The wolf beast prowled forward, slow and deliberate, radiating confidence. It wasn't just moving in for the kill - it was gauging him, its slitted yellow eyes gleaming with calculation.
Kai stood his ground, panting, his body drenched in a mix of wolf blood and his own. The coppery scent filled the cold air, thick and suffocating. The carcasses of its pack littered the ground, torn apart in a brutal display of his ability. Yet the beast didn't seem enraged.
It had been testing him. Using the wolves to study his movents. To tire him out.
Kai's muscles ached, his limbs feeling heavier than before. His wounds had mostly sealed, but the repeated healing had drained him. He could feel it - his strength was slipping, piece by piece, with every drop of blood he'd lost.
Then, he noticed sothing else.
Drip.
Wherever the beast's saliva touched the earth, the ground sizzled and burned.
'Tch. Acidic drool? That's just great.'
This thing was different. Stronger. Smarter. And far more dangerous than the monster he had fought in the park.
'Raging Threat... definitely a C-Rank. Maybe even bordering on higher.'
A flicker of curiosity crossed his mind.
'What Rank Mutant would I be?'
His power was growing by the day, but he still didn't know his limits. He wasn't at the upper end of the ranking - not even close. Soone like Nadya or Sven would tear through a beast like this with ease. And Takeshi? That guy was on a whole different level.
Then there were mutants like Hyperion, the flying 'hero' he'd seen on the news.
How long until he could compare to such mutants, if that was even possible?
Kai exhaled, refocusing.
'Alright. If I take this thing down, that ans I'm at least C-Rank by Association standards. Mid-tier to start with. Not bad.'
His main priority was obviously survival.
But running wasn't an option. The beast was faster - he could tell just by the way it moved, muscles coiled like springs beneath its thick fur. The second he turned his back, it would be over.
The fight was unavoidable, so there was no point in overthinking or hesitating.
Kai cracked his neck and clenched his fists. His eyes flicked to the pools of blood scattered around him.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Thanks for letting prepare this wolf blood," he said casually, as if the beast could understand him. Then again, at this point, he wouldn't be surprised if it did.
The beast's growl rumbled through the air, a low, guttural warning. Its acidic drool dripped steadily as it glared at Kai. But beyond the aggression in its eyes, there was sothing else - sothing unsettling.
Curiosity.
It was circling him now, slow and predatory, waiting for an opening.
Kai shifted his stance, his heartbeat steady despite the tension clawing at the edges of his mind. His focus locked onto the blood around him.
'Let's see who's the real predator here.'
-
Blood slithered across the ground like living tendrils, twisting and coiling under Kai's control as he lashed them toward the beast. The crimson chains shot forward, aiming to ensnare its limbs before it could lunge.
Kai's mastery of his ability was sharpening with every battle. It wasn't just instinct - it was his adaptability, his keen perception, the way he analysed and refined his techniques in real-ti.
Most mutants took weeks, months, even years to develop. The widely accepted theory of Mutant Maturity dictated that powers grew stronger with use and ti, but the rate varied. So mutants plateaued early and reached their limits, while others climbed steadily over years.
Yet for Kai, it was happening with each passing mont.
His power was evolving at a terrifying pace.
But that didn't an this fight would be easy.
The beast growled, a deep, guttural sound, before thrashing violently. The blood chains snapped apart in an instant, as if they were nothing.
Then it moved.
A blur.
"Shit-!"
Kai barely had ti to react before the beast closed the distance. He threw up both arms, drawing in as much blood as he could from the surroundings, solidifying it into a barrier just in ti.
CRASH!
The impact rattled his bones. The beast's massive claws slamd into the blood shield, digging deep, cracks spreading across the surface. Kai skidded back, feet digging into the dirt as he fought against its sheer force.
Centitres. That was all that separated him from being torn apart.
The wolf lood over him, its weight bearing down as Kai struggled to hold the shield. His arms trembled, muscles burning, but he refused to let it crush him.
Then it hissed.
A putrid stench filled his nose as acid sprayed toward him.
Kai twisted, trying to avoid as much as possible, but so of it splattered onto his arm and shoulder.
"Fuck - that burns!"
The pain was instant. His skin sizzled where the acid made contact, searing deep into his flesh.
'What kind of wolf uses acid?!'
His mind raced. He needed to break free. Now.
His gaze snapped to the nearest pool of blood.
With every ounce of focus, he wrenched it into the air and ford a massive spike, hurling it at the beast's side.
Schlkk!
The spike barely managed to pierce through its thick fur, but it was just enough to stagger it.
Kai seized the mont, rolling away and springing to his feet.
His breath was ragged, his arms burned, but nothing was broken. He was still standing.
The beast snarled, shaking itself off, its slitted eyes narrowing in on him once more. It was fast, explosive, and durable - a nightmare.
Kai exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
'Impressive...' he thought to himself as a grin tugged at his lips. 'But I'll still kill it.'
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