Clink-
The Monster's eyes widened with confusion, as the Dark Corrupting Spear came into contact with the ground.
'Disappeared...' It clenched its teeth. 'Again.'
Its claws extended as it looked around, eyes burning with rage.
Where would Yarnha reappear this time?
The Monster's wrath filled it with impatience.
The muscles below the white scales contracted, and the Dark Corrupting Spear was thrown towards the nearest tree.
Mark's eyes did not stop moving.
As the Dark Corrupting Spear approached the trunk, he kept looking for Yarnha.
'Where...?'
The tree was pierced through. The dark weapon remained on its way and trajectory, piercing through both air and trees alike.
"YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME!! WHERE ARE YOU?? I'LL KILL YOU NO MATTER WHAT! DON'T THINK YOU CAN RUN AWAY! I WON'T LET YOU! Not this... NOT THIS TIME!!" Mark shouted at the top of his lungs.
Realizing that eyes weren't enough, his feet started moving.
"Where... Are you hiding-"
Mark stopped abruptly.
He raised his gaze slightly.
"Fuck... Fuck..." Mark whispered.
This can only take place during the night, probably-
"FUUUUCK!!" The Monster shouted as it slammed its fists on the ground below.
Dawn had come.
...
Shivering with pent-up anger, Mark remained unmoving for a while.
With his fists against the ground, he remained.
"Don't think... You got away with it..."
A mighty roar resonated throughout the Forest.
"I'll destroy it. This whole Forest. By night, you won't find anything but ash and cinders. I'll turn this whole place into..."
The Monster slowly straightened his body.
"The fire... Is already spreading. I'll turn this whole place into-"
Suddenly, Mark's body froze.
Something had moved.
Something on which he could take out his anger.
A fight to make him forget that anger.
A fight in which he could lose himself.
He turned around hurriedly, and they locked eyes.
Surrounded by burning trees, it stood.
Its dark pelt, which would have been impossible to notice in the darkness, had been brought to the light by the flames dancing around and illuminating the area.
The two locked eyes.
Its red pupils stared at Mark.
"Li...?"
The two remained unmoving.
Even the one surrounded by the flames didn't dare move.
Was it out of fear, or was it...?
'Move... MOVE!' Mark ordered telepathically.
But it didn't obey the order.
Could it be?
Did gaining the ability to talk take away Mark's ability to telepathically order his...?
The Wolf, whose body was covered by a pelt dark as night, didn't move one bit.
Its eyes did not leave the white-scaled Monster.
Even when a burning tree, a dozen steps away, started falling, the Wolf did not move.
Even though the burning trunk was making its descent towards its body, the Wolf did not move.
"MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" Mark shouted as he started moving forward.
Wind Blast-
In less than a second, the Monster had crossed the distance.
Grunt-
'Heavy...'
His left elbow bent, Mark stopped the burning trunk's descent with his forearm.
"Move out of the-"
Drop-
Drop-
Mark's wide eyes slowly moved away from the burning trunk, and towards the right hand that he let hang by his side.
Grrr-
The Wolf growled, with its fangs piercing the scales that covered Mark's hand.
The latter moved that hand, forcing the Beast's jaw open.
The next second, the sound of footsteps resonated.
Whimper-
Growl-
Whimper-
Mark's gaze slowly moved to the side, which seemed to render the Beast's growling more menacing.
A second Wolf, very similar to the one biting his hand, stared at the scene.
The Monster's eyes moved back and forth from one to the other.
Whimper-
Whimper-
Behind the second Beast, stood three pups. The three, as one might expect, could hardly be described as Beasts.
With a push, the Monster threw the burning tree trunk to the side.
It stared for a bit longer, before extending its left hand towards the biting Wolf.
Its snout was grabbed, and Mark brought his face closer to the red pupils that reflected the flames around.
Closer to the pupils that reflected a Monster surrounded by flames.
"Get out of here." Mark ordered.
Slowly, the Beast relaxed its jaw.
Seconds later, Mark was left alone.
He turned around, and stared at the flames.
At the burning Forest.
After extending a hand forward, the flames that were eating away at the wood and leaves started dancing.
As if the flames were streams of water, they flowed and moved toward the source.
Unsure what to do with the Fire, the Monster thought about Devouring it.
[You have acquired the Magic Skill: "Fire Absorption[C]".]
[The Magic Skill enables the User to convert flames into Mana.]
[The higher the Magic Skill's Rank, the more efficient the Skill becomes.]
[Your Magic Skill "Fire Absorption[C]" is resonating with your Passive Skill "Fire Resistance[B]".]
[Your Magic Skill "Fire Absorption[C]" is resonating with your Passive Skill "Fire Hide [D-]".]
[Your Magic Skill "Fire Absorption[C]" is resonating with your Magic Skill "Fire Control[B]".]
[Your Magic Skill "Fire Absorption[C]" is resonating with your Magic Skill "Flame Of Chaos[B]".]
[Your Magic Skill "Fire Absorption[C]" is Evolving!]
[Your Passive Skill "Fire Hide[D-]" is Evolving!]
[Your Passive Skill "Fire Resistance[B]" is Evolving!]
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" speeds up your Skills' Evolution!]
[Your Title "Devourer" watches over your Skills' Evolution.]
'...?'
Perplexed, Mark stared at the messages.
'Absorbing... That's not something I could do before, I'm pretty sure.'
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" congratulates you!]
[Your Title "Devourer" laughs and says that it's not too bad.]
'Right.' Mark chuckled.
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" says that this one will take a while.]
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" reassures you that it will work its hardest!]
'Yes sir please do.'
Thinking that his answer was ridiculous, the Monster let out a laugh.
It walked for a couple of minutes before,
'The way Yarnha had opened... The trees still show the path.'
Mark stood in front of the way that had been left open for him.
He clenched his fists and turned around for a bit.
"I'll be back for you." The Monster asserted.
It stood a couple of seconds, before walking away.
'I need... To get back to them.'
Mark stumbled, and fell to the ground.
Still, he continued on his way.
