At that same time several other warriors had already activated the power of their ancestral spirits, which burst out from their bodies, Wielding swords, spears and arrows. And within a short moment, the creatures had already suffered many injuries.
It's body was gashed and heavily wounded, thick blood gushed out from its wounds like a fountain. Nevertheless, the creature was unyielding. It continued leaping, from left to right—quickly dodging the numerous attacks shot at it, and desperately trying to tear at the young warriors bodies, to devour them.
However, all of the team members were fighting with their ancestral spirits, thus, making it impossible for it to land a blow.
Then some moments later, the pace of the beast weakened and it started breathing heavily, because it had sustained several severe injuries.
"Haha what a beast. Look at the havoc you made. what exactly are you?" Smiling, with his arms outstretched, the prince started taking gentle steps towards the dying beast.
Although the beasts was still standing on all fours, its limbs were shaking uncontrollably. Almost as if, it's knees were going to give-way and collapse at any time soon. It's eye would close briefly, and open again, once it heard a sharp noise.
From the way the creature behaved It was obvious that the creature was already close to death and was just barely trying to hold on to life.
"So black! What exactly are you?" The prince murmured to himself.
He was just only a few meters away from the creature now.
Thud!
The animals body collapsed with a slight noise; as it couldn't continue standing anymore. It had been dogged ever since, but now, due to the weariness it's body felt, the feeling to give up had become superior to its admirable willpower to persist.
"You're such an amazing beast. What a beauty. If only I know exactly what you are, and whether you can be tamed, I would have keep you alive as a pet." There was a faint smile of appreciation in the prince's face.
"Now however, you have to die for killing so many of my people." His face instantly became cold again, once he saw the laying-dead, damages, this dying creature had caused to his team.
The prince, went up to the beast and pinned the creature down with his knee; in a chokehold, he took out his knife and placed it at the neck of the creature; Intending to slice open it's throat and kill it off, for good.
"My prince I have an observation!?"
A young boy of about sixteen year old blotted out, then came forward.
"Really oh okay, go ahead."
"My prince from the way this creature look, I can guess that it is not just like any other creature.
I don't know for sure, but i think it is the Ultimate panther. My father once told me, about a creature that had the same features as this very one now. It is believed to be one of the mightiest creatures in this forest.
However, from what my father told me, it is suppose to be bigger than this. Nonetheless, if it is indeed that creature, then its tamable." The youth said to the prince.
This youth was Sally, even he had taken pity upon the dying creature
"Really? Hmm..."
The prince let out a sigh, he stared at the creature under his knee comtemplativ-ly.
The, in the next moment
Splash!
He slashed at the beast neck and cut open it's jugular
"There's no need to keep it alive!" Idubor growled. His face was fierce and temptatious with a beguiling evil. And contorted into a complicated expression.
He then brought out a thin rod and stabbed it into the head of the beast. The rod vibrated slightly and sucked out a faint white light from the creatures head, when it pricked the beast skull.
"Bring out the ewere."
With the small rod in hands, the prince strolled back to meet the remaining survivors of his group.
Ehimen then brought out a small pot and presented it to the prince.
Once the prince opened the lid of the pot, it gave off a faint smoke and released an enchanting smell that mesmerized everyone.
There was a glowing white, liquid-like substance, that swirled inside the pot.
Idubor then inserted the small rod, into the pot, then a white light flowed out from the rod into the pot—adding to the luminance of the of the liquid-like substance.
When Idubor had finished collecting the spirit energy, he tucked the ewere away.
"Let's bury these dead bodies first, we'd set out tomorrow."
Idubor had a downcast look on his face.
He had carefully selected all the people, he came with, to the dreamy forest.
Many had qualities which were similar to his. Therefore, although his team wasn't as big as the other two princes, it was made up of reliable people.
"My prince there are just eight of us left.
It's only our first encounter and we've already suffered this much loss.
If things continue this way we'd all be dead by tomorrow. I'm suggesting that we just pull back now." It was Ehimen, the prince's friend and right and man, who spoke.
The two had easily bonded, even though they just met, into the dreamy forest.
"What are you talking about Ehimen? We can't just leave this place like that. We must press forward." Idubor's expression was an unenthusiastic dismissal.
"We move out now!" He tucked his blade away and started walking forward.
"No! I'm sorry, I can't continue this mission, this is a death sentence.
If we could meet such vicious creatures here, at the outer part of this forest, imagine what we'll encounter when we go deeper into this bush.
I'm sorry my prince but I can't go further than this." Ehimen had been intimidated by the battle just now.
Although, they won the fight and succeeded to kill the creature, the memory, of how that beast slaughtered his fellow team members terrified him.
"Ehimen what is the meaning of this!? Do you intend to cause a commotion in our team?
Why do you insist on going back home, when we've already come this far.
Stop this right now!" Idubor was confused but also brewing with anger. His chest rose and fell heavily.
"My-my prince, I'm very sorry. but I can't go further than this.
If you insist on going deeper into the forest, on your own, Then you can go ahead.
We will just take our leave now.
I'm sure the others, share my same opinion.
Dont you all do?" Trembling even as he spoke, Ehimen spat out those words.
"Ehimen please stop this right now! You're starting to piss me off!." Irritated, Idubor barked at the surly Ehimen. This time however, he was already, evidently fuming with anger.
"No way! No matter what, I'm leaving this forest tonight.
And you can't stop me from going away.
Let us leave together. Anyone who wants to come with me should come over to this side." Ehimen was so terrified by the brutal massacre he witnessed earlier, that he did not even have the slightest heart, to go any further, into the dreamy forest.
His fear had also spiraled into an full blown disregard for the young prince.
Although the young prince, Idubor was younger than himself, he was still the leader and founder of the team.
"Really! You're still going to leave? is that what you really want ?
Ok!
Good! you can take your leave. I won't stop you anymore. Get out of here!" Idubor finally had enough, he thundered as he sent Ehimen packing away.
"Ok, prince Idubor, I'm going to leave now.
Ok.
Anybody who wants to come along with me should step forward now." Ehimen beckoned, using his hands. He invited other young warriors to join renege.