Chapter 261: First One Down (1/2)

Ellie was quick to access her enhanced form. Her arms and legs grew bigger and stronger, while patches of fur appeared on them. Her canines emerged out of her mouth, as they grew a little too much. Her aura explosion caused the ground to shake, and her QI made the small rocks levitate all around her.

Ariana's face remained still, a look of shock painted over her visage. She had fought hundreds of beastmen before, but never did any of them show this kind of power. It was simply unfathomable for her, how a weakling (in her eyes) managed to do something even the strongest of her race struggled to do. However, her shock didn't end there, as the transformed Ellie disappeared from her position, only to appear in front of Ariana a moment later. A swipe with her gauntlets and the ground was gouged out.

”What a frightful power-up,” said Ariana while hovering in the air. ”The little kitten turned feral!”

”Is it okay?” a peaceful voice, which seemed to hum, called out to Ariana, ”Is it okay for you to keep playing around like this?”

Similarly, a figure appeared next to Ariana in the sky. Except for this time, it wasn't a normal sized figure, but a gigantic one. Made entirely out of rocks, a golem, several tens of meters tall, swiped toward Ariana as if she was an annoying fly, which caused her to shoot straight to the ground.

”YOU! You weren't around here, how did you appear out of nowhere?!” she bellowed, as she gazed upon the figure sitting on the Golem's shoulder, Stephanie.

”I don't have any obligation to tell,” Stephanie said, ”but you are too laid back, you do know that we used a similar tactic in the Bloody war, right? Well, nothing too important. You're still not paying any attention, you know.”

Ariana turned back immediately, and her face froze once again. In front of her, Eric had turned into an entirely different being. His skin was cracked, and green lines traveled all over his body. His QI oozed out of his body, and he exuded an aura of overwhelming power.

”Aiyah, your face tells me that you can't believe what's happening. What, never thought we could have hidden powers?” Eric asked, and his face turned emotionless...serious. ”You should have known we wouldn't be pushovers!”

He swung his sword upwards, and the air separating him and Ariana broke into two. Her shoulder burst open, and blood flowed. Her scream came delayed, as she realized what had happened too late. Perhaps, she felt the looming danger, so she decided to summon her own Avatar.

A gigantic beast, rivaling the golem in height, appeared behind her. Black purple fur, thick, and harder than steel covered all of its body, including its face. Horn like red growth emerged out of its head, and its two red eyes shone even under the daylight. It roared, as it realized that its master's enemies were threatening her, and swiped down on them with its gigantic palm. But, before it could hit them, it was stopped by Stephanie's Golem.

”Everyone, leave this to me! You focus on her!” she announced, as she turned her focus back to the Avatar.

”You little brats...” Ariana struck the ground multiple times with her whip.

”Oh, are you finally annoyed? Will you be taking things more seriously now?” Eric taunted her with his words but didn't seem to be taking any effect on her. ”Nothing, huh? Then it really is serious.”

He rushed forward and slashed towards Ariana, but was blocked as she pulled her whip using both of her hands, increasing its elasticity. She quickly counterattacked, and a flaming snake emerged out of her whip. Upon making contact with Eric's body, however, it started to rotate around him at an astonishing speed, and in two seconds, the flames were no more.

”Rotating wind, I see. Anything that comes into contact with you, is actually hitting a wind barrier” said Ariana.

”Exactly,” affirmed Eric, ”it's like a miniature Wind Wall.”

Ellie appeared behind Ariana and struck at her with a closed flaming fist, but the latter managed to dodge just in time. The three continued to attack and dodge, none of them taking the chance of attacking more than once before disappearing away. However, Ariana was injured by a light that hit her uninjured shoulder. She looked over, and there to behold was Alicia.

”You!” she said, ”You can transform as well?! What is up with you bastards and transformations?!”