Hybrid

The two beasts before me were a manticore and a chimera. They reminded me that my goal of surviving the Underworld will always be a struggle.

It was a cerberus chimera against a nightingale manticore. I know myself that my knowledge about spirit beasts is limited and I'm unfamiliar with how they are ranked , but these beasts could only be heard about in children's fairy tales and myths. Here they are in front of my very eyes.

The cerberus chimera is a three headed lion that has the body of a wolf that's thrice the size of a bear and its tail in a form of a snake that can spew venom. Not only can it spew out poison but also breathe volcanic fire from each of its individual heads. Its body had a beautiful color of gray blending with white.

The nightingale manticore is one of the deadliest breeds of manticore out there. Having a body that was the size of two tigers and a human-like face for its head that's covered by a lion's mane. Its wings are shaped like wyvern's wings and its tail is surrounded by sharp slender spikes. Its fur was a darkest shade of gold and its eyes are a purple color similar to that of amethyst gems.

These spirit beasts are not my opponents and they are beyond my capabilities to handle. If I decide to intervene even the slightest, I'll just be courting death.

I must run. Run as fast as I can.

I sprinted the other direction and used the breathing style of the stone boar to increase my speed to cover a short distance quickly with the remaining Ki I had left. The fight with that hellfire lion drained a lot of Ki so I must make haste and get out of here.

In a few breaths, I was far enough to consider myself safe for now. I looked back at the two monsters. They focused on each other and didn't waste any time dealing with me. For why would they, I was comparable to an unmentionable insect to them.

Their battle was fierce, as expected of mythological creatures. The strength they wield is absurd, frightening, and almost unfair they get to be this strong just by living out their lives. They were constantly wrestling and switching places to the point it was hard to keep track who was on top or bottom. Point blank hits and blows were traded and none of these two beasts didn't even show themselves to be fazed.

As they kept fighting, I thought just maybe, if there was a possibility, my ability to see the flow of Ki could also be applied to these mythical creatures as well. It wouldn't hurt to try.

I then flowed Ki into my mind and began trying to learn the breathing method of the nightingale manticore and cerberus chimera. It seems both of them have established foundations at their lower and middle dantian. As well they have condensed Ki alternating into true essence. I noticed Ki is a light blue color and Condensed Ki is a rich and deep indigo while True Essence was white.

It was an astonishing sight to behold. Each breath flowed like the wind, going in and out without rest and at a constant pace. Yet I noticed something.

Strangely, their breathing methods slightly resembled a combined version of other spirit beasts. The nightingale manticore has the breathing method similar to the two headed snake at the middle dantian and hellfire lion at the lower dantian, creating a whole new breathing method with minor changes. Same observation can be applied to the cerberus chimera.

If I am able to establish two foundations, I'll be able to combine the breathing methods of multiple spirit beasts! There haven't been many recorded records of a cultivator doing this. Sure there have been techniques and moves mimicking the prowess of spirit beasts but the ability to see the flow of Ki in such descriptive detail allows me to entirely copy their power and even combine it with other creatures.

This truly is a gift.

Even a single punch were to be empowered by the breathing method of any these two mythical spirit beasts before me, it could possibly crush boulders or even shatter mountains.

I must get strong faster. While I am still in the forest I'll continue hunting the same spirit beasts and pursue finding a way out of the Underworld. I would plan to stay to see who would win in the fight of the cerberus chimera against a nightingale manticore and take the beast core of whoever lost. Unfortunately, the victor always eats their opponent whole at the end during these assertions of dominance.

*CLAP* *CRASH* *BOOM*

Before I could continue fleeing, I heard sudden thunder and lightning from where the cerberus chimera and nightingale manticore was fighting behind me.

My instincts told me if I turned around to investigate what was that mysterious sound I would not survive. My very soul was quaking, signaling me not to see what was behind and just continue running. The Ki inside was rupturing, becoming slightly uncontrollable.

I gave into my curiosity and turned my head around to see what was the noise and I regretted my decision.

The cerberus chimera and nightingale manticore were brutally murdered. They were nothing but carcasses and parts of their bodies were everywhere.

The wings of the nightingale Manticore was torn apart, its mane ripped off, and its human-like face mangled. As well as its beautiful purple eyes were gouged out. The heads of the cerberus chimera were decapitated cleanly and its fur was skinned, exposing the flesh. The muscles and tendons could be seen.

It made me want to hurl for the longer I stared the more I was disturbed. Fear began to sink in as I began to realize where I was. My hopes of leaving this place became daunted.

In legend's past there is a tale of a tall dark mountain deep down in the Underworld. You would have to venture so far down that all you could see were spirit beasts and monsters. This mountain stood unimaginably tall and impenetrable and had an ominous aura. Surrounding the mountain lies an unending forest where once you enter, you may never come back out again.

No matter what path you choose, you will always run and go back where you started off.

I know where I'm finally at in the Underworld. The forest I have entered was that exact same forest from legend. I soon saw the looming mountain above and I was in shocked awe. It was tall, dark, and an evil presence could be felt just by the sight of it, just as the stories foretold. How could I be so foolish this past seven months and not notice such important detail.

I guess everything only came together when I saw "it".

The only creature that could have killed these mythical beasts this fast and cruel could be none other than the master of this domain, this mountain, and this endless forest.

It was the Abyssal Black Dragon and it was staring directly at me from a distance.