Grand Adventures of the Witch King

Clash 2

Beasts have been there since long ago, as part of nature. But they were not the same at all, from speciation to varying levels of strength. 

The reason for this was the magical essence that permeated this world since before ancient times, some say even before the world was created.

And so beasts identified at three levels by the villages according to their ancestors had passed down and they were; Normal or at times ordinary beasts, Wild beasts, Fierce and then Greater beasts.

The Normal beasts; due to their extremely poor bloodlines have not touched the powerful and magical forces of the world. But make no mistake, they were something that no ordinary human could compare to. As such the mild type of beasts have been domesticated as livestock since long ago by powerful warriors. 

After that, there were beasts that only strong and trained adults could hunt and kill. These ones went by the term, Wild beasts. These were strong creatures that had tapped into the mystical essence to gain mighty physical strength that could tear apart an ordinary man and gravely wound if not kill a strong hunter. However, some people believe that some of these beasts they had domesticated and become the normal beast that they have as livestock used to be the Wild beasts, and probably devolved after being captured. 

The ferocious-looking rabbit that Ullo had hunted was a beast at this level.

Then there are beasts that so strong that they could uproot a 30m tall Tambe tree in a single strike, while others were as fast as the wind. These were Fierce beasts, unlike Wild beasts they had special stones within their hearts that was believed to be the source of their strength and powerful special abilities.

And last but not least, the Greater beasts. These beasts were known to exhibit normal human-level intelligence and cunning but still remained as savage and wild as ever. 

It was said that these beasts could wipe out a village like this one in mere moments, however, much to the relief and joy of the villages, though not much is known, they are very territorial and as such stick to their habitats and never leave them, of course perhaps only to find a mate or if defeated and lose their territories against a stronger one. 

Now the beast that the chief had turned into was a powerful and high-level Fierce beast! An Inoki, also dubbed as the king among Fierce level beasts, with strength that could crush boulders into powder in a single grip and rip out gigantic trees with a casual motion. And an adult was known to grow as tall at 12ft tall, with thick and powerful muscles, thick dense skin, and steel-like fur as its defense and sharp dagger-like claws and teeth with the speed and agility that was unbelievable for its size as well as it's innate abilities.

Ullo had the chance of seeing one in action years ago against another Fierce beast from far away and instantly he ran away, for staying would mean him getting torn limp from limp, but this one in front of him posed no such threat, in fact, the one back then would not be as threatening any more as he had grown stronger.

As for the reason why the chief’s beast form was shorter, it was due to the fact that it was still young, a juvenile.

There was a technique passed down from the ancestors in this village, during the Coming of Age ceremony, young men at age 16 that had been trained from youth are blessed by the gem to gain a boost in power as well as protection depending on their individual strengths and potential. 

With this boost and technique, they went out that day for 5 days to hunt down and kill a beast depending on their strength, for this boon last only that long. Once they did kill a beast, they can choose if they want to gain its strength or not, gaining the strength meant that they inherit a physical transformation form of the beast that they had chosen.

Some fail and never become, while others die trying, others succeed as at times they chose only low-level ones to survive, from what Ullo heard when the chief was young and participated in his ceremony years ago, he came across an infant Inoki beast, seeing it he fought and killed it, but even then an infant was known to be as strong as a high-level Wild beast. 

So over the years, the chief had increased his level of strength and his beast form, but due to the technique and him being human, the process was slow that even after decades he had not reached the adult stage. But it was said that he could take on an adult Inoki and even possibly defeat it.

So seeing the chief in this form he knew that the fight just got serious to the level of life and death, and he shouldn’t hold back anymore for he was greatly outnumbered in here and if he dared to play around he would be in grave danger as the elders were watching along with the mysterious protector not to forget their wives as well who could cast spells that could hinder him. 

With that thought in mind, he gave a silent prayer of forgiveness to his father for he was about to break the vow he had given back then for his current survival.

With lament in his heart that turned to rage that was covered by a determined expression, he placed his hand on his chest directly over his heart and it glowed a deep red light.

Crack!

Immediately after that, a sound akin to breaking glass reached everyone’s ears.

And they all began to feel a force that got stronger and stronger with the seconds that passed, soon a wave of undulating power washed off Ullo, his hair started to wave about violently under this unseen force. 

A loud sound rumbled within Ullo as a deep crimson aura rose from him like a flame, while his body bulked up slightly and his eyes changed into glowing rubies!

"Don’t regret it then, for you forced me to do this!" Ullo's voice boomed calmly yet one could feel the smoldering rage beneath it for these people have pushed him to this.

And they will pay!

Like a red bolt of lightning, he charged towards the transformed chief creating a large crater where he took off!

The chief himself being in beast form had enhanced instincts alongside crazed savagery within. So he too moved at blinding speed to meet the youth.

Boom!

The shockwave of their clash was even stronger this time! The aftershock was a mighty wind harshly brushed over the spectating villagers alongside the crushing of thunder, making many cover their ears and rush backward even further, for they knew that a single mishap from them would result in serious injuries or even death.

There was a short stalemate at this first clash, as two fists of disproportionate sizes struggled to overpower the other. Only to find that they were equal in strength!

Even then, none took a step back as the force from their clash was sent into the ground, breaking it into a large crater. With that small pause, both threw their other fist as well!

Boom!

The ground sunk even more! Proving to both warriors that they truly are of equal strength!

“Haha! You are strong, but if this is the level of strength that you can show, then you will die here today evil spirit!” The eyes of the chief displayed a sinister light as his smile turned savage as they looked down at his shorter opponent and taunted, in this form he was a battle-hungry madman that lusted for a worthy opponent.

“And you are growing old to think that a young man can match you in strength oh great and mighty chief!” Ullo mocked back, he felt his opponent’s strength and knew what to do now. 

He then leaped away from the stalemate they had, he felt a slight sting on his fists. Turning them over he noticed that his knuckles and fingers had a lot of red dots on them, it was his blood. He looked at the chief who was grinning at him with that savage smile on his beastly face. 

“Steel-like skin that even swords can penetrate, the Inoki is not known for being the king among Fierce beast without a reason.” The chief added as he too noticed the injury on Ullo’s fist.

Though he was surprised that it was only so small, for the opponents he had faced before had worse injuries than that at a mere clash with his fists.

Ullo didn’t bother to say anything and decided to answer by rushing once more towards the beastly chief!

The chief didn’t mind this attitude, in fact like it! 

The only reason he was talkative was that this was the only time he has ever battled a legendary monster from the tales and he was excited!

Ullo was soon upon his opponent and saw the large fist that came to greet him. But this time he chose not to meet it.

Swiftly he slipped below the oncoming fist that brought along a fierce gale that could rip of a normal man’s skin and slipped into the less comfort zone of the chief and tapped off ground lightly, reaching the side of the chief’s face in a blink of an eye, ready to deliver a blow to destroy the eye of the chief!

He was a hunter and this was not a match, but a life and death battle. And all beasts had weaknesses and the eyes were among them.

Bang!

But the chief was also an experienced hunter and warrior, the greatest there was in fact, and his instincts warned him of danger and so he raised his forearm to block the destructive blow that could have blinded him forever even with the powerful regenerative abilities of this form, a lost eye will remain lost if destroyed.

So he responded with his own attack, a swipe of his claw tore through the air at the youth that hung mid-air from the blocked blow!

But as if the force of gravity had increased on Ullo, he suddenly fell down fast, dodging an attack that would have ripped him in half. But as soon as he touched the ground he leaped up once again, for the chief kicked his massive leg at an impossible angle and position with an even powerful force than his punches.

Ullo’s movements were akin to a leaf in the wind, for he didn’t leap away but was a few centimeters above the leg as if he was lifted by the force generated by the kick, not willing to let the momentum fall in his opponent’s favor, Ullo swiftly used the leg as a launchpad as well as create an opening in the chief’s tight defenses by forcibly changing his balance, so he was once more at the chief’s face that had been turned as within his prediction and calculation. 

Boom! 

The blow connected! 

But not as he wanted, for the chief was really a fierce individual, that he forced himself to shift his face and took the blow to his jaw, yet it was all he needed for he too wanted a breach in his slippery opponent’s defenses!

Ullo had already noticed this shift and his crimson eyes caught the sight of the chief’s arm that was above his head, his eyebright ruby eyes shifted in his skull quickly as the arm came down with the speed of an arrow but with a force of a hundred beast, just as it was inches from his head and turn it into a paste. Ullo maneuvered his body midair so as to let it slide by his body but held it so he that was able to let it drag him to the ground. 

The second his toes touched the ground, Ullo used the arm’s force, even negating the harsh force being generated by it to increase the momentum he was building up, and shifted his body swiftly that he gave his back to the chief but never let go of the arm that he turned and rested on his shoulder, with that he instantly he lifted the chief off the ground who weight more than a ton and threw him over his shoulder swiftly and fiercely!

To the crowd that stood almost 500m away this fight was dangerous! With horrifying winds and dust being blown all over and craters being formed due to it, yet not a single glimpse of the individuals, only red blurs as their speed was on another level, though there was no doubt that this fight was exciting! 

For the stronger individuals, they too had to move a bit further away for in their eyes the two individuals moved at terrifying speeds full of graceful and savage movements that even they wouldn’t be able to perform, that and the ferocious shockwaves made it impossible to suddenly join the fight, this showed that any one of the two could end them easily, this made them all feel chills down their spines as well as helplessness to aid their chief. 

Whoosh! Boom!

They suddenly saw one of the red blurs being thrown away and land with such a force that it kicked up a heavy dust cloud and shook the ground heavily that felt the tremor almost knock them over.

With baited breathes they saw the dust being swept away and gasped at what they saw. Their chief once more defeated and this time he was embedded into the ground with bleeding and slightly twisted jaw!

While the youth stood without a scratch and a steady yet frightening blood-red aura and the cold red eyes to match.

Suddenly Ullo’s hands glowed yellow as he gazed at the fallen chief knowing well enough that he was just shaken and dazed. 

“Goodbye chief.” That was all he said as he ferociously pounced at the chief without hesitation!