" So, we're almost there, right?! "
" Just a bit further. You died there, you should know where it is. "
I hated how right Haruo had been, however, with how long we had been running...I felt like shit.
For the past three hours, going on four, we had been running at almost full speed. Unlike before when I used Organ-Strengthening, this took much longer. Due to the sheer amount of Aura I had and my efficiency at switching which leg I used Application on to boost my running speed, I had been carrying on just a bit in front of Code, being the second-fastest runner. RJ's longer legs and more experienced usage of Application allowed him to carry on ahead of me.
Santa was in the back. While they were keeping up, it seemed like their usage of Aura was severely lacking.
" Elves aren't good with Aura at all. Elves are what's known as 'Aura incompetent'. Despite their intense understanding of the Arcane arts and magic, they are physically worthless for the most part. "
" So Santa is special? "
" Considering they can even use Aura to run as fast as they are, yes. "
" Hey! We're here! "
Turning my head forward again, I saw RJ stop right in front of the entrance to the forest. He paused and looked up at the forest.
" This is where I met the first one. And where I awakened my Aura. "
By now the Killer Bear I killed would've been decomposed and nothing more than bones. That is if any scavengers haven't gotten to it.
" You really killed one on your own, huh? "
Santa asked. Their voice was soft yet had a resoluteness to it you'd find in a young boy.
" Yeah...It almost killed me though. I'm lucky to be alive. "
This wasn't completely wrong. It truly did kill Juri. But now that I live on as him, I suppose he hasn't truly died yet.
" Wow... "
Code walked towards the opening and into it.
" I'll lead the charge. RJ, you stay ahead of Juri. Juri you protect Santa. And of course, Santa provides support from the back. If we work smart, we'll clear the whole pack of 'em out by nightfall. "
" Right! "
RJ continued in front of me, clashing together his gauntlets as he enthusiastically followed behind Code.
" Come on, Santa. Let's not get left behind! "
I reached up to my back, drawing my sword from its sheath and flicking it downward. I wished desperately for a moment that I had two.
" Right... "
We walked steadily through the forest for what seemed to be only twenty minutes, however, in just that amount of time we found many signs that Killer Bears were abundant. RJ and Code managed to deduce that there had to be a minimum of eleven of them moving through the forest, all moving together. Some trees were pushed over and cracked at the base and flora was trampled to hell and back.
There had even been animals that were decomposing and rotting away after having chunks of them ripped out by claws and bites. The Killer Bears truly lived up to their ruthless name.
" How terrible...They aren't even eating them... "
Santa spoke up from behind me. It was quite gruesome. However, compared to being bathed in your blood, it wasn't that bad.
" Make sure you don't get left behind, alright? "
* CRASH—ROAR *
In the distance, we could see a tree coming down to its side. It caused a huge rumble in the ground beneath us, even almost knocking Santa over. I reached back and grabbed their hand, stopping them from tipping over completely. Afterward, the crashing tree had been followed by a beast's roar, filled with what could only be described as primal rage.
" They must be busy. Let's get ready for them. "
Code resolutely decided, taking us deeper into the forest to confront what could only be the monster-beasts.
Once they came into view, it was something to behold. The Killer Bears had started fighting amongst themselves it seemed. A few were already dead—out of the eleven that we suspected, there were only five left with six corpses nearby. They must've had some internal struggles within the pack.
" I didn't know monster-beasts could turn on each other... "
" There's a reason usually only one type of monster-beast inhabits a location. They are extremely territorial. And as they're born from negative emotions... "
RJ paused.
" They end up killing each other. But we can't let even one of them live. "
Code hopped over a fallen tree and rushed forward, swiftly drawing his spear from the holster that carried it along his back, flourishing the weapon and swiping it downward through the air, picking up a gust of wind as well as whirling his aura around. Combined his efforts allowed him to shoot debris from the tipped-over trees toward the monster-beasts, chunks flying and piercing into their hides.
" That kind of power is unreal... "
When Code and I had sparred earlier he hadn't used a lick of his actual power it seemed. We weren't allowed to use applications for any attacks so I couldn't see just how hard he could hit.
However, it was more than apparent from the warping mighty distinct blue Aura that wrapped around his body that what I would witness today would be a display of his real capabilities.
* ROAR *
Once one of the chunks of the tree had pierced into one of the Killer Bear's skulls, a deafening roar could be heard. The bear that had been previously roaring out and standing on its hind legs had now fallen to its knees, crumpling.
" Y-you killed it with just that? "
" Killer-Bears are strong...but I'm stronger. "
Code looked back toward both Santa and myself before turning around and standing with RJ.
" When you get better at it, you too will be able to do that. "
Haruo spoke up.
" How? "
" With enough experience in using applications, you can extend your Aura through your weapon and into other objects. All Code did was imbue his colored Aura into the debris and use the force of his weapon and strength to shoot it as a dense projectile. "
" You make it sound so simple... "
While Haruo spoke to me, Code and RJ had already dashed forward, engaging the remaining five Killer Bears. Juri had died killing just one and I wasn't too confident about personally fighting one myself.
However, if Juri could end his fight in a draw without Aura, I should have a better chance, right? That's how I thought about it anyway.
Following behind RJ, I watched as RJ had engaged two of the monster-beasts alone.
" I'll help! "
I was supposed to protect Santa, however, there was no way they'd end up in trouble when Code had been fighting three while RJ and I fought two.
" Sure! You should be able to handle one! I'll smash this guy to bits quickly and help! "
RJ's voice roared out to me as he used his giant strength without any Aura aiding him to draw his mighty war hammer and bring it overhead, slamming it downward toward the Killer Bear.
" Focus, Juri. "
I had gotten sucked into watching RJ fight that I had almost forgotten I too was beginning a battle. In front of me was a towering monster-beast. The Killer Bear that had been killed by the original Juri seemed much smaller than this.
" You're big... "
A smile crept up on my face.
" If I kill you...I'll be one step closer... "
My Aura began to seep from my pores. At first, a red color wrapped around my head, beginning to drift into the air as if it were steam coming from my body. However, it wasn't before long that a multitude of other colors began to cover my body. An iridescent hue surrounded me and my Aura began to explode in depth.
" Woah... "
A voice from behind me came out in awe.
" Juri, don't get carried away. You've got to keep enough energy to get back. "
Unlike before with the Code sparring match, I decided to open my ears to Haruo no matter how much I got wrapped up in the fight.
He is still my partner.
" Right. "
I took my stance, the same one Haruo drilled into me over and over again.
My blade lifted into the air and as it did, my Aura began to wrap around my arms and the blade. The application I had been using was made solely for cutting down enemies.
As I built up my Aura, the Killer Bear in front of me began to shake a bit. It was as if it could feel the enmity I had been releasing. Truth be told, I hated these bears. They had forced me to deal with such a gruesome sight as my first welcome to this new world.
The Killer Bear inched slightly closer before going into a full primal sprint toward me. However, I was already poised and ready. My blade lifted and with a roar, I raged.
" Get...LOST!! "
* SHINE—CRASH *
Something from deep within me welled up. As I brought down the blade, a wave of prismatic Aura flared out from my blade. This was the first time I had ever struck with the full force of my Aura while knowing what applications were. The wave of Aura engulfed the Killer Bear before dissipating slightly, leaving only a tangible divider between the monster-beast's eyes. It paused.
Silence overtook the area, even the others fighting paused.
Including the Killer Bears.
Before long, the one I had been fighting made a sickening sound.
* SPLIT *
The creature split in complete half. Its parts separated and a large gush of blood and severed guts fell from its innards. The bones had been split so clean that they didn't even come out from the insides.
" Insane... "
" What a beast... "
Both Code and RJ commented on the showing.
* STUMBLE—FALL *
My legs were shaking, the sheer surprise of what I had done getting to me. My Aura faded as I fell to my left knee, my sword stabbing into the ground to hold me up as I watched the halves of the bear fall apart.
" You went overboard, Juri. You put way too much force into it and now you're out of energy. "
" D-damn...I'm still...not used to controlling this power... "
" Just sit back, Juri! We'll handle the others! "
RJ tried comforting me but it honestly didn't register in my mind entirely. I had been sitting there now not because he told me to but because I could not get up. However, I was still able to watch the other two fight.
" Watch and learn, Juri. They'll show you how to wield your power. "
Code, up against three Killer Bears at once, was handling himself quite well. Considering the ones he had started fighting were already slightly injured due to their internal strife, he took advantage of that and used superior range with his spear to continuously stab at their weak points without getting too close.
Before long, he stepped in and hard down on the ground, thrusting his spear's tip with full extension toward the Killer Bear that was closest to him on all fours, attempting a charge.
The blade pierced its skull and as he withdrew the spear, bits of crushed skull and brain had come out with it.
For a moment the blue Aura that Code possessed wrapped around his right arm, the one holding the spear, and the spear itself. With a powerful switching motion, Code changed the orientation of the spear and used the blunt back end of it to strike the fresh corpse and send it flying toward the other two bears.
To prevent them from having a chance to attack, Code leaped into the air up above the creatures, obviously having used an application to increase his jumping power. Using both gravity and momentum, Code brought his spear down to stab into the throat of the next Killer Bear, crushing whatever sort of airways it had and killing it instantly.
" He's a monster... "
" It's experience. He knows the best way to use the beasts against each other and deal with them efficiently. "
Diverting my attention from Code, I looked to RJ. He had been much more sluggish in his movements against the Killer Bear, however, he was deliberate and disciplined. With his natural strength and Aura usage, he didn't even need an application to parry the attacks of the monster-beast with his war hammer. Each swipe made by the monstrous creature was immediately thwarted.
RJ took his blunt weapon and brought it down upon the Killer Bear's paws as they came in for another attack, crushing them and pinning its arms down to the ground, forcing it on all fours in clearly agonizing pain, evident by its roars of despair.
* CRASH—CRUNCH *
With his gauntlets, Aura began to wrap around RJ. It had been a violet hue, deep and rich.
" RJ is most comfortable with gauntlets? "
" Well, from what I can see, it's more like he excels with them. "
RJ's fist flew out toward the Killer Bear he had been fighting, his gauntlet meeting the head of the monster-beast before—
* CRUSH—SNAP *
The collision of the gauntlet and the skull made for a deafening crushing sound. The neck of the Killer Bear had been snapped instantly.
" Whew! Easy victory. "
RJ lifted his war hammer, situating it on his back before turning back toward me, and giving me a thumbs up.
" You guys...are insane. "
CHAPTER 17 END