Chapter Seventeen: Smokes of War
The area was covered in raging flames, the inferno of war ravaged the area with burning fury. There was a battle between two different beastmen clans.
"Naga clan! You dare?" Guro shouted furiously.
Gartan - the beastman with green scales - snorted in disdain.
"You're too weak. Today, your Nura clan shall fall; I'll kill you all, and my creatures will tear everyone apart and feed on your slave's corpses."
Gartan laughed evilly, as the battle between him and Guro continued once again.
Dusken observed this sight. The Naga clan had invaded the Nura clan, and it was at the wrong time; they had led creatures here and now… the scene was total mayhem.
Dusken was constantly avoiding the creature's attacks as arrows flew everywhere; he finally understood what was going on.
The clan who had tied him and the other children up were from the Nura clan, and the Naga clan invaded the Nura clan; such a confusing political relationship led to such an ordeal.
There was a reason why Dusken didn't summon his sword nor use his ability yet; it was because he wasn't the only one sent to the trial; there were eight others; if he summoned his sword, then his identity as a contestant would be revealed, everyone should summon theirs before him.
Dusken's right hand, which held the arrow, stabbed forward; the arrow broke as a superficial wound appeared on the monster's body.
A slice of tear streaked on the skin of the creature, and the arrow broke apart; a furious tail whipped at him - Dusken raised his hands to shield himself.
The rocky tail ferociously collided with his hands, making him take a lurching step backwards.
Pain surged in him as his bones screamed while blood followed out of his wound, but he was determined to test his power, so this was just the beginning. Even so, Dusken had to admit that shock filled his heart at the strength he now possessed as just a mere level one.
Dashing forward, he punched at the creature once again; the monstrosity twisted its body and swiped its tail at Dusken once more.
Pausing his action, Dusken kicked at the creature's tail as a low low thud sounded from the impact of their collision, making the ground subtly vibrate.
Blood steadily dripped on the ground from Dusken's bare feet. He wasn't wearing shoes, and the swipe of the creature's tail injured him; his body was still a mortal, after all.
With gritted teeth, endurance surged through him as fists punched outward once more, landing on the huge head of the creature.
The loathsome fiend also had plans of its own; its needle-like claws slashed Dusken's shoulder, making blood gush out.
Without lingering more, Dusken backed away as his calm expression was twisted into an unsightly one.
Thoughts rapidly crashed in his brain, as he made motions to avoid stray arrows flying at him.
All around, the battlefield was in chaos, beastmen fell as they died under each other's onslaught.
The war was sudden, but the beastmen were different from humans, their bodies were natural weapons.
Once again, his stare landed on the monstrosity, its belly bloated in and out as its four eyes gazed crazily at Dusken.
Dusken used this chance to regain himself as his mind raced. His talent ability could control shadows and darkness and also perceive what they sensed.
He understood the sense part, but the control aspect was different. He tried to control his shadow, but couldn't.
He tried to control the shadow of the trees in the area, but couldn't. He also tried to control other people's shadows… but failed.
Gritting his teeth in rage, Dusken's heart blazed as the indomitable will to see his enemy die at all cost burst forth from him.
Dusken charged forward, and the creature also stirred; dozens of brutal blows were exchanged, and none refused to relent. He refused to give up, and the creature sought survival.
Soon, they were both worn out and exhausted; he swept a glance through the surroundings, waiting for something.
It was then that a boy who looked no more than 15, who was assaulted by a creature and was bloodied already, stretched his hand forward.
Golden particles swirled around him as a portal appeared in front of the child, this sight immediately attracted everyone's attention on the battlefield, creatures, beastmen and humans.
The boy had squinty amber eyes, his clothes were just like others - rags, his face was angular, and his nose was long. He quickly thrust his hand into the portal and pulled a small card, then hurriedly waved it and it warped into a long battle axe.
The golden space slowly shrunk and disappeared. Everyone was in awe, but that was a go button.
Six more golden portals appeared in front of six other people; they all took out their various cards from the portal and changed them into weapons.
The beastman kings of the two different clans were gobsmacked as they stared at this sight.
"Human child, help my Nura clan push back these vile invaders, and I shall set you free," Guro's voice sounded in the environment as he and Gartan wrestled like animals.
The seven children who summoned weapons instantly started to fight with the creatures, and their abilities were unleashed.
The boy with the long battle axe shot out lasers from his eyes; a boy could kick the air, making him avoid attacks and move fast distances; a girl could run super fast, and there were many more, but Dusken had to focus on his battle.
However, he still noted all those children in his mind, they were going to his enemies for the legacy of the god of darkness. The thing was, there were only seven children instead of eight who had summoned weapons.
His attention returned to the creature in front of him; it was still dazed as it stared at the disappearing golden portals in front of the children; using this chance, his fists shot forward and crashed on the creature's head.
The monstrosity was sent reeling backwards. It screamed once more, but Dusken had gotten accustomed to it, so the scream only made him slightly dizzy.
'Time to die, bastard,' He laughed happily as he charged forward once more.
He slid on the wet forest ground as the beast lunged at his previous location. He kicked the Earth and jumped back up.
Dusken followed the senses of the creature's shadow, dodging and punching whenever he got a chance.
The beast was becoming weaker and weaker, and the same went for Dusken, for his stamina was decreasing quicker and quicker. But he refused to summon his material card… at least not yet.
The creature lept, and Dusken jumped, delivering a flying kick. The collision sent him rocketing backwards, and the creature was sent spiralling backwards.
With a resounding thud, he fell to the ground, and his mouth leaked out blood. However, he didn't rest; Dusken dashed forward; it was time.
His hands raised, and dark particles swirled around him; this scene attracted the gaze of others; the particles were not golden like the others, but dark, deep and Abyssal.
The particles coalesced and formed a small portal near his hand, and he immediately took out a card from it.
Dusken immediately realised that the colour of his portal had changed, and it had to do with his Abyssal Star talent; with no extended time to think, he stared at the card in his hand, small but enchanting, charming with grace.
On the card was drawn a longsword, Dusken threw the card up, and a sword materialised in the air as he caught it.
He stared at the monster that was charging once again at him. The people's attention was also on him, but he paid them no heed.
His foot moved, and his body advanced as he sprinted at the creature; the longsword was light and easy to use.
Dusken knew that if he had used this from the start, then the creature would have died by now, but he had chosen not to.
The beast's claws tore and sliced the winds apart as it aimed at Dusken - he used his sword to defend himself and slashed ruthlessly at the creature; with a shriek, it backed away… but he followed.
The beast's tail slashed at his foot, but he jumped up and rotated in the air, his left foot meeting the creature's head and sending it bouncing back once more.
Dusken panted. He inhaled and observed his surroundings, but then a smile crept up his face; it was a smile that made the other seven contestants feel a chill down their spine and made the beast's heart quiver in fear.
Blood drenched Dusken's figure - both his and the creature's; his smile was like a nightmare that would hunt them all for a long time.
Cold.
Ruthless.
Sinister.
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