Lord Of Beasts

Ethan had spent the last several moments weaving through the battlefield, deliberately avoiding unnecessary attacks while he gathered information. Every burst of movement served a purpose. He was getting a feel for the trolls’ speed, strength, reach, reactions, and, most importantly, how they responded when pressured.

Wolfy was doing much the same.

While Ethan darted between the enormous monsters, the Fenrir acted as their vanguard, constantly engaging the trolls and forcing them to reveal more of what they could do. It kept them occupied while Ethan observed from different angles, occasionally striking only when an opportunity presented itself.

The trolls weren’t simply large and strong.

They could use skills.

Ethan’s eyes lit up when one of the monsters suddenly slammed both fists into the ground.

BOOM!

The earth beneath Wolfy erupted.

The Fenrir barely managed to leap away as a wave of shattered stone and dirt blasted through the clearing. Chunks of rock tore through the air where Wolfy’s body had been a moment earlier.

Another troll roared and swung its massive club.

Dark-green energy suddenly coated the weapon that came down with enough force to split the earth.

Wolfy twisted away just before the impact.

BOOM!

The ground exploded beneath the strike, and a jagged wave of shattered earth tore outward in every direction.

Ethan’s grin widened.

"These big fuckers have skills too."

That made things considerably more interesting.

He had been wondering just how dangerous these trolls really were, and now he was beginning to understand. They weren’t simply oversized brutes relying on physical strength. Each possessed abilities of its own, and if Ethan wasn’t careful, one of those skills could catch him off guard.

They simply hadn’t been able to show much of them earlier.

With three of his beasts overwhelming the battlefield, most of the trolls had been killed before they had the opportunity to properly use their abilities. And from what Ethan could tell, they seemed to be lower-ranked creatures.

’Monsters seem to be somewhere between Titled and Beasts.’

On one hand, they possessed the ferocity and extraordinary physiques of beasts. On the other, they were humanoid, more intelligent, capable of using weapons, coordinating with one another, and seemingly possessing their own twisted versions of society.

Then there were their skills.

Those seemed far closer to what Ethan had seen from Titled.

’If there’s a Lord Of Monsters out there, they’re probably strong as fuck.’

The thought brought a faint smile to his face, not that he would ever trade his own Title.

’Beasts are still better.’

His gaze shifted towards Wolfy.

The Fenrir was still in the middle of the battlefield, effortlessly keeping several trolls occupied despite being surrounded.

Ethan nodded approvingly.

’I think this should be enough now.’

Blue electricity crackled around his body as he twisted through the air.

He raised one hand.

"Electric Blast!"

BOOM!

Lightning exploded against a troll’s head.

The monster staggered.

Wolfy charged immediately, slamming into its side and sending the enormous creature stumbling sideways.

It barely managed to remain standing.

’Durable, too.’

Ethan continued weaving around the battlefield, keeping his distance while Wolfy maintained the pressure.

"Again."

The Fenrir understood immediately.

It lowered its body and accelerated as the troll swung its enormous arm.

Wolfy slipped beneath the attack, its body twisting beneath the monster’s reach. Ethan also burst forward, electricity crawling across his transformed body as they swept around the troll.

He wasn’t simply trying to kill it.

He was testing their limits.

Two B Rank combatants against six trolls that appeared to be lower B Rank. It was the perfect opportunity to see just how much Storm and Wolfy could accomplish when fighting together as a dynamic duo.

Ethan raised one hand.

Electricity gathered around his fingers.

But he didn’t fire.

Not yet.

Instead, he allowed Wolfy to keep moving.

The Fenrir accelerated again, circling the troll and forcing it to constantly turn. Ethan could feel the momentum building beneath him as Kinetic Charge continued converting their movement into stored electrical energy.

’How much can I build before it becomes too much?’

He intended to find out.

Wolfy darted past the troll’s leg before abruptly changing direction. Ethan latched onto its dark fur, allowing the Fenrir to carry him through the turn without losing speed.

The troll swung again.

Wolfy ducked, and Ethan twisted.

Electricity continued gathering around his arm as they blitzed around the monster.

The trolls tried desperately to keep up.

They couldn’t.

’Their reflexes are much slower than ours.’

Ethan’s grin widened.

’So let’s see how long they can hold out.’

He continued moving.

The energy inside him accumulated with every second until he finally felt that he had enough.

"Now!"

Wolfy turned sharply.

Ethan released everything.

’Electric Blast!’

BOOM!

Lightning erupted from his hand.

This time, the result was dramatically different.

The energy accumulated through Kinetic Charge amplified the attack, causing lightning to engulf the troll’s entire upper body. Its muscles convulsed violently as electricity tore through its flesh.

The monster staggered backwards.

Wolfy was already moving.

Cross Slash.

The Fenrir’s claws crossed again as two arcs of condensed force ripped through the troll’s torso.

Shing!

Shing!

The monster staggered.

Wolfy didn’t give it time to recover.

It lunged forward, following up on its attack this time.

Crescent Fang!

Its jaws opened and concentrated energy gathered between its fangs before the Fenrir snapped its jaws shut. A crescent-shaped shockwave erupted from its mouth as it did.

SLASH!

The attack tore through the troll’s neck, the monster collapsing instantly.

Ethan grinned.

"That’s one down."

Ethan glanced around the clearing.

Five enormous trolls remained, their eyes burning with fury as they surrounded him and Wolfy.

"Only five more giant monsters to go."

A deafening roar answered him as the remaining trolls charged together.

Ethan’s expression became serious.

"That’s more like it."

Wolfy lowered its body.

The first troll charged straight towards them, its massive fists raised. The second immediately veered to the side, attempting to flank them, while the third hefted its enormous stone club over its shoulder.

The fourth troll suddenly slammed both fists into the ground.

BOOM!

The earth beneath Wolfy erupted.

A wave of jagged stone burst from the ground and raced towards them.

"Left!"

Wolfy sprang sideways.

The stone wave tore past its previous position, scattering chunks of rock across the clearing. But before Wolfy could land, the fifth troll opened its mouth.

A deep, guttural roar erupted from its throat.

"ROOOOOAR!"

The sound carried a strange force with it, like a crude version of Talon’s Skyshatter Cry. Ethan felt the air itself tremble as Wolfy’s body staggered for half a second.

’Another skill... not bad’

Ethan could almost hear his Griffling comment, "What a pathetic imitation."

He imagined his beast had a confident tone and a posh accent, maybe like the British royal family that came across as uptight.

’It can’t actually speak yet, but maybe...’

He didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on it, with the first troll upon them.

It swung its massive fist.

"Move!"

Wolfy twisted aside as the fist smashed into the ground.

BOOM!

Dirt and debris exploded upward.

At the same time, the third troll brought its club down, targeting the giant fenrir as dark-green energy coated the weapon again.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

"Shit!"