They both stood in place, the surrounding forestry acted as a barricade and a cage, as their opponents approached.
Mark was prepared, as he stood on the ground his hands on the sheath and hilt of his sword respectively.
He turned his gaze towards Athan, as he met Athan's gaze they both gazed at each other with a smile, before focusing on the forest.
From the trees emerged hideous monsters, they were hyena-like but had three heads, their limbs were slender. They had black fur filled with patches of purple, their bodies were strewn together with only little pieces of flesh, they exuded a stench similar to a corpse.
As these creatures saw Mark and Athan, their hideous laughter resounded from within their midst which resonated throughout the forest.
"Nyction cadavers." Mark said as he gazed at the three-headed creature.
"They live in environments filled with dark aether, the [zone] where an aether beast may reside influnces the beast's properties also known as the extrinsic factor." Mark said in a lecturing tone.
Athan had a puzzled look on his face, as question marks could be seen over his head, he was puzzled by Mark's actions.
Mark's voice resounded in Athan's ears, his words were oddly directed at the creature called 'nyction cadavers' " they posses three abilities linked to each head which were decay, madness and corruption."
"They are very cunning creatures, they posses almost immortal bodies, as they can't be killed unless all three of their heads are destroyed at the same or destroyed within a very short interval of time..." Mark's words came to a screeching halt as a loud boom resounded.
Athan appeared next to a nyction cadaver that had just emerged, before he delivered a fierce stomp kick, right on the creature's middle head causing it to explode in a gory shower of flesh and blood.
"I've got no time to waste." Athan thought, his body still in motion, as he twisted his waist before delivering another kick, which landed right on the sides of the left head of the creature.
He executed a hind kick which landed on the creature's right head causing it's skull to cave in.
His movements fluid as he returned his leg back to his side, he stood straight as he stared at the incoming creatures that were obscured by the huge trees, his eyes shining as he bolted right into their midst.
"Fuck it." Mark thought as he raised his arms in resignation, his facial expression unchanging as his smile grew wider, his figure flickered before he vanished.
He appeared above the nyction cadavers his sword still in it's sheath as he coated it in Aether before swinging at their direction.
An arc was beautifully formed from his swinging motion, the arc mowed through the creatures leaving behind only their bloody remains.
Mark directed his gaze downward to quickly get a view of the situation.
Athan could be seen moving like a phantom as he effortlessly crushed the skills of the creature.
His fist covered in brain fluid caused havoc, as all his blows either crushed or caused the skull of these creatures to cave in.
A grotesque pile of corpses behind him, as each punch he delivered added another corpse to the pile.
Athan pulled out his fist from a nyction cadaver's skull, he lifted his head and gazed around to see that he was about to be bombarded by orbs of energy.
He placed his hands in front of him, as the orbs of energy bombarded his body, his clothes were corroded,as a thick red mist could be seen in the air surrounding him.
His bloodlust was stimulated as his eyes were covered in thick red veins, his breathing was still stable as he observed his surroundings with a calm gaze despite his rising bloodlust.
His figure couldn't be seen because of the continuous bombardment as his surroundings were corroded and filled with blood red mist.
His clothing had already been turned into dust by the bombardment, which revealed his pale skin underneath, his skin was still glistening as he seemed to have experienced no damage.
The orbs that made contact with the trees and grasses around him, caused them to wilt as they emitted black gas before crumbling into dust.
The bombardment continued, but Athan just gazed at the nyction cadavers which caused a shiver to run down their spines.
"Let me try this." Athan thought as a certain course of action came to mind, he used his will to interact with the surrounding aether, the range of his will encapsulated the nyction cadavers and a couple more kilometers.
Athan's figure was still shrouded by the ongoing bombardment, before a huge pressure descended which encapsulated a couple of kilometers turning the nyction's into paste.
The ground was compressed, the grasses and trees around were squashed as the pressure mounted.
The air was dense and heavy, before the pressure quickly disappeared.
The blood red mist instantly dispersed as the pressure was lifted, Athan's figure was revealed after the mist dispersed.
Athan stood naked in the center of a crater which stretch for kilometers, remnants wisps of the blood red mist could be seen floating around.
{Skill created: Aura.} a screen appeared in Athan's gaze as he looked around his surroundings, his gaze lingered on the puddles of blood which used to be the nyctions.
He marvelled at the might of his new skill, as he remembered about the [status page]
"I'll ask Mark about the [status page]." he thought as his focus was still on the aftermath caused due to the use of his new skill.
Mark was appalled by the carnage caused by Athan as he gazed from above.
"He could've done much better." Mark contemplated while stroking his chin with his right hand.
Mark floated to the ground displaying an attribute possessed by all third-rank aether users 'flight'.
He landed beside Athan, who gazed at him nonchalantly before returning his attention to the aftermath of the skill.
"So can you tell me more about this screen I keep on seeing." Athan muttered his gaze still fixated on the aftermath.
Mark scoffed before replying "off course." As he gazed at Athan, before returning his gaze to the aftermath.