/////

Between Dark Beasts and Aemplefort, The war favored the latter.​​

But you know what they say about such things, Anything can tip the favor of war.

/////

Vincent knelt on the blood-splattered floor panting and dripping in sweat.

A blood-stained firestorm in his hand, and 12 Flame-Lightning chains flowing passively behind him.

His ether reservoir was just above its halfway point but with what was before him he knew that it wouldn't be enough.

'God I hate jinxes' He thought in bitterness.

"SCREECH!"

///// Few Hours Ago /////

Instructor Pryde turned to Instructor Zeph and asserted, "Let's go all out."

Instructor Zeph smirked in response and gave back a nod, "Ok I'll buy you time" He said

Instructor Pryde smiled in response and again set his focus on the beast.

As the leader of the group, he began to give out orders.

"Vinda, Bind it for as long as you can but don't approach, also offer aerial support when you can" He instructed.

"Yes!" She answered back, no longer influenced by the oppression of the Dark Beast.

Pryde likewise turned to Selussa, "Are your poisons on standby." He inquired

"Always Captain," She asserted with a smirk

"Good apply them on my claws."

"Ah, so we're going with that." She replied.

Selussa then outstretched her hands and a bowl that contained a dark purple goo emerged out of nothing.

Instructor Pryde thus went on to dip his claws inside until it was coated in its purple slaw.

"This plan won't be too significant, I believe that this thing has poison resistance, My poisons won't last long against it." She warned

"I see but how long can you guarantee?" Pryde questioned

"About 20-25 seconds in the least"

After Pryde retracted his hands, Selussa put the bowl of toxin back to wherever it came from.

"That's enough time for us to get this done," Pryde said, examining his now purple claws.

"But just in case get the healing field ready."

"Ok." She acknowledged whilst also glancing at the purple claws, "Don't forget to cut your nails after this, if not the poison will move on to your entire body" Selussa advised

"I know just keep the antidote on standby"

"Will do" She responded.

/////

During the time Pryde and Selussa took to formulating a plane, Instructor Zeph and Vinda held the beast at bay.

Vinda utilized her innate ability [Darkness Manipulation] to wield the shadows around her to construct long 3 dimensional chains which she employed to bind the beast to its own shadow.

It was successful

With Vinda pinning the beast, Zeph concentrated on dealing damage to it

He pronto dashed past the beast while also grazing 4 of its right legs

'[Ice Touch: Spread of Numbness]'

In an instant, A cold patch began to spread from the point of touch until it laid over the legs in full ice.

Instructor Zeph went on with his attack by constructing a huge longsword of ice and swung in a circle at the 4 frozen legs.

The massive long sword was able to hit the 4 legs at the same time and the ability [Forgoing Elusive For Intrusive] granted Zeph the strength to support the huge weight of such a weapon.

[Forgoing Elusive For Intrusive: A skill that upon activation converts all Agility into Strength.

Note: Partial Conversion is possible

Note: A strong body is needed to hold the sudden boost.]

The massive sword dug deep into the legs past its exoskeleton but quit soon after.

The muscles of the Dark Beast were too durable for the sword to cut through.

"SCREE!!!" Arachnid cried out in pain which caused it to flare out its ether in anger.

Arachnid's sudden blast of Ether threw Zeph flying.

He broke past a few tree obstacles in his path before he was able to correct himself, he fell onto his feet a little dazed.

"Zeph are you okay!?" Instructor Vinda asked in worry.

"Yeah, just a little dazed" Zeph replied whilst getting on his feet.

"Looks like you did some damage" Pryde praised from the side.

"Yeah but it's not enough," Zeph answered back solemnly glaring at the injury he had caused that was soon healed in a blink.

'Tch, It has regeneration.' Zeph thought in annoyance.

"We'll need more than this," he advised.

"Don't worry we got this" Pryde affirmed as he started walking towards the still crazy Arachnid.

As he did, A set of silver claw metal gauntlets appeared which he wore.

"*Chuckle*", "Indeed we do" Zeph chuckled as he also walked towards it.

A platinum-colored blade polearm appeared within his hands, Zeph went on to hold it to his side

Both weapons were extraordinarily well made and sharpened to the extreme.

They both excluded S-Rank Aura borderline SS.

"Let's go!"

"Hm!"

"[Full Lion Augment], [Flame Augment], [Predator Hunt Ground.]"

[Full Lion Augment: A skill granted by the Deus Maahes onto those competent of his power. Upon Activation, Draw upon the primal power of the Ancient lions.

Increases Strength by 45%

Increases Speed by 50%

Increases Endurance by 40%

Gains Primal Instinct

Heighten Senses

Note High chance of losing to the Primal Instincts]

[Flame Augment: Ferocious flames envelop the user upon activation granting the user passive buffs.

A minor fusion with fire

Increase Strength of Flames by 25%

Increase Flame Control by 7%

Reduce Fire-based attacks by 35%]

[Predators Hunt Ground: A field for me and my prey, Upon Activation. A locked target is unable to escape.

Causes Intimidation

Increases Strength by 35%

Increases Speed by 25%

Grants Primal Instinct.

Heighten Senses]

Upon the activation of the skills, Mister Pryde started to undergo even more changes.

His once wild features began to become even wilder.

His hair grew more until it came up to his waist, as it grew Instructor Pryde's hair lost its red color for a gold tint.

At this point, it was more likened to the mane of a lion.

The crack of bones began to sound off Instructor Pryde as he grew taller, bigger, stronger

After a while, the cracking of bones had stopped, and there stood Instructor Pryde in the Were-Lion form as he dubbed it.

Flame Augment also resulted in a transformation.

Furious flames enfolded Pryde before it settled on his hands and feet.

As Instructor Pryde shift was finished, Instructor Zeph also began casting his skills

'[Water Sport], [Within the Waters I Am Strong], [Forgoing Elusive For Intrusive], [Full Mammoth Augment].'

[Water Sport: Upon Activation, The area around the User is drenched by immediate rain.

Area of influence increases with Ether input]

[Within the Waters I Am Strong: Upon Activation, the User acquires a boost in Strength, Agility, and Ether Production.

High Affinity to the Water element will activate an even larger boost

Increase Strength by 35%

Increase Agility by 30%

Increase in Ether Production

Increase Strength of Water-based attacks by 50%

Increase in Water Element Control by 65%

Reduce Water-based attacks Ether cost by 35%]

[Mammoth Augment: A skill granted by the Deus Maeth onto those worthy of his power.

Upon activation, Draw upon the strength of the Ancient Mammoths.

Increase Strength by 60%

Increase Speed by 25%%

Increase Endurance by 70%

Heighten Senses

Grants Primal Instinct

Note: High chance of losing reasoning to the Primal Instincts.]

[An: Forgot to add this to Zeph's set of skills, Just saw this in my outline.]

Upon activation of his skills, Instructor Zeph also changed similar to that of Instructor Pryde.

The only difference being that, His blue hair took on a gray tone as it grew longer and his horns grew more prominent.

After a few seconds, the shift period of the skill had ended and Instructor Zeph stood on Instructor Pryde's height which is 6 feet 9

As both transformations had completed, The skill [Water Sport] that had been cast began to show its effect.

The clouds darkened and a full-blown rain occurred soon after.

As the rain hit Zeph's, he took a huge breath in relief, his body relaxing.

The rain also fell on Instructor Pryde but it evaporated before it hit his figure.

"Now Selussa!" He called as both he and Zeph dashed at sound-shattering speeds towards the Dark Beast with intent to kill.

"Yes" Selussa replied

"[Grow]" she casted

[Grow] was a simple sub-skill under the skill [Nature's Blessed].

[Nature's Blessed: An Innate skill exclusive to Elf bloodline. A skill granted by the mother of nature herself unto her protectors.

Grants Fire Manipulation

Grants Water Manipulation

Grants Air Manipulation

Grants Earth Manipulation

Allows User to communicate with Nature]

It induced a massive tree to grow just beneath her feet and took her into the air.

The tree grew to the point that when it had stopped it stood above the dark clouds.

Proceeding with the second part of the plan, Selussa stretched out her hands towards the empty air.

A bowl of purple goo once again appeared but this time it gave out a more dreadful aura than before.

"[A Thousandth Deadly Nature's Disasters: No 14, Rain of Poisons]" She called out.

Selussa tipped the bowl forward and the purple goo slowly dripped into the dark clouds and scattered through it turning the once dark clouds into purple ones.

Glad about her work, Selussa looked down on the tree she stood on and cast another sub-skill.

"[Return]"

And so it did. The tree lost its lush glow as all the leaves turned brown then deteriorated into dust, even the bark.

Losing a foothold, Selussa fell back to land but strong winds held her up and slowed her pace, allowing her land with no fall damage.

The effect of what Selussa had just done then began to show.

Instead of clear water falling, It rained a purple-colored liquid instead.

This was poison.

While this was bad for the Dark Beast it was also bad for her allies but selussa wasn't done yet.

"[Forest Aura], [Healers Aura]"

[Forest Aura: A blessing is cast upon the user and allies upon activation, giving the following passive boosts.

Increase Regeneration

Increase Ether Production

Grants Minor Poison Immunity

Grants Calm Mind.]

[Healers Aura: Upon Activation, Envelopes the User and Allies with a defensive and healing shroud that often heals all wounds and debuffs until deactivation of skill.

Heals

Grants Mid Poison Immunity]

A green glow fell upon Pryde, Zeph, Vinda, and herself.

The combination of the two skills was able to counter the poison rain and also counter Instructor Zeph and Pryde's instinct to take over.

Then it began, The death of an SSS-Rank Dark Beast.