Before I proceeded to my next hunt, I decided to purchase some additional items from the Shop. I needed some potions that could be used in the middle of combat; the Greater Potions were now much too slow to be worth considering.

  With a sigh, I purchased 2 of them along with some extra Medium and Greater Potions. I didn’t think I’d need to use any of them in the upcoming battle, but it was good to have some on hand just in case.

  I also purchased a few support potions from the Auxiliary tab.

  I stowed the Swiftness Potion and 2 Mana Potions on my belt, and spent the rest of my points on a supply of light orbs. They’d proven quite useful as a momentary distraction against the Onisha due to the perpetual darkness of the Canopy. Perhaps they would save my life once more.

  Preparations now complete, I habitually checked the Nemesis marker. It still remained in the same place it had for the last couple days, not having moved an inch. Well, as long as it wasn’t moving towards me, that was good enough for me.

  I then checked the location marked by the Species tracker.... a full day’s travel away.

  It was fine however; I could use the extra time to continue practicing with the Leapfroggers and get more accustomed to the Onisha body.

  A shiver ran down my spine as I began to look forward to what I was about to do.

  ----------------------------------------------

  Travelling through the Canopy was mostly uneventful. Much of the forest had been eradicated of major life, with only insects and small rodents remaining. However, twice I came across a group of Tier 5 otherworlders on the way to the marker.

  I’d already long sensed their presence and their approximate stats by their gait and speed. They immediately raised their weapons and tensed up upon seeing me, but quickly ran upon sensing my intimidating presence.

  I merely watched as they went, not saying a word. I had no intention of killing them as long as they didn’t attack me first. Points were points, but it was a line I wouldn’t cross.

  Along the way, I used the surrounding trees as punching bags to help me calibrate control of my arms, leaving a wake of splintered trees. I had no formal training or experience of any kind, other than getting my ass kicked at the park by senior citizens, but it was better than nothing.

  Finally, after a short meal break and a nap, I arrived at a marshy, waterlogged swamp. The ground squelched beneath me as my feet slightly sank into the ground with every step. A thick fog of gas rose from the mixture of decomposing plants and fauna buried in the water.

  They were here; I could smell them. Their pungent breath, filled with decay and rot. Their fur, matted with dried blood and gore.

  The Lycophs were here.

  When I’d first arrived on Bellona, I’d been utterly helpless before them, only able to desperately run. Even now, a surge of fear ran through me when I remembered the Lycoph’s terrifying gaze as it devoured my arm.

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  But, no longer. The hunter would now become the hunted.

  Unlike when I had hunted the Talpiderys, I didn’t rush into battle. Individually, the Lycophs were already extremely dangerous, and were even more so as a pack. Most likely they had already caught my scent as well and were lying in wait.

  They wouldn’t be able to penetrate the mighty Onisha body, but a single blow to my vulnerable human head could spell my end.

  Hm. I’d have to force them out of hiding.

  With a surge of electricity, Storm Caller began to hum and flicker with light. Taking several paces back, I violently hurled the club deep into the swamp.

  BOOM!

  The entire swamp instantly ignited, causing a massive gas explosion that even I struggled to stay upright in. I remained unharmed, however, as I was well away from the blast zone.

  Howls of pain and confusion could be heard as dark figures darted out of the raging inferno.

  Covered in horrific burns and injuries, the Lycophs desperately tried to flee.

  Doesn’t feel so good to get ambushed, does it?

  With a single bound, I leapt over to my first prey, powerfully slamming my fist down into its head. Like a ripe watermelon, it immediately exploded into a cherry-colored mush with bits of grey matter mixed in.

  Ding!

  Without missing a beat, I immediately dashed over to my next victim, swiftly ending its life as well.

  As I watched the pack of Lycophs scurry away before me, like cockroaches fleeing the light, I couldn’t deny it.

  I was enjoying this.

  Every other fight I’d had was purely for survival, a desperate struggle to keep my world alive for even just one more day.

  But this.... this was pure vengeance. Pure wrath.

  I remembered the faces of those who had come here with me, still frozen in fear and shock as they lay there half eaten. The way the Lycophs had waited outside the Portal, ready to devour us the moment we stepped through. The unfairness of it all.

  A red haze descended over my vision as I succumbed to the rage. The Onisha’s body seemed to be influencing my thoughts, causing me to lose all reason and clarity.

  I roared to the heavens, as my mind became a blur. My fists swung in a whirlwind, as I no longer knew if what lay before me was beast or corpse.

  Over and over, I smashed. I crushed. I shredded.

  Kill. Kill everything that stands before you. Anything that dares defy you.

  For I am the mighty Oni-

  “............Master Adun, Master Adun! Please cease your efforts! The Lycoph before you has long expired. I suspect you are not in a normal state of mind currently, please regain control of yourself!”

  With a jolt, I jerked awake as Melchior’s voice pierced through the haze. Looking down on the ground, there was simply a giant puddle of blood with nothing remotely resembling a living being remaining.

  What...what had just happened? What had I done?

  No.... I had lost my sense of self. The instincts engraved within the Onisha’s flesh, its very essence, had taken control.

  For a moment there I had become the Onisha.

  Like I'd been drenched by a bucket of ice, a cold wave of fear washed over me. What if I'd lost myself completely? If Melchior didn't wake me up?

  Would I too, become a monster?

  I can never let that happen again.

  I must always remember. Who I am, what I am.

  What separates humans from beasts. The principles we must always uphold.

  Do not forget.

  --------------------------------------------------------

  The Lycoph frantically ran through the darkness, its heart pounding in fear.

  Behind it, it could hear the furious roar of something. The familiar scent of its packmates, one by one, began to disappear.

  Soon, it was the only one remaining.

  It had never felt such terror in its life, even when the blurry figures had appeared in the Canopy. What in the world was that thing?

  Its head and scent resembled that of the delicious Portal prey it had eaten the arm of, but the rest of it had been something entirely else.

  As it continued to run, the sounds of carnage gradually began to fade behind it until they completely disappeared.

  Yet, the Lycoph still ran without any signs of stopping, until its legs completely collapsed and it fell to the ground in a shivering mess.

  Surely it was safe now, right? It had run so far, there was no way that thing was still following it.

  It rested on the ground, slowly catching its breath. Yes, everything would be fine.

  First it would slowly recover here, then the next step would be to-

  “This is as far as you got? I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed.”

  A voice suddenly spoke from the shadows.

  The Lycoph’s heart seemed to stop.

  “Just like you gave me a chance to run back then, I gave you a chance to run too.”

  The voice revealed itself, as a colossal, grotesque figure emerged from the darkness.

  The figure grinned, its mouth splitting from side to side as it said:

  “Now we’re even.”