65 Trying out the art
Atticus returned to his room after training, taking a refreshing shower before deciding to rest for a while. A few hours later, he woke up, feeling recharged, and made his way to the Beast Division.
The day before, Atticus had sent a message to Hella through his device, expressing his desire to hunt alone from now on. Knowing Atticus's strength, Hella readily agreed.
While any trainee could apply to hunt alone, permission to hunt without a squad was typically for more experienced second and third-year trainees. No one expected a first-year to go solo.
He entered the Beast Division and exchanged a brief greeting with Bella at the counter. Then, he proceeded to the mission wall in the second floor.
Today, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that there were no useless situation to contend with.
Without delay, Atticus selected a mission. He was restricted to hunting only intermediate- level beasts, a precaution taken due to his status as a first-year. This restriction wouldn't apply if he were hunting with a squad.
With his gear on, he left the Beast Division and headed toward the South gate. He scanned his device, and the gate slid open. Stepping outside, he used the device for navigation and swiftly set off toward his designated hunting area.
Atticus moved with an uncanny swiftness through the forest, surpassing his typical pace when he was with his teammates. It was as if his katana could sense his excitement, vibrating with anticipation.
The forest yielded effortlessly before him, the breeze caressed his face, and the gentle rustling of leaves provided a soothing backdrop. In this moment, he drew in a deep breath, savoring the sensation.
For the first time since his reincarnation, he felt truly free, unshackled from Arya's constant companionship or Anastasia's watchful eye. Alone in the forest, he experienced a profound sense of renewal.
As Atticus continued to navigate the terrain, guided by his device's directions, his heightened senses detected movement up ahead. He swiftly stopped, taking cover behind a tree and cautiously surveyed the scene below.
Before him, a pack of imposing wolf like creatures came into view – Horned Lupinors. These creatures were renowned for their formidable presence, characterized by sleek, obsidian-black fur coats.
They boasted an array of distinctive features, including razor-sharp claws, massive fangs protruding from their mouths, and gracefully curved horns adorning their heads. These horns were not just for show; their length and complexity served as visual indicators of a Lupinor's age and rank. 10:15
indicators of a Lupinor's age and rank. Observing the Lupinors below, Atticus noted that each one sported relatively short horns, 'All intermediate- huh,' he identified. 'This will end easily with my katana. It's a great opportunity to try out the art,' he decided, choosing to rely solely on the Elemental Mimicry technique for this battle.
He closed his eyes and focused inwardly, stimulating the fire element with his mana. Then, he moved it around his body. The process was slightly faster and less painful than yesterday.
Getting used to the feeling, he came out of hiding and dashed towards the Lupinor. Atticus's movements were flickering and agile. He burst forward in a blaze of motion, closing the distance with astonishing swiftness.
His approach wasn't subtle, to say the least. The Lupinors spotted him immediately, reacting swiftly. They each stood up and started growling, revealing their fangs.
Undeterred, Atticus zeroed in on one of them. With a burst of movement, he jumped with a spinning kick that hit the Lupinor's neck with an explosive impact. The neck broke immediately under the force of the kick, leaving a burning mark.
The force sent the Lupinor hurtling through the air, crashing into a tree.
As Atticus was in the air, another Lupinor used the opportunity and lunged at him with its razor-sharp claws.
The day before, while Atticus was experimenting and training, he made an astonishing discovery that excited him about the possibilities.
While using the Elemental Mimicry art, he could still utilize his bloodline elements, but this was, for now limited to the element he was mimicking.
Atticus raised his hands up, focusing on the fire element, and released a burst of fire from his palms, propelling him downwards effectively evading the Lupinor's attack.
Without missing a beat, Atticus pointed his arms downwards and released another burst, propelling him upwards towards the airborne Lupinor.
He used his knees to strike the Lupinor in the belly with an explosive force, knocking the air out of its body. The impact sent it hurtling upward through the air.
The remaining Lupinors, seeing that Atticus wasn't an easy prey, began to circle him, their eyes filled with wariness as they sought an opportunity to attack.
Atticus, realizing their cautious approach, decided to quickly try out another element. 'Let's try air,' he decided.
He abruptly ceased circulating the elemental mixture and attempted to stimulate the air element and his mana.
However, this brief distraction was precisely what the Lupinors needed. In a sudden and coordinated strike, one of them lunged at him with its claws, thinking of catching him off guard.
Atticus, of course, with his higher rank and heighten perception, caught its movement. But, curious about the strength of his protective suit, he used his arms to block. 'Why do I feel like this is a stupid idea,' he felt a sense of foreboding.
Then as if a hot knife were cutting through butter, the Lupinor's claws effortlessly tore through the suit. Reacting with lightning speed, Atticus managed to save his arm from being amputated, but he couldn't escape without injury. Three deep claw marks now adorned his arm.
'Fuck!' Atticus screamed inwardly. This was the first time he had been so grievously injured. While he had endured tough training and taken his fair share of beatings from Sirius, this kind of pain was in a league of its own.
He could even see his bones through the wound. 'That was close. What a completely useless suit!' he couldn't help but think.
With haste, he retrieved a health potion from his storage ring and consumed it, all the while keeping his full attention on the circling wolves. He immediately felt the changes as the wound on his arm closed at a pace even the naked eye could perceive. As he healed, Atticus stared at the Lupinors, his voice filled with chilling intensity. "You're all dead," he declared.
Then, he stimulated his air bloodline and mana together, seamlessly controlling the air element around his body. And in an instant, he disappeared.
Immediately, he reappeared directly in front of one Lupinor, delivering a ferocious uppercut kick to its jaw from below. The force was overwhelming, and the Lupinor's jaw shattered with a sickening crunch.
Then, like a phantom, he vanished and reappeared in front of the other Lupinors, dispatching them with brutal efficiency. After a few seconds, only Atticus remained, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of the Lupinors.
'I'm loving this art,' he said with a triumphant smile.
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