The Runic Alchemist

Everything turned black and white. Neo could only see two colors… No, that was wrong—there was one more: red, blood red. But it wasn't so much seeing red as it was sensing it, like he could smell the warm, beautiful crimson.

Neo was finally up now. He could stand, though it felt strange. high height increased..? And why was he on all fours..? Woah.. He looked down at himself, and realization hit him. He wasn't just any wolf beastmen—He was a real wolf.. no not just wolf, he could command the dark clouds around him, it called to him..

At first, Neo thought it was a delusion born of desperation, but the status update proclaiming voice he'd heard earlier confirmed it: he had unlocked his first Esper job. And it was powerful! Damn powerful indeed..

But that didn't matter right now. He needed power to kill, and now he had it. Sp killing was what was needed, and the blood smelled wonderful on those sweet, fleshy humans…

Everyone around him scattered, terrified, as he emerged further from the darkness. The five who had been focused on Zinshi and Taub were oblivious to the chaos behind them, too intent on their prey. Neo leapt, his powerful paws covering half the distance in one push. He felt fearless. His strength was unbound. For the first time, Neo felt alive—truly alive. Colors were a distraction; only darkness mattered. And blood — Oh ! how he craved the warmth of blood.

"WoOoOoOw…" he howled, a feral roar that shook the battlefield.

The five armored men finally turned at the sound, but it was too late. With one enormous swipe, Neo tore open the steel armor and the soldier's gut beneath it, ripping the next one in half chomping on him with his sharp teeth, and another two he enveloped in his darkness, suffocating them from the inside out. The final soldier screamed, dropping his weapon and fleeing in terror.

Cowardly creatures, weak and arrogant, they ruled only because of numbers. But this was Neo's forest, and here, only the strong ruled.

Zinshi and Taub looked on in horror as Neo devoured a man, armor and all. Around him, a wide, empty circle formed as soldiers from both sides fled the massive, pitch-black beast with red eyes. Using his darkness, Neo gently lifted his friends onto his back. He wanted to reassure them, but only a growl escaped his throat. He then reached his last friend, who lay cold and lifeless, refusing to let him be disrespected.

With his friends safe, it was time. Time to show these traitors what true strength looked like. Time to make them pay. Neo launched himself again, crossing the distance in a heartbeat to pounce on the cowards who had attacked his companions. He noticed the other beastmen standing by, watching in terror, but he didn't care. It was time to tear these humans apart. Nothing else mattered.

Neo ravaged the group that had come for them, hunting them down by scent and killing each one in the most gruesome way he could. In a matter of minutes, the attackers that came to fight beastmen were no more. But he wasn't done.

More.. He needed more blood… This much won't do..

Those bustards, they could have stopped them, those filthy humans acting all high and mighty could have stopped fucking fighting and could have left them in peace.. They were at fault here too.. It was their men, weren't they..? He was sure they had given them freedom to attack them on their own so it wouldn't fall on their heads once his tribesmen dealt with them.. that's how they played wasn't it..? They think they can play each other against them and no one will punish them for it..? They were wrong… Today judgment had come.. and it was thirsty for more delicious blood..

Neo leaped above his tribesmen, using his darkness as a foothold, landing among the soft-fleshed Eldoris soldiers. He opened his blood-stained mouth, ready to feast, but before he could taste victory, an iron-hard blow struck his jaw, sending him flying into the middle of the Ashenvale and Eldoris forces, leaving the Eldoris side behind.

Worried for his friends, Neo quickly checked on them and saw they were unharmed. Rising to his feet, he glared toward the one who dared stop him. Who had the audacity?

A small figure, clad in light armor with pitch-black hair and dark blue eyes, emerged from the crowd. The battlefield grew still for a while as the soldiers from both sides, despite their hatred, kept their distance from the confrontation. Even so, skirmishes resumed around them once someone took advantage of the pause and attacked, each side fought as if it was their last day on this land.

'It's him! That bastard!'

Neo thought.

'He thinks he can contend with me? Can't he see how strong I am? He dared to kick me in the face?'

With a guttural roar, Neo charged. But the figure stood there, calm, as if expecting Neo's attack. Neo slashed with blinding speed, but the boy stopped his massive claw with his hands, as if it was nothing. It made no sense.

Neo snapped his steel-sharp jaws to rip off the boy's head but was met with a strike that sent jolts of pain through his skull, even breaking some teeth. This human… What kind of monster was this thing?

Desperate, Neo cloaked him in darkness, doubling down to smother the life out of him. Frustrating noises prickled Neo's senses above him, but he focused. He had to eliminate this pest at all costs.

Why wasn't he screaming?

Neo compressed his darkness further, applying crushing pressure. Then, all at once, his darkness was sucked into a dark void, and the figure emerged, his pretty face looking furious. As he pushed himself off the ground, turning in midair and landing yet another solid kick on Neo's head. Neo braced himself to defend, but the monster's speed and strength were overwhelming. Neo's feet dug into the ground as the weight of the kick pressured on his head. He couldn't even lift a single one of his paws.. The feet dug even more into the muddy ground as he resisted with all his might.

Green vines suddenly erupted from the earth, binding him in place. Neo remembered his friends on his back, but couldn't find them on his back, instead saw them beside the boy, drawn away by more vines.

They looked.. Worried..? For the bastard and not him..? What the hell..?

Before Neo could shout why they were doing that, Neo felt a pressure unlike any as a huge white tiger looked down upon him. Kazak landed next to the boy from somewhere, all staring down at him..?

Why were they looking at him like that..? Why were they all chummy with this monster..? Couldn't they see..?

He was human! A filthy, backstabbing, piece of…

But before Neo could finish the thought, the ethereal tiger's massive paw pressed down on him, and everything went black.