Chapter 143: Fruit of Metamorphosis - II

The bear-like Beast Humans, whether male or female, had physiques like those of a strongman, with a burly, blocky torso, a broad back, and a chest that seemed to weigh them forward in an intimidating swagger. Their calves and forearms were exceptionally thick, as thick as Aventine’s body by themselves.

An A-Rank bear-like Beast Human was simply an exaggerated version of such strongmen, looking monstrous as they towered over their lower-ranked subordinates at a terrifying 4 meters tall.

However, their head was disproportionately small in comparison to the muscles and sinew that bolstered their body, as well as the tiny, borderline cute bear ears atop their head.

Aventine watched as a pair of A-Rank bear-like Beast Humans stomped forward and lowered their bodies. In perfect sync, they pulled their hands back, clad with bear fur and soft padding, and released a powerful slap.

—BOOM!

A bear palm struck the charging A-Rank Wisdom Boar on both sides, slamming him into the ground below its hooves.

Like two supersonic jets colliding, the air ruptured from the pressure difference. A pair of pressurized rings expanded, shattering glass and sending cracks coursing through the nearby buildings.

The aura of an A-Rank Dragonkin wafted over, mending the cracks in an instant, and an authoritative gaze observed the battlefield. Like a referee, the Dragonkin was watchful yet had clearly demarcated the boundaries of their control over the situation.

Seeing this, Aventine chuckled.

’Seems like they’ve increased the number of the Empire’s Guards...’

Without losing the combat-centered system of the City of Arenas, the Empire’s Guards were still capable of maintaining order. As long as the empire itself wasn’t being damaged, everything else was fair game.

—BOOM!

Thus, the bear-like Beast Human duo fought against the rampaging Wisdom Boar. Despite their coordination, the Wisdom Boar still had the upper hand, using a truly exquisite combination of Magic Spells and Martial Arts to erupt with unconventional movements and impossible maneuvers.

The two bear-like Beast Humans were giving their all in holding the Wisdom Boar back.

Alas...

’It should happen soon...’ Aventine’s eyes gleamed while he sat beneath the Fruit of Metamorphosis.

—VWHOOOOM!

—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Brawls and chaotic fights erupted everywhere, all at the same time. Ellea’s province found itself drowned in a war-like free-for-all.

Aventine’s <Power of Death> had suffused the air and infected <Fate> itself.

Knots and tangles appeared before his perception of <Fate>, each signifying a battle or a significant conflict of interest. Every node, in essence, was an accumulation of greed.

All of which... were subtly separated from the central tower. To those involved, it wasn’t obvious, preoccupied as they were with devouring others’ resources while protecting their own accumulations.

To onlookers, like the Empire’s Guards and those who had no need for small gains, it created an eerie sight.

Like a castle in the deep night, supposedly empty, yet constantly ringing with odd, off-key melodies.

It was as if the entire province had completely forgotten the existence of the Fruit of Metamorphosis. Compared to the illusory possibility of gambling one’s life for the sake of a single step towards evolution, the tangible benefits sitting right before them had suddenly grown much more alluring.

Still, there were those whose avaricious ambitions surpassed such small gains. Though they noticed the strange explosion of chaos everywhere save for the central tower, their minds couldn’t help but rationalize the experience.

After all, they understood what it was like to be weak, and thus, they were aware that not all opportunities were opportunities to be taken.

Thus, a clear group of unenchanted individuals emerged.

The select few who were sitting at the pinnacle of A-Rank, having no other way to advance other than Evolution. To them, there was nothing more valuable than the Fruit of Metamorphosis.

Their stimulated greed brought them forward all at the same time, like hungry sharks eyeing a giant slab of meat.

Seeing these faces and different races, a chuckle seemed to resound in reply.

’Good enough, I guess...’

With just the <Power of Death>, Aventine had effectively eliminated 99% of his enemies. Now, he just had to fight that 1% and grant them all a swift death.

His eyes, shining with a deep blue light that embraced the obsidian hues of his irises, turned to the side of the room.

"You’re not sneaky at all."

Aventine’s gaze dug into a minute fluctuation within the radiant light of the Fruit of Metamorphosis.

His lips curled into a smile.

And suddenly, he wasn’t there.

** *

Tanchi was the unwanted prodigy of the Elves, bearing a malignant talent for physical combat and Martial Arts.

Not a trace of magic talent pervaded her body, yet mana responded to her intentions better than any regular Mage out there. Mana never stopped flowing through her body, always strengthening her, and always keeping her safe.

It was her <Trait>, <Mana Circuit>, which should have made her an unbelievably powerful mage.

Alas, the hopes and dreams of her clan had been dashed when she underwent her first magic examination.

Her talent for Magic Spells... was nil.

And so, she was kicked out of the Endland Forest and forced to wander the world in loneliness.

She picked up Martial Arts as the years passed, and, through the ups and downs of life, learned the ways of the world.

It did not take long for Tanchi to realize that her talent for Martial Arts was unimaginably monstrous—so much so that she even scared herself at times.

Now that she was nearing adulthood as an Elf, she’d also finalized her abilities at the peak of A-Rank. All that was left now was to undergo Evolution to breach the world of S-Rank.

Alas, all High Elves were mages—whether as their main profession, or simply by virtue of their nature as Elves. Even those Elves who learned archery for most of their lives all dabbled in magic in one way or another, as archery already lends a lot towards the focus needed for spellcasting.

For Tanchi, becoming a High Elf... was a hopeless dream.

With her inability to cast magic, and her monstrous talent for Martial Arts, her only option, therefore, was the Fruit of Metamorphosis in Walvaskaz.

But that was another problem on its own.

When Ellea had governed this province, Tanchi had little to no hope of getting a bite of such treasures. Even at the peak of A-Rank, there were still differences between individuals—and such differences lay in compatibility.

Ellea was simply Tanchi’s perfect bane.

The ability of spatial magic and cloning made it so that Tanchi could never truly kill Ellea, no matter how fast she pummeled her way through Ellea’s clones.

Even if Tanchi somehow won... Ellea would still be alive and well, plotting for her downfall.

Thus, Tanchi had been shocked to find out that Ellea had been slain, and a new ruler had arrived.

For a moment, Tanchi had hope. Her heart blossomed with excitement, melting the wall of frustration that had buried her ambitions deep in her heart.

With this change in ownership, there was a possibility that her abilities could finally shine!

Thus, when the entire province went crazy with bloodlust and entered a frenzied melee...

Tanchi, instead of joining in the fray, concealed her aura and walked into the shadows, using her <Mana Circuit> to blend into the surrounding flow of energy and complement her Martial Arts.

With the right footwork, she bypassed the central tower’s walls, scaled its many flights of stairs... and arrived at the room where the Fruit of Metamorphosis shone in all its splendor.

A small gasp escaped her lips when she caught sight of the room on the topmost floor of the central tower. She froze, feeling her blood boiling in the satisfaction of success.

Her gaze had been drawn to the fruit’s resplendent visage the moment she arrived, pulling her mind into a trance.

She was so close...

"You’re not sneaky at all."

And yet so far.

The sudden voice shook her out of her trance. The heated sensation coursing through her veins turned ice cold as a chill ran up her spine.

Someone was looking straight at her, clearly having peered through all of her attempts to maintain stealth.

’Curse him!’

Tanchi thought that her moment of carelessness had likely released the aura she’d been so desperate to hide.

Her pointed ears turned red with embarrassment, but her blood had long begun to flow rapidly through her body.

She felt a harrowing threat emanating from the figure bathed in the resplendent light of the Fruit of Metamorphosis.

The individual wore a simple white shirt, bronze-trimmed leather tunic, and baggy pants secured with belts and pouches. He accessorized with a ruby ring on his left index finger and citrine earrings hanging from his ears. His outfit was quite casual and lacked weapons or armor, making him appear unprepared for combat.

Ah, no...

Tanchi’s eyes narrowed as she felt a lethal sharpness from the sheathed sword hanging at this individual’s waist.

’A human...’

The same human that had massacred the 16 Claws and decimated the White Roar Clan was now looking straight at her.

And then suddenly—

His figure vanished before her very eyes.

"Oh no—!"