Capítulo 57: Two puppies
Hugo moved as swiftly as a deer. In a matter of minutes, he was in close proximity of the battleground. He had exponentially increased his running speed by infusing more mana into his legs.
At the site, many trees were toppled. Ash and dust had risen, tainting the usually pristine forest air. A tempest of leaves and splinters of wood was pouring down all around him yet he could still hear howls and screeches.
A huge bite had been taken out of this section of the forest.
Hugo inched closer and activated his magnifying sight to get a closer look at what was happening. Two massive calamity-beasts appeared to be locked in a fierce battle to the death. The pair of combatants produced a crescendo of noises that reverberated across the whole forest.
One was a gigantic blue lupine creature which was bundled in a scintillating web of gossamer spider silk. Its stocky forelimbs shuddered and its trapped body wobbled like a drunkard's. It let out anguished howls at its opponent from its open mouth which revealed rows of jagged teeth.
Hugo shuddered despite himself when his gaze settled on the wolf's opponent.
It was a colossal octopedal spider-like creature, the size of a stallion. The creature's limbs were supplemented by a pair of large palps and it had segmented jaws comprised of row upon row of spiky teeth – making up about a third of its entire body length.
"…SCREEEEECH…" The pitch-black spider shrieked as it skirted around the gigantic wolf which was still fighting frantically despite the severity of its injuries.
[Why are they fighting?] Hugo wondered. He couldn't comprehend why two powerful creatures possessing the power to topple the giant trees of the forest were locked in mortal combat.
[And why isn't the spider spinning webs?]
According to Hugo's Biological knowledge from Earth, spiders were a group of arachnids that mainly trapped their prey using webs before gobbling them up. Yet, Hugo was seeing the exact opposite here.
[The gigantic wolf seems to be shielding the cave behind it. Could there be a treasure in there?] Hugo's interest was piqued but he curbed his desire to explore and concentrated on the fight which seemed to be coming to a close.
The wolf-like creature's cries were now closer to whimpers than howls. On the other hand, the huge spider's blood-red eyes remained listless and it stayed rooted to the ground just a few meters from the wolf.
"…HOOOOOWL…"
The two creatures exchanged a few more blows. And in a matter of seconds, the wolf slumped down on the scorched ground. It had apparently expended the last of its strength.
[Even a treasure can't possibly warrant fighting to this extent. This doesn't make sense. This is like a fight for survival!] Hugo tried to reason out the circumstances that could cause such a fight.
[Maybe, the giant wolf's offspring is within the cave. But why is the spider so insistent on fighting the wolf?] Hugo mused as he observed the spider's slow approach to the huge wolf's prone body blocking the cave's entrance.
[Such a formidable wolf is about to die just like that!] Hugo wondered as he watched the spider open its gruesome jaws to bite the wolf.
All of a sudden, the huge wolf opened its silver eyes, raised its right forelimb and smacked down the approaching spider.
"HONG!"
A tremor shook the ground as half of the spider's body was completely squashed by the force of the wolf's blow. The spider screeched in pain. It could no longer move courtesy of a few squashed limbs.
Seeing the movements of the huge beasts tapering off, Hugo stilled his heart and moved closer to take a closer look at them.
The wolf lay on its side with its eyes open but unseeing. A stout pink tongue dangled out of its open mouth. Its body lay at a peculiar angle, legs spread out and back hideously bowed.
Hugo felt a pang of sorrow but knew that this was the way of nature. Kill or be killed.
"Screech…"
A shriek from the ten-limbed spider interrupted Hugo's musing. Its smashed muscular body was beginning to recover at a spectacular rate. It looked at the wolf with pure menace.
[Oh my God! What a speedy recovery? How will I kill it?] Hugo wondered.
But at that exact moment, Hugo felt Infinitus begin to tremble intermittently. As he inched closer to the wolf, it felt like the Grimoire was trying to escape from his spiritual world.
[What's going on?] Hugo wondered as he summoned the Grimoire.
As soon as the Grimoire materialized, it beamed towards the wolf's carcass and hovered just above it whilst emitting a bright reddish light.
In a matter of seconds, the carcass had disappeared together with the reddish glow from the Grimoire that had enveloped it.
[What the hell is happening?] Hugo wondered as he looked at the cave before him.
Hugo hurriedly opened the Grimoire, but what he saw on the first page was not surprising…
Hugo (Human Race, 6 years…)
Mystic Realm ~ Scholar
(Aorta and Vena-cava mana channels opened; pulmonary channels opened, arm and leg channels opened.)
** Mana ~ 6.0/15 (Infrared-Tier)
**Strength ~ 3.86
** Vitality ~ 3.55
** Agility ~ 1.80
** Intelligence ~ 3.93
** Willpower ~ 3.11
** Charisma ~ 1.20
** Luck ~ 1.10
Physique awakened: Innate Kundalini-Divine-Physique (1st Awakening).
Spells mastered: Magnifying-sight (Low-level mind's eye).
Other mystic-professions: None.
Mystic Artifacts: Infinitus – The Grimoire of All Beginnings (activated), Orange-level Space – ring (not-activated)
Mystic-star power-rating: one star
"My mystic powers have finally advanced to one-star. My agility has increased exponentially." Hugo mumbled.
[I need to hurry. Soon, others will possibly come here to check on the battle.] Hugo deliberated as he rushed into the cave's mouth.
Once inside, he looked around but found nothing except for the two small puppies. One was as white as snow and the other as dark as night. They whined and looked threateningly towards the entrance of the cave.
"Oh my goodness! What is this?" Hugo exclaimed…
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