CH:17 The Attack

Yohan opened his eyes and sat up, ready to test the Ironclad Aura skill. Grabbing the blade in one hand, he focused on channeling the Ironclad Aura into it. A metallic coating began to cover his hand and the blade, shimmering with a faint glow.

"Let's try it," Yohan said as he swung the blade toward a nearby stone. The blade sliced through the rock cleanly, the metallic edge cutting with ease until it reached the middle, where it finally stopped, lodged in the dense material.

Yohan moved the blade through the air a few times, producing the distinct sound of air being sliced. The blade felt lighter and more responsive, the aura enhancing its sharpness and durability.

"Yes," Yohan thought, feeling a surge of confidence.

"Now, if I merge with Bai and attack the leader, I may be able to kill him in one slash."

Yohan considered the best angle for the strike.

"The top of the waterfall," Yohan decided.

"If I attack from there, the inertia will help me deliver a more powerful blow."

Yohan looked up at the towering waterfall, its cascading waters thundering down into the pool below.

"Let's hope we don't die from the fall," Yohan thought, his heart racing with anticipation and a hint of fear.

"Let's go, Bai," Yohan said, and Bai leaped onto his shoulder, his white fur brushing against his cheek as they moved towards the waterfall.

Once at the top, Yohan peered over the edge, taking in the scene below. The Tempest Monkeys hadn't noticed them yet; they were either busy eating or lounging around, their guard down in the late afternoon sun.

"This is the perfect spot for an attack," Yohan thought, analyzing the terrain. The high ground would give me the advantage, and the element of surprise was on my side.

Yohan positioned himself carefully, ensuring his footing was secure on the slippery rocks. The spray from the waterfall cooled my face, and the roar of the water filled my ears, but my focus remained sharp.

"Ready, Bai?" Yohan whispered. Bai's eyes gleamed with determination as he nodded.

With one final deep breath, he prepared to leap.

"Here we go," Yohan muttered, steeling myself for the fall and the impending battle.

"Sync," Yohan whispered.

Immediately, the tiger tattoo on his right arm began to glow, and a surge of energy coursed through his body.

I felt the familiar, exhilarating sensation of transformation as my connection with Bai deepened. White fur began to cover my hands, which morphed into powerful claws.

Yohan's hair turned white with streaks of black in between, flowing with a newfound wildness. His legs transformed, gaining strength and agility, covered in the same white fur as his hands. His eyes changed too, turning silver with golden pupils, enhancing his vision and giving him a predatory edge.

Yohan grabbed his blade, now enhanced by both the Ironclad Aura and his beast transformation. The metallic coating glistened, making the blade look even more lethal.

"Bai, let's do this," Yohan said, his voice a mix of human and beastly growl.

My enhanced limbs tensed, ready to spring into action. The waterfall roared beside us, the perfect backdrop for our assault.

Peering down, I saw the Tempest Monkeys still oblivious to our presence, busy with their activities. This was our chance.

"Here we go," and in a fluid, powerful motion, I launched myself from the top of the waterfall.

As I descended, the air rushed past me, heightening my senses even further. My claws tightened around the blade, and I aimed for the bronze-level leader of the Tempest Monkeys. The inertia from the fall would add devastating force to my attack.

With a fierce determination, I swung the blade toward the leader. The combined power of the fall, the Ironclad Aura, and my beastly transformation merged into one precise, silent strike. The blade met its mark with lethal precision, slicing cleanly through the leader's defenses and severing his head in one swift motion.

The surrounding monkeys shrieked in surprise and fear, but I paid them no mind. My focus was solely on the leader, who now lay motionless, his head severed by our combined strength.

As the dust settled, the other Tempest Monkeys launched themselves toward me in a frenzied attack. However, I focused my on the three peak Iron-level monkeys standing behind them, their eyes locked on me with careful scrutiny.

Ignoring the lesser monkeys, Yohan launched himself toward the three peak Iron-level monkeys. His enhanced speed and strength from the transformation allowed him to move with lightning-fast agility, closing the distance between them in an instant.

The first monkey, a hulking brute with scars crisscrossing its chest, met his attack head-on. It used his skill gale fist, but Yohan ducked under the blow and countered with a swift slash of his blade. The Ironclad Aura made his strike devastatingly effective, cutting deep into its side. The monkey roared in pain but remained standing, eyes burning with fury.

Before he could finish it off, the second monkey, smaller but faster, darted in from the side with Wind Claws extended. Yohan twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, and kicked out with his transformed leg, sending the agile attacker sprawling back.

The third monkey, the apparent leader, watched the exchange with calculating eyes. Sensing an opportunity, it launched a gust of wind at Yohan, trying to knock him off balance.

With a deft twist of his blade, Yohan parried the onslaught of wind-infused attacks from the three peak Iron-level Tempest Monkeys. Channeling the power of his Ironclad Aura, he incapacitated the first, then the second, their bodies falling to the ground in rapid succession. As the leader lunged forward, Yohan met its charge head-on, his blade finding its mark with unerring accuracy. With a final, decisive blow, Yohan dispatched the last of the trio, leaving them sprawled lifeless upon the ground.

The wind carried the scent of victory as Yohan stood amidst the fallen, a lone figure bathed in the afterglow of battle.

As the remaining monkeys fled, Yohan surveyed the battlefield, the wind carrying the scent of victory.

Yohan breathed heavily, the adrenaline of battle still coursing through his veins as he surveyed the aftermath. His feat of defeating one mid-level bronze and three peak iron-level Tempest Monkeys alone left him feeling a mix of exhaustion and triumph. As his transformation wore off, Bai separated from him.

Now, let's look at the loot," Yohan muttered to himself, his gaze shifting to the fallen monkeys and the spoils of battle scattered around them.

Gathering the bodies of the fallen monkeys into one spot, Yohan's movements were swift and purposeful. Once the task was completed, he turned his attention to the surrounding landscape, his eyes scanning for any sign of the elusive elemental fruit.

Despite his thorough search, the terrain yielded no trace of the coveted fruit. Disappointment gnawed at him.

So there's no elemental fruit tree here,

"Yohan muttered with disappointment, his voice tinged with frustration. Despite his efforts, the wilderness had yielded no sign of the coveted fruit.

"Guess we'll have to search elsewhere," he continued, addressing the silent wilderness around him.

"Let's do the extraction first," Yohan said, as he moved towards the bodies.