Chapter 3: The Fauna that Resides Within (IV)

The last atonement for avenging the wolf, a call that revealed the location of where I was. Most likely bring more beast-like companions. Soon, the area would be swarming with wolves and along with the remaining wolves left making it not more difficult to escape but more dangerous.

Running, was pointless which meant the only choice I had left was to finish off the rest as fast and as efficiently as possible. It was not the frost - an effect that was an effect when I applied my ability on my sword. This skill was when I channeled my mana specifically through my sword, sword aura.

Letting out a chilly glacial breath of frost, I could feel the mana channeling yet articulating through my veins. The solemn azure butterfly fluttering closely behind.

The power was intense. The amount of mana and aura that had concentrated to the edge of my blade was stronger than anything I had felt before.

Strong gales of ice and wind spiraled and lacerated around my sword as the callous blade could not care if it suffocated the rest.

As a result, large amounts of frost and winds gathered, so much so that the blades of grass— under the dusk summer sky could be pushed back from the golden chariot. Moreover, the grass had begun to be flattened under the pressure. The tips of the grass began to be glazed with a niveous layer of white as it was being charred by the frost.

Immediately, I bolted towards one of the wolves as I felt that not only did I feel stronger but I also felt faster and lighter.

Covering the distance in a matter of seconds, the wolves had little time to react as I slashed twice in an x formation at one of the wolves as I felt the blade slice through with less effort. As flashes of aura were emitted, enough to create two diagonal wounds on the wolf's pelt. Letting out a soft mewl before it too joined the rest.

Looking back, the two remaining wolves with eyes full of awe, one unrelenting and ran straight at me, while the second ran off in terror.

Not even moving, I slit the necks underbelly before it could even move. In a matter of moments, every wolf in the clearing was dead— excluding the one that ran off.

The impression that I let off on the wolf was demanding yet everlasting. It could create a small ripple effect among the communities of wolves that had gathered here.

Not only that but the other beasts and creatures that lie unnoticed.

Huffing and breathing heavily, I gently wiped cold beads of sweat off my forehead. Around me, was a gruesome scene.

A strewn of dead wolves lay about, with each having there own pool of crimson blood— Their bodies limp and jagged, the vitality and hostility that its taurine eyes carried, had now faded away.

Their lifeless carcasses lied subtly on the dried cracked grass, as a hollow wind thrashed about carrying the dense foliage of the oak along with it.

An aura of death reeked from everywhere in the clearing which only resounding from where I stood. As the clearing had already been trained with a grim hue of blood. The blood oozed and felt awful on my hands. Scarlet blood is only a few shades darker than human blood. Yet, I couldn't see such a grievous blood burden but I knew that it was there. And still, it would only grow in size until it was full of dripping blood from all the people who had wronged me.

Touching the side of my head with just two fingers, I felt it. A light that cascaded through the shrouding darkness.

A part of me had faded away during the fight and had only returned once the battle was over. A trigger was responsible.

Still, I really couldn't understand what part? Was it my thinking? Was it my instinct? Was it my emotions? Or was it a little of bit everything?

Either way, I lost something in that serene battle, and yet it's alarming that one day the lost part of me may never come back.

I feel as if the azure butterfly who follows me loyally yet strangely has something to do with it, but at the same time, I can't seem to get rid of the estranged being. Thus far, I am still alive up to now, there's something mysterious about the creature. Though, without it, I know that I wouldn't be alive.

I hear a soft rustle as laps over paw prints. The soft thump of a foot followed many more on the lush grass and the subtle splash of dew droplets is followed by more. More silent thrashing and larger thumps as I know more wolves are headed my way.

Sighing, it's time for me to get out of here.

…

Whirling and twisting my blade, I impaled another silvery wolf through its as underbelly, almost killing it. I think I'm getting better at battling other animals and I know that I am getting stronger. A soft pitiful mewl was let out as another corpse fell to the ground with a solemn thud.

It's as if the serenading air around my sword bends to its will creating a more powerful blow.

Exhaling, I looked up from the corpse to see a second wolf possibly its comrade bolt back into the hoary fortresses of trees in terror

It must be terrifying.

Running, its running felt disoriented as it idiotically collided against an oak tree before finally thumping back into the forest. I almost winced at the wolf as he ran at full speed at a behemoth tree which should have created a terrible sensation of agony.

It was hard to differentiate everything but I scrutinized every detail and noticed that the wolf's walk today was uncoordinated and abnormal. Its gait was a little awkward, a little more than ataxic. It seemed that the ripple of a new predator amidst the forest had caused them to escape at the sight of me.

Yet, the wolf that had just escaped seeing that one of their comrades had fallen, had just collided with hoary oak trees. The trees were massive and cascading against the rough bark of the tree could show their fear, but it continued on as if it was on liquor.

Obviously, they weren't like this earlier which meant that something or someone had something to do with it. Thou, the symptoms were fairly similar to something else…

Battling against the northern wolves, didn't grant me the same exhilaration and pleasure as before. It probably was because of their instant fear, and their immediate idea of the bolt out of my sight combined with the awkward gait that made training against them, fruitless.

I wanted to fight against another creature in the forest otherwise than already known northern wolves.

Taking initiative, I began to move towards one of the trees. Gripping on the rough bark. Pushing myself upwards, the rugged husk of the tree was strong enough to withstand my weight.

I grabbed one of the antler-shaped branches and launched myself higher to grapple more branches pertaining to the colossal being. Above me, was a delicate bird's nest. Weaved together with small thin and pliable branches, it turned fallen branches that had lied dried and course and was made into art.

The amber bird's nest was situated in a precarious and tricky spot, and yet there was a small chicklet chirping gauntly as it cried out for food.

I admired and pitied the nest and so, I grappled another branch away from the nest. I didn't want to tip over such a solemn nest as a simple reverberation and echo could shake the branch and the foliage— enough for it too fall, killing every single one of them.

Grabbing another one, I prepared to grab another branch, even more, denser and compact the previous to get a higher vantage point. Scanning the terrain would allow me to identify where the notable beast would be at. And yet I noticed something in the corner of my eye.

On a jocund day, in a more remote part of the forest, that I didn't venture into much, was something moving. No, in better terms it would be considered thrashing.

A thousand hues of green shook violently as if each branch of a tree clashed against each other trees fervently. The foliage began to shred each apart as if the crisp winds were gnawing at its ankle. A deep rumble as more trees shook vigorously in sync with the resonating cavernous sound. Each rumble felt as something heavy was slamming down a ground as it re-iterated more and more.

And soon the dreadful thrashing and rumbling were too much for the tree, as the tree tipped to the point where a thunderous thud followed suit. The land jolted once again, this time in sorrow.

- Chapter 3: (IV) - Word Count: 1510 -