The young man felt his legs tremble as he gazed at the blue panel before him. The words stated left him in complete and utter fear.
[Mission: Bring the spirit of the Great ElderWood Forest to rest, eliminate the Distorted Monarch, GrymWake].
[Remaining time: 2 Days].
'This has to be a joke! No..No way, That's impossible! It ranks way above me, what could I possibly do against that?! It even holds a title!'
Kaito gritted his teeth, his previous fear quickly turning into anger. How could it be that just after feeling strong the Trial wants to remind him of his weakness?
'This is stupid! I just slain so many beasts and this is what awaits me in the end?! Death?!'
The young man quickly stood up, in frustration he stomped on one of the corpses of the wolves surrounding him. After a few stomps Kaito took a deep breath in an attempt to try and calm down.
"It's fine... It's totally fine! I can totally take on a Distorted Monarch with just my Inferior rank mastery of every weapon. Yes, yes, that is so doable."
A chuckle escaped the youth's lips as he looked around the forest. Of course this was all delusion, delusion that fueled his ego. In this way he could feel better about having to face such a powerful creature.
"[Hated], oh dear, I really underestimated you. I took you for granted, didn't I?"
As the lunatic young man continued to speak to himself, convincing himself that he was strong, his attribute made him strong, for now at least.
"I just need a good clean hit, that's all. One clean hit to a weak point-"
The frail youth was unable to finish his thoughts or words as his senses went wild. He swiftly turned his body to the side in an attempt to dodge whatever was closing in on him. But he was too late, a flash of indescribable pain coursed through tKaito's body as he felt a sharp dagger-like claw slash at his side.
'...D...Damn it!..'
Kaito had let his guard down for a split second and paid the price. He gritted his teeth while laying on the ground, his hand lowering towards the wound and pressing his bloody clothes against the nasty wound. More pain washed over the frail youth but he quickly stood up and got into a defensive stance as he looked at the beast that had attacked him.
[King of the Dire Wolves, Raijin].
Kaito's eyes widened as he continued to read and noticed the red color of the words.
[Rank: Corrupted Beast].
This creature was two ranks higher than frail youth, Kaito shook his head to shake off the disbelief and raised the [Bone Cleaver]. The beast before the young man was frightening, it reminded him of the similar creature that killed his parents. Flashes of the sounds of his mother and father being mauled lingered in his ear. So acting impulsively in anger Kaito glared at the beast.
'I.. I'll... kill... I'll Kill you!'
With newfound anger and strength the youth lunged at the beast that towered over him, it stood on its hind legs, its fur was clean and a pristine white. However, the creature's eyes lingered on the corpses of its brethren that laid motionless around them. Simultaneously, Kaito's dagger connected with the Wolf King's graceful white fur, it simply shattered. The usually. soothing voice swiftly returning and whispering into his ear.
[Your weapon has been destroyed].
Before the youth could discern what was happening, the side of the beast's fist collided against his side. The blow sent Kaito into the tree, knocking the air out of him as he held his side while reeling in pain.
The Wolf King paid the young man no mind as it looked down with a sorrowful expression at the dead wolves around it, as if mourning their demise.
As Kaito stumbled onto his knees and slowly crawled away, towards the bushes, the Wolf King turned its head, gazing down at the human's retreating figure. The beast began to bare his fangs, anger and sorrow consumed the Wolf King, it lunged at Kaito who barely managed to dodge by rolling aside and enduring more pain.
'...Argh!.. I can't...'
The beast halted before colliding with a tree and turned towards the frail young man, Its terrifying maw open wide. However, just as the beast was lunging towards him, he grabbed the tail of the dead wolf that lay motionless before him. Throwing it at the beast and forcing the Wolf King to accidentally crunch down on one of its own. The beast stopped in horror and began spitting out the flesh of the wolf it had crushed under its maw.
It gritted its teeth after Kaito regained his breath and noticed the stick he had dropped earlier after receiving his weapon.
That granted Kaito the necessary opportunity, noticing the roughly sharpened stick he had dropped earlier, he grabbed it, his hands trembling briefly. But there was no time for hesitation, the frail young man threw the stick with all his might. The blade swiftly pierced the eye of the puking beast. At least that is what it looked like for a second, but instead the beast had caught the stick right before the end of the stick reached him.
'Damn... It...'
With a groan Kaito stood up and smirked, he was tired and hurt. Nevertheless he grabbed onto the tails of two more corpses, further angering the Wolf King. The young man paused in shock as he heard a voice inside his head, but it wasn't the voice of The Hex.
'You disgusting human, who do you think you are? Using such cowardly tactics, you have no honor! I will crush you slowly and then devour you.'
The young man remained silent while taking in the voice of the beast. His lips began curling up into a crazed smirk. A fire ignited in his eyes.
'You can communicate with me in my head..? Better, I'll enjoy your squeals as I squeeze the life out of you with my own two hands!'
Although it was uncommon for beasts of the trials to speak, mainly higher ranked creatures were the only ones with such abilities, but it seemed this one was special. Not that Kaito cared, he was special too, in fact he was probably the most unique person in the world because of his innate ability.
The Wolf King let out an angry howl before lunging at the beast and using all the strength in his arm to throw one of the corpses towards the beast. The Wolf King caught the corpse of the wolf and placed it down gently. It dashed at Kaito with its sharp claws. Nothing but fury was in its eyes, it communicated with the youth in his mind.
'You bastard! I'll Devour you!'
Kaito's smirk grew as he brought the other corpse in his arms down onto his knee, breaking the battered and bloody beast in half. The wolf King paused, its eyes widened in horror. Before the beast could regain its focus, Kaito lunged atop of the beast and shifted onto its back, a red amulet suddenly materializing around his neck.
"Die, Die! Die! I'll be the one who finishes you off, with my own two hands!"
Kaito's smirk grew into a demented grin as he began to strangle the beast, even as he felt his frail body get pummeled and cut by the Wolf King's claws, the young man did not let go. His body suffered and suffered, Kaito coughed out more and more blood, but did not let go. Then the familiar sweet and soothing voice blessed his ears with a whisper that sent shivers down his spine.
[You have defeated a Corrupted Beast, King of The DIre Wolves, Raijin].
[You have received a tool].