Lord Of Beasts

Ethan tore into the Rupture Hopper’s corpse like a starving animal without restraint or dignity.

’It’s not like anyone’s watching me.’

Blood and ichor smeared across his hands, his face, his clothes, and the beast itself tasted like bitter mush, but he didn’t care. It was far from being a fast-food burger, or his aunt Clarrisa’s food, but nothing beat what came after eating beast meat.

Within seconds it came...

That warmth.

A slow, spreading heat that travelled from his stomach outward, seeping into his muscles, his veins, his bones.

”There it is.”

He exhaled softly, his body visibly relaxing as the fatigue and ache dulled slightly.

With his steel stomach and everything he’d endured in the Tower, there wasn’t much he couldn’t eat. As long as it wasn’t outright toxic, it was fuel. And right now, he needed all the fuel he could get.

Once he was done, he stood and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

It felt weird being somewhere this alien and not being in rags and sandals like he would be in the tower, but he wasn’t complaining. He threw off his hoodie that was damp with gunk and blood, and remained in sweatpants, a tight t-shirt, and sneakers.

His body was muscular and lean; his black hair framed his sharp face, and his piercing blue eyes were fierce. But rather than handsome, right now he looked like a beast in human form as his mind raced.

’I can’t stay here.’

Even if it seemed safe, that meant nothing, not in a gate like this. And definitely not with whatever system was manipulating things behind the scenes.

’If I stay still... it’ll probably send something worse after me.’

There was no way to know for sure, but he didn’t want to stick around and find out.

”It loves patching things so that I always struggle the most.”

He didn’t understand what it was, how it did what it did, and most importantly, why.

But those questions?

They were far above his current situation, and right now, he just needed to survive.

Still, he couldn’t deny it.

’I’d rather not be alone.’

He wasn’t so weak that he had to rely on others. But unlike in the Tower, where it was a C Rank Floor he was supposed to be able to handle, this was on an entirely different level.

The people he had entered with were also strong and reliable... for the most part.

’One of the B Ranks would be great, and an A Rank obviously ideal. But I’d even take one of the more skilled C Ranks over being alone.’

With that, he made his move toward the edge of the floating island that loomed ahead. Beneath there was nothing but endless space, which made him hesitate, as it would anyone else.

Ethan took a breath.

Then, without overthinking it, he walked away to create space for a run-up.

’Partial Assimilation: Wolfy.’

Ethan transformed once again before bursting forward and jumping as hard as he could to reach the next floating plot of land.

For a brief moment, his stomach dropped.

But then...

”Huh?”

His body felt lighter, as if the gravity in the space between the islands had disappeared. So much so that he drifted further than expected, landing on the next island on all fours.

”That’s useful, I guess.”

But it didn’t make it any less terrifying, as he glanced back over the edge to the void between these floating rocks.

’If I fall... I’m dead.’

There were no second chances or recovering from that.

”And we don’t even have anyone among us who can fly.”

He paused.

”Well, the Blood Demon probably could if it wanted, and Liora has those invisible steps. But that’s about it.”

Ethan shook his head, not dwelling on it.

Instead, he inhaled deeply through his nose, his Ulfen senses catching onto a scent that was faint but unmistakable.

”Human.”

His eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he moved rapidly on all fours, his claws digging into the ground and propelling him forth. He was a beast with a destination, blitzing through jagged terrain and uneven ground.

The scent grew stronger as he closed in on it.

’Please be someone useful.’

It wasn’t someone he recognised, so it wasn’t Elara, and there wasn’t alcohol, so it wasn’t Kaela. That left it possibly being Liora, the only remaining A Rank, or one of the others.

But as he approached the source cautiously and they stepped into view, Ethan froze.

”Ah.”

His expression flattened slightly.

”Of course it’s you.”

Standing there was someone he definitely hadn’t been hoping to run into. Not only had he not been lucky, but he had very much been the opposite. Out of everyone he could have run into inside this fractured, floating nightmare of a gate, it had to be him.

The grey-skinned brute who called himself the Bulldozer.

Ethan didn’t even slow down when he saw him. His eyes flicked over the massive figure for half a second, instantly recognising him, and then, just as quickly, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.

No greeting, no hesitation, and no interest.

And honestly?

That was him being nice, with his first instinct being far less polite.

’Should I make him my fourth?’

The thought came cold and instinctive.

Ethan didn’t even flinch at the thought of killing the man before him.

But after a brief moment of consideration, he dismissed the idea with a quiet exhale.

’That would just be a waste of energy.’

Still, if it came down to it?

He wouldn’t hesitate.

Behind him, heavy footsteps scrambled to catch up.

”W-wait!” the Bulldozer called out, his tone far less arrogant than their first meeting. ”Wouldn’t it be better to stick together until we find the others? This place is dangerous. And-”

”I’m good,” Ethan cut him off flatly, not even looking back.

Silence hung for a second.

But the footsteps didn’t stop, causing his eye to twitch slightly as the giant man began following him persistently...