It wasn’t initially that hard to avoid the clamping jaws as they snapped shut around me. My speed was high, adrenaline was pumping, and my reflexes were pretty sharp. These things, whatever cultivating monstrosities they were, weren’t faster than me.

A threat? Maybe only in these numbers.

At first it was easy.

But it started to feel like one of those old horror flicks, the kind where the protagonist runs, slipping between snarling creatures only to find every exit sealed off. Every turn, a dead end. A new wall of hungry mouths. No freedom, just narrowing choices.

The island was nearly smothered in these eel-lizard things, so I changed tactics. Dodging wouldn't be enough. I had to shake them.

But their eyes didn’t blink. They didn’t fear me, they hardly seemed to even think outside of ways to limit my choices for escape. They wanted me. Desperately.

Even when I pivoted, climbing a trunk or kicking off a root to change elevation, they followed. They were probably faster in the water, but slow on land. The problem was the relentlessness. And they started learning.

One would distract with a hiss and feint, another would strike low, targeting joints, ankles, wrists.

Each twist away from a snapping jaw put me closer to a lashing tail. One tail dodged became three claws raking in from the side. I wasn’t getting out clean anymore. My leg already burned from a glancing bite.

I was slowing down. 

Thankfully, the pressure of the Void seed didn't just affect me, slowing them a little bit when they moved too close.

For the love of—just start beating the damn things to death! Wyrem’s voice snapped into my skull.

While I wouldn't have put it quite like that, he had a point.

Still panting, I summoned my gauntlets, silver-blue light sparking as they snapped into form. I turned back toward the others. I'd left them behind since I moved so much faster.

But I probably should've stayed around. Who knows if the dome collapsing problem was even solved or not.

The first punch crushed a snout flat, cartilage cracking under my knuckles. The next broke a jaw. Their bones were pliant like cartilage. Too soft to shatter like a human's. On top of that, I wasn’t using skills. The gauntlets alone took enough energy to keep active, and a drawn out battle like this would turn really bad if I got exhausted.

And now I noticed a deeper problem. The weapons were effective against humans, but these things? Their spongy bones and flexible forms absorbed the shock. Not only that, but when I struck one, the next behind it took the momentum.

"ARRRGH!" I bellowed. More in frustration than fear.

They were stacking. Swarming. I couldn’t land clean hits anymore, just shallow ones that pushed the mass, not cleared it.

I thought back to the maybe-illusion… Daniel's claw-like spiritual weapons. The ones forged for a mix of precision and power. Mine were forceful, yes, but in a tide like this? They were becoming useless.

I staggered. My arms ached. My legs trembled.

Corpses weren’t slowing the others. They stepped on their own dead, crushed under foot and tail. The frenzy drowned logic.

“RROOAAAW!”

The sound split the sky.

The alpha had arrived.

I turned in time to see it shove lesser creatures aside with its sheer bulk, tunneling through its kin like they were mud.

I groaned. “Of course you’re back.”

I wasn’t scared yet despite the growing danger.

I was strong. My Inner Force, if I really unleashed it, could turn this forest into an ice field. I could explode every enemy in my immediate vicinity into frozen dust. But I wasn’t using that. Not yet. I wanted to feel the pressure. To learn. To test myself.

So I held.

Forcing my mind to clear.

I felt something graze my ankle, shooting a stinging sensation through me. I stumbled, breath catching, but ultimately ignored it.

I shifted my force into my hands, then outward outside the gloves, grounding my thoughts into the motion.

Elric had thought that Spirit Weapons were shaped through purpose. But I also didn't dismiss my idea for a connection. After all, I can't imagine he lacked a reason for making what seemed like tools of assassination.

Purpose, a step away from intent. It was all connected.

My mind raced. Images flickered, finally landing on one. I began to shape them as the world disappeared around me. My body moving with instinct. Something driving me away from each attack smoothly.

But then, something screamed in my nerves, something I understood as a warning. A tickle at the base of my neck. Sense.

I dove, full-body, into the densest cluster of monsters around me.

Just as a white-hot jet of pressure tore through the air where I’d stood.

But the pressurized fluid was too late.

The creatures I’d dove into were the first to fall as long blades of ice extended from each finger, slicing through them with little resistance. Gore splashed outward. Shrill cries tore through the night as thick, viscous blood soaked into the grass and dirt.

For a moment, just a moment, I could breathe.

Enough to wonder how I’d even known the acid was coming. How I was able to move so smoothly, but the answer would have to wait.

Another blast screamed toward me.

I twisted, just enough to let it skim past my side, and pushed forward. Straight toward the alpha.

I dropped Precursor Sense, the claws now locked onto my gauntlets no longer needing shaping. The strain eased immediately, and I widened my Spirit Sense instead, stretching it to its limit. Not letting a single one of these—let’s call them Goldmanes—get another strike in.

The alpha was directly in front of me before it could even brace.

I swung.

Snap.

Oh…

The air froze. For a second, even the lord of this island looked confused. I stared at him. He stared at me. It slowly licked its lips, a fresh string of acid drool stretching from its maw.

It shuddered, maybe trying to shake off the discomfort of the impact.

Turns out, that spongey mane? Less like flesh, more like… coral.

“Peter!” Miss Star called from the distance. She was wreathed in halos of fire, concentric rings orbiting her like a burning gyroscope. “Don’t kill the big one! I want to keep it for Marcus!”

An idea sparked. “Can you cover me?!”

I dodged another swipe from the alpha as she moved through the chaos, the other Goldmanes scattering away from her. She quickly reached me.

“For a bit! But not from—”

We both jumped aside as the alpha lunged again.

I surged forward, readying my Beast Force.

Peter, what are you doing? Luna’s voice tightened with concern.

Hoping this thing isn’t as smart as you, I answered, placing my hand flat against the creature’s hide.

#

The world shifted. Colors warped, my vision distorted and something amazing hit my nostrils.

Oh man. Seriously. That smell.

Drool started leaking from my mouth before I could stop it. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced something so close to what I could only imagine actual nectar would smell like. Pure, divine temptation.

I glanced down, searching for the source.

That can’t be right.

I mean, I’ve heard the whole 'tastes like pork' rumor before, but I never gave it much thought. Sounded way too gross to even think about.

But right now?

I was genuinely considering taking a bite out of my own arm.

Resist.

At least this wasn’t like entering Wyrem or Luna’s mind. Closer to Bristle, in a way.

Okay… how do I command the others?

It had made a call earlier, right? Something deep and guttural. Could I just imitate that?

I opened my mouth, trying not to let any more acid pool at my lips.

“Roooaaar!”

Everything stopped.

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. Dozens of Goldmanes, frozen mid-motion, tilted their heads toward me. How could aquatic lizards look so... confused? First the boss earlier, and now its subordinates.

At least they weren’t attacking anymore, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of my attempted command, or a symptom of miscommunication.

Hmm. That can’t be right.

Just talk how you normally do, Luna offered, making me jump. I don’t think about sounding human when I talk through you.

How’d you get in here?

Hmm. I just… um. Don’t know. Probably your fault though.

That was an odd way to put it, but I ignored the accusation and took the advice.

“Stop trying to eat and go cultivate,” I said, but rather than a human voice, a strange musical-like melody erupted from my mouth.

The reaction was immediate. Confusion vanished and the Goldmanes’ expressions adjusted. I swore some of the chittering from a couple were grumbles of annoyance, but it could’ve just been my personification of them.

Miss Star, mid-cast, halted too, blinking as the pack ignored her completely and moved past.

They turned, all heading toward the Vein.

Alright… now how do I keep the big guy from trying to tear me apart the second I disconnect?

My mind slipped back into my body, hand still pressed against the alpha’s skin. I tightened the connection, an idea forming.

Attack me and die, I sent, pushing red lightning gently into its core. Obey and you can do as you like and benefit from me as well.

We locked eyes.

The alpha didn’t flinch.

For a heartbeat, I thought it might challenge me again.

Then, with a sharp exhale through its nostrils, clearly frustrated, it turned, trudging toward the Dragon Vein with heavy, deliberate steps.

“Maybe Marcus can try building a relationship with it first,” I muttered, cracking a sheepish smile. “That thing’s got an attitude.”

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