Bab 13: Clash of Shadows and Thunder
The battle exploded into a storm of chaos. Eratz and the Thunder Lycaon moved in a blur, each strike shaking the ground beneath them.
The air crackled with energy, the clash of darkness and lightning tearing through the trees like an unstoppable force.
Eratz darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a lightning-charged swipe from the Lycaon's massive claws. He retaliated with a sharp elbow aimed at the creature's ribcage, his body twisting mid-air with the agility of a beast.
The impact landed with a thunderous crack, sending a shockwave through the surrounding. The Lycaon skidded back but regained its footing instantly, baring its fangs.
There was no pause, no time to think. Eratz spun on his heel, planting a low kick into the ground, sending up a wave of dirt and debris.
The Lycaon lunged, its lightning claws slicing through the cloud of dust. Eratz ducked just in time, rolling under the beast and coming up with a spinning back kick to its side.
The force of the impact echoed like a cannon blast, and the Lycaon was knocked off balance, crashing into a tree that shattered on contact.
The forest was now a battlefield, trees collapsing, the ground splintering under the weight of their blows. Eratz didn't slow down. He charged forward with crazy speed, each of his movements sharp and precise, yet wild and unpredictable.
One second he was in the air, launching a flying knee aimed at the Lycaon's face, the next, he was rolling under its legs, planting a powerful uppercut into its gut.
The Lycaon roared in frustration, its claws sparking with even more electricity. In a blink, it vanished into shadow, reappearing just behind Eratz.
The beast slashed, but Eratz spun around with perfect timing, narrowly dodging the attack. His fist followed through with a devastating right hook, but the Lycaon melted into shadow again, vanishing before the hit could land.
They continued their deadly dance, both fighter and beast moving at a speed that blurred the lines between man and monster.
The air itself seemed to tremble with the ferocity of their clash. Each strike from the Lycaon sent arcs of lightning ripping through the trees, while Eratz's dark energy twisted and coiled around him, giving his movements a primal, fluid form.
At one point, the Lycaon leaped into the air, aiming to crush Eratz with a powerful downward strike, but Eratz, without missing a beat, leaped to meet it mid-air, twisting his body and landing a crushing kick to the beast's side.
The impact sent them both flying in opposite directions, crashing through trees and boulders as the ground split beneath them.
Blood pumped through Eratz's veins like fire. He couldn't feel the strain anymore in his muscles, only the burn in his lungs, but his body kept moving, every instinct sharpened to a razor's edge.
He had trained for this, endured far worse. And now, he was taking the lead.
The Lycaon slowed, its movements losing that deadly speed it had maintained for so long. Its breaths were ragged, its lightning flickering in and out. Eratz could sense it, the shift. He had the upper hand now.
He launched himself at the beast. Before the lycaon could recover, Eratz was on it.
He unleashed a series of devastating blows, his fists and feet moved in a flurry of blows, each strike landing with precision and power.
The first punch landed squarely on the beast's chest, knocking the wind from it.
The second hit came from a sweeping roundhouse kick that shattered a nearby boulder as the impact rippled through the air.
The third strike, a spinning elbow, connected with its jaw, sending it staggering backward.
And a final, bone-shaking blow, the explosive impact sending the lycaon crashing to the ground, its massive body shaking the earth as it fell.
Dust and debris swirled around them, the forest eerily silent as the final blow landed.
The beast lay still, its massive body twitching as residual sparks of lightning crackled around it.
Eratz stood over it, his chest heaving with each breath, sweat and blood mixing on his skin.
The world around them seemed to settle, the dust finally clearing as the adrenaline began to wore out.
Now he could feel every bruise, every cut, but it didn't matter. He had won.
He dropped to one knee, catching his breath. The forest was silent except for the faint crackle of fading electricity and the distant rustle of wind through the broken trees.
His eyes fell on the Thunder Lycaon, its powerful form still lying in defeat.
He stretched out his hand, and his pressure mixed with dark power flowed outwards, extending toward the beast. He watched carefully, waiting for the familiar sign of submission.
But then, it stopped.
The cracks that had started spreading across the lycaon's body faded, sealing themselves up.
Eratz's brow furrowed in confusion. He pressed harder, but the Thunder Lycaon didn't yield.
Eratz's eyes widened in shock.
"What the…?"
He focused, trying to extend his pressure, pushing harder to tame the beast, but the Thunder Lycaon resisted. The creature's body remained the same, rejecting his influence. Eratz clenched his teeth, frustration building inside him.
"Why won't you submit?" he muttered under his breath, his fists tightening.
He had fought harder than he ever had, and now, this beast was refusing him?
Eratz's mind raced. He had never faced a situation like this. Every other monster had yielded after a battle, but the Thunder Lycaon wasn't like the others.
It wasn't just a monster, it was special, unique. It had its own will, its own pride.
He sighed and pulled back his pressure, allowing the dark energy of the Vulpans to recede from his body. The shadowy aura around him vanished, and his form returned to its usual self.
"I get it now," he whispered, standing up.
Eratz took a step forward, looking down at the lycaon.
"You're not just a beast. You're a warrior."
The Thunder Lycaon stirred slightly, still unconscious but somehow responding to his words.
"You fought me with everything you had," Eratz continued. "You've got power, strength… something greater than just survival instincts. You've got pride." He crouched down. "That's why I want you to join me. I've seen your potential, and I want you to grow, to become even stronger. I know I can push you further beyond."
Eratz's aura shifted, becoming more commanding, more powerful. The air around him thickened as his presence expanded, not as a conqueror, but as an alpha.
"I want the hungry wolves around me. I want those with strength, those who understand what it means to lead. I want a monster with it's own will, with it's pride."
He placed his hand on the lycaon's head, his voice calm but firm.
"Join me. Together, we can rise to something bigger. You'll no longer be hunted, no longer know limits. You'll be part of my pack, my army. Come, and help me shaking this world."
Eratz's pressure intensified, his aura growing stronger than it had ever been. It wasn't just about power, he wasn't just asking the lycaon to submit; he was offering it a place by his side.
The Thunder Lycaon's body began to crack again, but this time, it didn't resist. Slowly, its form began to dissolve, melting into shadow. The dark energy flowed into Eratz's own shadow, merging with him. The process was slow, deliberate, and powerful.
When it was done, Eratz stood in the quiet forest, his shadow deep and vast, absorbing the power of the Thunder Lycaon.
He waited, catching his breath as the forest around him seemed to settle.
A moment later, his shadow shifted, and the lycaon reappeared, standing before him. The beast looked different, its fur glossier, its eyes sharper. It was rejuvenated, standing tall.
The Thunder Lycaon locked eyes with Eratz and then, slowly, it lowered itself, bowing its head.
Eratz smiled, wiping sweat from his brow.
"You made the right choice."
In the distance, the first rays of the rising sun pierced through the treetops, bathing the two of them in warm light. The battle was over, but something far greater had been won.
Hadiah
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