I am not sure if the delay in response is because my pacts are still asleep, or if it is because they do not feel like sharing. The Beastlord family’s S and SS rank pacts live in the crater, while this keeps down food costs, the main reason is to maintain order. The crater has higher then normal mana density which mean mana beast are more commonly born. To prevent the beast in the crater from becoming too unruly each S rank beast is given a territory and the responsibility to prevent dangerous mana beast from emerging in their domain.
To do this they thin out animals most likely to evolve into high ranking mana beast and maintain a balance in the crater. Still, maintaining a perfect balance does not allow for the development of high-level mana cores. Since mana beast crave mana cores more than flesh or vegetation, they take steps to encourage their growth. For example, Ben, the behemoth I have a pact with, leads around a protects a herd of wildebeest. When mana beast within the heard reach the mid A level he kills them and eats their core. The rest of the time he protects them from other predators within the crater.
“What for?” Fen asks disturbing my contemplation.
I can feel his reluctance as I practice releasing my aura at individual targets while moving. His feelings are understandable, they expend a lot of energy to get these beasts to a high level. It is like raising cattle for slaughter and here I am, asking him to give them away for free.
“A new technique I want to try out in combat.”
There was a long pause before the location of the beast came through. It is hard to explain how knowledge of a location is passed through a pact. It is not like a map appears in your mind. You know how you just know where something is. It is like that except only a second before you had no idea.
“Wind attribute elder bear about to evolve into an Ursa minor. The cores mine!” He growls through the pact.
I laugh as I dash between the trees, of course, an elder bear. The Ursa evolution tree considers all members of the Fenrir evolution tree their natural enemies. When fighting a natural enemy some animals can display twice or even three times their normal strength and no fear. Even at a low level that can be annoying, it likely only got this strong because Fen didn’t want to deal with it. Still to demand the core.
It doesn’t take me long to find the elder bears path, the devastation impressive. It has turned the dense forest into an open field, the ground littered with fallen trees. I would probably blame it on a natural disaster if not for the deep lacerations in the trunks. Upon closer examination the cuts are slightly different some made by claws, others by blades of wind. Its control of its wind attribute is quite good.
I kneel feeling the deep grooves the elder bear’s claws left in an ancient oak. They must be at least 3 inches deep, the edges perfectly smooth. As mana beast get close to evolving their mana starts to run rampant. If there is a pact holder their to help return their flow to normal the evolution happens easily. If not, the transition can be very painful driving the animal mad with rage.
I look up from the tree, all the trunks with claw marks fall in the same direction, between them a thin clear path the bear’s pawprints obvious. I now have another reason to kill this beast. I chase after it but I don’t need to run far.
I find it in a clearing, its rampaging mana whips the wind around it into a frenzy, unleashing a gale upon the forest. Standing on its hind legs it is twice my height its brown fur on end, sticks and leaves are tangled in its dense coat. It turns towards me sensing my presence. Blood drips from its jowls, the red lost to black in the shadows of the early morning. The deer carcass in its hand falls to the ground, the heart gouged out of its ribcage.
Its eyes no longer feel the pain, it has completely succumbed to madness. Even if it reaches the next level it will be nothing but a tool of slaughter.
Despite myself I feel a smile spread across my lips. I never meant to be this way, as a kid I had always avoided fights. Yet I quickly learned that if I want to protect anything I have to fight, and at some point, I started to enjoy it.
I don’t know when it happened, when I started to live for these moments. As we watch each other I flex my hands. My breath begins to slow and my heart starts to race. The world moves slower as the bear lets out a roar that makes my hair stand on end. It charges towards me on all fours and I let my aura go directed only at it.
It doesn’t stop but its hesitance is obvious as it doubles a step throwing it off balance. It takes less then a second to close the distance between us. As I close the distance, I check to make sure I didn’t startle any of the animals in the surrounding forest.
I attack the front leg supporting its weight as the elder bear stumbles. It tumbles across the forest floor its massive bulk shaking the ground. I jump back as it gets to its feet, there is no anger in its eyes, just pure bloodthirsty madness. If my technique works on a beast this far gone it will work on anyone more in control.
I take a step back as its aura is unleased whipping the gale into a raging tornado. As the wind tries to lift me off my feat the bear charges again. Instead of plowing into me it raises its paw, the size of a shovel, over my head.
As it brings down the paw, I blast it with my aura again, using the moment of hesitation to step in past its blow. As I step in, I put all my weight into a punch aimed at its stomach. I feel it as the bears arm narrowly misses my head the punch sending it sliding away a good two meters.
I am disappointed, this is all that a mana enhanced A class adventurer adds up to. To be fair an elder bear is a tough opponent, its skin is equally thick to its fur and under that is a thick layer of fat and muscle. To do any damage to is without a high-grade bladed weapon is a challenge. At least for most people.
Before the elder bear can charge again, I unleash my aura at it. The wind dies down as my aura overpowers the bear’s and its legs buckle. Even without using mana enhancement this battle is boring. However, the test results so far have been good. If I want to utilize pinpoint aura while moving, I will need a lot more practise. It also requires a lot of focus so I cannot use it while using magic or mana enhancement. The most practical uses seem to be for deterring opponents or creating openings. It can also be useful for attracting the attention of some enemies but not others or taking out individual weak opponents. Now I just need to practice and perfect the technique.
I feel the smile tug at my lips as I jump at the bear again. It raises onto its hind legs protecting its chest and face as I expect. Pivoting on my lead leg I go for a low kick but the bear’s stance is solid and it only buckles a little. I roll out of the way as its paw leaves a crater where I had been crouched.
I blast it with aura, stopping its follow up, forcing it to cover its face again. My fist slams into its stomach but not with enough force to send it flying. As its arm comes down on me, I grab it twisting, using its own strength and momentum to throw it. As it rolls onto its belly, I enhance my fists bringing them down on the bear’s head like a sledge hammer.
I jump back from the cloud of dust, flooding my physical body with mana from my vasculature. as I feel the strength flow into my limbs the 5 small cuts on my arm close. The skull didn’t shatter.
“this just became a fight,” I think as the dust settles showing a silver furred bear shorter than me.
The silver bear that looks like it could be the cub of the elder bear disappears, at least that is how it would have looked to someone weaker. While Ursa minors are still stronger than an elder bear they focus more on speed then strength. I lean forward to dodge the blow coming from my right-side countering with a backhand.
The bear pivots in the air landing on its feet. A single step covers the distance, I feel the bear’s jaw shatter as it narrowly avoids my punch. The tree behind the bear disappears in a shower of splinters as the power of my punch rends the ground behind it.
The bear lashes out with its claws, only to find itself pulled off balance by a hand gripping the fur of its neck. I pull it down as my knee comes up into its ribs. My hand holds firm as its ribcage shatters and blood gushes from its mouth.
As the wind essence around us begins to condense I jump back dragging my feet along the ground, tapping into the earth essence beneath us. I raise the wall in front of me just as the arsenal of wind spears and blades launch.
I don’t wait behind the wall as the wind tears into it. Concealing my presence, I throw up a cloud of dust simultaneously collapsing the ground at the Ursa minor’s feet. It lets out a wail at the jolt caused by the small drop. I jump back putting up other wall as a blast of wind pushes away the dust and rips branches off the trees around us.
“enough playing around.” Fen growls into my head.
He must be upset about us destroying so much of his territory. The clearing that had been the size of a house is now 4 times bigger than at the start of the fight. I step out from behind the stone wall allowing enough of my presence that the Ursa turns to me. even as injured as it is, I see no fear or pain in its eyes. Only hate and bloodlust.
Before it can unleash an attack, I hit it with the largest burst of aura I can currently control. It stands there paralyzed as I cover the distance in three quick steps building up my momentum. There is nothing the Ursa can do but watch as my fist grows larger in its vision before shattering its world.
I reach into the chest of the headless corpse and pull out the mana core. Roughly the size of a grapefruit it is a beautiful translucent emerald green, I toss it in the air. I am not sure if Fen used his ability to collect it our caught it over my head but the core never hits the ground.
My stomach growls as I notice the light blue of the sky and the orange tint of early morning on the trees. The other should be getting up soon. I check to make sure I still have the grouse attached to my hip. Pleased it is still there I start making my way back. I will have Jill cook it while I begin Ken’s training.
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