Chase

'Second rule of manipulation: never underestimate the strong fools!' That was what saved Ash the first time he encountered the Vilewarren. But this time, Ash used that rule to save Leonna, but… what about the Vilewarren?

No, he had put in his mind another rule. The fourth rule.

'Ah! It was the fourth one from the very beginning.' fourth rule of manipulation: never let them know your true potential! The Vilewarren wasn't by any means simple at all. He was a terror that chooses his own preys, concealing his own power to hunt whoever he wanted.

The first encounter, he was going to kill Ash before changing his mind and chose Elarion instead. This time he chose Leonna, but she was saved by Ash thankfully.

This time, his prey was Ash, and only him. A level 22 creature dashing to kill a level 3 traveler. Ash felt that the Vilewarren's level doesn't fit with his devastating power. He knew something was wrong in the Hollowbane Lord's level.

But what would that realization do in his current state? It would benefit Ash in only one matter: Strengthening the second rule he is currently using even further.

Ash kept dashing and doging so many trees that came in his way, using every bit of his Skin Fracture's power to not make any mistakes. The slightest mistake would be his fatal end.

The Vilewarren chased Ash with his formidable hollow speed. He charged like a crow going for a simple hunch time, and Ash was the main ingredient.

Ash's Skin Fracture stirred relentlessly. He was using his maximum potential he could muster after all. His stamina would dry at any moment.

'Like I would stop!' Ash thought as he increased his speed even more, pushing beyond his limits. His stamina started to deplete faster by two folds. Soon, Ash would be bound to stop and catch his breath at any second.

The strong always knows the limits of the weak. Ash knew that very well. He can't suppress his powers and use the fourth rule like the Vilewarren and expect he would succeed. Ash sacrificed himself for the sake of his team for them to reach the castle safely.

Well, he hoped so. But… what about him?

His stamina depleted completely, inactivating his Skin Fracture automatically. Ash found himself flying ahead without any control over his speed. His power had vanished, and the Vilewarren was just behind him. He staggered and rolled on the ground several times before hitting a tree that eventually stopped him with a crash.

"Khaaahaaaa!" Spitting blood, that's all. Ash dropped on the ground, his back facing the tree behind him, and looked up only to see the Vilewarren standing like a Lord he was.

The Hollowbane Lord looked down at his prey and raised his head, His four horns evoked the darkness of His Hollow affinity. An entity that would make anyone grip their hearts before his aura.

And then something that forced Ash watch in silence. A shock crossed his body, reaching every point of his spine.

The Vilewarren lend his hand to him.

He didn't attack, didn't scare, didn't do anything. Only lending his hand to Ash.

Ash watched and didn't move any cell of his body. He knew that it was a trap. Did the Vilewarren really thought that this little trick would slide against a manipulator?

'Never!' Ash thought, his anger rising out pure feeling of being underestimated. He catched his breath, trying to breathe as much as he can so his body won't faint. His lungs couldn't maintain this much air, he felt as if they were about to explode.

Though, the Vilewarren never moved his hand. As if he was too reluctant to not help Ash, or trick him.

Ash instantly oppned his status. Like the last time, he would use anything he could. Maybe a miracle would appear in front of him. But first he had to see his level EXP.

[Level: 3]

[EXP: 550/700]

'Tch! I had to kill another bane of at least level 14 to get level 4! SHIT! If I had just another level, just another surge of EXP…' Ash didn't have to complete his thought. The implication was clear. Every point of EXP matters in this world. Just one more kill would have made a huge difference, but fate had another opinion.

[Inventory: {Dark Gauntlets}, {Skin Fracture}]

[Skin Fracture: Hollowbane]

[State: Incomplete]

[Fractures obtained: 2/3]

Ash was surprised once he saw the obtained Fractures. He had gained another one! Maybe he got it from one of the Hollowbanes he had killed and it would probably be the level 16 one. But that wouldn't change anything, his stamina is depleted and completely dry.

Still, Ash had to move, he had to do anything or its good byes for him.

As he was about to dash to the left side, a punch was harrowing toward the Vilewarren from the right side. A knuckle even bigger than his head, crashed and forced him to fly toward the other side.

Ash was taken aback!

'W-What happened?' He thought as he shifted his gaze and saw something he already saw before.

The bane he saw a while ago, it was him! Though his appearance was a bit different. His bulky build was thicker, his muscles were more refined, his horns came to existence as three of them shined with crimson hue that evoked pure strength, and his fur was more reddish than before. Like he had gone under an ascension!

Finally, Ash saw what he couldn't see the last time. His panel!

[Skin Walker]

"Whattttt?!!!" Ash shouted at the bane as he realized that he was a traveler. But why did he attack Ash the last time?

'Doesn't matter now, he saved me!' Ash thought. admiring the Skin Walker who saved him.

Suddenly, Ash saw himself being picked up on his shoulder. And he ran away from the area. Just simple as that.

For a bane which it's affinity focuses on strength, the Skin Walker was fast, so fast and agile like a Hollowbane! How did he gain that speed in only two days?! Ash felt the gap between them was just too high. Still, that makes it better than being alone.

As they got away, a thought of flash warning crossed Ash's mind: What if… that Skin Walker wasn't an ally?