"Argh!" A scream followed with blood gushing out from one of the three mana users who were guarding Byzark. His body was pierced through by sharp long claws from behind. Watching their comrade killed instantly made the other two froze in horror. They were about to circulate when Byzark already chopped their head off from their neck. In a mere of a second, three A-rank mana users had died.
It has only been a while since Byzark injected the serum inside his body and the power was overwhelming. The concentration was very low when they served it with the food they gave to Kiria so the change which Kiria underwent was only a bite of a whole cake. Plus with the researched they have done, Byzark still had his sanity. Well barely...
His wolf-like eyes looked content as he licked the dripping blood from his claws. His figure was slowly gradually changing into a beastly form, similar to what happened to Kiria. But compare to Kiria, the mana in his body was growing endlessly. Furs started to cover his entire body, and his stature becoming several times larger than he was before. His large protruding fangs were showing with his smiling face. Every second, the joy of satisfaction and excitement was projected on his face.
The satisfying feeling that coursing through his veins, every particle of mana that absorbed into his body whenever his breathe, "Oh, how I long of this for so many years!" This was his dream, to become the most powerful mana user of all. "I shall be the ruler of the entire world!!! Awooooooo!"
--
That night, the city of Kuala Terengganu was under an emergency situation. A sudden wave of monsters was closing into the city wall. Even monsters who usually passive in the night had woke up from their slumber. Although it was common for low-rank monsters to get near the wall, often they would stray by themselves instead of coming in a group. This time, the first wave was around hundreds of monsters, including superior-rank monsters. However, with enchanted eyes, a guard that was stationed there said that a thousand more will arrive.
After the calamity, the human population has decreased drastically that for a city to have more than a thousand people would be considered average. Among these thousands, the percentage of them becoming a mana user would be less than twenty and not all of them are considered to be fighting based mana users. That means, more or fewer than hundreds of mana users are available in each city. That if...they are in the city. Since some would be staying outside to do job request. The current number of mana users in Kuala Terengganu that could fight is 72. That includes the city guards that were assigned by the royal army of Ray Varhem.
If the monsters were coming at a small amount of group, they could strategize the fight well but the numbers were more than the number of mana users available. Even if the city walls are guarded with anti-monster mechanism, how long could it last during this sudden oncoming wave of monsters? No one was prepared for this turn of event.
"Master Larc, the army requested help from the guild"
"Contact every mana users and send them to the frontline now. Tell them the city will be destroyed if those monsters could breach into the wall."
"Understood...and master?"
"What is it, Leila? We don't have time for small talk."
"Are you joining the fight?"
"Of course, what kind of question is that?"
"But your body..."
"Innocent lives are at stake. We should squeeze every amount of power we have to protect the city."
"..."
"Don't worry, I will make sure to stop myself before I get worst. Okay?"
"Mm"
"By the way Leila, tell the army I will be joining a bit late. I need to visit the Mayor first."
"Understood."
Leila then rushed out from the guild master room and did her job. Larc then looked outside the window toward the direction of Mayor Byzark mansion. "It was subtle, but I know I heard it. I'm sure it's not my imagination."
--
His bulky furry body has grown several metres tall than he was before. The explosive growth of his mana has caused overflowing. Since it was the first time he could sense, it was natural to not being able to contain it. However still, the amount of raw power he could bring forth was even more so than any A-rank mana user could do. At this point, he felt like he was standing at the peak of the world.
"Be honoured human for being the first one to taste my greatness!"
Kim who was observing the whole thing didn't give him any response. Instead, he walked toward his seat just now and finally took a sip from the cup that was teasing him this whole time. Serving him a cup of tea while his hands were bound, he could not drink a thing. "How preposterous!"
He fixed the chair back and sat down with lax. 'This is nice! I wonder where the butler who made this?'
"Hah! T-Too scared to fight me, aren't you huh? Grr..." Byzark voice slowly becoming distorted as his mana continue to accumulate. As his body grows bigger. his breath was also getting heavy.
"Hah hah, Just s-sit there and die!"
His eyes flashed with a dark red colour as he raised his bloodstained claws toward Kim. He circulated his overflowing mana which caused a tremor that shook the entire room. Cracks forming at walls and ceiling but Kim ice remained solid even after all the fight. Not even a scratch was left since the ice was repairing itself by refreshing. The whole mansion would crumble instantly if the ice melted.
"Scared? I think you misunderstood me, Sir mayor."
It wasn't noticeable whether Byzark was still listening in his coherent mind or not but he seemed to be responding to Kim.
"Haha, mana users...hah, hah, always...arrogant. You won't admit...even you lose! Hahaha..hah, hah."
Every second, the state of Byzark consciousness was becoming clearer to Kim. He never meant to fight Byzark in the first place, he was only bidding some time. During that, observing Byzark was in his full interest. Besides the physical changes, Kim could see the changes in Byzark mana very well. He was analysing every detail of how an ordinary person could awaken his mana sense from a man-made serum. Is it considered to be an awakening in the first place?
Awakening is when an ordinary human is able to sense mana for the first time. For Byzark though, it was more like a forceful opening of mana sense. Furthermore, his mana is not his and his at the same time. It seemed that he injected the serum directly into his heart, which caused it to flow throughout all his veins and supplied mana into his body. The mana actually came from the serum, which Byzark himself could control.
There is a similar thing which crafters make which could supply mana to strengthen a mana user, but based on Kim understanding the effect is not permanent. Even though the ingredient commonly from monsters blood like wolves, it doesn't turn a human into a monster like what had happened with Kiria, and what was happening with Byzark.
The mana slowly assimilated into his body which becomes the essence to build his mana core. No matter how much he looked into it, the mana became his but...it's the mana of a monster. Rather than awakening, it was more like a transmutation. Kim never saw anything like this before, but if he had to guess animals may go through a similar change when they were becoming monsters.
'Is that why they kidnapped all the children? The children...were they experimented with the same serum?'
The thought itself was so disgusting that he unknowingly crushed the chair handrest where he was sitting. However, he had to keep his composure because he promised a certain person that he will leave Byzark alone. The reason? Only one. The person wanted to kill Byzark with her own hands and about the time she arrived.
Boom! A loud banging sound was coming from outside the room. Kim already knew who was coming so he calmly sitting down on his chair without care and told Byzark, "Again you misunderstood me Sir mayor. It's not that I'm scared of fighting you"
Boom! Another loud banging sound resonating into the room. This time it shook the entire mansion!
"Your opponent is not me, it's her."
Boom! The frozen door was blasted into the air, flying across the room, almost hitting Byzark. A girl had appeared! 'Isn't she supposed to be in the cage?!' Momo raised his arm and Goliath appeared in her hand. She moved instantly and with one giant swing, both of Byzark's has been cut off. Everything happened too fast that Byzark didn't even felt the pain. All he could see was blood gushing out from where his arms were. Slowly he realized he just lost his arms which made him shriek loudly.
The impact was too much that the whole room finally crumbled down into pieces. Kim removed his ice wall and covered the unconscious mana users with trees which instantly grow around them. As the ceiling was falling, he pushed his palm upwards and giant hands made of earth appeared from the floor, "Hands of Gaia!"
The hands delivered a barrage of fists with lightning speed, crushing the ceiling into bits. Byzark was flabbergasted to see how easily Kim destroyed the whole ceiling. Now he realized how he mistakenly judged his opponent strength whom he thought was way below him. What was more shocking, was the girl who just destroyed the whole mansion.
She was carrying a sword which was several times bigger than her body. Her purple hair was flying around from the midnight breeze and her eyes were gazing toward Byzark with blazing rage.
'Angry Momo is cute' Kim silently took a picture of Momo with indestructible Nokea phone. But there was a bright flash of light and a loud snap sound coming out of it when he pushed the camera button. Feeling embarrassed he nervously put his phone into his pocket. "Please continue"
That moment, Byzark felt like a whole mountain was laying on top of his shoulder. He felt too sure of himself standing on top of his peak, that he forgot a giant storm is going to mercilessly strike hit with heavy rain and thunder. The moment he thought he was the strongest, not only one but two first mana users he faced was already overwhelming.
'All these years of preparations and sacrifices only amount to this? No...no!
Lub-dub
The sound of a heartbeat resonating in the room.
"I need more power!!!"
Lub-dub
The invigorating heartbeat sounded like it could last forever.
Lub-dub
The heartbeat...was too strong? Even Momo and Kim could hear it from a distance away.
"Ugh! Argh! Grrrrrr"
Blood drip from his mouth as he tried to withstand the excitement of his heartbeat. But the clarity in his mind was slowly dissipating. Within the strong heartbeat, he could hear a voice calling to him. 'Do you want power?' Without hesitation, his answer could only be 'Yes'
'Give me your soul and I will give you power!'
"Awooooooo!"
A devilish howl travelled through the night sky which could be heard by the people in Kuala Terengganu. Ordinary people fell unconscious due to the extreme fear that suddenly struck their soul. Even mana users could barely stand to their knees when they heard the howl. There was only one thing in everyone mind right now, "Werewolf!"
Larc who was already on his way moved faster toward his destination. 'I knew it. The voice I heard just now was from the mayor mansion!'
An explosive burst of purplish dark mana was circulating around Byzark. Behind him, a clear massive image of a demonic-looking werewolf had formed. The demonic werewolf slowly absorbed by Byzark, and his body grew even larger than it was before. If the mansion was still intact he would easily break through the roof.
Kim who was analysing Byzark mana this entire mana didn't understand how Byzark could suddenly gain so much power in such a short period of time. He could not believe the serum alone would be able to do this much. But one thing was clear. This time, not only his mana but his mind, his heart and his soul...Byzark has truly become a monster.