Lying on the ground face-up, Argos was crushed under a broken tree. With just his right hand, he pushed the heavy trunk away from him and stood up. Trees that still stood and trees that fell surrounded him. He had been knocked rather far away by the human. His left arm had a bruise that was turning purple and his bone was cracked. Despite his current situation, Argos was smiling.
His intuition that he was born with was correct. His first impression when he saw the human was right. He was strong. He was ridiculously strong. It stirred his warrior’s heart and set ablaze his fighting spirit. Whether that man had skills superior to him or a mana pool larger than his, he wasn’t going to let it end like this. He needed to get back in the fight. He wanted to trade blows and confirm the depth of that man’s strength.
“(So this is who you chose to follow, Maya…)” [Argos]
Argos loosened the black belt that kept his blue, sleeveless vest closed and passed his arms through the sleeve holes, rendering him topless with his vest tied at his hip. His face turned stiff as if he was enduring something. Faint sounds of creaking came from his body. Slowly, his muscles began to bulge, growing bigger than they already were. The creaking sounds grew louder as his bones gained in volume as well, changing his physique.
His feet snapped the strings of his sandals and his pant legs which were baggy managed to contain his limbs without tearing. The waist didn’t rip since it was flexible and the belt holding his vest slowly tightened as his torso continued to expand. Faint growls leaked from his mouth as his teeth turned into fangs. His nails blackened and became sharp, his body that grew about half a foot taller was gradually covered in light brown fur and his face was no longer like a human’s.
The ferocious head of an animal was on his shoulders and it resembled that of a feline. Two long fangs came down from his upper jaw like a saber-toothed tiger and his tail grew to nearly a meter long. Finally, the transformation was complete and his body stopped changing. Snarling, Argos moved the fingers in his left hand, then bent his arm and clenched his fist, confirming that the pain was rapidly fading.
The head of the Catallard clan’s appearance was similar to that of the beastmen who looked like animals walking on two legs. However, there was one clear difference between them: They were beastmen that showed clear intellect while he was closer to a wild animal. His growling face and his bloodthirsty eyes were testament to that fact.
“ROOAAAR” [Argos]
As if to prove it, Argos let out a loud roar and dashed towards his opponent.
Standing in the clearing that was used as the battleground was Ryner, Evelyn and those of the Catallard clan. Argos’ wife, his four children along with Miya’s husband and the branch family head were stilled with shock. They kept their eyes on the human that so easily knocked the main family head into the sea of trees. The truth that grew in them as the fight continued on now fully bloomed inside them.
“What… The… Hell…?” [Urik]
“Did, did he just?” [Carac]
That man was dangerous.
“Body strengthening, definitely on the monstrous level of S rank.” [Old man]
“Just like Argos. From what I saw, that last blow might have injured him.” [Supriya]
He was a skilled fighter and was capable of using body strengthening on the level of an S rank.
“…” [Arka]
“Is dad alright?” [Miya]
While they were worrying over the condition of Argos, a loud, beastly roar erupted from the forest, putting them on guard right away. Ryner, who was calmly staring in the direction his opponent flew in, tilted his head.
“Beastification…” [Arka]
Recognizing the roar, Arka muttered with wide open eyes, shocked.
“He’s completely serious. Everyone, get back.” [Supriya]
Supriya told the group as she silently sent mana through every part of her body, getting ready to handle any incidents. The rest did the same as well and Evelyn watched them with narrowed eyes.
“Beastification?” [Evelyn]
Just as she was about to remember that she read about it in a book before, a blur jumped out of the cover of trees and landed loudly like a boulder. It was Argos who had transformed using beastification, an ability given to a few beastmen. A nervous silence fell when everyone saw his huge figure covered in light brown fur and bulging muscles.
Ryner, blinking twice, raised his index finger, scratched the side of his head with it and pointed at his opponent.
“You look… Different. Did you get a hairc-whoa!” [Ryner]
His laidback joke was interrupted when he nearly lost his head. Argos instantly shrunk the distance between them and swung his arm to the side. The air was displaced and a strong wind was blowing against Ryner who had ducked at the last minute. Despite his panicking appearance as he dodged the deadly blow, the monster in human form used this chance to strike at his foe. His fist powered by life force hit the kneecap, intending to shatter it, and he frowned slightly when he felt the response.
The force would have blown an ordinary man’s leg off, but Argos’ limb, though hurting, was still intact. The beastman raised both arms over his head and slammed them on the ground, intending to flatten his enemy. The ground cracked, ruptured and a cloud of dust accompanied by a powerful shockwave was blown outward with him at the center. The mangled body that he expected to see at his feet wasn’t there.
His ears twitched and he turned his ferocious face to the side to look behind him. Ryner, who was uninjured, took his back, jumped and sent a punch aimed at his face. This time, he put in more force. Argos’ enhanced senses allowed him to react to the sudden attack and he raised his left arm to block it with his forearm. The impact created another shockwave that blew the cloud of dust away.
Once more, Ryner narrowed his eyes when he hit his opponent. From the feedback, he could tell that the bone he was sure he cracked before had healed. As proof, he was breaking it again and a cracking sound could be heard. However, the growling beastman utterly ignored his injury, managed to stand his ground and grabbed the human’s leg with his big, right hand.
He violently slammed him in the ground like a doll and raised him over his head to do it once more. But, the slippery opponent twisted his upper body and tried to spin his body around to pry his leg out of his vice-like grip. Furthermore, he kicked the thumb with his free leg and Argos let him go. While he was in mid-air, the roaring beastman swung his arm sideways and sent him flying, causing him to crash into trees and disappear from sight.
After he finally stopped bouncing around and was lying on his back, Ryner idly scratched his stomach and gazed at the blue sky. Although he was covered in dirt, there was no injury on his body and he looked like he was going to take a nap.
“Greater strength, tougher body, heightened senses and high-speed regeneration after transformation… Is he a werewolf? I thought he was a cardivore. What’s a cardivore, anyway?” [Ryner]
Blinking his sleepy-looking eyes, he muttered to himself before his opponent showed up like a bullet five meters above him. The battle raged on as the earth cracked, trees fell and attacks collided. The eight spectators couldn’t see them, but they could hear it all.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Your husband, does he still retain his senses?” [Evelyn]
Evelyn asked Supriya under their tense silence and the woman in her late forties narrowed her eyes.
“Why?” [Supriya]
“Because of how you are all on guard as if he would attack us. This is my first time I’ve seen beastification, so I am merely cautious.” [Evelyn]
“My husband will not attack us. He can still determine friend from foe, but he will not hold back once he’s in that state. We might get drag in their fight if we’re not careful, that’s all.” [Supriya]
“I see.” [Evelyn]
Evelyn nodded in understanding as she stared at the place where the two combatants disappeared to. Supriya watched her from the corner of her eyes.
“Also, my husband has buried powerful fighters after beastifying. I didn’t think he would go this far… We might have to interfere before your friend is killed.” [Supriya]
The others didn’t say anything, but agreed with her. From what they saw, Argos was in control of the fight and was pushing Ryner back. Although many, like Arka, were happy that the head of the Catallard clan was winning, they didn’t want this duel to end with someone’s death.
“There is no need to worry.” [Evelyn]
Evelyn said as she crossed her arms and calmly watched the clouds of dust being raised in the forest, causing the other spectators to stare at her quizzically.
“That man won’t die from just this. I can guarantee it.” [Evelyn]
The vampire who once killed Ryner told them with absolute confidence. Right at that moment, a person flew out of the sea of trees and appeared in the clearing. He bounced, tumbled and rolled on the ground before coming to a stop. Lying on his back was the black-haired man who looked like he got turned into a projectile by Argos. The beastman in question shot out in the air less than a second later with a huge boulder over his head.
Right before he landed on the man, he slammed the boulder down on him, burying him in the ground and forming a small crater. Then, like a mad beast, he continuously smashed it down with his two strong arms. The body of rock easily caved in as it broke into pieces with every strike. His claws cut it up like butter and his fists grounded it into dust. Attacking while roaring, Argos’ furious blows obstructed visibility in his surroundings as dirt, dust and rocks flew around.
Again and again, he struck at the ground, making it tremble and riddle with holes. Even when the boulder that was nearly his height crumbled away, he didn’t stop. His instincts told him not to stop. He couldn’t see the human that should be lying below him and getting ripped to pieces by his claws. But, he felt that if he let up even just a bit, it would be his defeat.
“Get ready to stop your father.” [Supriya]
The onlookers were getting ready to move in and stop the brutality. Supriya was giving out the orders, telling Arka, Miya and Terryn to follow her while Carac and Urik would stay behind with the old man. Just as she gave a few words to reassure the blonde vampire and was about to jump in, an unexpected change occurred, leaving them dumbstruck. Argos stopped attacking, not because he wanted to, but he was forced to. Both of his large hands were held in place by Ryner who caught them while still lying on his back.
“Besides your high-speed regeneration, there isn’t much else.” [Ryner]
He calmly said while raising his upper body. The black-haired man didn’t let go of the beastman’s trembling hands and stared at him with his sleepy-looking eyes. Cold sweat covered Argos’ back when those eyes of different colors locked onto him. Despite seeming harmless, they invited dread into him.
“I know how to deal with you guys now.” [Ryner]
The human was slowly getting up and Argos tried to throw him, but his arms wouldn’t budge. He was losing in a contest of strength. Suddenly, his vision swayed as Ryner pulled him towards himself and landed a kick on his face. He was knocked back and tumbled on the ground before stopping and getting on his knees. Although they were already starting to heal, blood flowed from his bruised nose and mouth.
Sensing danger, he stabbed forward with the fingers of his right hand ramrod straight. His claws were like the point of a spear and he aimed to pierce through his enemy. However, he only hit air as Ryner, who instantly closed the distance, dodged to the left. Then, he grabbed his forearm with his right hand and sent a palm strike to his elbow, causing the large arm to bend in the opposite direction.
“RYYNERRR!!” [Argos]
Argos roared with pain and swung his broken limb horizontally, but the nimble human ducked and went to his back in the blink of an eye. He sent an overhead chop to his left shoulder, causing a cracking sound to be heard and the arm to dangle lifelessly. Argos tried to kick the opponent behind him, but his leg was evaded, held up and struck at the back of the knee. The moment the beastman fell on one knee, Ryner reappeared in his bosom as a gust of wind followed suit.
He punched his torso twice, causing him to feel like his insides were burning and blood welling up in his throat. For the third strike, the white-eyed man sent a high kick that made him soar through the air. He climbed in height vertically and went past the trees. His ribs were probably broken and he coughed up blood. Once he reached the peak of his ascension, and was about to start falling because of gravity, a man with a bored expression appeared on top of him.
His eyes went wide open because of the unexpected sight just before the human spun around and sent a downward kick in his stomach. Like a missile, he was knocked back into the ground, colliding loudly and resting in a crater he formed. He was puking blood and gastric acid. His injured body was continuously healing the new wounds he sustained, but couldn’t keep up.
His organs felt like they were turned into mush and he could feel his bones snapping back into place. When he struggled to raise his upper body, a stone was thrown at his forehead and made him lie down on his back again as his brain shook from the impact. The high-speed projectile crumbled to dust upon contact, but the inertia force was enough to damage the beast-like Catallard.
Then, Ryner landed on top of him with one knee on his chest, punched his face once and put his hand at his throat like a blade. The duel was settled. Argos knew when he lost and when he was outmatched. Though frustrating, he knew that this human had been evaluating his strength to see how strong he was after beastification. Most likely, he finished their fight with more than enough strength to spare.
“Well, that was fun.” [Ryner]
Ryner said as he slowly took his hand away from Argos’ throat. The head of the Catallard clan had relaxed his body and stopped snarling, admitting his defeat. His wounds were closing and his bones were mending back together.
“So, how about you tell me why you wanted to fight me?” [Ryner]
The sleepy-looking man got off the beastman that resembled a saber-toothed tiger walking on two legs. Behind him, the spectators who were watching the duel with their mouths agape snapped out of it and were making their way towards them. One person was smugly smiling among the group and that was the blonde vampire.
“Is it because of Maya?” [Ryner]