What assail his ears was the metallic chirr of teeth vs claws, throwing all his sensory receptors in shambles. Opening his eyes inches away from inscrutable peril had left his pupils dilated in trepidation.

A ghastly water beast was on the verge of clamping its hulking jaw on his small frame, the only thing holding it back was the pure black talons of Zeng Ru’s beast form. The water beasts features were an amalgam of a sea turtle and a simple fish, its jaws lined with razor-sharp ivory fangs.

The beast released a snort in agitation spewing water.

「Heh...child’s play.」Zeng Ru scoffed as he nimbly deflected the beasts onslaught.

As he shoot backwards he grabbed Ah Zhong by the scruff hurling him to the dry land. With the force he was hurled with he resembled a high speed projectile, friction; and gravity worked on his body slowing his momentum.

Ah Zhong crashed to the ground rather inelegantly, pain flared as he tumbled forward his limbs sprawled outward. The claws with he desperately embedded in the ground below him were caked with mud as he had tried to slow his body.

Gaining his bearing back he watched the violet intense clash of the beasts came to effect the battlefield. Water turbulently splashed in all directions, and even the trees trembled in their might.

「You...why are you?」,Zeng Ru’s sentence was left unfinished as the beast continued assaulting him,

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He launched another attack, his claws came away with nothing but water.

「Tsk, this is going to be more troublesome than I thought...」Zeng Ru grumbled to himself.

He could not fathom how a beast of this caliber had so senselessly lost its rationing. Its frenzied gaze was so sinister like it had been soaked in poison, its scarlet eyes bore into his. A murky miasma shrouded is body forming protection against his deadly claws. He would have been able to formulate a plan if he wasn't being hounded doggedly unable to extradite himself.

He shook his head in dejection,「You've forced my hand. 」

With a single thought his body transfigured.

What remained behind was the figure of a human with beast like traits, such as his wings and his taloned fingers and toes.

Zeng Ru could already feel the burden of this form on his body however, that did not stop his from sending his palm in the water beast direction.

The beast let out a miserable roar as it was flung backwards. Yet, it wasn’t long before the beast had recovered. He couldn't be bothered by its feeble attempt at a struggle. In the center of his palm a coal-black lance was forged, a baleful aura weaved around it.

The neutral expression on his face had dissolved, replaced by chilling murder that spread in his eyes,「Let's end this. 」

As he lifted his palm the armament levitated seamlessly in the air, then with a simple motion he attacked.

Yet, before the lance made it far it reversed its trajectory bearing instead towards its own proprietor. Zeng Ru hadn't the time to prepare before it had embedded itself into his shoulder, ripping the fine fabric that had covered the area.

Blood rolled down his shoulder and he clutched at the shaft with his hand.

「Ugh...again.」He cried out in pain.

Ever since that dreadful day his powers frequently mutinied against him, as if aiming for his life. He grit his teeth drawing the weapon out of his flesh and splattering blood on various parts of his body. Blood had gushed steadily from his wound and as it reached the end his fingertips, it fell to the pond below.

Zeng Ru winced as he willed his powers to perform, and they did; once more guided forward toward the beast. This time the lance made purchase with the water beast, disrupting the miasma and piecing its core.

It’s eyes stare at him in regret and aggrievement, unwilling to die just like that. Yet, there was nothing it could do both the beast and its core shattered not a trace left behind. An eruption of energy rocked the earth and sent Zeng Ru backwards.

He landed on his feet besides Ah Zhong his toes dug into the ground.

「A-Are you alright? 」Ah Zhong asked his voice shaking faintly.

Zeng Ru held his arm staring vacantly into the sky,「En….」

「However we can’t stay here. Let us leave, I feel something ominous in the wind. 」

Everything was still and that had disturbed him.