Full Pr Credits to Draconis who made this release possible. here is a special release for all of you as it seems you cant get enough some more words of encouragement i dont think there is a cliffhanger in this one? XD enjoy ch 45

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Avrin spoke softly as he looked at the creature. “That looks nearly identical to a damn bear.” Avrin sped up to go catch up with Syrana and Ayame with a sigh of frustration as they were meant to keep to themselves. He cared not for the trivial matters of orcs or if there petty offspring perished. It seemed he almost instantly got used to considering orcs as pests.

Avrin made his way into the clearing just in time to see Syrana jump towards the orc child that seemed somewhat bulky. She had perfect timing, as a moment sooner and the creature would have had the child in its grasp for a snack.

The child made weird high pitched grunting sounds that would be considered funny to Avrin had it not been for the situation. Ayame didn't hesitate to counter the bear creature as she jumped up and kicked towards its large bulky forearm.

Ayame’s strength was indeed formidable as a large ‘Bang!’ like sound echoed slightly the moment her kick landed, sending the bear creature back several steps. It even seemed shocked at the sudden turn of events.

Avrin stood his ground as there was no need to get his hands dirty. In fact, he was more interested in the creature rather than rescuing the child. The creature, although resembling a bear, had a larger mouth span and sabre like teeth sticking out of the sides of its jaws.

Almost like an alligator. It had a dark green fur color but also had a sort of mane that ran around its back and downwards. Its size was easily nearly 2 and a half stories tall.

For the average warrior this may seem like a deadly opponent, but he knew Ayame herself could match it equally if not better. But he also knew the creatures attack was no pushover. One hit would definitely give Ayame a run for her money.

Ayame and the creature battled. The creature giving her a barrage of claw slashes knowing its prey had escaped for now and seeking vengeance on Ayame who attacked it. Ayame countered by slashing at its thick fur with her kunai that seemed to give it a somewhat nice cut, but nothing deep.

It was surprising, it shouldn’t have cut at all, as Avrin had noticed on the way here, using his augmented eye, that the spears of the orcs trying to save the child couldn't penetrate its thick coat of fur.

Syrana moved the child to the orcs who seemed somewhat skeptical of her intentions but did not hesitate further to look after one of their young. Most stories depict orcs as ruthless savages who care only for their own well being, but it seemed like the variants here seemed to show otherwise.

Syrana turned and spoke to Ayame in a loud voice. “Ayame, stand aside..” Ayame blinked for a moment as she was enjoying the battle but frowned and then did as her teacher asked, stepping aside. All while Syrana had unsheathed Eclipse and pointed it towards the bear.

Syrana then fired an elemental arrow with little power as she did not intend to kill the creature, only show that she was superior. The arrow wielding physical properties as well as the force of the air skimmed faintly across the swamp, emitting a faint screech before plowing into the bears gut, knocking it back several meters as the bear creature rolled around letting a roar of agony as The ground shook with its anger and pain.

But this creature seemed to be smart and knew Syrana was more powerful of a predator and decided to retreat for today, as it left somewhat limping and battered, its tall figure vanishing into the shadows of the swamplands until not even its thunderous footsteps could be heard.

Syrana sighed slightly and Eclipse began to reform back into mana in the form of the sigil before going back into her right hand. Ayame, with a confident smile, approached her. “Teacher, you truly are something to be able to take such a creature out without even trying.” This compliment made Syrana smile as she felt satisfied with her student’s words.

Syrana then blinked as she spotted Avrin walk over to a spot where some of the creatures blood from Ayame’s attack was. Avrin leaned down and gazed at the blood which had a sort of blue pigment with his augmented eye, picking up traces of something he hadn't expected to see.

“Well this is worrying…” He rubbed his head and focused his hand over the small blood stain as the particles of what he had noticed with his eye sprung up. They were none other than dark matter particles. Forming only half a centimeter in diameter in total from a blood stain of 8 inches but still considered nothing for the creature that had lost it.

“Hmm” The blood stain had lost its blue pigment and turned red as if influenced by the dark matter, but Avrin soon absorbed the dark matter into himself as if it were nothing. As he thought to himself “-It’s most likely in these lands. I didn't expect I would be so close to it-” Avrin seemed cautious as he looked around, but maybe he was just over thinking things. But he couldn't deny the fact that there was dark matter in that creatures blood.

Syrana, who approached Avrin curiously, spoke “Why do you look like you're about to be ambushed?” Avrin stood up and gazed at her. “None of your concern. Now if you're done playing hero we have lost time to make up” He spoke firmly, clearly wanting to leave this area.

Syrana glared and huffed at him. “Why should I? While you were looking at that blood stain the orcs are welcoming us to stay with them for helping rescue one of their children.” Avrin clicked his tongue quietly. He then pondered the fact that maybe he shouldn't avoid it and just hope it comes to him, that way he can settle things.

“Do as you wish…..” Avrin spoke calmly as he walked off in the direction of where the bear creature had come from. This made Syrana speak quickly “Where are you going!?” Avrin replied, annoyed at her nosiness “Why Mother, I am going to go scout ahead. Is that wrong?” He clearly had something bothering him as just yesterday he seemed friendlier.

This change irritated Syrana who ignored him and went off towards the orcs, before getting out of earshot, she spoke “We will be back here by tomorrow. I know you're more than capable of handling yourself here, but try not to kill anything...Life here has a circle it follows”

(PR Note: IT’S THE CIRCLE OF LIFEEEEEEEEEEEE)

Avrin didn’t reply as he vanished in the same dark shadows the swamplands depicted. He had been following the mana trace the bear had left, he clearly wanted to know how dark matter got into it.

----Syrana/Ayame’s Side---

As they both went with the orcs, they were led to a somewhat decent sized settlement that seemed to be made from the trees of the swamp as well as materials of creatures.

For protection, there was a wall surrounding most of the settlement, and it was layered with wood and shells as well as several spike like traps for the larger creatures that felt as if they were interested in attacking the settlement.

“T..Teacher, it smells funny” Ayame desperately wanted to hold her nose but Syrana told her otherwise. “Don’t be rude. This is mostly the swamp, there is little place for their fecal matter to go” But those words seemed to make it worse for Ayame who seemed to be ready to vomit.

Syrana ignored it though as she was led by the 3 orcs as well as the child female orc who seemed somewhat chubby wearing makeshift leather clothing that was somewhat ragged.

If Avrin were to be here to describe it, he would easily say it was the most detestable sight he had seen for a long time. Ayame and Syrana had both entered a large hut in the back of the settlement that was against a sort of hill that seemed to also act as protection.

They did well to ignore the gazed of the curious orcs that thought them food or prisoners. One of the orcs began to speak in its language to another that was dressed in what seemed to be a shamans outfit with several furs adoring its body as well as a skeletal remnants of a skull of some poor creature.

This orc also had a wooden cane that seemed to be crudely carved, but one could tell by the smell of the herbs and mystical feeling of the hut that this was indeed an orc Magi. Every tribe of orc had a Magi. They were the leaders, being the most knowledgeable and powerful they lead their people to live and not perish.

The orc began to speak to Syrana in broken Human dialect. “Elf saved youngling...This orc thanks you…” Syrana smiled softly and replied “I cannot let a child that hasn't lived its life perish from this world.” The orc, which seemed to be a sort of female that was aged, spoke “Thank you again Elf...Your people always...treat us normal...never bad…”

Syrana nodded and replied “We Sylph in general believe in equality of all the races. But I’m curious, that arktos subspecies should have plenty of food near where its lair is. Surely your people have not attacked it with provocation?”

The Magi shook her head quickly and stamped her cane down as she growled randomly “The creature lurks closer near our lands...And it comes with many.. others...They are hungry...Something scared them….makes them move away...As if there home isn’t their home… Might Lang save us…” The Magi sighed as she went back to her seat covered in pelts and sat down.

Syrana began to think carefully to herself as she wondered what in this swamp could possibly scare a creature that could be considered one of the apex predators. Even among others, it isn't scared of them.

She then blinked as she remembered the way Avrin acted, as if he knew something was wrong. She gritted her teeth. “He was hiding something..urgh… It’s too late, I'll just have to wait for tomorrow..”

The Magi smiled “Elf...you stay here with us. You and your friend...You help us, you are our guest now...Stay as long as you like…” Syrana smiled at her and bowed. “I’m truly grateful for your hospitality. We will only remain for a night as we have a place to be.”

As the arrangements were made, they began to settle down in a makeshift hut that could be considered VIP treatment even though it looked like a rundown shack.

-----------Avrin’s Side------------

He had been walking for a good 30 minutes and saw the bear creature had found a meal. It had managed to catch and kill a sort of horse like creature that also resembled a buffalo. It’s colours seemingly blending into the swamp.

Avrin did well to hide himself at a fair distance and stay in the branches of large trees, as he didn't want to alarm the creature. He wanted to observe it a bit longer, just to satisfy his curiosity and put his worries at ease.

As the creature was eating, a rumbling sound echoed. A large gorilla like creature with one eye that resembled a cyclops that was bulked up had smelt the carcass and was drooling. Starving and mad.

The bear, seeing another apex predator, both roughly the same size, began to roar and growl towards it, as if telling it that this was its food and for it to piss off. The gorilla like cyclops which was covered in thick white and blue fur with his front side covered in what seemed like scales, only roared in reply. As if telling the bear to take a hike.

As the bear stopped eating, the two creatures circled each other. But Avrin cared not for their fight as it was petty. He turned around, intending to leave, when a large ghostly like roar echoed around the area. It was menacing and filled with bloodlust and madness.

This would have not bothered Avrin as he would consider it another predator, but what caught his eye was how the bear and the gorilla creature both froze as if petrified. They began to back off quietly, as if trying to not make sound and draw attention before they both got far enough from the corpse, that even the bear left behind. Both creatures started running until they vanished.

Avrin stayed quiet before he heard rustling sounds in the direction of where the roar had appeared from. A black glowing blur shot out from the bushes near the swamp to the corpse of the dead creature and began feeding on it as if not caring if it was for anything else.

Avrin’s eyes widened with a nervous excitement and curiosity, his left augmented eye could clearly see something not of this world. It had been something he knew he had seen before and had met before. He chuckled softly as he regained his composure and jumped out of the tree line into the open around 30 meters from the creature.

He then called out to it as it was eating, ignoring him as if thinking he was a nobody. That was until his voice called out. “It’s been quite a long time since we last met creature. I didn’t expect that such a change would occur with just an arm replacement..”

The creature stopped. It had been through pride then anger and met fear, only to be tortured and be freed to be rejected and then nearly killed. The creature moved its mouth from the carcass as the blood of the dead animal lingered around its mouth as well as the shadowy like mane that glowed with static somewhat.

It had been years since they last met. It’s body was different compared to before. It was larger but also thicker and looked more muscular. It’s mane was longer and was as if it reflected the night sky, with black static pulsing through it.

It’s eyes being a pure glowing purple with red crimson pupils. It’s tail swayed back and forth, seemingly as if it had the strength to tear a man in half. It gazed at Avrin quietly. It seemed almost awkward.

Avrin cleared his throat and spoke “What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize your master, creatu-...” Before he could finish the creature that he had tortured for the sake of an experiment lunged at him with lightning speed, with ferocity, and with revenge. This creature was none other than the Nemean/Leophat Avrin had captured and thought dead.

Avrin blinked as the creature was indeed incredibly fast. But compared to his current state, it was only 20% faster than Ayame using her speed ability.

Avrin jumped up as the Leophats claw crushed towards where he had formerly been. Avrin grinned as he kicked downwards, stomping the creature into the ground, causing a small crater that shattered with the force.

“I’ll have you know I myself have gotten stronger. You have grown an attitude, hopefully this shows you who’s boss again…” Avrin spoke somewhat smugly before blinking with surprise.

The Leophat didn’t look harmed at all. In fact, Avrin felt a tough resistance from its fur that was definitely mutated due to dark matter. The Leophat grabbed Avrin, taking advantage of his surprise, and swung him around. Throwing him towards a nearby boulder.

Avrin, regaining his composure at the right moment, managed to regain his balance eventually. Gracefully kicking softly at the boulder and landing on the ground. “Your durability is stronger. I can’t take you lightly...But this is good..I get to experiment again on you. But this time I’ll be using a technique I’ve been itching to try..”

Avrin indeed had intended to try techniques taught in the manual, although he currently had no intention of killing this creature as it had too much importance to kill so easily.

The Leophat roared with pride as it felt it was stronger than Avrin, as it lunged quicker than before. Almost 15% faster. Which made Avrin smile widely with surprise, but not enough to shock him further. Avrin emitted his dark matter into his legs, using a part of the Pulsing Dragons meditative focus to help the effort.

He kicked his right foot in a crescent shape with a significant force at an angle the manual had spoken of. The force of the semicircle, resembling a crescent, forced the ground to cut open slightly before causing a slight vacuum of air to explode out. Blowing the leophat away slightly, disturbing its attack.

Avrin then frowned. “It seems all I can do is kick hard and quick enough that the air is blown away. I think it is acceptable though for my first try.” Avrin gazed at the Leophat which seemed to stop dead in its tracks, but held no fear in its eyes. This creature seemingly experienced a lot. It only stopped because it was cautious, and not fearful. It still intended to fight Avrin and Avrin knew this.

Avrin gazed quietly at the creature before reaching up and removing his cloak as he fixed his gauntlets slightly “Very well, I’ll humor you...I’ll show you the difference between us..I’ll only use my current physical strength to overpower you and show you that the gap has not shortened between us, but only grown. And once that happens, I look forward to keeping you as a pet” Avrin smirked as he fixed his gauntlet.

But those words, the Leophat understood, as the mutation not only made it more powerful, but also smarter. It knew Avrin was mocking it even if it didn’t know what he was saying. It roared and vanished in a flash as it appeared behind him, the dust kicking from where it left to the trail of where it arrived behind Avrin. Both it’s arms and claws slashing downwards towards Avrin.

Avrin, who still fixing his gauntlet, had his face hidden in a menacing shadow as the top half of his face was dark, other than his pupils. He ducked as he had seen the Nemean move at that speed, but Avrin was faster. He had spent years training and he would not be showed up by this creature he empowered.

But as he ducked, he used one of his own counter techniques. His left foot curving upwards like a bullet, smashing into the jaw of the Leophat. The force of the blow seemed to cause a slight quake near them as the Leophat was shot several meters in the air and knocked back.

Avrin slowly regained his stance. Lowering his leg and raising his body up in a proper position. “Although you have gotten stronger, you remind me of how I used to be when I got my power… Unrestrained and thinking that you can take the whole world”

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