24 Quietus; Release Of An Arrow (1/2)

A snarling growl, the sound of speeding footsteps, and the shadow of a tiger pursuing the shadow of a human figure played across the field. With keen eyes, the body of the tiger was revealed to be bleeding profusely, missing several chunks of flesh on its body. Despite so, the deranged beast continued its pursuit viciously, unwilling to fall behind.

Haz turned sharply while reaching towards his tactical belt for his two daggers, his left eye emanating a strand of lightning at the same time, ”d.a.m.n beast, just stay down! Regardless of how they did it, Icrin will use the fact that they defeated their opponent so quickly as a constant insult, and you're the one to blame for it! Hmph, don't blame me for being cruel now!”

As lightning swam in his eye, his speed seemed to sharpen drastically. Those of the Krose Clan would recognize this technique as their innate ”Chrono-Registry Surge” technique. With their bloodline's innate affinity with lightning, the Krose Clan had the ability to utilize the lightning throughout their body, projecting a variety of skills that were easy for their kin to replicate.

Many techniques were developed and reworked over generations, with Chrono-Registry Surge being one of the most proficient techniques in the clan. The skill functioned by rhythmically sending strands of lightning throughout their bodies, before channeling the strands individually into their minds, allowing their mind to perceive everything slower than it was actually happening - kind of like a slow motion technique.

Even with their innate bloodline, the Krose clan members had to channel the strands of lightning in moderation. Too much lightning could cause severe drawbacks and in worst case scenarios, one may even fry their own body and mind internally.

Currently, Haz was utilizing said technique and rapidly enclosing the panther. While everything was moving fast in the perspective of others, his mind registered everything around him much slower.

Suddenly, blood spurted out of the tiger as two shallow, yet lethal, criss-cross cuts came into vision on the tiger's neck; the energy used to control the corpse leaked out rapidly from the carotid arteries, before it collapsed to the ground.

As the tiger wasn't living, the attack wouldn't have been lethal on normal occasions. Knowing this, Haz imbued lightning elemental energy into his daggers; the lightning traveled from the dagger into the corpse, dispersing all the energy that was being used to control the corpse throughout its body.

”Hmph! Too easy.” Haz spoke, manipulating his energy to clean the blood off of his daggers.

In comparison to Haz's battle with the tiger, Phu's battle against the ape was much simpler.

With each swing of his blade, Phu managed to get a clean slash on the ape. As he awaited his opportunity, he finally managed an attack which tipped the scale in his favor, taking off a limb and unbalancing the ape before finis.h.i.+ng the job.

While one couldn't outright kill a corpse, taking off a limb would cause much of the energy to dissipate, especially if the skill used to control the corpse was in an experimental stage or done with an intermediate grasp of the technique, or if the beast didn't have a lot of energy controlling it.

Against the wolf, Ichi wielded his large broadsword, taking a defensive posture rather than an offensive one. Unlike the others, Ichi held out while awaiting the arrival of the others, when suddenly an arrow found itself lodged in the back of the wolf's skull. Seeing an opportunity, Ichi slashed the corpse in half from the waist, ending his battle.

And then... there was s.h.i.+n; he was the muscle-head of the group. His battle was against the crocodile and rather than using a weapon, he fought with the power of pure muscles, packing his punches against the crocodile. As the crocodile attempted to bite down on his arm, s.h.i.+n grabbed its jaws, prying them open with a loud war cry.

”s.h.i.+n, we respect your ”hustle for the muscle” and all... but your battles just take too long.” Haz readied his daggers.

”Agreed, allow us to lend you a hand.” Phu also appeared, slowly unsheathing his blade.

Before they could move, a swoos.h.i.+ng sound followed their words as an arrow entered the crocodiles skull with a loud ”thunk,” piercing partly through its mouth, before lightning shot off the arrow tip into its body, brutally ripping apart the cells and organs inside its body.

”No! Every single time! I never get the chance to show you what these muscles can do, dammit all!” s.h.i.+n cried out, some even say his eyes were misty.

”Never mind, we were too late as always.” Haz re-slotted his two daggers in his tactical belt.

”Uh-hm. We'll get it next time.” Phu spoke, having not even managed to partially unsheathe his blade yet.

”Yeah, yeah, you said that last time as well. Tsyun always finishes his battle last, though he helps Ichi's and ends s.h.i.+n's before we can.” Haz shook his head, though his eyes blazed with the desire to succeed.

Tsyun was the last one battling; his fight was sure to end quickly based off of the group's unworried expressions, despite their haste to return to the village as soon as possible.

In the distance, Rentaro was marveled as Tsyun's grayish-blue hair blew in the wind, revealing his face for the first time. The first thing that stood out was a long row of st.i.tches, trailing from his forehead, down his nose, and across the left side of his face; and unlike the others, both of his eyes were st.i.tched closed.

Even with his eyes st.i.tched closed, every arrow was nocked and released with perfect timing, puncturing the bird's most vital points with the accuracy of a divine archer.