The Gehenna Tribe was interesting in many ways. In some facets, they were surprisingly advanced, while in others, they lagged behind a larger society.
Their usage of power could be considered a little bit of both.
To preface, the energy in this cosmos was not mana. It was the force Damien had been calling "Demonic Energy," but a name like that was no longer accurate.
The tribespeople called it Barrakh. In the universal language of this cosmos, it was called Malakh.
Either term could be used, but Damien chose the former since he had a good relationship with the tribe.
In any case, both words meant the same thing.
They both were directly synonymous with "energy," just like mana.
Barrakh was a more convoluted and chaotic energy than mana. In easy terms, it was like mana's evil twin.
To use such an energy effectively usually required one to embrace its properties and seek destruction over order.
However, the Gehenna Tribe didn't abide by that belief.
Their doctrine was one of order. Since they followed the will of the spirits, they also followed the way of nature.
They didn't utilize barrakh the way it conventionally should've been used.
Instead, they learned how to use their natural bodies to change the nature of that power, turning it into something purer.
But even then, barrakh didn't carry the same properties as mana.
They were two completely different energies with two completely different frequencies, even if they could mimic each other's properties.
The Gehenna Tribe didn't use barrakh with their bodies.
They believed completely internalizing the energy would make one's body impure and ruin one's connection with the spirits.
Instead, they'd developed a system similar to Damien's Ananta Matrix, which could control the ambient mana in the atmosphere.
And their chosen medium to use that energy was weaponry.
This was the relatively unevolved part.
Weapons were probably the most barbaric medium one could use. They were liabilities on the battlefield, since their quality and unique structures had a huge impact on how one's power would actually be manifested.
There was a reason most people only used one weapon for their entire lives, choosing to upgrade instead of replace at every turn.
That weapon would become suited to them, able to release their power as they wished it to.
However, it would never be as efficient as using one's own body.
In most cases.
Because they had been using weapons as their medium for so long in this jungle ecosystem, the Gehenna Tribe had mastered a unique method of utilizing their weapons that others couldn't easily replicate.
Even Damien had some trouble understanding it at first. It was the type of thing that had to be seen rather than heard about.
The first trial ended far earlier than it was supposed to. Damien was meant to spend several days with the blacksmiths, showing them his mastery of every aspect of their art.
He, however, managed to do so with the creation process of Mirage. They didn't need to see anything else after that.
His second trial was with the medical sector of the tribe, where he spent several days learning their esoteric methods and showcasing the unique splendor of [Heal].
After that, Damien experienced the lives of cooks who had to make food for the entire tribe, soldiers who guarded the tribe and managed judiciary duties, and even people who practiced the various arts, who provided the tribe with their entertainment.
Weeks passed as Damien spent time with them. Outside of his role, as a true member of the tribe, he learned their traditions and the hard work they put in to sustain themselves in this cruel environment.
And as time passed, that final trial approached.
It was the hunter trial.
For all intents and purposes, it was Damien's main trial, the test he had to pass to truly be acknowledged in the role he had chosen.
The people of the village had seen as Damien earnestly worked with them and understood their culture.
They watched as he became more and more proficient in their language until he was practically a native speaker.
They knew that Damien wasn't just some ordinary foreigner anymore.
That was why they did it.
Not out of discrimination or hostility, but out of respect.
"For your last trial, you will hunt the Uruk."
Damien once again stood surrounded by the entire tribe with the elders looking at him from above.
However, this time, as the Saintess spoke, he kneeled respectfully and accepted his final trial.
The reactions from the crowd were far different this time as well.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody showed hostility.
Rather, they all cast Damien glances of worry.
They were unable to say anything.
The Uruk was a creature close to an Ancient. It had lived for millions of years and had reached the level of a Deity.
Wasn't sending Damien to face it a death sentence?
But Damien accepted the trial. He didn't have to. He'd already done more than enough to earn the right to enter Gehenna.
If Damien accepted, what could they say?
The atmosphere wasn't as excited as it should've been for Damien approaching his final task, but the people did maintain hope for his success since they'd witnessed his power.
They dispersed as they did when the Saintess gave the final word.
Damien went back to his home to prepare for his coming expedition.
As he sat calmly, going over strategies in his head, he heard a knock on his door.
He knew who it was.
There was really only one person who'd come to visit him like this without warning.
"You're here?"
He spoke as he opened the door, his tone playfully annoyed.
"Why wouldn't I be? After you did something stupid like that, I had no choice but to come and beat some sense into you!"
Whoosh!
A punch flew past Damien's face the instant those words landed. He, of course, dodged it easily, but it was only the first of its kind.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A flurry of similar punches came from all directions.
Damien casually moved right and left, avoiding them with simple movements as he took a few steps back into his house.
His visitor wasn't going to let up so easily, but the time for greeting had already ended.
Thud!
The door closed behind them naturally, leaving only the two of them alone in the house.
"So, what's up?"
Damien smiled and sat down. Since she was done greeting him, he was certain she wouldn't throw any more punches.
"What's up? That's all you have to say?"
Thalia sat down as well, the expression on her face very obviously angry.
"How could you say you'd hunt the Uruk?! Do you know what that is?!"
Damien knew she'd come tonight.
If there was anyone who was willing to directly confront him about anything and everything, it was her.
"I know you are powerful, however, the Uruk is more than just power. That is a beast beyond beasts, something a mere man cannot handle!"
Thalia had hunted with Damien. She'd seen his strength firsthand.
But even that didn't give her confidence that he could fight that monster.
To Thalia, Damien was a young beast, powerful but incomparable to an Ancient.
The Uruk, on the other hand, had terrorized the jungle for generations.
It had seized a massive portion of the land as its territory, and that territory had been unchallenged for a reason.
Yet, Damien said he was going to hunt that beast and bring it back?
How could he say something like that so easily?!
"I can't let you do this."
Thalia had made up her mind already.
"I'm coming with you. I will not allow you to do something so dangerous alone!"
