The realities of being an Alterer…

Robed with the blue wind, the dark blue werewolf was bravely standing in front of the furiously hissing Rock Python.

The Rock Python's elongated body looked like connected oval gray boulders. The lower side of the boulders was smooth while the upper side was covered with dark gray scales. Its black granite eyes and a maw filled with jagged rocks emphasized the ferociousness of its scaled snakehead. Its stalagmite-like tail was whipping behind it and ready to strike any moment.

Seeing the intruder transformed into a beast, the rocky constrictor was further incensed. It opened its maw and violently lunged at the wolf Yeshua!

Though speed was not the strong point of the earth affinity beast, its lunge attack was filled with strength and weight that struck at the werewolf with a speeding force!

Feeling the force of the attack, Yeshua used Wind Dash to increase his speed and evaded the attack of the Rock Python!

Boom!

The hard rocky head of the Rock Python slammed on the ground shattering it. Some stalagmites in their surroundings were crushed scattering sharp rock debris in the cavern.

While dust floated around the place, the werewolf Yeshua appeared a few meters away from the Rock Python. He quietly assessed his chance of winning this battle while thinking of the information about his present adversary.

Rock Python: Level 1 – Type: Animal – Sub-type: Reptile – Species: Python – Affinity: Earth – Attributes: high defense, strong strength, poor speed

Abilities: Tail Strike, Stone Lock, Ground Diving. Impaling Rocks

With a hard body that could reach almost ten meters, Rock Python's basic way of attacking was using its jagged maw. Though its hefty body was slow when on the surface, it could exhibit speed like a fish in the water once it dived in the earth. As a constrictor, escaping from it would be difficult once captured and constricted by its hard strong body.

"I should not let myself be caught by this big snake or with my strength attribute I won't be able to contend with its strength and Stone Lock ability.

"I also should be wary of its other abilities. Its Tail Strike can turn its tail agile and its Ground Diving can bridge the gap between our speeds," muttered Yeshua while looking at the fading cloud of dust.

The floating dust receded and faintly revealed the Rock Python. Yeshua could see its black eyes glaring at him. The speed of Yeshua irritated the beast and further angered it.

Hissssss!

After hissing furiously, the Rock Python raised and arched its lengthy body, and then it plunged itself into the cold rocky ground!

Ground Diving!

Seeing the body of the Rock Python disappeared as it dug through the ground, the dark blue werewolf flashed from his position leaving a swishing wind and floating dust.

While using his abilities, Yeshua was thinking, "I'm fighting in the domain of this earth affinity spirit beast. I should properly use my advantages and not let down my guard or I won't walk out from this fight alive!"

Wind Dash! Elusive Presence!

Flashes of blue light and sounds of swishing wind were produced as Yeshua run swiftly around the cavern.

Producing clouds of dust and fissuring the ground, the Rock Python hiding underground was also trying to match the speed of the elusive wolf. Its speed could almost match Yeshua as it swam in the rocky ground like it was made of water.

The ground was quaking as the Rock Python drilled in the ground charging towards the werewolf. It was chasing Yeshua and was lunging at his ghostly blue figure.

Using his agile body and his abilities, Yeshua evaded the heavy dive attacks of the python.

The Rock Python's lunge attacks cracked and exploded the ground when it missed the swift werewolf. Dust swirled around while booming crashes filled the cavern.

Yeshua did not want to give the Rock Python a chance and took his time in finding openings to attack. Yeshua was looking for a chance to attack while the furious snake just wanted to maul the werewolf and crush him.

Lunge attacks and tail strikes rained down on the evading werewolf as the two ferocious beasts battled in the cavern.

Yeshua also attacked the rocky snake with his Wind Claws when he saw opportunities to attack it during its missed lunges. The two beasts exchanged moves but it was Yeshua who mostly connected his attacks.

His Wind Claws slashed and cracked the hard body of the Rock Python further enraging it. Finally, the infuriated snake could not take it anymore and lost its patience because of the elusiveness of its enemy. It raised its rocky snakehead and hissed savagely!

Hissssss!

The ground started quaking after the Rock Python furiously hissed. Then, a series of rock spikes rapidly protruded from under the ground piercing towards the elusive blue ghost it was chasing!

Impaling Rocks!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Multiple rocks targeting the dashing werewolf drilled from the ground in a wide area. The sudden onslaught of the numerous rock spikes around Yeshua made him frantically dodge.

Although Yeshua's elite strength was somewhat stronger than it, the Rock Python had the advantage inside this cave, and with its Stage 5 strength, its abilities could also exhibit powerful effects.

However, Yeshua did not succumb to the attack and also tried to unleash his special attack. Taking a distance from the Rock Python that was recovering from using its ability, Yeshua gathered the wind inside his maw and compressed it.

Tornado Blast!

Roar!

With a wild roar, the werewolf Yeshua blasted out the whirling wind inside his jagged maw!

The blasting tornado quickly arrived at the slithering Rock Python and slowly crushed its body covered with rock scales. The sharp wind blades and the violent force of the tornado were slashing and breaking its rock exterior making the ferocious beast roared painfully!

Breathing hard, the werewolf Yeshua whispered, "My Tornado blast became more powerful after my advancement. Heh, let's see what my ability can do to this beast's hard and long body…"

After a while of stormy torture, the tornado gradually faded and revealed the Rock Python with broken rocky skin that was covered with blood. However, though it was heavily injured, it was still alive.

"You're still not dead? Then, let's completely end this battle! AI, Double Release!" With a growling shout, the wind violently swirled and cloaked Yeshua with a blue apparition as he and the AI overlapped their soul control.

This was the second time Yeshua was using this unique ability on this day, and he could feel the still healing injuries in his body were tearing open.

Yeshua could only maintain this ability for a couple of seconds, but he would use these two seconds to finish this Rock Python!

The blue spectral werewolf quickly arrived at the position of the bloody rock snake and besieged it with a shower of wind blades!

Shua! Shua! Shua!

Although tormented by the savage attacks of Yeshua, the Rock Python could not do anything with its injured body. It could only painfully hiss while the shower of sharp winds and ghostly flashes surrounded it.

Hissssss!

With showering splashes of blood, the rocky constrictor announced its end with a resounding shriek. Its stony body heavily slammed on the ground that was colored with its blood.

Bang!

Blood covered the rocky ground of the cavern while a bloody dark blue werewolf stood beside the dead body of the Rock Python. The apparition cloaking his body gradually dispersed as Yeshua panted with labor breaths.

Looking around him, Yeshua muttered, "So no more surprises, right? No big daddies would suddenly appear this time, right?"

After waiting for a while, the traumatized werewolf sighed with relief. "Whoo, it seems like my break has finally come," Yeshua said while his body glittered with starry lights and turned back into a human.

"I'm really exhausted. I want to just lie down here and sleep." Feeling the tiredness and pain in his body, Yeshua wanted to rest, but he knew that he should not let his guard down especially since he was in a place he did not know.

"Okay, it's time for my rewards. At least, I received something from my hardships!" Yeshua then proceeded to the body of the Rock Python. He would collect the loot from this spirit beast first.

After a while, Yeshua finished looting the earth affinity beast and proceeded to his next reward.

Although he went through so many trials on this day, Yeshua accepted all of it since it was the reality of being an Alterer, and as the prospect of the lucrative reward filled his mind, he already forgot the series of battles he experienced.

"Hehe, a rare gene herb! I'll surely get a high price from selling it!" With excitement in his voice, Yeshua walked towards the glowing Rockshine Herb.

However, after he reached the gene herb, Yeshua realized something and carefully studied the gene herb. Afterward, the young Alterer froze from his discovery.

While gritting his teeth because of frustration, Yeshua grumbled, "This is not a Rockshine Herb, but a Limerock Herb!"

Because he only saw the gene herb from a distance and did not properly examine it, Yeshua misidentified the Limerock Herb to Rockshine Herb.

Same with the Rockshine Herb, Limerock Herb also had coarse stone-like green leaves. From a distance, the features of the two gene herbs were almost similar.

However, the brown glow that Yeshua saw was actually just a reflection of the glowing stones of the cavern to the brown coarse leaf veins of the Limerock Herb.

The fortuitous encounter Yeshua was expecting was actually a sham! He was hoodwinked!

Yeshua's wrong observation made him failed to recognize the true qualities of the gene herb. His fantasy of getting a lot of money from selling a rare herb was broken.

Actually, Yeshua should have thought of it when he met a low-leveled spirit beast guarding the gene herb. Its presence was proof of the ordinariness of the gene herb.

This was also another reality of being Alterers. It was not just encountering bloody savage battles, but finding precious herbs was also hit or miss chances.

"Argh! Whatever! Though Limerock Herb can't be considered rare, it could still fetch a good price once I sell it since it's also not common." Although he felt frustrated from the reward he got after all his hardships, Yeshua still harvested the gene herb.

Looking around, Yeshua found other common gene herbs. He harvested them all and put them in his bulging satchel. At the same time, he pulled out healing medicines and recovery medicines.

After consuming the gene medicines, Yeshua said tiredly, "Alright, it seems I can rest here for a while. I'll resume my search for an exit after I recover my strength."

Then, while maintaining his vigilance, Yeshua sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes to rest.

The glowing stones in the quiet cavern faintly shone on the peaceful face of the young Alterer who bravely faced all his challenges.