Unless food was heavily scarce, the blue cored mountain Lion would not sink its teeth in a human flesh.
It was just that picky a eater.
For this reason, even though there were a few of them around, the villagers never had to bother about them.
For this nearly barbaric people, the balance of living with nature was a skill they excelled exceptionally at.
However, today was different. For some reason that they could not understand or comprehend, this creature that mostly never left it's territory had come down to devour 'Ants'.
As it raced towards the chief's home, it sliced any that obstructed it's path, dicing them like an impressive chef working on onions.
Every swing of it's claws was met by the slicing of flesh and bones like it was cutting through mud.
In it's eyes was an indifferent approach to the death of human beings.
The chief and the known strong men of the village hurried forward.
They activated their Aura energies as they engaged fiercely in battle.
Their weapons were a bit crude, but any thing that was made from Vasma steel ore was not ordinary.
Transferring their aura energy into their blades, they struck the flesh of the beast.
*Bam!* Bam*
Making cuts was not easy because of the fur but slight marks started to appear on its skin.
Abilities flared the air as they struck upon the body the blue cored mountain Lion.
The assault infuriated the beast even more, and for the first time since it's arrival, it activated its own ability.
The center of it's head shone a bright blue light and then it ROARED to the sky.
Instantly, energy waves like a stone thrown in a pool went about its body and in all directions.
This sudden wave.
Slammed into everyone struggling with it and they were blasted away.
This action saw that many became injured.
Some crashed into houses, some on each other.
One man accidentally fell on another man's spear.
In this manner, that unlucky man died.
Many wailed and screamed in pain.
But there was no one to come and help them.
The blue core mountain Lion roared to the sky, and fear filled the hearts of everyone.
The chief, a man that looked to be in his late forties could not help but groan at this.
"What happened, who was it that vexed a blue core mountain Lion? Damn it! We are all finished."
Meanwhile, inside his home, he did not know that Claudia was hiding and shivering in fear by a corner with a coat of skin that belonged to a blue core mountain Lion.
Just opposite her was Ralph also hiding in fear.
"Shit! Shit!! Shit!!!" Ralph cursed. He could not help but be filled with regret for what was happening.
After all, the chief and the other men might not know, but he knew. He knew why the beast was hunting him as it did.
He could not help but dread the fate he had strolled into.
He raised his head a little to the sight of Claudia squeezing the coat where she was.
He frowned tightly, "It is all her fault. It is this useless woman's fault!" He told himself. And in this moment, he could not help but remember what had led to all this....
.....
The day had began like any other, or rather, like most.
He and his other pals together with Claudia had gone hunting for cored beasts.
It was the same route they had taken. The same route they had always taken.
This was through old Magi's farm.
For some reason, the cored beasts were always easier to find along these parts.
Ralph could also show off his strength to his colleagues by wrestling the cored beasts.
As one would expect, Chiron known by his alias Igbi followed along to gather firewood
Ralph had already fought a green cored mountain goat.
The fight had not been easy but with his friends, it was not so difficult.
Normally, this would have been enough however, at the exact moment they were done, Chiron ran through their midst down the hill.
He looked a bit panicked.
Ralph and the others saw this. Instantly, they did not ask questions and followed him down.
When Chiron finally stopped at the foot of the mountain to catch his breath, Ralph asked what was going on.
"There is a beast up there. A very scary beast!" Those were the only words Chiron had replied with.
"What kind of beast?" Ralph asked.
"I don't know, but even you cannot defeat such a cored beast."
Those words were subtle. However, the manner by which they were spoken and the moment they were spoken couldn't have had a worse timing for someone whose ego was very inflated.
Ralph instantly saw it as an insult.
He grabbed Chiron by the chest, and wanted to slap him, but as one would expect, Claudia stepped in front, pushing Chiron away from Ralph's grip.
"Igbi has done nothing wrong. All he did was run from a core beast. Why do you have to hit him everytime."
Those words yet again fueled Ralph's anger.
Chiron on the ground looked to be in a panic. However, no one noticed the smile at the side of his lips.
He knew that his words wounded Ralph's ego.
And that injury was further opened up by the fact that his friends were around to hear it.
An insult to his person.
After all, these were people he considered himself to be better than.
However, Chiron was not done.
He decided to give Ralph's ego a little more push for the price.
"But it's true. I have not said anything wrong. Even if it's you, the strongest man, you will die."
Instantly, it was as if a vein wanted to pop on his head.
He looked around, and was surprised to see the look of doubt that those around him gave. After all, he had always proven that there was nothing he could not do.
Ralph felt very challenged, and he felt the need to go up against this challenge.
Like any man that wanted to prove a point, he turned and headed straight for the mountain...
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