It was just as well that Zae Zin Nim wanted to move on, because Kai wasn't sure how much more he could learn from the elves here. The balance training had been useful, but his Physique hadn't increased again and he didn't think that it would. To achieve a real breakthrough, he needed to eat something new.

Even though it had started as a mild interest, a way to stay busy in between training, he was now invested in joining the unicorn hunt. So far he had yet to see a single unicorn, so it wasn't likely that he could find one even if he decided to defy the elves and go out on his own. In theory, according to Ceryyn, if he was allowed to join the great hunt then he could probably manage to catch one.

Except he wasn't sure exactly what would happen if he managed to eat a unicorn. No one spoke about them as monsters and he didn't have any experience with them directly. That was actually a good question to ask Omilaena...

He caught her as she came out of the tent, once more elegantly dressed and with her chin-length hair perfect. Clearly she was going somewhere, presumably to continue with whatever she'd been working on with Zae Zin Nim. But she paused and smiled at him, so hopefully there was time.

"Is a unicorn a monster?" he asked.

"I couldn't tell you," she answered with a shrug. "I can tell you they're not as kind or good as some of the stories I've read."

"But lots of non-monsters are nasty, including people." Kai sighed and shook his head. "Is there a hard line between monsters and aggressive animals? I'm not sure if the Alltongue Fruit is working properly or not, but the elves don't seem to make any distinction."

"Oh, there's a hard distinction alright. Monsters don't have souls and use wholly different sorts of power, whereas animals use chakra, qi, or mana to build their essence."

"Then they're actually... closer to people?"

Omilaena raised an eyebrow. "It's not something people like to talk about, but that's right. You might not see it, depending on your methods, but it's reasonable to speak about animals as having a Physique Level, arguably sometimes even Soul Levels. There are semi-intelligent monkeys in the Coiled Empire that can do a primitive form of cultivation. As you'd guess, the people in charge use that as a sign that humans are also lesser life forms."

"So there's really no hard line?" Kai thought it was cruel to harm animals for no reason, but it was necessary to raise them for food in Goralia, so he didn't weep over them. "You already mentioned the lamias... I'm guessing that demons think of other races as just animals too?"

"If they care about justifying themselves at all."

"Then this unicorn might not be so useful for me after all..."

"I wouldn't say that, because the meat of most animals that can use chakra is strengthening. The elves just want the unicorns for their horns, but you might be able to get more." Omilaena stepped in closer and patted his arm. "But like I said... I'd pass their test soon, if you can. I don't think Zae Zin Nim will want to stay here much longer."

Kai wanted to ask her exactly what she meant by that, but she was already moving off. The two women met up with Ceryyn, then all three of them disappeared. Back to Sandflower City, presumably, to help Zae Zin Nim figure out her next step.

Well, he had work to do too. If he wanted to prove everything he'd done was more than training for himself, he needed to actually pass the test.

Since it was still early in the day, Kai walked down to the pond and waited for the others. He could have jumped up onto the thin trunks, but he already had enough experience with those. Instead he examined his own soul to see what he had to work with.

<

Name: Kai Clanless

Total Power: 380

Cultivation: Body Refinement 26% (106)

Physique Level: D-2 (210)

Soul Level: 8 (64)

Loose Chakra: 52 (0)

Monstrous Hunger - XI (iota)

Behemoth's Heart - VII (eta)

Direboar's Strength - XI (iota)

Isulfr's Bite - VII (eta)

Tyrant's Claw - VIII (theta)

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Void Gaze - VI (zeta)

-

Baleful Breath - III (gamma)

Sahagin's Soul - VI (zeta)

Lizarkyl's Tail - IV (delta)

Direurchin's Spikes - IV (delta)

Wallcrawler's Feet - II (beta)

Beastbat's Wing - II (alpha)

Crystal Slime - I (beta)

Dreamleech - I (alpha)

Abominalgum - I (alpha)

Rose Piranha - II (beta)

Bloodtrap - III (gamma)

Garudaling - II (beta)

Diremonkey - I (alpha)

Deathvine - I (alpha)

>

His training had improved his Physique, he'd cultivated a little more, and best of all he'd managed to increase his Soul Level, which he was sure was helping him keep up with the elves. Still, he didn't see a way to win this contest with raw power. If he wanted to win against opponents who had such advantages, he needed strategy. After contemplating the pond for a time, Kai realized that Sahagin's Soul might be useful to him after all.

The elven hunters started showing up a while later and they didn't mock him anymore, not when he'd knocked so many of them into the pond. Today Heruul was with them, and he must have seen something in Kai's gaze, because he walked over to stare down at him.

"Are you here to humiliate yourself again, human?"

"I think I've done pretty well at the balance test," Kai said as he got to his feet. "But you've never actually told me the terms. If I want to join in the unicorn hunt, how often do I have to win?"

Heruul hesitated for just a moment, then scoffed. "The traditional trial is three matches against comparable opponents, but under real conditions. No more laughing and falling into the water. If you fall this time, you will be removed."

"Deal." Kai jumped into the center of the pond and balanced on one foot. "Who's first?"

One of the younger elves, a hot-headed man with a Nascent Glamour, jumped into the pond. Kai thought he saw Heruul open his mouth to object, since he probably would have sent out someone else, but it was too late. They couldn't go back on the terms now that they'd stated them.

It wasn't really an unfair contest anymore. The elves might move with unnatural grace, but Kai had developed the natural equivalent. He avoided his opponent's attempts to knock him off his feet, then finally ducked underneath a swing and kicked the other man's legs. The elf fell into the water with an angry splutter.

Though it was tempting to mock them, Kai just straightened up and waited for his next challenger. Even if he forced them to agree to their own terms, it was best not to antagonize them beyond the anger they'd already feel losing to a human. For his second challenger there were no hasty choices, instead Heruul spoke to the others before sending up an elven woman.

She had an Earth Glamour and over 600 Power, so she was no slouch. Instead of trying to attack him physically, she unveiled her full glamour, revealing herself as a glorious goddess.

Except that Kai had been exposed to elves for a long time now and he was getting used to their glamours. After all his training with Ceryyn, that couldn't even make him waver. He lunged forward to the next trunk, hoping to take his opponent off guard and end things quickly, but she was too skilled and danced back.

It wasn't just a retreat, either: instead of attacking physically, she unleashed a burst of wind at him. It had been a while since he fought a wind user, which reminded him of Inafay. The elven woman was far more powerful, but she wasn't necessarily more skilled when it came to summoning and launching the bursts of wind, so he stayed ahead of her.

Her next gust of wind seemed to be directed wrong and Kai hesitated. When he started to move, the elven woman used a faster gust to chop apart the next foothold he had planned. Kai desperately stretched out his leg to catch another trunk, wobbled almost to the splits position, and then sprang back to safety.

She attacked more aggressively, both at chest level and at his footing. Kai had no choice but to jump into the air, which moved him on a predictable path. He saw the elven woman smirk and target his destination.

Kai acted first: he launched a single cut from a Tyrant's Claw and sliced the woman's foothold in half. It happened so fast she had only a moment to look shocked before she dropped into the water.

"Two out of three," Kai said once he had his footing again. "Is using techniques allowed?"

"Anything that makes your opponent fall into the water." Heruul scowled as he stepped onto the pond. Even though his steps seemed heavy, he didn't waver slightly on the uneven footing.

"But falling in means losing your footing, right? Not just touching the water?" Best to establish that early in case they tried to play dirty.

"You already know what losing means, human. You've felt it often enough." Heruul stretched his shoulders as he prepared to attack, drawing up his full glamour with vicious intent. "The fact that Lady Ceryyn took pity on you doesn't change what you are. Your soul has barely changed in all this time you've been struggling against us."

Kai didn't bother to answer, just wobbled back and forth on his perch.

When Heruul attacked he didn't use any tricks, just unshakable elven grace. It was more effective than anything Kai had faced, endless efficient movements designed to force him back and leave no openings. That would never work in a fight, where there would be other variables, but this wasn't the foolishness of someone who only knew artificial duels. Heruul understood exactly the terms of the engagement and chose the best strategy.

Of course Kai tried his level best, kicking and dodging amid the bending platforms. Ultimately he couldn't beat an elf this strong at their own game, so he had to fall back. Soon he was standing on one of the last of the trunks, his leg shifting backward to the empty water. Heruul stepped in, ready to knock him down if he regained his balance.

So Kai didn't try.

Instead, in the moment his boot touched the water, he drew on Sahagin's Soul. His boot barely dipped beneath the water before he used it to throw himself forward and that leg kicked his opponent in the chest. Heruul shot backward, splashing into the brackish water before plowing into the mud on one bank. Covered in muck, his glamour of superiority finally faltered.

Kai regained his balance and stood there as if waiting for their judgment. Technically they might have argued that he'd bent the rules at the end, just like he could have argued that using wind magic was cheating. None of that really mattered in a game like this. The fundamental argument was that elves were superior to humans, and Heruul couldn't argue that from his current position.

"You have the right to participate." Heruul rose to his feet and shook his head. "That does not mean you have the capacity. Don't come crying when you miss the hunt or come back with nothing."

So they might still try to dodge out of giving him access, but for once Kai wasn't worried. Now that he had permission, he could get Ceryyn's support, and soon he'd have a much stronger Zae Zin Nim. He didn't know when the time would come, but he'd be ready to hunt a unicorn.