Truly A Monster

Thump-thump!

Christopher's stomach growled, a rumbling testament to his gnawing hunger. He scanned his surroundings, the dense forest canopy filtering the already dim light into an eerie twilight.

He was utterly lost, a disorienting reality that settled uncomfortably in his gut. 'How did I even get here?' He wondered, his mind a blank slate regarding his recent past.

"I need food." he muttered, the words barely audible above the rustling leaves. He glanced around nervously. "But where? Hunting Beasts is risky. The smell of blood and fire will attract unwanted attention." The thought of becoming prey himself sent a shiver down his spine.

BANG! BOOM!

Christopher's ears perked up.

"Those are sounds of fighting." He realized, a flicker of hope igniting within him. He hesitated for a moment, weighing the potential danger against his desperate need for sustenance, but the growling in his stomach made the decision for him.

Christopher took a deep breath and started running towards the source of the commotion, careful to keep to the shadows.

___

He arrived at a small clearing, the scene before him a chaotic ballet of motion and magic.

"Huh?" he breathed, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Vicki!! [Helm of Protection]!"

A young woman shouted, her voice ringing with urgency. She was in her early twenties, with long, vibrant pink hair tied back in a ponytail that swayed with her movements. She charged towards a monstrous brown dog, its three tails lashing wildly, each tipped with razor-sharp points.

The beast's teeth were bared in a ferocious snarl.

Responding to its master's call, a sleek, gray Earth Cat that stood behind her glowed with a radiant green light. In the next instant, a shimmering, green, transparent circular shield materialized around the young woman, encasing her in protective energy.

"What are you doing, Advika?! That Ordinary Stage Beast has a combat strength of only Lv1!" Another girl exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise and concern.

She was blonde and stood near, behind the Earth Cat.

"We should be strategizing, not rushing in!" She added.

"Come on, Lani! We need to assist her! Use [Bond]!"

She yelled, a little fearful.

The green Goat standing beside her, a creature of sturdy build and intelligent eyes, lowered its head and stamped its two front legs on the ground.

BAM!

Thick, vibrant green plant roots erupted from the earth beneath the enraged Beast, wrapping around its legs and body, successfully restraining its movement.

The dog snarled in frustration, its powerful muscles straining against the constricting vines.

"Nicely done, Sylvia!!" Advika cried, a grin briefly flashing across her face.

The pink-haired woman, Advika, leaped into the air, her sword raised high. She brought it down in a swift, powerful slash aimed at the beast's head.

BAM!!!

Her sword connected with a sickening thud, but to her shock, the attack was completely ineffective. The beast's thick hide absorbed the blow, barely even flinching.

The Beast's eyes glowed red, burning with fury. Seeing this, the young woman leaped backwards, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of the enraged creature.

The enraged dog, with a mighty heave, tore free from the restraining roots, the severed vines dangling uselessly from its body. It launched itself towards Advika with clear intent to kill.

Advika quickly raised her sword in defense, planning on blocking the claws of the dog.

BAM!

The Beast's claws collided with the green shield around her, the force of the impact throwing her several meters back. The shield flickered and dissipated, leaving her vulnerable.

Advika landed on her feet, stumbling slightly, right in front of her sister, Sylvia, and their Beasts.

Grazzz!!!!

The enraged Beast let out an angry roar, a guttural sound that echoed through the clearing, and shot forward, running towards the sisters and their Beasts.

"Vicki! With me!!"

Advika yelled, her voice filled with adrenaline.

She spun her sword, and shot forward. The 1-meter tall Cat, Vicki, followed behind her, its eyes glowing an intense green.

Christopher watched in fascination, his hunger momentarily forgotten, as the three clashed in an epic battle. He was struck by Advika's ferocity, her unwavering determination in the face of such a fearsome creature.

'Wow, such a fierce lady…' He thought. 'But I don't get it… Ordinary Stage Beasts don't have cores, and their parts aren't worth much in auction houses… That leaves only one answer, which is; these two are after the Beast's flesh… Which could be sold for a low price.'

The thought made him slightly queasy, but his hunger quickly overshadowed any moral qualms.

He watched as the enraged Beast collided with the cat, throwing it some meters back. Advika, without a second thought for her own safety, rushed in to assist, her movements blurring with speed.

'She's brave.' Christopher nodded, impressed. 'But her Beast is a Perfect Stage, its Combat stage is only on Lv1, same with the dog… Even the one named Sylvia, her beast is also a Lv1… Is this their first battle?' He frowned. Something didn't add up.

He shook his head.

'That's not possible. This pink-haired girl moved with the agility of a seasoned fighter… This isn't her first battle, but it's probably Sylvia's.'

BANG!!

Advika leaped backwards, landing beside her Beast, Vicki, who quickly stood up from the ground, shaking off the dust and leaves.

"Ok. Vicki… You know what to do." Advika said, panting slightly.

Vicki nodded and turned into a trail of green light, and shot towards the Beast, becoming a blur of motion.

Advika exhaled, gathering her strength, and followed behind, moving with five times her initial speed.

Seeing her sister's action, Sylvia yelled: "Lani, [Bond]!"

Her Beast, Lani, did the same action as before, and roots erupted once more, surrounding the enraged Beast, holding its body to the ground. This time, however, the roots seemed thicker, and stronger.

"Her Beast might be a Perfect Stage Beast, but its Combat strength is Lv1… Which means it could only use one skill, same with the Cat… But, what is this pink hair planning on doing?" Christopher muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

He watched in shock, his eyes widening, as the green light that surrounded Vicki now enveloped Advika's sword. The blade shimmered, pulsing with magical energy.

"Impossible!!" Christopher exclaimed, his voice a hushed whisper.

He watched, mesmerized, as Advika, now standing in front of the restrained Beast, slashed down with her sword. The combined power of her own strength and Vicki's magic cleaved through the beast's head with terrifying ease, splitting it open.

BAM!

Blood spurted out from the gruesome crack, The dog dropped, dead, its three tails twitching one last time before falling still.

Advika drew out her sword, the blade dripping with gore. Her beast, Vicki, flew out from the blade in a swirl of green light and took its non-combat form, landing gracefully on her shoulder.

"We did it, Vicki." She smiled, a genuine smile that lit up her face for the first time.

Christopher stared at her with a mixture of horror and awe, utterly perplexed. Only a few Tamers could train their Beasts to use that form, combining their powers with their weapons to increase their attack or defense attributes!

'This girl will be a monster if she becomes an Elite or higher Stage Tamer.'

He recognized the technique, a rare and powerful skill that spoke of intense training and a deep bond between Tamer and Beast.

Before he knew it, Advika's head snapped towards the thicket of bushes where he was concealed. Her eyes, narrowed and intense, seemed to pierce through the foliage as if she could see him perfectly.

"Come out!!" She barked, her voice leaving no room for argument.

'Truly a monster.' Christopher thought, a shiver running down his spine despite the humid air.

He'd been discovered. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

'Play it cool.' he told himself. 'Act like you just arrived.'

Christopher straightened the makeshift bag slung around his neck, and stepped out of the shadows, hands casually tucked into his pockets.

'Yeah, I see how this makes me look like a fool.' He inwardly groaned, knowing his attempt at nonchalance probably wasn't fooling anyone.

The two girls frowned slightly as he emerged. Advika's expression was especially frosty, her brow furrowed in suspicion. Sylvia, the blonde girl, looked more curious than hostile.

"Who are you?!" Advika demanded, her voice sharp and laced with suspicion.

Christopher offered a disarming smile. "You can call me Chris. Wow, you guys were good… Taking down that beast." He gestured towards the fallen three-tailed dog.

"Impressive teamwork." He paused, trying to gauge their reactions. "I see you've been doing this for a long time now."

"No…" Sylvia started, then hesitated. "Well… For me, yes. It's my first time—"

"—Hold on, Sylvia." Advika interrupted, her gaze never leaving Christopher. She moved her scrutinizing gaze over him, taking in his worn clothes and hesitant demeanor.

A sneer twisted her lips. "How long have you been standing there?" She asked, her tone dripping with ice.

"Not long—" Christopher began, but she cut him off.

"—Not long?" Advika echoed, mimicking his words with disdain. She let out a short, humorless chuckle. Her eyes, bored into his.

"Then move on." She said, her voice as cold as a winter wind.

Christopher held her gaze for a few seconds, a silent battle of wills playing out between them. He could sense her distrust, the unspoken warning in her eyes, but decided to try a different tactic.

"Maybe I can help you with something." He suggested, trying to keep his voice light.

"You alone won't be able to exsanguinate and skin the Beast. I know you're after its skin and meat—"

Whoosh!!

Christopher's words died in his throat. One moment, Advika was standing a few feet away, the next her sword was at his throat, the sharp edge pressing lightly against his skin.

He swallowed hard, his bravado evaporating in an instant. He slowly raised his hands into the air, palms open.

"Mind your business." Advika hissed, her voice low and menacing. "And Vicki here can help me with that!" She glanced at the Earth Cat on her shoulder, who blinked serenely, seemingly unconcerned by the tense situation.

Christopher managed a weak smile:

"Yeah, but can it help you with that and protect you from those Beasts staring at your kill?" He tilted his head slightly, indicating something behind them.

"Huh?"

Advika's eyes flickered away from him for a split second.

She looked over her shoulder and her breath hitched. Two massive Komodo dragons, their scales a sickly green, stood a short distance away, their reptilian eyes fixed on the dead dog.

They were easily three meters long, and their powerful bodies stood almost 1.8 meters tall. Their forked tongues flicked in and out, tasting the air, and a low growl rumbled from their throats. They were clearly interested in claiming the carcass as their own.

Advika and Sylvia froze, their faces paling. The bravado that had been so evident moments before vanished, replaced by a mixture of fear and apprehension.

Christopher, seeing their reaction, let out a soft chuckle.