Chapter 61: Pursuit and Capture
Under a canopy of stars, Darius, in his elderly guise, chose the measured pace of a wanderer over the haste of a runner. The forest was cloaked in darkness, but to him, it was alive with a mosaic of unseen colors. As he strolled through the thick underbrush, his Arcane Gaze painted the woods in a radiant display of the elements.
As Darius moved through the vibrant woods, he mapped out his next moves. 'It'd usually be a week's run to the city. I'll hunt some Mana-Beasts for a few days first, then make my way there.'
Hands clasped behind him, Darius walked with ease, pausing now and then to examine the plants. He looked every bit the part of a wise sage roaming the woods at night. 'Since Haku dislikes being my mount, finding a suitable replacement for the Codex, preferably one that can fly, should be my priority.'
No matter the world, the allure of a majestic mount remained constant for all, especially one capable of flight. Back in Penglai, Darius had several mounts, he especially favored making his grand entrance onto battlefields astride them, his disciple Wu Chen the most.
Originally a mere crow, Wu Chen might not have seemed a remarkable choice for a mount. Yet, after mastering the Celestial Beast Soul Mantra and awakening his latent bloodline, his transformation was stunning. Wu Chen became an enormous sun-crow, his body enveloped in blazing white and black flames.
'From what I've seen and read, this area has a typical range of beasts, the rarest and most powerful usually live within chaotic mana regions, so I'm not expecting much.' With his Arcane Gaze at full intensity, Darius continuously scanned a broad swath as he quickened his steps.
Darius searched through the night and into the next, encountering various beasts. Among them, blaze-cats appeared most frequently, a common sight in forest areas. But no matter the beast that crossed his path, Darius so far, had found no interest.
As he crested a rocky outcrop, Darius gained a clear view of the forest stretching endlessly below. After scanning the area, his body tensed, a wide smile breaking across his face. "Finally."
He leapt from the rocks, activating his Ethereal Steps, and shot through the forest like a blur, propelled by swirls of green wind mana. 'Finally! It's not a flying mount, but it's definitely something.'
Off in the distance, Darius homed in on a deep amber glow—the internal aura of a stage 2 Bladed-Gecko. 'Father mentioned a regiment of knights that used these as cavalry, their bladed skulls and tails carving through enemy lines. Once this one hits stage 3, it'll make a perfect mount.'
As Darius pursued the deep amber aura, he recalled what he had read about Bladed-Geckos. These Earth element Mana-Beasts were formidable creatures, adapting their color to their environment, which made them excellent at camouflage. The most distinctive features were the large blade on their head and the multiple blades along their tails, which became more pronounced with each stage of evolution.
He remembered the passage he read detailing the beasts: stage 1 Bladed-Geckos, about a meter long and a third of a meter tall, with a strength of 5 Cauldrons of Force. Even in their initial stage, they possessed a unique ability to spit a numbing poison fog, a natural defense mechanism against predators.
As they progressed to stage 2, they didn't grow much in size but gained additional blades along their tails and a new racial ability. Darius had been particularly fascinated by their capability to consume any type of rock, incorporating it into their skin as temporary, rock-hard armor.
Reaching stage 3 marked the peak of their growth. Unable to transform into humanoid forms, they expanded to over 3 meters in length and almost 2 meters in height. Their final racial ability was perhaps the most lethal—swiping their tails to release sharp blades at their prey, which could be swiftly regenerated.
Darius edged closer, his pace slowing as he approached a massive tree trunk. With calculated caution, he peeked around it, his gaze fixed on the target. There, melded against the cliff face that soared ten meters high from the forest floor, was the Bladed-Gecko.
Its body, perfectly camouflaged against the rocky surface, remained motionless. Only its eyes moved, darting back and forth as they scanned the area for potential prey. The beast's natural armor of earthy tones made it nearly indistinguishable from the stones it clung to.
Darius watched the Blazed-Gecko intently, thinking to himself, 'I shouldn't have to beat it into submission. Second stage Bladed-Geckos have some smarts, but it's rudimentary, like a toddler's. Scaring it should do the trick.' With this plan in mind, the green aura enveloping him began to shift, slowly morphing into a vibrant yellow. His body started to hum with the force of his earth mana channeling through his meridians.
Darius crouched down, his fingers gently touching the cool earth below. He whispered, "Terra Pulse."
Darius, still at Initiate with the Terra Pulse technique, focused intently, his palms channeling earth mana. As he gathered the necessary force, seconds stretched on, each moment crucial for the technique's range and impact. With a firm thrust, his palms slammed into the ground, unleashing the gathered mana.
The cliff face where the Bladed-Gecko clung shuddered violently. Rock and earth vibrated, sending a deep rumble through the forest floor. Startled, the gecko lost its grip, its body beginning to spiral downwards through the air.
Darius surged forward, switching his aura to a crackling blue. As the Bladed-Gecko plummeted, he caught it just before it crashed, his upstretched arm clad in the Immortal Beast Codex clutching its spine. The gecko, nearly 1.2 meters in length, writhed on its back, flailing in panic. Darius allowed a jolt of his lightning mana to surge through the creature. "Shouldn't do much," he thought, "but it'll sting."
The gecko's thrashing paused momentarily under the elemental shock, then resumed with renewed frenzy. Holding it aloft, Darius unleashed his killing intent, flooding the gecko with an overwhelming force. His voice thundered through the connection into the terrified beast's mind, 'Submit!'
Its pride bruised and it's freedom threatened, the Bladed-Gecko, harnessing its 20 Cauldrons of Force, whipped its long, bladed tail toward Darius.
Reacting swiftly, Darius pulsed another jolt of lightning through his grip, sinking his fingers deeper into the beast's flesh and spine. Just as the tail neared, he slammed the gecko.
A massive thud echoed through the woods, accompanied by a sharp squeal of pain from the creature as Darius hoisted it back into the air. The array on the Codex and his hand glowed brighter, straining to forge the connection. Darius's aura darkened with more killing intent, his mental command booming through the bond, 'SUBMIT!'
This time, the connection took hold. Darius felt the Beastial Tether Array lock in, and after a brief, tense pause, the bond between him and the mana-beast began to solidify.
'Wonderful! Maybe I'll even teach it a cultivation technique, I'll have to see how intelli...' Before Darius could finish his thought or fully establish the bond, a piercing, high-pitched noise cut through the air. He felt a jolt from above, and the sudden, cold drip of blood cascading down his white hair and face, flooding his senses with the sharp, metallic smell of iron. The Bladed-Gecko is his grasp was dead.
Dropping the beast, Darius saw a gaping, fist-sized hole that had torn through its body, it's core now missing.
Darius's aura flared wildly as he pushed his Arcane Gaze to its limits and hurled himself toward the rapidly retreating intruder. 'What the hell is that?! A living lightning bolt?'
"You killed my mount, you little bastard! Get back here!"
Two streaks tore through the moonlit forest: one a blur of purple, the other a flash of blue. The purple bolt was diminutive compared to Darius, especially given his sturdier, elderly disguise. His white hair streamed out behind him as he narrowed the distance. They darted and dodged, zig-zagging through the dense trees, a frantic chase under the night sky.
As the pursuit wound through the dense woodland, the blur of purple lightning, suddenly skittered across a patch of leaves. It lost its footing momentarily, allowing Darius a clear glimpse of its form. 'A weasel?'
In that fleeting second, Darius saw a mana-beast unlike any he had encountered or read about. The creature was small, roughly half a meter in length, with sleek grey fur marked by striking turquoise highlights that shimmered even in the dim moonlight. Its eyes, a vivid turquoise, caught the moon's gleam as it darted off once more, weaving through the trees with renewed vigor.
"Cute little shit, get back here!" Darius roared, intensifying his pursuit. He skillfully maneuvered to almost herd the beast, positioning himself just to its side, occasionally edging ahead. Each strategic stomp of his foot redirected their path, sending shockwaves through the earth that subtly altered the beast's trajectory. They blazed a large, furious circle through the forest, a whirlwind of motion under the moonlit canopy.
After several more minutes of their high-speed chase, Darius abruptly halted. Swapping to earth mana, he slammed his hands onto the ground. "Activate!" he commanded.
The spots where Darius had previously stomped his feet sparked to life, connecting into a massive array. In an instant, a vast dome of dense yellow earth mana materialized, trapping them within an Ethereal barrier.
The mysterious mana beast paused at the edge of the barrier, sniffing curiously before jumping back and then charging headfirst into it. Despite its vigorous effort, the collision was met with a muffled thud, causing the beast to crumple.
After a brief moment, it sprang up, scampered to a nearby tree, and spiraled around it like a purple whirlwind before perching on a limb. From its vantage point, it barked angrily at Darius, pointing accusingly.
Darius, smiling broadly, stood his ground. "Nowhere to run. Now what are you going to do?" He brought his palms together, his eyes emitting a brief glow as the barrier began to constrict slowly.
As the barrier tightened around the forest clearing, the lightning weasel's turquoise eyes began to glow, intensity mounting with each passing second. Its slender body started to quiver, building up to a frenetic vibration.
Suddenly, it was enveloped in a brilliant light, purple electricity crackling wildly around it, accompanied by a sharp, high-pitched whine.
"Shit!"
With explosive force, the branch it perched on shattered into splinters, propelling the weasel directly at Darius like a bolt from a storm. Caught by the sudden charge, Darius had no time to sidestep; he instinctively raised his gauntlet and his earth mana, the primordial artifact acting as a shield.
BOOM!
The collision was monumental. A dazzling explosion of purple lightning clashed against the thick yellow beams of earth mana, creating a maelstrom of energy. Chunks of earth and clouds of dust erupted around them, slamming against the barrier and falling back to the forest floor in a rain of debris and chaos.
Darius's body blasted backward from the collision, erupting from the barrier like a cannonball. He smashed through trees in a loud, painful path of destruction, finally grinding to a stop, buried beneath the ground.
The explosion shrouded the barrier in a thick cloud of dust, blocking the view entirely. Gradually, the dust began to settle, revealing the strange mana-beast lying unconscious on its side.
A loud rumbling echoed through the forest as Darius emerged from the debris, his image as Xue Feng gone. His teen face was now covered in dirt, his black hair disheveled. "That didn't feel nice; my arm's still numb," he muttered.
Darius limped forward, shaking his arm and leg until the stiffness lessened. "If it weren't for this artifact, I'd be dead," he muttered, his voice low. "That strike packed more power than a Tier 4 Steel knight."
Darius arrived just before the edge of the earth mana barrier. Putting his hands together in front of him like in prayer, he murmured, "Better play it safe." He focused his will, and the barrier began to shrink. Slowly, it contracted, forming a tight dome that just covered the 1.5-meter-long weasel.
Now standing over the weasel, his eyes narrowed with curiosity. "What kind of beast are you?" Activating his Arcane Gaze, he delved into the creature's essence. Immediately, he was struck by the vast amount and purity of the lightning mana within. "This is no stage one beast."
He sat down in the lotus position, fingers brushing the brooch on his shoulder. Slowly, his form shifted back into the elderly Xue Feng, his mind now focused on unraveling the mysteries of this peculiar beast.
Darius's gaze intensified as he peered into the weasel, his vision penetrating its flesh. He traced the sinewy muscles and delicate bones, noting the intricate network of veins and arteries pulsing with life. At its core, a small, perfectly round crystal glowed brightly. His eyes widened in surprise.
"No way...a mana core?!" he muttered. "Only beasts that have evolved to their humanoid form have these. What are you?"
Greed began to shine in Darius's eyes. "I must tame this beast," he declared. Slowly, he extended his arm with the codex towards the creature. Just as his hand passed through the barrier, the beast lunged. Darius yanked back just in time. "Faking asshole! Almost took my finger!"
Without hesitation, Darius threw his hands onto the ground. "Terra Pulse!" he commanded. Instantly, a small pillar of earth erupted under the beast's chin, delivering a powerful uppercut.
"You've got nowhere to go. With that core, you should be smart enough to understand," Darius said, his tone cold and direct. "Submit to me, or I kill you and take your core. Fair trade, considering all the trouble you've caused me."
Rubbing its wounded chin on the ground, the beast suddenly scanned its surroundings before looking back at Darius. It held his gaze for a moment longer, a mixture of fear and defiance in its eyes, before abruptly turning around, and shitting.
"You sick little..." Darius growled, bringing his hands together again. He tightened the barrier further, forcing it against the beast's face and rear. The beast struggled as the barrier constricted, its movements frantic and desperate. With a swift motion, Darius adjusted the barrier, positioning the creature directly over its waste.
"Looks like you need some time to think," Darius said casually, rising to his feet. He turned away, adding, "I'll leave you to your thoughts."With a smirk, Darius clasped his hands behind his back and walked into the forest. He didn't glance back at the beast, ignoring its frantic struggles and the desperate look in its eyes as it seemed to beg for his return.
Darius only walked for a few minutes before returning, his pace quickening as the barrier came into view. "Serious?" His expression darkened at the sight that greeted him.
The beast, once sleek and vibrant, was now a pitiful mess, its fur matted in an ugly shade of brown. Constricted tightly within the barrier, its frantic attempts to escape had only worsened its plight.
A wave of disgust and guilt washed over Darius as he observed the creature's desperate state, its vibrant spirit now diminshed by the grim reality of its condition.
Darius cleared his throat, his voice edged with awkwardness. "Well...seems you've thought a lot." He tried to mask his discomfort at the pitiful sight but faltered, shaking his head. "Alright, this is messed up." Without hesitation, he expanded the barrier, his aura shifting to a vibrant blue. Quickly, he began gathering water mana between his hands.
To the creature, downtrodden and visibly deflated, it seemed as if Darius was mocking it, standing there and waving his hands in a strange dance. Suddenly, a burst of cold water drenched the beast, the pressure slamming it against the barrier's edge.
After its initial surprise, seizing the opportunity, the beast twisted under the stream, scrubbing itself clean.
A few moments later, Darius ceased the flow of mana and placed his hands on each side of the narrowed barrier.
Shaking off the shower's residue, the beast resembled a grey fluffball, eyeing Darius's hands with a shiver, its form small and suspicious.
To its startled relief, warmth radiated from Darius's palms as he channeled his fire mana. The beast paused, then began to rapidly groom itself, intermittently lifting its head and closing its eyes to savor the heat.
"You really are a cute little thing, should we try this again?" Darius's voice softened, a stark contrast to his earlier tone.
The weasel halted its grooming and stared at Darius, its turquoise eyes scanning him cautiously. After a moment, it righted itself on its feet and regarded him with a calm demeanor.
"I am going to reach in now, when I touch you, just relax and submit. No pain, I promise. And you won't be alone, there will be others like you." Darius said, watching for the beast's reaction. Seeing none, he slowly extended his hand through the barrier. As his fingers nearly grazed it's fur, he hesitated, then gently laid his hand on the back of the beast.
As the Immortal Beast Codex began to glow, its array lighting up the back of Darius's hand, he uttered, "Subm—"
Catching Darius off guard, lightning burst from the beast, coursing up his arm and catapulting him backward. He slammed into a tree, then crashed to the ground, smoke curling up from his singed arm.
Inside the barrier, the beast spun in circles, barking in shrill, rapid bursts, clearly amused by its mischief. It then paused, scanning the confines of the barrier, its head tilting sharply when nothing changed.
"Terra Pulse!"
Instantly, the ground within the barrier surged upwards, trapping the beast like a pancake against the wall of earth mana.
The beast's struggle was fierce, its pride unyielding as lightning erupted from its body. Suddenly, its thrashing ceased, eyes snapping open. A crushing, familiar sensation overwhelmed it—the beast was confronting a primordial instinct it had encountered before: Death.
In the deep shadows, Darius towered behind the beast, a menacing silhouette etched against the darkness. Only his piercing blue eyes broke the blackness, casting an eerie glow. As he reached down, his hand closing firmly on the beast's skull, the faint, ghostly outline of his glowing crystal skeleton shimmered through his form. On his forehead, the lightning tattoo sparked with a eerie flash, as he commanded, "Submit."
As purple lightning raged from the beast, it momentarily brightened Darius's youthful face. His piercing blue eyes and cold expression sent chills through the creature. Then darkness swallowed the scene, leaving only Darius's skull glowing eerily in response to the clash of mana as he released his own, a ghostly spectacle visible to the beast. Each cycle of light revealed a new terror, pushing the beast closer to surrender.
Overwhelmed by Darius's unyielding killing intent and his own lightning proving futile, the beast finally conceded, ending its struggle.
"This is your last chance, beast! Submit!" Darius's voice boomed as the Codex flared, the connection beginning to forge between them. The beast felt the insistent pull, a silent command to yield, a surge of protective warmth radiating from the Codex. Cornered and overpowered, the beast finally yielded.
As the first rays of the morning sun pierced the darkness, the bond between Darius and the enigmatic beast solidified. The Codex welcomed its second beast. Although not the flying mount he had hoped for, Darius felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of taming this unique mana-beast. As the dawn light slowly spread, its gentle glow blended with the motes of light the beast transformed into, absorbing into the Codex.