Hye

Making his way toward the military checkpoint holding the public sanctuary teleporter, Ren got a new z-steel dagger this one was of a higher quality capable of holding its ground against mutant level creatures and even able to cut a sacred-blood creatures skin.

Entering the sanctuary he found his group together near the entrance of the sanctuary. Briefly greeting each other they left the shelter and toward a location Hye Hwan has sighted a handful of mutant creatures.

This time all four of us excluding Hye Hwan would engage a single mutant creature all at the same time.

Making our way towards a rocky beach, Hye Hwan signaled to us that he sensed a mutant creature. Pointing in its direction, he left us to figure the rest out.

Already having an idea of imitating the fight everybody walked toward the creature, discovering a large dog-like creature with an alligator head. 

Sook rushed to be the first to engage, attempting to prove himself as courageous and confident. Summoning his beast soul spear, the dog-gator easily dodged, growling in response.

*Grrrrr*

The rest of us quickly followed. Covering Sook from the creature's aggressive counter-attacks.

The battle raged on, everyone having to be extra careful of the creature's powerful mouth. Only ever having the opportunity to make a few cuts on the flank of the creature.

All of the sudden Sook made a mistake getting too close, and not having a great movement technique to rectify his mistake and escape. The dog-gator, rushed forward about to take a nice big bite out of him. 

But it was fine because Hya Hwan was nearby, sending an arrow straight into the breast lower lip. Disabling its attack but Jin didn't anticipate Hya Hwan interruption. Standing in the way of the creature and Sook after Sook already escaped from the danger. The creature already recovered and resumed its chase after Sook, just for Jin to run straight into the beasts mal. 

Hya Hwan again intervened sending another arrow this time into the beasts leg but it was too late. 

*Arggg*

Jin screamed feeling searing pain shoot through his body.

As the rest of his teammates glanced at the creature clamping on his rib cage. Hya Hwan was quick to appear decapitating the creature and trying to keep Jin alive ignoring his seroundings.

Ren was surprised at the turn of events but acted unfazed, while the other two Sook and Yuki were stunned silent boarding a mental breakdown.

While everyone was distracted, Ren noticed a presence nearby radiating a concealed merciless aura.

Circulating his body enhancement fused hyper geno art. A change in the atmosphere could be sensed even by the focused Hya Hwan glancing at Ren and breaking Sook and Yuki's trance. 

Ren summoned his sacred-blood armor. Stunning the group, not ever seeing it before and equaling confused about the change all of the sudden.

After a moment of silence, everything changed when a penguin the size of a car darted out of the nearby water aiming for Hya Hwan and Jin's half alive body.

Not having the time to react from the sneak attack, Ren stepped forward blocking the blow. Getting thrown a dozen meters away, Ren was unharmed successfully saving his two teammates.

Sook and Yuki not strong enough to intervene could only watch as Ren got tossed around seemingly unharmed. While Hya Hwan had to abandon Jim's dieing body. Engaging the penguin in battle, he wasn't much of a match. "Everybody! Run!" He yelled, everybody now knowing the threat of this beast.

They ran, Ren and Hye Hwan stayed though. Hye Hwan wished to disengage as soon as possible knowing the risk of a continued confrontation, and valuing the lives of his employers far more.

But their new friend wasn't retreating, stuck in inerturmorial, Ren spoke up. "You can leave, I want to fight, I'll be safe."

Still not leaving after Rens words. Ren didn't bother.

Continuing the fight, he felt comfortable despite being pushed back at every contact.

His dagger slowly losing its sharpness, he again began using his fists more than the blade eventually throwing it to the side altogether.

The penguin would strike with its beak, and from time to time claw with its slightly serrated wings.

Rens armor held strong taking minor damage every so often from the penguins beak.

But no damage that wouldn't repair over time of left in his soul space long enough. Ren similarly couldn't cause any damage with his fists, Hya Hwan was able to make a few minor cuts, but now he was taking a passive position opting to watch by the sidelines. Partially listening to Rens earlier request.

Berating each other, he infused the softer yin energy with his attacks hoping to slowly damage the penguins organs, while allowing the penguin to beat his armor.

The penguin didn't notice anything wrong not being intelligent enough until Ren ruptured a hole into the beasts liver, slowly leaking acids around other organs. Bringing intense pain, the penguin spasmed on the ground. 

Not being able to heal and sensing it's impending doom. It gathered momentum focusing all its energy on penetrating his armor where it was already damaged. 

Not able to dodge the creature successfully punctured the armer stabbing Ren through the leg. Shocked, Hye Hwan quickly pulled Ren out of the fight, deciding to leave the battlefield all together and regroup.

Ren didn't want to lose the beasts meat, so he summoned the nightmare-cat pet beastsoul. The one he won in the martial and saint hall tournament as a kid. Leaving with the mental command to feed on the sacred blood beast once it died.

Not long later he got the notification. 

"Sacred-blood creature corpse-consuming sea-bird killed. No beast soul gained. Eat its flesh to gain 0 to 10 sacred-blood geno points randomly."

Sighing he re-summoned his nightmare-cat beast soul a little later, pleased with the cats slightly increased size.

It wasn't long before they ran into Yuki and Sook siting at the base of a tree. Both looking haggard, Sook a little less so, more occupied with caring for Yuki who was leaning close to him in an attempt to find comfort.

Seeing Hya Hwan arrive, the little hope they had died, not seeing Jin.

Sook ignoring Rens more haggard and injured appearance was quickly enraged seeing Yuki fly out of his embrace to check on Rens more miserable appearance.

"Are you okay?! What happened?!" She questioned in haste. Hye Hwan answering for Ren with a brief summary of the turn of events.