As Erik got closer to the cave, he began to move with more caution. As he approached the ominous darkness, he noticed that the air became denser and was tinged with a scent that felt more primal. Since he had been keeping an eye on the beast in recent days and was familiar with its routine, he was aware that it was currently resting in this location.
The cave's walls were uneven and rough, and there were ancient markings all over them from the passage of time.
Erik advanced further into the cavern while maintaining a firm hold on his weapon and a heightened awareness of his surroundings. His torch cast a dim glow that provided soft illumination, making the rocky landscape before him visible. He located an appropriate place and then methodically laid out pieces of the Shadowclaw's meat in the shape of a trail that led back toward the cave entrance.
After taking a few steps back, Erik observed his handiwork with a smirk of satisfaction gracing his features. The intoxicating aroma of the freshly prepared meat permeated the air, extending an invitation to the Ursolith that could not be refused. He withdrew to a safe distance and located a concealed vantage point from which he could monitor any movement in the area.
In a state of tense anticipation, the minutes ticked by until a low rumble echoed throughout the cave. As the massive form of the Ursolith emerged from the darkness, the ground trembled beneath Erik's feet as he stood there. The beast's formidable muscles rippled beneath the thick hide it wore, and its eyes shone with the gleam of a predator.
The Ursolith gave the air a whiff while keeping its attention fixed on the tantalizing scent of meat. It methodically approached the bait, its movements bearing witness to the raw power and instinctual capabilities it possessed.
While the thaid began to gorge itself on the meat, Erik silently readied himself for the impending fight, maintaining a laser-like concentration and an ironclad resolve throughout the process. The first thing he had to do, however, was to use the analysis power the biological supercomputer provided to understand what he was dealing with.
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-Name: Ursolith
-Brain Crystal Power: Bestial Roar
-Physical Characteristics: The Ursolith is a formidable bear-like thaid with a robust build, standing tall at around three meters. Its fur is thick and coarse, ranging in color from shades of brown to auburn, providing excellent camouflage in forested environments. Ursolith has a broad head adorned with large, sharp fangs and piercing yellow. Its muscular limbs end with formidable claws, ideal for climbing trees and digging.
-Ecology: Ursolith dwells in dense forests and mountainous regions, favoring areas abundant in vegetation and prey. It relies on its innate physical strength to hunt. The Ursolith's brain crystal power, Bestial Roar, emits powerful and terrifying vocalizations that can disorient and intimidate other creatures. Its roars can carry across vast distances, marking its territory and warning potential intruders of its presence. It is mainly used during battle to make the opponent unable to fight.
-Power Level: 191
-Approximate Strength: 95
-Approximate Intelligence: 3
-Approximate Dexterity: 73
-Approximate Energy: 400
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< That's good. I can almost match its strength by using the Xeridon Anteris's power. The problem is that my dexterity is half the beast's, meaning I will also need to resort to Nathaniel's power to face it head-on as I did with the Shadowclaw.>
In truth, the beasts had comparable statistics; however, the Shadowclaw possessed greater dexterity and energy, while its strength lacked by more than 15 points. This indicated that the Ursolith, despite its larger size, was superior to the Shadowclaw in terms of speed and strength. The fact that the bear-like Thaid engaged its opponents in direct combat as opposed to the Shadowclaw's style, which typically hunted by sneaking up on its prey, proved this. The Shadowclaw needed a higher level of dexterity to capture smaller but faster prey, something that the Ursolith didn't need.
As soon as Erik fully grasped his adversary's abilities, he began to channel mana. The young man planned to use the power granted to him by the Xeridon Anteris, which increased his strength by at least 30 points and brought him up to around 85 points, as well as the power granted to him by Nathaniel.
Simply put, he possessed the power of an MI-ranked individual while maintaining mostly even stats. That was a tremendous accomplishment; however, the problem was that those weren't really his stats, and once he reached Etrium, he had to refrain from using any other powers.
Nathaniel's was safe to use since it basically increased the power behind his attacks and the speed he could exert, but the others could be used only in case of emergency. Maybe he could use Hais's power since it only created a mana brain that aided him in multiple tasks and increased his intelligence passively, but aside from that, he didn't want to take unnecessary risks.
Erik experienced a surge in his strength as the mana was channeled through his neural links; however, this strength depended on Erik's mana reserves, of which he still possessed very little compared to his friends.
As the young man lunged forward, his muscles tensed, and he cut through the air with pinpoint accuracy using his blade. In the hopes of delivering a blow that would end the Ursolith's life, he delivered a swift and powerful blow to the thaid's most vulnerable part: its exposed neck. When it made contact with the thick hide, the blade cut cleanly through it, leaving a gaping wound in its wake.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR
Anguish and rage were mixed in the ear-splitting roar that the Ursolith let out. In a vain effort to fend off its assailant, the massive creature arched its back and slashed its claws through the air. Erik's reflexes kicked in, and he was able to avoid the creature's retaliatory strikes quickly.
The awakener evaluated the situation as the Ursolith thrashed around in agony, blood oozing from the wound on its neck. The injury was severe but not enough to bring down the beast. Erik was well aware that he needed to capitalize on his advantage and strike with accuracy.
As the Ursolith's pain began to lessen, its baser instincts took over, and it fixed its eyes on Erik with a vengeful intensity. Its eyes glowed with a fiery rage, the fury of a wounded predator seeking vengeance. Its fury was visible in its eyes. The features of the beast twisted into a twisted visage of wrath, and its gaping maw exposed rows of razor-sharp teeth stained with blood.
The Ursolith radiated a chilling aura, and its body trembled with the raw power and the natural instinct for violence it possessed. Its murderous glint cut through the shadows of the cavern, reflecting a ruthless and unyielding resolve.
The eyes of the creature appeared to shine with a light that came from another world; it was a fierce and savage light that conveyed the creature's insatiable desire for blood.
The Ursolith shifted its posture, its massive form towering over Erik in its new position. Every tendon and muscle in his body tensed up, getting ready to pounce with lethal accuracy. Its deadly muscles flexed, and its short tail swayed menacingly, indicating it was about to launch an attack. It seemed as though the beast's entire being radiated a palpable energy, one that was going to be used to kill.
At that very instant, Erik was able to feel the ruthless intent of the Ursolith and its determination to rip him apart and win the battle against him. The young man girded himself, meeting the gaze of the Ursolith with the same unwavering determination that was in the thaid's eyes.
The intensity of the clash of wills between man and beast reached a fever pitch, and the atmosphere crackled with an electric tension. The Ursolith's was one of dominance and primal fury, while Erik's burned with greed and excitement.
The stage was set for a battle that would decide the fate of both combatants, and the gravity of the situation hung heavily in the air as the combatants prepared for the fight.
At that precise instant, the beast's muscles contracted, winding themselves in a coil of mana as it readied itself to unleash the power of its brain crystal. Its massive chest heaved, sending a tremor through its frame as the air around it cracked with expectation. The unbridled rage raging inside was reflected in the eyes, which glowed with a wild glint.
Erik understood. "Fuck!"
ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR
With a thunderous eruption, the Ursolith released its bestial roar. The sound reverberated through the cave, shaking the very ground beneath Erik's feet. It was a terrifying display, an auditory assault piercing his eardrums and penetrating his core.
The force of the roar seemed to rattle Erik's bones, sending shivers down his spine. It was as if the very essence of the Ursolith's primal power had been unleashed in that sound, striking fear into the hearts of anyone who dared to defy it.
The sheer ferocity of the roar reverberated through the air, obliterating any other sounds that may have been present and dominating its surroundings with its sheer magnitude, which was amplified inside the cave.
Erik's instincts screamed at him to run as he was affected by the beast's brain crystal power to escape the overwhelming presence of the beast. It was as if every fiber in his being urged him to run away and find a way to survive in the face of this primal force.
Fearfully, Erik pushed his legs to get out of the cave in the space of a couple of seconds, his own cries of exertion barely audible amidst the thunderous roar of the Ursolith.
[DANGER: A FEAR STATUS HAS AFFECTED THE HOST. RELEASE OF CALMING SUBSTANCES INTO THE BRAIN IN 3...2...1]
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