Chapter 50: Superpredator
Chapter 50: Superpredator
Eratz released a formidable burst of aura. The explosion of power emanated from his body, his jacket shredded into pieces, leaving him in a black tank top.
The power coursing through him felt like nothing he had experienced before, he was lighter, far too light, yet simultaneously overflowing with raw strength.
He felt the combined states of his three aces flowing through him, the formidable strength of the Terrakrus, the lightning speed and agility of the Thunder Lycaon, and the calmness with access to immense aura from the Aetheri.
He felt like his aura was now something he could control with nothing more than his will. He decided to test it further, pushing himself to draw more energy.
The moment he did, his aura burst once more, dark and white energy coursed around his body, with blue lightning crossing through it.
Unlike the traditional beastification forms that would created marks on his body related to the beast he used, his body remained perfectly intact.
Eratz clenched his fist, feeling a surge of pleasure. He didn't know what he had done or how this had become possible, but he had never felt this powerful before.
A large tree stood in front of him, its branches spreading far and wide, its trunk thick and unyielding.
He fixed his gaze on it and, with an intake of breath, launched himself toward it.
His jump was so forceful that the ground beneath his feet exploded upon jumping, sending rocks and dirt flying in all directions.
The shockwave rippled outwards, flattening the grass and sending leaves spiraling into the air.
In an instant, he was in front of the tree, his body twisting into a punching pose.
For a moment, it felt like his mind shut down, his entire being turning into that one singular punch, then came the light, a brilliant explosion rocked the forest, and the massive tree was obliterated.
The blast did not stop there, a cyclone of lightning and raging wind erupted, tearing through the forest, ripping apart trees and scattering the landscape in every direction.
Eratz stood in the middle of the devastation, his aura still enveloping him.
He blinked in surprise, staring at the destruction he had caused. A large area of the forest was leveled, trees shattered, and the ground torn asunder.
After a moment, his shock transformed into a grin, his lips curling upward as his eyes gleamed with excitement.
The next morning, the forest was still. The soft sun light filtered through the treetops, casting a soft golden glow across the land.
The air was fresh and calm, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
But as the sunlight moved deeper into the forest, the landscape gradually changed.
Trees lay broken, splintered into pieces, craters marred the earth, and the remains of the cyclone's path were present in several places.
A group of Genova Academy students had slipped into the forest, led by a young woman beast master serving as their guide.
The students had come to see the magical creatures of the forest, to observe and learn about the beasts in their natural habitat, but as they ventured deeper and saw the devastation, their expressions turned to worry.
"What happened here?" one of the students asked.
The young woman, their guide, turned back to the group, her expression serious.
"Be careful. It looks like something big came through here recently."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, the atmosphere suddenly heavy.
The woman paused, her brow furrowing. She felt something, a presence, a force, coming toward them at an alarming speed. Her heart began to pound, and her instincts screamed at her.
"Everyone, we need to leave. Now!" she said, her voice trembling slightly.
The students looked at her, their confusion evident.
"What? Why? What's happening?" one of them asked, fear creeping into his voice.
The woman didn't answer, her eyes scanning the forest as the force drew nearer.
She summoned her beasts, two creatures, well-suited for scouting and guarding. One was a sleek, wolf-like beast with heightened senses, and the other was a hawk-like creature, its keen eyes scanning the surroundings.
But before they could react further, something burst through the trees. A massive, bear-like monster charged toward them, its roar echoing through the forest.
The students screamed, fear gripping them as the beast rushed forward. The young woman braced herself, her beasts stepping in front of her defensively.
Suddenly, a powerful impact hit the bear-like creature, and the monster was thrown to the side, crashing into the ground.
Dust and debris filled the air, and everyone stared, their eyes wide in shock.
As the dust settled, they saw what had hit the beast, the Terrakrus. The black dragon stood there, its eyes glowing with an intimidating amber light as it faced the bear-like creature.
The students were terrified, stepping back instinctively. The young woman felt her blood run cold.
The power radiating from the two beasts was overwhelming, far beyond anything her own creatures could handle.
The bear groaned, struggling to rise, but before it could, the Terrakrus struck the ground with its massive claw.
The earth trembled, a localized quake erupting beneath the bear, causing the ground to explode and sending the creature sprawling. It roared in pain, unable to regain its footing. The Terrakrus then enveloped itself in a dark coat of aura, its muscles coiling as it launched itself at the bear.
The impact was devastating, the force of the blow creating another crater in the ground. The bear lay unconscious beneath the Terrakrus, its massive form sprawled in the pit.
The Terrakrus stood over its fallen opponent, one foot on the bear's chest as it let out a deep, menacing growl.
Its gaze turned toward the group of academy students and their guide, its amber eyes locking
onto them.
The young woman felt her legs weaken, her heart pounding as the dragon's gaze bore into
her.
She was petrified, the aura of the Terrakrus making her feel as if she were in the depths of hell. "Stop," a voice called out, cutting through the tension.
The Terrakrus's growl ceased, its body relaxing as it turned its head. The students and their guide looked in the direction of the voice, their eyes widening as they saw him, Eratz.
His body was battered and bruised, his clothes torn, but he stood tall, seemingly unfazed by
his condition.
He walked toward the Terrakrus, his eyes on the bear-like creature.
"Leave them. The hunt is over for today, we need to rest for the afternoon training at the agency."
The Terrakrus stepped off the bear, moving back toward Eratz. The young woman and the students stared at him, their minds reeling from what they had just witnessed.
Without sparing them a glance, Eratz spread his aura, the pressure washing over the area as he absorbed the bear-like creature.
The process was effortless, the bear's form dissolving into energy as it was taken into Eratz's
command.
The young woman felt her breath catch as the aura washed over her.
There was something primal about it, something that made her instincts scream in fear, as if
she were in the presence of something far more terrifying than the Terrakrus or the bear. One of the students suddenly froze, her eyes locked on Eratz as he spoke to the Terrakrus.
There was a look of recognition in her gaze, her mouth opening slightly as if she had realized something about him.
Eratz turned his attention to the young woman, his gaze briefly flicking to her summoned
beasts.
"Those monsters of yours look like a fine snack," he said before turning around, his Terrakrus following him as he walked away.
The young woman remained frozen in place, jaw dropping as she watched him leave. The students stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide.
For a moment, no one moved. The only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind, the aftermath of destruction laying heavy on the forest floor.Nôv(el)B\\jnn