?”

Dugo Zugath really wanted to find the Portia flower. The only difference right now was that he was looking for it for his own and not a gift for his little sister.