Lord Of Beasts

The Bulldozer did exactly as instructed, focusing on the two remaining beasts while Wolfy slowly ripped apart the Dreamveil Monarch.

’He’s really taking his time,’ Ethan observed.

His summon was slowly shredding the butterfly-like beast, eating parts of it while making it suffer, as if to pay it back for trying to control his mind.

’I didn’t know he had this side to him. Like master, like beast, I guess.’

Ethan was definitely the type to hold grudges, at least over things that mattered, and it seemed as though his Fenrir was the same. But the butterfly-like beast was as good as dead and was helpless as Wolfy gnawed at its flesh.

Everything was going perfectly, but there was one variable left.

Dave.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Don’t mess this up.’

The man floated slightly above the ground, his body trembling faintly, as if straining himself. As he did, his blank expression twisted with pure, unfiltered rage.

”You motherfucker...”

His voice came out low and gravelly.

Whatever he had experienced inside his mind, it clearly hadn’t been pleasant.

His white eyes flickered violently as mana gathered within them, dense, chaotic, and overflowing. But unlike in his previous attacks, he didn’t condense or control the energy, letting it run rampant.

Ethan’s expression changed instantly.

’No...’

Dave lifted into the air, higher, and aimed not at the remaining beasts, but at the butterfly still being torn apart by Wolfy.

”You fucker!”

Ethan moved immediately.

”Stop!”

He drew in breath, preparing to unleash Skyshatter Cry.

But it was too late.

Zap!

Two beams of blinding white energy erupted from his eyes, cutting through the air with terrifying force. This was somehow even stronger than his usual attacks, unleashing everything he had.

Ethan’s instincts screamed.

Without hesitation, he unsummoned Wolfy, the Fenrir vanishing instantly.

A split second later...

BOOM!

The beams struck, and the Dreamveil Monarch was obliterated without even having the chance to resist or react. All that was left was a giant hole in the ground, one that seemed to have pierced straight through the floating island.

Then there was a tense silence as Ethan considered what to do with the pesky C Rank who had stolen his kill.

-

After firing a powerful attack at the Dreamveil Monarch, Dave dropped.

His body fell from the sky like a lifeless puppet, his energy completely spent, leaving him unconscious and drained.

Swoosh!

Ethan moved fast.

He reached Dave mid-fall, but he hadn’t swooped in to save him either, catching him by his throat.

’This fucking idiot...’

His grip tightened slightly.

’Not only did you nearly hit my beast...’

His eyes burned.

’But you stole my kill.’

That thought annoyed him more than it should have, especially since Dave didn’t even gain anything from doing so while he definitely would have.

The Dreamveil Monarch.

’It would have been perfect.’

The ability to hypnotise, influence, and mentally restrict opponents fascinated Ethan. He had come across many beasts with all kinds of abilities, but these were the first that were so intricate and focused on the mind.

Of course, the first things that came to mind while using that ability weren’t exactly good things.

’I could literally just get people to hand over their wallets. Or get hot chicks to...’

He didn’t even finish the thought.

Not because he felt guilty, but because it was too painful now that he couldn’t acquire the beast. It had been his plan all along to do so, and it was so close to happening before Dave lashed out.

His actions were far from logical.

If he had attacked one of the two remaining beasts with that attack, it would have decimated them and left them with only one foe left. Instead, he wasted it on the Dreamveil Monarch, almost hitting Wolfy in the process.

And the worst part, Dave had lost consciousness in the process.

So not only was he no longer of any use to them in the battle anymore, but Ethan couldn’t even yell at him.

He stared blankly at the limp body he was holding up with one hand.

’Should I just kill him?’

The thought came naturally and effortlessly.

Not only was it about revenge, but he was unpredictable and could become a liability with his limited abilities that needed time to recharge.

Ethan’s grip tightened slightly.

’Then again, he technically did help me...’

Beast Recovery was an incredible skill.

’And I even got that extra Race Crystal because of it.’

Which in turn allowed him to evolve Wolfy to B Rank and got them out of this mess.

Ethan exhaled slowly before letting go.

Dave’s body dropped to the ground with a dull thud, completely unconscious.

”Useless...”

He then turned back to the battlefield, flicking between the Steel Scarab and Rotwing Fly.

The Bulldozer was still struggling, charging relentlessly but accomplishing nothing. Meanwhile, Dave was out and didn’t seem to be getting up to recharge another of those attacks any time soon.

Ethan cracked his neck slightly.

’I guess I have to deal with this shit myself.’

His lips curled faintly.

’I never should have relied on these fools.’

They had been useful for a time, but he had experienced a massive jump in power since initially coming across them.

’I definitely don’t need them anymore, and I’m getting tired of these damned same insects.’

He resummoned Wolfy.

The Fenrir appeared instantly, landing beside the Steel Scarab, its crimson eyes locking onto the armoured beast.

”I’ll let you handle that one, buddy.”

At the same time, Ethan shifted.

’Partial Assimilation: Spark.’

Heat surged through his body as flames flickered faintly along his limbs as his body grew lighter and was flooded with mana.

Wolfy didn’t wait and struck first.

The Fenrir lunged at the Steel Scarab, claws raking against its hardened shell, jaws snapping down again and again.

But the beetle reacted.

It curled, its body compacting into a near-perfect sphere.

’Of course it did that.’

Wolfy growled.

But then it adapted and, rather than seeking to break through, it did exactly as Ethan had planned while in the Tower.

It pushed the scarab.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Each strike forced the massive sphere backwards.

Closer.

Closer.

And closer to the edge.

When the beast realised what was happening, it was already too late.

Cross Slash!

With one final, explosive shove, the Steel Scarab went over, falling into the endless void beneath them.

Meanwhile, Ethan calmly approached the Rotwing Fly after watching his Fenrir in action with a satisfied smile.

’Flare Drive’

A burst of flame erupted beneath him, launching his body forward like a missile.

’Variable Beast Impact.’

Boom!

His flaming fist struck the insect that was struggling to gain altitude.

It was hurtled across the island like it had been hit by a fiery cannonball, but Ethan wasn’t finished just yet.

’Flare Drive.’

He burst after it, and rather than striking it again, he held out his hands.

’Ember Pulse.’

Flames bounced off his body before clinging to the beast. The Rotwing Fly screeched as fire latched onto its body, eating away at it relentlessly.

Ethan did not stop.

”How you like that, you shit-loving fucker?”

His voice echoed across the battlefield as flames consumed the creature.

The more his decaying shoulder ached, the more pain and harm he sought to deal, but it wasn’t long before the beast stopped moving. Just like that, it had been cooked alive after having its wings cut and sustaining a powerful blow.

{Beast Eliminated!}

All three of the B Rank beasts had been dealt with, and primarily by Ethan.

The battlefield fell silent.

He stood there for a moment, breathing calmly and taking in the aftermath of what had once felt like an impossible battle.

Stepping away from the smell of the burning Rotwing Fly, he sat down tired but satisfied. Wolfy approached immediately, the massive Fenrir settling behind him like a guardian.

Ethan leaned back against its warm and solid frame.

’Insects and acid...’

His nose wrinkled slightly.

’The system really needs to switch it up a little.’

But he knew that things were far from over, and he was about to experience both of those things a whole lot longer...