Chapter 202 - Return To Form

"Dunkel: Slicer!"

Cutting through the air, the circular blade of dark magical energy made quick work of the airborne creature, plucking its head from its body as it plummeted straight to the ground. 

Macheo wasn't kidding; the first thing he did when he woke up was shake me awake so we could go hunting, Ren thought, To be more clear--we're moving forward AND hunting. It was my call--honestly, I want to make some real progress. 

"Nice! Nice kill, Ren!"

Being cheered on by Hongse, who was clearly thrilled by another addition to their meal count, the panda walked alongside the others while Ren and Macheo continued their quick-paced scouting for more targets. 

The path they found themselves on was forged of moist soil, surrounded by silver blades of grass that ran along the two slopes acting as walls for the trail. It seemed to not be a place disturbed by challengers often, as they awoke many creatures from their slumber--fueling them with further aggression as they protected their homes. 

"...N-nice kill, Macheo!"

Cupping her hands around her mouth, Aiko meekly called out to Macheo. Being the only one running along Macheo, Ren briefly saw the crimson tint of embarrassment come over his cheek before the boy hid his expression, propelling himself towards the next target. 

"Oh! A Bantabear! They're tasty! Get it! Get it!"

Motivated purely by gluttony, Hongse salivated as he called out the identity of the creature Macheo found himself moving towards. It didn't matter how much game they seemed to capture and throw into the pack that the panda carried on his broad back, he was happy to carry more and more. 

Isn't that cannibalism?! Ren thought. 

It was definitely a bear, or at least, part of that same family; it stood three times as tall as Macheo, covered in oak-brown fur with stripes of black coalescing into a double circle on its stomach. A mix between a yawn and a ferocious roar left its salivating maw as its eyes locked onto the prey before it, lumbering forward as it walked on its hind legs. 

"Are we even going to have room for that thing?..."

Watching as Macheo prepared to clash with the awakened bantabear, Iris looked back at Hongse, whose pack was already filled to the brim with resources. Even so, Hongse gave her a thumbs-up and a cheerful smile--clearly driven by the desire to eat that giant bear. 

"Don't worry about that; Hongse will carry it. As long as it's tasty, he won't budge."

Valerie shrugged her shoulders with a small smile as she assured Iris--turning their attention back towards the bantabear as a rise in magical energy was felt. 

What looked like a wild splash of aqua was indeed an intricate spell, sending a dozen jagged, formless blades of water against the carnivore's thick hide. 

Damn, it's tough--that fur is like armor, not to mention its hide is durable as hell, Macheo thought. 

As tough as it was, it was still a beast--helpless to the repetitive assault of the malicious water as dozens of cuts stacked up. With more and more shallow cuts opening it up, it left room for deeper, more visceral strikes to land, before finally--it fell. 

"Sheesh."

Macheo wiped the sweat from his forehead, standing over the prize for his victory. Just standing near it gave off a sense of minisculeness; his entire foot was no larger than its snout. 

"Hongse, it's all yours."

Giving the panda full-authority over the carcass of the fallen bantabear, Macheo moved on as Hongse pounced on the opportunity. It didn't take any longer than five minutes for Hongse to skin and split the creature up into sizable chunks, somehow storing it in his pack before the group moved on once more. 

"Well, we're probably good for another week or so...Even accounting for how much Hongse intakes."

Ren swiped his blade before turning it to its sheathe, looking back at Hongse who had a giddy, pleased smile on his face, bouncing with each step at the thought of the bantabear. 

"A week...How long until we reach the Butcher's Locker, Macheo?"

Fiddling with her fingers, Aiko looked up at the back of the young man walking ahead of her, his black and crimson coat flowing behind him as he walked. 

"Hmm, well--look at that."

Macheo pointed up at the horizon beyond their step; pointing out the massive carvings on two opposing walls of stone that resembled the faces of monstrous men. 

"...What about it? Those are some creepy-faces."

A bit repulsed by the carvings, Iris looked back at Macheo for a further answer, who seemed slightly annoyed having to be the guide. 

"Beyond that is where the "real fun" starts, I guess. "Boundary of Bloodshed", it's the second-half of this cavern--it's where all the keys in this quadrant are located, and where all the real baddies are."

"So, we really were just strolling through the tutorial, huh?"

"Enough with your weird references."

Macheo brushed off Ren's comment, who gave off a cheeky chuckle as he took the lead, marching forward with a new pep to his step. 

I'm ready to make some real progress, Ren thought. 

Feeling the gaze continue to loom on her like a seering pressure, Aiko finally looked up at the draconic woman who had been giving her a less than pleasant look. 

"...What is it?"

"Nothing. I just can't figure out how a weak girl like you has survived this long in a place like this."

"Weak?..."

"Weak. Feeble. Whatever you want to call it. Powerless."

Valerie's words weren't dull in the slightest, cutting deeply into Aiko as the two conversated behind the rest of the group. It only dug itself further into the wounds she already felt; she really did question how lucky she was to have gone this far in Purgatory. 

I...I can't even fight back against those words. I believe them myself. Everytime I find myself pressed in a tough spot...I remember how helpless I was against them--those despiscable men, Aiko thought. 

Placing her hand over her heart, Aiko frowned a bit as her beige fringes draped over her eyes. The fearsome gaze moved away from her as she listened to the powerful footsteps of Valerie move on ahead.