9 An Ominous Path

Ding!

Ding! Ding....

There were countless pinning, running through his head, as numerous level up notification appeared, one after another. Almost like a handful of iron needles, were poking through his skull, making him seem like a pin cushion...

It caused Xu Kaen to have a slight sense of headache. His legs wobbling, trembling slightly, as his vision blurred momentarily.

He regained his footing, trudging in the wet sand, that is dyed red in the blood of Xu Ron, mixed with his own.

A dark viscous red liquid, drips out from his mouth, down to his chin.

The rusty iron taste, tingling sensation, reaching to the back of his throat, and is just at the tip of his tongue. It was the taste of blood. Not his own, but mostly, his brothers.

You Have Fulfilled The Neccessary Conditions For Evolution. Evolution Is Now Possible...

There Are Multiple Branches Of Evolution Unlocked. Please Choose From The Following List: [ Evolution Path 01: Luminare Cranium Chelydridae Schildkröte ] [Evolution Path 02: Luminare Terra Ungis Testudines]

Xu Kaen stumbles over, taking a few steps backward.

He finds it difficult to take another step, trudging in the wet sand. Upon closer look, his body is badly injured, covered with bruises, scrape, and cuts. Beyond exhaustion.

In the midst of his grief, the guilt of having killed his own brother, one he forged a kinship with, ended by his own hand.

He watched the moment playback in his mind, unable to forget that very scene. With him being the one, to pull the trigger, that would end his brother lives.

The scent of fresh blood still lingers within his mouth. It was his brother's blood.

He now saw the lifeless corpse, the dead body of Xu Ron, lay before him. The head completely severed, a couple inches, away from its torso.

Xu Kaen felt conflicted inside; as an incongruous feeling of pain, his heart aches, unraveling from withinside his chest, that he is unable to tell what it is.

The pain of loss clouded his mind, impaling his judgment. As he forgets the dangers and death that surrounds him.

It took him, literal seconds to accept what he has done. He was the one responsible. He was the one that killed him.

It was his own fault that everything ended up like this.

Xu Kaen opens his mouth, letting out a painful cry, roaring in anguished, muttering some gibberish.

"I killed him. It was my own fault. Why did it have to come to this? Why? Tell me why... I am supposed to be the leader." Xu Kaen shouted, having fallen into disbelief.

Overwhelmed with the feelings of guilt, over being responsible for the many deaths of his brothers and sisters.

He was in fact, afterall, the leader of this group. And therefore, his decisions would undoubtedly have a huge impact on the group.

So in a sense, it was Xu Kaen's own incompetence, and narrow mindedness; blindingly, head into battle, without any prior knowledge on the target, that which lead to the now worst outcome... complete and utter evisceration.

Whilst, the other Infans Testudinidae, fled the battlefield. Almost immediately, the moment when they all realised the immediate outcome.

Xu Kai was like the rest, at the first sign of danger. They all fled like the little cowards, they are. Turning tails behind their back, and running in all direction, in order to survive another day.

On the other hand, Xu Dein is prepared to make his stand, firmly lodging his foot in the ground. Whilst, his knee are shaking, cowering in fear.

As he stares down, at the massive Aqua Laculat Nephropidae, more than three times his size, laying right before his eyes. Who is obviously at the moment; enjoying, killing his breathrens in cold blood.

The massive Aqua Laculat Nephropidae, raises its large claw upwards, pointing it at the sky. Before opening its right claw wide, and charging an offensive spell, as water molecules gather, forming a never ending revolving sphere of water.

The massive Aqua Laculat Nephropidae, then points the revolving water sphere, floating in between it's claw, in the direction of one of the escaping Infans Testudinidae.

*Click* *Bang*

It made the sound of a gun being fired. As the small back-hammer in the back of the large right claw pulls back. With great force, and velocity, the back-hammer struck, breaking the sound barrier, as the miniature revolving spinning water sphere is sent flying.

It unfortunately missed it's intending target, by a square inch, landing just a foot away, from the escaping little tortoise.

But the little Infans Testudinidae, unfortunately, didn't managed to escape the exploding radius. As the miniature revolving water sphere hits the ground, where it stand. It exploded. Sending a flurry of sand, and water being sprayed everywhere.

The water sphere that the Aqua Iaculat Nephropidae shot out from it's claw, is akin to a water jet cutter. A capable machinery that is able to cut through steel and other metals cleanly.

If high pressured jet water is fired at any normal person, it would pierce through them, easily, like a needle through paper.

The explosion from the impact of the water sphere, hitting the ground, sending the poor little Infans Testudinidae, flying forward; Fatally wounding it, crippling itself even.

The little Infans Testudinidae frontal left leg is blowned right off, by being the closest to the explosion.

With the left side of it's tortoise shell being severely damage; broken beyond recognitions, shards piercing into it's flesh, and its organs leaking out.

"Boss, you must snap out of it. We're now in imminent danger..." Xu Dein exclaimed outwards in worry, never faltering, to get his point across to Xu Kaen.

Xu Dein took a breather. A moment of rest to calm his mind, and stabilized his emotions. So much has happened...

He spoke quietly, lips quivering, as he grows a bit emotional. "I know you've killed Dein, but it was not your fault. You didn't know that the enemy was this strong."

Xu Dein swallowed his saliva. His heart palpitating, beating heavily, his breath quickens.

He nevertheless felt the same sense of fear, and dread, going through everyone's mind, at this moment. But he was courageous enough to stay behind, and stick with Xu Kaen to the very end. Even if it means ending his life.

"Boss! Snap out of it..." Xu Dein's voice echoes across the battlefield, reaching Xu Kaen's ears, but exiting the other.

it all came to an end when it was abruptly cut short by the sound of an explosion.

The water sphere exploded, mere feet away from where Xu Dein is currently standing. Sending himself flying backwards, catapult himself into a sharp boulder.

The strong impact of the boulder, causes him to be nearly knocked out unconscious, as Xu Dein could see flying stars, swirling around him.

Xu Dein weakly called out to him. "Snap out of it, bro..." His visions becoming blurry, injured, but is still alive.

Xu Kaen who was a few distance away, heard his brother plea, and immediately snapped out of his dazed state. Only to see the knockout unconscious body of Xu Dein in the distance, who he had thought to have died.