Chapter 51: Fortuitous Encounter
Surrounded by the eerie glow of countless blue eyes, Darius took a moment to survey the growing mass of Swamp-Roaches. Hundreds of the first-stage beasts floated in a grotesque halo around him, with the bulkier, more menacing second-stage roaches forming an outer ring. As the water around him stilled, the heavy pulse of their collective intent filled the murky depths.
Adopting a mocking smile, Darius's eyes darkened, 'Killing intent?'
In response to their sudden charge, his aura darkened, a cold, overwhelming killing intent rolling off him in waves. The sheer force of his will struck the closest roaches like a physical blow, knocking out the weaker first-stage creatures and freezing the others in place.
With the horde momentarily stalled, Darius's muscles swelled, his water tattoo shimmering beneath the skin as streams of aqua blue water mana flowed over his hands. Spreading his arms wide, he harnessed all fifty Cauldrons of Force. With jets of water mana from the back of his hands, further enhancing his already formidable strength, and with a swift, fluid motion, he brought his palms together in a monumental clap.
The impact of his hands below the water's surface was cataclysmic. A shockwave burst forth, radiating outward with ferocious power. The second stage of the pit's walls, looming in the distance, caught the violent surge, reflecting and amplifying the shockwave back towards the center. The water vibrated with the intensity of the rebounding forces, creating a deadly onslaught of pressure that tore through the ranks of the immobilized roaches.
As the shockwaves intersected, they induced cavitation throughout the watery pit. Bubbles formed rapidly in the wake of the pressure changes, collapsing with such violence that the sound reverberated like thunder through the water, an eruption of explosions that echoed in the confined space. The force of the collapsing bubbles was not just lethal to the Swamp-Roaches but began to disrupt the very structure of the pit itself.
Sediment that had lain undisturbed for ages was now upturned, clouding the water with debris and obscuring the massacre of Swamp-Roaches. The once-clear pit transformed into a churning whirlpool of sediment, bones, and the bloody remnants of shattered roaches.
The turbulence was so intense that it seemed as if the environment itself might change permanently, the boundaries of the pit eroding under the relentless assault of the intersected shockwaves.
As the underwater chaos escalated, Darius, shrouded in his protective aura, didn't pause. Urgently, he surged upwards, dodging swiftly, his water mana surging as he pushed his Ethereal Steps to it's limit. Jagged debris and bones from the beast graveyard—skulls, ribs, and spines—swirled dangerously close, hurtling through the water like silent missiles.
In the churned waters, a four-meter second-stage Swamp-Roach scuttled towards Darius with alarming agility. Its monstrous form, bolstered by sturdy hind legs, sliced through the water. Lunging at Darius, its large bug-like face and clasping mandibles aiming directly for him amidst the swirling debris.
Reacting swiftly, Darius blue aura flared, anchoring his stance in the shifting currents, his muscles tensing. As the creature bore down on him, he delivered a single, devastating punch. His fist connected with the beast's skull, the impact echoing through the water. The creature's momentum halted abruptly as it floated lifelessly away, carried by the current of the still-settling whirlpool.
'Too weak, these guys really are all about numbers.'
As the water's current began to gradually subside, Darius surged upwards with renewed urgency. 'Doesn't mean I want to run into a third stage,' every muscle tensed, he sliced through the slowing waters, his focus sharp.
Suddenly, a small object swirling within the water caught his attention—a fleeting shadow streaking towards him. Recognizing it, Darius’s hand shot out, snagging it with a practiced grasp. He swiftly secured it in his pouch without missing a beat, his ascent unbroken as he raced towards the surface.
'Haku, can you hear me?' Darius sent his thoughts through their mental link, judging the distance close enough as he broke through to the first layer of the graveyard. His movements suddenly doubled, exploding upwards in speed.
'Yeah I can hear you, is everything okay?'
'Is there anything I need to worry about if I come up right now?' Darius's thoughts echoed sharply as he felt the mounting killing intent swelling behind him.
'Uh well......no.'
'What was that...Nevermind, just be ready, I'm bringing company.' Darius's aura pulsed as he pushed his speed to the limit, his bones humming as he strained his limited water mana.
'What company?' Haku, positioned at the top of the graveyard, quickly stepped back from the edge of the swamp waters. In his ghost-form and poised for action, he scanned the surface intently.
Before Haku could get a response, the water's surface exploded. Darius shot out, soaring high above the swamp, shouting, "Get ready to catch me!"
"Catch you?!" Haku's eyes widened as the water erupted again, this time sending hundreds of Swamp-Roaches soaring into the air after Darius.
Darius turned to face the approaching horde, his azure blue eyes intense under the glow of his swirling aura, which shifted from torrents of water mana to crackling, arcing blue lightning mana.
Drawing a glowing purple beast crystal from his pouch, he shouted, "Echoing Thunder Palm!"
Darius held the glowing purple beast crystal against his chest, his fingers splayed in a precise hand sign. His other hand, drawn back, crackled with intense, blue, lightning mana, gathering with a growing hum. With a fierce shout, he thrust his palm forward. Instantly, a massive bolt of lightning, shaped like an enormous palm, streaked down from the sky. It struck the ascending horde of Swamp-Roaches, erupting in a brilliant explosion that scattered the creatures in a shower of electric fury.
As Darius began his descent, the battered corpses and stunned bodies of the Swamp-Roaches started to splash back into the swamp below. At that moment, Haku burst into motion, charging forward with explosive speed. He leaped into the air just in time for Darius to land solidly on his back. Together, they skidded across the swamp's opposite edge, turning sharply to face the graveyard once more.
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"Now what was all that about?!" Haku shouted, materializing suddenly, his black fur flecked with shifting stars, while blue flames flickered around his forelegs and neck.
"Swamp-Roaches," Darius replied, starting to recount the harrowing events from beneath the graveyard's waters. Haku's gaze flickered with intrigue as he absorbed the tale.
"I wonder about that massive senior. A beast that size in humanoid form? Definitely a major player." Haku's tail wagged, his imagination ignited.
As Darius stepped off Haku’s back, he pressed for details, "And what was that earlier? You paused when I asked if it was safe to surface."
Haku’s flames intensified as he spoke, his smile laced with self-satisfaction, "Big Brother, I also encountered a powerful senior!"
----
In the eerie calm that followed Darius’s descent into the beast graveyard, Haku stood in his Ghost-Fire form, a mere spectator to the life beneath the waters. When suddenly, the graveyard’s somber atmosphere was disrupted by a profound aura approaching, 'third stage?'
Hidden among the spectral currents, Haku observed as an ancient mana-beast made its presence known. The creature, standing five meters tall and walking upright, moved with a dignity worn by time. Its black, curling horns, alive with flowing magma, cast a fierce glow, while its upper body was a spectacle of molten rock plates, the gaps between them pulsing with flowing lava. Black and crimson fur covered its waist and legs, cascading down to hooves wreathed in flames.
'Volcanic-Ram? Doesn't look like a third stage. Guess Darius was right, feels good to know things.' Haku smirked as he continued to watch the Volcanic-Ram in its final moments. 'He looks different from what I read...'
Abruptly, the Ram halted, its nose twitching as if sensing something amiss. It spoke in a rumbling voice that resonated through the swampy silence, "Come out, little ghost. I can feel your eyes on me."
Haku paused, taken aback. 'No one has ever noticed me before, except Darius. Guess there's no point in hiding now—if he wanted me dead, I get the feeling he could just say the word.' With that thought, he solidified from his ghostly form, appearing before the elderly beast. "Senior, I meant no offense," he said, his voice carrying a mix of respect and nervousness.
Curiosity lit the Ram's ancient eyes. "An Ember-Fox?...But not. Tell me child, what are you doing here? This is no place for those with life left to live."
'I get the feeling it would be a bad idea to lie to him,' Haku cleared his throat, a flicker of resolve lighting his eyes. "We're here looking for the bones of strong beasts. I need them to grow stronger," he began cautiously, watching the Ram's reaction.
The Ram's eyes narrowed, the glow from his molten features intensifying slightly. "Why do you seek power?" he rumbled, his voice deep and resonant.
Haku pondered the question seriously, then replied with a newfound gravity. "To protect my brother, and to avenge the wrongs we've suffered at the hands of the mages and knights," he stated firmly, his youthful voice carrying a weight that seemed beyond his years.
The Ram's sudden laughter echoed around them, his flames intensifying with each hearty chuckle. "Impressive," he remarked, his tone rich with genuine admiration. "It's rare to see such purpose in a beast so young. Most are too bold or mindless to truly understand their need for strength." His fiery eyes fixed on Haku with an intrigued glint. "What makes you think you can succeed where so many have fallen?"
Haku's response was swift and firm. "Because I have my big brother."
The beast paused, visibly taken aback by the unwavering confidence in Haku's eyes. After a moment of contemplation, the Ram's gruff voice broke the silence. "Tell me about this Big Brother of yours."
Haku eagerly began with a warm smile, "My brother, Darius, he's not just family; he's my whole world." As he spoke, Haku's and Darius's shared bond began to unfold, the details cascading into hours of various stories under the watchful, glowing eyes of the Volcanic-Ram, who finally introduced himself as Shattyr.
He told of their first encounter, when he was just another creature of the forest, and how Darius had raised him, eventually offering him the Mandrake Root that evolved his mind. With great reverence, Haku recounted how Darius had imparted the Celestial Beast Soul Mantra to him, elevating him beyond a mere animal.
The tale grew somber as Haku described the fateful day they encountered the knight named Ramman, which led to the tragic loss of Darius’s parents. It was a pivotal moment that defined their subsequent years together, culminating in their arrival at this very graveyard. Through it all, Shattyr listened, his interest deepening with every chapter of their journey.
"And you, what brings such a mighty being to this place of endings? From my limited knowledge, Volcanic-Rams are not native to this region. You are a Volcanic-Ram, right?" Haku inquired, his voice mixed with awe and respect.
Shattyr’s expression softened, a trace of sadness mingling with the heat that seemed to emanate from him. "You see, young one, to sum up the answers, I failed my Proving. They call us failures, half-step 4th stages. Despite that, the ordeal left me changed, closer to humanoid than beast, not quite what I hoped but still, my power and intellect increased, my life-span though, was shortened." He paused, his gaze drifting as if seeing a distant past. "With my newfound strength and remaining life, I carved out a domain in the chaotic mana region that was my home. There, I shared my knowledge, guiding the younger ones, hoping they’d succeed where I faltered."
'Darius said Provings are like tribulations from his previous world. So this guy was tested by Gaia, failed, and survived?! Insane.'
Shattyr's voice grew heavier, the flames around his body flickering more intensely. "But peace is a fragile thing. Not long ago, mages and knights stormed our realm, slaughtering my herd. I escaped, barely, with my life but little else." He looked towards the graveyard's bleak horizon. "Forced to flee, I began to wander. Until I was eventually drawn here, by a force only those of us nearing the end can feel, I came to lay my weary bones in these sacred waters."
Haku's eyes widened, reflecting both awe and a flicker of anger at the tale of such valor ending in tragedy. He took a moment, the emotions churning within him as he looked up at Shattyr with renewed respect. "Senior, your last years... it's unjust, what you've endured. You should have had your peace, not be forced into battle after so much. An elderly beast like you shouldn't have to fight any longer."
Shattyr instantly bristled at Haku's last words, his fiery aura flaring. "Elderly?" he scoffed, the ground around them trembling as his flames grew hotter and more intense. He stood taller, his presence dominating. "My power can still make the very earth quake!" he proclaimed, the heat from his body intensifying as he began sharing exploits of his prowess in heated detail, each story underlining his undiminished strength.
Haku quickly dipped his head, his voice laced with urgency. "I meant no disrespect, Senior! I'm certain you could still battle as fiercely as ever if you chose to," he stammered.
"Damn right I could! And I think I will continue to do just that!" Shattyr responded, his flames swelling dramatically as he pointed a massive, fiery finger at Haku.
"Senior, if I have caused offense, I..."
"Quiet!" Yelled Shattyr, the heat from his body so intense that the waters around them began to bubble and hiss, steam rising as if the very air were boiling.
"Little Fox, you are the first of your kind, and now you bear the last of my hatred. Through you, my fury shall persist!" Shattyr proclaimed. With those words, a beam of fire shot from his finger, striking Haku's forehead before he could react, branding him with a rune that instantly faded.
Haku braced himself, fearing the worst, but death did not come. Instead, warmth spread through his mind, and suddenly, visions flashed before him—faces of the mages and knights who had slaughtered Shattyr’s herd.
"I can feel that my time is up," Shattyr murmured, gazing skyward, his eyes reflecting the warm colors of the setting sun. "I give you my blessing to use my remains. We are both attuned to the flame, and it's unlikely your brother found a stronger option below. The deepest layer of this graveyard isn't meant for the living."
"Senior, this is too much! You deserve to rest peacefully, not be used by us."
"Are you refusing?" Shattyr's expression hardened, his towering figure casting a looming shadow as he leaned closer to Haku.
"No, I couldn't possibly refuse, Senior—it's just that your offer is incredibly generous," Haku confessed, his voice tinged with awe and a hint of fear at the prospect of using such a revered creature’s remains.
"Nonsense! If you truly intend to refuse, then let us conclude this matter now. However, heed this wisdom, young one: in this world, grasp every opportunity for survival—it is the essence of existence," Shattyr retorted, straightening up as he fixed a steady gaze on Haku.
'Darius says, to refuse a gift causes the giver to lose face...' Taking a deep breath, Haku lifted his head to meet Shattyr’s intense stare. "Thank you, Senior. I will honor your intentions."
"Excellent, excellent!" Shattyr boomed, his words echoing with fervor. "Use my death to gain strength and avenge our grievances! Carry my power as you and your brother pass judgment on this fractured world." As soon as he finished speaking, Shattyr swiftly plunged his hand into his chest, his fingers spearing through rock and bone with ease. The gruesome sound of his heart being pierced reverberated through the air, snapping Haku from his stunned silence.
"Senior!" Haku dashed forward, his eyes wide as he paced beside Shattyr, searching for any way to help.
"Quiet, child. Spare me your fretting in my final moments, its embarrassing." Shattyr's words emerged ragged, blood trickling from his mouth. "Grant me one last request... Haku. Consume it all; leave nothing for scavengers."
A wave of solemn determination washed over Haku as he nodded vigorously, "I swear it!"
"Now...that's...better..." Shattyr's eyes dimmed, his vibrant flame extinguishing as his body relaxed in death, the storied mana-beast fading from the world. His face held a peaceful expression, reflecting the fulfillment of his final will.
"Pass in peace, Shattyr. Rest with the knowledge that I will definitely kill those humans." Quietly, Haku began to dig beside Shattyr's body, the damp swampland yielding easily to his efforts.
----
"So you buried him?" Darius's brow furrowed slightly, his tone tinged with annoyance.
"I didn't know how long you'd be down there, figured it was the best thing to do," Haku replied, his chest puffed out with a hint of pride.
Shaking his head with a light, self-deprecating laugh, Darius glanced toward his pouch. 'Well, looks like all these bones are for you now, little guy.' He viewed inside, noting the small opaque orb floating within, the object he had snatched when fleeing the graveyard—a lone Swamp-Roach egg.
"Let’s not just stand here. Show me where you buried him, then we should head for the Vault."
Haku’s expression shifted from pride to concern. "Closed-door cultivation?"
Laughing, Darius responded warmly, "Of course, little brother. Cultivation is life!" His voice was teasing as they headed towards the temporary grave of Shattyr, the formidable half-step fourth-stage Volcanic-Ram.