Chapter 4: Death (I)

Taking a few more subtle steps, a serene howl bursted through the blood-ridden air as could feel the rumbling up close, walking through the boulevard of corpse-like trees, I could finally sense a large variety of mana seeping out into open.

In just a few more steps later, I finally found myself at a massacre.

A behemoth-sized beast stood before the massacre. It's fur was charcoal black from head to tail as the only color it had other than black was gold. Its pupils were golden while reflecting a dignifying glint as everything about it was mighty.

Its tail thrashed fervently as sparks and hints of electricity buzzed out and flew out, scratching the lush grass and confirming my bouts of wonder. Dreadful looming clouds grew in size and darkened as the skies became grimmer and grimmer. The winds screeched and howled as the beast had finally made eye contact with me.

Diverting its attention from the massacre of at least fifteen wolves that lay still, and lifeless. Pools of blood surrounding the cadavers only made my heart pound more dismally.

The moment between the pinkish panther eyes met mine, a pang of fear seared through my body I knew I had made an idiotic choice. That I wasn't even caring or tried to hide when confronting the beast.

The scenes as missing jigsaw pieces filled up the missing holes.

The panther must have invaded the territory and pushed the wolf's boundaries far closer to the lake, which also bordered the lush bushes of holly berries. No animal could have developed an immunity to these bushes leaving no other choice but to eat some, explaining their dreadful gait.

Yet, as my and panthers eyes met, coldness spread through my body as I couldn't move. Paralyzed by fear, I could only watch in horror was a mammoth beast that I never realized was leagues stronger than me. Its grim eyes bore through me as strings of crimson and black blurred and heaved my vision as the panther began to approach me— discarding the dead wolf's lifeless corpse.

Every step it took matched my equally horrified pounding of my heart, I could nothing but freeze and watch as a step equal to a step closer to my death.

My curiosity and exhilaration had brung this terribleness to me. I wielded a sword but at that moment it felt fruitless.

I would have accepted death with a warm embrace and yet I knew things were incomplete. The sake of my vengeance wouldn't allow me to die just yet and heretofore was just all for it.

With more and more steps, sweat trickled down my head as we were only a distance away.

The rest of the wolves who had yet to be slain were gone leaving only me and the panther whose electricity flared along with its playful attitude— tormenting me.

I couldn't die like this, and just with that all of mana and aura was unleashed destroying any fears and regrets I left. Fear quickly dissipated as adrenaline poured into replacing it.

Bolting out of the clearing and racing towards the direction, I came from. I didn't need to turn back as the panther's strides were already prominent for me to gauge the distance. Thunderous movements as the gnarly branches from the torn-up trees, violently shook.

In a matter of seconds, something zoomed at where I was a scorching sound of heat flashed by me as I desperately leaped towards the side as my left arm began to the seer in agony.

Turning, the beast had already caught up standing at where I used to be as a small crater where jagged cracks branched out likes broken glass formed.

The beast had already caught up and lept where I once was. Running through the thick forests, I held my arm as the searing pain of agony felt grievous and no amount of mana could speed up the recovery process.

Applying the frost effect skill, I had at least a minute of usage time until my muscles gave away for a world of pain. I'm going to make use of it as much as possible.

Nearing a tree, I slit the tree's stump smoothly as the tree quickly fell with a timber hoping it would block, no slow down the panther's movements. With a deafening thump, dust and debris spilled into the air, as I cut through the grim air.

Slitting more and more trees, efficiently, more thrashing and debris could be heard as something whizzed through the air.

I never looked back as I boosted myself forward as I took a hard left. A thunderous whoosh could be heard as a powerful indignant aura slit through the air and barely missed me as I boosted myself forward. The attack slammed into the ground causing a deafening explosion that resounded through the forest. As I did nothing more to continue pushing myself forward, towards the thicker and denser parts of the forests.

The skies rumbled bitterly as they grew darker with looming ashy clouds wafting out of its chambers, the more I looked at it, the more it looked as if the skies reflected the cries.

The panther had already begun to send the forest into a spiraling a chaos, if not earlier. Flares of mana and electricity like an inferno scorched the nearby trees to a crisp as birds and animals were not spared. Roots were torn up, while the grass was set ablaze. A cacophony of sounds reigned throughout the forest as it had no prejudice.

At least the nearing rain would set all fire out.

And then I heard more paw steps. I could hear its pounding footsteps drawing closer and closer. Closer, it left up as I could feel its presence near me as it bolted forward. Before I knew it, its presence was inches away from my back.

Whirling around mid-air, its bone char claws struck my sword which I used to block its attack whilst a powerful metallic clang rang out. Tiny chips of metal flew into the air as the wind whistled vigorously— blowing me back dozens of meters.

A flash of pain slammed into me as I was tossed into a world of anguish. Blood trickled down my mouth as everything hurt. Everything felt as if it was distress. My body hurt, I could feel my energy reserves quickly dwindle and my world felt as if it was scorched all the way to its roots.

Just why?

Dust blew of course my face as another sensation followed suit. A catastrophic pop reverberated through the air as I thrown once again into the air and tumbled down a narrow hill.

My ears rang as more blood trickled down them. I could see a large amount of visible mana flash through the air as electricity fired all around the area. Trees became embers of their descendants and the wind howled in defeat as I tumbled down a steep hill. Only stopping when I stabbed my sword into the grimy earth— leveraging my fall.

Blood trickled down my head as I had braced through it. Though, everything already had become a distant blur— a destitute dream.

Darkening, the dark ashy clouds felt shadowy and yet the edges of my vision had already begun to turn black. Corners of darkness rose from the shadows as the apostles of death quickly closed in.

Was this really the end?

Sighing, even at the seeming end I really couldn't complete my goal. My vengeance for Leone has never been satiated. A burden that I not only carry for myself but for all the victims that he created. Just the thought of him, makes me heartbroken that a goal that I created never will be accomplished.

And yet…

I could feel the strength leave my body as it aches from the distance that is being created.

And finally, my vision finally goes dim.