The match technically continued, but Kai was still trapped in that first moment, trying to understand what he had witnessed. There was no question that the man's arm had transformed into a monstrous limb and for just a moment Kai was convinced that he'd met someone like him. Gradually he accepted that this power was based in chakra, and yet...

"Kai, sit down." Zae Zin Nim tugged at his side. "You're unreasonably tall; you're blocking everyone's view."

Her words brought him back to himself and he sat down with apologies to those around them. Just staring wouldn't do him any good - he needed to investigate. That would start with looking at the man's soul much more carefully.

<

Name: ???

Total Power: 451

Savage Heart: 21 (215)

Physique: D-0 (200)

Soul Level: 6 (36)

>

At a glance the man looked like an ordinary enough fighter, power still divided between Physique and the Savage Heart ability. Yet he was showing greater strength... Kai searched in vain for a hint of a monstrous soul and found nothing. When he consulted his Monstrous Hunger ability, the man felt more like a person or sacred beast than another monster. There was something strange with the symbols of his soul, however, that he couldn't quite figure out.

"Does he...?" Kai didn't finish his question to Zae Zin Nim, but she understood.

"I was going to ask you that. Do you see...?" She didn't say it, even in Goralian.

"I don't, not at all. But there's something odd about his strength."

"He's compressed some of his power into another form." When Zae Zin Nim saw he didn't understand, she continued. "It's a viable technique, even if it's rarely used on Cloudspire. Why not use your full strength from the beginning, after all? You shouldn't look at his soul naively, examine the transformed part carefully..."

Under her guidance, Kai adjusted his spiritual sight and finally resolved some of the strangeness. Now the man's stated strength was a better match for what Kai observed. There was a new line in his soul called "Savage Form" that seemed to offer a boost. Similar to special equipment, yet somehow part of him.

As the fight continued, the Savage Form grew in strength. The man's other arm transformed as well, and his feet shifted to great paws like a predatory cat. It seemed like he might transform entirely, but then his opponent's rocky defenses collapsed and the match was over. In the final moments as the strange man reverted, Kai thought he caught a glimpse of his true strength.

<

Name: ???

Total Power: 651

Savage Heart: 21 (215)

Savage Form (+200)

Physique: D-0 (200)

Soul Level: 6 (36)

>

If Kai understood correctly, the man's special form added a total of 200 Power to his overall strength. That was impressive, if not unheard of, so the question was why. Was it easier to gain this sort of power? Could it only emerge temporarily due to limitations? Or did he simply transform for the convenience of having a normal human body?

And above all, was he actually tapping into monstrous powers?

"I..." Kai didn't finish saying it and just looked at Zae Zin Nim.

"You have to go talk to him, right?" Her dark eyes stared back at him, understanding completely. "Go. I'll follow but not interrupt unless necessary."

With the match won, the man was collecting some winnings and walking away. It looked like only a few thousand Crests, which was basically meaningless compared to what his ability might mean. Kai pushed past all the other assembled fighters to follow him. The man was moving rapidly, taking him out into the city streets before Kai caught up.

"Alright, that's enough." The man stopped and glared over his shoulder. "If you're an assassin, you're an idiot. If you're a fan, get in line."

Stolen story; please report.

"I'm just a traveler," Kai said. "Please, can you tell me more about your ability?"

"What, you've never heard of the Savage Creed?" The man scoffed. "Yeah, looks like you're from Deadwaste now that I get a look at you. Listen, kid, mana will never be strong enough for this. Either build up some chakra or go home. Either way, don't waste my time."

Words were clearly useless and the chance might slip through his fingers. This "Savage Creed" must be well-known on Rosemount, but it was rare enough that this was the first time he'd encountered it in almost a year of travel. This might be his only opportunity to learn about a power so close to his...

So Kai bent his fingers into a claw. He took his time forming the Tyrant's Claw, making it clear he was demonstrating instead of trying a surprise attack, and saw the other man's eyes widen.

When Kai swung the claw, the man struck back, his arm transforming again and unleashing an opposing technique. Their claws smashed together in the center of the street, the mere force of it creating a shockwave and tearing some of the banners off nearby buildings.

Kai hadn't used his full strength and now found himself pushed backward, so he gritted his teeth and tried to force his arm forward. Yet his opponent wasn't still controlling his technique in the same way, it was more like when Kai launched a Tyrant's Claw as a projectile attack. He barely realized in time and called it off, just as his opponent's chakra dissolved in the air.

"Gods damn." The man put his hands on his hips and stared. "Somebody on Deadwaste tried to recreate the Savage Creed?"

"It might not be exactly the same, but I want to learn from you." Kai lowered his hands and tried a smile, but the other man only scowled.

"I'm impressed, but our power is more than techniques imitating beasts. It transforms the entire body, and I don't mean just when we change. I'm stronger, faster, bet-"

"Hit me." Kai raised his hands to either side to bare his chest. "If you can take me down in one hit, you can walk away. But if I endure it, I want to talk to you."

For several seconds they stared at one another in silence. Kai could feel Zae Zin Nim hovering in the shadows, not exactly approving and ready to leap in. It was true that it was a risk inviting attack like this, because an opponent this strong could really injure him. He was trusting Behemoth's Heart to put him back together if it came to that.

Abruptly the other man laughed. "Alright, I'll admit you have guts. The name is Atavan, by the way."

Atavan thrust out a hand and Kai shook it. When their hands touched, the other man transformed his arm again and squeezed with his new monstrous limb. Kai winced, but his hand wouldn't come apart that easily, so he squeezed back.

"Not bad." Atavan eventually let go and his arm reverted to normal. "Feels like you're building up a little chakra too. That won't be enough, though. What makes the Savage Heart rare is that not everyone has the spirit for it. Requires a specific combination of personality, guts, and chakra."

"I know you have your own business," Kai said, "but I have to know more. At least tell me where I can learn about the ability."

"If you haven't even heard of the Savage Creed, you're so new to Rosemount that there might not be much point."

Zae Zin Nim padded up beside him now that the fighting had ended. "You're some sort of sect based on mirroring the strength of sacred beasts?"

"Not a sect, little lady." Atavan looked her up and down with a savage grin, but then backed up when he saw her glare. "We're no organization, just a group of people following the same path. It isn't just inspiration from animals like you're probably thinking back home. We eat what we want, take what we want, fight whenever we want."

"Then if I beat you," Kai asked evenly, "you have to listen to me?"

"Hey now, no need for that." Atavan shook his head as if he was just amused by Kai's challenge, and looking at the difference in their strength it did seem foolish. And yet when they locked eyes, the other man was the one to hesitate.

"Give me somewhere to start."

"Guess I can't argue with that." Atavan gripped the fur band on his wrist, which turned out to be a spatial storage item. He pulled out a necklace strung with what looked like monster teeth and snapped one off, then tossed it at Kai. "That's my mark. Shows we fought and I respected you. It won't get you everything you want, but if you try to pursue the Savage Creed with that, they won't laugh in your face."

"Thanks." Kai gripped it in his palm, still considering. "Where do I find them?"

"Not so many around here, and we don't usually get along with big cities. But if you head east of Traeton, you'll find us hunting in the wilderness. Maybe not the strongest of us, but the ones willing to raise cubs. That's where you'd want to start."

Kai's instinct was to thank the man again, but he actually wanted more than that. He couldn't leave the ultimate question open. "How many different beasts can you draw from? Is it one for each person, or multiple?"

"We all form our own beasts." Atavan raised his hand and partially transformed it. "Claws of a greatwolf, muscle of a divine ox, that sort of thing. You're off to a good start, kid, but the beasts you have in Deadwaste won't cut it. That's why you're failing to transform."

"Can you draw power from monsters?"

"Eh?" Atavan stared at him a second, then laughed. "You don't even know that? Sublime beasts are made of the same stuff as us, monsters are the opposite. The only thing they're good for is sharpening your claws."

"I see. Thank you." Kai gave the man a nod and let him go, then stared down at the fang in his hand.

He wasn't sure how he felt now, or what he was supposed to feel. Would it have been a relief to find an entire tribe of people who had the same monstrous powers as him? Or would it have been a disappointment to learn that there was nothing unique about him and the abilities he'd struggled against fate for were common here? Kai wasn't sure he felt either emotion, just a vast sense of distance.

"You're interested." Zae Zin Nim shifted closer to him, looking into his face curiously, and he realized that he felt no distance from her.

"Yeah, I think I have to pursue this," he said. "It's a perfect use for chakra and it might help me use my other abilities better."

"Normally I would say this transformation business is an error, but for you it might be the right choice." She gave a brief nod, as if finding out about a faction of transforming beast people was just another item on their schedule.

In a strange way that made him feel better. This wasn't transformative, despite the literal transformations, just another target for him to strive toward. Given the long path he had to walk, that would have to be enough.

With that resolved, they had the day free to either go back to the arena or head somewhere else. Kai was just beginning to relax when Omilaena suddenly appeared beside them.

"Things are worse than I thought," she said. "I don't know what you two just got involved in, but we have to move. Our window of opportunity for this mission is closing."