From Fluff to Fang

When Ash was still lying on the ground, he saw so many white dots in the distance. Numerous of Fluffbanes waited in silence to grasp their chance of the fallen Ash and feast on his tasty flesh.

Not knowing that he would actually kill the one who lunged to him at the beginning, gaining 15 EXP in the process.

And that alone resulted in a surge of power coursing through his mangled body. Allowing him to stand on his feet and fight.

Yes, he was still mangled and so weak, but at least he could stand and try to defend himself.

The number of the white abominations wasn't low by any means.

It was a hoard, waiting and waiting for the last fight to end.

Ash stood up with a bit of effort, and it hurt as hell. But this was the only choice he had to make otherwise, it's the end for the mangle.

Ash waited for the hoard to start moving, and soon they did. He did the same but he realized something vital.

His left shoulder was severely damaged, adding to it the torture he had before.

'Like I have another choice.'

As soon as they lunged to fight him, Ash sighed deeply and lunged at them as well.

"Let's see who would be the prey." Ash said with a smile running wild on his face.

His crimson hair was a bit long, flying backwards like a rail of tied strings attached to his head. His vermillion eye glowed. An eye of a monster, waiting to devour his prey.

Well, all of that was what Ash meant to show. Actually, he was truly afraid, scared and horrified.

'Think! Think! Or you will be doomed! How can I kill of those freaks with the least damage possible?'

The distance between the two foes were closing. Still, Ash didn't find his answer.

But he was still trying with all of his brain cells.

However, Luck wasn't on his side. The abominations reached him, only two to be exact reached him first.

The two Fluffbanes jumped to attack... I mean, bite Ash's flesh. Ash didn't waste any second and dodged slightly to right side.

He wasn't swift enough, as one of them landed and hugged his left arm.

The tiny abomination was about to crunch on his arm once again.

'Not this time, little white!'

The first rule of manipulation: Never trust the kind faces!

Ash used it as a weapon. Such a terrifying weapon!

Ash instantly imprisoned the tiny Fluffbane in his right hand, with a grip of steel.

And did the vice versa once more.

[You have slain a LV.1 Old Times Twitchling, Fluffbane!]

[5 EXP Gained!]

'Hmm, so... every level gains 5 EXP for the kill. Good! Very good!'

Ash spit the left overs of its flesh and said:

"How ironic! The strong always stay peaceful, while the lesser lunges and attack immediately."

Suddenly, his eyes widened!

"The strong always stays peaceful! Yes! THAT'S IT!!"

Ash found the answer.

It's time for the one-sided massacre!

Ash stopped in his place, and changed all of his facial expressions. From a fighter into a gentle, peaceful human.

The other Fluffbane who missed his arm looked at him with his enormous eyes and stared at him. It even approached him like a cute pet.

Ash lent it his hand to pet it on its head.

"Hey there, little guy..."

Ash never intended to pet it. Of course, no matter what happens, Fluffbanes are still flesh-eating monsters.

"How does it feel to use your own weapon against you?"

Instead, Once the Fluffbane got so close to him, Ash grabbed it and crunched on its flesh.

[You have slain...]

The others, however, never stopped and kept approaching him.

After Ash spitted the flesh, he returned to his peaceful manner.

Now, Five of them were standing just in front of him with their eyes wide open.

Grabbing the closest one, Ash dashed backwards and ate the Fluffbane amidst his dash. This time he ate its flesh.

The mangle was just a bit hungry.

"Not bad!"

The four remaining jumped in symmetry just after Ash stopped a few meters away.

They were about to take their walking snack. Ash shivered in fear and crouched down.

Grabbing one of them in the process and dashed to the left side.

Ash killed the one in his grip and got bit at the same time. One of them could reach his right shoulder and took a huge chunk of his flesh.

"UGH! SHIT!"

***

For the next 5 minutes, Ash kept dashing, killing and getting feasted on. Every second was a timer ticking for his stamina to drain.

Eventually, he managed to kill all of them. But at what cost?

He got mangled even more! Several parts of his flesh were missing!

Ash dropped on his knees, trying to catch his breath. He spent those 5 minutes running, dashing, eating raw flesh. His stamina was fully drained.

Even his lungs couldn't keep up with his breath!

To his luck, he gained so many EXP out of this hoard. And also got his stomach full!

"Traveler..."

[Traveler: Ash Verlane]

[Code:*789#1000]

[Level: 1]

[EXP: 105/250]

'Great, nearly half way done.'

Breathing hoarsely, Ash glanced at the direction of the woods. He saw another hoard waiting to devour him.

"Just how many of you wants the flesh of a mangle?!"

Seconds passed and they still didn't flinch. Something... something was wrong.

Ash never let his gaze away, he knew there is something wrong, very wrong.

And that wrongness showed in two figures.

Two abomination slightly bigger than the Fluffbanes walked through the woods, closing the distance between them and Ash every second.

Then, he saw them! Unimaginable pressure emanated from them. Ash felt their aura like a gravitational force of another kind fell on top of him.

Ash widened and felt a shiver running down his whole spine.

The two abominations were also Fluffbanes, but they were different.

From the walk to the appearance, even the color.

All the smaller Fluffbanes fled the area as if they were scared or just honoring their presence.

The system didn't take long to show their panels.

[Fangbane]

[Level: 4]

"Level... four!!! One level higher than the LV.3 Fluffbane makes that difference?!"

The Fangbane, a tier 2 Fluffbane. It has white fur with a slight color of grey, one horn situated on the center of its forehead. Instead of two eyes, this beast has three!

What Ash needed the most was time., but nature had other opinion.

They were still considered small, but also were bigger than the normal Fluffbane.

'The smaller ones made me exhausted and fragile. I can't imagine what will those two do to me if I fought them.'

Ash felt their pressure becoming higher with each step and decided... to just run!

'I don't care about pride, if it came near my life.'

But once Ash stood up he fell on his knees again. His body couldn't handle the pressure, the injuries, and the drained stamina.

Ash just needed some damned time.

But it wasn't there.

He tried again and again and again but without any difference. His body refused to match his will of surviving.

'Ah shit!'

The two Fangbanes reached the end of the woods.

With all of their might, they dashed to attack the fallen.

Their speed was quite decent and closed the distance in no time.

Ash lied on the ground and took a deep breath.

Ash... surrendered?

'At least... I did what I could.'

Closing his eyes just a mere moment before they destroy his life.

SLASH!

Ash opened his eyes in confusion!

Under the dim light, a figure emerges. A smile was dancing across his face. His blue hair framed with amusement.

His eyes were blue as well, a symbol of a spark of joy. 

Ash saw the figure towering above him.

Well, of course because he was lying on the ground.

The figure was actually a human! He rotated his torso and looked at Ash.

"Stay assured, my friend!"

He smiled and raised one arm, two fingers to be exact and extended them in a gesture that welcomes the fallen.

"I have come to save you... Traveler!"