Chapter 8 DANGER BEASTS
In a further part of the forest, three Knights where riding on horse back while a squire pulled a carriage, well, what's left of the carriage, behind them.
The top part of the carriage was blown off, make it look like a rickety cart.
Sylver sat on the left side with eyes closed and arms folded as if meditating, the boys stayed at the right, staring at her in dread. Luckily, two of them where in one piece, while the other...not so much.
Billy sat with eyes closed and body writhing in pain. One of his eyes, swollen with burst lips and sore cheek.
He had received a short but heavy beating from the little girl that wasn't so little in his eyes anymore.
Sylver had completely over powered him in strength even when he tried to fight back, she was a monster. He still struggled to grasp the reason of her sudden out burst on him.
"Damn it" He cursed silently.
The carriage.... now a cart suddenly stopped, behind the knights who had also stopped.
"Come out you brats, if you have energy for your little fight then you better have energy for this one!" Barron's voice suddenly bombard their ears.
The kids quickly jumped off the cart and lined up before Barron who was jumping off his horse.
"How can he be so loud"
Lan muttered under his breath
"You go something to say tall brat" Barron glared.
"No Sir!"
"Good, there's a danger beast up ahead and blocking our path....
The boys eyes widen
... go slay it and try not to get eaten"
Barron ordered.
Lan choked on air.
Bryon looked at his brother before speaking
"But sir, we've never encountered a danger beast before"
"And we're not trained for it" Billy added.
Barron glared at them
"Your training began the moment you stepped out of your village. Plus this will help you brats gain experience"
"Don't worry.." Wilfred said walking towards them "Slade will be close by in case something happens. Also it's just a secondary ranked beast, so you should be fine, that is if you work well together"
"We haven't even seen a basic rank yet, but we get to fight a higher one" Lan shoulders dropped.
Barron eyes glowed
"If I hear any more complaints from you spineless brats" he growled "I'll forcefully implant you a new spine"
"Yes sir!!! " they echoed
"You might wanna hurry up" Wifred said "before she kills it herself "
He pointed at Sylver who had already gone deeper into the forest path.
Their eyes widen
"Or she gets herself killed instead" Billy scoffed
"I didn't even know when she moved" Lan said they stared at her small figure ahead.
"At least she has more balls than you brats" Barron let out a chuckle "Follow her lead, she's your new Captain now. Now go!!!!"
The boys quickly rushed towards Sylver, hoping to escape from more of Barron's barks.
Sylver took steady steps towards the direction of the beast, her boots barely making any sound on the rough and dry grass.
She spotted the beast ahead and studied it.
It was a lizard. Not just the ordinary ones, this one was massive with jaws wide enough to swallow a man whole. It had black shinny scales that reflected the moon light, deadly sharp claws and fangs, with spikes that ran from it back to the tip of the tail. What made it stand out was the long horn projecting from it's forehead.
"Damn" Lan whispered, standing really close to Sylver "That's a Horned lizard" he added
"How did you know that?" Bryon asked
"I read about it in a big book I found in my parents room. It talked about danger beasts so I strangely too a liking for it" Lan explain.
"Did the book tell you it's weak spots and how to kill it? Billy asked.
"Technically, all danger beasts possess a single core inside their chest know as beast crystals, if we can take it out, then the beast will die" Lan replied.
"Wow, so you just expect us to walk towards a danger beast and be like 'hey there, can I have your core, it's right inside your chest' " Bryon snapped.
"Hey, at least I helped a little by giving information" Lan rolled his eyes.
Sylver rolled her eyes, obviously tired of the boys pestering voices.She straightened her shoulder and began to advance towards the beast.
"Hey, what are you...." Billy paused.
The Horned lizard suddenly snapped it's eyes open when it felt the presence of someone nearby. It stood, glared and bared it's fangs at Sylver, who had disturbed it's nap.
Sylver stopped some distance away and eyed the beast, her body already emmiting silver energy. Just as the beast was about to lunge forward, she snapped her glowing fingers, then suddenly.....
BANG
A large turtle shell in a form of a dome, appeared above the lizard and slammed downward with speed, covering and trapping the beast inside.
The boys eyes widen, except for Bryon who shivered slightly.
The Horned lizard roared, slashing and smacking the shell , trying to escape, but it was sturdy.
Sylver stretched out her hand and a flow of energy began to flow from the shell to her body. The beast roared and shook for some time, then slowly went limp.
Few seconds later, the dome shell went up, shrinked down to the size of a shield and flew to Sylver's hand.
She turned to face the boys, then walked away with indifference.
They were shocked
"What was that?" Lan whispered
"She used that skill on me couple of weeks ago" Bryon breathed out
"Wait what!" Billy faced him "Is that the reason you're scared of her"
Bryon hated to admit it, but he nodded a yes.
"Luckily she held back and I didn't die, that" He pointed at beast.
It was dead. It's once black scale was now pale as grey and the life in its eyes were drained of color.
"She's just twelve years old, but she's far from our reach. She's prove that we can grow stronger too, let's hope we catch up"
With that, he left.
Billy thought for a while, then followed behind Bryon
"Get the beast crystal" he voiced out
"Come on, why do I have to do the dirty work " Lan groaned.
***********
Danger beasts are evolution of regular creatures.
With the infinite amount of spirit energy in the atmosphere, a regular animal can unconsciously absorb it their system, there by form a beast core know as beast crystal, and they evolve in to monstrous beast.
Yet not all danger beasts have the same amount of strength after having being studied over the years and grouped in specific order.
C_CLASS involves:
Basic Rank
Secondary Rank
Advanced Rank
Danger beasts are known to evolve from rank to rank by consuming the body and crystals of other beast. Of course, they prefer to eat humans and Beast Masters more cause they possess pure spirit energy and cores.
The first three rank of danger beasts where known to act on primal instincts only, for survival and hunting. Of course they're also ranks higher.
B_CLASS involves:
Magical Rank
Cursed Rank
Demon Rank
This three ranks are known to possess intelligence and abilities similar to having powers. And of course, there are other higher rankings as well.
X_CLASS involves;
Demi-god Rank
Devil Rank
God Rank
These are the deadliest of them all.
They are known to possess similar body structures to that of a man, and greater level of intelligence and abilities.
Some may even speak.
If they want.
*********
The kids sat around a campfire as they learn about the Danger beasts from Wilfred...while eating roast meat.
At a conner, the dead Horned lizard had be sliced and dissected for it's meat, which was now being roasted at the campfire.
Barron laid beside his horse, seemingly asleep, and Slade stood guard by a tree truck.
" Have you ever seen a Demi god beast before?"
Lan asked taking another bite of the meat in his hands.
"Hell no!!"
Wifred laughed "with my level of cultivation, I'll die at first sight. That is if I even get a sight of it. Beasts of the X Class are known to emmit deadly auras. It's like a dark and gloomy presence that follows them"
"Just like sir Barron" Lan whispered to Billy.
Wifred chuckled "You're a funny kid you know. Anymore questions?"
"What are the levels of power of a Beast Master"
Billy suddenly asked.
The question made the other boys ears perked.
Slyver raised her head slightly.
"Wow, even the little girl is interested"
Wifred laughed
"Sorry kids, I'll save that topic for when we get to our destination "
He stood up and stretched
"Wait, what about spirit energy, where did it come from, it gotta have an origin right?"
Bryon asked.
"Yes it does. Get some rest, tomorrow is another day" With that, he walked away.
The kids glanced at each other, then laid on the bare grass.
"I'm strangely feeling excited" Lan whispered
"Go to sleep dude"
Sylver stared at the campfire, her eyes were distant, obviously deep in thought.
TBC